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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3073 guyanatimesgy.com

LOOK INSIDE !

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

December 18, 2016

PPP cannot be trapped by philosophy – Jagdeo

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Hosted under the theme, “Strengthen the Party, Defend democracy, Onward to Victory", the People's Progressive Party on Saturday convened its 31st Congress at Cotton Field Secondary School, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). At the opening ceremony, the diplomatic community, Private Sector members, Diaspora representatives and members of civil society were present along with the delegates

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Top Cop developing ‘security intelligence’ within Police P7 Force …before “riding off into sunset”

One injured in EBD P17 smash-up

Gross human P15 rights violation in Indigenous communities – APA

…tells Congress to rebuild for resounding victory in 2020

Prison raid leads to narco bust

PRICE

Guyana a “transit” hotspot for drug traffickers – CANU Head

Chairman P18 claims President hands over $1M to wrong PTA …as controversy brews over Kwakwani school repairs

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NFMU lashes out at Tony Vieira …says he is unprofessional, reckless, anchored in past

Police hunt 2 in ECD robbery P8

2 news

SunDAY, december 18, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana a “transit” hotspot for drug traffickers – CANU Head

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s Guyana continues its fight against narcotics trafficking, Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) James Singh has stated that the country’s geographic location and porous borders continue to be a safe haven for drug traffickers.

According to Singh, “transit” is a drug problem that causes the most crime and violence, and poses the greatest security concerns and challenges in the countries where it occurs such as Guyana.

“Due to our geographic location, we are stuck in the middle between the suppliers in the Andean Region and the users, which as we have seen over the years, has gone all the way from North America to Europe, Africa and as far as Asia,” the CANU Head pointed out during a presentation at the launch of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan on Friday. The four-year plan aims at tackling the rising use and transport of licit and

illicit drugs.

He noted that destinations of cocaine seizures in Guyana at both CANU and Police levels include the Caribbean, North America, Europe, Africa, Thailand and South Africa. Singh explained that the main reason for this expansion of the illicit trade from Guyana is cost, whereby these new destinations have much lower cost for the narcotics than the tradition destinations.

Drug cartels’ trade

The CANU head posited that recently, there has been a development of trade between drug cartels, that is, for 1000 kilograms of marijuana one can get a 100 kilograms of cocaine. “There is an ongoing trade and so we have gone from just transshipment to almost bartering – that is, for better marijuana, you get cocaine,” he stated.

Moreover, Singh pointed out that while Guyana is bordered by Venezuela, Brazil, Suriname and the

Atlantic Ocean, its NorthCoast particularly comes under the microscope for scrutiny.

“Most of the traffic involving narcotics comes by sea, it comes by sea or leaves sea because of volume – whether it’s a container ship or a small cargo vessel,” he stated. Guyana has a 670 kilometer border with Venezuela, a 1200 kilometer border with Brazil, a 624 kilometer border with Suriname and a 424 kilometer border with the Atlantic Ocean.

The CANU head went on to show photographs of two suspicious drug trafficking operations, noting that because of the lack of the relevant and adequate resources, the agency is unable to take further actions on these.

Collaboration

Nevertheless, he said that CANU is currently working along with its local counterparts such as Guyana Defence Force

CANU Head James Singh

Coast Guards, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) to monitor the situation.

“We have to constantly ensure that we take the fight and we are seen as proactive and not reactive…

The whole idea is to stop the flow of drugs, the whole idea is getting people to go elsewhere and not take advantage of a country like ours, which some may say lack the resources as others.

However, Singh outlined

that cooperation with international partners is also a major factor in the work of CANU. He mentioned a case last year whereby a vessel that left Guyana was loaded with five tons cocaine and seized just off the coast of Aberdeen in Scotland.

“It is due to the legal assistance cooperation as well as the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea which gives us the authority to empower other nations to stop vessels registered in Guyana or also coming from Guyana and search. So you read about the seizures that occurred overseas but it was actually due to cooperation between us and that country that would have resulted,” he remarked.

In addition to the many issues that local law enforcements face such as corruption and judicial reforms, the CANU Head noted that the lack of resources remain the major challenge but at the same time, they are cognisant of the fact that Guyana is a small country and can-

not afford the cutting edge resources that other countries may have.

To this end, he highlighted the importance of collaboration with partners both locally and internationally, especially with the emergence of new and innovative methods of drug trafficking.

“We have to maintain a strong posture because if we are seen as being weak or we just keep saying that we don’t have the resources, we can’t do this then people are going to take advantage; so even when we are weak, we need to appear strong and that’s where it comes to close collaborations,” he stated.

Singh went on to say that the National Drug Strategy Master Plan gives CANU the opportunity to not only deal with the enforcement aspect of fight drug trafficking but the education aspect.

He posited that CANU’s aim is not only to go out there and just look for drugs, but to deter people from bringing the illicit substance into the country.

NEWS

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, December 18 – 08:30h-10:00h and Monday, December 19 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, December 18 – 07:35h-09:05h and Monday, December 19 – 08:30h-10:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while light rain showers are expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North Easterly to East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tides: 07:28h and 19:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.47 metres and 2.51 metres respectively.

Low Tides: 00:59h and 13:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.60 metre and 0.78 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2016

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PPP cannot be trapped by philosophy – Jagdeo …tells Congress to rebuild for resounding victory in 2020

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pposition Leader and Central Executive Committee member of Guyana’s longest serving political force, Bharrat Jagdeo, opened the 31st Congress of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) with much vigour as he charged each member to join the efforts to rebuild the Party as they pave the journey for a resounding victory in 2020.

For the three days, members will brainstorm to draft mechanisms that can propel the Party in the direction of success with the view of continuing to transform the lives of every citizen for the better.

With a renewed sense of commitment and enthusiasm, Jagdeo told the masses at the Cotton Field Secondary School in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) that the PPP is a party for everyone and encouraged the stalwarts, young, and the new bloods to combine their efforts, knowledge and ideas to make the Party stronger.

Reform Jagdeo urged members to face reality and accept that weaknesses exist within the Party which ultimately led to their narrow defeat in the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

“If we do not have honest opinion then we cannot fix the problems that led us to being in Opposition, how do we rebuild from this as a party?” he emphasised.

Jagdeo, who served as Head of State for 12 consecutive years, noted that the aim of the Congress is to identify and examine all weaknesses and then make recommendations to improve the deficiencies.

He maintained, however, that the PPP was cheated during the last elections but conceded that that aspect was not the main reason behind its current Opposition status.

Additionally, he said the PPP needs to begin the process of decentralisation and to build up its local leaders so that the Party is in “tip top” shape to address the challenges in society.

Jagdeo also dismissed suggestions that the older party members are being side-lined, emphasising that their wealth of knowledge serves as the backbone of the PPP’s devel-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the Congress on Saturday at the Cotton Field Secondary School in Region Two

PPP needs to begin the process of decentralisation and to build up its local leaders so that the Party is in “tip top” shape to address the challenges in society. – Jagdeo opment.

He said it should be the honour of the stalwarts to instil the requisite knowledge and provide guidance to those upcoming vibrant minds who

He acknowledged that though times have changed, the PPP will always be thankful to its Founding Leader Dr Cheddi Jagan.

“We will continue to work

ported the APNU/AFC are now missing the PPP. “In 19 months people have begun to miss us badly; imagine their own supporters are missing us now, I want to promise you that we will emerge bigger, better and stronger next elections; we have to use this period as Opposition to strengthen ourselves, if we don't then we won't be living up to the standards we set. There are great expectations of us, those who voted for us and also those who have not.”

Jagdeo outlined that this Government is not only incapable of managing a country but its ministers are bereft of ideas on how to stimulate the local economy and have exhibited an appetite for greed, mediocrity and arrogance. “This Government has made deception a form of art,” he posited.

Transformational ways Meanwhile, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee also delivered a keynote ad-

PPP members came out in numbers to the Congress on Saturday

possess the vibrancy to thrust the Party forward.

Jagdeo also stressed that long-standing members should take pride in encouraging youths and women and to send a message that the PPP is open to all Guyanese.

The politician noted too that it is time to reach out to the disgruntled and disappointed A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) supporters who are also facing the burdens unleashed by the coalition Administration.

In this regard, Jagdeo underlined that the PPP will forever remain committed to the fundamental principle of being patriotic and tending to the needs of the grassroots.

on his methodology to effect change,” Jagdeo declared.

Proud track record Jagdeo, who also serves as the nation’s Opposition Leader, spoke about the mayhem plaguing the country’s economic system at the hands of the coalition Government and empathised with the struggles of Guyanese.

Contrasting the two Governments, Jagdeo pointed out that the PPP has much to be proud of, since the pre-independence struggle to the 1992 elections victory, which ended 28 years of rigged elections under the PNC dictatorship.

He observed that the times are worrying once again, noting that even those who sup-

dress highlighting that over the years, the Party contributed to good governance, national independence and freedom for all. Rohee recognised the invaluable contributions of all the stalwarts of the Party and expressed admiration of the strength of the Party support base. He highlighted that the PPP, whether it is in or out of power, has changed and touched many Guyanese lives in transformational ways.

Meanwhile, PPP member Indra Chandarpal offered remarks on behalf of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), highlighting that in the coming years, the PPP must aim to bolster its leadership.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

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

Oil Share

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ack on June 14, 1999, Exxon Corp signed what purported to be a “Production Sharing Contract” (PSC) with the Government of Guyana (GoG) for petroleum exploration in the Stabroek Bloc. However, it now appears the contract was actually a “prospecting licence” since, according to the GoInvest site, a “petroleum production licence is issued if a commercial petroleum discovery is made.”

Sixteen years later, in May 2015 oil was struck by what had now become ExxonMobil, along with its two partners, at their Lisa 1 well. After three other wells confirmed the existence of a field containing at least 1.1 billion barrels of oil, on June 29, 2016, the GoG and the consortium signed what Finance Minister Jordan announced was a “Production Share Agreement.” He averred there were no alterations from the original terms of the PSC and his Government simply wanted to assure the investors the agreement would be respected in its “entirety”. However, it was only on November 16 that ExxonMobil partnership (hereafter the “IOC” – International Oil Company) officially gave notice of its find of commercial quantities of petroleum in the Stabroek Field and brought Guyana to the threshold of its “oil age”.

But Guyana has to wait until Exxon is satisfied with the ongoing appraisal and completes the “Development Planning Stage”, which is critical especially in a period where oil prices have plummeted to historic lows. In this phase, the IOC weighs options involving factors such as net present value of the oil reserves, oil recovery, operational flexibility and scalability, capital versus operating costs profiles and risks - technical, operational, political and financial.

In the end, the OIC will decide if it will make money for its shareholders and it is at this state that governments have to weigh and balance their legitimate interest in getting the best value for an exhaustible resource versus their recognition that they need the expertise and capital of the IOC. Once this is done, the IOC will make its Final Investment Decision (FID) before the oilfield is actually physically “developed” for actual production. From then on, until the reserves are exhausted, which may take decades, the IOC will seek to improve efficiencies in production.

