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$40M allocated for Mash 2017 celebrations P17

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3099

Thursday, January 19, 2017

PRICE

Skeldon Estate takeover

Jagdeo blasts Govt’s secret deal with T&T firm Page 3

17-year-old stabbed to death by cousin for $440 Page 2

Father jailed for killing 2-monthold son

WHAT'S INSIDE: Parking meters burden

P13

Smart City Solutions ready to negotiate with GTU, NCD

Albouystown man nabbed with gun, P7 ammo

Page 10

GECOM chairmanship

Granger finally writes Jagdeo

$80 vat included

Guyana looks to forge stronger P17 partnership with Bolivia

P10 ERC establishment postponed

Page 7

…merely agrees to meeting between AG, Opposition rep …but does not provide clarification for rejecting list – Opposition President David Granger speaking with the media on Wednesday about the GECOM chairmanship issue at the Guyana Police Force Officers’ Training Centre, Eve Leary, Georgetown

US helping Guyana write rules to govern multibillion $$$ transactions ‒ Huffington Post …ExxonMobil to get 60-65% profitsPage 17

More impromptu raids as Govt cracks down on TIP hotspots P9

…as national action plan launched

2 news

thursDAY, January 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

17-year-old stabbed to death by cousin for $440 A

West Bank Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) teenager was stabbed to death by his 16-year-old cousin after he did not repay $440 that was borrowed to purchase bread.

Dead is Leon Anthony Ritchie, 17, of Lot 20 L’Oratoire, Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara. He was stabbed once to his chest by his

However, the bread was utilised by the suspect and another cousin, Akeem Gittens, and as such the young man apparently did not see the need to repay the money.

However, on Tuesday afternoon, the suspect confronted Ritchie for the money and an argument ensured.

Ritchie was reportedly in the kitchen preparing a meal when he was attacked by the

The house where the stabbing incident occurred

16-year-old cousin, during an argument at about 18:10h on Tuesday evening. Reports are the fatal stabbing stemmed from a row over money owed to the suspect.

Guyana Times understands that the now dead teenager, a construction worker had borrowed $440 from his cousin to purchase bread about two weeks ago.

suspect and dealt one blow to the chest with a knife that the suspect picked up in the kitchen.

An injured Ritchie reportedly collapsed and upon realising what he had done, the suspect raised an alarm.

The injured teen was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on ar-

rival.

The suspect, who accompanied his injured cousin to the medical facility, was immediately taken into custody and is assisting with investigations. At the house where the stabbing occurred, Akeem Gittens, the brother of the suspect, said he was no where around and knew little about what might have prompted the stabbing incident.

He explained that he was at a shop in the area and was informed about the stabbing incident by two young ladies.

With some disbelief, he rode home but by the time he arrived, his cousin was already taken to the hospital. He further stated that when he entered the kitchen, there was blood everywhere.

Nevertheless, he claimed that he went to see his brother at the La Grange Police Station but was prevented of doing so.

“All I hearing is lil thing here and there… one time, I hear is about money, another time is about charged, the other time about a girl… so I nah know exactly what happen… All I know is that the two of them does go out and lime and come home late…

I never know they had any vibes,” the young man noted.

He further stated that his

passed away last year and ever since they have been living alone. Persons in the area could not recall hearing any argument prior to the stabbing incident.

One woman posited that she was at home all day and only heard loud music but after a while, the place went quiet followed by screams from the suspect, who was shouting “Leon! Leon!”

It was at that time that

Dead: Leon Anthony Ritchie

now dead cousin was a quiet person who did not get into trouble. The dead teen’s father, Michael Ritchie, when contacted via telephone told Guyana Times that he was standing in front of his house when he received news of the incident. He is one of the persons who took his son to the hospital.

The aggrieved father, who is still in shock, said he was not afforded an explanation as to what prompted the stabbing. Although his son did not live with him, he would visit him quite often.

The father said his son lived at his grandparent’s house along with his other cousins. Their grandfather, who supervised the boys,

residents in the area thought something was amiss and ran over to the house where they found the young man lying in a pool of blood. Leon Ritchie is survived by his parents and only brother.

The Police have since recovered the murder weapon as they continue their investigations. They are expected to institute charges before the end of the week.

(Bhisham Mohamed)

Fisherman imprisoned for hitting wife

K

hemraj Gildharie of Richmond, Essequibo Coast, was on Wednesday sent to prison for one month for hitting his wife. He made his first appearance before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

The charge states that on January 15, he unlawfully assaulted his wife. He pleaded guilty to the charge and told the Magistrate he was sorry for his actions.

According to the facts presented, around 19:00h on the day in question, the defendant came home with

a bottle of wine, which his wife asked he not drink. He then took a piece wood and dealt the woman a blow to her head after an argument ensued.

The father of three admitted that it was a mistake and assured that it would not happen again.

Magistrate Bess told him that it was wrong to hit a woman; and as such, he has to spend one month in prison.

He also told Gildharie that after serving the time, he should realise that women as important and should be respected at all times.

news

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thursDAY, January 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, January 19 – 10:30h-12:00h and Friday, January 20 – 11:30h-13:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, January 19 – 09:20h-10:50h and Friday, January 20 – 10:25h-11:55h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals in the morning are expected to be followed by thundery to heavy rain showers, with clear to partly cloudy conditions in the evening. Temperatures will range between 23 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East-north easterly between 1.34 metre and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 09:17h and 21:43h reaching maximum heights of 2.31 metres and 2.25 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:48h and 15:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.88 metre and 0.94 metre respectively.

WEDNESday, January 18, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

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25 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

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Skeldon Estate takeover

Jagdeo blasts Govt’s secret deal with T&T firm G

overnment is facing severe criticism over its secretive deal with a Trinidadian company for a possible takeover of the lucrative Skeldon Estate, which belongs to the State and is currently under the management of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo strongly criticised the Government for entering into this deal without any consultations with stakeholders beforehand.

“They claim that this is without prejudice to privatisation. But if you have a secret Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with someone to assess the entity, then you are already giving one person an advantage over any person who may be interested if you decide to privatise. So they are busy working these quiet deals and one day we may wake up and find that one of the prized estates in Guyana is gone to a group that knows nothing about sugar or is on middle land without any public valuation of the land, no public tendering but has acquired a deal by the Government,” he told media operatives on Wednesday. The Skeldon Sugar Factory, which is located on the Estate, alone is worth US$200 million, so the total value of the Estate would amount to billions.

Jagdeo contended that this was one of the many actions of the Government which he considered “totally reprehensible”.

“You do not speak with the parliamentary Opposition. You know, just recently, they called us in December, after everything else and told us they want to talk to us about it, but the secret MoU was already

vides engineering services to the automotive and oil industries in T&T. Notably, however, as witness to the signing was Noel Rupie Shewjattan, the owner of Auto Fashion Store on Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Auto Fashion Store also has no experience in the agricultural sector.

Government denial

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

signed, now the story is in the news,” he outlined.

Guyana Times broke the story on Tuesday that Trinidadian company D

Contacted on the matter, however, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder contends that there is no secret arrangement.

“There was a meeting when we met with the Opposition and the unions …to try to get them on board for the way forward

The US$200 million Skeldon Sugar Factory

Rampersad and Company Limited (DRCL) was likely to rake in major benefits from the Guyana Government, including favourable tax incentives for the development of an integrated sugarcane processing facility at the Skeldon Sugar Estate, after the MoU was inked in December for the undertaking of a feasibility study.

The MoU was signed without full disclosure to the Guyanese public and without any public notice or public tender. The company has no experience with any agricultural enterprise, and pro-

for GuySuCo. At that meeting, the question of the MoU came up and it was provided to the Opposition to look at.

The Opposition is well aware of it because it was given to

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

them by the Government.

So I don’t know what is the secret deal, they have the MoU,” Holder explained.

The Minister conceded that the company was currently assessing the Skeldon Estate lands to determine if it would be favourable for it to make a proposal to Government for the diversification of the estate, including the production of ethanol.

“There is no commitment on either side, (they will) come down here to take a look and if (they) want to make a suggestion to us, then fine, we’ll take a look at it…They are just coming to look, the best I can call it is a familiarisation, They will look to see what Skeldon has to see if it make sense for them to even do a feasibility study,” Holder explained. turn to page 10

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thursday, January 19, 2017

Views Playful moments Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 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

Ghana’s cautionary oil tale

G

hana shares many commonalities with us, not the least being our countries’ names are so similar few Guyanese identifying themselves abroad have not been asked, “Where? Ghana?” In Africa?” and forced to explain our existence on this promontory of South America. But our commonalities go way back – in fact before even men or even dinosaurs walked the Earth – to a time when Africa and South America were physically joined and them slowly drifted apart to form the Southern Atlantic Ocean.

That common geological origin between modern Ghana and the Guianas was brought to mind when oil was struck off Ghana in 2007 – the Jubilee year of its independence from Britain. Tullow Oil, the developer, rushed to bring that oil to market and did so in 2011 when oil had jumped from US$64/Bl to US$111/Bl. But they also took a gamble to test the old geological premises by drilling off French Guiana and immediately struck oil in 2011. While they did not have much success with subsequent wells, it appears to have persuaded ExxonMobil to renew drilling concessions they had obtained off Essequibo, as far back as 1999. Exxon, of course, hit pay-dirt last year, the year before our Jubilee, and we are now working out the modalities of oil production that Ghana did between 2007 and 2011.

For reasons best known to themselves, the Government chose to be guided by the experience of landlocked Uganda, which discovered oil in its Lake Albert in 2006, but only gave out its first production licence in 2013 and does not expect to begin shipping oil by 2021. The major cause of this delay is Uganda’s need to create the infrastructure to transport the crude oil to ports, and their decision to build a refinery for a portion of their production. None of these factors are applicable to our situation where our oil is in deepwater like Ghana’s and ExxonMobil will be utilising a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to extract, process and transport our oil directly to tankers, also like Ghana’s.

Like Guyana, however, the Government of Ghana created huge expectations of oil delivering the “good life” in the near term. As with Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, the Ghanaian authorities claimed to have learnt from the mistakes of other oil-producing nations and introduced all sorts of legislation to keep them on the straight and narrow. They would “save for future generations by building infrastructure”.

Yet six years after oil started flowing, the public debt of Ghana has doubled, their currency is beleaguered and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had to be called in to bail them out? Shouldn’t the Guyanese Government want to know why Ghana’s dream became a nightmare – without even having the opportunity to neglect other industries and develop the dreaded “Dutch Disease”.

What happened is – like this People’s National Congress (PNC)-led Government shows all signs of repeating – the Government of Ghana was a victim of its own rhetoric and the imperatives of democratic elections. They had to deliver the promised “good life” to their supporters or face electoral defeat.

In their case, they hit a double whammy – willing lenders plied them with loans and investors bought Eurobonds right after oil was discovered and then oil prices collapsed in 2014. From the loans – which exPNC MP Sherwood Lowe recently advised the PNC-led Government to also take here – spending rose massively with for instance, the salaries of their massive Ghanaian Public Service doubling. The plunging oil prices created huge budget deficits as debt repayments absorbed onequarter of expenditures.

To cap it all, Tullow was never able to reach the optimistic 200,000 barrels per day projected in 2008 and today the Jubilee Field delivers less than half of that.

Technical problems with their FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, which our Government never seems to factor in, also contributed the lag in production.

Against this background, the Ghanaian Government was voted out of office last month.

Princess Stephanie of Monaco (right) and her daughter Pauline Ducruet react as they pose with a sea lion during a photocall for the 41st Monte Carlo international circus festival in Monaco (Reuters/Eric Gaillard)

City Hall displaying PNC militancy behaviour Dear Editor, A notice is being circulated to vendors around the city that seems to have come from the Office of the Town Clerk, stating that all street vendors in Georgetown will have to register with the city at which time (January 23 to February 27) they must have in their possession National Identification Card/Passport, TIN Certificate, two passport size photographs and $3000.

What is not clear to us is whether the $3000 is just registration, a yearly fee or if they will have to continue paying the $1500 per week.

What is strange is that food handlers pay a yearly fee of $3000 for their licence, so if vendors have to pay $3000 for registration, plus the $1500 cleansing fee per week ($6000) per month, this takes it to at least $75,000 per year. The message being conveyed by the various oppressive actions of City Hall is that ‘You comply or you will be

decimated’ – a clear act of terror.

City hall seems to have a fixation on vendors, they seem to have no plan as to how they must treat these small business entrepreneurs, they plant them in an anti-business area one day then unceremoniously uproot them shortly after.

There are affluent property owners out there that owe the City Council millions of dollars. They are not going after them but try to disguise their inefficiencies by creating a farcical Christmas time amnesty; an exercise that is obviously geared towards benefiting rich property owners. The city is the biggest loser in this exercise.

Vending in Guyana has become very traumatic in that a vendor leaves his/ her homes with a great apprehension, since they are not sure what spontaneous draconian terror tactics City Hall was going to put on them. What vendors need

to know is into what account City Hall puts the $6000 plus dollars per month collected from them.

Obviously, some of the money could have been used to develop a business-friendly place for vendors. What is heart-rending is that the vendors had to endure more than 20 years of this kind of behaviour under the former Government, but even though we have turned a new page, it’s the same script. What needs to be noted is that the vendors made a tangible contribution to that change.

The new directors seem to be basking in the euphoria of their assumed power, but it is by the promise of a sense of power that evil often attracts the weak. (Eric Hoffer) Effective action to deal with the vending situation is dependent on having an agreed policy and procedure. If the same problem is occurring regularly, it simply means that effective pol-

icies are not in place. The actions of the Georgetown City Council is contributing to if not creating an underclass culture of idleness, dependency and self-perpetuating poverty.

It is pellucid that their refusal to meet with the Guyana Market Vendors Union, coupled with their concomitant crass behaviour is geared towards the vendors/stall holders not having Union representation.

Finally, it is no secret that most of the vendors/ stall holders are hard line militant supporters of the present Administration but some actors at City Hall are displaying very perplexing behaviour which is slowly eroding the fabric of People’s National Congress militancy in Georgetown.

Sincerely, Eon Andrews President of Guyana Market Vendors Union

PUC must act to protect consumers Dear Editor, We wish to bring to the attention of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and ask that urgent action be taken as it relates to Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GTT) inefficient and sometimes excessively frustrating DSL service.

It is known that at different times of the day and night, households and businesses experience an in-

ability to access GTT’s DSL broadband service which is paid for by their customers. It is also interesting to note that there is no reimbursement offered by GTT for the loss of hours of use when these interruptions occur; notably the frequency of such occurrences has significantly increased over the recent past, forcing customers to resort to additional charges to stay in active

communication by paying for the 4G services offered

by GTT. This begs to question asked by members of the public seeking representation on this matter, whether GTT is forcing customers to pay double?

During the break of the January 5, 2016, sitting of Parliament, I informally spoke to Public Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes

about the matter and she promised to engage GTT. The PUC must act to protect the consumers and ensure that this provider fulfils its contractual obligations.

Sincerely, Bishop Juan Edghill PPP/C MP, Sectoral Spokesperson on Infrastructure

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, January 19, 2017

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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

Frustrated Guyanese businessmen beseeching President Dear Editor, Several concerned and frustrated prominent Guyanese businessmen, operating locally, have approached me to ventilate their concerns. They are calling on President David Granger to “sit up, take notice and get some action” regarding his avowed intention to “green” the economy and create opportunities for further development of the Guyanese economy.

