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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2907

guyana-times.com

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Private schools dominate NGSA top spots

Guyanese busted with cocaine at CJIA P3

1st

Chelsea Barnes (563)

Aryan Singh (568)

5th

4th

3

Indie Rampersaud (560)

1st

Anthony Ferreira (568)

rd

7th

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Pages 12 & 13

Sarena Razak (565)

PRICE

6th

Arun Sooknarine (562)

7th

7th

Justin Seecharan (560)

Jonathan Ganga (560)

Helia Agard (561)

7th Lemuel Assing (560)

Investigation launched into maternal death at Diamond Hospital Page 10

“Picture Boy” sentenced to death P8

Overseas-based Guyanese to be disqualified from Old Age Pension – Lawrence P3

7th Divya Nandalall (560)

Guyana to P2 benefit from Chile's mining experience

2 NEWS Guyana to benefit from Chile’s mining experience WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BY VAHNU MANICKCHAND

W

ith Guyana’s economy being peddled to a great extent by the mining industry, the sector has faced many challenges as a result of its weak regulatory framework.

In this regard, the Chilean Government has pledged its support towards helping Guyana to strengthen its own framework.

This commitment was given by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet during a meeting with President David Granger on Tuesday at the Arthur Chung Convention

Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

President Bachelet is currently in Guyana for the 37th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Conference which is being held from July 4 to July 6.

The meeting between the two South American Heads of Government saw them discussing various topics of cooperation.

Speaking with media operatives following the near hour-long meeting, the Chilean Head of State told media operatives that she and her Guyanese counter-

President David Granger in discussion with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, during their meeting on the sidelines of the 37th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community

part focused on the level of cooperation between the two countries, while exploring ways the Spanish-Speaking country can assist Guyana in its development process.

One such area, President Bachelet explained that her country can offer support is in the mining sector. Mining

is one of the main pillars of the Chilean economy, with copper exports alone accounting for more than one third of the country’s income.

The Chilean President noted that while Guyana’s mining industry is diverse with gold, bauxite and dia-

mond, her country can lend expertise in regulating these activities so that the most benefits can be reaped.

“Chile is a very experienced country on cooper but also on regulatory framework to ensure that all the extraction of those natural resources will have the regulatory norms that will prevent from other consequences that a country doesn’t want and also, that will receive the benefits from it,” she stated.

Moreover, President Bachelet disclosed that she and President Granger also discuss areas such as cooperation on health in terms malnutrition issues and as well as agriculture, specifically support for small agroproducers.

Additionally, she noted that they touched on the topic of scholarships, asking their respective Ministers to find out exactly in which areas of capacity building interest is shown. The Chilean President mentioned too that her country is looking to collaborate with its Caribbean counterparts, including Guyana, to enhance the region’s Spanish proficiency.

However, the Chilean Head of State remarked that during the meeting the issue of financial assistance was not raised but noted that during her interaction

with the Caricom Summit earlier in the day, the matter was brought up and her Government will work along with the region to assist in whatever way it can.

“What we have spoken (about) in the summit is the situation that Caricom countries are (experiencing) the lack of access to financing and problems with banking, and so we have asked for all the information to see in which way we can support,” President Bachelet stressed.

She added too that “…it’s a lot of different areas where we are looking after to continue our cooperation.”

In addition, President Bachelet said that she extended an invitation to the Guyanese Head of State to visit her country. She added that President Granger accepted the invitation and is expected to visit Chile later this year to concretise the agreements which have been agreed upon.

On the other hand, President Granger, in an invited comment at the conclusion of the meeting, said Chile has been a longstanding friend of Guyana and the wider Caribbean region. He noted that Guyana is particularly interested in the country’s regulatory framework for the mining sector as well as its expertise and experience in maritime administration. TURN TO PAGE 7

NEWS

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, July 6 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, July 7 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, July 6 – 05:05h-06:35h and Thursday, July 7 – 05:50h-07:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected in the morning, while heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected in the afternoon.

Clear skies with chances of cloudiness are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 05:32h and 18:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.72 metres and 2.58 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:33h and 23:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.51 metre and 0.65 metre respectively.

Overseas-based Guyanese to be disqualified from Old Age Pension – Lawrence

S

ocial Protection Minister Volda Lawrence has stated that she will be eliminating instances of persons receiving pensions from Guyana if they are found to be living in other countries.

The subject Minister described the situation as “double dipping” when persons not living in Guyana are able to receive pension from the Guyanese Government, as well as the foreign country in which they live.

“We will be putting an end to persons who are ‘double dipping’… we have persons who believe that it is their right to live in a foreign country and collect their pensions here… we are saying no, it is not going to happen,” Minister Lawrence was quoted as saying to the Government Information Agency (GINA) in a recent interview.

Lawrence said that she got wind of the issue when it was related to her by

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence

the staff of her Ministry.

She reportedly warned the staff that they will be held responsible, and “surcharged” if pension books were issued with the staff knowing that the persons were not living in Guyana.

Minster Lawrence also noted cases where individuals are drawing pension receipts multiple times in different regions using different names. “In the hinterland regions, we know there are persons with more than one iden-

tification card who draw (collect) pension under one name in one region then travel to the next and draw under the other name,” she explained.

In order to effectively curb the reported deficiencies in the system and make if more efficient, the Social Protection Ministry will be digitising the pension system.

According to the Minister, digitising the system will also make it more efficient in identifying redundancies, “in addition to indicating to the Ministry persons who are authorising others to collect their pensions, which is an indication that they are not in Guyana.”

It was further noted that digitising of the pension database will also see greater accountability within the pension system, while probation officers will have more time to do additional field work and conduct visitations.

The Social Protection Minister also posited that

the issue of double dipping is not limited to accessing pension, but also public assistance for school aged children. She explained that some students are beneficiaries of public assistance in Guyana, but they also benefit from similar assistance in neighbouring Brazil.

Lawrence Minister said that the “To address this, guardians will have to submit an attendance report for the child so that they can continue accessing such assistance.”

According to the Government Information Agency, the Social Protection Ministry is expected to engage the Public Telecommunications Ministry to ensure that the two agencies can collectively run a pilot of this electronic project.

Based on information received, persons desirous of accessing Old Age Pension will have to be living in Guyana for a minimum of two years.

Guyanese busted with cocaine at CJIA

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he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) intercepted a United States-bound Guyanese woman at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) as she was about to board a flight destined for the United States.

According to reports, the 26-year-old woman was about to board a flight for New York when the bust was made on Sunday by agents of CANU. Information has revealed that the woman, who was travelling on a US vis-

itors visa, was intercepted with some 1.5 pounds of cocaine that was concealed in a straw bag she was carrying.

As persons continue to find the most innovative ways to traffic narcotics in and out of Guyana, antinarcotics officials have become more vigilant and diligent in their operations, particularly at the country’s main port of entry – the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

Only last month, ranks attached to the Police

Narcotics Branch seized six kilograms and four grams of cocaine at the CJIA that was destined to be shipped to the US.

According to Police officials, the drugs were found in a cargo shipment of frozen fish concealed in a number of boxes.

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

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

Editorial

A studying technique

T

he results for the National Grade Six Assessment examinations (NGSA), commonly referred to as Common Entrance, will be making its rounds via the different media outlets and entities starting from today. While we are expecting a list and consequent follow-up stories on the names of the top achievers, we know definitively that the little ones who have been successful in their endeavours will be attributing that success to their parents, their teachers and more importantly, the focus that they exerted in applying themselves towards their studies.

There is no short cut or easy way around it, for there to be success in any field of study, one has to develop their mental faculty to the point where assimilating information, compartmentalising it and subsequently disseminating it becomes second nature.

This is relatively easy for some persons to do, while for others it is more complex. Regardless of the individual variances, one of the best know ways for anybody to improve their mental faculty is by extending their ability to concentrate.

Research has shown that one, if not the best, method to use for the improvement of a person’s concentration, whether that person is a child, teenager or adult, is the use of meditation, otherwise known in the western culture as “mindfulness practice”.

Simply put, it is an exercise where a person engages in resting the mind and attaining a state of awareness that is different from the normal waking state. This is achieved by stilling the mind and focusing one-pointedly on a desired object until the mind becomes silent. When the mind is silent and no longer distracted, meditation develops.

Meditation which is grounded in Hinduism and known more as a spiritual exercise has over the years caught the attention of the Western scientific community, which has been able to quantify the benefits of this “mindfulness practice” by scanning the brains of persons who meditate against those who don’t, with devices such Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to determine the differences in their brain density and grey matter of the areas associated with memory retention, happiness, among others.

What those studies have found is that meditation, in addition to improving the alertness and concentration of individuals, also preserves the aging of the brain as persons become older, helps with wandering of the mind by decreasing the activity on the Default Mode Network (DMN) of the brain as well as relieving persons of their anxiety and stress levels among many other listed benefits.

As it pertains to concentration, a Harvard study headed by Sara Lazar on “Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction” (MBSR) outlined that meditation actually changed the structure of the brain, by increasing the “cortical thickness in the hippocampus, which governs learning and memory, and in certain areas of the brain that play roles in emotion regulation and self-referential processing. There were also decreases in brain cell volume in the amygdala, which is responsible for fear, anxiety, and stress – and these changes matched the participants’ self-reports of their stress levels, indicating that meditation not only changes the brain, but it changes our subjective perception and feelings as well.”

Another study found that meditation might have more promise for children than adults as it pertains to memory retention and concentration. According to an article on Forbes, Healthcare, on meditation “Some schools have started implementing meditation into their daily schedules, and with good effect: One district in San Francisco started a twice daily meditation programme in some of its high-risk schools – and saw suspensions decrease, and Grade Point Averages (GPAs) and attendance increase. Studies have confirmed the cognitive and emotional benefits of meditation for schoolchildren.”

So for those children who have given their best in the NGSA, but they didn’t see the results of all the effort that they put in, they shouldn’t lose hope now. The important thing is that beyond this point is secondary education, the end result of which will define what jobs the children could get and the level of tertiary education they could further.

It is therefore worthy for parents to examine the above mentioned studying technique and possibly incorporate in their schedule as well as their children, so that going further they could be better equipped and focused in their studies and life in general.

As cricket fever spreads, fans flocked the Caribbean Premier League ticketing office at Camp and Quamina Streets to get their tickets for the much anticipated games in the Guyana leg of the tournament

Heads of Government are empowered to act, yet calling for action Dear Editor, It is being observed that at the opening (July 4, 2016) of the annual Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) presenters on matters relating to advancing Caribbean integration are taking the position of calling for action. It needs to be said that as Heads of Government, the Presidents and Prime Ministers are empowered to act under Caricom Treaty, Charters, and each nation’s respective laws, and in keeping with the duty and responsibility of the office held.

Caribbean countries are no longer colonies thereby requiring the call for action from elsewhere (the Crown).

The Caribbean peoples are no longer colonised, thereby having to call on the Crown to act in keeping with their welfare.

Heads of Government are

in charge of the day-to-day business in their respective countries and their party or group holds significant sway in the Legislature. It means that in addition to the dayto-day administration of the Government, they can also proceed with making laws to advance integration.

Heads of Government are not Leaders of the Opposition or Minority, thereby not having control of the Executive, and requiring action on the part of the Executive which they head.

Calling on others to act when you are empowered to act has become a new fad of the Heads of Government and Executives and should cease.

This has never been a practice of Heads of Government of yore. It can be recalled that Forbes Burnham, Eric Williams, Errol Barrow, Michael Manley, Vere Bird

Sr, Eugene Charles and others came to Caricom with a vision, shared it with the Region’s peoples, engaged stakeholders, and moved to act. Most of the time the political work was done before the convening of conferences, which were used to fine-tuned proposals, make decisions, and return to their respective countries for implementation.

