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Issue No. 2841

Friday, April 29, 2016

Hundreds sign petition against decision to ban used tyres

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt meets with Norwegian officials - PPP disappointed with partnership efforts of Administration P10

…as dealers form Association to up pressure on Govt

Security guard chopped to death 5-month-old dies in Belmont accident during attempted robbery

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GDF, GPF ranks honoured for valuable service

Pastor’s son shot during La Penitence robbery P11 Heavy rainfall expected P16 over next 4 days – Hydromet

Dance teacher killed in Lamaha St accident P16

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Gold Board Forensic Audit A serviceman from the Guyana Defence Force stands tall as President David Granger pins a medal on him on Thursday at a Medal Presentation Parade, held at the D’Urban Park, Georgetown. One hundred and twenty servicemen of the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force were honoured

Grave dangers in Prisoner sets fire using some vegetable to Grove/Diamond oils in infant milk Page 9 Police Station Page 2 ...authorities confirm GA-FDD’s charge

Linden municipality owes NIS $70M, LUSCSL $65M Page 12

Gossai denies wrongdoing, says audit report is “misleading” – fmr Natural

Resources Minister P16 still silent

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news

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Truancy, child welfare Prisoner sets fire to Grove/ Diamond Police Station issues prominent A in Region 10

BY UTAMU BELLE

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he prominence of truancy and child welfare issues were matters recently discussed by the Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Democratic Council (RDC).

Councillor Gordon Callendar stressed that there are visible signs of children not attending school in Linden, while he highlighted the need for Child Protection Services and intervention by Council in providing assistance.

Callendar indicated that truancy is prominent in areas such as One Mile, Half Mile and Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden. He even added that in some instances children are engaged in odd-jobs so as to get food to eat.

“All over the place you could see children, schoolaged children. It got a place in One Mile where these children does be playing Nintendo. We need to look at it,” he told fellow councillors.

Councillor Sandra Adams in offering a solution noted that assistance of school uniforms and other basic school necessities be provided to affected school aged children, courtesy of the First Lady, as she asked fellow councillors to identify children in various commu-

nities who might be in need.

However, Councillor Charles Sampson said the issue of security around schools should be examined while adding it is important to ascertain the level of truancy. He called on the Department of Education to be proactive in making such available.

“Some children go to school and have their names marked as present and then get out without being observed by teachers… We also have a situation where in certain parts of the community children don’t go to school at all… it’s a big issue… a lot of money goes towards education, the biggest part of our Budget and it’s unfair to the taxpayers of this country that we spending all that money and our children are not benefitting… two Welfare Officers for a Region, that’s disgraceful. We need about a dozen Welfare Officers, moreso in a big area like Linden,” Sampson said.

Regional Chairman Renis Morian too said a closer look should be taken at security in schools, noting that high level of unemployment no doubt affects parents in sending their children to school.

He indicated the RDC has been advocating for more Welfare Officers since there

are only the two stationed in the Region, which is inadequate given its size. As such, the Regional Chairman said he has asked for a meeting with the President regarding the issue. He said himself and other regional leaders are presently unhappy over the tone of relationship of Council and the Ministry of Education.

“So we feel that we need to take some of these challenges at a higher level, that we can get more Welfare Officers. So we are waiting a response from the Office of the President to address some of these issues”, he said.

The Regional Chairman said a team would be venturing to schools in Region 10 this month to take a look at security and other areas.

He stressed that money is spent on providing security and Council is dissatisfied with the level of service.

Additionally, Education Committee Chairperson Denise Belgrave said lack of daytime security at some schools is an issue. She said a recommendation has been made to have Social work graduates of the University become a part of Welfare.

Other issues highlighted

by Council included absenteeism of teachers and the “pourous” nature of some school compounds.

prisoner currently being held at the Diamond Police Station lockups, East Bank Demerara reportedly set fire to the station after he was reportedly denied cigarettes. This incident occurred sometime around 13:00h on Thursday.

Commander of A Division Clifton Hicken confirmed the fire scorched a CCTV camera and two wooden Ranks from the Guyana Fire Service at doors at the facility. the Grove/Diamond Police Station liver meals when the alarm of According to Hicken, the inmate began making loud fire was raised.

Meanwhile, the Police in a noises shortly after which ranks saw smoke emanat- statement on the incident said ing from the cell. The Guyana prisoners in the lockups at the Fire Service was immediately Golden Grove Police Station, called and the fire was subse- EBD, were taken out of their cells by the police for ablution quently contained.