They added that some operatives in Ministries and agencies are not taking the President seriously, but are proving to be stumbling

blocks! “We congratulate President Granger on his efforts so far in keeping his word on doing what’s necessary to develop Guyana,” noted a spokesman for the group of influential businessmen.

“But there are workers in the Ministries and Government agencies, who are entrenched and have created a system of corruption that’s almost infallible.”

Their impassioned plea to the Government comes in the wake of repeated attempts to get responses for applications to expand

businesses by acquiring land; requests to Ministries and agencies for meetings with their principals which are not being granted; and general denial of the same benefits and overtures that are being given to foreign businessmen, but which are not being extended to local businessmen.

“We live here in Guyana and operate our businesses here, yet still we’re not being offered the same goodies that are being given to foreign business people.

Government officials go out of their way to woo the foreigners and we’re right here

with our investment capital and nobody is really giving us the time of day,” stated a visibly upset businessman who has major investments and extensive business operations, including real estate development.

The group of patriotic businessmen declared their intention of not wanting to leave Guyana, unless extreme and dire circumstances force them to flee their homeland, as they indicated their appreciation of the moves President Granger has been making to “green the economy”.

“The economy is still

Traffic situation on EBD needs better monitoring Dear Editor, With deep frustration and anger I pen this letter as I am seated at the eastern end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge waiting for the retraction to end.

I am aware that there are many commuters travelling to work on a daily basis, however, it seems that very little thought and consideration is given by the Police Traffic Department to commuters who live in Georgetown and work either in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Diamond or anywhere on the southern East Bank, etc.

In the mornings, traffic heading in the southern direction is hindered because one of the lanes is closed to accommodate traffic heading to Georgetown. Those cones are not removed until 08:15h, 08:20h or whenever the traffic Police see it fit. In the meantime, the southbound traffic is crawling, causing commuters on that end to be late for work or other important appointments on the West Side.

This reason for being late for

work may not be considered or accepted by one’s employer.

This is the case whether you leave home very early or not. In some instances, if you leave home for 07:15h, you have to deal with another stall at the Demerara Harbour Bridge since the traffic heading from Region Three has to be given priority even though the bridge is not retracting.

There are mornings when the bridge will be retracted at 08:30h, there seems to be no collaborated plan between Police Officers and management of the Harbour Bridge to address this frustrating situation.

The traffic build up is great, the cones placed on the road remain until 08:20h. By this time the southern bound traffic moves a bit faster, only to be further frustrated by the Police Officers directing traffic at the intersection before the Bridge’s entrance (at the traffic lights), where they continue to give priority to the northern bound traffic even when the Bridge is about to close. The greater

frustration is when you get to the Bridge, the Eastern end is closed, but there is still a flow from the Western end for almost 30 minutes after the stated retraction time. When the Bridge retracts, commuters have to wait for 90 minutes, therefore an 08:30 retraction time which was posted on the information board, will see the Bridge closing at 10:30h instead of 10:00h.

More frustrating is that in this technological age, with increased bridge tolls, longer waiting periods and the announcer informing the public of the new time schedule for the opening, there is no hotspot for commuters to use their various devices to get some assignments or tasks completed, etc. This makes the long hours of waiting more costly in every sense. One arrives at work late, unsettled, frustrated, and can miss an appointment, lose pay or be

dismissed for being consistently late.

Something has to be put in place especially on mornings when there is a retraction at 08:00h or 08:30h.

The Police Officers need to be informed so that they can be able to exercise greater efficiency and to remove the cones from the road earlier to effect a freer flow of traffic on the East Bank carriageways. In addition, Government should invest in providing hotspots on both the western and eastern end of the Harbour Bridge during the retraction periods so as to facilitate constructive use of time, especially for students, teachers, business persons who may need to complete tasks which may otherwise have been completed at their place of destination.

Yours respectfully, Raelene Andrews

sluggish and in some cases losing ground. We can help… we need to be a part of our country’s development. There has to be no favouritism by the Government in dealing with local and foreign businessmen. Applications for business initiatives by local businessmen get the royal run-around. We don’t even get an acknowledgement from them when we send in our applications. No favours being asked… and no favours being granted.

The previous Administration used to help its special friends… even

helping them with upfront financing to build capacity. We don’t want that… we just want a level playing field, because Mr Granger says he’s a President for all Guyanese.

Even though the economy drop, we local businessmen still willing to invest, but we’re not being supported by the relevant Ministries and agencies.

The Ministers not replying or are simply ‘looking into it’. We need instant action. Foreigners being wooed, welcomed and given prime time… with the Government even bending

over backwards to attract them to Guyana.

Some Ministers are acting power drunk… and we see President Granger as the only straight-forward man who can give the green light for certain developments to go ahead,” stated the spokesman for the group of worried businessmen.

“So, we’re calling on

him to help us. But take it or leave it… if we don’t get any response from the President regarding our needs and support for our involvement in our country’s economic development, we gone!” declared the group of local businessmen.

Yours truly, Ras Leon Saul

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thursday, January 19, 2017

Page

Foundation

a love of reading

By Elena Aguilar

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guyanatimesgy.com

s a teacher, I was obsessed with cultivating a love of reading in my students. I love to read, loved it as a kid too. I’m equally compelled to ensure that my own child loves reading – and he does. I well aware that I’m on a mission – but I also know it’s a worthy one!

Here are ten suggestions for how any teacher, teaching any subject can participate in this mission, and how parents and administrators can help.

Read. Simple first step! If we’re going to encourage kids to read we need to do it too. Read for pleasure, information, instructions, connecting with others, and so on. Read. Read a little more than you’ve been reading lately.

Share your reading experiences. Share with colleagues, friends and students. Tell them what you’ve been reading, what you’ve gained or learned from these texts, what you recommend. As a teacher, I very intentionally and regularly told my students what I was reading, where I read, (“in the bath!”); I brought in the books I read, I read passages to them, I read during silent reading, I told them about how I couldn’t wait for the weekend so that I could read, about my book club arguments, the stories my husband I read aloud to each other...and so on. Help them see what a reader does. Also – I recently discovered Goodreads where you can share, get recommendations, and read reviews that friend have written –I had so much fun on this site and was reminded of how socialising and reading are a perfect match. If you are on Goodreads, or join, find me there! I’d love to hear about what you’re reading. I also wonder if there’s an equivalent for kids to use – anyone know?

Invite students to socialise around reading. Set up book clubs, reading groups, literature circles. Many students (especially boys) need to interact with each other around texts. It greatly enhances their comprehension and makes it so much more enjoyable. Adults know that (we join book clubs and spend hours

on Goodreads) so let’s help kids have this experience too.

Organise a Read-a-Thon. A beautiful event that parents and administrators can take a lead on setting up. My son’s school recently did a Read-a-Thon and it was the highlight of the year for my boy. Kids wore PJs, took their pillows and stuffed animals to school, were invited to re-read their favourite books or select a “challenge book”. Parents supplied snacks, teachers and administrators read. It was fun and community building and they raised a lot of money.

Take a field trip. This is another way to make reading social and exciting. Visit your local library, a university library or a bookstore.

It’s not about checking out or buying books – it’s about being surrounded by thousands of books, touching their gorgeous pages, seeing the world of possibility in print, salivating over what there is to know and explore. In my family, we often take weekend trips to explore different bookstores in the area.

We make it an adventure and talk about what constitutes a “good bookstore;” it’s just fun. This is another event that parents can organise and administrators can support or encourage.

Listen to audio books. Invite students to listen to them; play short passages. To me, audio books “count” as reading. While you’re not developing decoding or fluency skills, you are acquiring vocabulary, applying comprehension strategies, and

enjoying stories or accruing information.

Some of the audio books I’ve listened to have stuck with me in ways that reading text hasn’t. My mind was free to visualise the scenes in a way that creating lasting images. (One such book like this was Native Son by Richard Wright. A phenomenal listen).

Invite authors to speak. Another activity that can be supported by admin and parents. Kids can be greatly impacted from hearing an author (if possible, especially one from a similar background to theirs) speak about reading and writing.

Make connections between reading and other issues. I just read this this fascinating article in Harper’s about how people in Mali hid their ancient sacred texts as Islamic militants took over Timbuktu. Books and reading have always been political (think banned books, prohibitions on slaves becoming literate, etc.).

Help students see the wider, historical and political context of the importance of reading to enhance their appreciation.

Learn about specific needs for specific populations. Those responsible for teaching literacy also need professional development in how to serve specific vulnerable populations. One book that dramatically changed how I taught reading in middle school is Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys, by Wilhelm and Smith. If you teach boys, you must read this book! Another equally impactful book for me was Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males, by A Tatum. We need to meet the needs of all learners.

Teach reading strategies. Finally, I believe that all teachers, in every content area, should be responsible for teaching reading. Text genres are different in every content area – teachers should receive professional development in how to teach reading strategies so that they can do so with students. Kids won’t enjoy reading if they can’t do it – no one loves doing something that’s really hard. We must give them the skills to read at the same time that we cultivate an attitude. (edutopia.org)

Techniques to shape children’s behaviour

Creative rewards

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esides charts, design your o w n clever motivators to shape children’s b e haviour. Because her sixyear-old’s toy of the month was a doll house, a mother chose a piece of furniture or clothing for the doll as a weekly reward for the child keeping her room tidy. And she related the reward to the behaviour: “When you show me you can keep your room tidy, then we’ll furnish your doll house.” She used periodic reminders: “Let’s keep your room as nice as you do your doll house.”

To keep order among the seven-to-nine-year-old boys at our twice-monthly Cub Scout meetings, we use the “good behaviour candle”. The object is to burn the candle all the way down so the whole group can have a treat. At the beginning of the meeting we light the candle. The candle stays lit until a disruption occurs.

The disrupter has to blow out the candle. The sooner the candle burns down (eg, the fewer disruptions), the sooner the boys get a prize. Consider what’s going on in their impressionable minds. Each time someone snuffs out a candle, they halt the progress toward the prize.

Since children don’t like to delay gratification, they’re motivated to snuff out their own disruptive behaviour.

The ticket system

Tina and her four-year-old daughter Haley were very connected. Haley had been a high-need baby and turned into a strong-willed child. Here is how Tina channelled Haley’s obstinate behaviour in the right direction and had fun doing it: Haley and I were butting heads, and it seemed like our whole day was becoming increasingly full of negatives. All the techniques I’d tried before weren’t working. So I tried what we fondly refer to as the ticket system. This took incredible stress off me as a mother, and I was no longer the bad guy. I give her three ‘free’ tickets to start the day. She earns tickets for helping without being asked, for doing assigned chores, for having a good attitude, etc. She loses tickets for whining, complaining, refusing to obey (which eliminated the on-going ‘By the time I count to three’ line that I was always using). The tickets became like gold, and after a while she became more and more eager to please. At the end of the day or the week Haley got a special treat that was prearranged according to the number of coupons she had collected (frozen yogurt, a movie, a hamburger, etc.).

With Haley, it was very difficult to see the ‘positive’ in her behaviour. The ticket system forced me to ‘catch’ her at being good, as opposed to just seeing the bad. I found myself saying things such as, ‘I liked the way you smiled when you woke up this morning’ or ‘Thank you for waiting your turn on the swing without screaming or crying.’ Delayed gratification was not Haley’s strong suit, so I would carry tickets with me everywhere we went, so that she not only heard my words of praise, but saw tangible evidence of her good behaviour. This also enabled me to take them from her just as quickly to show the immediate consequence of her unacceptable behaviour. This game helped her to understand that I still loved her and that she was a good person, but there were guidelines that needed to be followed.

It helped me not to yell and continually feel the need to raise my voice. It was also a system my husband Steve could quickly pick up after a hard day’s work and on the weekends without feeling left out. We’ve also allowed baby-sitters to use it to reward Haley for cooperating.

For us, the ticket system has eliminated the need to spank, and ‘time-out’ is reserved for those really trying times when separation is best for both us and Haley.

Altogether, it has greatly lessened the power struggle that I have felt with Haley since she was very young.

This is not a system for everyone’s problems. It’s very time-consuming for us, and Haley because it constantly keeps us informed if we’re slipping up on our duties. It is, however, a lot of fun and well worth the effort. (Excerpt from askdrsears.com)

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thursDAY, January 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GECOM chairmanship

Granger finally writes Jagdeo …merely agrees to meeting between AG, Opposition rep

…but does not provide clarification for rejecting list – Opposition

P

resident David Granger has finally written to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in response to his request for clarification on the Head of State’s interpretation of the Constitution of Guyana regarding the appointment of a new Chairperson of the elections body.

Jagdeo had sought clarification in light of Granger’s unjustified rejection of the list of six nominees, which was submitted to him. On Wednesday, the Opposition Leader received a letter from the President, which, however, did not provide the clarification that the President had promised. This did not sit well with the Opposition, which, in a statement, ex-

President David Granger

pressed disappointment that the Government had not furnished the clarity sought in a matter of such national

importance and magnitude.

Instead, the President merely proposed that a meeting be held between Attorney General Basil Williams and a person of the Leader of the Opposition’s choice “in order to avoid further misinterpretation or misunderstanding of this important constitutional matter”.

As a result, in a statement on Wednesday evening, the Office of the Opposition Leader stated, “We are disappointed that the clarifications that we requested have not been furnished. We are further disappointed that the President is unprepared to meet with the Leader of the Opposition on a matter of such crucial national importance. We

Albouystown man nabbed with illegal firearm

A

n Albouystown, Georgetown man was on Tuesday evening arrested along Mandela Avenue by ranks of a mobile patrol unit with an unlicensed firearm.

Police’s investigation revealed that the 27-year-old suspect was riding his motorcycle in the vicinity of the “well” close to Roxanne Burnham Gardens and upon seeing the Police, dropped an object and attempted to escape.

Upon observing the man’s behaviour, the ranks promptly arrested him, but not before collecting the .32 pistol with three live rounds of ammunition, which he attempted to dispose of. He is expected to be charged before the end of the week.

In 2016, the Police seized a total of 109 illegal firearms, compared to 115 in

The .32 pistol with three live rounds of ammunition which was retrieved by Police

2015. These included 49 pistols, 32 revolvers, 26 shotguns, two rifles and one sub-machine gun. Most of the weapons were seized in A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) – 46 and F Division (Interior Locations) – 34.

For the year, thus far,

several illegal weapons have already been seized, including a high-powered rifle at a house in Tucville as recent as last week. In addition, several live rounds of ammunition for two different weapons were unearthed during a Police operation at Rasville, Georgetown.

had hoped that such a meeting would have exposed the President to a view that is different from that of the Attorney General, whom we presume, is advising the President on this matter.”

The statement further states that in the interest of the nation, the Opposition Leader will accede to the President’s request, and will send a representative to the meeting with the Attorney General.

“It is our hope that this engagement will provide the requisite clarity and will move the process closer to an early resolution,” the Opposition statement said.

The lack of clarification came mere hours after the President promised to not end the process until both parties were satisfied.

Granger had claimed that the initial candidates were unacceptable on the basis that they did not meet the constitutional requirement of being a judge or possessing the qualifications of a judge despite the fact that the Constitution provides for any other “fit and proper” person to be nominated.

When questioned by media operatives, President Granger on Wednesday said, “I am obliged to conduct meaningful consultation with him; I will not make any choice unless the consultation is completed…I am a man of great patience; this is a constitutional matter that is important to Guyana and I don’t want to bring the process to an end without both sides being satisfied,” he expressed.