The GoG has advised the people of Guyana it is looking to the experience of Uganda, which has a head start on Guyana in having oil discovered offshore and working out the modalities for production. The Ugandans, for instance, have stipulated that within two years after notice of commercial quantities is given the development of the field must begin. In terms of the fiscal regime, Uganda combines a royalty with a share-of-profits package.

This serves to ensure Uganda obtains funding regardless of the profitability of the operations since royalties – ranging from 5-12.5 per cent - come off the gross. Guyana will not impose the payment of royalties on oil production. Additionally and unlike Guyana, a corporate tax of 30 per cent is assessed by Uganda on the profits of the IOC, while an annual charge is paid by the IOC once the production licence is granted.

Guyana has not required this payment.

In skeletal form the Guyana fiscal regime consists of a “Production Sharing Agreement” where the IOC “shall be allowed to share the profit oil with Government so that Government shall have no less than fifty percent (50%) on a ‘per field’ basis.” Being “ring fenced”, losses from one field cannot be transferred to other fields. But while this “50% share” sounds generous, since the IOC “can enjoy a maximum or a ceiling of seventy-five percent (75%) of recoverable costs per month”, Guyana will receive 50 per cent of very little after all those exploration and other costs are deducted – especially in a depressed oil market.

Finally, in a remarkably generous gesture, unlike the Tanzanian 30 per cent income tax on the IOC’s profits, in Guyana, “the tax obligations of the contractor under the Income Tax, Corporation Tax, and Property Tax shall be satisfied through the Government’s share of profit oil.”

In effect, Guyana will pay the IOC’s taxes.

Roraima Airways on Friday evening hosted its inaugural Correspondent Awards which saw a number of media houses, including Guyana Times, as well as journalists, being awarded. The inaugural Correspondents ‘Awards and Appreciation Dinner was held at the Roraima Duke Lodge, Duke Street, Kingston (Dexter Ceres photo)

Granger Govt has now embarked on a journey of “detour and frolic” Dear Editor, We as a group have not written a formal letter since May 2015. We were committed to the principle that President Granger must have his 100 days to set his foundation for the next 5 years. Even though we were very disappointed at what produced after those 100 days due to the incompetence of the Granger-led administration, we thought that we must provide him with some more time since he claimed that the economy was in such a bad shape after the PPP lost the elections. But falsehood must be exposed and President Granger today stands as a messiah of falsehood when it comes to how he has managed the nation - like a titular President who is checked out, the new Arthur Chung.

In 18 months, we have found verifiable cases of some 20 incidences of malfeasance, mismanagement of the Treasury and plain old nepotism on the part of the Granger-led administration. There is now enough evidence to confirm that the Guyanese people were duped by these geriatrics, as they practice their wicked trade of detour and frolic. We can find very little evidence that this Granger-led administration is any better than a Ramotar-led administra-

tion.

We are on record for firmly calling out the Ramotar-led administration for their blatant acts of nepotism and mismanagement of the nation. We think that we have earned the right as members of the Diaspora and civil society to call out these wanton acts of financial rape that are happening every day under this Grangerled administration. It must be opposed, exposed and if necessary deposed. And the most powerful sword to carry out this battle is the pen.

This latest nepotistic act of providing two sitting Ministers appointed by the PNC to Granger’s Cabinet with some $6.6 million per year to fund their studies is nothing but abhorrent. In total over the life of their studies, collectively these two Ministers will cost the nation some G$26 million.

That is enough money to build at least one brand new low-income house for a poor and deserving family in every Administrative Region of Guyana.

Anyone with any modicum of integrity will know while serving as a sitting Minister, they ought to focus on their jobs 100 per cent. Poor people lives are depending on their performance. And this foolish excuse that because the PPP had granted Robert Persaud a schol-

arship while he was a sitting Minister, is utter nonsense. It was wrong under the PPP and it is wrong today under the Granger-led government.

President Granger has now reduced the management of the affairs of the State into nepotistic frolic because if he was morally centred, he would have known that the responsibility of a Minister is for decision and policy making in a government. That is not a part-time job.

These Ministers are being paid G$18 million each in wages and benefits to supervise several Government departments and at least one of them is an abysmal failure as a policymaker, in the case of Minister Henry. But yet, over the next 3 years, President Granger will have allowed these two Ministers to commit alleged legal larceny by distributing some $125 million of the people's money to their benefit (wages, other benefits, school fees, travel, and so on) while they work part-time. But what is painful is this same Granger government continues to say they have no money to pay the ordinary workers a living wage. Heartlessness from the geriatrics.

This modus operandi from President Granger is that he and his cabi-

net has “the first call on the Treasury for their personal among equals”. This situation exposes him for what he really is; a political fraud who never had the welfare of the people at heart all along. Fool us once, it is on you, but you dare not fool us twice and that is why our pens are out once again after some 19 months in hibernation.

The majority of people now have no confidence in him as the Local Government Elections revealed. How dare he tell the Diaspora to stop writing? Is he a dictator? Those with wisdom will know that the pen is mightier than the sword, so why would they surrender that advantage? We leave the nation with this historical metonymic adage which says: “Beneath the rule of men entirely great The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold The arch-enchanters wand! — itself is nothing!

— But taking sorcery from the master-hand To paralyse the Caesars, and to strike The loud earth breathless!”

Our journey Part Deux now begins.

Sincerely, Asquith Rose and Harish Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

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

Goodwill for the holidays Dear Editor, Soon mankind the world over will once again after two thousand and sixteen years be observing and celebrating Christmas.

Yet, as we watch the news and look around us, what we do see: bombings, wars, terrorist attacks, injustice between rich and poor, oppression by those in power over the powerless.

Where is the much yearned for era of peace, so anticipated by people of goodwill?

Peace, we must remember, is first and foremost the fruit of justice. Hence, the common slogan during many protests and marches: “No justice, no peace.”

So, how can we do our part to help usher in an era of peace in our world and in our communities? For starters, by confronting injustice in our own lives, and in those we meet.

Are we discriminating against another, looking down upon another because of the colour of their skin, their different religious beliefs, or way of dress? Then perhaps we need to confront that in our own lives.

Is a student at school or a colleague at work isolated and ostracised because they don’t make the cut and do not fit into the group? Stand up for that person and speak out, even when at risk of being ostracised yourself.

When we see a person down on their luck, do what we can to assist them, remembering that one day we may find ourselves in the same situation.

May the love and peace shared by the celebration of the birth of the child Jesus permeate the hearts of all people of goodwill.

Yours faithfully, Rooplall Dudhnath

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

"The only way change happens is when people become more significantly involved in the political process." – Bernie Sanders

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Anu Dev

fter weeks of increasingly rising expectations about spending my Christmas vacations with my family after a semester's grind, I've been home for a day. And I was greeted with a GPL special - an all-day blackout. It's been frustrating, annoying and most of all, just plain disappointing.

After reading about the anger at the imposition of VAT on electricity bills - which was already nine times more expensive than Trinidad's - I realised the GPL blackout outrage is merely a trope of the deeper malaise that ails our country.

If a government decides to impose a very unpopular tax on a basic utility service, but cannot guarantee a regular supply of that service, then something has to be fundamentally wrong since it must know the anger of the population will only increase.

And rational governments don't deliberately provoke its people's anger. What I think is, the blackouts are just a symptom of

mismanagement that pervades all levels of government and this is partly because we're not involving all our talents.

I've always been "prostaying" in Guyana… you know, "anti-brain drain". I've always felt strongly about remaining here to develop Guyana. I've sometimes felt disappointed in those who have left Guyana behind for "greener pastures".

I think it's because I've never really understood that urge to leave one's native country. But I'm starting to understand: it's most likely not the result of a single big event or happening, but the culmination of a string of events over time that go awry - events that people in other countries take for granted. It's not too much to ask that one flicks the switch and the light goes on, is it? That you can type your article and have the Wi-Fi give you Internet connection to send it to the editor?

It can't be an easy decision to leave your homeland, but if even the daily routine becomes a struggle, it can wear a person down. And one event can then make you snap. They say hope

springs eternal in the human breast. If the government (both the incumbent and their predecessors) can claim a single "achievement", it'll probably they're slowly snuffing out that hope for the youths of Guyana.

Irrational decisions following even more illogical ones when it comes to managing the affairs of our country. The sugar industry is slowly going down the tubes, but where has been the responsibility placed on those who were placed at the upper ranks to manage GuySuCo? It seems to me that it is only the ordinary workers who toil in the factory and fields who are facing the tragedy of an industry-wide collapse.

What faith we can have in our government to do better with the oil that is supposed to start flowing by the end of the decade? If they could not negotiate better deals for our sugar markets, better working conditions for the workers and better factories to manufacture the sugar, are the deals for our oil going to be any less disastrous? Disaster does seem to be our tradition when it

comes to managing institutions.

Maybe the government knows why it hasn't chosen to plunge into hydroelectricity generation, "Land of many waters" notwithstanding! It might not know what to do when GPL can provide uninterrupted power supply!

I could not help following political developments in the US. Obama had run on a message of hope and change, but he faltered. People had someone to look up to for hope. Bernie Sanders challenged the status quo. Sure he lost, but at least there was someone with a moral compass speaking out. People had someone to rally around.

I do believe that at this point Guyana needs new leadership who have that moral compass… but leaders who will be prepared to correct than managerial malaise that is destroying hope in our country, by involving all Guyanese.

It's easy to become cynical in the present atmosphere, how could you not? But the GPL's power supply was just resumed and hope is rekindled once again.

– 4 tips from Forgiveness Therapy

By Robert Enright, Phd

S

o often I hear the groans from those who anticipate the family conflicts along with the good cheer during the holiday season. The person gets a bit round-shouldered anticipating Uncle Benny’s insults or Aunt Harriet’s complaints about the new beard or the new tattoo. From the files of ‘Forgiveness Therapy’ come four tips to help overcome the fear and the build-up of resentments that so routinely occur: 1.Before the holiday gathering, commit within your own mind and heart to do no harm to Uncle Benny or Aunt Harriet no matter what they say or do. This does not mean that you refuse to stand up for yourself.

It does not mean that you refuse to ask for fairness, but it does mean that you refuse to be mean in return. “Do no harm” requires great courage and patience. It is worth the effort so that you do not engage in an incessant exchange of acrimony.

2. Before you meet, start doing some of the work of forgiveness. See Uncle Benny and Aunt Harriet as fully human. Aren’t we all special, unique, and irreplaceable... even the uncle and aunt? If all persons have worth, then so too do those who insult you and complain about your current life-style choices.

3. Before asking the relatives to pass the mashed potatoes, try to see their own pain, the unseen pain, the

forgotten pain from perhaps years ago. Uncle Benny’s insults do not necessarily emerge spontaneously from some unknown cause. Was he insulted by one of his relatives years ago? Did he grow up with a self-image that was more in the gutter than on solid ground? Was he hurt, and then nurtured the hurt, and then became angry, and now he expresses this directly to you? Who, then, is Uncle Harry? Is he a holiday ogre or a wounded and even lonely person?