The Commander disclosed purposes, at the conclusion of that ranks discovered that a which three of them demandcloth was placed over a CCTV ed cigarettes and refused to camera and this is believed to return to their cells after their request was denied. be where the fire originated.

According to the Police, According to reports, family members and friends were three prisoners began throwat the time visiting those in- ing faeces at police ranks durcarcerated at the station to de- ing efforts to get them back

into the cells and remained in the passageway behind the main door leading to the cells, which was locked.

“Later at about 13:30h smoke was seen coming from the lockups and the three prisoners were seen with lit newspapers which they placed in the passage-way at the main door. The blaze which scorched two wooden doors and damaged a CCTV camera was extinguished and the three prisoners were subsequently replaced in their cells in the lockups,” the Police said in a statement.

On March 3 inmates at the Camp Street penitentiary rioted and set fire to mattresses and other flammable materials with which they had access. That riot caused the death of 17 prisoners.

It is not yet clear which prisoner was able to start the fire at Grove.

The prisoners, whose identities were not disclosed, remain in custody as investigations continue.

Richmond labourer jailed for chopping father

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Richmond Housing Scheme, Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), man, who was wanted for escaping from lawful custody, was on Thursday jailed for 24 months for chopping his father.

Ravindra Singh, 27, appeared before Magistrate

Sunil Scarce at Wakenaam’s Magistrate Court and pleaded guilty to the felonious wounding charge.

According to the Prosecution’s case, on 21 April, 2016 at Henrietta, Singh chopped his father.

Reports are Singh’s father was drinking at a shop in Henrietta Village when

the defendant approached him. An argument ensued and the defendant dealt several chops to his fathers body with a cutlass.

According to the medical report, the father got chopped to his neck and about his arms.

Magistrate Scarce jailed him for 24 months.

news

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friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

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

Friday, April 29 – 09:30h-11:00h and Saturday, April 30 – 11:00h-12:30h.

Friday, April 29 – 08:45h-10:15h and Saturday, April 30 – 10:10h-11:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, while light and thundery rain showers are expected to dominate throughout the afternoon.

Thundery showers can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly between 2.68 metres per second and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 09:10h and 21:59h reaching maximum heights of 2.32 metres and 2.22 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:40h and 15:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.99 metre and 0.89 metre respectively.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS J

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Border controversy

Venezuela appears to be stalling on judicial settlement – Granger ...writes UN Chief to make a ruling

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

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pproximately seven months after the historic meeting with the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban KiMoon in New York, a pronouncement on the way forward on the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy is yet to be made; and Guyanese President David Granger believes the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has no interest in pursuing a judicial settlement as he had suggested.

During this week’s interview on ‘The Public Interest’, President Granger explained that the Venezuelan Government appears to be stalling on resolving the border dispute.

“It is clear to me that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela does not share my interest and they are simply stalling…Up to now, the Government of Venezuela has not indicated to the Secretary General that it is prepared to pursue a judicial settlement to the controversy,” he remarked.

He disclosed with much concern that Guyana’s Ambassador the Venezuela Cheryl Miles is yet to present her credentials despite having been dispatched since last year.

Guyana decided to send Ambassador Miles to Venezuela after that country’s President Nicolás Maduro agreed to restore diplomatic representation during the meeting with President Granger and the UN Chief.

In light of the perception that Venezuela has been putting up some resistance to resolving the controversy, President Granger said he wrote to the UN Secretary General once again, asking

The Guyana/Venezuela border was first settled since 1899 by an Arbitral Award which Venezuela is now claiming is null and void.

The border controversy was recently reignited

by Venezuela when US – oil giant ExxonMobil exploratory works in the Stabroek Block offshore the Essequibo Coast.

Purportedly fearful that Guyana might strike oil, President Maduro issued a decree claiming that the majority of Guyana’s waters now belonged to Venezuela.

The decree was seen as a flagrant violation of international law being inconsistent with the principle that all states should Guyana’s President David Granger respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of him to make a clearer stateother states. ment on the way forward.

In an effort to defend its “I have written to the sovereignty, Guyana made Secretary General for him to make a ruling very soon,” he it clear to the Venezuelan Government that the said.