The integration process needs to realise the objectives set out therein is for Heads of Government to recognise that they have the power to act on the things they are calling for action on. Heads should use the muscles that come with the offices they occupy, and bring before the Region a Plan of Action they will embrace, having done preparatory work, and making known the respective arms of Caricom tasked with getting the job done.

It is the absence of political will and commitment to the integration process that is responsible for many decisions taken not being implemented by the respective members. A lot of work has been done by the technicians, but beyond the work prepared, implementation, which the politicians are in charge of, has been slow.

The Region’s peoples can only act based on clear guidelines and enabling environments created which the Heads of Government have the responsibility to ensure.

The people await leadership and have been calling on the respective Governments to act, notwithstanding some have taken initiatives to proceed on their own to make integration work.

Yours faithfully, Lincoln Lewis

We deserve to be treated better

Dear Editor, Please allow me space in your newspaper to vent my frustration. Have you ever arrived nine hours early for an event only to be told later that you can’t attend? Well, I have been in this situation too often with the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) Ferry Service (ParikaSupenaam).

Travelling between Supenaam and Parika with a vehicle via the ferry service is one of the most excruciatingly painful situations one can face; it is mentally and physically exhausting. When the new ferries had just arrived, there was a booking system whereby one could come and book their vehicle license plate number in advance to guarantee a space on the boat; a few months later, this booking system was forgotten and the bullying and bribery system took over.

On Thursday last, I arrived at the Parika wharf at 10:45 pm to ensure my space

on the boat that was scheduled to leave at 8 am Friday morning. Imagine sitting in your car all the time in a line only to be told at 5:00 am that you cannot get on the boat as there were ‘other’ vehicles that needed to be loaded.

When I questioned the personnel as to what exactly are these ‘other’ vehicles and what gives these persons preference over other people who have been waiting for hours, I was greeted with a face which I do not wish to describe. A few minutes later, myself along with other drivers who have been waiting for hours could vividly see drivers who had just arrived ‘pass a lil something’ and they were allowed to board the boat.

I refused to fall prey to a system of bullying and bribery so I sat in my vehicle and looked on as people were given preference because they could buy their way through. I was the second person in line at the gate and I could have easily

gotten onto that boat if bribery didn’t play a part and fairness was taken into consideration.

About 15 to 20 vehicles passed by me and were given entrance as the drivers paid up. As I sat there, I thought to myself that in Guyana one has to have enough money to squander wastefully in order to get something done. I then ventured to the same gate man who had been giving those vehicles entrance and asked why these vehicles that had just arrived given entrance and we who have been waiting for hours were denied and he just looked me in my face as if I were speaking another language and walked away.

I do not understand why these people behave as if we are begging our way onto this ferry, we are paying users and we deserve to be treated better. These T&HD workers need to be reassessed as their attitude towards people is atrocious. Anyways, after all that commotion, I was

eventually told that the boat is full to capacity and I would have to wait on the next boat which was at 4 pm the same afternoon so I eventually sat in my vehicle for 15 hours. Mind you, I was not the only person left behind; other people who were also there as early as I was were forced to stay back in their vehicles even though many of these vehicles had mothers with babies.

I write not only to vent my anger, but also with a hope that someone who could better this situation would see this and do something. This needs to stop and we need a regularised and fair system to be put in place so that travellers could be eased of the nightmare of travelling with a vehicle between Parika and Supenaam. I have only described one instance of this nightmare; I have been in this situation many other times.

Yours truly, A frustrated citizen

wednesDAY, july 6, 2016

guyana-times.com

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EID messages

Government congratulates PPP/C Member of Parliament Muslims on devotion and Irfaan Ali extends Eid greetings sacrifice during Ramadan

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he Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana congratulates all Muslims on their sacrifice, fortitude, resilience, devotion and spiritual renewal during the month of Ramadan. The Government wishes Eid Mubarak to all Muslims as we join in celebrating Eidul-Fitr, marking the completion of the holy month of Ramadan.

After a month of spiritual growth through unwavering dedication and sacri-

fice, our Muslim brothers and sisters not only celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr but also engage in selfless acts of charity and in lending a helping hand in lifting the condition of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

It is the fundamental message of equality and brotherhood which is espoused

by Islam.

Eid-ul-Fitr is in essence and practice a day of celebration, reflection, graduation and spiritual elevation. After an entire month

of abstinence and sacrifice, Muslims rejoice in the month past, engendering the deepening of brotherhood among all mankind and in the elevation of the spirit and soul and the strengthening of faith.

May the day be filled with warm and enjoyable celebrations and festivities and may the lessons of Ramadan be practiced and embraced all year as we rally together and strive as a nation to elevate the condition of all Guyanese.

CIOG extends Eid-ul Fitr greetings to the entire Muslim community Eid Prayer begins at 05:45h at the MYO compound.

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he Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) wishes to inform all Muslims that the crescent for Ramadan has been sighted; therefore EID UL FITR will be celebrated today, Wednesday July 6, 2016.

Was Salaam Fazeel Ferouz President

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Shadow Finance Minister Irfaan Ali

amadan gave us the opportunity of reflecting on our lives with the singular aim of improving and enhancing it to the benefit of humanity and pleasing to God Almighty.

May Allah reward us all for our sacrifices and acts

of charity and goodness. I pray that all our families be rewarded with good health, happiness and success. Life is a journey with many paths to the end; however, it is our footprints that would determine how our journey is remembered or written.

Every print is a seal of our presence and testimony of how we utilised that presence. Here in Guyana we are in a struggle to ensure social and economic justice forms the core of our developmental drive. In so doing, we are constantly reminded of the supporting role we must each play if we are to achieve our collective aspirations. Ramadan taught us valuable lessons of patience, tolerance and commitment. It is these values when translated to the national good that would allow us to continue to grow and prosper as a nation.

On this occasion of Eid, my thoughts and prayers are with our global community as we seek to eradicate terror, poverty and injustices wherever they exists. Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak!

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Foundation

Applause for the Class of 2016 – and 1939

– the world today seems broken. Imagine how it looked in 1939

By Susan Hooper

I

n this season of graduations, I would like to pay tribute to two high school graduates in my family.

One of them, my younger nephew, crossed the stage to receive his diploma earlier this month, and I was among the proud witnesses to this happy event.

The other, my mother’s younger sister, graduated decades ago – in 1939.

These ceremonies were 77 years apart, and yet they both took place in times of great anxiety and uncertainty for the world. Could the experiences of the Class of 1939 inform, and possibly reassure, this year’s newly minted graduates as they prepare to face the formidable challenges of the early 21st Century?

My knowledge of my Aunt Pat’s high school graduation activities is, of course, second-hand, as the events took place long before I was born. I learnt about them in this way: In late 2014, at age 92, my aunt fell and broke a bone in her hip, and she eventually had to move to a nursing home. She never married and had no children, so I was among the relatives who helped clean out her Washington, DC, apartment, where she had lived for 37 years.

In the course of sorting through her things, I came across a file of papers from the 1930s and 1940s, which some family history instinct caused me to save and bring to my own apartment. As I was looking through this file a few weeks ago, I discovered two small treasures: My aunt’s high school commencement programme and a booklet labelled “Commencement Memories,” in which some of her teachers and classmates had written notes to her.

The commencement programme noted that the motto of the Class of 1939 was “Out of the harbour, on to the deep.”

As a metaphor for high school graduates

trading the shelter of childhood and youth for the uncertainties of adult life, it was to prove sadly apt.

On September 1, 1939, just 10 weeks after my aunt and her fellow graduates bid farewell to their alma mater, the German army attacked Poland. Two days later, Britain and France declared war on Germany, and a brutal World War that would last for nearly six years and kill an estimated 60 million soldiers and civilians was under way.

My aunt had started college at the University of Kentucky, majoring in English and Romance languages. After the United States entered World War II in December 1941; however, she put her college studies on hold.

I n

August 1943, six months after she turned 21, she joined a newly formed branch of the US Navy –the WAVES, or Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service. She served until February 1946, working as a writer and press aide with the Navy’s public information office in Washington, DC. She returned to college for a semester in 1946, but then left for writing and editing work.

In spite of her professional accomplishments as a civilian, however, my aunt never forgot her Navy service.

My younger nephew, along with his fellow graduates in his high school’s Class of 2016, has much in common with the

Class of 1939. Just as the Class of 1939 grew up during the Great Depression, my nephew, his classmates and their families suffered through eight years of the Great Recession and its aftermath.

Instead of the armed conflicts among nations in Europe and Asia that marked the 1930s, my nephew and his classmates have witnessed ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the rise of international terrorism and a sharply escalating international refugee crisis. With respect to the quest for justice of all kinds in this country, the new graduates have seen some gains, but also many heartbreaking setbacks.

My aunt and I had many conversations over the years, but I can’t recall that she ever spoke to me directly about the pall World War II must have cast on her, her family and her high school classmates—those brighteyed young people who, on their graduation day, had wanted to be teachers and nurses and horticulturists, farmer’s wives and singing sensations. She passed away in March of 2015, so I cannot turn to her for advice to impart to my nephew as he prepares to leave the shelter of his green and pleasant town for college in a big city during this fraught time in world and national affairs.

But perhaps the lessons to be learned from the Class of 1939 are already laid out: Celebrate your accomplishments with your friends. Let your imagination guide your dreams for the future. Know that your future may lie on the wide ocean of the world and not in the safe harbour of your hometown. If the times demand it, have the courage to serve. And keep in mind the Class of 2093, because in 77 years they may be looking back to you – for inspiration and for hope. (Excerpted from psychologytoday.com)

Graduation

I

t’s around that time of year when our students are reeling off of just having finished exams, and coping with the sudden release of pressure. As soon as the realisation dawns upon them that they’ve completed an integral part of their lives, graduation is upon them.

Whether it’s Grade Six, Fifth Form or Upper Sixth, children and Ashley Anthony young adults everywhere are preparing for that moment of wearing their coveted gowns and caps, and striding in the halls of their schools for just one last time.

Whilst the essence of graduation is actually the receipt of a degree or certificate, that’s not what graduation means to many of us. It’s a time for reflection, for thinking of how far we’ve come, and looking towards our uncertain futures. We bubble much like champagne in an unopened bottle ready to burst excitedly into the next phase of our lives.

Most of us will agree that at graduation a little exaggeration is done. We often sing praises of our school experiences, whilst during the time at school, the words that flowed from our mouths were laden with criticism. We sing praises of love and admiration for our teachers and fellow classmates, whilst we know that our relationships with each other have never been as glossy as we portray them to be.

I think this is because at graduation, we begin to understand that those things we used to complain about are what have truly made our school life. Those nights that went on too long, and those mandatory assemblies that bored us, only gave us something to giggle about with our friends. Those annoying group assignments and difficult teachers made us stronger and more resilient than we were before, and brought us closer to our classmates.

Struggling to do things without as many resources, labs that didn’t give the right results, and nights when we felt like giving up only made for good stories once they were over. Every mistake we made, we wouldn’t take them back. From talking too loudly and being thrown into our first class detention, to the first time someone makes a joke at the expense of a teacher. Mistakes? Yes. Regrets?

No. All of the things that we did, and hated we begin to understand how important they were.

There is magic within all of us, that shows itself most at graduation. It flows through our blood as we wear our uniforms one last time, marching down the aisle of our auditoriums to applause like rain. It is the feeling of invincibility we take with us onwards to university, or to our promising new careers. Blinded from such things as limits, we genuinely believe we are on top of the world.