The controversy on the matter revolves around the different interpretations of the Opposition Leader and

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

the Government on Article 161 (2) of the Guyana Constitution on the appointment of a new GECOM Chairman.

The relevant section of the Constitution states, “The Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.”

The Opposition’s understanding conforms to the updated Constitution, which incorporates the Carter Formula to have a democratic process for the ap-

pointment of a chairman.

The Carter Formula is designed and intended to achieve consensus between Government and the Opposition regarding the appointment of GECOM’s Chairman.

GECOM’s composition was also designed to achieve a certain degree of equilibrium, hence three nominees from the governing party and three from the Opposition, with the Chairman holding a balance of power with a casting vote.

Granger’s interpretation on the other hand seems to reflect the old 1980 Constitution, commonly known as the “Burnham Constitution”, which limits the pool of persons to be appointed to GECOM’s helm to only judges or those eligible to be a judge. This version of the Constitution also gives the President the power to unilaterally appoint a GECOM Chairman.

Attorney General Basil Williams and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan had both signalled Government’s intention to activate a clause in the Constitution to allow the President to unilaterally appoint a GECOM Chair.

Such a move would be dangerous as it alters the democratic process regarding the appointment of a person to be tasked with overseeing the elections process in the country.

But Jagdeo contends that Government’s interpretation of that clause is also erroneous.

To resolve the issue, Jagdeo said he was prepared to take the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice to rule on the correct interpretation of the constitution.

8 news

thursDAY, January 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Babita Sarjou’s PI

Mother gives evidence C

hampa Seonarine, the mother of Babita Sarjou, whose remains were discovered buried in her estranged husband’s backyard last year, took the stand to testify in the matter on Wednesday.

The Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the woman’s murder continued before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

Along with Seonarine, Inspector Suraj Singh took the stand; the victim’s sister, Sunita Sarjou, will take the stand today when the matter continues.

The dead woman, in November of 2010, left her home to view a Diwali motorcade; however, she failed to return.

Sarjou’s whereabouts remained a mystery for several years, but her fami-

ly never gave up on getting an explanation for her disappearance. In March of last year, the woman’s remains were found in her husband Anand Narine’s Lot 51 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown backyard.

The remains were positively identified by her mother.

In her testimony before the court, Seonarine recounted the day of her daughter’s disappearance.

She identified Narine as her former son-in-law to the court and relayed that he, on numerous occasions leading up to her daughter’s disappearance, threatened her life.

Seonarine was again made to identify the objects found with her daughter’s remains.

Murder accused: Anand Narine

On the day of the discovery, Seonarine told media operatives then that her daughter always complained of having a turbulent relationship with Narine.

She divulged that even the family members of

Narine and, more importantly, his mother had told her that her son (Narine) was brain damaged and, as such, would act in a disorderly manner.

Seonarine was also the person to report her daughter’s disappearance, since Sarjou was living with her at the time.

The woman was cross-examined by the second accused Darrel Ponton’s Attorney, Nigel Hughes.

However, Peter Hughes, the Attorney representing the interest of Narine for the second time, was not in court and, as such, Narine took notes of everything being said.

The matter will continue today when Sarjou’s sister and niece will give their testimony.

Self-praise… …or self delusion? hemraj Ramjattan’s been around the (political) track – and then some. So, he should know by now even though politicians – like used car salesmen – are allowed some amount of “puffery” they have to retain some link with reality. So, why would he follow up his statement from late last year that the AFC is a “powerful voice in Cabinet” with now insisting his party is an “effective partner doing a wonderful job” in government?

“Powerful”? “Wonderful”? Is your Eyewitness inhabiting some alternate universe that Ramjattan? If the AFC were a “powerful voice in Cabinet” could they point to a single policy initiative they pushed and had implemented. The AFC insisted it was not coalescing with APNU because they wanted to maintain their “independent” point of view. So while your Eyewitness understands the notion of “collective ministerial responsibility”, shouldn’t the AFC at least reveal where their power was exercised?

Your Eyewitness remembers the AFC was most adamant about “constitutional change” being needed to construct a political framework that would better deal with Guyana’s political challenges. Whatever happened to the recommendations submitted to PM Moses Nagamootoo (AFC) by the Nigel Hughes (AFC) headed committee? Was it deep-sixed because Prezzie said he didn’t want recommendations from just an elite bunch behind closed doors? Doesn’t look like the AFC was able to exercise much “power” in Cabinet on this issue.

Then there’s the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). The AFC had staked an awful lot of political capital on getting this in place to stop – as they trumpeted when in Opposition – the “incestuous” proclivity of the PPP Cabinet to steer contracts towards their “friends and family”. So how “powerful” or how “effective a partner” were they when it took a year to get the PPC appointed – but it’s still sitting on their hands as Cabinet continues with the old “incestuous” Cabinet “no objection” route?

Why are they part of a Cabinet that has to be “weaned away” from the “incestuous act” as the newly appointed head of the PPC “explained”? When was it they got hooked on “incestuous acts” that the PPC head has to fear they may have health damaging withdrawal symptoms? Or do the AFC Cabinet members take a “principled position” and recuse themselves when this “incest” is taking place?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Or is the once and future leader – if he gets away with amending its party’s constitution and its two term limits – simply engaging in a pre-emptive strike against those AFC members who’d insist he was a prophet when he insisted the party would become “dead meat” if it coalesced with the PNC? Say it ain’t all about “pelf and power”!

K

…or self-expression?

The military just reiterated its ban on tattoos. NO! Not the military drum roll for the evening roll-call – the needled drawings into the skin that’s become rather de riguer for the young and not so young nowadays. The Army pointed out its ban just affects tattoos that can be seen when the soldier’s wearing military kit. Sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Well not if the kit includes shorts and vests!!

But this is rather ironic, isn’t it, to those of us who grew up with the Hollywood celluloid depiction of Army and navy types as alpha males with tattoos all over their bodies – especially on their shoulders? Fact of the matter is the US used to allow tattoos once they were hidden by long sleeved shirts or jackets. But more recently, they’ve bowed to reality and accepted tattoos once they’re not on hands, neck or faces – or scatological or racist.

The alternative was depleted ranks! We need those fighting men! …or self-serving?

In what an awestruck country thought was an act of patriotism, several businessmen plunged into a whirlwind clearing and construction of Jubilee Stadium at D’Urban Park. Millions were spent.

So they should be grateful they’re getting back even half of what they invested, nuh?

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

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Thursday, January 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

More impromptu raids as Govt cracks down on TIP hotspots … as national action plan launched

H

eightened surveillance on suspicious businesses, surprise raids on flagged locations and more robust intelligence gathering are just a few of the activities geared towards achieving the target of in-

TIP cases reaching the relevant authorities but Williams pointed out that this does not necessarily translate to an upsurge in the number of human trafficking incidents.

The National Action Plan provides four bases upon

Students from various schools who attended the launch

creasing the prosecuting rate of human traffickers by 300 per cent, in comparison to the year 2015 where only two perpetrators were convicted.

This was announced by the Coordinator of the Counter Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Unit in the Social Protection Ministry, Tanisha Williams, during the launch of the National Plan of Action for the Prevention and Response to Trafficking in Persons 2017-2018.

Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of reports of suspected

which the TIP Task Force will execute its duties – prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership.

Williams explained that efforts will be made to distribute awareness booklets across the regions, conduct awareness sessions in high schools and with faith based organisations, and launch a school competition all aimed at sensitising the public of this inhumane scourge.

Additionally, the Task Force will seek to train more than 50 persons in identifying TIP victims. It will also

lobby manufacturing business entities to print education messages on the labels of various consumer items.

On the matter of protection, TIP victims will continue to receive comprehensive psychosocial counselling and access to healthcare, legal guidance, shelter, job placement, among other services crucial for their reintegration into society.

Regarding prosecution, Williams said efforts will be made to train law enforcement officials, immigration officers, mines officers, Magistrates and attorneys on issues related to TIP. This training will be done with the aim of increasing the number of arrests, charges and convictions of human traffickers by 300 per cent.

Williams said officers will continue to conduct research to determine areas that warrant special investigation and to increase surveillance on suspicious businesses and individuals.

Further, she noted that any approach that is not integrated is doomed to fail and therefore underscored the importance of the involvement of all stakeholders in the combat against this illicit trade.

Statistics show that in 2015, there was a 47 per cent increase and in 2016 there was a 45 per cent increase in the number of suspected cas-

es in comparison to 2014.

According to the coordinator, the majority of the persons suspected to be TIP victims are from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Meanwhile, Coordinator of the TIP Task Force Oliver Profitt outlined that the body will be divided into several sub-committees which will streamline the work for the national action plan.

There will be the training sub-committee to focus on training all individuals necessary, awareness subcommittee to focus generally on sensitising the public, protection and reintegration subcommittee focused on victims, the research subcommittee to focus on intelligence gathering and the action subcommittee to conduct investigation, surveillance, raids, and surprise inspections.

Corruption

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, in his remarks, lamented how trafficking in persons, and generally all illicit activities, are allowed to thrive and develop because of corrupt law enforcement officers and State officials.

“Crime and corruption is not a culture, it is a choice and a choice we must halt.

People must not be stuck in a cycle of negativity and lose hope. We have to dream that this job must be done, halting

President David Granger during his address at the launch of the TIP national action plan

trafficking, halting violence … and crime in all its ugly forms,” the Minister stated.

Further, he urged persons to speak out against this modern day slavery and encourage those with critical information to approach the authorities. He emphasised that silence in this regard cannot be condoned.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Perry Holloway, whose host country has played an integral role in helping Guyana combat this crime, congratulated the country for its improved ranking in the US 2016 TIP Report which says the nation moving up from the Watchlist to Tier 2.

The 2016 Report noted that the Guyana does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to

do so. The report attributed this improvement in status to the country being able to convict a trafficker, on whom a three-year prison sentence was imposed. The convicted trafficker was also required to pay the victim restitution – the first time restitution has been ordered for a trafficking offender in Guyana.

Meanwhile, President David Granger in his presentation, expressed satisfaction with the strides made by his Administration thus far in intensifying the efforts against TIP. Persons with information related to trafficking in persons’ cases can contact the Task Force hotline on 2274083. The Task Force assured that all information provided is guaranteed to be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. (Devina Samaroo)

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, January 19, 2017

News

Father jailed for killing ERC establishment postponed T 2-month-old son I

n emotional scenes at the Demerara High Court on Wednesday morning, James Hunte who caused the death of his twomonth-old son in a drunken brawl back in 2012 was sentenced to eight years in prison for manslaughter.

Standing before Justice Navindra Singh and a packed courtroom, Hunte also called “Dougla” pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge.

The State contended that on March 20, 2012 at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, he killed his son Andy Hunte.

When allowed to speak, the accused, with great emotion, told the court that he was sorry for what he had done and even noted that no relatives have visited him since he was incarcerated.

Handing down the eightyear sentence, Justice Singh expressed that he be-

Jailed: James Hunte

lieved the accused regretted what had happened and noted that Hunte had already spent almost five years on remand awaiting trial.

“It is unfortunate that you lost your temper, but I don’t think you’re a hardened criminal…I want to give you a chance to make a contribution to society,” remarked the Judge.

Justice Singh reminded the court that Hunte had confessed to Police just

one day after the crime was committed. He told the convict to use his time behind bars to learn a skill and further encouraged him to continue his reported good behaviour.

Speaking outside the court moments after his sentencing, Hunte reacted calmly to his sentence, noting that it was “not bad”.

During a drunken rum shop brawl on March 20, 2012 with his son’s mother, Hunte struck the child to the head with a belt buckle. The toddler was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and died hours later.

Reports at that time had stated that the child’s parents were homeless and reportedly alcoholics. The State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Siand Dhurjon and Tuanna Hardy while Defence Attorney George Thomas represented the accused.

Jagdeo blasts Govt’s secret...

Massive concessions

However, the MoU seen

by Guyana Times outlines that the company will be conducting a feasibility study, which is proposed to commence on April 3.

DRCL is slated to benefit tremendously if its project proposal is approved by the current coalition Administration. From the size of DRCL’s operations in Trinidad, it appears doubtful it would be able to finance a project of the magnitude proposed.

According to the MoU, some expectations in the event a definitive agreement is entered into would include access to key infrastructure, favourable combination of

tax incentives, and land for sugarcane cultivation and infrastructure.

The company is also set to receive reasonable approval cycles, guarantees on minimum product take-off by the Government with respect to electric power and fuel ethanol, guaranteed pricing formulae and power export provisions.

This means that while the company will convert sugar cane into ethanol and electricity from bagasse, the Government will assume the responsibility of purchasing the products at some yet undisclosed price. For ethanol to be used as fuel by motor vehicles, their engines would have to be modified. It was

he finalisation of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) was put off on Wednesday, after the scheduled meeting of the Committee of Appointments was postponed until next week.

Chairman of the Committee, Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, told Guyana Times that there was no meeting since none of the Opposition members showed up. However, A People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, who also sits on the Committee on Appointments, explained that the opposition members were unavailable. He himself was preoccupied at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting.

Among the items on the agenda for Wednesday’s Committee on Appointments meeting was the ERC, which is currently before the Committee for finalisation of nominees selected.

The ERC plays an integral role as a constitutional entity which serves to protect and preserve the interests of all stakeholders

from page 3

not disclosed if the Guyana Government or DRCL would bear the cost of the engine modification.

The integrated sugarcane processing facility will include developing an integrated sugar-to-ethanol and electric power project. While sugar will not be produced, the Skeldon factory will still have to process the sugar cane all the way to the molasses stage, but the diffuser for extracting the sugar will become redundant.

Basically, the feasibility study will examine the cultivation and harvesting of sugar cane and sugarcane processing.

It will also look at the production of fuel-grade eth-

anol, and the production of bulk rum for local, regional and international markets.

The feasibility study will also focus on power production from bagasse, production of high-test molasses, the construction of a liquid bulk terminal and the development of a solar power generation facility. The findings of the feasibility study will provide critical information and set the platform to make a definitive project proposal to the Government of Guyana.

The Agriculture Minister said the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) would deal with the matter if the company makes such a proposal.

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton

as far as creating an atmosphere of tolerance and harmony among the different races and ethnic groups in Guyana’s diverse society.

The Commission initially comprised of representatives from seven different constituencies but in 2015, it was increased to 10. ERC members represent the three main religions – Hinduism, Islam and Christianity – and are drawn from labour, the Private Sector, the youth and women’s affair organisations. The three new additions, which fall under a new category – the Cultural/Ethnic Group – comprise of one representative each from the three major ethnic groups of Guyana; that is, the Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese and the Indigenous Guyanese.

Subsequently, the National Assembly was informed that the Committee consulted the approved list of entities for nomination to the ERC; and those entities met, and later submitted their nominations between April 30 and June 6, 2014.

Among those chosen by the Appointments Committee were Pastor John Smith from the Christian community; Rajkumarie Singh, the Hindu Community; Sheikh Moeen-ul-Hack from the Muslim community; Norris Witter from labour; Ravindra Dev, the Private

Sector representative; Gomattie Kalicharran for youth organisations; Ruth Howard for women’s organisations; Peter Persaud for Amerindian groups; Barrington Braithwaite for African groups and Neaz Suban for Indian groups.

However speaking with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Dr Norton explained that at the last Committee meeting on ERC in 2016, there were some issues relating to the one of new groups. He noted that there were three entities that had to make an appointment amongst themselves to represent the Indian groups and up to that time, no consensus was arrived at.