From the inception, Essequibo and its offshore President Granger made waters belonged to Guyana, clear his intention to move and strengthened its push to the International Court for judicial settlement of the of Justice (ICJ) to have the issue since the Good Officers controversy resolved once process had yielded little result. and for all.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro

Moves have since been made by the international community to push for a peaceful resolution of the issue.

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guyana-times.com

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

Views Braving the weather General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

Editorial

Youth employment

T

he grim reality facing many Guyanese youths is the perpetual state of unemployment in which most find themselves. I wish I could state here that things will be looking up job-wise in the future for youths, but, based on the prevailing economic slowdown, both domestically and globally, this predicament will only get worse before it gets any better.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in its 2016 World Employment Social Outlook (WESO) report, “The economic weakening has caused a further increase in global unemployment. In 2015, the number of unemployed people reached 197.1 million – approaching one million more than in the previous year and over 27 million higher than pre-crisis levels. This increase in the number of jobseekers in 2015 occurred mainly in emerging and developing countries. The employment outlook in some of these countries, notably those in Latin America, as well as some Asian countries (especially China) and a number of oil exporters in the Arab States region, is expected to have worsened in recent months”.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in 2015, reported that Guyana’s youth unemployment rate is among the highest in the Caribbean at a staggering 40 per cent.

The report also stated that youth unemployment in the Caribbean is the highest in the world at 25 per cent.

Every year the University of Guyana churns out thousands of students, who studied in varying fields with the expectation that upon making the sacrifice of bettering themselves they would find a decent job, one that could support them as they move onto the next phase of life.

This expectation could be a plausible reason why our unemployment rate is so high. There is simply not enough decent jobs available for the youths who then have to sell themselves short, becoming overqualified and underpaid or alternatively lose hope and give up looking for work, or worst seek unlawful means to finance their ambitions.

“When there is a shortage of decent jobs, more workers may give up looking for work. In 2015, the number of working-age individuals who did not participate in the labour market increased by some 26 million to reach over two billion. Participation rates are expected to stabilise at 62.8 per cent of the global working-age population (aged 15 years and above) but then to follow a moderate downward trend, reaching 62.6 per cent in 2020 and falling further in subsequent years,” says the WESO report.

We then scratch our heads and ask ourselves why is it that we have a brain drain in Guyana with a mass exodus of young brilliant minds leaving our shores and enriching others; well, from an economic perspective that is the only way to address the unemployment equation. Wherever there is a need that is where the supply will go. So we lose our labour force to emerging and developed countries, while Guyana and the “developing” Caribbean suffer from secular stagnation.

The only foreseeable remedy to our employment woes is for our decision-makers to put effective long-term mechanisms in place to foster economic growth. To be blunt, we need industries, we need Foreign Direct Investment; this colonial mantra of more farming is clearly not flying with the youths who have educated themselves along different criteria.

Rationalise the industries that we already have: we have sugar in abundance and the world market is drying up, why not push for ethanol production from sugar so as to diversify the sector, creating a need for more chemists and agronomists. Or are we going to wait until oil prices start surging again and we are caught in a vortex.

We need to lower the cost of producing electricity so as to attract foreign businesses, that should be paramount in the long- and short-term agenda, how else are you bringing down the 40 per cent unemployment rate? Rallying a set of youths with $8 million to clean the trenches and parapets for a major event that will provide a short economic boost can’t work.

Although we are going through turbulent economic times, we should still be thinking of creating an enabling environment for sustained growth that will lead to the provision of decent jobs. That can only happen with longterm macro-economic planning.

Braving the heavy rainfall 120 servicemen of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) marched at D’urban Park on Thursday during the Medal Presentation Parade

When schools and students become spoils of war - lack of education is a lack of light, it’s darkness

By Mausi Segun and Zama Coursen-Neff

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wo years have passed since Boko Haram abducted 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria, and 219 of the girls remain missing.

The anniversary, and that of the kidnapping of another 300 schoolchildren from another town, marks a grim roll call for education in the country’s northeast: more than 910 schools destroyed, 1,500 forced to close, at least 611 teachers deliberately killed, 19,000 forced to flee.

Close to a million school-age children have fled the violence and now have little or no access to schooling.

These are children like 14-year-old Falimotu, who was in class in a school in northeast Nigeria when Boko Haram fighters, their faces wrapped in black scarves, entered her school and started shooting.

Her teacher was killed. A boy from the next class was shot in the leg as he ran and later died, and the fighters said they would return if the children didn’t stop going to school.

Falimotu stayed home for three months before her family fled. Nigerian soldiers moved into the school, causing more students to drop out.