And whilst, after a few days it begins to fade away, we should never let ourselves completely lose sight of it. We should never give up on our passions and our dreams, or feel them too far away. Each time we think of doing so, we should try to remember that feeling of being a graduate.

news

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wednesday, july 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Pay attention to ageing, technology – PM Gonsalves S

t Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has called on his colleagues in the Caribbean Community to pay special attention to the issues of ageing and the rapid development of technology, which will have social impacts on the Region if not dealt with.

His remarks were delivered during his presentation at the opening ceremony of the 37th Regular Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

According to Prime Minister Gonsalves, focus should be placed on the Region’s relationship with robots. He raised the question of “human level artificial intelligence”, which he said also had immense implications for the Caribbean, hence the need for it to be addressed.

“By 2045, it is held that robots would be everywhere as computers are today; performing functions which we perform in a normal way, how is that to be addressed?” he asked. The

Prime Minister called on all responsible leaders in the Community – political leaders, scientists and other community members to be concerned with these issues.

Moreover, the PM entreated the Community to look at the issue of ageing, which, he noted, while not on the agenda of the meeting, had “implications for a range of social policies for the Region”.

“In addition to chronic [Non-Communicable Diseases] NCDs, we have to look at the question of ageing and think seriously about the issue,” he cautioned.

Prime Minister Gonsalves further pointed out that the Caribbean population was getting older, and serious thought should be given to the matter. Citing statistics for his own country, which he said were similar elsewhere in Caricom, the SVG Prime Minister drew attention to “a 30 per cent increase in the over 60 population” in the censual period starting in 2001.

The Caribbean has been recognised as having one

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves

of the fastest growing older populations in the developing world. According to an Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Brief (2015), “young societies of the past are giving way to communities where older persons form a much larger portion of the total population”. The report indicated as well that the age structure of the Caribbean population will change appreciably over the next 20 years.

The issue of ageing has been on the Community’s agenda for close to two decades. The Caribbean Charter on Health and Ageing 1998 has as its guiding principle, a coordinated, systematic approach to ensuring the health and full

integration of older persons into Caribbean societies and economies.

The Charter was adopted at the Second Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development in 1998, and launched in 1999, the year in which International Day for the Elderly was celebrated. It recognises the principle that “health and wellness encompasses the need for preventive strategies, creation of supportive environments and the availability of senior-friendly goods and services”. The Charter acknowledges “the importance and key role being played by voluntary organisations in promoting the well-being of older persons and the need for the strengthening of these institutions”.

Like the Charter, the Region’s vision of health, as articulated in Phase II of the Caribbean Cooperation in Health Initiative, addresses the issue of the health of the elderly. In this regard, six health promotion strategies were indentified for implementation: Healthy Public Policy; ReOrienting Health Services; Empowering Communities; Creating Supportive Environments; Developing Personal Health Skills, and Building Alliances.

Among the specifics of these strategies are: developing and strengthening policies on ageing; developing a Bill of Rights in support of the elderly; sensitis-

ing health workers about the special needs of the elderly; strengthening primary health care services targeted at the elderly; establishing norms and standards for institutional care of the elderly; working with caregivers to ensure that standards of care are being met; preparing adults for healthy aging; educating the elderly on ways to maintain and improve their health and collaborating with Government organisa-

tions, Non-Governmental Organisations and the media.

More recently, in 2014, Caricom agreed that building the social resilience of the Community was one of eight priorities in its Strategic Plan for 20152019. Mainstreaming inclusiveness in public policy with a focus on gender, persons with disabilities, and age has been identified as one of several strategies, in this regard.

Wakenaam prison escapee still at large

I

t has been almost two weeks and Police Officers from G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands) have thus far been unsuccessful in recapturing Joseph Sohoye who escaped from lawful custody while chained.

The 37-year-old made his escape while he was being transported by officers to the Wakenaam court for trial.

Police have combed several villages in search for the escapee but have turned up empty handed. Information reaching Guyana Times suggests that the escapee has since left the Island of Wakenaam and has fled to the West Coast of

Prison escapee Joseph Sohoye

Demerara.

Sohoye is presently before the Wakenaam court for larceny of cattle. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was on remand.

Guyana to benefit from Chile’s...

from page 2

“In terms of our own relations, we know that Chile, particularly the President of Chile, Madam Michelle Bachelet, is committed to poverty reduction, is committed to peaceful resolution of conflicts and also she is committed to reducing the adverse effects of climate change. As you know, the Caricom region is an extension of the maritime

zone and Chile has a long coastline and has much experience so there are many areas of cooperation [to explore]. Chile has one of the most successful mining enterprises in the world. It’s a major copper producer and we are looking at building a stronger regulatory framework in our sector… so there are many areas of functional cooperation as well as eco-

nomic cooperation and Chile is an ideal partner with the Caribbean in this regard,” President Granger said.

The two Presidents reviewed the existing bilateral relations between Guyana and Chile and agreed to continue working closely to expand and strengthen collaboration not only at the bilateral level, but also at the regional level with-

in the context of the Union of South American States (UNASUR), Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

Furthermore, while here, President Bachelet will officially open Chile’s Embassy in Brickdam, Georgetown, and according to the Guyanese Head of State, the embassy will serve to further concretise that country’s relationship with Caricom.

In August last year, President Granger accredited His Excellency Claudio Rachel Rojas as the first ever resident Ambassador of Chile to Guyana.

8 news

wednesDAY, july 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS Double murder trial

“Picture Boy” sentenced to death

By Kizzy Coleman

C

yon Collier, called “Picture Boy”, who was indicted for the 2006 double murder of the two brothers, Ray Walcott, called “Sugar” and Carl Andrews, called “Alo”, was on Tuesday sentenced to execution by hanging when a 12-man jury returned with a guilty verdict before Justice Priya SewnarineBeharry at the High Court.

Upon the conclusion of the trial, Justice Sewnarine-Beharry gave a summary of both the pros-

ecution’s and defence’s submissions to the jury.

After three hours of deliberation, in a courtroom filled with family members of both the accused and deceased, the guilty verdict was read.

Collier was convicted of killing the men on September 23, 2006 at Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara. Upon hearing the ruling of the court, he first pleaded for leniency.

He then faced the family members of the deceased and begged for their forgiveness and mercy.

Collier looked to the sky as the decision was read and then bowed his head in defeat. He was escorted out of the courtroom by Police ranks and taken to the prison.

Family members of the dead brothers thanked the Court, stating that justice was served.

Godfrey Andrews, the father of the deceased, thanked God. “Mankind can hide from man, but not God. Justice was served, it has been years that we have been struggling to cope with what happened

Eyew tness The less things change...

...the more Caricom spins wheels

M

Cyon Collier, called “Picture Boy”

to our sons and worst seeing justice not being served, but finally we are very happy and have no one else to thank but God,” he said.

The mother of the deceased, June Andrews lifted her hands heavenward with a smile of satisfaction on her face.

This was Collier’s second retrial after the previous trials ended in a hung jury.

On the dreadful day that the 31- and 34-year-old men lost their lives, Collier rode up on a motorcycle, stopping where the two men and a group were playing dominoes.

He chatted with the group for some time after which he pulled out a gun and started shooting at them.

Both of the men were wounded, with Andrews sustaining at least three gunshot wounds.

aybe it's a virtue in diplomatic circles not to spring surprises at meetings. But our Heads of Government in Caricom aren't "diplomats", are they? They're leaders of our longsuffering peoples who've been waiting for them to deliver on their promises for over half a century.

In his memoir, "From Third World To First", Lee Kwan Yew reminisces about how "advanced" the leaders of the Caribbean saw themselves at meetings of the Commonwealth, with all their theories of "underdevelopment", "dependency", etc, etc. Yet without all that fancy talk, he took his little islandstate Singapore, with the same ethnic divisions and British colonial heritage – and starting BEHIND where our countries were economically in 1965 when they got independence – to first world status!

Yet, here's one of our leaders, at the 37th Meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government (Caricom HoG) – 50+ years after we were given independence, saying WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE CARIBBEAN, SHOULD COUNT OUR BLESSINGS!!! And what exactly are those blessings?

Well, he should've spoken to PM Holness of Jamaica who complained bitterly about the treatment meted out to his citizens when they show up in TT or Barbados. Even dogs don't have their cavities or orifices searched. He should've spoken to President Bourtese of Suriname who pleaded for there to be cooperation to add value to our primary products such as bauxite which can be turned into aluminium.

After all, it was way back in 1967 that two (then young) economists Havelock Brewster and Clive Thomas put out a plan for the West Indies to industrialise itself. Why can't Caricom have a joint venture where they put up the capital for Hydro Power in Guyana, and use that to manufacture aluminium from our bauxite? Isn't that what the "Common economy" is all about? So should we be thankful that we've put it on "pause"?

And so we were also exhorted by the leaders to have coordinated efforts on crime. Have they also looked at Singapore's crime statistics? If they can wipe out poverty, haven't our vaunted intellectuals assured us this will wipe out the greatest push factor in criminal behaviour: poverty?

Point of the matter, no one gets off by beating up on Caricom for its shortcomings. No one enjoys beating up on a comatose patient. But like the Brits – our role models for centuries – the Caribbean people have just about had it with this "union" business.

To use a crude but graphic Americanism, the leaders should either s*it or get off the pot.

...the more decisions are bizarre

Infrastructure – or more precisely, the lack thereof – is one of our many Achilles heels. Every study in the past half a century has pointed out the need for us to get with an infrastructural programme. And what pray tell are some of these "Achilles heels"? Roads. How about that one from Lethem to Brazil?

Electricity. We gotta abolish blackouts and, more importantly, allow ourselves at long last to compete with TT's US 5 cents/kWh in manufacturing? How about Amaila Falls Hydro? Bridges. Well, we have to just look at the lost man hours caused by the blockages at the Demerara Harbour Bridge. And this is just the tip of a very long list of needs.

So you'd think the Government would place some priorities on these things as the money comes in, nuh? NO! We're futzing around with wind and solar which are just gravy – and ignoring the Amaila meat!

And now we're told a British grant for infrastructure will go for a bridge at LINDEN – not at the Demerara Harbour!

Are we deliberately shooting ourselves in the foot? Go figure!

...more we ignore the less fortunate

The NGSA results are out. And all of us will go "goo goo, gaga" (not like the "Lady") over the little darlings in the top 1%.

But could somebody please spare a thought for those in the bottom 20%??

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

9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

10

guyana-times.com

wednesDAY, july 6, 2016

News

Investigation launched into maternal death at Diamond Hospital Pirates of the A (Southern) Caribbean

mother of four was pronounced dead at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre (the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital) on Tuesday after carrying a dead baby inside her womb for five days.

The woman, Carol Suniram, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, had suffered a miscarriage on Friday and was prescribed pills by a doctor at the Diamond hospital to pass out the five-month-old foetus.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the dead woman’s sister-in-law, J Singh, stated that on Friday last the 39-year-old woman was told that the baby had died inside her. “She told me that she lose the

S

Carol Suniram

baby and that it still inside of her, so I tell her come leh we go to the hospital and get it out, but she was determined that the doctor told her to use the pills and return to-

day (Tuesday),” the woman said.

On Tuesday, Suniram went to the hospital to do the operation but died while in surgery.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, when contacted, stated that he

was unaware of the maternal death and would be looking into the matter immediately.

This newspaper was told that an investigation had been launched into the incident. The woman’s body was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where a postmortem would be done.

Only on Monday, the Minister disclosed that Guyana’s maternal mortality rate was declining. Recently, a United Nations report disclosed that Guyana was among five countries in the Region with the highest maternal mortality rate.