But this publication was told the issue was sorted out; however, since the Committee had not met since then, this was not communicated.

The next step in the process, after finalising the 10 nominees, is for the Committee to submit the names to the National Assembly for approval via a motion. It is required that there be a two-thirds majority approval before the nominees can become official and presented to the President for swearing in.

The ERC is a constitutional body established under the Herdmanston Accord. It works with persons and agencies to promote harmonious ethnic relations. The Commission also deals with complaints, promotes training in racial harmony, and fosters a sense of security, among all ethnic groups.

The Commission has been virtually dysfunctional since 2011, when then Opposition Leader Robert Corbin, has secured an injunction against the body, barring the Chairman and two Commissioners from taking any decision, recommendation or issuing any direction on behalf of the constitutional body.

thursday, January 19, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News 5th Regional IUF Conference

Jagdeo jabs at Govt’s lack of “fiscal space” excuse for sugar sector

Walk a mile O in my shoes

D

erived from an insightful Native American Indian saying, the advice that “before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes,” although very wise and contemplative, fails to address the issue that judging a man at all may not be such a healthy practice. Interestingly, it also provokes thoughts about the extent to which anyone can walk in another’s shoes.

Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal Judgement is one of our innate human mechanisms, which is at the core of navigating our behaviour for survival.

It is a natural way to make decisions and a necessary practice directing our choices. We base our judgements primarily on what we have experienced before and while this seems like a logical and sensible process, in reality we are making those judgements as a reflection of who we are rather than the person we are judging; we are implying certain conclusions about ourselves. This is especially true when we judge those we know very little about.

First impressions are indeed powerful, but we must accept that those impressions are formed using two facets; of which our own is primarily the stronger contributor to the situation. We are no doubt unaware of the circumstances and experiences the other person is carrying with them on the day of our first interaction. It is also our own initial behaviours that can heavily influence the reaction of others and often our judgements go a long way in causing reactionary behaviour to fulfil our prophecy. For example, if we believe another to be cold and unfriendly, we offer them no warmth or cordiality and so in return the person is icy and aloof; continuing unproductive relations. Quite presumptuous of us to form a rigid opinion on such a tiny foundation wouldn’t you say?

Irrespective of the longevity of the contact or relationship between two people, before forming any sort of conclusion about their character, behaviour or personality, questions should be asked about how well you really know someone. Do you know what contributed to make them the person they are today? If you can understand what they go through day after day, if you can relate to them and what it must feel like to be in their position, then you may be qualified to form an opinion about them. Of course, unless you have lived their life, you will never be in a position to judge or criticise.

Instead it would serve better to exercise empathy. The ability to empathise with others is relative to a person’s capacity to identify, feel, and understand their own feelings. This forms the bases of developing the capability to then project that understanding, identification and feeling into another person’s perspective; to view life from their situation and to feel what it feels like to be that person. By understanding the reasons behind your counterpart’s behaviour, you are opening up the possibility of experiencing the way life feels for them.

Unfortunately, feelings do not always follow understanding and so the true essence of empathy is not realised.

When we hear, see or experience other people's lives our mind reacts with an effort to put ourselves in their shoes and consider how we would deal with it. Can we actually do so from their true perspective? We would hear, see, and experience things differently because our own history of life and personal make up affects the outcome. Perhaps the uniqueness of our own life stories may make it impossible to ever truly walk in their shoes.

The best we can hope for is to relate to someone. The ability to comprehend another person’s actions and emotions, to identify thoughts and emotional states, to understand a person’s reaction and have awareness of another’s problems without experiencing them is a no easy feat. Some may be more inclined to doing so but I suppose it may be a better not to attempt to walk a mile in the shoes of the next person, but walk beside them and try to gain an understanding, a similar perspective and refrain from forming harsh, unnecessary judgements that are unfair and relationally counterproductive.

Harsh judgements which are often a reflection of what we fail to recognise in ourselves or part of an effort to give our own behaviours more credit.

Start recognising the magnitude of another person’s story, their history and their influences; then try to understand rather than judge. You have your own issues to correct, so if you feel the need to judge, you know a good place to start – the only place you have all the information to reach a true verdict.

pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo took a jab at the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government for its role in phasing out the sugar industry, with the excuse it lacked fiscal space.

The Opposition Leader was delivering remarks during the opening of the fifth Regional Conference of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Association (IUF) at the Grand Coastal Inn on Wednesday.

Jagdeo stressed that Government was moving blindly towards the total annihilation of the sugar sector, an industry that thousands of Guyanese rely on.

Total annihilation

“If sugar fails in Guyana, it will have a systematic impact. Almost 15 per cent of our GDP [Gross Domestic Product] depends on the sugar industry. Now imagine the withdrawal of 15 per cent of your GDP. Almost 100,000 people rely on sugar, some communities more so than others. Some communities will die because their sole source is sugar,” Jagdeo told the more than 35 delegates from Caribbean countries.

The Opposition Leader reminded that Guyana has had to deal with sugar for a long time and many times on the side of the unions.

“Because the Union has always been fighting when I was President, but we never had wages freeze in the sugar industry in the last 30 years.

The last two years since the Government took over we have had two freezing.”

He pointed out that the 64-year-old Annual Production Incentive (API) was taken away this year, because Government claimed it had no “fiscal space”.

“Government says we cannot continue to fund sugar and, therefore, we will have to close estates and privatise others,” the Opposition Leader said.

Available resources

Meanwhile, Jagdeo said while Government claimed it could not find resources to put into the industry, it was able to give a tax write-off to the Demerara Distillers Limited, a company that produces alcohol. That, he said, will have implications for the treasury.

“It’s about G$70 to $80 billion or US$400 million.

We needed only $8 billion to keep Wales Estate open, which would have saved 17,000 jobs and the entire West Bank of more than 25,000 people would have not seen their disposable income destroyed… One company gets a huge benefit like that and the sugar industry cannot be kept going,” he said.

He added that with the money being pumped

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo delivering remarks at the fifth Regional IUF Conference

into that local company, Government could have subsidised sugar for the next 10 years and kept all the estates going without any need to privatise any of them.

Further, Jagdeo lashed out at Finance Minister Winston Jordan and his 2017 National Budget, which he said undoubtedly placed further strain on the poor and working class. He spoke of pensioners whose subsidies for water and electricity were cut off and the addition of Value Added Tax on same. All of this, he said, has happened because of Government’s excuse that it did not have fiscal space.

“And we cannot help the sugar industry because we do not have the fiscal space and so a layman listening to the Minister of Finance; it sounds like reasonable ar-

guments because we do not have the money to finance these activities,” Jagdeo added.

Solidarity

Meanwhile, delegates at the conference declared that they were in full solidarity with the Guyanese sugar workers and their representative organisations during what they described as a “challenging period”.

“We roundly condemn the rollback of workers’ gains won through long and arduous struggles; the disregard of national laws and agreements; the disrespect shown to long-standing and time-honoured norms, conventions and principles, among the other injustices that have been meted out by the State-owned Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc

(GuySuCo) in recent times,” the delegates said in a unified statement on Wednesday.

They called on GuySuCo and Government, as the owner of the industry, to ensure that the sugar workers’ rights, conditions and benefits were respected and upheld at all times.

“We denounce too the closure of the Wales Estate which has placed livelihoods of many Guyanese at grave risk and urge that the closure decision be withdrawn, even at this late stage. We must express, as well, our strongest condemnation over plans and proposals that will, in effect, cause further estate closures and sell-out and, if pursued, will see the many thousands of Guyanese facing a most uncertain and bleak future” The sugar industry, the delegates said, represents an important pillar of the Guyanese economy and plays a manifold role in the society. “Moreover, the industry, we are aware, is capable of surmounting its present challenges and can play an even more significant role in Guyana. At this time, we reiterate our fullest solidarity with the thousands of sugar workers and their unions.

“We call on the Government of Guyana and the GuySuCo to engage in meaningful discussions with the unions, with a view to safeguard the sugar industry and to protect jobs.”

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news

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thursDAY, janUARy 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parking meters burden

Smart City Solutions ready to negotiate with GTU, NCD I

n light of criticisms over the placement of the controversial parking meters outside of public schools in the city and at locations impeding the pathways of persons with disabilities, Smart City Solutions (SCS) have agreed to meet and discuss the issue with the affected representative bodies.

Currently, there are two parking meters in front of Bishops High School and one in front of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre as well as several meters on a number of pavements throughout the city. The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the National Commission on Disability (NCD) have since registered their complaints to media entities about the location of these meters.

However, SCS pointed out in a statement on

The parking meter located in front of the Bishops High School

Wednesday that while there have been concerns about the placement of the parking meters, no such complaints were made directly with the company. Nevertheless, SCS noted that a high degree of importance would be placed on the issue.

To this end, SCS said it has spoken with and invit-

ed the NCD to a meeting and looks forward to having constructive discussions to ensure that the placement of the meters conform to internationally accepted standards and practice, while taking into account prevailing local conditions in order to minimise any impact on the free movement of per-

Duo remanded for narco trafficking

T

hirty-six-yearold Vilbert Holder and 17-year-old Christopher Romeo, of Danielstown, Essequibo Coast, were both remanded to prison for being in the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

They made their first appearance before Magistrate Dylon Bess on Wednesday at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court. Holder was charged separately for one offence, while he was jointly charged with Romeo for two others.

Holder is a father of four and a farmer by profession, while the teenager is a ma-

son.

The first charge states that on January 16, at Danielstown, Holder sold Police detectives three grams of cocaine. He pleaded not guilty to that charge.

The second charge stated that on the same date, Holder and Romeo had in their possession 10 grams of cocaine. The last charge stated that the duo also had in their possession 16 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their Attorney, Onassis Granville, told the court that the nar-

cotics were found on a chair in a house at Danielstown, and not on her clients. She argued that Romeo was visiting the house on the day in question when the narcotic was unearthed. Granville further explained that there are many occupants of the house and the narcotic could have belonged to anyone.

The Police Prosecutor objected to bail, pointing to the serious nature and prevalence of the offence.

Magistrate Bess then remanded the duo until February 1 for the commencement of the trial.

sons with disabilities, in particular, persons who are blind.

With regards to concerns raised by the GTU in relation to parking meters in the vicinity of schools, the company explained that a meeting has also been set up with the union to address the matter.

But at the same time, SCS pointed out that “while it is essential for any properly functioning metered parking system or for any such generally regulated public infrastructure platform, to establish and adhere to general standards which are fairly and equitably applied across the board, exceptions to the rule may, however, apply where there are particular special circumstances justifying special consideration.”

The company went on to outline that special arrangements such as parking permits for teachers and specific parking regulations in school areas are, in fact, consistent with international practice.

“In the case raised by the Teachers Union, SCS stands ready to examine a customised solution, as has been done with other organisations and institutions with whom SCS have been engaged,” the company stated.

However, SCS noted that with the current unregulat-

ed parking in the city, teachers have no choice but to compete with all other motorists searching for space to park even in front of their own schools. In this regard, the company posited that it is willing to consider grant-

At present the rate is $50 plus Value Added Tax (VAT), for every 15 minutes.

This adds up to at least $200 an hour.

The minimum time a motorist can purchase is 15 minutes.

The parking meter in front of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre

ing parking permits on application for spaces exclusive to teachers during prescribed times which would regulate those spaces on behalf of the permit holders, thus guaranteeing them preferential access to parking in proximity to their schools.

On Monday, GTU’s General Secretary Coretta McDonald took a swing at the parking meter company, pointing out that the placements of these meters in front of schools represent an additional burden on teachers.

Metered hours are Monday to Saturday from 07:00h to 19:00h. There is a ‘honeymoon’ period in effect, which ends on January 23, where motorists will not have to pay for parking.

According to the company, this is to allow motorists to get “accustomed”.

After being signed in November 2015, the manner in which the 49-year parking meter contract was arranged with National Parking Solutions/SCSI has attracted heavy scrutiny in the press.

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thursday, January 19, 2017

Regional

Former St Kitts/Nevis Ministers called on to return millions to the treasury

F

ormer St Kitts and Nevis Ministers in the Dr Denzil Douglas-led Labour/NRP Administration are being called upon to return millions of dollars to the country’s Treasury.

The renewed call has arisen as the intensity of debate increases on the streets and in traditional and social media regarding the conduct of Government Ministers with regard to their private business dealings and issues of conflict of Interest, Times Caribbean reported.

Specific mention has been made of Douglas and former Minister, now opposition MP Marcella Liburd and Nigel Carty. According to one blogger the former Prime Minister and now Opposition Leader, Dr Denzil Douglas has to date acquired over US$1million in rent from the Taiwanese

MPs and former Ministers Marcella Liburd and Dr Denzil Douglas

Government for the property that houses the official Taiwanese ambassador’s residence and a property in which Douglas has a partial beneficial if not significant or total interest.

The blogger also alluded to the relationship between a number of statutory bodies and Bryant and Liburd, the law firm of Marcella Liburd.

Bryant and Liburd, in which

Liburd is a partner, served as the retained law firm for both the National Insurance as well as the Development Bank whilst she served as a Government Minister in the Douglas Administration from 2010-2015.

The firm is said to have received some $4 million in legal fees from the Government-owned institutions. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

2nd winner of environmental prize killed months after Berta Cáceres death

A

Mexican indigenous activist who received the prestigious Goldman environmental prize for his crusade against illegal logging has been shot dead, the second award-winner to have been murdered in less than 12 months.

Isidro Baldenegro López, a subsistence farmer and leader of the Tarahumara community in the country’s northern Sierra Madre mountain region, was shot at a relative’s home on Sunday.

Baldenegro received the Goldman prize in 2005 for

his non-violent campaign to protect ancient forests from deforestation in a region plagued by violence, drug trafficking and corruption.

According to local reports the indigenous leader, who was in his 50s, had only recently returned to his community Coloradas de la Virgen in Chihuahua after a long period in exile due to threats against him and his family.

Baldenegro’s murder is yet another grave reminder of the dangers faced by environmental and land activists in the region.

The Honduran indige-

nous leader, Berta Cáceres who received the Goldman prize in 2015, was murdered in March 2016 after years of death threats and intimidation linked to her campaign against an internationally financed hydroelectric dam.

Her death came after at least 122 activists were murdered in Latin America in 2015 while trying to protect natural resources from environmentally destructive mega-projects such as dams, mines, tourist resorts and logging, according to research by the NGO Global Witness. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Brazil troops sent to ‘clean out’ restive prisons

B

razilian authorities said Wednesday they are deploying 1000 troops to “clean out” arms and cellphones from restive prisons while Police moved to end a deadly gang face-off in one northern penitentiary.

The soldiers were being brought in to respond to a “national emergency” in the badly overcrowded prison system, Defense Minister Raul Jungmann said.

The troops, who include

teams used during last year’s Olympic Games in Rio, don’t have the constitutional authority to take control of the prisons.

They will only be used to “clean out” contraband weapons, explosives and phones, Jungmann said.

The deployment underlined the seriousness of the crisis, in which 134 people have been killed in prison violence this year, according to the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper, citing

Justice Ministry figures.

In the Alcacuz prison near the northern city of Natal, security forces were struggling to re-impose control after a weekend massacre in which 26 inmates were killed, most of them beheaded.