Five months later, Boko Haram attacked, drove the soldiers away, looted ammunition stored there, and burned the school to ashes.

Boko Haram’s increasingly brutal attacks aren’t an aberration - Nigeria is ground zero for a practice that more and more charac-

terises war: the intentional targeting of schools, teachers and students.

At least 30 countries have had a pattern of such attacks in the past decade, according to the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.

This includes places well-known for attacks on schools, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria, as well as many others, such as southern Thailand, South Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen.

Rami, a 12-year-old boy from Syria, described how government forces shelled his school with a tank.

He had left science class to go to the toilet when “[t]wo shells hit the fourth floor. I was on the first floor. People started running away.” Progovernment armed groups known as shabiha “came into the school and shot the windows, broke the computers. After that, I only went back to take my exams.”

Boko Haram’s name is loosely translated as “Western education is forbidden”. The group literally sees Western-style schools as the enemy.

In other countries, schools are attacked because they are symbols of governments, they educate girls, they are vulnerable soft targets or, too often, because opposing forces are present.

Militaries and armed groups have used schools as barracks, bases, sniper posts, weapons depots and for other military purposes in at least 26 countries with conflict in the past decade.

Although in many instances troops use schools

for their own convenience, some local community members may see them - and the troops may see themselves as protectors.

But moving soldiers into schools is no solution. We spoke with people in northeast Nigeria who had invited soldiers in for this very reason, only to find that Boko Haram attacked the schools precisely because the troops were there.

At the same time, some attacks might have been prevented by other methods.

Many schools and dormitories had no perimeter fences and security gates, even as attacks were escalating.

Local residents and school staff stated that when they reported Boko Haram threats to security forces, the forces ignored them or the government provided untrained or inept civilian security guards.

In April 2012 Boko Haram fighters raided an unfenced government-run boarding school in a remote part of Nigeria’s northeast.

People participate in a march that is part of the ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ campaign, in memory of the Nigerian girls abducted by Boko Haram. [AP] Though no one was killed, a teacher saw the return of only a small fraction of students. “I don’t blame them,” he said. “The school still has no fence or quarters for teachers four years later.”

Military use of schools is pervasive, deeply harmful, and completely preventable. In the worst cases, students and teachers have

been killed when opposing forces attacked the occupying troops.

In other instances, troops displace students entirely, forcing children to travel long distances to another school or to drop out.

Yet, until recently, very few countries had made schools off limits to their forces.

This is beginning to change.

Last May, countries from around the world came together to join the international Safe Schools Declaration, pledging to protect education during war, including by avoiding the use of schools for military purposes (PDF).

To date, 52 countries, including Nigeria, have signed on. These include countries such as the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, South Sudan - countries who have seen the long-lasting effects of wars on their schools - as well as others from all regions of the globe.

The Nigerian government, with international support, has recently taken some promising steps, including merging various presidential initiatives aimed at delivering services to victims of Boko Haram’s violence, hiring 500,000 university graduates to improve the quality of teaching, and providing cash transfers to extremely poor parents with the condition of enrolling their children in schools.

Such progress could be undermined, though, unless, the government starts protecting schools better and keeping the military out. (Aljazeera.com)

guyana-times.com

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

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

Vincent Alexander responds Cut the rhetoric and blame game to former President Dear Editor, On a previous occasion, I responded to the PPP/C's vilification of GECOM, in relation to its preparedness to conduct local government election, by indicating that 'time would tell'. Time has since vindicated GECOM. It conducted 71 local elections with a passing mark of at least 8/10.

I recalled that occurrence because my comment then (time will tell) is equally applicable to the hysteria that the PPP/C sought to generate in relation to the conduct of the national grade 6 examinations. Since, the impact of their pronouncements can be detrimental to national cohesion, I have found it necessary to respond and expose those pronouncements for what they really are and for the divisive impact they are intended to foster.

In doing so, I restrained myself from adding to the hysteria and trauma by delaying my comment to allow for the passing of the examination; and will refer to Ramotar's letter of April 25, 2016 (Guyana Times).

1. Ramotar is a complete stranger to the truth in his contention that no explanation was given for the need for names to be written on the grade 6 examination scripts, albeit on a perforated attachment that will not be available to the markers. Both the Minister of Education and the Chief Education Officer have made public statements on the question, not to mention the frequently aired public announcement on the matter.