As of December 30, 2015, Guyana had recorded 17 cases of maternal deaths— which is one case short of the 2014 figure.

This is the cause of the country missing its goal to reduce maternal deaths by three-quarters between the years 1990 and 2015.

The maternal mortality ratio has decreased from 270 per cent in 1990 to 86 per cent in 2012. Therefore, in order to achieve its target, Guyana would have had to reduce its maternal mortality rate to 67.5 per cent by the end of 2015.

atiricus was ecstatic. He'd just read the screaming red headlines on the Stabber News front page: "Americans clamping down on piracy here".

"You know Cappo, I have a lot of relatives in Berbice," he said to his friend, as they nursed their beer in the Back Street Bar. "And those pirates have really been making their lives miserable."

Cappo, who'd read the entire article earlier, looked at Satiricus contemplatively. "Suh wha' yuh t'ink de 'Merican dem guh do?"

"Cappo!" said Satiricus scornfully. "If the Americans can use their drones to bomb targets 10,000 miles away in Pakistan, what is the problem with Guyana? We only 3000 miles away."

"But how dem guh know which fishin' boat fuh bam?"

Cappo demanded.

"Cappo, my friend, with the cameras on those drones, they could see if your fly is open!" Satiricus grinned widely as Cappo looked down instinctively. "But I wonder why the Stabber had a sub headline, "TV station was visited earlier this year"? Are the Americans going to use a TV station to guide their missiles more accurately?"

Cappo decided he'd messed with Satiricus enough.

"Sato, me fr'en', dem 'Mericans na come fuh fight fishamaan pirate. Dem a come fuh fight TV pirate who a t'ief dem program fram sattalite."

"Really??" was all Satiricus could say, after a long pause. "TV programmes?"

"Yes. Me read de whole article dis marnin'," Cappo confessed. "De guvnment in big trouble! Especially dem who in charge a de TV stay-shan!"

"What you mean, Cappo," said Satiricus with some alarm."It's everybody in Guyana thiefing and pirating TV programmes. The government just happen to be the biggest."

"Yes...but yuh know w'en dem tax people na want people fuh cheat pan dem tax, dem does mek example?"

Cappo asked. "Dem does charge some big wan, and put he picha in pay-pa! De 'Merican dem gon mek de guvment TV stay-shan wan example!"

"Geez!" exclaimed Satiricus in shock as he digested the news. "They'll have to lock up the government man in charge of TV!!!"

"That's right, Sato, me frien," said Cappo with a wide smile. "Dem already pick out 'e silver bracelet and 'e orange jumpsuit!!"

11

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

12 NEWS

WednesDAY, july 6, 2016 | guya

NGSA 20

Private schools domin …Roopnaraine disappointed

By Alexis Rodney, Merissa Wilson &

A

fte (N a ers were The re Olato Sa Developm Ferreira Krishna Third Hall Prim

by Chels Securing Rama Kr Helia tion with candidate Seechara Primary, Assing of The N this year ficially re Subse Anthony Ferreira of Mae’s Under 12 with his parents shortly after the results were announced Divya Nandlall of Mae’s Under 12 with her mom

Chief Edu

Aryan Singh (568)

Sarena Razak (565)

Wilfred Success and Africo Selman with the top students of Success Elementary

Chelsea Barnes (563)

Arun Sooknarine (562)

Helia Agard (561)

Indie Rampersaud (560)

Justin Seecharan (560)

Jonathan Ganga (560)

Lemuel Assing (560)

Divya Nandalall (560)

the child phoria, h formers.

When formers, were in h Speak expected anticipat “I’m o that I wo know I w Altho that his f with his He th ing an in Mean grasp the formers i “This aunty an The a Bank sai dents, bu studying This d recreatio Queen’s C Singh the assis who were With Graham’ lighted th ten, the a top perfo Remin tion perio a normal

NEWS

ly 6, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

13

SA 2016

minate NGSA top spots

ted with overall performance

, Merissa Wilson & Ramona Luthi

Top 1% of the 2016 National Grade Six Assessment

A

fter a long delay, the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results were finally revealed on Tuesday during a news conference where the top one per cent of performers were announced.

The results were read live by Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD). The top position was shared by Anthony Ferreira of Mae’s Under 12 and Aryan Singh of Dharmic Rama Krishna with a score of 568 marks.

Third position was gained by Sarena Razak of Graham’s Hall Primary with 565 marks. Fourth position was gained

by Chelsea Barnes of Success Elementary with 563 marks.

Securing the fifth position was Arun Sooknarine of Dharmic Rama Krishna with 562 marks.

Helia Agrad of Success Elementary gained the sixth position with 561 marks. The seventh position was shared by five candidates: Indie Rampersaud of Success Elementary, Justin Seecharan of Success Elementary, Jonathan Ganga of Leonora Primary, Divya Nandalall of Mae’s Under 12 and Lemuel Assing of New Guyana School.

The NGSA, which was written on April 27 and 28 earlier this year, saw 14,386 candidates participating. Schools will officially release results today.

Subsequent to the release, Guyana Times caught up with

Chief Education Officer (CEO) Olato Sam

the children within the top ten who expressed feelings of euphoria, having earned their spot in the country’s list of best performers.

When this publication visited the school of the two top performers, students, teachers and parents around the compound were in high spirits as they celebrated the victory.

Speaking with an excited Ferriera, he related that he had expected to be placed in the top ten for the country, but had not anticipated being the best overall performer.

“I’m overjoyed. I’m very happy that this happened. I knew that I would probably be in the top ten or top twenty but I didn’t know I would’ve gotten first.”

Although the preparation road was a rocky one, he explained that his family and teachers were always present to guide him with his studies.

He thanked his teachers, family and the Almighty for playing an integral role in his achievement.

Meanwhile, Singh was at a loss for words as he tried to grasp the reality that he had been placed as one of the best performers in Guyana.

“This was shocking at first, I didn’t believe it. I went to my aunty and she told me the Internet has it,” he relayed.

The aspiring Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Bank said that he had not attended any lessons like other students, but made it his mandate to put in a number of hours studying.

This did not come easy as he was forced to sacrifice many recreational activities so as to fulfil his dream of attending Queen’s College.

Singh related that his success during the NGSA was due to the assistance and encouragement of his family and teachers, who were all part of the long journey.

With three marks less than the top rankers was Razak from Graham’s Hall Primary. The visibly confident student highlighted that although she was expecting to be placed in the top ten, the actuality of her acquiring the title of the country’s third top performer was b eyond her imagination.

Reminiscing on her preparations leading up to the examination period, Razak said: “I didn’t take it too hard. It was just like a normal exam to me, but I had to put aside some cricket, swim-

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

ming and some karate.”

Earning a position right below Razak was the elated Success Elementary student Chelsea Barnes.

According to the 11-year-old, the NGSA examination proved to be challenging since it called for her to sacrifice many of her hobbies, which included watching television and gaming.

“I’d like to thank God because if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have done what I’ve done now. I’m really, really happy and filled with mixed emotions right now,” the child told this publication.

Barnes also thanked her parents for their encouragement.

Acquiring a second spot in the list of top ten best performers for the Dharmic Rama Krishna is Arun Sooknarine, who told this publication that he was relieved that the examination has concluded and results proved to be favourable for him.

“My heart just can’t stop beating all the time. I was just so excited, because I saw the smiles on their faces and I knew it was good news,” the country’s fifth top ranker said.

Another of the four children who copped a position in the top ten for Success Elementary school was Helia Agard, who credited her accomplishment to months of dedication and hard work.

Like the other students, she too had to sacrifice her recreational activities.

Rampersaud, Seecharan, Ganga, Nandalall and Assing – the five candidates who shared the seventh spot were elated to be in the top ten and shared that hard work and determination were their motto during the period leading up to the examination. They also took the opportunity to encourage the next batch of students to stay focused on their academics as it always pays off in the end.

Dissatisfaction

Meanwhile, Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, following the release of the results on Tuesday, expressed his dissatisfaction with the overall performance.

He said he was hoping that the recommendations of the education Commission of Inquiry (CoI) will put the sector back on its rightful path.

The overall subject analysis shows that the performance in English Language and Social Studies was consistent with previous years’. The performance in Mathematics and Science, however, this year, fell below that of previous years. The highest possible standardised scores obtainable were Mathematics –162, English – 138, Social Studies – 134 and Science – 149.

The highest possible total obtainable was 583.

According to Dr Roopnaraine, an analysis is currently being conducted to ascertain the specific areas in which pupils experienced the greatest difficulty. He said that the Education Ministry has made concerted efforts to include items that would stimulate critical and higher level thinking. The analysis, he said, will have deep implications for the instructional approaches adopted by teachers going forward.

“The practices of drilling and teaching to the test that had been adopted over the years will do little to benefit pupils in this new dispensation. Work will be continued throughout the system to ensure that teachers focus on fully teaching the appropriate concepts and raise pupils’ competence levels rather than employing the antiquated traditional approaches,” he said Notably, this is the first time in years that boys performed as well as the girls at the NGSA. Meanwhile the cut-off point for the country’s top secondary schools are: Queen’s College at 541; the Bishops’ High School, 531; St Stanislaus College, 522; St Rose’s High, 516; St Joseph High, 508 and President’s College, 493.

Anthony Ferreira Mae’s Under 12 568 Aryan Singh Dharmic Rama Krishna 568 Serena Razak Grahams Hall primary 565 Chelsea Barnes Success Elementary 563 Arun Sooknarine Dharmic rama Krishna 562 Helia Agard Success Elementary 561 Indie Rampersaud Success Elementary 560 Justin Seecharan Success Elementary 560 Jonathan Ganga Leonora Primary 560 Divya Nandlall Mae’s Under 12 560 Lemuel Assing New Guyana School 560 Saalih Rahim ISA Islamic 559 Muhammad Hassad Al Ghazali Islamic 559 Annandi Diaram Valmiki Vidyalam 559 Aletha Joseph Montrose Primary 558 Jordon Nelson New Guyana School 558 Anjali Maharaj Marian Academy 557 Rachael Ramlall Marian Academy 557 Rajin Lee Marian Academy 556 Riley Nurse Mae’s Under 12 556 Joel Singh Mae’s Under 12 556 Breanne Boucher Genesis early Childhood 556 Luke Mangal Academy of Excellence 555 Ryon Sarjoo Swami Purnananda 555 Jenifer Chulai Strathspey Primary 555 Reuben Cush Kuru Kururu Primary 555 Roshni Samaroo Valmiki Vidyalaya 555 Vinaya Chatterdeo Mae’s Under 12 555 Omesh Dyal Port Mourant 555 Jessica Monohar New Guyana School 554 Alexandra Forrester Winifer Gardens Primary 554 Joshen Camacho Winfer Garden’s Primary 549 Joanna Mohan Enmore Hope Primary 549 Faraz Yassin Academy of Excellence 549 Lakeram Persaud Belle West Primary 549 Nabeel Baksh Leonora Primary 549 Isabella Balli Academy of Excellence 548 Chandrapaul Sukhu New Diamond/ Grove Primary 548 Ayushi Nandalall Mae’s Under 12 548 Chelsea Persaud Dharmic Rama Krishna 548 Jaheim Joseph Royall Halls of Learning 548 Lisa Green Concord Academy 547 Tabitha Darrell Green Acres Primary 547 Danielle Khan Green Acres primary 547 Joshua Gulab Mae’s Under 12 547 Keshav Doodnauth Mae’s Under 12 547 Raoul Nicholls New Guyana School 547 Zacharia Umrao Success Elementary 547 Natisha Persaud IPE Academy/Mon Repos 547 Akash Maniram Academy of Excellence 547 Natascia Sukhra Leonora Primary 547 Theresa Nascimento Greenwich Park Primary 547 Michelle Su Leonora Primary 546 Yogita Sookra Queenstown Primary 546 Jonathan Raghobar Corriverton Primary 546 Monita White Marian Academy 546 Akiela David St Gabriel’s Primary 546 Kayla Tilbury Westfield Prep 546 Ricardo Narine Success Elementary 545 Melinda Jairam Success Elementary 545 Atiyya Harry Academy of Excellence 545 Muhammad Boodhoo Belle West Primary 545 Joshua Melville Parafait Harmony Primary 544 Otylena Persaud Success Elementary 544 Tieanna Croal Watooka Day Primary 544 Kristen Bowen St Gabriel’s Primary 543

14 NEWS

wednesday, july 6, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

First Lady charges North Georgetown Primary graduates to pursue education

F

irst Lady Sandra Granger charged the 117 graduates of the North Georgetown Primary School to “seize all the opportunities offered by education”, even as she extended felicitations to them at the 16th annual prizegiving and closing ceremony, held at the National Cultural Centre Tuesday.