Officers entered the facility, in which authorities aimed to isolate two warring gangs inside by separating them with makeshift barriers. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Teen shoots 4, kills self at private school in northern Mexico

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teenage student suffering from depression shot three students and a teacher at a private school in northern Mexico on Wednesday before killing himself in what state officials called an unprecedented attack that was caught on security video.

The 15-year-old student pulled out a handgun inside a classroom at the bilingual Colegio Americano del Noreste and began shooting, the officials said, critically wounding three of his victims before turning the pistol on himself.

Hours after the shootings, Nuevo Leon state governor Jaime Rodriguez named the gunman as Federico Guevara and said he had died. His motive was being investigated, Rodriguez told a news conference.

Security camera footage showed the teenager quickly and calmly firing

A Police Officer stands outside the Colegio Americano del Noreste after a student opened fire at the American school in Monterrey, Mexico January 18, 2017

what appeared to be seven shots at seated students and a female teacher, some at point-blank range. At least two victims immediately slumped over after being hit.

Looking dazed, Guevara aimed at his own temple and pulled the trigger twice, but he had apparently ran out of bullets. He walked back to where he had been sitting, reloaded, and shot himself in the

chin. He keeled over.

Students who had been cowering beneath desks and chairs then fled, stepping over the shooter to reach the door.

Ambulances, Police and soldiers raced to the school, which offers pre-school, elementary and high school classes on the southern outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico’s third largest city.

Thanks, but no thanks: Jamaica declines UK offer of new maximum security prison Colombia sets date for peace talks with ELN rebel group T he Jamaica Government has turned down Britain’s offer to partially fund construction of a new maximum-security prison in the island.

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator Kamina JohnsonSmith said the Andrew Holness Administration didn’t believe the deal – offered in 2015 when the then British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the island – would have been beneficial to Jamaica as a whole.

Johnson-Smith, who is also Leader of Government Business in the Senate, made the disclosure in response to questions posed by Opposition Senator Lambert Brown.

She noted that the previ-

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson-Smith said the terms of the offer would not have benefited Jamaica on the whole

ous People’s National Party (PNP) Administration and the UK Government had signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) un-

der which the UK would have contributed £25 million (US$30.7 million) towards building the facility.

Under that deal, National Security Minister Robert Montague said on a local radio station on Tuesday, Jamaica would still have had to find an additional £32 million (US$39 million) to construct the prison. Additionally, he said, the country would have had to accept 600 people serving time in British prisons – many of whom are only Jamaican by descent and are “strangers to the country”.

Defending the decision not to accept the offer, Montague said the Government would have preferred help “with schools and factories”. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

C

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The ELN is active in the border areas with Venezuela and also in Cauca province

olombian President Juan Manuel Santos says formal peace talks will begin next month with the country’s second-largest rebel group, the ELN. He said the ELN had agreed to hand over an ex-congressman, Odin Sanchez, the rebel group had been holding since April.

Exploratory talks have taken place for years but stalled when the ELN refused to

hand over all their hostages.

Santos last year agreed a peace accord with the main rebels, the FARC. Peace talks with the ELN had been due to begin last March. The ELN has freed several other hostages in the past few months. Sanchez handed himself to the rebels in April last year in exchange for the release of his brother, Patrocinio.

The former governor of North-western Choco prov-

ince, Patrocinio Sanchez, was held by the rebels for almost three years and had fallen ill when his brother suggested the swap.

The agreement with the larger FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was sealed despite an earlier deal being rejected in a referendum in October. More than 220,000 people have been killed in decades of civil conflict. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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15

Around the World

Mali suicide bomber kills at least Xi portrays China 50 people in Gao military camp as global leader as

A

suicide bomber in a vehicle full of explosives has attacked a camp in northern Mali, killing at least 50 people and wounding dozens of soldiers and former fighters.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suspicion quickly fell on Islamic extremist groups operating in the area. The attack marks a significant setback for efforts to achieve peace in the region.

The blast hit the joint operational mechanism base in the city of Gao, home to Malian soldiers and hundreds of former fighters who had signed a peace agreement with the government.

Dismembered bodies could still be seen two hours after the blast.

The death toll rose over the course of Wednesday morning and had reached more than 50 by 13:30h local time (1330 GMT), a military official said.

Witnesses said the car bearing explosives breached the camp at about 09:00h as hundreds of fighters were gathering for a meeting.

The bomber “succeeded in tricking soldiers’ vigilance” and penetrated the camp, said Army spokesman Col Diarran Kone.

The attack underscores the enormous challenges that remain in northern

Trump era looms

A military truck arrives outside a hospital in Gao where injured personnel were taken after the explosion

Mali four years after the French military led an intervention to drive jihadis from power in the major towns across the North. The

peace agreement has proved difficult to implement and unpopular with the forces wreaking havoc in the region. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Thousands flee Gambia as crisis deepens L

arge numbers of Gambians have fled their homes and soldiers from neighbouring Senegal have begun moving towards the borders amid a deepening political crisis.

Yahya Jammeh, who lost a December 1, 2016 presidential vote to Opposition Leader Adama Barrow, is refusing to step down, despite international condemnation and a threat of a mil-

itary intervention by West African countries to enforce his election defeat.

The President’s mandate expires on Thursday, and Barrow – who is currently in Senegal – has pledged to go ahead with his inauguration on Gambian soil on Thursday though he has not offered any details.

Gambia is completely surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean.

Late on Wednesday, witnesses reported seeing Senegalese soldiers in both the Kaolack region of Senegal to the North of Gambia, and in the southern Senegalese region of Casamance.

Colonel Abdou Ndiaye, a spokesman for the Senegal army, told Reuters news agency that Senegalese troops arrived at the Gambian border late on

Wednesday. As the crisis has deepened, hundreds of tourists have departed from Gambia, a popular winter destination in West Africa for visitors, especially from Britain, the former colonial power.

The streets of the capital, Banjul, were largely empty by late afternoon on Wednesday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

India focused on Chabahar as Japan reiterates commitment to port project

J

apan and India are finally moving to fructify their partnership for development of the Chabahar port in Iran with Tokyo committing investment to help improve Afghanistan’s access to the port.

Afghanistan confirmed Japan’s pledge to develop access for Chabahar after a visit last week by Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kentaro Sonoura.

India, Iran and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement last year in May for establishing transport and transit corridors for the strategically located port in Iran.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

Shinzo Abe last year discussed prospects for cooperation between India and Japan for promoting peace and prosperity in South

Asia and neighbouring region through both bilateral and trilateral cooperation.

Indian and Japanese officials are together working

out details for development of infrastructure and connectivity for Chabahar.

Japan’s interest in Chabahar is important for India as it can help New Delhi in ensuring time bound implementation of its commitment to develop the Iranian port, seen as a counterbalance to the China’s Gwadar port barely 75 km away in Pakistan.

As part of the US$46 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Gwadar is fast developing as an economic hub but India has been concerned about Beijing getting operational control of the port located in Pakistan’s South-western Balochistan province. (Excerpt

from Times of India)

“Catastrophe” in central Italy on day of 4 big quakes

T

he President of Italy’s Marche region has talked of a “catastrophe” and appealed for aid as four quakes above magnitude 5 struck in one day.

Luca Ceriscioli said quakes and snow had caused landslides and thousands of families were suffering power cuts, with some villages left isolated.

A man was killed and

another reported missing in the nearby Abruzzo region. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker vowed EU solidarity with Italy after the tremors.

Marche was one of the regions worst hit by the earthquake of August 24, 2016, with 46 of its 298 victims losing their lives in a single mountain village there, Pescara del Tronto.

The Lazio region was also affected on Wednesday and the tremors were felt in the capital, Rome. Amatrice, the Lazio town where 236 of the August deaths were recorded, is close to the epicentre of the new quakes.

The tremors came after some 36 hours of steady snowfall in mountainous areas around Amatrice and Norcia. In Teramo, Abruzzo,

a man of 83 was found dead in the rubble of his barn which had collapsed, while in Ortolano, also in Abruzzo, a man was swept away by an avalanche, Italy’s Ansa news agency reports.

The Italian Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said it had recorded “some 200” tremors above magnitude 2 on Wednesday in Abruzzo and Lazio. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a meeting at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, January 18, 2017

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hina will build a “new model” of relations with the United States, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday in a speech that portrayed China as the leader of a globalized world where only international cooperation could solve the big problems.

Two days before the inauguration of Donald Trump who has promised to be a US President putting “America first”, Xi urged countries to resist isolationism.

“Trade protectionism and self-isolation will benefit no one,” Xi told an invited audience at the United Nations in Geneva.

“Big countries should treat smaller countries as equals instead of acting as a hegemon imposing their will on others.”

Xi called for the world to unite on everything from environmental protection to terrorism and nuclear disarmament, in contrast to Trump who has said he has an “open mind” on climate change and that the United States would win any nuclear arms race.

While UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres told Xi it was “very reassuring to see China assuming such a clear leadership in multilateralism in today’s world”, rights campaigners expressed concerns about China’s record.

Western governments have accused China of widespread rights abuses and its smaller neighbors say it has expansionist ambitions in the South China Sea, things Beijing denies.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Make America great again by embracing green tech, Trump urged

L

eading climate change experts have urged Donald Trump not to turn his back on the biggest global challenge facing mankind, arguing that he can make America great again – and the world safer – by standing up to global warming and embracing the trillion-dollar green tech revolution.

As new data showed that 2016 was the hottest year on record, scientists, government advisers and people closely involved with global climate talks said it would be self-defeating for Trump to pull the US out of the global Paris climate change deal as he has threatened.

Reversing action on climate change would mean the US gets left behind in the fast-growing, trillion-dollar market for clean energy, transport and in-

frastructure, experts told the Guardian, with one warning that this course of action would instead “make China great again”.

“The best way to make America great again is by owning the clean technologies of the future,” said Michael Liebreich, who has advised the UN and World Economic Forum on energy. “Not only will this create countless wellpaid, fulfilling jobs for Americans, but it will also lock in the US’s geopolitical leadership for another generation.”

“I would say to [Trump], if you want to make China great again, you have to stay the course you have promised,” said John Schellnhuber, a climate expert who has advised Angela Merkel, the pope and the EU. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

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Anika Abel-Rose of Nick’s Phonics Centre: Making a difference in the world

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nika Abel-Rose, the earnest owner of Nick’s Phonics Centre, a part-time school that provides phonics classes for children aged three to eight, strives on risk, using the negativity of nay sayers and her humanitarian instincts to propel her rise.

“My single biggest influence came from a person who, at one point, made me to believe I would never soar beyond my height – and for the record I am short. That hurt grew into a passion not only to be someone important, but a person that can make a difference in the world by helping others, and having my name stained on people’s tongue even after death,” the former Charlestown Government Secondary School student said.

That drive and passion would serve her well when

she “decided to open the doors of Nick’s Phonics Centre after working at two top private schools for over 16 years and witnessing children being asked to leave when they are unable to cope with the workload or not being accept-

ed into the school when they fail the required pass mark of entry”.

“I wondered to myself: Who was going to assist these children? – knowing that everyone do not learn at the same phase or on the same day,” Abel-Rose recounted.

When the Centre was launched on August 31, 2015, she had to resign from the private school she worked at and fully commit herself to making her fantasy a reality, but that sacrifice has paid dividends. The response has been phenomenal, and the school which was initially operated as a charity had to be rebranded as a business.

“I have learnt throughout this process that nothing is impossible once you believe in yourself, and you must be open to change in order to be successful,” the Wortmanville, Georgetown

Business News

WTO admits global trade deals “are never perfect for anyone”

R

oberto Azevêdo, the Director General at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has delivered a defence of global trade, but admitted that the agreements struck with multilateral deals can often create unevenness.

“The system is horizontal it applies to everybody, the system that is perceived to be fair to someone, isn’t fair to someone else. That’s the beauty of negotiations at a multilateral level –you try to strike a balance –

the balance is never perfect for anyone,” he told CNBC Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Azevêdo explained that trade deals today were “more important than ever” and defended the rules that his organisation applies.

“Trade is responsible for two job losses out of ten.

What happens is the other eight are lost not because of trade, but they are lost because of new technologies, innovation, higher productivity,” he said.

“The US today itself has the largest slice it has ever had in terms of manufactured products in the world, but the loss of jobs is still there, not because of trade, not because of cheap imports but because of higher productivity,” he added.

He explained that this issue was the real question that these countries had to answer with the new Administration and Donald Trump set to be sworn in as President on Friday. (CNBC)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, January 11, 2017

Selling

USD

$1196.35

GBP

$253.20

$256.42

Gross

$231,189

CAN

$157.27

$159.10

Net

$215,006

USD

$205.98

$208.44

$ 219.93

$222.76

Indicators as on January 13, 2017

EURO

Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$55.47

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$217.80/ton

London Sugar

$538.40/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

+0.04 Change %

0.00 0 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1203.00

$1204.00

Low/High

$1201.60

$1217.50

Change

-1.00

-0.08%

Business Concept – Integrity 1. Strict adherence to a moral code, reflected in transparent honesty and complete harmony in what one thinks, says, and does.

2. State of a system where it is performing its intended functions without being degraded or impaired by changes or disruptions in its internal or external environments.

3. Stored or transmitted data that is free from any unauthorised change (data integrity) . (Business Dictionary)

resident reflected.

As a newly-wed with two daughters (including a foster child), she says “juggling business and family life can be a struggle sometimes especially when you are a workaholic (like myself), but you have to learn how to balance it or else it affects your family members”.

Abel-Rose, who cites her daughter, Janika, as her biggest inspiration and Vishnu Doerga as her dream mentor, is bent on spreading her vision for education. “My goals are to reach more pupils by expanding regionally; we will be able to mould more young minds and assist those busy professionals and parents, who seek assistance with their child’s academic studies….

Currently at work on her Master’s in Business Management to “better manage” her schools, the educator, with a fondness for food – (laughing) “everyone knows I like my stomach”— is very confident about her business’s future: “Education is always needed all over the world, and in Guyana’s economy, it will grow as parents will always invest in their child’s education once they can see progress in their child’s studies.”

“I define success by measuring my testimoni-

als. Making a difference or achieving a goal is success, not the amount of finance earned, especially in my type of business,” the 33-year-old declared.

“The advice I would give to an upcoming entrepreneur is to have a business plan, savings and never depend on anyone for your success.

If you want to be that business owner, you first must learn how to be accountable, responsible and take ownership of your business and yourself.”

“The single most important trait for entrepreneurs is

risk-taking,” she later noted.

Abel-Rose posited that entrepreneurs had a big role to play in making Guyana more productive, so more grants and easily accessed loans should be made available. “… we can help the economy by providing more job opportunities for our fellow Guyanese,” she added, but stressed that Guyanese needed to support their own.

Contact: 162-163 Lamaha Street, North Cummingsburg, between Camp Street and Waterloo Street, Georgetown; 6266551; www.facebook.com/ nickphonics

Investors’ Guide

Stocks close with mixed results as earnings season continues; financials lead

U

S stocks closed with mixed results on Wednesday as investors digested remarks from the top Federal Reserve official, having parsed through a series of corporate earnings and economic data.

The S&P 500 closed about 0.20 per cent higher, with financials leading advancers. The Nasdaq composite outperformed, rising approximately 0.3 per cent, as shares of Netflix rose in choppy trade. The video streaming giant is scheduled to report quarterly results Wednesday after the bell.

“Short-term overbought conditions continue to challenge the major US equity indices, which have exhibited weak short-term momentum in recent weeks,” said Katie Stockton, chief technical strategist at BTIG. The Dow Jones industrial average fell about 20 points, with UnitedHealth and Goldman Sachs contributing the most losses.