4. If you can, try to converse with Uncle Harry and Aunt Harriet with civility and love and a comforting smile. For this kind of interaction, please know that it takes great inner strength. If you can converse in this way, and be genuinely interested in them as persons, what does this tell you about who you are as a person? Does this show you that you, too, are a person of great worth, one who does no harm, who tries through your own pain, to see the pain in others, who strives to bind wounds rather than create them? You, I hope you see, can give the gift of forgiveness when others, even if unconsciously, offer discontent, discord, and division. You, I hope you see, are stronger than you thought you were. You are a conduit of good in the family.

The lessons from Forgiveness Therapy may result in unexpected insights and perhaps even joy as you anticipate the family gathering. (Psychologytoday.com)

7 Prison raid leads to narco bust news

Top Cop developing ‘security intelligence’ within Police Force

sunDAY, december 18, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

… before “riding off into sunset”

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ith just a few months left under his belt before his retirement next year, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud is looking to develop ‘security intelligence’ within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to further strengthen its mandate.

This project is among three recently outlined by the Top Cop to be implemented in 2017, when he will be closing the curtains on his 30plus years law enforcement career. The other two projects have to do with having officers more closely monitor communities at the station level and developing the Force’s Public Relations (PR) Department to reach the younger generation.

“I intend to fully implement these three major projects before I ride into retirement. I think they are all achievable and I think with the team that I have right now at the top of the Force, it is something that we will be able to implement very smoothly,” he remarked at an event on Friday. The Police Commissioner explained that the Police Force has significantly developed its crime intelligence outside of the Special Branch, which has proven to be more beneficial both on the tactical side as well as the strategic end. At the same time, however, he explained that the Force’s security intelligence has been lagging. “We have a very strong crime intelligence but we have a not so strong (security) intelligence that deals with other factors such as borders, espionage and the different kinds of political objection groups, activism and that kind of stuff,” he stated.

To this end, Persaud disclosed that the GPF has turned to its Jamaican counterpart – the Jamaican Force Constabulary, which is said to have the best Police intelligence system in the Caribbean – to lend assistance in developing its security intelligence.

He added that already, a team from the Caribbean Island came to Guyana and

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Camp Street Prison

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

conducted an analysis during this year. A report was since produced and based on the recommendations made, an operational plan for implementation has been developed and is now with the Public Security Minister for approval, the Police Commissioner noted. He said that once the Minister gives the green light, this project will be implemented next year.

Meanwhile, the second project that Commissioner Persaud is seeking to have rolled out ahead of his 2017 retirement will tackle two areas; having a specific group of ranks focusing on a particularly geographic area within the Police Station’s district and this will in turn hold specific persons accountable at frontline levels.

According to the Top Cop, this initiative has already been introduced at some Police Stations with teams of ranks being given responsibility for a geographic area within the district of the station. The Station Sergeants are expected to manage this initiative to ensure effectiveness. He noted that this way, the ranks would know the households, the people living within that community, the businesses operating there and the nuisances affecting the community in order to be better able to provide Policing servicing within that community.

“If that community is getting worst, those are the people who will be called upon personally to be accountable,” he stated.

On the other hand, the third project involves

enhancing the Force PR Department, which Commissioner Persaud said has been suffering and just woke up. He disclosed that an in-house team is currently working along with PRO, Superintendent Jairam Ramlakhan, to develop a plan for next year.

The Top Cop noted that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has already offered assistance and the Force is looking to collaborate with other organisations or individuals with expertise in this area to add to a workable plan for next year.

“So you are likely to see a lot of changes in the way we do public relations and I think that will benefit not only the media, but the society. I have made mention in recent time to the millennial generation; they are people who we are seeing entering the justice system, meaning they are being arrested for crimes and there are persons who play video games and live on social media. They don’t watch the news on television and don’t read the newspapers. So the positive messages that come through those medium does not impact them,” he stated.

In this effort, the Commissioner noted that he along with A Division (Georgetown) Commander Clifton Hicken, met with about 25 entertainers such as DJs and promoters, soliciting their help to get positive messages from the Force across to people who go to the parties or listen to specific radio programmes.

(Vahnu Manikchand)

ust over a month after a joint operation at the Camp Street Prison unearthed a quantity of prohibited items, another raid was conducted on Saturday morning which led to the discovery of narcotics, among other contraband items.

The raid was carried out by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Prisons Service and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). Among the items found are 448 grams of narcotics, 18 cellular phones, 16 phone chargers, 39 improvised weapons, 39 lighters, 53 packs of cigarettes, 126 razor blades, 14 SIM cards for mobile phones and three memory cards.

In mid-November, following the announcement of a possible domestic security threat, the Joint Services conducted a search at the same institution and found 21 improvised weapons and knives, 20 razor blades, 558 grams of marijuana, 22 cel-

lular phones and five gallons of homemade wine, along with a number of other banned items.

This was alarming since the last raid on the correctional institution was done on November 12, 2016, which meant that the contraband items accumulated in just over a month.

After the raid in November, the Public Security Ministry in a release assured the public that it will continue to work closely with the Guyana Prison Service and the Joint Services to address on-going security weaknesses at the nation’s correctional facilities.

In March, a similar raid at the Georgetown prison resulted in one of the most deadly unrests in the country, causing the death of 17 inmates and injuring several others, including prison officers at the city penitentiary.

Inmates on remand at the facility started to protest

after prison officials seized several contraband items during a raid at the Capital A section on March 2, 2016.

In retaliation, the prisoners started several fires that night and another the following morning, which turned out to be deadly.

Then on March 4, 2016, angry inmates lashed out again, kicking out the entire wooden wall of one of the buildings located in the Southern section of the compound. This occurred mainly because the inmates protested the conditions of the prison, with the number one complaint being overcrowding.

In this regard, the Government has set aside $369 millionin the 2017 National Budget to rehabilitate the Mazaruni Prison which in turn will address the overcrowding at the Camp Street penitentiary.

This is the first phase of a $2 billion investment into the Mazaruni Prison.

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news

SunDAY, december 18, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Police hunt 2 in ECD robbery

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olice are continuing their hunt for two men who shot and robbed Kenneth Earle, a contractor attached to Qualfon Call Centre at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Friday afternoon.

The contractor, of Prince William Street, Plaisance, was shot to both of his legs after he was attacked by the men who were suspected to have trailed him from a city bank.

Reports are that Earle, who was accompanied by a friend to a bank earlier in the day, withdrew about $4 million to pay his workers.

He left the bank and

Injured; Kenneth Earle

headed home, but as he exited the vehicle, he and his friend were confronted by

the two armed bandits who discharged their firearms at them. Earle was struck to both legs, after which they relieved him of the cash and escaped in a tinted vehicle.

The contractor was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and admitted in a stable condition.

Investigators retrieved several spent shells from the scene. Based on information received during the course of investigations, the Police have launched a manhunt for the two suspects who might be known characters to the Police.

Guyana Times under-

stands that Earle, who operates a bus shuttle at Qualfon Call Centre, often wears a lot of jewellery. A close friend of the now injured man told this publication that Earle is recuperating and is out of any danger at the hospital.

He noted that based on what was told to him, the men were not masked when the attack was carried out. The Police, he noted, were given a description of the men but the injured man’s family is now living in fear that they might strike again. The Police are continuing their investigations into the robbery.

Holiday…

Y

…spirits?

our Eyewitness moseyed around Georgetown over the last week, trying to gauge the national mood during the holiday period. Even though this year, with Christmas and New Year falling on Sundays – which means that Boxing Day is on a Monday and we get off the Tuesday – an official imprimatur for seeing the ENTIRE SECOND HALF OF DECEMBER has actually never been necessary for us Guyanese.

Come December 15 each year, every Guyanese man, woman and child shifts into a party mood.

As the fellas in the Sugar Industry would say, it’s our “custom and practice”. But as your faithful flâneur and Eyewitness found out on his peripatetic perambulations about “town”, this year the air was more subdued. The crowds were milling about, all right… but they weren’t buying like they used to do. Pressed by your Eyewitness, they confessed the money just wasn’t there. It wasn’t just the Budget: that was just confirmation of what they’d been experiencing all year – the bottom had fallen out of the economy and “things na regula”.

And this didn’t do much for the “party mood” among the business folks – their cash registers had long telegraphed to them this holiday, the joints wouldn’t be jumping liked they used to. They wouldn’t be throwing too many parties this holiday!

If politicians were smart they’d know businessmen are the weather-vanes of the society – and would consult them more often. Your Eyewitness does.

Sure they’re a bit self-serving – but, then, who isn’t?

Some idealists say money doesn’t make the world go around, but your average businessman knows better.

Money just doesn’t make the world go around – it makes it go up and down! Depending on whether it’s around or not.

And right now, with no money circulating, Guyana’s very down, baby! In fact, it’s dread. So your Eyewitness mingled among the street folks – where at least some “fine change” would gravitate and circulate – but not this time and they’re one teed-off bunch. When the government changed and the powers-that-be were now the same within and without, they didn’t only FEEL things were gonna be different – they were PROMISED DIFFERENCE! But now they complain they were used like tissue to clean up snot - then thrown into the garbage.

So what can your Eyewitness report back to the nation? Nothing that you don’t already know, dear reader. And trust him – he has no desire to play Scrooge. If you’re a government worker, or sugar worker or rice worker or ANY worker for that matter: You’ve been screwed. Sorry! You’ll have your chance in 2020.

…money

In America a man will see a wealthy person and say, “If I work hard, that could be me.” Here in Guyana, we see one of the lucky lot and think, “Why does it have to be him… how can I get into politics?”

In America, Trump is already a billionaire and it’s clear he’s putting together the richest Cabinet in the history of the American Republic. Say what you want but folks there can be forgiven for believing they’re not in politics for the money.

Here? We don’t have to go back too far. Based on our experience in just the last two years you’d have to soft in the head not to accept these politicians are in it just for the loot. Even our avuncular Prezzie, when he asked pensioners to pay VAT on electricity, couldn’t he have allowed his $2 million monthly salary and that of his AG, be taxed?

What does it say of our politicians when children are driving themselves crazy to write 20 subjects at CSEC just so they MAY get a scholarship.

But ministers who’re already earning millions just APPLY - and get - $3 million scholarships!!

…Congress

Over in Essequibo, the PPP’s holding their Congress to select the leadership team that’ll be in charge of their rebuilding efforts.

They all know some radical surgery’s needed. Your Eyewitness hopes they have the will to perform it!!

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

news

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SunDAY, DECember 18, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

NFMU lashes out at Tony Vieira … says he is unprofessional, reckless, anchored in past

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anaging Director of the National F r e q u e n c y Management Unit (NFMU), Valmikki Singh finds it “reckless” and “unprofessional” that Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) Board member, Tony Vieira, is attempting to stymie Guyana’s advancement into the digital technology age. Vieira, in a recent public statement, argued that Guyana “(does) not have to go digital”, referring to the evolution from analogue transmission to digital transmission.