The motive for Ramotar's accusation is therefore questionable, since his contention is crass misinformation.

2. The issue of objectivity on the basis of the candidate's name being written-in does not arise. Paper one will be electronically marked, hence eliminating any scope for human manipulation of

the candidate's individual score, more so based on ethnicity as Ramotar would want the public to believe.

Paper two will have the perforated part, with the names written-in, detached. Those names will not be available to the markers. This is all public information, yet Ramotar proceeds to misinform and misguide the public with the intent of establishing that Indians, in particular, will be the victims of discrimination. It takes a mind like Ramotar's to envisage such a grand scheme of targeting Indians although their names, the possible source of their identity, will be unavailable to the markers. And even if they were to be available, it would still require a schemer of Ramotar's imagination to design a system in which diverse markers will identify Indians for discrimination as they mark the over 14,000 papers of each subject.

While Ramotar seeks to point his finger at the regime, he is in fact besmirching the name of each and every marker in the system, or is it a particular ethnic group that will perpetrate this act? Is he saying that Olato Sam a PPP/C appointee and Ms Kadir another such appointee, both of whom have been retained by the current Government, and are ultimately responsible for the conduct of the grade 6 examinations, are not to be trusted?

3. Ramotar seeks to build his case on antecedents: rampant dismissal of Indians; former National Service as a tool to purge UG of Indians; National Service as a camp of rapers of Indian girls; and discrimination against Indians in every sphere of activity in Guyana.

This has long been the subliminal and sometimes overt polity of the PPP in its anti-national and racial

When will Kitty Market restoration be completed?

Dear Editor, A few weeks ago before the Local Government Elections were held, I expressed concern at the unbelievably rapid rate at which the Kitty Market was being rehabilitated. It was too good to be true, and I said it was an election gimmick to make the sitting Councillors who were seeking re-election look good. Alas! As soon as the elections were done, the works slowed down to a snail’s pace, leaving the vendors to wonder when they will get back into the market.

This is because the Council has maxed out its

credit that it was receiving from lumber and hardware dealers for the building materials that are being used to construct the Market, and the workers have gone back to their usual pace of work.

I am just sorry for the 46 stallholders.

Now the roof is being painted green. Anyone surprised? That is the colour of choice these days.

Could the Council say when the Market will really be completed and what the real cost will be?

Sincerely, Amber Valentine

campaign to retain ethnic votes.

For all of its ills National Service's greatest benefit was providing Guyanese with a Guyanese geographic and demographic/multi-ethnic exposure that resulted in love for country and appreciation of fellow Guyanese.

That is the National Service that the PPP opposed, even after Burnham, in unity talks with Jagan, proposed to make National Service optional for all female university students. The Pioneer Corp, which was the greater number of service men and women, over 90 per cent, was always voluntary.

I have heard many testimonies of Indo-Guyanese who attested to the invaluable role that National Service played in imbuing love for country and respect for their fellow Guyanese. That is what the PPP opposed.

4. Could Ramotar in his blanket assertion of discrimination against Indians, identify one Indian who has been fired from the Education Sector. Yet that is one basis for him being suspicious of the sector in its attitude to Indians.

5. Ramotar's outburst is distasteful, disrespectful and unappreciative of the hundreds of Afro-Guyanese in the Education Sector, who have over the decades nurtured the Nation's children, including the IndoGuyanese children.

The only motive that can be attributed to Ramotar's assertion is continued ethnic division as the basis for his party maintaining its ethnic support and in the process poisoning the minds of IndoGuyanese, the young one in particular.

It's a shame that someone who was the President of all Guyana can stoop so low.

Sincerely, Vincent Alexander

Dear Editor, I am told that when my father-in-law would speak against the PPP, of which he was a staunch supporter, he was sidelined by the local membership. If he was alive today, he would have seen his son-in-law receiving the same treatment whenever he expresses an impartial view, or even a negative view, of the current Administration, for which he cast his vote at the last election. Even some media houses refuse to carry some of his letters.

I am hopeful that I receive better treatment this time round.

One cannot escape the feeling on the streets of this country that all is not well.

I am on the road: I know.

While Opposition supporters decry the hard times openly, many who voted for the APNU/AFC are muttering under their breath that things are getting worse.

That is the reality.