The First Lady emphasised that in order to enjoy what Guyana has to offer its citizens, its youth, which accounts for more than 50 per cent of the population,

must ensure that they were properly equipped with the knowledge, skills and talent to sustainably exploit our natural resources and to lead.

“Guyana cannot afford to have young people who do not know how to read or write, to speak or dress properly when they apply for a job, who do not know science and technology, which drives so much of our development these days.

We must educate ourselves so that we can work in those areas open for devel-

First Lady Sandra Granger appeals to students of the North Georgetown Primary School to continue to pursue their education at their graduation ceremony at the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday

opment, while at the same time ensuring that our development is sustainable,” she said.

The First Lady encouraged the graduates to chase after their dreams, set goals and work to overcome obstacles while pursuing careers of their choice. She charged them to fervently seek after their education so that they “will not only reap the rewards but also… be our best and finest citizens and distinguished members of our education nation”.

Meanwhile, Head Teacher Donette MunroeLiverpool said her school of 797 pupils and 28 teachers was “a warm and stimulating environment”, which exemplified its motto “To be the best”. She noted that the school has incorporated several innovative approaches in delivering its curriculum, and coupled with a robust co-curricular programme, has produced students who are well educated.

Munroe-Liverpool said the school has embarked on

a development plan, which focused on literacy and remedial work, and utilised new strategies of imparting subjects on the national timetable. At North Georgetown Primary, she said, “pupils are provided with the basic educational and social skills, values and attitudes that would enable them to prepare for easy transition to further learning to take their place in the world as useful, industrious, social beings fit to live and fit to live with.”

News

Suriname encourages Region to diversify economic offerings

S

Surinamese President Desi Bouterse

uriname’s President Desi Bouterse on Monday encouraged the Region to further diversify its offerings on the economic stage.

Bouterse was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 37th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Caricom Heads of Government in Georgetown.

According to the Head of State of the Dutchspeaking nation, the Region has faced a number of economic challenges especially now that other world economies are declining. According to him, Caricom Member States could no longer be dependent on extractive sectors such as oil, gold and other mining products which were now confronted with decreasing prices.

He said that although there had been recent improvements in the prices of oil and gold, the old prices for these commodities would not return in the foreseeable future.

“Even if the prices were to increase substantially, we cannot keep running our economies on prices that are so unstable,” the President told his counterparts and other special invitees at the opening ceremony.

He said small and medium-sized economies like the ones in the Caricom Region had almost no effect on market prices of commodities. As such, he implored the Region to diversify its economies by developing service industries to the point where they became solid earners characterised by sustainability. He said that States that were dependent on the extractive sectors needed to get together to discuss meaningful ways to shift from export of commodities.

“We have to join hands both nationally and regionally to consider effective ways to seriously improve service sectors and

productivity,” he said.

He outlined that Member States dependent on the tourism sector also had a similar challenge since there had been notable declines in the number of tourists travelling to the Region. He urged the Caricom Secretariat to establish a connection with experts who could advise on innovative ways of creating new packages for international tourists. He further said that it was important for the Region to improve the quality of the services provided to the world.

The Surinamese President said that in order to address the challenges, the Region needed to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and increase renewable energy. He said the Region would also need to promote more sustainable sectors in its economies. He said the development of sustainable energy sources such as solar power and power generated by the use of waste should become prime targets.

The issue of climate change was another matter raised by the President. He was particularly concerned about the inundation of coastlines in the Region as the sea rises. He said the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC ) –(COP 22) presented the Region with an opportunity to become more specific on its positions regarding the results of COP 21, which was signed off on recently in New York.

In closing, President Bouterse expressed his excitement about the multilateral and bilateral talks that would ensue during the meeting, and warmly welcomed the new leaders who recently joined the Conference of Caricom Heads.

15

wednesday, july 6, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

SARU a “toothless poodle” – Rohee …says PPP will remain strong

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee on Tuesday stated that the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) did not have any authority to arrest or prosecute anyone, labelling them a “toothless poodle”.

Rohee was addressing questions relating to the Pradoville 2 debacle, which involves several members of the previous Administration.

Reports have surfaced that the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) believes that there should be civil proceedings laid against the persons involved. However, SARU is insisting that criminal charges should be laid.

“Where the chips fall, let them go. If SARU thinks they have a case, then they have to take that matter to the DPP and the DPP will have to pronounce,” he said. “I don’t think SARU has any authority to ar-

rest or prosecute anybody.

They are just a body in the Ministry of the Presidency.”

He noted that “SARU doesn’t have any teeth… to me it is like a toothless poodle. There are only two agencies in this country that could arrest and prosecute: the Guyana Police Force, under the advice of the DPP Chambers”.

In October 2015, SARU released a report that stated that the former President’s Cabinet made a decision to instruct National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), which is the body tasked with overseeing the privatisation of State assets, to privatise State lands.

The report claimed that over $200 million was spent to develop the seafront community without the knowledge of the National Assembly and other relevant bodies.

The land was then sold by the previous Government

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

to officials. The report indicated that the land was undervalued and sold at a price significantly below the market value.

Rohee stated that the audit reports completed by SARU were scattered and disorganised. “They don’t seem to know what to do with these audits…some are with Ramjattan, some are with the Ministry of the Presidency and some are

with the Police…they all over the place.”

He stated that there should be no presumptions that the Party’s reputation would be tarnished by the findings and recommendations of SARU. “There is also a view that they seem to be dragging along these things to the next elections in order to do whatever they want to,” he opined, but noted that the PPP has withstood manipulations and has remained strong.

He said the Party was over 50 years old, and reiterated that there was no chance that its reputation would be damaged based on the findings of the audits.

“The PPP is over 50 years and I don’t think this new government, in respect of how many audits they are doing or how many provocations they are seeking to engineer, that will destroy the PPP party. It is a strong party,” he said.

16 news

wednesday, july 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Guyana-Japan US$3.8M Ramsammy’s Ruminations grant for rehab of EDWC Scandal in the health …phase 2 of plans handed over to NDIA

T

he US$3.8 million Japan grant for phase two of the rehabilitation of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) was on Tuesday transferred to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) at Flagstaff, East Coast Demerara.

The project, which stemmed from an agreement by the Japanese Government and the previous Administration in 2007, was divided into two phases.

Under phase one, eight excavators, two pontoons, aluminium boats along with engines, 4x4 trucks, GPS devices and laptops were procured.

Under phase two, US$3.8 million was provided by the Japanese Government through the Japanese International Cooperation Agency for the rehabilitation of six structures within the EDWC, at Sarah Johanna, Nancy, Annandale, Hope, Shanks and Maduni.

Making brief remarks at

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, Japanese Mitsuhiko Okada and NDIA CEO Frederick Flatts

the handing over ceremony were Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, Japanese Ambassador Mitsuhiko Okada and NDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fredericks Flatts.

Holder, in a statement released on the Government Information Agency site, said that “… after the 2005 floods, the East Demerara Water Conservancy’s Northern Relief Channel project was designed to provide the means to release

Ambassador

excess water in the conservancy when it is in danger of overtopping and breach”.

The Minister further explained that “rehabilitation of the East Demerara Water Conservancy- Component II” has realised construction and rehabilitation of six of the network’s 33 intake/relief structures to protect the EDWC dam from overtopping and collapsing during rainy seasons.

Ambassador Okada said

that climate change was a matter of great concern to all.

“I would like to commend the efforts of the different agencies involved for bringing the project to completion. Japan is committed to supporting developing countries in overcoming vulnerabilities and creating strategies to withstand the effects of climate change as evidenced by this grant.”

After being taken on his second tour to the project site by boat, the Japanese Ambassador expressed satisfaction and said his Government stood ready to help the people and Government of Guyana in the execution of suitable projects to aid in the country’s development.

NDIA CEO Flatts made similar comments as Minister Holder, adding that the 20 engineers who were trained in dam management, flood control and repairs recently.

These works will complement the Hope Canal project.

sector is an everyday business for APNU/AFC

T

he shame of a human foetus (a dead baby) being dragged away by a stray dog from a hospital must bring utter shame for every Guyanese, even if they are living abroad. This absolutely horrendous story reminds us all of the infamy of a baby being eaten by rats at the Georgetown Hospital when the People’s National Congress (PNC) was in Government. Now under APNU/AFC, the new name of the PNC, the health sector is rapidly deteriorating to bring back horrible memories of the disgrace that was the health sector of Guyana in the 1970s and 1980s.

The Guyana Times must be commended for keeping alive the disgusting story of a human foetus being dragged away by a stray dog from the East Bank Demerara Regional Hospital at Diamond. This Dr Leslie Ramsammy story is a scandal of epic proportion. It is a story of a failing health sector, a failing government and a media which has failed to hold APNU/ AFC accountable either because they are fearful or still in cahoots with them, looking for favours from a corrupt and incompetent government.

But why is a foetus in a garbage pail? Why are stray dogs still feeding in garbage dumps anywhere in a hospital compound? Why is it that personnel, including doctors and nurses, do not know what to do with a dead human foetus?

Is this merely just one of the known instances where this has happened, or is this just another routine example of a dysfunctional health sector? Surely, this is not the first time that a dead human foetus had to be discarded at the East Demerara Regional Hospital at Diamond. What happened on previous occasions when a dead foetus appeared at this and other hospitals in Guyana?

Each of these questions demands answers and the fact that any of these and other related questions have to be asked is itself scandalous. Had it not been for the reporting in the Guyana Times, TVG and Citizen’s Report, this scandal would have never been revealed and would have been another shameful routine occurrence. The horror of this story also depicts a media woefully falling short to hold APNU/AFC accountable.

I am well aware that there will be fall guys. Doctors and nurses are in the front of those who will be held responsible.

But the buck stops at the top. We cannot continue each day to hold investigations and then allow junior staff occasionally to be fall guys. There is a responsibility for senior personnel to be accountable too. Why it is that no one ensured that each hospital has active written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)? SOPs were in place when I was Minister of Health and were actively evaluated as part of the Service Agreements.

While the Minister of Health is not directly responsible for this particular fiasco of a human foetus being dragged away from a government hospital by a hungry stray dog, the buck does stop at him and his senior officers in the Ministry of Health itself. The present Minister of Health himself had demanded that his immediate predecessor resign from office for matters that make this one pale in comparison. Recall that Dr Bheri Ramsarran did resign for making derogatory remarks to a young woman. The media and the then APNU/ AFC demanded that Dr Ramsarran resign and he did under pressure from some of his own colleagues. When I was Minister any deficiency in the performance of the sector was enough to have APNU/AFC in a frenzy demanding my resignation.