Analogue transmission is a method of conveying voice, data, image, signal, or video information, using a continuous signal varying in amplitude, phase, or another property that is in proportion to a specific characteristic of a variable.

Analogue transmission could mean that the transmission is a transfer of an analogue source signal which uses an analogue modulation method. FM and AM are examples of such a modulation.

Digital transmission, on the other hand, is a literal transfer of data over a point to point (or point to multi-point) transmission medium – such as copper wires, optical fibres, wireless communications media, or storage media. The data that is to be transferred is often represented as an electro-magnetic signal (such as a microwave).

GNBA Board member Tony Vieira

Anchored in the past

Vieira argued that there is “nothing which is written in stone” that says Guyana must go digital and accused the NFMU of planning the change-over without consultation and consideration of how such a radical transformation will affect the poor.

“Are we going to do like Mexico, just go digital and buy US$2 billion worth of TVs for our citizens, a lot of whose television sets cannot receive digital signals and who would have to purchase additional equipment to demodulate the digital signal to analogue form to accommodate the change-over,” he contended.

However, the NFMU asserts that Guyana must embrace digital technology if the country wishes to develop and

move forward.

“The television broadcasting sector has been one of the areas that has been benefiting from the rapid advancement in technology. The global transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting started several years ago. The developed world and many developing countries have already completed the transition or are actively in the process of the transition,” the NFMU outlined in a letter to the editor, noting that Guyana cannot afford to be left behind.

According to Singh, in this information age, where the limited radio spectrum is increasingly becoming scarcer, efficiency in its use is a key element in the success of a business and ultimately the development of a country. In addition to its technical superiority to analogue TV, Digital TV is inevitable, the regulation body underscored.

The NFMU finds it “unbelievable” that persons are so anchored in the past and unaware of the tremendous benefits of going digital.

“It is unbelievable that in this day and age of computers, tablets, smart-TVs and the Internet, we have to still debate the benefits of digital over analogue,” the NFMU Managing Director posited.

He also criticised the GNBA member for peddling falsehoods regarding the consultation process on the move

NFMU Managing Director, Valmikki Singh

towards digital transmission.

Singh explained that the Guyana Government was offered and accepted assistance from the International Telecommunication Union (funding was provided by the Republic of Korea) to develop a Roadmap for the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting in Guyana.

Roadmap

He said a National Roadmap Team, comprising representatives of the GNBA, the GNBS, MTIC, GRA, NCN, the Guyana Consumers Association and the NFMU was established in 2013.

Additionally, Singh explained that public consultations, as well as consultations with TV broadcasters on the development of the

Roadmap for the transition to Digital terrestrial television were held in July 2013 and January 2014.

This final report was delivered to the NFMU in January 2016, according to the NFMU Managing Director. He said the report was promptly sent to the Public Telecommunications Ministry for discussion and further action.

Further, Singh asserted that the NFMU sent copies of the Roadmap report to the GNBA in February 2016, which were subsequently sent to all Board members in early April 2016.

“In its letter to the GNBA, the NFMU proposed to meet at mutually convenient times to discuss the implications, impact and actions necessary as a result of the imminent

transition to DTT (this was also expressed to the Board).

To date, there has been no response to NFMU’s request to meet,” the NFMU outlined.

In this regard, the NFMU berated Vieira for holding on to the report for some eight months, but did not even offer a response regarding its contents. “(He) did nothing with it but now states boldly that Guyana does not have to go digital. This is the kind of unprofessionalism and recklessness that will stymie and retard the development of the Broadcasting, Telecom and ICT sectors in Guyana,” the NFMU contended.

Singh expressed that it is unfortunate that Vieira, a prominent GNBA Member, wishes to keep Guyana rooted in the 1980s where technology was limited.

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SunDAY, DECember 18, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Scenes from PPP's 31st Congress

Another section of the gathering with some special invitees at the PPP Congress

PPP Executive Member Gail Teixeira shares a light moment with a colleague at the PPP 31st Congress in Essequibo

PPP members Shyam Nokta, Zulfikar Mustapha, and Irfaan Ali at the Congress on Saturday

A delegate greets Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

PPP Members of Parliament, Dr Vindiya Persaud and Alesiter Charlie engage in conversation

Some supporters at the PPP Congress

Former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill and former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds engrossed in conversation

Examining literary works of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan at the Congress

Former Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon and a colleague at the PPP Congress

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee chats with some youngsters along with their teacher just before the opening ceremony on Saturday

Member of Parliament Vickram Bharrat along with a PPP delegate at the Congress

NEWS

Port Mourant maternal unit commissioned

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Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton commissioned the new maternal unit at the Port Mourant Hospital in the company of staff

M

aternal health in Berbice was given a boost when Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton commissioned a newly renovated maternal unit at the Port Mourant Hospital.

The maternal unit at the hospital was previously known as the “referral centre” as all patients were referred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, even those who were already in labour. This is now expected to change as the maternal unit which was commissioned on Friday can cater for at least 16 patients and is equipped with an incubator, a warmer, two foetal monitors, two electronic beds among other necessities.

The unit is expected to benefit patients living along the Lower and Central Corentyne, Black Bush Polder as well as complement the Skeldon Hospital.

Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) with a population of 110,000 and an average of in excess of 2200 deliveries annually, the Port

Mourant Maternal Unit will play a major role and ease the burden on the Skeldon and New Amsterdam hospitals.

Speaking at the commis-

maternal mortality rate.

Every time a mother dies, I feel as though I am not as I should be.”

So far this year, there have been 12 maternal

The Port Mourant Hospital Maternal Unit

sioning, Dr Norton said it is hoped that the new facility will assist in overall efforts to reduce maternal deaths.

“We have become famous for having the highest suicide rate in the world. I want to remove our names from that top spot. I referred to suicide because along with suicide and mental health on my front burner is the

deaths in the country. Last year, Guyana recorded 17 maternal deaths.

Meanwhile, Director of Health Services – Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens explained that despite the project not being budgeted for in the 2016 National Budget, it became a reality with corporate support.

(Andrew Carmichael)

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Scholarships

atiricus was smiling. For the past couple of weeks, he’d been feeling the heat from the fellas on the Budget measures.

Frankly he didn’t know why they were so upset about the VAT on electricity Bills over $10,000, since they all had their meters “fixed” by GPL workers and never paid more than $5000.

“Budday!! Wha’ mek me mus’ pay dem big, big ‘lectricity bill when me na get light half de time!!” protested Bungi.

“But you have to pay for what you use,” insisted Satiricus. “You can’t be a free loader.”

‘Suh how come ‘e OK fuh 18,000 houses in LinDon fuh be free loader?”

‘Those people poor, Bungi,” admonished Satiricus. ”Have some sympathy, nuh.” At this point, Hari walked into the back street bar and took his seat at the table and ordered his beer.

He seemed determined to catch up.

“Me pore too, Sato,” complained Bungi.

“Ah only six week me wuk dis crap. Suh if me nah get free ‘lectricity, me guh t’ief am!”

“So why you complaining about the VAT on electricity, then?” demanded Satiricus. “It doesn’t affect you!”

“Well, de VAT guh mek mo people t’ief ’lectricity,” Bungi confessed. “An’ dem might

ketch me! But wha mek yuh a smile all de time, Bai?” “After two weeks of taking stick from you fellas on the Budget,” Satiricus looked at Hari meaningfully. “I finally have a chance to shut your mouths!”

“Bring it on, Sato!!” said Hari expansively.

“What did your leaders Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat do this time on the Budget?”

“Yeah!” interjected Bungi enthusiastically with a grin. “Dem guh gi’e abee some a de fancy likka dem does drink??”

“Better than that!” promised Satiricus.

“It was revealed in the budget summary that two Ministers applied like ordinary persons for scholarships of $3M each! Can you believe that??!!”

“Like ordinary people, eh?” asked Hari with his eyebrows touching his hairline. “And who signed off on the scholarships?”

“Well, some other Minister, ”said Satiricus impatiently. “But imagine they didn’t request any special favours.”

Both Bungi and Hari looked closely at Satiricus. “Leh abee drink to all dem humble Ministah!! Me nah know wha abee guh do widout dem!”said Bungi with a wink to Hari.

12

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

NEWS

13

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GPSU reiterates concerns over LHC Board

THIS IS THE T DARK TIME

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uyana’s Poet Laureate Martin Carter died on December 13, 1997. His poems defined not only his generation but has remained the voice and rallying cry of every generation since as our country continues to fail to deliver on the hopes and aspirations that had their wellspring in the struggle for independence.

Martin Carter wrote some of his finest poems during his youth, at that Ryhaan Shah time of angst and rebellion when he joined the struggle for independence from Britain alongside political leaders like Dr Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham.

In them were the youth and spirit that were to herald the birth of a nation. Sadly, Carter’s poems went on to chronicle instead the despair and hopelessness that overtook the promise and has delivered only division and turmoil.

His enduring legacy was his talent for putting words into exactly what we were all thinking; he, of course, adding the images, the rhythm and the language that would make them everlastingly memorable.

The PPP/C in a statement on his death said that Martin Carter’s poems had “come to symbolise the conscience of a nation.”

No one could have stated it better, and in one line, about the political corruptions and opportunistic partisanship that still stymy our development when he wrote: “But a mouth is always muzzled by the food it eats to live.”

“Death must not find us thinking that we die,” from the poem “Death of a Comrade” is a philosophical statement, oft quoted, that sums up the human will to live, to defy death even at the final moment.

Carter was 70 when he died. He had attended Queen’s College and worked as a civil servant in the colonial government. He was forced to resign because of his commitment to the struggle for independence then worked as an information officer for Bookers. He joined the Burnham government briefly, from 1968 to 1970, as Minister of Information.

He was not, as a poet, ever disengaged from the politics that was shaping the fortunes and misfortunes of our country. As an intellectual he could not help but write about what he saw, felt and experienced, and in his poem about Black Friday 1962, when Georgetown burned, he wrote: Were some who ran one way.

Were some who ran another way.

Were some who did not run at all.

Were some who will not run again…

And I have seen some creatures rise from holes and claw a triumph like a citizen, and reign until the tide!

Martin Carter sought no international fame and fortune from his poems. He never emigrated but stayed close to us, his audience, and was always engaged. He was the quintessential “poems man”. For him, it was enough that his poems were read by the people whose struggle and sentiments he captured so succinctly and vividly.

His volume “Poems of Resistance” was my introduction to Martin Carter. It had been published in 1954 by Lawrence and Wishart in Britain and reprinted locally in 1966 and 1979. It is a collection of 18 poems and my favourite then and now is the one entitled “This is the dark time my love”.

This was a young Martin Carter writing to his wife, Phyllis, while he languished in prison with his political comrades during their struggle for independence. The poem has a simple appeal for being a private and personal moment captured in lines that spoke to the universal condition of our nation.

It is Guyana’s tragedy that this poem, written over 60 years ago, still represents our condition today.