The cleaning of the city is of aesthetic value. It put money in the pockets of a number of contractors and removed some smaller pro-

Open letter to Ramjattan Dear Editor, Guyana is undergoing a horrendous crime spree and we are losing innocent citizens daily. Our citizens deserve better and should never be subjected to this inhumane treatment. We cannot go on like this. Something ought to be done. What strategy is in place to curb this callous situation Honourable Minister? If Guyana is unable to handle this situation on its own, then it must enlist foreign help. I am awaiting your response as I am living in fear and worry for my life and that of others.

Faithfully, Matura Gossi

file bandits from the streets temporarily. Very little money, if any, was directed towards cleaning rural Guyana. In relative terms, non-productive urban Guyana took preference, and still does, over productive rural Guyana.

But we can live with that for now. What we cannot continue to live with is the severe increase of heinous robberies and killings which are becoming more blood-chilling with every occurrence. I cannot support the directive that the Police cannot shoot to kill, even if they are under threat. I cannot support the President in pardoning young convicts, many of whom are back behind bars for continuing their criminality. I cannot support the President for treating prisoners at the Georgetown Prison better than law-abiding citizens.

What we are doing is putting the many at the mercy of the few, most of whom have violated the lives and properties of those who contribute to the development of this country. Fear stalks the land.

That apart, Guyana still has to see any evidence of an economic plan. Spending money on “partying” is not an economic option.

Boasting to bring in 50,000 overseas Guyanese for the 50th Anniversary celebrations is, at best, a fantasy.

It requires 300 full flights through our international airports to bring in that number of people, some of whom will be regular travellers.

Are we so gullible to latch on unquestioningly to our politicians just taking us for a ride? Can we handle that traffic?

And when the likes of me try to ask questions, party comrades threaten you?

No matter how much we stick with the party, we have to demand of it to give us a better life. That is what it promised us! Cut the rhetoric and blame game. The honeymoon period is long over. Time to produce. If not, this Administration will not go the full term, unless….

Sincerely, Charles Selman

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

Is your child’s tattling making you crazy?

– 6 rules to help children know the differences between tattling and telling

By Signe Whitson

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hen my daughter was in preschool, a classmate named Tommy angrily reported to their teacher “Hannah can jump higher than me. She’s not being a good friend.” Full of dread and certain she was going to get in “big trouble” (for that is what her young friend assured her was going to happen), Hannah sat herself at the time-out table and waited for her teacher’s inevitable reprimand.

Fortunately for her, that seasoned teacher had been on the receiving end of a tattle or two in her career, and kindly re-directed Tommy without punishing Hannah for her innate ability to bounce well.

If you’ve ever spent time with a child during his or her early school-age years, chances are good that you, too, have been on the receiving end of over-zealous tattling, inspired by magnification of an everyday, non-dangerous issue. The term “tattletale” is sometimes even worn as a badge of honour by young people who pride themselves on bringing their interpretation of fairness and justice to all. For most parents and early childhood educators I know, managing tattling can be an all-day, every day, exhausting affair.

But oh, what most upper elementary and secondary teachers I know would give to have the Tommy-tattlestoo-much problem! By the time most children become tweens and teens, the fear of being branded a “tattletale” is the ultimate barrier to a student’s open communication with an adult about a problematic peer situation.

The young people I talk to repeatedly tell me that they’d

rather let a classmate get away with hurting them or stealing their property than risk making their situation worse by telling an adult.

While no parent or professional wants to spend their day fielding catastrophised reports of minor classroom or playground squabbles, nor do adults want to be left in the dark about dangerous, harmful peer interactions. Somewhere in between the extremes of gratuitous tattling and shamebased cover ups, we must help children find a tenable middle ground in which they can reach out to trustworthy adults for help. Teaching children the key differences between tattling and telling is a core safety issue for young people, who need clear guidelines on when to handle conflicts independently and when to reach out to adults.

Waiting until the upper elementary years to teach children the differences between tattling and telling is waiting too long; once children believe that their social standing will get worse if they reach out to an adult about a peer issue, it is very hard to convince them to reach out at all. In my role as a school counsellor, I have made it a practice to start teaching kids as young as five years old this set of easy-to-relate-to, easy-to-apply rules to know the difference between being a tattletale and being someone who is smart enough to discern when adult intervention is needed:

It’s tattling if: No one is hurt or injured

Ella wants to hang out at the park after school. Maya wants to play at her house

instead. Maya gets mad at Ella for not agreeing to her plan and tells her Mom that Ella isn’t being nice.