Yet no one in the Ministry of Health from the Minister down to any of his senior executives will be held responsible for this shameful incident. But make no mistake the scandal of people getting sicker, disabled and even dying from avoidable causes in the health sector is an everyday, routine occurrence in our country today. People’s lives are at risk because of blood shortages, shortages of critical medicines such as insulin and antibiotics, shortages of supplies for the operating theatre causing deferral of life-saving surgeries, etc.

Add to all of these, the debacle of special interests in awarding the contract for the Specialty Hospital to Fedders Lloyd, totally disregarding standard government procedures.

Or add the fact that baby milk not permissible for sale in Guyana according to the Ministry of Health’s own laws and which cannot be sold for babies in the country of origin and manufacture (France) is allowed to still be sold, all because of special interest, rewarding an APNU/AFC donor, putting babies’ lives at risk. Something is rotten in Guyana and none is accountable.

Send comments to doc_ram@hotmail.com

17

news

wednesDAY, july 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Equitable healthcare delivery Housewife charged needed in Guyana – Dr Shako for giving false DOB

By Utamu Belle

D

irector of Regional and Clinical Services within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Kay Shako believes that in order to achieve a higher level of standard health care across the country, equitable and efficient delivery of healthcare services is needed.

While addressing a public consultation at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) recently, Dr Shako noted that while the Public Health Ministry has its mandate of ensuring adequate health care, it would have to depend on other agencies and organisations for assistance, adding that the regional administration also played a role in healthcare delivery. In her review of healthcare delivery in Guyana, Dr Shako contended that there has been some improvement.

However, she said Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine have had an inequitable distribution of healthcare services when compared to the other regions.

“I want to tell you today that the healthcare delivery process in Guyana has been improved to some extent…When we think about the delivery of health care here in Guyana, we need not to think about the Ministry of Public Health alone, but health is a collaborative process…In order for us to have effective and efficient delivery of health care, we need to put certain strategies in place…Now when we look at how health care is being

Director of Regional and Clinical Services, Dr Kay Shako

administered, we discovered also that health care is not equitably administered… so our mandate is to ensure that all of our Regions within Guyana enjoy, to some extent the same delivery of health care,” she noted.

Dr Shako reiterated that presently, the focus of the Ministry was on the strengthening of health systems, particularly equitable distribution of health care.

As such, she said embedded within the plans for 20152016, was ensuring that all health centres across the country were equipped with at least one doctor.

Drug shortage

In shedding some light on the issue of drug shortages at hospitals across the country, Dr Shako said doctors’ presence at health centres countrywide has contributed to the problem. An increase in drug supply, she

established, would be a direct way of helping to solve the problem.

“When we talk about the drug shortage that we have, none of us did not think about it being due to the number of doctors we would have had at the various health centres that would have been utilising those drugs that we have now. That is why we are having a shortage. So the process right now is to ensure that we have an increase in our drug supply, because if we have more doctors, we cannot order the same amount of drugs.”

Upgrading health facilities

Further, Dr Shako said maintaining and upscaling health facilities in hinterland locations to ensure that they have the capacity to deliver standard healthcare services was also a priority, noting that the Bartica Hospital, Region Seven is one of the locations which has all of the specialist care that is needed for efficient healthcare delivery.

The hospital, Dr Shako said, does not have to depend on medical outreaches, since all areas are equipped with necessary doctors and specialists. She added that the Ministry was currently working on areas such as Mahdia and Regions One and Nine to ensure that the hospital facilities are brought up to standard. The focus, she said, is on having specialists present at the facilities to ensure health care moves to another level.

A

housewife was on Tuesday granted bail after appearing at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of knowingly providing false information on her passport application form.

Musa, of Carlotta

Prince William Street, Plaisance, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on June 25, 2016, she stated on her passport application form that she was born on October 27, 1993,knowing the information to be untrue. The prosecution con-

tended that Musa despite knowing that the information was untrue, signed the declaration section of the form vowing all of the information was correct.

Musa was granted bail in the sum of $50,000 and will be returning to court on July 15.

Policeman slapped with illegal ammo possession charge

A

Policeman on Tuesday appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly to answer to the charge of illegal possession of ammunition.

Jermaine Camel, who resides on the East Coast of Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on June 24, 2016, Police ranks, acting upon information,

conducted a search of Camel’s belongings at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, Eve Leary and found ammunition.

In court on Tuesday, the prosecution pointed out only Camel has access to the cupboard where the ammunition was found.

Defence Attorney Mark Conway, however, told the Court that the am-

munition that was found was not in the possession of Camel, but in a shared cupboard. The cupboard is located in a room with eight bunk beds, the lawyer said. Attorney Conway requested bail for the defendant, but the prosecution objected. Camel was remanded to prison. The case will continue on July 20.

18

guyana-times.com

wednesday, july 6, 2016

News

Iraq sees worst bombing since CCJ rules in favour of invasion with 250 deaths Guyana Medical Council

T

he death toll from Sunday’s suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has risen to 250, the Iraqi Government says, making it the deadliest such attack since the 2003 US-led invasion.

A lorry packed with explosives was detonated in the Karrada district while families were shopping for the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it carried out the suicide attack.

An earlier estimate for the attack had put the toll at 165.

Iraq remains under an official state of mourning following the bombing.

The destruction of the area was all but complete.

Bewildered local residents have held candlelight vigils and prayed for peace.

Scores of people were also

– doctor loses claim for loss of earnings

T

The bombing in Karrada, Baghdad, on Sunday was one of the deadliest attacks by IS

injured, but most have been released from hospital, according to the Iraqi Health Ministry.

The Ministry said those critically injured had been sent abroad, without giving further details.

The bombing in a mostly Shia Muslim area just after midnight came a week after

Iraqi forces had recaptured the city of Falluja from IS. Reports said a lorry had been packed with explosives and left near the Hadi Center, popular with shoppers.

The powerful blast engulfed the area in flames.

Such was the chaos it took days for the scale of the attack to become clear. (Excerpt from BBC News)

he Caribbean Court of Justice Tuesday ruled in favour of the Medical Council of Guyana, resulting in Dr Rama Sahadeo, who was accused of sexual misconduct, being rejected in his claim for $20 million in loss of earnings after he was suspended from the Council.

Dr Sahadeo was suspended from medical practice in Guyana by the Medical Council, after he was accused of sexual misconduct in 1977 by past patients. This was subsequent to the doctor leaving Guyana on June 3, 1997 to seek medical treatment.

The doctor’s medical licence was temporarily revoked by the Council due to his consistent deficiency of attendance in Guyana from that time up

until July 29, 2000, based on the Medical Practitioners Act, which stipulates that an absence of over three years would compel the Council Secretary to have the doctor’s name eliminated from the Medical Register before he returned to the country.

Upon an attempt to renew his annual licence in 2000 and again in 2002, Sahadeo was informed by the Medical Council of Guyana that this could not be done without having his name cleared of the pending 1977 allegations. The doctor did not make an appearance before the Council to have his name cleared of the allegations.

Dr Sahadeo believed this act of having his medical licence revoked temporarily

to be illegal and so opted to have the matter taken to the Caribbean Court of Justice in 2003 to claim for loss of earnings.

The CCJ ruled that Dr Sahadeo was not entitled to his claim of $20 million for loss of earnings since he failed to provide a satisfactory response to the accusations of sexual misconduct, and was instead ordered to pay the Council’s costs in the CCJ and the Court of Appeal, to be assessed if they were not agreed.

Kamal Ramkarran appeared on behalf of the Medical Council, while Sir Fenton Ramsahoye SC, Roopnarine Satram, Chandrapratesh V Satram and Mahendra Satram appeared on behalf of Dr Rama Sahadeo.

FBI recommends no charges Rio 2016: Brazil’s interim against Hillary Clinton over emails leader dismisses worries T

B

razil’s interim President Michel Temer has written an open letter to international media reassuring readers that his country is ready to host the Olympic Games in a month’s time.

Temer says Brazil has put together “a solid security programme” to ensure visitors and athletes are safe.

He also dismissed “rumours” of a possible Zika outbreak.

The letter comes amid reports of athletes being robbed and pollution at the Olympic sailing venue.

Temer says Brazil will deploy 85,000 members of the security forces “to ensure that the sporting events take place in an atmosphere of absolute peace and tranquillity”.

Police have been carrying out security drills at the venues to prepare for any even-

Interim President Michel Temer says Brazil awaits visitors “with open arms”

tuality.

That is double the number of those deployed in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Two weeks ago, the Australian Olympic Committee called on Brazil to deploy extra security af-

ter Paralympic athlete Liesl Tesch had her bike stolen at gunpoint in Rio de Janeiro.

Tesch is not the only athlete to have become the victim of crime.

In May, three members of the Spanish Olympics sailing team were robbed at gunpoint while walking through Rio. The perception by some visitors of Rio as a dangerous city has not been helped by Police protesting about late payments and the high number of officers killed in the line of duty.

On Monday, June 28 and again on July 4, passengers arriving at Rio’s international airport were greeted by offduty officers holding a sign reading “Welcome to hell.

Police and fire fighters don’t get paid, whoever comes to Rio de Janeiro will not be safe”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

'Depressed' Argentina polar bear Arturo dies at 30

A

rgentina’s only polar bear has died at the age of 30, his zoo says.

Arturo, as he was known, came to the world’s attention two years ago, when thousands of people signed a petition asking for him to be transferred to a colder climate in Canada.

But the request was denied, as officials at the Mendoza zoo said he was “too old” to be sedated and moved.

His partner Pelusa died of cancer in 2012, and he was said to have developed depression af-

ter that.

A “blood circulation imbalance” caused a general decline in his health and Arturo died on Sunday, the zoo said.

He was already weak due to old age, they added, with failing eyesight and sense of smell. He was blind on his right eye.

In his last days, he suffered loss of appetite and was said to have lost significant weight.

A team was watching the animal and considered putting him to sleep in the case of extreme suffering but, according to the zoo, “nature took its course”.

Arturo was brought from the US at the age of eight, and was close to turning 31.

He lived all his life in the zoo in Mendoza, local media said, a city where temperatures can climb above 30C. Environmental groups including Greenpeace had argued that it was risky to keep polar bears in such a climate, and started a movement to get him out.

But officials also said he was “close to his caretakers” and ruled out his transfer. (Excerpt from BBC News)

he FBI has announced it will not recommend criminal charges against Hillary Clinton over her use of private email while she was secretary of state.

FBI Director James Comey said “no reasonable prosecutor” would pursue a case, but said the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee was “extremely careless” with classified information.

The decision ends the legal uncertainty that has dogged the Clinton campaign.

However, Comey was highly critical of Mrs Clinton and her staff.

There was no clear evidence that Mrs Clinton intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information, Comey said.

But he added: “There is evidence that they were extremely careless in their han-

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton

dling of very sensitive, highly classified information.”

The FBI’s key findings: it is possible that “hostile actors” gained access to Mrs Clinton’s email account there were more than 100 emails that contained classi-

fied information when they were sent or received, contrary to her claims Mrs Clinton employed multiple email servers and devices the FBI said Mrs Clinton did not delete emails in an effort to conceal them Although the criminal investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server is drawing to a close, the political fallout could last through the November general election.

The Democratic presidential nominee’s use of private email has been a talking point in the election, with critics saying Mrs Clinton believes she is above the law.

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump called the decision “very unfair” and said Mrs Clinton’s use of private email compromised national security. (Excerpt from BBC News)

2 women lead Britain’s PM race as pound and property dive

I

nterior Minister Theresa May opened up a commanding lead over her nearest rival, Andrea Leadsom, on Tuesday in the contest to become Britain’s next Prime Minister, but the race was overshadowed by post-Brexit carnage for property investors and the pound.