This is the dark time, my love all round the land brown beetles crawl about.

The shining sun is hidden in the sky red flowers bend their heads in awful sorrow.

This is the dark time my love.

It is the season of oppression, dark metal and tears.

It is the festival of guns, the carnival of misery.

Everywhere the faces of men are strained and anxious.

Who comes walking in the dark night time?

Whose boot of steel tramps down the slender grass?

It is the man of death, my love, the strange invader watching you sleep and aiming at your dream.

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

he issues surrounding the legality of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) Board and the absence of an organisation chart have had negative effects on the way in which the medical institution is being managed. So says Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) representative Maurice Butters.

Butters, who has publicly expressed concern over the legitimacy of the present Board of the institution continues to lobby for authorities to have this, among other issues plaguing the institution addressed.

"Unless we can have that sorted out, we are going to continue to have issues that would be negative to the provision of service to the people

of this community," Butters recently stated.

During a public consultation of the medical institution a few months ago, Butters who is also a former Regional Health Committee Chairman and Member of the Board had questioned the legitimacy of the Board, when he posed the question to Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, asking when would the LHC have a legally constituted Board.

In response to the question posed, member of the Board Valerie Adams- Patterson noted that as far as she knew, it was a legal body.

In her response, Minister Cummings had said that Butters’ question was a very important one, more so since the Ministry is looking at re-

GPSU, representative Maurice Butters

gional health authorities and health sector reforms.

He had also asked that the Public Health Ministry revisit the Act and document, which he said states clearly how the Board is to be formed. In times past, he has attributed many administrative issues, includ-

ing alleged “skullduggery” at the LHC, due to the “illegitimacy” of the Board which he said has its hands tied and as such, cannot make its own decisions. More recently, Butters indicated during an interview that the matter pertaining to an organisation chart was raised at the last Board meeting since he noted that this does not exist at the medical institution. “It's something which the Union has been calling for, for years. You see, without an organisation chart, to me it's a move to anarchy within the organisation.

Because you can take any body from any place and put them in position and you can spin people around. There is no stable arrangement when you do not have an organisation chart,” he said.

Stakeholders benefit from oil training seminar

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s Guyana continues to aim in the direction of becoming an oil-producing nation, several stakeholders recently benefitted from a two-day oil spill response training seminar, which was sponsored by Gaico Construction Inc. The agencies involved in the training were the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Coast Guard, Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Natural Resources Ministry, Mangrove Conservation, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Social Protection Ministry and Rubis.

These stakeholders, along with the Gaico staff, were involved in a one-day classroom

training session, while day two included a live oil spill drill at the company’s wharf facility at Nismes, West Bank Demerara.

The training was conducted by the Oil Spill Response Ltd from the United Kingdom and United States.

“They provide support to most of the large oil companies (Exxon, Chevron, Shell, BP) around the world for emergency Tier 3 response,” a Gaico statement noted.

Gaico further explained that it is “now creating a partnership with this company for Tiers 1 & 2 support in the event of any spill.” The company encouraged stakeholders to join its Oil Spill Response department so that there can be response in the event of an oil

This Skimmer is used to extract oil from water

spill.

According to the company it has a complete stock of Oil Spill Booms, Skimmers, Marine and other equipment “that can immediately deal with any oil spill.” Stakeholders were given a first-hand demonstration of the use of a skimmer which

is used to extract 90 per cent of oil from water.

Back in August, Gaico opened an oil spill vessel and disclosed that it planned to invest in a “soil remediation facility which would treat contaminated fuel should there be an oil spill.”

14 NEWS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramada Fun Park officially opens Younge’s Take

PPP Congress: A call to action

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The magnificent Pirate Ship

t was fun, thrills and excitement when the Ramada Princess franchise officially opened its kids fun park aback its hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

To be the last instalment to the Ramada chain, which includes a hotel, movie theatre and Fun City, the fun park is one that inspires awe.

With over 20 different

rides, the launching saw a large gathering from the public both young and old as the park has the capacity to house over 3000 people.

A wide selection was there to choose from but the main choices were the bumpers cars, shuttle train, carousels and the major attraction, the pirate ship.

The rush was on for the pirate ship which is able

to hold over 20 persons at one go. The thrilling ride is a large ship held in the air which moves in a backwardforward motion.

Included at the Fun Park is a large food court with a wide variety of foods.

Guyana Times caught up with a few of the smiling faces who relayed their excitement over the opening of the Park.

One young girl who had just got off the pirate ship expressed delight with the ride: “I love it! It was scary at first but after I sorta groove into it, I totally enjoyed it!”

A mother with her three children noted that she is pleased with the space at the facility.

The theme of the Fun Park is for all to come and have a good time!

egardless of the outcome of today’s polls at the People’s Progressive Party’s Congress, its leaders must be ready to continue the fight against widespread Government corruption, ethnic discrimination, social marginalisation and authoritarianism, which have resurfaced under the new A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change regime.

The party cannot afford to lose ground and time. It must come out of this year’s Congress batting and united.

It must send a strong message to its political opponents that it will not spare any effort to draw political Michael Younge blood by exposing the sinister and devilish plans of this new regime which appears intent on continuing the failed proposals and legacy of former President Forbes Burnham.

At the end of the Congress, the agreements reached; deals brokered; and solutions proffered with respect to the PPP’s future political strategy and game plan, must be honoured and respected. The party’s newly elected leaders must ensure that they do all that is possible to advance policy proposals and positions articulated by its members whenever it re-enters the National Assembly.

The new directorate of the PPP must also ensure that they would have properly documented the concerns of their grassroots membership and lobbyists who were yearning for change since 2011. This is an integral step in the process to fully rebuild, rebrand and reform the party. This step is also important because it could result in the full restoration of the party’s electoral appeal and favour amongst its traditional strongholds while winning over the support of young people and Afro-Guyanese.

Also, there must be no confusion as to who the party’s leader is, and who is wielding the sword of influence within the PPP. This is an issue that became complex following the 2015 General and Regional Elections. Hopefully, the party’s membership and new Central Executive Committee will give some thought to advancing a new course of action that will see more cohesion between the Offices of the General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition.

The truth is former President Bharrat Jagdeo is one of the very few persons within the party who possess the ability to lead the PPP to a massive victory in the next elections. His performance so far as Leader of the Opposition has proven time and time again that he is a cut above the edge and a guiding light for many young and ambitious party members who are seeking to contribute not only to their party’s development but the overall growth and prosperity of the country.

His commitment to his party and the working class people of this country appears to be the driving force behind his political career. His recent return to politics is testimony to that belief.

Jagdeo, therefore, should be the only person that the party rallies behind because of his track record, credentials and willingness to confront the David Granger Administration with aggression and assertiveness. Unlike many past Opposition Leaders too, Jagdeo’s posture is completely different as he demonstrates a rare ability to compromise where necessary, advice the Government on how to correct its shortcomings and work to improve the general welfare of the citizenry.

If Jagdeo is able to win the support of a majority of the Congress delegates today, this would signal a massive defeat for all of his political opponents both within and outside the party. It would also confirm the widely held belief that party supporters are not unhappy with his return to the helm of politics but rather overwhelmingly supportive because it means that a PPP victory in 2020 is almost certain.

But Jagdeo too must be careful not to take the support of the delegates and the masses for granted. He has already paid a massive price personally for standing up to his peers and those who had controlled the old-greasy PPP machinery. He stood up to the likes of Moses Nagamootoo and Ralph Ramkarran when they allegedly wanted to hijack the coveted presidential candidate spot in the party. He stood up to Raphael Trotman, Robert Corbin, Freddie Kissoon, David Hinds, Professor Clive Thomas and David Granger, too.

Now he needs to meet the expectations of his party comrades. He needs to ensure that those in the party’s Central Executive and Executive understand the weight of their commitments and responsibilities to the people who elected them. Jagdeo must work hard with other senior party executives like Clement Rohee, Gail Teixeira, Irfaan Ali and Anil Nandlall to maintain order and discipline in the PPP until the next elections and beyond.

There is no room for complacency, arrogance and divisiveness in the PPP Camp if it is truly to convince those Guyanese who voted against it that it has learnt its lesson and is ready to lead again.

news

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SunDAY, DECember 18, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gross human rights violations in Indigenous communities – APA

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iners are being accused of committing violations of human rights against Amerindian village residents, the Amerindian Peoples Association researchers have found.

This information was divulged in a recently released report produced by the association and the Forest Peoples Programme.

According to the APA, there are documented reports of gross human rights abuse and crimes by miners and also Police personnel against indigenous women and girls in Baramita Village, Region One

(Barima/Waini).

This information was passed to the relevant authorities in 2013, however, despite some official investigations and visits by Government officials in 2015, reports show that harassment and abuse continue.

It was also reported that destructive mining and commercial logging are causing major damage to the environment that is affecting the livelihoods, health and welfare of indigenous peoples.

“Villages in both Region One and Region Two report that commercial logging companies are destroy-

Guyana Equality Forum hosts walk to end gender-based violence

Members of the Gender Equality Forum and other civil activists walk against violence

C

ommemorating the end of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the Guyana Equality Forum held its orange walk to galvanize action to end genderbased violence.

Chanting “Equal Rights! Equal Love! Equal People!” and “Break the Silence, End Gender-Based Violence” the people were told that the best way to end violence is to prevent it.

Dr Dawn Stewart of the Guyana Global Fund Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) and founder and Chief Executive Officer of CPIC’s Monique’s Caring Hands - a leading, local grassroots women's rights group, stated that violence against women and girls is rooted in genderbased discrimination and social norms and gender stereotypes that perpetuate such violence.

“It is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights in the world, one of the least prosecuted crimes, and one of the greatest threats to lasting peace and development. I am talking about violence against women and children. I am honoured to be here, at your request, to address this urgent matter as we join together to advance human rights, and

the common values of humanity,” Dr Stewart said, highlighting that we live in a society where gender stereotypes, everyday sexism and rape culture are commonplace; and voiced that violence against women must receive the attention it needs.

“The best way to end violence against women and girls is to prevent it from happening in the first place by addressing its root and structural causes.”

She posited that prevention should commence early in life by educating and working with young boys and girls promoting respectful relationships and gender equality.

“Working with youth is a “best bet” for faster, sustained progress on preventing and eradicating genderbased violence. While public policies and interventions often overlook this stage of life, it is a critical time when values and norms around gender equality are forged.”

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence lauded the Guyana Equality Forum for organising such an initiative geared towards raising awareness to end gender-based violence and observing Human Rights Day.

ing traditional livelihood resources, including craft materials, bush medicines and fruit trees important for game animals,” the report stated.

Various communities, including Yarakita, Sebai, Hobodia, Canal Bank, Citrus Grove, Blackwater Savannah, Khan Hill and Kwebanna complained in 2012-14 that commercial loggers—with Ja Ling, Barama and Bai Shan Lin companies were ‘cleaning out’ community forests of valuable timber stocks.

It went on to state that bridge and road building by loggers are also contaminating water supplies and fisheries within untitled customary lands.