In prepared remarks, Fed Chair Janet Yellen said the US economy is closing in on the central bank’s goals, giving it impetus to start reducing the extreme levels of support it has provided over the past decade.

Treasury yields ex-

tended gains after Yellen’s speech was released, with the benchmark 10-year note yielding 2.42 per cent.

Market participants have been largely focusing on President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for fiscal stimulus, deregulation of certain sectors and tax reform. The broader US indexes have risen to record highs since the election.

“In many ways, Trump has eclipsed the messaging from Fed officials,” said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial. “The Fed’s message is an extremely important part to the market’s equation.”

“The market is expecting clarity over the first few months of the Administration. There remains some trepidation with regard to trade policy,” Krosby said. Throughout his campaign and since his victory, Trump has expressed protectionist views on trade, including the need for renegotiating key trade agreements, such as NAFTA. Investors also focused on corporate quarterly results, as Goldman Sachs and Citigroup posted better-than-expected earnings.

Goldman received a surge in trading revenue, but the

stock fell 0.75 per cent.

In economic news, the Consumer Price Index rose 0.3 per cent, in line with expectations, putting it up 2.1 per cent year over year.

This was also the first time CPI rose above two per cent since 2014.

Other economic data released Wednesday included industrial production.

Overseas, European equities closed slightly higher, as the Stoxx 600 index gained 0.18 per cent, a day before the European Central Bank delivered its latest monetary policy decision.

In Asia, stocks closed mostly higher, with the Shanghai composite advancing 0.14 per cent and the Nikkei 225 rising 0.43 per cent.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 22.05 points, or 0.11 per cent, to close at 19,804.72, with UnitedHealth leading decliners and American Express the biggest riser.

The S&P 500 rose four points, or 0.18 per cent, to end at 2271.89, with financials leading six sectors higher and telecommunications lagging.

The Nasdaq composite rose 16.93 points, or 0.31 per cent, to end at 5542. (CNBC)

news

17

thursDAY, janUARY 19, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

$40M allocated for US helping Guyana write rules to govern multibillion $$$ transactions – Huffington Post Mash 2017 celebrations …ExxonMobil to get 60-65% profits

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ex Tillerson, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ExxonMobil, is now a threat to Guyana’s oil and gas industry as he takes up the post of United States Secretary of State later this month, since he essentially will be writing the rules that will govern the US multibillion-dollar transactions between the two countries, given his connection to the US-based oil giant.

In fact, the internationally renowned Huffington Post recently argued that were Tillerson to take up the post of US Secretary of State, he was inarguably poised to position ExxonMobil to further benefit from the Guyana oil find – using the law.

The Huffington Post article outlines the fact that in the face of the huge oil find by ExxonMobil offshore Guyana, the country has no real framework for regulating multi-national oil companies like Exxon.

The article, titled “Conflict: Tillerson would write the rules for Exxon’s major oil find in Guyana”, was written by Jesse Coleman, who the publication listed as a researcher and writer for Greenpeace USA following fracking, the oil and gas industry, and corporate power in politics.

The Huffington Post article said Guyana’s foreign partners stood to earn 60 to 65 per cent of profits, a far larger share than what more established nations are willing to offer investors.

Rex Tillerson

This makes Guyana a much larger and economically important find than Exxon’s holdings in Russia, at least in the near term.

According to the USbased news agency, the Guyanese Government faces the prospect of regulating a company with an annual profit margin that is over five times larger than the country’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“With no technical expertise in offshore oil drilling and no experience handling super-powered corporations, Guyana faces the real possibility of suffering the resource curse, in which a place with massive resource wealth is pillaged and left for broke by bad management and predatory colonial practices.”

The article outlines too that the US State Department has recognised this dilemma and under Secretary Hillary Clinton, set up a programme called the Energy Governance and

Capacity Initiative (EGCI).

The programme aims to both promote fossil development and prevent the “resource curse” by providing “independent oversight” of the oil and gas industry in nascent oil states.

The programme is currently helping the Guyanese Government write profit-sharing agreements, environmental regulations, and develop a strong rule of law to counterbalance corporate power.

According to the Huffington Post article, “There is righteous critique of this from people who say the main outcome of such a programme would be to help Exxon profit from Guyana’s resources under the patina of rule of law…While that critique may have been valid while Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State, it will be an inarguable fact if Rex Tillerson assumes the Secretaryship.”

Efforts by this newspaper to contact current

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman were futile.

Meanwhile, the Huffington Post article further observed, “It seems unlikely, bordering impossible that Tillerson would, or even could, recuse himself from his conflicted role.”

It was outlined that in his nomination hearing, Tillerson said he would recuse himself for one year from carrying out foreign policy that deals directly with ExxonMobil.

“Considering Exxon has dealings in nearly a third of the world’s countries, a strict adherence to this promise would cripple the State Department…

Tillerson’s worldview will be responsible for prioritising environmental and profit-sharing regulations affecting Exxon.”

According to the Huffington Post piece, “The unavoidable outcome of this is friendlier rules for Exxon, rules that prioritise production over the environment and corporate comfort over social justice.”

The news of the looming conflict of interest scenario when the former ExxonMobil CEO takes up the post of US Secretary of State comes on the heels of a denial of accusations that the oil giant was, in fact, a financier of the David Granger-led coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) campaign.

Guyana looks to forge stronger partnership with Bolivia

P

resident David Granger on Wednesday accepted the Letters of Credence from Jose Kinn Franco at State House, accrediting him as the new non-resident Ambassador of Bolivia to Guyana.

The President said that with the appointment of the new Ambassador, it is hoped that an even stronger relationship characterised by peace, security and prosperity can be forged between the two nations, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a release.

The Head of State, accepting the Letters of Credence, said that the two countries placed great emphasis on the importance of regional integration. This, he said, serves as a means of achieving a higher standard of living for their peoples through the sustainable use of the countries’ natural resources.

He noted that Guyana and Bolivia both adhere strongly to the international values of mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,

President David Granger exchanges a handshake with the newlyaccredited Ambassador Jose Kinn Franco after the ceremony at State House on Wednesday

mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, cooperation for mutual benefit, respect for treaties and international law, and the maintenance of regional peace and security, the release added.

“Guyana and Bolivia recall that the Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), gathered at the Second Summit in Havana, Cuba on January 28 and 29, 2014, declared Latin America and the

Caribbean as a Zone of Peace based on respect for the principles and rules of international law, including the international instruments to which Member States are a party and the Principles and Purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. Guyana is confident that as a member of various regional organisations, we will continue to collaborate with Bolivia to work for the preservation of the continent as a zone of peace,” he said.

As the country moved

towards the pursuit and development of a ‘green’ economy, the President said that he too looked forward to cooperation in this area, as it was a means of tackling the ongoing climate change phenomenon.

Meanwhile, newly-accredited Ambassador Franco, in his remarks, said that the two countries have always shared cordial, friendly relations and it was his country’s hope too that the bonds could be further deepened for the mutual benefit of Guyana and Bolivia.

“It is the profound wish of our President to see the development and strengthening of relations with your country. My mission will be to seek fruitful outcomes in all areas of our relationship with due priority to fostering brotherhood among our peoples and actions in favour of development, which our peoples fervently aspire,” Ambassador Franco said through a translator. Ambassador Franco replaces Jerjes Justiniano Talavera, who began his tenure in Guyana in 2014.

Event coordinator Lennox Cantebury (centre); National School of Music Administrator Andrew Tyndall and Coordinator of the Allied Arts Unit, Desiree Wyles-Ogle at a press briefing on Wednesday

S

ome $40 million has been allocated for Mashramani 2017 festivities. This is according to the Education Ministry, whose officials have announced their plans on Wednesday, during the official launching at the Ministry’s Culture Youth and Sport Department.

The announcement followed the revelation that the Jubilee Costume and Float Parade route will repeat last year’s path; revellers gathered along Brickdam and the parade culminated at D’Urban Park, which was constructed in 2016.

Event Coordinator Lennox Cantebury told the media that the Brickdam route is less costly than the previous path along Church and Irving Streets, into the National Park.

Canterbury pointed out that this route is much safer for spectators, as members of the Guyana Police Force will be stationed at nearby spots.

He added that the children’s parade will now be included in the Mashramani parade on February 23, 2017.

Moreover, he asserted that while persons may complain about the limited space available along the route, the venue – D’Urban Park – has a capacity of 30,000.

With regards to vending, the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture Youth and Sport is presently conducting “demarcation exercises” along the route, and by the end of first week in February, spots will be on sale.

“When we look at what we have to offer for vending, for comfort and everything, we feel comfortable at that area,” he stressed.

Canterbury announced that the stage is set for one of the most exciting displays of the nation’s youth in costumes, dramatic presentations, calypso, dance and masquerade, as well as choir singing competitions nationwide. He noted that the regional competitions will get started in all eleven educational districts before the end of January.

The competitions are to be contested at the nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

On January 23, 2017, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) gets started with their Calypso and Dramatic Poetry Competitions at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.

All educational district competitions are scheduled to be completed before February 9.

Thereafter, thousands of children are scheduled to compete to gain a spot to represent their educational district at the national level in Georgetown.

The main venue for the national finals is the National Cultural Centre, which will feature some 2000 children participating competitively starting with dance and masquerade categories, followed by calypso and dramatic poetry.

Meanwhile, the Children’s Road Parade is set for February 11, along the regular route which starts at Parade Ground, heading East into Middle Street, North into Camp Street, East into Lamaha Street, North into Albert Street and culminate in the National Park.

The theme for Mash 2017 is “Celebrate with Liberty, Dignity and Greater Unity”.

Cattle farmer on $75,000 bail

A

cattle farmer from Lima Sea Dam, on the Essequibo Coast, was on Wednesday granted $75,000 bail for unlawfully and maliciously wounding Lenox Marks.

The accused, 55-year-old Parmeshwar Singh made his first appearance before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

The charge states that on January 12, 2017, Singh unlawfully and maliciously wounded Marks, thereby causing actual bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Singh told the Magistrate that he was aggravated by Marks and did not intentionally harm him. He said he too received injuries during the scuffle.

The man also told the court he was a first time offender and has no brushes with the law.

Magistrate Bess granted the defendant bail in the sum of $75,000 bail and he is expected to return to court on February 1, for the commencement of trial.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, janUARY 19, 2017

ARCHIE

It will be difficult to contain your feelings or keep (March 21- your plans under wraps. Put April 19) your energy into education and pursuing a promising partnership.

ARIES

Don’t let an unexpectTAURUS ed turn of events cause you (April 20- to question what you are doMay 20) ing. Live up to your promises, trust in your plan and see it through to the end.

dilbert

You’ll be taken advantage GEMINI of if you willingly give your (May 21June 20) time, money and services to people who want to reap rewards without doing the work. Make sure you are compensated for your efforts.

Put more emphasis on formulating plans that will help (June 21- you stand out from the comJuly 22) petition. A creative approach to your work and personal finances will pay off.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

You’ll end the day on an emotional note if you aren’t bold enough to stand up for your rights and the rights of those you care about. Do your part and avoid regret.

Be open about the way VIRGO (Aug. 23- you feel and receptive toSept. 22) ward those willing to share.

Partnerships will lead to opportunities that allow you to take on more responsibilities.

Romance is highlighted.

Calvin and Hobbes

Don’t act on impulse or LIBRA emotion.

Focus on making per(Sept. 23sonal improvements and nurOct. 23) turing relationships that are important to you. Compromise will help ease any festering dispute.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Don’t jump or make an SCORPIO impulsive move just because (Oct. 24someone else does. Trust in Nov. 22) yourself and your ability to achieve whatever you set your mind to with finesse and punctuality.

Emotional spending will SAGITTARIUS be your downfall. You cannot (Nov. 23- buy love or happiness. Stay Dec. 21) focused on what’s best for you, not on what others want you to do.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You’ll take two steps forCAPRICORN ward and three steps back (Dec. 22if you act prematurely.

Jan. 19) Question everything and everyone to avoid stepping into an abyss that will take forever to climb out of.

Line up all the things you AQUARIUS want to do and get moving.

(Jan. 20An opportunity to bring about Feb. 19) a positive change will lead to perks as well as additional income.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Listen carefully and use (Feb. 20- your insight to determine March 20) what part you can play in the changes that are unfolding around you. A subtle response will enhance your reputation.

thursDAY, january 19, 2017

19

Pollard’s Strikers send Brathwaite’s Thunder packing

S

ydney Thunder needed to win against Adelaide Strikers to keep their Big Bash League title defence - which, at one stage, had looked stillborn alive, a fortnight after Eoin Morgan’s famous last-ball six.

In the end, after Strikers posted the highest score at Spotless Stadium, Thunder lost, and badly, ending their season. They were bundled out for 101, losing eight wickets for 22 runs in 29 balls, with six of them falling to the beguiling legspin of Ish Sodhi, who took 6 for 11 in 21 deliveries - the second-best figures in the tournament’s history.

Slam Dunk, the old

−Dunk hits 65, Sodhi bags 6 for 11 plans to carry on - whether with Strikers or not - and it’s easy to see why: his lowest score this season was 17.

Five sixes, no fours That’s Kieron Pollard’s style. Only Chris Gayle has more sixes in the history of T20 cricket than Pollard’s 437. He was instantly into his work, forehand-slapping Fawad Ahmed over long-on off his second ball, with just one hand on the bat. Then he knocked it about a bit, before hitting four more sixes from seven balls, then being run-out off the penultimate ball. Brathwaite was nailed over long-on, Clint McKay was crunched low and hard to deep midwicket, and Watson was hammered over

ended with his highest score of the tournament, and not a single four to his name.

The golden arm Despite their excellent total, Strikers looked a bit light on bowling. But then out came Michael Neser to start with a maiden at Kurtis Patterson, then Pollard, who bowled three overs in the powerplay, had James Vince caught behind thanks to a brilliant diving catch by the debutant wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Patterson rebuilt with Watson, who was starting to look in the mood, and Thunder were ahead of the rate. So Hodge turned to Jake Lehmann, who had never taken a professional wicket, but promptly had

Kieron Pollard hits Fawad Ahmed over long-on with just one hand

to start the collapse. Hodge then tried another trick, giving himself an over, before Liam O’Connor bowled Patterson.

The green bat and the Black Cap Whether Brathwaite is

a No. 5 in T20 is a question for another day. What he is is box office, and, as if to prove the point, out he ambled with a big green bat.

But it did not do much damage, knocking just one single

before he was done all ends up by Sodhi’s dip and turn, heaving wildly and missing by miles.

Three balls later, Sodhi deceived Ben Rohrer, bowling him through a wildly unlatched gate. In his following over, Thunder lost three wickets in four balls to seal the deal. It was a mighty skilful showing from Sodhi.

Where are they now?

Out of finals contention.

Both of them. Strikers’ win means that every team in this season’s BBL has won at least three of their eight group matches.

Carlos Brathwaite will now jet back to the Caribbean to join the Barbados Pride franchise in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional Super 50 which bowls off on Tuesday with the Pride taking on the Guyana Jaguars at the Kensington Oval. (ESPNcricinfo)

WICB offered players hefty increase to tour Pakistan Ish Sodhi’s 6 for 11 is the best figures by an Adelaide Strikers bowler in BBL history

story Jason Gillespie has spent the season tearing what is left of his famous mane out at his team’s batting woes.