The person did it by accident and is sorry

Carson accidentally bumped into Jackson in the lunch line, causing Jackson to spill his drink. Carson tells Jackson he is very sorry.

This is the first time something like this has happened

Carson has never bumped into Jackson before.

You have the power to solve this on your ownJackson talks it out with Carson and the children agree that it’s not a problem.

Your goal is to get someone in trouble

Sage is mad at her brother, Benny, so she tells their Mom about Benny’s secret stash of candy under his bed.

This is a “So What?” issue

Hannah jumped higher than Tommy.

It’s telling if: Someone is truly hurt and needs help

Ella and Maya are playing at the park after school.

Ella jumps off of the swing and badly twists her ankle.

She is in a lot of pain. Maya runs home and tells her mother that Ella needs help.

The person did it on purpose to be mean

Carson purposely bumped into Jackson in the lunch line, causing Jackson to spill his drink. Carson laughs in Jackson’s face.

The same thing keeps happening over and over again and nothing

you do has stopped it

Every single day this week, Carson has been pushing or shoving Jackson at lunch.

You don’t have the power to solve this without an adult’s help

Jackson has tried ignoring Carson, walking away, and telling Carson to “stop”, but nothing seems to change.

Carson’s aggression is only getting worse!

Your goal is to keep someone safe

Benny had six cavities at his last dentist appointment.

Sage privately tells their Mom about her brother’s secret stash of candy.

This is a “This matters!” issue

Hannah keeps teasing Tommy about what a horrible jumper he is. No matter what he says, she will not stop mocking him in front of all of the other children.

Learning how to manage conflict effectively and with dignity is a sophisticated skill. (You might even know a few adults who are still working on this ability!) No child is born knowing how to solve problems on their own and every child needs an adult who will teach them specific skills for navigating social interactions and handling interpersonal frustrations. Conflict is as much a part of a child’s life as breathing; giving children a set of rules that help them organise their thinking and guide their decision-making about when to reach out to adults is like giving them oxygen. (psychologytoday.com)

Teaching Let children overcome their own obstacles

W

hen I was growing up my family was poor –really poor.

There were definitely those worse off, but looking back, we really struggled. We lived off food stamps and dumpster diving behind the local grocery store. One year, we celebrated Christmas late because Dad needed to construct a tree from the best curbside branches he could find the week after the holiday.

That same holiday season, my parents waited until a neighbour dumped their kid’s rocking horse when Santa brought him a new one. They sanded it down, threw on a new coat of paint and gave it to me. Money was a hard-to-come-by commodity.

By the time I was in grade school, I had become creative in obtaining money. No, I didn’t do anything underhanded or illegal.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and, in my case, it was the mother of my entrepreneurship.

I used to go to the local flea market on Sundays. On one such visit, I noticed a woman selling a popular toy, the Chinese Yo-Yo, ten for a dollar. I thought I could risk a buck, and I bought ten. By the end of the week, I sold all ten…each for a dollar. When I returned to the flea market the next Sunday, I reinvested my ten dollars and bought a hundred more. This kept up until one Sunday I could no longer find my Chinese Yo-Yo wholesaler.

In middle school I tried my hand at the candy business –I bought a pack of gum from the local grocery store for 25 cents and offered it to my classmates at a 100 per cent mark-up: fifty cents. Most told me I was crazy, that they could get it half that price after school. I reminded them it wasn’t after school yet, and they could have it now at my price. With the supply (no other gum on campus) and the demand (the sweet tooth of a typical junior high school student), I sold my first pack, bought two more and sold them the following day. This continued

for about two weeks, varying between gum and candy and creating a very lucrative business. Until I was called into the principal’s office.

“Are you selling candy at school?” he asked.

“Yes,” I responded.

“That’s not against the rules, is it?” I had done my research and already knew the answer prior to becoming “The Candy Man” (really, the kids called me this).

“Starting today it is,” he told me.

And there went my business. But, that just put me in a position where I was able to discover another way to generate income, which lead to the next opportunity.

Being in a difficult financial situation taught me perseverance and resilience early on. I am an elementary school teacher, and every day I see our children are being handed far too much Kids also procrastinate and wait until the last moment to work on their projects. As a result, Dad runs out to the store, buys everything his daughter needs the night before the project is due, and he stays up long after the late night talk shows making his daughter’s school project.

How can our children persevere when Mom and Dad clear all of life’s obstacles? How can children push through and be creative and innovative when they are handed everything they desire?