Villages in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) report similar problems caused by State Forest Permit holders occupying their customary lands and extension areas— these include St Monica, Kabakaburi, Akawini, Wakapau, Kaniballi, Bethany, Mashabo.

Many villages and com-

munities in Region One complain that rivers, water sources and fishing grounds are severely damaged by mining waste: “Warapoka complains of major contamination of the Waini River coming from upstream, while Kokerite and Kariako report that the Barama River is heavily polluted, which has even caused deaths among those using the water…residents of Barima Koriabo report water pollution from min-

ing in the Barima River, and Eclipse Falls and Arakaka suffer likewise on the Upper Barima,” it highlighted, adding that mining has also polluted the water supplies of Big Creek and Oronoque.

It further stated that Citrus Grove and Canal Bank are deeply concerned about mining pollution in Kaituma Creek and White Creek, yet despite their protests GGMC has not done anything yet to stop harmful mining.

Mining is also causing deforestation and damage to hunting grounds in Baramita and Sebai, forcing hunters to travel long distances to find meat and fish, and they often suffer shortages.

“Many families now have to buy imported meat and fish from village shops and retailers,” it stated, pinpointing that while populations are growing in most villages, livelihood resources are becoming scarce within the limited title area.

“Many titled Villages visited for this assessment complain that resources are now scarce within their title boundaries. Farmlands have become infertile; craft, construction and lumber materials are in short supply and game animals are scarce in the titled land of Santa Rosa, Manawarin, Kaniballi, Yarakita, Assakata, Kokerite, Kamwatta, Hobodia, Hotoquai, Bumbury Hill, Bethany, St Monica, Kabakaburi, Capoey, Mashabo, Wakapau and Akawini, among others,” it said.

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

news

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SunDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Anna's

Will they be “invited” for jobs too, Minister?

Motorcyclist escapes death after slamming into minibus suming alcohol but he persisted and left.

T

he 2017 Parliamentary Budget debates concluded last week in the House, revealing uncomfortable truths which signal a grim future for the governance of Guyana. Even after the corruption scandals which it birthed in such a short span of time, the Coalition regime seems incapable of learning from its own mistakes, Anna Correia much less the mistakes of previous administrations.

It can be easily acknowledged that the Government in this country, like in many other developing ones, has an aversion for transparency, and that when it cannot conceal the stench of its own corruption, brandishes an incorrigible arrogance in the faces of the populace as if to remind us of our impuissance in this failing democracy.

Every day seems to bring new revelations as a testimony to the deceit which seduced voters in May 2015. Now, an unfortunate majority of the electorate is burdened by the consequences of a choice it did not make, and the intensification of divide in our society is increasingly present.

It is difficult to imagine in these circumstances, how social cohesion can be successfully achieved. The very principles of social cohesion - inclusive and participatory governance, promotion of equity and uplifting of populations, consolidation of public trust and the reinforcement of the national sense of belonging which throughout our history has been constantly challenged – are in perpetual conflict with the APNU/AFC agenda.

The resilience and patience of the Guyanese people however, must not be taken for granted. Nor should their apparent fear of retribution rooted in episodes of our history dominated by violence and intimidation. The sad reality is that the people tend to wait for elections (provided that they’re free and fair) to express its will, and herein is the danger: for it is much easier for politicians to win voter buy-in than it is to uphold their commitments to the people. But while publicly contesting the failure of politicians is not something Guyanese are inclined to doing, due to fear of reprisals and discrimination, governments will continue to act irresponsibly.

And irresponsible were the recent disclosures in the House, though not in any way surprising now that we know with certitude not to expect any better from the regime. Indigenous Peoples Affairs Junior Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe herself seems to have mastered the art of subterfuge, which she brilliantly demonstrated in Parliament through her inability to gratify the queries laid before her with decent answers. Despite PS Welch and a young clerk whispering answers to her (loud enough for the entire House to hear), the Minister appeared disoriented and uninformed regarding the affairs she ought to be steering in the Ministry.

She could not account for some $500 million worth of ICT material, purchased by the previous administration and destined for Amerindian development. On several occasions, she either asked for two days to respond or refused to respond at all.

But her audacity attained its climax when she overtly declared that the HEYS Programme Coordinator was sole sourced, that the vacancy was not advertised and that instead the Ministry “invited applications and Mr Murray [Greenidge] was chosen”.

Perhaps she expected applause for her honesty on this act of cronyism which evokes the recurrent gangrenous appointment of incompetent old military men and political stalwarts, friends and partisans, to high ranking government positions by the coalition and to the tune of hundreds of millions. Who knows?

Opposition scrutiny later exposed that millions of tax-dollars are being injected into foreign establishments (instead of local economy) to provide higher education for two Government Ministers ($6.9 million), several affiliates of the regime, and even Education Minister Rupert Roopnaraine’s daughter, Alicia Roopnarine ($2.5 million). How do we explain this to the fisherman or the cash-crop farmer who can’t afford to send their children to the University of Guyana (UG)? How do we explain this to the young Amerindian man who was fired by the Allicock administration last year and is now forced to work in the mines to feed his family? How do we explain this to the working class family forced to take loans to fund a course at UG? Will they be “invited” for lucrative jobs too?

There is an overwhelming sense of lassitude by the masses who now have all eyes riveted on 2020, the year of hope for many. But even 2020 might not suffice to remedy the long-term devastating effects of reckless governance, should the coalition chose not to temper its insatiable greed and disregard for the people now.

A

The damaged motocycle at the scene of the accident

motorcyclist had to be rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital after he slammed into a minibus at Houston, Georgetown.

The seriously injured motorcyclist has been identified as Rawle Hugh, 43, a contractor of Georgetown.

According to reports, the incident occurred at about 19:00h as the man was returning from a staff party.

When this newspaper arrived on the scene, eyewitnesses related that the motorcyclist was heading to

the city at a fast rate when he lost control of motorcycle, CE 7479, and slammed into the minibus.

Public spirited persons rushed to his assistance and managed to pull him from the wreckage.

Hugh was taken to the hospital where it was reported that he suffered neck injuries and lost most of his teeth.

According to a friend of the injured man, just a few minutes before the accident, he was told not to ride home as he was con-

The Police have launched an investigation.

18 news

SunDAY, december 18, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 10 Chairman claims President hands over $1M to wrong PTA …as controversy brews over Kwakwani school repairs

Regional Chairman Renis Morian

T

here is controversy surrounding $1 million handed over to the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the Kwakwani Nursery and Primary School recently by President David Granger.

According to Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) Councillor Sandra Adams, the President handed over the sum to the school to assist with repairs to the fence and washroom after parents had approached him with photo-

Councillor Sandra Adams

graphs of the present condition of the areas of the school.

However, Adams during the monthly statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) noted that presently there is a "war" brewing over the money among members of the PTA, as she lashed out at the Council for failure to meet the infrastructural needs of the school.

"I felt bad as a regional representative to know that all year we have been talking about these very issues in schools and were told that

they are being looked at, that the Works department went up there and is taking care of these things and here it is, a group of parents from the Nursery school took pictures and list all these complaints and the President, out of his good heart because of his interest in education gave them a $1 million. Coming out of that now is another issue, where there's war over the million in Kwakwani…who must spend it? Who who want do this, who want do that,” she stated.

Councillor Adams continued that as a regional administration the Council has the responsibility of taking care of schools’ infrastructure and noted that as such, if it had done its part parents would not have seen the need to consult with the President.

"This is something that we've been talking about all year and it made me feel bad as a regional councillor...I don't mind if the PTA go on something else that would make sense but not on issues that we would have been talking about for the entire

year. I'm sure that every minutes of the RDC (would show that) we've been talking about schools and infrastructure. So I think that we need to address these things and when it is brought up it is being looked at," Adams stressed.

But in response, Regional Chairman Renis Morian pointed out the uncertain-

ty of whether all those who approached the President were actually members of the PTA. "I got a call from the school that most of the people who went (to the President) weren't PTA people. That the real PTA is till in Kwakwani and the President didn't know that, but when he comes I'm going to give him the names of

the people who went and the names of the real people who is (part of) the PTA.” In defence, Councillor Adams argued that the issues do exist at the school since the photographs had been presented, to which Morian responded, "I don't know if the pictures they carried come from that school.” (Utamu Belle)

Digicel spreads Christmas cheer during #GetGifted campaign

C

Staffers pose with recipients of gifts through its #GetGifted campaign (Dexter Ceres photo)

entral to its #GetGifted campaign, Digicel Guyana Inc is giving back to children across the country with its Gifted Kids initiative.

During this month Digicel has been visiting several Special Needs schools and institutions to spread Christmas cheer.

Digicel kicked off its #GiftedKids Christmas Cheers on 8 December with a visit to the Jasso Nursery and Tuschen Deaf Academy on West Coast Demerara and East Bank Essequibo, respectively.

The telephone company took Christmas goodies which Santa and the staff shared with the children. On December 9 and 14 it visited the Linden Resource Unit for the Blind and David Rose Special School to share more Christmas cheers.

Digicel will continue its #GiftedKids Christmas Cheers throughout December

with visits to St John’s Bosco Boys Orphanage, The Hararuni Girls Home, Alpha Children’s Home and a special treat is in store for the children in the Kingston community which is home to Digicel.

This initiative will spread across the Caribbean and Central America in all of Digicel’s 32 markets.

Through the #GiftedKids Christmas Cheers, Digicel’s employees will bring the love and joy of the festive season to children by feting and treating them to toys and a host of entertaining activities.

“This holiday, it’s all about playing with the notion of being gifted – from being gifted by Usain Bolt’s Christmas song to gifting our customers with better products and services or gifting kids with the most memorable Christmas”, Head of Marketing Jacqueline James noted.

PPP cannot be...

Chairman of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) Irfaan Ali in his remarks said the youth arm will play its role in rebuilding and strengthening local groups and will be partnering with internationally recognised youth groups in an effort to sustain activism.

He added that the PYO is working on sustaining the activism that was seen in high levels at the 2015 General and Regional Elections, as it supports the mandate of the PPP. Ali noted that the PYO has resolved to address several key priorities in the coming months, including: rebuilding and strengthening local groups; partnering with internationally recognised youth groups with similar objectives; and represent the issues of University

from page 3

of Guyana (UG) students; among others.

Rice Producers Association (RPA) Head Dharamkumar Seeraj also delivered an address, sympathising with the rice farmers who are feeling the pressure of the coalition Government’s mismanagement of the sector.

Among those in attendance were representatives of the private sector, members of the diplomatic corps, and local trade union movements, as well as special invitees. The 31st PPP Congress is being held under the theme “Strengthen the Party, Defend Democracy, Onward to Victory.”

The three-day gathering ends on Monday and will pave the way for the election of new leadership of the PPP. (Additional reporting

by Indrawattie Natram)

SunDAY, DECEMber 18, 2016

19

WICB/ PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

“Tiger” gives Jaguars 195-run lead

− needs 17 more for 6,000 Regional runs

S

hivnarine “Tiger” Chanderpaul’s second consecutive century in the ongoing Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament give the Guyana Jaguars complete command of their fifth round match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Providence on Saturday.