Prior to this game, Ben Dunk and Brad Hodge had more than 240 runs each, but beyond them only Jake Weatherald had more than 100. Tim Ludeman fell early - to Carlos Brathwaite, leading to a brilliant celebr-appeal then that dab.

They put on a stand of 92 from 55 balls. Dunk was dropped by Brathwaite at mid-on but went on to smash three sixes down the ground before being yorked

by Shane Watson for 65. He ended his first season with Strikers with 364 runs and, in doing so, becomes the first player to make more than 350 runs in a BBL season twice; this was his third half-century to go with five thirties. Hodge also fell to Watson, caught at cow corner one ball after smoking it over that fielder’s head for six. He has indicated that he

square leg and long-on. He

Watson caught at long-on

SCOREBOARD Adelaide Strikers innings (20 overs maximum) TP Ludeman lbw b Brathwaite 13 BR Dunk b Watson 65 BJ Hodge*c Nair b Watson 39 KA Pollard run out (Rohrer/†Lenton) 47 JS Lehmann run out (Green/†Lenton/Brathwaite) 4 JR Dean not out 5 AT Carey† not out 0 Extras (lb-1, w-4) 5 Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 178 Did not bat MG Neser, IS Sodhi, B Laughlin, LN O’Connor Fall of wickets 1-21 (Ludeman, 3.2 ov), 2-113 (Hodge, 12.3 ov), 3-130 (Dunk, 15.2 ov), 4-145 (Lehmann, 17.5 ov), 5-178 (Pollard, 19.5 ov) Bowling CJ Green 3-0-170, CJ McKay 4-0-36-0 (w-1), CR Brathwaite 4-0-33-1 (w1), SR Watson 4-0-42-2 (w1), AJ Nair 2-0-16-0, Fawad Ahmed 3-0-33-0 (w-1)

Sydney Thunder innings (target: 179 runs from 20 overs) KR Patterson b O’Connor 29 JM Vince c †Carey b Pollard 2 SR Watson* c Laughlin b Lehmann 39 BJ Rohrer b Sodhi 7 CR Brathwaite b Sodhi 1 RJ Gibson run out (O’Connor/ Sodhi) 4 JS Lenton† lbw b Sodhi 7 CJ Green c Neser b Sodhi 1 AJ Nair c †Carey b Sodhi 0 CJ McKay b Sodhi 8 Fawad Ahmed not out 0 Extras (w-3) 3 Total (all out; 15.3 overs) 101 Fall of wickets 1-2 (Vince, 1.2 ov), 2-60 (Watson, 7.5 ov), 3-79 (Patterson, 10.4 ov), 4-81 (Brathwaite, 11.1 ov), 5-82 (Rohrer, 11.4 ov), 6-92 (Gibson, 13.2 ov), 7-92 (Lenton, 13.3 ov), 8-92 (Nair, 13.5 ov), 9-101 (Green, 15.1 ov), 10-101 (McKay, 15.3 ov) Bowling MG Neser 2-1-5-0, KA Pollard 3-0-36-1, B Laughlin 1-0-11-0 (w-2), LN O’Connor 4-0-25-1 (w-1), JS Lehmann 1-0-5-1, BJ Hodge 1-0-80, IS Sodhi 3.3-0-11-6

W

est Indies players were reportedly offered a 100 per cent increase in wages by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for two proposed Twenty20 games in Pakistan, in March.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had attempted to convince the WICB to send a team to tour the country, but the proposal was rejected because of ongoing security concerns in the Asian country.

Pakistan has been black-

listed by major Test playing nations since a deadly attack on the Sri Lanka team in 2009.

The WICB reportedly considered the tour, but concerns raised by the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and its parent body Federation of International Cricket Associations (FICA) who sent out a release warning players against travelling to the country, reportedly prompted a change of heart from the administration. According to T&T

Guardian, who quoted sources familiar with the situation, players were offered a huge bounty to consider the tour. The reports indicate that the players were being offered as much as US$10,000 as opposed to US$2,500 for regular match fees. The objections of FICA and WIPA, however, who represent the interest of the players, made it almost impossible for the tour to go ahead. The teams will play a two-match series in Florida. (SPORTSMAX)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, january 19, 2017

Kyrgios beaten, Federer moves on − Kerber, Williams reach third round

N

ick Kyrgios was knocked out of his home Grand Slam as he blew a two-set lead and a match point in losing to Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open.

Italy’s Seppi triumphed 1-6 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-2 10-8 in round two against the typically unpredictable 14th seed.

Kyrgios was given two warnings, for swearing and racquet abuse, before the 89th-ranked Seppi clinched victory.

Earlier, four-time winner Roger Federer held off the challenge of American prospect Noah Rubin.

The 35-year-old Swiss, who is seeded 17th after missing the second half of the 2016 season with a knee injury, saved two set points in the third to win 7-5 6-3 7-6 (7-3). Federer will play 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych in the third round.

Kyrgios won a five-set scrap with Seppi on the same Hisense Arena court in 2015 to reach the quarter-finals, but the roles were reversed here.

The 21-year-old Australian was in control before losing his temper as he complained of a knee injury midway through the third set.

Kyrgios, returning to tennis at the Australian Open after a ban for not trying at the Shanghai Masters ended his 2016 season, was given a warning for swearing and later docked a point for his second code violation after launching his racquet into the ground in frustration.

Seppi, 32, took the match into a deciding set and served for victory at 6-5 when Kyrgios played a between-the-legs shot on the first point before winning the game.

T h e Italian saved a match point a t 7-8

and drew level again, broke in the following game when Kyrgios sent down a double fault, and then closed out the victory.

Kyrgios who admitted he needed to take his preparation more seriously, having “played too much basketball” in pre-season also stated that he was likely to pull out of the doubles with his British partner Dan Evans, who defeated seventh seed Marin Cilic in the singles. Fifth seed Kei Nishikori overcame France’s Jeremy Chardy. The 27-year-old from Japan, who has reached the quarter-finals in the past two years, came through 6-3 6-4 6-3 in two hours six minutes to set up a meeting with Slovak qualifier Lukas Lacko. Nishikori is seeded to face Britain’s Andy Murray in the last eight.

Fourth seed Stan Wawrinka brushed aside American Steve Johnson 6-3 6-4 6-4, while France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also came through in straight sets, against Serbia’s Williams, Dusan Lajovic. who played Australia’s Bernard Tomic secured a at her first spot in the third round with a 7-5 7-6 (7Australian Open 4) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) win over Dominican Victor in 1998, is the Estrella Burgos. oldest woman in Britain’s Dan Evans stunned seventh the singles draw seed Marin Cilic at the Australian Open as at 36 and is compatriot Andy Murray also progressed competing in to the third round. her 73rd World number one Murray, 29, was a convincing 6-3 6-0 6-2 winner against Defending champion Angelique Kerber 1 9 - y e a r - o l d survived an onslaught from fellow German Russian Andrey Carina Witthoeft before advancing Rublev.

Evans earlier fought back to win 3-6 Grand Slam.

She later pulled 7-5 6-3 6-3 and cause a major upset against former US Open champion Cilic. It out of the doubles is the second time the 26-year-old British competition with her number three has beaten a player ranked sister Serena as a precaution to rest a sore elbow. The 17th seed has never in the world’s top 10.

Murray will face American world won the title in Melbourne, her best result number 32 Sam Querrey in the third round, finishing as runner-up to Serena in 2003.

She will next play Duan Yingying after while Evans will take on Australian 27th the Chinese player beat Varvara Lepchenko seed Bernard Tomic.

Defending champion Angelique Kerber 6-1 3-6 10-8.

World number seven Garbine survived an onslaught from fellow German Carina Witthoeft to advance to the Muguruza advanced to the third round by beating America’s Samantha Crawford 7-5 Australian Open third round.

Kerber - top seed at a Grand Slam for 6-4.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Svetlana Venus Williams, the oldest player in the the first time - Kuznetsova, a three-time quarter-finalist Women’s Singles draw at 36 years old struggled in Melbourne, was a 6-2 6-1 victor over with her serve in a second-set tie-break Australia’s Jaimee Fourlis.

But 10th seed Carla Suarez Navarro before prevailing 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-2.

The top seed, who was 29 on is out after a shock defeat by Romania’s Wednesday, faces Czech Kristyna Pliskova world number 78 Sorana Cirstea.

The Spaniard went down next. Venus Williams beat Swiss qualifier Stefanie Voegele 6-3 6-2 to reach the third 7-6 (7-1) 6-3.

Canadian round for the 13th time.

Eugenie Bouchard

Els backs Woods

for more major success

Ernie Els (left) with Tiger Woods

F

ormer world number one Tiger Woods can challenge for majors again if he can find some momentum in his game, says Ernie Els. It may be over eight years since Tiger Woods won his 14th major but Ernie Els believes the 41-year-old can still add to his tally.

Woods has not triumphed in a major since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, a tournament he won following a play-off with Rocco Mediate.

Since that success Woods has regularly struggled with injury, leading many to question whether he can compete at the highest level again.

Els is not one of those doubters, however, and the South African believes Woods’ appearance at the Farmers Insurance Open later this month, set to be his first in 2017, could be the start of a revival for the former world number one.

“I am in my late 40s and he is just getting into them.

There have been a few cases where we have won majors in our 40s, it doesn’t happen that often but it does happen,” Els was quoted as telling reporters ahead of the Singapore Open.

“If players like myself, Darren Clarke and Mark O’Meara won [majors] in our 40s, surely Tiger thinks he can do it too. I am sure it’s on his agenda.

“Mentally, he is as strong as anybody but he needs to find some momentum at his favourite events and, if he gets that, he can start believing again. I would love to see him play like he did back in the 90s, but I am not sure that is going to happen.

“There’s a lot of excellent players out there, some of them playing great golf, so it will be great to see if Tiger can get back in the mix at some of the big events and create even more of a buzz.”

FIA approves F1 sale

F

ormula One has new owners after the FIA gave their full backing to Liberty Media Group’s purchase of Delta Topco.

Liberty Media’s deal to acquire Formula One has been unanimously approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

In September, Liberty Media Group announced they had agreed a full takeover of the world’s leading racing championship from the investment group CVC Capital Partners.

Liberty Media also bought an initial 18.7 per cent stake in the sport but acquiring 100 per cent needed to be approved by the sport’s regulators.

Last month they moved a step closer to completion with the approval of antitrust authorities, and now the FIA have ratified the deal.

Following a presentation from Liberty Media in Geneva, the council gave the proposal their full backing, meaning Liberty will take control of all of the shares in the sport’s parent company Delta

avoided a second successive Australian Open secondround exit by beating China’s Peng Shuai.

Bouchard, a Melbourne semi-finalist in 2014 who is now ranked 47 in the world, won 7-6 (7-5) 6-2.

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, in her first Australian Open appearance since 2014, moved to the third round for the first time with a 7-5 6-1 win over American Shelby Rogers. (BBC Sport) Andy Murray in pain after rolling over his ankle in his second round victory over 19-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev

Topco - which will be renamed the Formula One Group.

A statement issued by the FIA said: “Liberty, Formula One Group and the FIA intend to collaborate to create a constructive relationship that will ensure the continued success and the development of the FIA Formula One World Championship in the long term.

“The World Motor Sport Council’s decision confirms the FIA’s belief that Liberty, as a renowned media organisation with expertise in both sport and entertainment, is clearly well positioned to ensure the continued development of its pinnacle Championship.

“The FIA holds a one per cent shareholding in Delta Topco.

As part of the sale by [former owners] CVC to Liberty Media Corporation, and in line with the agreements between the FIA and the Formula One Group, the FIA will be dragged along in the sale process under the same conditions as CVC and all the other shareholders.

“The FIA looks forward to working with the new owners of the Formula One Group on further developing the unrivalled global spectacle that is the FIA Formula One World Championship for all stakeholders.”

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KPL Fundraiser off to a fast start S

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In the Masters’ category, played at the Everest Cricket Club, Savage Masters were very savage when they beat Success by 95 runs. Unis Yusuf led the way with an attacking century after Savage batted first. The hard hitting opener clubbed 18 sixes and two fours in scoring 136 of his team’s 245 for 8 from their 20 overs and was supported by Navindra Pooran with 49. In reply, Success were restricted to 150 for 9 with Hakim Mohamed stroking 27 and Rudy Martin 19 as Imtiaz Mohamed collected 2-22.

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21

Mohamed “Stiffy” Rafeek

The Regal Masters wicketkeeper/batsman had a good day in front of and behind the stumps

claimed 3-6. Regal then knocked off the target in 8.1 overs with Mahendra Arjune scoring 27.

Mike’s Wellman will then rebound to beat Parika Amazon by a close margin of 13 runs.

Mike’s Wellman made 110 all out in 17 overs, taking first strike. B. Dindyal and Wayne Jones made 22 -and 19 runs respectively against Devanand Kanan and Raghundan Narine who snared three wickets each and Rudolph Pereira who picked up two.

Parika- Amazon were then bowled out for 97 in 17.5 overs in reply. Beesham Singh made 23 as Motilall Chumandatt captured 4-15 from there overs, while Jagdesh Persaud and Latchman Kallicharran had two apiece.

In the Open category which was contested at the Carifesta Sports Complex, Farm XI and Regal All-Stars registered victories while De Hoop and Regal All-Stars played to a dramatic low-scoring tie. Success XI was unfortunate to lose both of their games.

Farm XI were out of the blocks early with a seven-wicket whipping of Success XI. Batting first Success managed 121-8 in 12 overs to which Farm replied with 123-3 in 10.3 overs.

Rawl Reid cracked 59 and Sachin Ramsarran 37 for Farm XI. Farm XI also defeated Mahaica by eight wickets. Mahaica were bowled out for 147,

In their next game, Savage Masters could not replicate their performance and were beaten by Ariel Masters by 51 runs. Taking first strike, Ariel got to 175/6 form their 20 overs with Captain, Mohamed “Stiffy” Rafeek stroking the top score of 42 and was supported

by Richard Persaud with 30, Dennis Mangru (24) and Peter Persaud (20). Ramo Malone picked up three wickets. In reply, Savage batting failed to click and they were restricted to 124-8 with Malone scoring 25 and Patrick Khan 22.

The ever green Peter Persaud proved unplayable picking up 5-9 from 2.5 overs.

Parika Defenders then turned the tables on Ariel with a six-wicket drubbing. Ariel batted first and made an inadequate 117 in 19.2 overs with Mohamed Rafeek once again among the runs with an attractive 30. Fazal Ali supported Samuel Kingston performs Umpire duties in the Masters’ match between Ariel and Savage at Everest Cricket Club on Sunday with 17 but it was the bowling of R. Narine with three wickets that stole the spotlight for Parika Defenders batting first and Farm responded with 148-2 who replied with 118-4 in 18 overs. Rudolph in 11.5 overs. Nandshaam Boodhoo stroked Pereira struck 49 not out and D. Singh 29.

64, while Sachin Ramsarran scored 52 and Regal Masters were the only team to main- Rawl Reid 22. tain a 100 percent record with two victories in De Hoop held their nerves to pull off a stunas many matches. The Campbellville-based ning tie over power house, Regal All Stars. De side first brushed aside Mike’s Wellman by Hoop batted first and made 94-8 in 12 overs.

78 runs then thumped Success Masters by six Regal All-Stars were on course at one stage wickets. and eventually collapsed to be bowled out for Against Mike’s Wellman, Regal Masters 94 in reply. Vishnu Tannechandra scored 23 batted first and chalked up 191/7 with and Safraz Esau 16.