In a first ballot of Conservative Members of Parliament, May won 165 votes and Leadsom, a Junior Energy Minister, won 66, increasingly the likelihood that Britain will get only its second woman Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher.

Former Defence Minister Liam Fox won the fewest votes, 16, and was eliminated from the battle to replace David Cameron, who has said he will step down after Britons voted in a June 23 referendum to break away from the European Union.

Interior Minister Theresa May (left) and her nearest rival, Andrea Leadsom

The drawn-out selection process, in which Justice Minister Michael Gove won 48 votes and Works and Pensions Minister Stephen Crabb 34, will ultimately be decided by about 150,000 Conservative party members in September, once MPs have whittled the field down to two candidates.

But signs are already multiplying that concern about the impact of Brexit on trade, in-

vestment and business confidence are starting to hit the economy.

Three British commercial property funds suspended trading within 24 hours as too many investors tried to pull out their money at the same time.

Shares plunged in other property-related funds, and asset managers and insurers were also hit. (Excerpt from Reuters)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016

19

England v Sri Lanka, T20I, Southampton...

Dawson and Buttler drive England to thumping victory

L

iam Dawson pleased his Hampshire home fans by starring on debut with figures of 3 for 27 in four overs, before Jos Buttler - offered an unexpected opportunity to open the batting - eased England to a clean sweep of all three formats (and a resounding 20 points to four victory in the inaugural Super Series) with 73 not out from 49 balls, including three fours and four emphatic sixes.

Victory was duly sealed by eight wickets and with 15 balls left unused, thanks to an unbroken third-wicket stand of 114 in 79 deliveries between Buttler and Eoin Morgan, who rose above the dislocation of his left ring finger while taking a catch in the covers to produce his best innings of the year to date, an unbeaten 47 from 39 balls which included a firm swipe for six over wide long-on to cue the fireworks and wrap up England's first white-ball campaign of the summer.

Dawson, who was an unused member of England's World T20 squad, demonstrated his aptitude for the international stage by striking in each of his first three overs. In a composed and mature performance, he used his local knowledge to gauge the pace of the surface from the outset and cramp Sri Lanka's ambitions as they sought in vain to accelerate through the middle overs. On his watch,

they collapsed from 58 for 1 to 82 for 5, including a crass first-ball run-out for Dasun Shanaka, their ambitions of a defendable total over there and then.

Dawson's fellow England debutant, Tymal Mills, was no less impressive even though his maiden international wicket will have to wait for another day. In two bursts of two overs, at the front- and back-end of the innings, he returned figures of none for 22, conceding a solitary boundary in each spell as Sri Lanka struggled to align his fierce pace with a cunningly disguised slower ball.

According to the speed gun, Mills' fastest ball was also his first - a 92.5mph loosener on a good length outside off stump, and that line rarely strayed at any stage of his performance, allowing Morgan to trust him implicitly at either end of the innings. It is early days in an England career that could have been over before it had begun when Mills was diagnosed with a degenerative back condition two years ago, but the early impressions were exciting in the extreme.

Then again, Sri Lanka's batting was as haphazard as you might expect from a side that has been through the wringer in all formats during their two-month tour of England. Despite Angelo Mathews' insistence, after winning the toss, that this

Jos Buttler

contest was their opportunity to "end the tour on a high", many of the dismissals suggested that the only height that mattered any more was the cruising altitude of tomorrow's flight to Colombo.

"That has been the case for us right throughout the summer, we didn't get enough runs on the board," Mathews admitted afterwards. "We knew it would be a tough challenge but we just had to compete and give ourselves the best chance to win. Unfortunately batting, bowling or fielding has let us down in every single game...140 was a very average score."

On a pitch that had been shown, by England's wom-

en during their hard-earned victory over Pakistan earlier in the afternoon, to be somewhat slower than might have been anticipated, Sri Lanka succumbed to a diet of half-formed mows and drives that they might have got away with, had the ball been coming onto the bat.

Instead, as Mathews conceded, it was "stopping and turning" a bit off the surface, and, as a consequence, their attempts at acceleration took on, at first, an air of desperation and then, latterly, resignation. Chris Jordan, in particular, took command at the death, returning from a minor mauling in the Power play to claim three wickets for six runs in his final two overs of the innings.

Liam Plunkett's heavy artillery accounted for the dangerous duo of Kusal Perera and Seekkuge Prasanna before either could fully cut loose, while Adil Rashid's wrist-spin was typically slippery and varied, and included a T20 collector's item - the first maiden of his 20-over career.

Ramith Rambukwella, an off spinning all-rounder whose only previous match had come against New Zealand at Pallekele three years ago,

was tormented as he attempted to swing his way through the square boundaries. Though he eventually connected in Rashid's next over for one of only three sixes in the innings, he soon departed for 19 from 16 thanks to a direct hit at the nonstriker's end from James Vince at point.

In reply, England's innings stuttered at the outset as Jason Roy - flushed with understandable confidence after his recent glut of ODI runs - stepped across his stumps in Mathews' first over to be bowled round his legs for a duck, before Vince made it 30 for 2 in the fifth over when he lost sight of a deflection off his pads and was stumped by Dinesh Chandimal as he strayed out of his crease in search of an non-existent bye.

By that stage, however, Sri Lanka believed they ought to have had the big one. On 5, Buttler appeared to graze a thin nick through to Chandimal behind the stumps but the umpire was unmoved. Snicko soon revealed a large spike as the ball passed the edge, but with no DRS on offer for the T20 leg of the tour, Sri Lanka had no recourse.

"Chandimal was pret-

ty convinced he nicked it, but unfortunately it's one of those things, it happens," said Mathews afterwards.

"T20 is a fast game and you want it to be fast. It was one of those days when you think you might need that one DRS. But it was human error once again and we couldn't do anything about it."

The same could broadly be said of England's runchase, as Morgan appeared on schedule at No. 4, his finger numbed with painkillers and his timing and placement seemingly restored as a consequence. But it was Buttler's brilliance that ripped the game away. His promotion may only be a temporary measure, with Alex Hales rested for this game, but such was the clarity of his stroke play and the inevitability with which he swept England to the spoils; you have to wonder if it may prove to be longer-term plan.

That, however, will be a thought to shelve until September. For now, England's thoughts turn back to Test cricket and the rapidly approaching Lord's Test against Pakistan. For Sri Lanka, a long flight home awaits. It's been a bruising visit. (Cricinfo)

20

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016

Ponting calls for limits on bat sizes

Former Australia captain to suggest rule change at MCC World Cricket Committee F

ormer Australia captain Ricky Ponting has weighed into the debate on the increasingly chunky cricket bats, admitting he’d like to see a limit on bat thickness in Test cricket.

A member of the MCC World Cricket Committee, a ‘complementary body to the ICC’ comprised of past and present international cricketers, Ponting hopes to see a rule change brought about at next week’s meeting (July 11 and 12) at Lord’s.

Big bats are hardly a new phenomenon; the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, and more recently, MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle have long wielded heavy pieces of willow.

But what has become a concern in recent times is the ability of bat-makers to produce bats with thicker edges without adding extra weight to them. By using denser

Barry Richards compares one of his old bats with one of Warner’s in 2015 (Getty image)

wood, seen in David Warner’s bats for instance, players now have access to huge, but relatively light, bats.

While insisting he doesn’t blame players for using the

best equipment available to them, Ponting believes these advances in technology have skewed the balance between bat and ball in Tests.

“If you are strong enough

to use them that’s fine, but you should not get a bat that’s bigger in size than Dhoni’s but a whole lot lighter,” the 41-year-old said at the Australian Cricket Society’s annual dinner.

“Chris Gayle’s the same.

Everyone talks about Chris Gayle’s bat size, but it’s 3½lbs.

He’s big enough and strong enough to use it.

“I only get worried when they are really big and really light.”

Ponting will outline his concerns at the MCC World Cricket Committee meeting next Monday but is likely to face some debate on the matter in future meetings from former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum.

Speaking to cricket.com. au last month, McCullum, who will join the committee in October this year, said he considers the current regulations on bat sizes to be adequate.

“It’s still wood though isn’t it?” McCullum said of modern bats. “Ultimately, if you can find the best piece of wood you shouldn’t be penalised for that.

“It’s a natural product - it’s wood. If you’ve got the right people to find a piece of wood for you that’s big and you’re able to lift then, in my mind, play on.

“You’ve still got to be able to lift them. My bats are 3lbs 1oz for instance but you’ve got to lift them and that’s the thing.

“You’ve still got to be able to hook it off your nose when someone sniffs you at 140, 150 kph. You’ve got to get to the gym and get bigger and stronger. That’s the evolution of the game.

The 168-Test veteran wants to see new regulations for bat thickness (Getty image)

“I don’t think they need to regulate bat sizes, personally.

You shouldn’t be penalised for being able to lift a heavy bat or play with a heavier bat.”

A report commissioned by the MCC in 2014 found that while the length and width of bats has remained steady over the years, both the thickness of the blade and the size of the ‘sweet spot’ have increased dramatically.

The report found that bat thickness has increased up to 22 mm over the past century and the size of the ‘sweet spot’ on the face of the bat is almost two-and-a-half times larger.

The thickness of edges in modern bats has also increased by almost 300 per cent which, combined with greater stiffness to limit vibrations, means mis-hits can travel much further.

Despite those findings, the World Cricket Committee decided against placing any restrictions on bat sizes at a 2014 meeting.

But Ponting believes a different verdict could be reached at next week’s conference, set to feature fellow Australian members and former Test players Rod Marsh and Tim May, suggesting he’d like to the rule change applied only to the longest format of the game.

“I think it will happen,” he said. “I am going in a couple of weeks for a World Cricket Committee meeting and that will be one of the topics talked about.

“I don’t mind it (big bats) for the shorter versions of the game. I would actually say you’ve got a bat you can use in Test cricket and a certain type of bat you can use in one-day cricket and T20 cricket.

“The short forms of the game survive on boundaries — fours and sixes — whereas the Test game is being dominated too much now by batters because the game is a bit easier for them than it was.” (cricket.com.au)

YELLOW PAGES WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016 | WWW.GUYANA-TIMES.COM

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21

SPORTS

Women’s regional tournament bowls off tomorrow

T

he West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Women’s regional one-day tourney will bowl off on Thursday at various venues here. It is the first senior female tournament since the ladies won the World T20 and it is expected to be highly competitive.

It is also the first time in seven years that Guyana will host the tournament. All the teams competing have already arrived and are eager for action. The tournament is divided into the 50-Over section, which will run from July 7 to July 17 before the T20 games from July 21 to July 25.

The teams are as follows:

Guyana: Tremayne Smartt (Captain); Akaze Thompson (Vice Captain); Melaine Henry; Latoya Smith; Shemaine Campbelle; Kavita Yadram; Shakiba Gajnabi; Heema Singh; Plaffiana Millington; Subrina Munroe; Erva Giddings; Mandy Mangru; Lashuna Toussaint; and Kaysia Shultz. The Manager is Carol Nurse and the Coach is Andre Percival.

Windward Islands: Afy Fletcher (Captain); Akeira Peters; Holly Charles; Rackel Williams; Rosilia Registe; Krisani Irish; Qiana Joseph; Swaykine Williams; Nerissa Crafton; Roylin Cooper; Yasmine St Ange; Juliana Nero (Vice Captain); Glendeen Turtin and Stacy Ann Adams. The Manager is Eugena Gregg and the Coach is Cleton Burnette.