Batting intelligently, the veteran left hander featured in two key partnerships that helped the home team end day two on 357/6 in their first innings replying to 162 made

by Red Force in their first innings. The Jaguars have an overall lead of 195 with four wickets in hand going in to day three.

The “Tiger” added 141 with Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson for the fourth wicket before joining forces with Raymon Reifer to put on 89 for the sixth wicket.

The day started in brilliant sunshine promptly at 09:00h and it was action from the first ball. When rain ended play on the opening day, Marlon Richards had bowled two balls of his second over and was completing the over in totally contrasting weather from day one. The first ball of the day, third of the over was punched through the covers for a boundary by the usually positive Rajendra Chandrika to get the Jaguars going im-

SCOREBOARD

Stumps Day 2 Red Force 1st Innings 162

Jaguars 1st Innings (Overnight 9/0) R Chandrika c wkpr Katwaroo b Richards 12 S Hetmyer c Cariah b Jagessar 31 L Johnson c Primus b Mohammed 69 V Singh LBW b Khan 26 S Chanderpaul not out 141

C Barnwell LBW b Pierre R Reifer LBW b Khan A Bramble not out

3 38 18

Extras (w-1, nb-7, lb-3, b-8) 19 Total (For 6 wickets, 101 Overs) 357 FOW: 1-13, 2-45, 3-94, 4-235, 5-243, 6-332 Bowling: M Richards 13-253-1 (w-1), R Primus 8-0-33-0 (nb-7), J Jagessar 28-7-99-1, I Khan 20-1-70-2, J Mohammed 15-2-44-1, K Pierre 17-2-47-1

mediately. However, next ball Richards will get the final laugh when he adjusted the line and length to find Chandrika’s edge at 13/1.

Skipper Leon Johnson, who needed time in the middle and runs, arrived and was a spectator to a batting cameo from opener Shimron Hetmyer.

The lefthanded Berbician was severe on Richards and off spinner JonRuss Jagessar in hitting five fours and a six before his undoing. He pulled a short ball that was turning away from him straight to Yannic Cariah at short midwicket with the score on 45/2 in the ninth over and the Jaguars had lost two wickets within the first 30 minutes of play to set up the day nicely.

Vishaul Singh came and looked business like in getting to 26 from 51 balls hitting with four boundaries but when looking set for a big knock he was struck in front

by Imran Khan and sent on his way by Umpire Nigel Dugid. Surprisingly it was the leg spinner’s only over before lunch. However, Singh’s dismissal brought the dependable Chanderpaul to the crease and with Leon Johnson they took the Jaguars to lunch without further loss. Shiv was

Leon Johnson on the go

on 29 and Johnson 28 and the Jaguars on 137/3 from 40 overs trailing by 25 runs. In all, 128 runs were scored in the extended session for the three wickets.

After the interval, the Jaguars passed 150 when Chanderpaul drove Khan to cover for four in the 42nd over.

Three overs later, the Jaguars drew level with the 162 made by the Red Force when Roshon Primus had Chanderpaul edging through slips for four. The hosts will then take the lead when the “Tiger” drove to deep cover for two in the same over which was the last over of pace until the 90th and Shiv was eyeing another milestone.

At the start of the 49th over, Shiv lifted Jagessar to long on for his seventh boundary to go to his 136th First

Class half century from the 76th delivery he faced but Johnson was not to be left out. The Jaguars captian then moved to his second half century of the season when he hit Jagessar over long off to move to 52 from 143 balls. It was Johnson’s first shot of aggression having hit six fours before.

Shiv was scoring freely but it was Johnson who was grafting in his innings that was dismissed to end the best partnership of the innings. Johnson who was given a chance on six when Hope at midwicket couldn’t hold on to a difficult chance off Primus at 63/2 was not so lucky when Primus took a blinder on the midwicket boundary to end the 253-ball, 141-run partnership at 235/4 in the 67th over. Next in and

out was Christopher Barnwell who played around a full and straight ball from left-arm spinner Khary Pierre and was sent back for three in the over before Tea and the umpires immediately took the break.

In all, 106 runs were scored for the loss of two wickets in the second session while Shiv was not out on 84.

After the break, Shiv found another useful partner in Reifer who made 38 from 75 balls with three fours and two sixes before he was LBW to Red Force’s best bowler Imran Khan in the 96th over. During the partnership, Shiv got to his 73rd First Class century from the 162nd ball he faced after hitting 11 fours. Shiv who was batting with a niggle then began to open up hitting a six and three more fours.

Before stumps were drawn.

Anthony Bramble who hit two fours and a six so far was with “Tiger” at stumps and the Jaguars have so far taken four batting bowling points.

When the action resumes at 09:00h, the attention will be on Shiv who needs 17 more runs to reach 6,000 Regional runs. Once he gets there, he will be the fourth to the milestone behind Devon Smith 8,084, Floyd Reifer 6,611 and Stuart Williams 6,531.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sundAY, decEMber 18, 2016

India v England, 5th Test, Chennai, 2nd day…

India firm after Dawson, Rashid steer England to 477

L

iam Dawson made the highest score by an England debutant at number eight but the tourists were unable to make a breakthrough in the field.

Liam Dawson made an unbeaten halfcentury on debut and Adil Rashid also frustrated India but England were unable to make inroads with the ball on day two of the fifth Test.

England were reduced to 321-7 when Moeen Ali (146) fell nine runs short of his best Test score, but a century stand between Dawson (66 not out) and Rashid (60) ensured the tourists posted 477 all out in Chennai.

The spinners' partnership of 108 was England's highest for the eighth wicket in India and gave Alastair Cook's men a fighting chance of claiming a consolation victory in the final match of the series, which they trail 3-0.

Dawson set a new record score for an

England player batting below seven on debut on a flat track at MA Chidambaram Stadium, where India were 60 without loss at stumps on Saturday.

England were in danger of undoing the good work on day one when Ravichandran Ashwin (1-151) got one to turn away from Ben Stokes (6) and the allrounder edged behind.

Jos Buttler (5) also missed out when he was trapped in front by a full, straight delivery from paceman Ishant Sharma (2-42) to leave England wobbling somewhat on 300-6.

Moeen struggled to get going after his heroics on Friday, looking vulnerable against the short stuff as he twice got lucky when pulling Ishant short of fielders in the deep and was pinged on the chest by Umesh Yadav.

Yadav had his man when Moeen was

KL Rahul lunges forward for a reverse sweep ©AFP

Liam Dawson flays the ball through the covers ©Associated Press

tempted by another short one and picked Parthiv Patel (29no), promoted to open out Ravindra Jadeja with an errant hook to after Murali Vijay damaged his shoulder in the field, and Lokesh Rahul (30no) got India end a superb 262-ball innings.

Dawson was struck on the helmet by an off to a strong start, reducing the deficit to Ishant bouncer, but looked comfortable af- 417 at the close. (SportsMax) ter that early blow, playing his shots on both sides of the wicket.

Runs hard to come by before lunch, but Dawson looked increasingly at home and Rashid got going with some wristy strokes as the pair scored more freely following ov), 3-167 (Root, 54.3 England 1st innings the interval. ov), 4-253 (Bairstow, View dismissal AN Cook* c Rashid brought up his 80.6 ov), 5-287 (Stokes, Kohli b Jadeja 10 half-century in style with a 90.5 ov), 6-300 (Buttler, View dismissal KK Jenningsc 95.6 ov), 7-321 (Ali, 103.4 classy cover drive off Jadeja, †Patel b Sharma 1 ov), 8-429 (Rashid, 145.1 who he dispatched for anothView dismissal JE Root c ov), 9-455 (Broad, 153.1 ov), er boundary later in the over †Patel b Jadeja 88 10-477 (Ball, 157.2 ov) to take a frustrating stand beView dismissal MM Ali c Bowling: Yadav 21-3-73-2, yond the 100 mark.

Jadeja b Yadav 146 I Sharma 21-6-42-2, Jadeja The Yorkshire spinView dismissal JM 45-9-106-3, R Ashwin 44Bairstow† c Rahul b ner slashed Yadav behind 3-151-1, A Mishra 25.2Jadeja 49 5-87-1, KK Nair 1-0-4-0 to fall one short of his highView dismissal BA Stokes c est Test total, but the com†Patel b Ashwin 6 India 1st innings posed Dawson went on bring View dismissal JC Buttlerlbw up a deserved 50 with a single KL Rahul not out 30 b Sharma 5 down the ground.

PA Patel† not out 28 LA Dawson not out 66 148 Stuart Broad (19) was Extras (lb 2) 2 View dismissal AU Rashid c run out soon after tea, but Total (0 wickets; 20 overs) 60 †Patel b Yadav 60 Dawson continued to enjoy To bat: M Vijay, CA Pujara, View dismissal SCJ Broad himself and had his first six of V Kohli*, KK Nair, R Ashwin, run out (Rahul/†Patel) RA Jadeja, A Mishra, I a brilliant innings when Axar 19 Sharma, UT Yadav Patel took a diving catch, but View dismissal JT Ball b Mish Bowling: Broad 5-2-6landed on the ropes. ra 12 0, Ball 3-0-9-0, Ali 7-1-18Jake Ball (12) launched Extras (b 4, lb 5, w 1, 0, Stokes 2-0-12 -0, Rashid Ashwin over the ropes at pen 5) 15Total (all out; 2-0-13-0, Dawson 1-1-0-0 long-on in the same over, 157.2 overs) 477 but England were finally all Fall of wickets 1-7 (Jennings, 5.2 ov), 2-21 (Cook, 12.4 out when the paceman was cleaned up by Amit Mishra (1-87).

SCORE BOARD

Jack Warner beats US again

F

ormer FIFA vice president Austin Jack Warner has had his wish to keep the United States out of his appeal against extradition to that country granted for the second time.

The United States Department of Justice requested that Warner be extradited to answer to charges of corruption but found a former football executive determined not to go.

Warner challenged the signing of the extradition and has been in court ever since.

The United States has tried to make submissions during Warner's challenge but the former CONCACAF President has objected.

That objection was upheld in court, with the United States filing an appeal.

That appeal, was yester-

day thrown out by Appellate Judges Allan Mendonca, Peter Jamadar, and Chief Justice Ivor Richie.

The three Austin “Jack” Warner delivered a The panel also awarded 17-page written judgment costs to Warner, the dollar that came after reserving figure to be agreed upon in that judgment last month.

14 days.

Though this is the second The ruling may or may ruling against the United not have an impact on States, it does not mean the Warner's challenge of his matter is closed. extradition, which claims "The dismissal of this Trinidad and Tobago's treaapplication does not shut ty with the United States, out the USA from making violates the Extradition a fresh application if it can (Commonwealth and demonstrate, in light of the Foreign Territories) Act. submissions of the parties In addition, Warner is before the court, that it can claiming the signing of his indeed make a useful conextradition request was tribution to the resolution of done without giving his the matter or would be subattorneys opportunity to stantially prejudiced by not make representation on his being able to do so," read behalf. (Sportsmax) Mendonca's submission.