Rudolph Baker blasting an even half century, In Regal All-Stars other game, they beat Eric Thomas making 44 and Raymond Harper Success by six wickets. Success mustered 13731. Eon Lovell picked up two wickets. In their 4 in 15 overs, taking first knock. D. Deosarran turn at the crease, Mike’s Wellman were and S. Deosarran scored 36 and 34 respectivebowled out for 113 in 18.4 overs in response. ly; Kelvin Orford had 2-34. Regal All Stars Greg De Franca, Wayne Jones and Lovell made 139-4 in 15 overs in reply. Marvin Bobb made 23 runs each as Laurie “Tony” Singh led with 58, while Martin Dutchin got 36 and and Mahendra Arjune snatched three scalps Timur Mohamed 18. The tournament continapiece while Mahendra Hardyal had two. ues this weekend. Meanwhile, kind-hearted In their afternoon match in cool condi- persons are urged to contribute to Kingston’s tions, Success took first strike and were sent operation which may be done through packing for just 61 in 14.1 overs with Rafman Republic Bank account number 1019355 at Ali and Mark Fung getting 21 and 19 respec- Republic Bank or may call 619-5103. tively. David Harper and Ricky Persaud each

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, january 19, 2017

CFU Club Championships...

Nurse bereaved over Alpha, Slingerz non-participation −says players are losing the most

By Akeem Greene

F

ormer Golden Jaguars Captain Christopher Nurse has given his thoughts on CONCACAF prohibiting top local clubs Slingerz FC and Alpha United from participating in this year’s Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championships due to “not being in good standing with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)”.

Nurse in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport on Thursday, disclosed that “It’s very sad to not be able to see the Guyanese players represent themselves and their country on the regional stage.

Players turned down opportunities to go to clubs overseas because they wanted to stay and represent their country and clubs in the tournament and to know that their dreams have been ripped apart is heart breaking. The repercussions affects all the players of the

Christopher Nurse

four teams but more so the players of Alpha & Slingerz because the players had been looking forward to this tournament for a long time.

He added, “It was an opportunity for the players to showcase their talents, to earn better contracts overseas; it is a respected tournament in the region and many players have gone onto to better things as a result of performing well.

Gregory Richardson is the prime example, the successful performance he had with Joe Public sparked him to be the first Guyanese to sign and play in the MLS [Major League Soccer].”

The clubs’ non-participation in the tournament stems from the fact that, the start of season two of the GFF Stag Elite League was rocked with controversy as current GFF President Wayne Forde expanded the league with the addition of two teams (Top XX and

Despite championship glory, Slingerz FC along with Alpha United, are left to look at the CFU Club Championships

Victoria Kings) which did not go down well with Alpha, Slingerz, Pele FC and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) and as such they opted not to participate.

Those actions; combined with a stance from the region’s governing body CONCACAF led to the top city clubs not getting a chance to showcase their talents in the marquee tournament for Caribbean club teams.

Upon the conclusion of season one of the Elite League, the two clubs earned the top positions by virtue of the number of points accumulated and also the right to represent Guyana at the prestigious tournament.

The verdict now leaves many players who would transfer to these clubs with the intention of playing on the regional scene, clueless as it pertains to their future. Some players have already been linked with lower clubs as just to be afforded a chance to play the sport while some have vented they no longer have interest in the sport.

Quizzed as to what advice he would have for these players, the decorated footballer said, “It is difficult to advise them but I have to give them the reality of their situation. They need to focus on a full time job and allow football to be a part time serious-hobby at this precise moment in time because the platforms are not in place to allow it to be their full focus.

That does not mean give up, they still need to train and work hard, because you never know where opportunities lurk but most importantly do not allow these obstacles to allow them to lose their love for the game.”

There are differing views in the fraternity on whether the clubs had the right to “pull-out” of the league on questionable grounds but

the English-born defender feels the owners of the clubs had a right to do so.

“I believe anywhere you invest your money you have a right to feel comfortable, if the owners did not feel comfortable, it is their prerogative to make their decisions.

I do not think their achievements of the past should have been effected, but that is my opinion. None of us will ever be privileged to the full details of what took place between the owners and the GFF but we can all feel for the players who suffer as a bi-product of the disagreement,” he posited.

The 32 year-old further

vented that “I’m tired of seeing the players hopes and dreams shattered time after time during the course of the past decade; consistently believing in administrators to act in the best interests of the players, appealing to their enthusiasm and ambitions and then being left disappointed.”

The unrest between the clubs and the GFF seems not settled by any means as one section of the media has reported that Slingerz will be pursuing action in the court while some officials of other clubs have stated that they will not be returning to the sport anytime soon.

WICB Regional Super50…

Bishoo places emphasis on role of spinners

By Akeem Greene

T

he West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Super50 commences on January 24 and will be played in two zones in two countries. The Guyana Jaguars will play their preliminary matches in Barbados against the home side, Barbados

Devendra Bishoo

Pride, Jamaica Scorpions, CCC Marooners and ICC Americas while Zone A consists of defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Windward Islands Volcanoes, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, English County side Kent Spit Fires and World Under-19 Champions West Indies.

Albeit, the pitches in Barbados are not historically know to be conducive for spin bowling, West Indies leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo is of the view that himself along with fellow spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Steven Jacobs have big roles to play for

the Jaguars in the Regional Super50.

Speaking to the media at the National stadium, Providence, the spinner posited, “We have a very big role to play, me and [Veerasammy] Permaul have been doing well over the years and as senior spinners we need to lead by example, we need to do well and get wickets at the crucial times.”

Although their bowling needs to do well, the wrist spinner who has a best of 6-36 in 39 List A matches firmly believes that the team’s batting needs to come good this year in order for them to secure the title.

“The batting needs to do well this year because over the years we have not being doing well, this is a very important year for our batsmen to do well” he said.

The Berbician, who did not play in last year’s tournament due to West Indies commitments, will not have any interruptions this year and hopes that he can help the Jaguars break the title jinx.

“I’m pretty happy, I’m very comfortable with the boys, I’m excited to play, it is a big one for me and I’m hoping to come good for the 11 years we have not, so everyone is looking forward to do well and put on good show in this tournament” disclosed the former ICC emerging player of the year.

The right-arm bowler is planning to use the tournament to resurrect his One Day International (ODI) career after playing his 14th ODI match last November, a presence he did not feel since 2011.

The 31 year-old revealed

, “I wanted to play One-day cricket a while, I played one ODI last year and I want to be there, I want to keep playing one -day cricket and I want to do well in this tournament and get wickets so I can finish on a high.”

In the first leg, Jaguars will play Pride on January 24, Scorpions on January 26, Marooners on January 28, and ICC Americas on January 30.

In the second leg, the Guyana-based franchise takes on the Marooners February 3, Pride on February 5, Scorpions

on February 7, and ICC Americas on February 9.

The semi-finals would be on February 15 and 16 while the final would be on February 18 in Antigua.

The full squad reads: Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (ViceCaptain), Anthony Bramble (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Christopher Barnwell, Raymon Reifer, Rajendra Chandrika, Steven Jacobs, Assad Fudadin, Ronsford Beaton, Paul Wintz, Jonathan Foo and Devendra Bishoo.

Veerasammy Permaul, along with Bishoo, is expected to play a crucial role in the middle overs (Marceano Narine Photo)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, january 19, 2017

Gajanand Singh prepared to fight his way back

Petra/Limacol round-robin knockout football...

Trophy Stall donates

1st place trophy and goal nets

By Akeem Greene

T

Gajanand Singh

G

ajanand Singh has been lost in the mix for an extended period but after a series of sterling performances for Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in the University of the West Indies T20 Tournament recently held in Trinidad it seems as though the renaissance of the talented left handed batsman is imminent. Singh, who played his last first class match in 2011, recorded scores of 64, 88, 56, 56, 64, four of which were unbeaten knocks as he pressed a claim to return to the national system after a satisfactory attempt in the Jaguars Franchise League three-day tournament late last year.

According to the former West Indies youth player the difference to his prolific run as a youngster and his success now is his state of mind. “As a youth cricketer I played natural cricket, it wasn’t about thinking too much of what I had to do and it allow me success and to score a lot of runs. Growing up now it is more about the mental toughness that is needed and I think I am mentally tougher now.” The 29 year old said he wants to get back into regional cricket so he could be offered an opportunity to live his ultimate dream. However, the left handed batsman know this could only come through commitment to the sport, an area where he has been working on. ”I am working harder now; my techniques, my action at the crease and fitness and I am in better shape now.”

As a result of his recent developments Singh said he is fighting his way back into the national system and he would be ready to answer the selectors call.

In regards to DCC fall at the final hurdle to Trinidad’s club Cane Farm, Singh said it is always hard to reach so far and not cross that hurdle, but they went to the final as a team to give 100% and they did that but ended as the unfortunate side.

The Berbician was an outstanding youth player who outperformed most of his colleagues at the youth level. He often finished as one of the top batsmen at regional youth tournaments thus was afforded opportunities in West Indies youth camps and teams. He was a member of the 2006 West Indies U-19 World Cup team.

Subsequent to the 2006 youth World Cup, Jimmy Adams, who was one of the West Indies youth team’s official said Singh’s batting, especially his ability to manipulate the ball into the gaps, is mature beyond his age.

In 2007, his final year at the youth level, he was the leading run scorer in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) U-19 tournament. In 2008 his brief First Class and List A career started at the Regional level. To date he has played 10 First Class matches, scored 376 runs at an average of 25.06 while scoring 30 runs from his two List A games, where he was dismissed once.

There are no doubts surrounding his ability and he is considered an asset when he plays.

23

Milerock, top Linden side, Winners Connection, East Bank Champions, Grove Hi Tech and Northern Rangers.

Group B comprises of: Western Tigers, Uitvulgt, Eagles United and New Amsterdam United; Group C: Santos FC, Pouderoyen, Den Amstel and Ann’s Gove United and Group D: Police Force FC, Riddim Squad, Campton FC and Mahica Determinators The top teams will complete for a $500,000 first place prize while second to third will receive $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 respectively.

In addition, the top three teams in the groups will be rewarded $100,000, $50,000 and $20,000.

he Petra Organised Limacol Football Tournament has received a boost via the benevolence of Trophy Stall on Wednesday as Proprietor of Trophy Stall Ramesh Sunich donated the first place trophy and goal nets. Speaking at the South Road and Bourda Street location, Sunich praised the organising body for the work they have done in the sport by raising it to a higher standard and as such he is pleased that his business can be associated with the organisation.

Co-Director of Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca was most appreciative of the kind gesture and posited that the tournament helps to showcase the talent in teams that are Round One Fixtures not in the elite, with the Time Match Ground aim of allowing them to Date Police Force FC v Mahaica GFC hopefully elevate in the 23-Jan-2017 18:30hrs Determinators future.

The kick-off date is 20:30 hrs Riddim Squad v Camptown FC GFC now set for January 23 at 26-Jan-2017 18:30 hrs Western Tigers v GFC the Georgetown Football New Amsterdam Club, (GFC), Bourda where 20:30 hrs Santos FC v Ann’s Grove GFC Police Force FC will play Leonora Mahaica Determinators 27-Jan-2017 18:30 hrs Uitvlugt v Eagles United from 18:30h followed by 20:30 hrs Pouderoyen v Den Amstel Leonora Riddim Squad tackling 28-Jan-2017 18:30 hrs Milerock v Northern Rangers MSC Camptown from 20:30h.

20:30 hrs Winners Connection MSC The group of death v Grove Hi Tec seems to be the Group A which comprises of (GFC) Georgetown Football Club, (MSC) McKenzie Sports Club, Leonora Stadium defending champions

Fresh start to darts

T

he Guyana Darts Association (GDA) monthly tournament will be on Friday evening at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) Pavilion at Thomas Lands.

The event marks the start to the GDA calendar of activities for 2017 and will feature former Trinidad & Tobago national player, VIvikanand Dyal. This tournament is open to all interested darts players and registration should commence at 18:30h with competition expected to get underway one hour later.

The games to be played are “Luck of the draw” and Males and Ladies singles.

Monetary prizes are at stake for top performances.

Neblett confident Jaguars will go all the way − Bishoo, Permaul are models of consistency

Jermaine Neblett

T

his year’s super 50 tournament is expected to be exciting and very competitive.

The tournament will be played in Barbados and Antigua with ten teams divided into two groups, the highest number of teams in the tournament’s history.

This year the tournament will feature; Trinidad and Tobago Red Force who are the reigning champions, 2016 runners up, Barbados Pride with 12 players with International experience, Guyana Jaguars are the most consistent team in regional cricket for the past two years, new comers English County side, Kent Spit fires, the consistent Jamaica Scorpions, Windward Volcanoes and Leeward Hurricanes, Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) Marooners and the International Cricket Council (ICC) Youth champions the West Indies Under 19 team, will all be vying for this year’s title.

The

tournament will commence on January 24, under a week’s time and the anticipation has started to build up with former Guyana fast bowler, now cricket analyst and Coach Jermaine Neblett, calling the title in favour of the Jaguars.

“It is always expected that the Jaguars will do well, taking into account that the Jaguars may be one of the teams that have a nucleus of players playing consistently together. If you look at the rest of teams; playing in Barbados at home they will be a force to reckon with, Trinidad Red Force, I think is a bit off at the moment… it will be quite interesting cricket, but I would give Jaguars the nod because they have players in their team, who know about winning games and championships.”

The 42 year old believes the experience of Shivnarine Chanderpaul should have a positive outcome on the Jaguars once the veteran batsman play his right role.

“There is experience in the team, especially with Chanderpaul there and if he plays the role that he is capable of playing then the Jaguars could go all the way to the finals as well as be victorious this time.”

There are other familiar names in the Jaguars, who have featured several years at the regional level, however, Neblett opined

that the dark horses for Guyana could be opening batsman Shimron Hetmyer because he is relatively fresh in senior cricket and is very talented and pacer Paul Wintz because much is not expected from Guyana fast bowlers but he is one that once he gets it right he bowls a good line and length coupled with variation and could be a handful.

There have been mixed views since the team was announced more than a week ago, nevertheless, the Police Cricket Team coach believes it’s a “fairly balanced team” and he is happy to see Assad Fudadin and Jonathan Foo included.

According to Neblett some players could count themselves unlucky while others are fortunate, but those who are regular members should step up their game.

Due to their consistency, hard work and developments, Neblett said Vishaul S i n g h , Romario Shepherd and Kevin Boodie were unfortunate to miss out but they should not be

Rajendrika Chandrika

bothered. While on the other hand Christopher Barnwell and Rajendrika Chandrika are lucky to be there after strings of inconsistencies with the bat.

However, Neblett sum up Guyana’s batting as strong with a few areas that need to improve while spinners Devendra Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul were described as the moldels of consistency in Guyana’s solid bowling department. The Jaguars will open its campaign against Pride at Kensington Oval on the opening day.

Shimron Hetmyer

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Petra/Limacol Round robin knockout football...

Pg 23

Trophy Stall donates 1st place trophy and goal nets Petra Organisation’s Mark Alleyne collects the Trophy from Trophy Stall proprietor Ramesh Sunich while staff members and Troy Mendonca (second from right) look on

Pg 19

WICB offered players hefty increase to tour Pakistan There is never a dull moment whenever the two most unpredictable teams in world cricket clash

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