The female World T20 Champions will now have a chance to treat the local fans in what should be an exciting Regional 50over Tournament

Barbados: Shaquana Quintyne (Captain); Aaliyah Alleyne; Shamilia Connell; Deandra Dottin; Keila Elliot; Allison Gordon; Reshelle Griffith; Malissa Howard; Kycia Knight; Hayley Matthews; Shakera Selman; Carlene Taitt; Shanna Thompson and Tiffany Thorpe. The Manager is Monica Cumberbatch and the Coach is Erza Moseley.

Leeward Islands: Shawnisha Hector (Captain); Saneldo Willett (Vice Captain); Amanda Edwards; Jenisen Richards; Terez Barker; Eldora Sylvester; Sherma Jackson; Grace Persaud; Melicia Clarke; Jasmine Clarke; Davanna Claxton; Rozel Liburd; Kimberly Dookhan and Kerisha Powell. The Manager is Kattian Baltimore and the Coach is Percy Daniel.

Trinidad and Tobago: Merissa Aguilleira (Captain); Anisa Mohamed (Vice Captain); Rosalie Dolabaile; Karishma Ramharack; Shenelle Lord; Rachael Vincent; Lee Ann Kerby; Amanda Samaroo; Reniece Boyce; Stacy Ann King; Kirbyina Alexander; Britney Cooper; Kamara Ragoobar; and Selene O’Neil.

The Manager is Marjorie Thomas and the Coach is Gerald Garcia.

Jamaica: Stafanie Taylor (Captain); Chedean Nation (Vice Captain); Shanel Daley; Tameka Sanford; Natasha McLean; Jodian Morgan; Vanessa Watts; Roshana Outar; Alecia Bookal; Chinelle Henry; Jerona Walcott; Keneisha Ferron; Rashada Williams and Corrine Howell.

The Manager is Pauline WhiteAnderson and the Coach is Cleon Smith.

Digicel’s Schools Football Championship...

Orealla advance further in zone six

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rom left to right: Orealla’s goal scorers Donelle France, Miggel Devair, Veral Felix and Celon France

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realla Secondary is now one match away from the regional quarterfinals in zone six of the Digicel annual national schools knockout football tournament following their game on Monday.

Orealla stormed past Upper Corentyne Training College with a 9-nil victory on Monday at the Skeldon Community Centre.

Miggel Devair netted five times for the winners.

Backed by a vocal crowd, Orealla opened the scoring in the eighth minute when André France took a corner and sent the ball to the far post where Devair made good use of it.

Four minutes later, it was Devair again who rocked the back of the net,

this time with a shot from outside the 18-yard box which saw the goalkeeper Trevon Hope crumbling under pressure.

In the 22nd minute, Devair lost his main forward, Cameron Edwards, who was injured. He was replaced by Wilton Rodriguez, who could not get around the Upper Corentyne Training College as easily as Edwards did.

In the 29th minute, Celon France made it 3-0, scoring from within the 6-yard box.

In the 37th minute, Devair made it a hat trick for himself as the team continued to pressure the Training College’s defence. Seven minutes later, Devair scored again this time after dribbling through the middle.

The second half started with Upper Corentyne Training College dominating the first five minutes and in the 48th minute, their goalkeeper Dellon Lowe touched the ball for the first time in the game.

Donelle France scored in the 64th minute and Devair in the 70th. Desperate for a goal, defence player Ackime Sinclair scored against his own goalkeeper in the 78th minute. Veral Felix then sealed the issue with another goal in the 87th minute, allowing Orealla to secure a 9-0 victory.

Orealla will now meet the winner of JC Chandisingh today at the same venue for a quarter-final spot. (Andrew

Carmichael)

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2016

CPL officials banking on another successful leg in Guyana “We cannot wait for the games to start here”- Pete Russell

By Akeem Greene

T

he “Biggest Party in Sport” returns to Guyana in its fourth edition and Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Chief Operations Officer Pete Russell is expecting the enormous crowd support that usually attends matches at the National Stadium, Providence.

Speaking to media operatives on Tuesday, Russell said, “last year we had 56,000 people crammed in here to watch the games

over the four matches; that is what CPL is all about, it’s a heartbeat of what CPL is about, there were more fans here to watch the games than in Trinidad”.

He added, “Just walking in here and standing on that mound is just a great experience, that what CPL is about, it’s the biggest party in sport, we want people to come and have a great time and not just traditional cricket lovers but people who just want to be here for the experience because it is a fantastic at-

mosphere”.

The tournament which bowled off in Trinidad and Tobago on June 29, has attracted some sell outs crowds in the twin island Republic and St. Kitts, as such, Russell expressed his pleasure over the progress of the League thus far.

“We cannot wait for the games to start here; as you know the tournament opened in Trinidad and then St. Kitts, so we have been going around now for a week. We had some fantastic games, record

scores, I think the fact that Guyana won its first two matches is hugely exciting for everyone here in Guyana; the level of cricket is way up from last year”, the Operations officer explained.

CPL’s International Director of Cricket Tom Moody explained that this year, the tournament will continue to be an extremely exciting one considering the list of star-studded players participating.

Moody posited, “this year its quire evident the teams are all even, it’s very hard to pick a winner at this point; we are obviously thrilled we managed to attract some world class players.

He further stated, “It shines a light on the Caribbean but it shines the light on the game globally and its shows the CPL is a significant tournament globally”.

The excitement will start in Guyana when the Amazon Warriors play their first match against the Jamaica Tallawahs on July 7 from 19:00h. They then they tackle the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on July 9 from 12:00h.

The highly-anticipated clash against the Trinbago Knight Riders will bowl off at 19:00h on July 10, after

CPL’s officials Tom Moody (left) and Pete Russell

which they play their final home match against the St Lucia Zouks on July 12 from 19:00h Tickets for the matches are currently on sale at the new CPL office at 238 Camp and Quamina

Streets, Georgetown (old TVG building).

The cost per ticket is the same as last year: $4000 for the Red and Green Stands, $3000 for the Orange Stand and $2000 for the Grass Mound.

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2016…

Tridents down Patriots

Tridents secured their first win of the tournament, which puts them in fourth place on the points table (CPL T20 Ltd.2016)

A

game that was full of ebbs and flows at Warner Park, St Kitts saw the Barbados Tridents claim victory over the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Fifties from Shoaib Malik and AB de Villiers helped the Tridents to chase down a target of 163, but there were times where the game could have gone either way.

This was the third defeat in four home games for the St Kitts & Nevis side who have had a very disappointing series of games at Warner Park. In all of their matches they have competed

Trident to fall was Wayne Parnell who was pushed up the order to three and his stay ended when he a drove a ball from Perera straight to long on.

Malik fell for 54 (46) and that brought together AB de Villiers and Kieron Pollard with 55 runs needed from six overs. The two men made 58 in 28 balls to win the match for their team. De Villiers finished on 63 (33) a welcome return to form for a man who had not passed 50 in seven innings before this match, an uncharacteristic lean patch for the South African captain.

The Patriots had an

SCOREBOARD St Kitts and Nevis Patriots innings (20 overs maximum) L Simmons c †Pooran b Parnell 2 E Lewis c de Villiers b Khan 50 F du Plessis* c Shoaib Malik b Parnell 8 J Smuts b Shoaib Malik 14 J Carter c Parnell b Rampaul 41 D Thomas† run out (Parnell) 21 C Brathwaite c Pollard b Wiese 11 T Perera c Pollard b Wiese 4 K Santokie not out 1 Extras: (lb 2, w 8) 10 Total: (8 wickets; 20 ove rs) 162 Did not bat: S Badree, T Shamsi Fall of wickets 1-2 (Simmons, 0.2 ov), 2-21 (du Plessis, 2.6 ov), 3-40 (Smuts, 5.6 ov), 4-94 (Lewis, 12.3 ov), 5-138 (Thomas, 17.6 ov), 6-146 (Carter, 18.4 ov), 7-157 (Brathwaite, 19.2 ov), 8-162 (Perera, 19.6 ov) Bowling: Parnell, 4-0-222 (2w), Rampaul 4-0-39-1

throughout but one win is all they could manage. They will be hopeful of better returns on their travels over the coming weeks.

The Tridents chase was begun by Shoaib Malik who was promoted to open having batted at three in the Tridents opening fixture, and he did a fine job of anchoring the Bajan chase. There were two early wickets but Malik held firm to make sure there was no panic.

The first of those wickets came when Steven Taylor edged Thisara Perera to the wicket-keeper who could only parry the ball but the deflection looped up to Tabraiz Shamsi at point. The second

(2w), Malik 4-0-37-1, Nurse 1-0-12-0 (1w), Khan 3-027-1, Hosein 1-0-10-0 (2w), Wiese 3-0-14-2(1w) Barbados Tridents innings (target: 163 runs from 20 overs) S Taylor c Shamsi b Perera 3 S Malik c du Plessis b Badree 54 W Parnell c Brathwaite b Perera 16 AB de Villiers not out 63 KA Pollard* not out 25 Extras: (b 1, lb 1, w 3) 5 Total: (3 wickets; 18.4 ove rs) 166 Did not bat: D Wiese, AR Nurse, I Khan, AJ Hosein, N Pooran†, R Rampaul Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Taylor, 3.1 ov), 2-45 (Parnell, 7.3 ov), 3-108 (Shoaib Malik, 13.6 ov) Bowling: Santokie 3.4-026-0 (2w), Badree 4-0 -371, Brathwaite 3-0-20-0 (1w), Perera 3-0-31-2 Shamsi 4-0 -41-0, Smuts 1-0-9 -0

eventful start to their innings when they won the toss and elected to bat. The very first ball was top edged

by Lendl Simmons off the bowling of Parnell but Imran Khan could not hold on to a swirling catch at fine leg.

The very next ball there was an appeal for caught behind against Simmons which the umpire gave out.

Parnell picked up another wicket in his next over, this time the St Kitts & Nevis captain was the man dismissed – Faf du Plessis caught in the deep. JJ Smuts was brought into the side in the place of Brad Hodge and he too departed inside the batting PowerPlay, bowled around

his legs by Shoaib Malik to leave the Patriots struggling at 40-3 after six overs.

While wickets were falling at the other end Evin Lewis continued the fine form that saw him score a matchwinning 73 in the Patriots last match against the St Lucia Zouks. Here he made a 32-ball 50 as he top-scored for his team for the second successive match, combining with Jonathan Carter in a partnership that was worth 54. Lewis departed caught in the deep attempting to hit his third Hero Maximum but he was well caught by AB de Villiers at deep mid-wicket.

Carter picked up the pace when Lewis left, but he should have been dismissed on 26 when Ashley Nurse dropped a straightforward catch at long-off. He made the most of his life as he hit three Hero Maximums on his way to 41 as the Patriots managed 162-8, a decent total but not one that they could defend.

23

Tallawahs touch down!

The Jamaica Tallawahs arrived in Guyana on Tuesday afternoon ahead of their Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match against the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Thursday from 19:00h at the National Stadium, Providence. Dale Steyn (far left) and Kumar Sagakakra along other players and officials on the team bus at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (John Ramsingh Photo)

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016

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

CPL officials banking on another successful leg in Guyana Pg 22

“We cannot wait for the games to start here”- Pete Russell

Tridents down Patriots

CPL Chief Operations Officer Pete Russell (examining pitch) in the presence of CPL’s International Director of Cricket Tom Moody (3rd from left) and other tournament officials at Providence on Tuesday (Paul Vanvield

Photo)

Barbados Tridents leftarm seamer Wayne Parnell bowled a pacey spell that knocked the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots batsmen off their heels (CPL T20 Ltd.2016)

Pg 23

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