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St Angela’s edge West Ruimveldt to title

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Smalta Girl’s Pee-Wee Football Championships...

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Part of the action between St. Angela’s (white) and West Ruimveldt on Saturday at the Ministry of Education Ground (Marceano Narine Photo)

S

t Angela’s produced a splendid performance on Saturday afternoon at the Ministry of Education Ground, to defeat West Ruimveldt 2-1 and win the Petra organised Smalta Girls’ Pee-Wee football Champions.

The result meant the school become the first in a calendar year to win both the boys’ and girls’ Pee-Wee tournaments.

Nikasie St. Jules placed the Thomas Street unit in the 6th minute placed her side in the lead.

West Ruimveldt had chances to equalizer earlier but did not apply the finishing touches.

Carletta Ross then increased her side’s lead when she netted in the 27th minute.

The in-form Gabriella McGarrell then gave her side a consolation goal in the 29th minute but the dying minutes of the match was not all smooth sailing for the winners as they had to withstand some more close attempts by the opposition.

St. Angela’s were rewarded $100,000 which will go towards a school project while West Ruimveldt received $75,000.

In the third place match, 3rd place match, South Ruimveldt won 1-0 over St. Pius after Raven Jacobs scored in the 18th minute.

South Ruimveldt were gifted $50,000 while St. Pius received $25,000 to a school project.

For the 5-8 Section North Georgetown got the better of St. Stephen's with 2-0 win via goals from Tiffany Johnson (27th) and Kezia Parkinson (30th) while Enterprise gained a walkover St. Agnes.

In the 9-12 Section, Smith Memorial won 3-1 on penalty kicks after drawing 2-2 with F.E. Pollard. On the spot for Smith Memorial was Alliyah Beverley in the 1st and 18th while Talia Wharton (5th) and Alicia Olliverre (7th) netted for F.E Pollard; the following game, Winfer Gardens won via a walkover against Tucville.

Both 13-16 Section matches between, Redeemer and St. Gabriel's along with St. Margaret's against Stella Maris were deemed no contest.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Ministry of Public Health representative Alana Shury said that the ministry was more than pleased to be a part of the tournament and thanked the participants for their stellar display, placing emphasis on the significance of being well-rounded students.

The 16-team tournament saw 76 goals being scored, 10 of which came off the heels of Gabriella McGarrell, who set a new tournament record.

The St. Angela’s pair of Ross and St. Jules shared the most valuable player prize while the best goal keeper was won by team mate Triya Bishop and best coach was given to Wayne St. Jules; North Georgetown was voted the most discipline school.

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CHAMPIONS! The victorious St. Angela’s team and their accolades along with Ministry of Public Health representative Alana Shury

22

guyanatimesgy.com

sundAY, DECEMber 18, 2016

Stag Nations Cup KO Football 2016…

Den Amstel, Northern Rangers send strong warning

− Action shifts to Tucville today

Den Amstel team had a good win over a spirited Kuru Kururu Warriors at Leonora

Goal scorers for Northern Rangers who defeated Young Achievers 7-0

D

ay four rivalry in the Stag Nations Cup knock-out football championship is set for the Tucville ground in the city this evening where three city sides and one from the East Bank Demerara will be showcasing their skills.

The opening match at 18:00h will see East Bank’s number two side, Herstelling Raiders matching skills with Santos for the third avail-

able spot in the quarter finals.

Tonight’s feature match is an all Georgetown affair between Western Tigers and Flamingo’s which had defeated Mahaicony Thunders in the first match of the tournament, thanks to the best goal of the championship so far which came off the boot of elder statesman, Shem Porter.

Porter will be relishing the chance to lead

looked back. Northern Rangers was large and in charge from the first whistle against an ordinary looking Young Achievers side which is based in Pouderoyen on the West Bank.

Steven Sankar led the Rangers with a brace (3, 55) whilst there was one apiece for Telfon Daley (23), Devon Caesar (46), Stephon Reynolds (57), Colin Clark (60) and Sunil Logan (83).

The penultimate day of the roundof-16, Wednesday will see teams battling again at the Leonora stadium when Pouderoyen (West Demerara) tackle Mahaica Determinators (East Demerara) in the first match at 18:00h to be followed by a showdown between Uitvlugt Warriors, the best side in the West side and Northern Rangers.

Final day round-of-16 play will be hosted at the Diamond Community Centre ground, East Bank Demerara when the East Bank’s flagship team, Grove Hi Tech battle Berbice’ New Amsterdam United, the supporting match beings together Ann’s Grove and Den Amstel from 18:00h.

Pride slide continue on rain affected second day

R

a i n continues to affect the Digicel Regional Four Day League fifth round clash between Barbados Pride and Windward Volcanoes as only 14 overs were bowled on the second day after just Only 34.2 overs were bowled at Windsor Park in

his side to another win but will know that coming against the Tigers is not easy and they will have to bring the A+ game to the field in order to create a huge upset should they triumph.

Dwayne Ali will be leading Western’s quest to move one step closer to the championship match as all the other teams will be harbouring similar thoughts.

In results from match day 3 which was contested at the Leonora Track and Field Facility on Friday evening last, home team Den Amstel eased to a 4-2 win over East Bank’s Kuru Kururu Warriors while City side Northern Rangers pummeled West Dem’s Young Achievers, 7-0.

Both Den Amstel and Northern Rangers have eased into the round-of-16 which kicked off last night in Berbice.

Den Amstel was led to the win compliments of double strikes each from Gavin Graham (27, 71) and Kevaughn Ward (31, 72). The Warriors was able to draw level on account of goals from Oliver Denny (44) and Collin Messiah (48) but the home team pulled away again and never

Roseau, Dominica on the first day.

Like they did on the first day, Volcanoes made good use of the limited play as they accounted for three quick wickets in the

14 overs that were bowled while only 35 runs were added in the day’s play.

Pacer Mervin Matthews grabbed two wickets on the second day while his new ball partner Kyle Mayers claimed one. Unbeaten on 34 and 28 respectively from the previous day, Shai Hope (43) and Roston Chase (35) push their scores before they were removed in

quick succession.

Play started one hour and 45 minutes later than scheduled at 11:15h. Rain then stopped play at 11:20h local time, it restarted at 16:20h local time before bad light stopped play at 17:20 pm local time with 4.4 overs remaining.

On the first day persistent rain delayed the start of the match by some three hours and 15 min-

utes then ended play prematurely just after 16:00h.

The Volcanoes enjoyed the early exchanges in the 34.2 overs of play that was possible but a fighting 56-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Tests batsmen Hope and Chase brought stability to the contest.

Anthony Alleyne who is the leading batsman this season, was dismissed

Mervin Matthews

for his second consecutive duck and after a 43run partnership between the recalled Omar Phillips (28) and Hope the Pride lost two quick wickets to stumble at 45/3 halfway through the 19th over.

However, Chase and Hope batted responsibly and were threatening to take the game away from the hosts before the final shower ended play with Hope on 34, Chase on 28 and the Pride 101/3.

So far for the Volcanoes, seamers Kenroy Peters (1/8) and Mervin Mathew (1/19) and off-spinner Liam Sebastian (1/29) are the successful bowlers with a wicket each.

guyana-times.com

sundAY, DECEMber 18, 2016

Guinness Greatest of the Streets...

23

Sparta Boss still champions!

- becomes first team to retain the Georgetown Zone title

Two for Two! Sparta Boss and their supporters celebrate their victory in pouring rain on early Saturday morning at the National Park Tarmac

S

parta Boss once again gave their faithful supporters another reason to be overjoyed as they recorded their fourth Guinness Greatest of the Streets Football title by defeat-

ing Tucville 1-0 on early Saturday morning at the National Park Tarmac.

The men in blue who won the National title in 2014 and 2015, made history of their own by becoming the first team to win

Skeete nominated for Female Referee of the year

M

aurees Skeete, the only female FIFA referee in Guyana, has been nominated by the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) for the Female Referee of The Year Award.

This is the second CONCACAF award nomination for Skeete in this category, having been nominated in 2015. She is among nine other female referees who have been nominated for this award, which is in its fourth year.

In an invited comment, Skeete expressed her pleasure at the nomination, “Since being appointed as a FIFA referee in 2014, I’ve trained and worked very hard to deliver my best on the pitch at every tournament at which I was appointed to officiate. It is a distinct honour for me to have been nominated for CONCACAF Female Referee Of The Year. This is a good feeling and I’m grateful for this recognition. I could not have done it without the creator, my family and my organization, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) which

has supported me throughout this (journey).”

The two-time Guyana Football Referees Council ‘Female Referee of Year’ recipient is a sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and a consistent performer at local, regional and hemispheric tournaments.

Other nominees for the Female Referee of the Year are: Carol Ann Chenard (Canada), Kimberly Moreira (Costa Rica), Marie Soleil Beaudoin (Canada), Melissa Borjas Pastrana (Honduras), Mirian Leon ( EL Salvador), Ekaterina Koroleva ( USA), Princess Brown (Jamaica), Quetzalli Alvarado( Mexico) and Shirley Perello ( El Salvador).

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) urges local football supporters to vote for Skeete via http://www.concacaf. com/awards The CONCACAF Awards have been designed to recognize the top players, coaches and referees in women’s and men’s events from the CONCACAF region.

the Georgetown Zone for two consecutive years.

The win came in the second minute of the match, as Devon Millington made

a solo run down the left side then after which he powered it into the right of the box.

Tucville, who reached this stage for the first time by defeating several former winners, were rattled by the early goal were never able to rebound in the first half.

The entire second half which was played in rain saw a more intensified Tucville but even the likes of Delon Williams, Tefon Daly, Dennis Edwards and recent signing Gerald Gittens found it impossible to find the precious equalizer, as Sparta’s steely defence led by Sheldon Shepherd and Solomon Austin blunted any offensive plays from becoming

successful.

For the vict o r y Sparta w a l k e d away with $500,000 and the championship trophy while

Tucville took $200,000 and the corresponding trophy.

In the third place playoff Back Circle won 3-2 on

penalty kicks after the heated game ended in a goalless draw; Back Circle won $150,000 while Broad Street Bullies got $75,000.

Prior to the start f i n a l

Director of Sport Christopher Jones and G u i n n e s s B r a n d Manager Lee Baptitise and Co- Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca meet the teams.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2016

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

guyanatimesgy.com

WICB/ PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

“Tiger” gives Jaguars 195-run lead Page 19

− needs 17 more for 6,000 Regional runs

Shiv Chanderpaul and Raymon Reifer put on 89 in quick time on Day two at Providence

Guinness Greatest of the Street...

Page 23

Sparta Boss still champions! − first team to retain the Georgetown Zone title

Two for Two! Sparta Boss and their supporters celebrate their victory in pouring rain on early Saturday morning at the National Park Tarmac

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