I have seen parents who are struggling financially put themselves deeper in debt in order to clear a path for their children. This isn’t just bad news for parents and their finances –kids never get the opportunity to problem-solve, to figure things out, to come up with ideas, to engage their brains and feel empowered once they have moved themselves ahead.

The obstacles in my life taught me perseverance and brought me to where I am today. What about your child?

Are you allowing them to practice perseverance today, so they can be successful tomorrow? (Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

news

Hundreds sign petition against decision to ban used tyres

7

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Vendors outside Stabroek Market to be temporarily relocated

…as dealers form Association to up pressure on Govt

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

H

undreds of concerned stakeholders have signed a petition to take to Parliament next week in an effort to convince the Government to rescind its decision to ban the importation of used tyres

beforehand, immediate actions must be taken to address the situation.

The petition is seeking to have a meeting with Finance Minister Winston Jordan during which the dealers in the industry will have an opportunity to present their case to Government.

ment,” he stated.

Newark also pointed out that the ban of used tyres on the basis that “they cause accidents” is outright absurd.

“There are a lot of crazy words banging around about used tyres causing accidents, they don’t. Used tyres

Hundreds of vendors who will be temporarily relocated from Stabroek Market Square and its immediate environs

S

Hundreds of concerned stakeholders have signed a petition to convince the Administration to rescind its decision to ban the importation of used tyres

into the country.

The initiative is being spearheaded by a newly formed Used Tyre Association in an effort to up pressure on Government, since previous cries have fallen on deaf ears.

President of the Association Allan Newark told Guyana Times on Thursday that the petition, which will be presented to the Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, has garnered signatures from persons all across Guyana, including Berbice, Essequibo and Linden.

He argued that with more than one thousand citizens disapproving of a decision taken by Government, especially in light of the fact that there was no prior consultation with stakeholders

“We are just asking to be consulted, we want to be a part of the process…,” Newark stated, proposing that used tyres could be regulated instead of being banned.

“It’s about standards, there must be standards in the law that will make tyre legal for use on the roads.

Set a minimum requirement but don’t ban it,” he asserted, noting that the prohibition of used tyres has the potential to put five thousand young people on the breadline.

“Five thousand youngsters will be put out of work if these tyres are to be banned because young people work at these vulcanising shops, they are employed there and the Government is supposed to be big on youth employ-

don’t drive cars, people drive cars,” he posited.

During the National Budget 2016 presentation, the Finance Minister announced Government’s intention of banning the importation of used tyres, in an effort to promote a green economy and protect the environment.

He had stated that the ban will be put into effect as soon as procedural hurdles are cleared.

Meanwhile, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards has since been monitoring the quality and labelling of both new and used tyres imported and offered for sale in Guyana, and will continue to do so until the proposed ban takes effect and used tyres have been phased out.

ome 400 vendors who ply their trade around the Stabroek Market area, in down town Georgetown, will be temporarily relocated as City Hall launches a clean-up exercise in the area.

The vendors were called to a meeting on Thursday morning at the Georgetown City Council where they were informed of plans to have them temporarily relocated.

Town Clerk Royston King told the vendors that the move was part of an overarching plan to secure the integrity and health of the Stabroek Market and the surrounding areas.

In the agreement, it was stated that a “massive cleanup” exercise will take place on Sunday May 1 and vendors, who have stalls in the municipal markets, were asked to return and occupy those stalls. Should these

vendors fail to do so,it will result in the “repossession of those facilities.”

King noted that vendors who are operating around the Stabroek Market will be relocated at a vacant lot South of Parliament Buildings.

“Vendors, who are plying their trade at the Stabroek Market Square and contiguous areas would be temporarily relocated to a plot of land South of the Parliament Buildings.

The Council would provide lighting, 24hour security, and sanitary facilities,” the Council added.

The Town Clerk noted that this move would last for four months. The empty lot where the vendors will be relocated is where one of the Royal Castle’s fast food outlets once stood on Hadfield and Lombard Streets.

At the meeting, King told stakeholders that land

is adequate to take off all of the vendors especially those who are on the immediate periphery of the square. He also noted that the Stabroek Market Square location is “very iconic” and rich in history and as such, “a new set of energies” need to be created so that its beauty can emanate.

On the converse, some vendors related that they would be affected by the move while others deemed it “unfair” and likened the proposal to “disrespect”.

Concerns were also raised with regard to the plot of land identified for relocation. Some questioned if there would indeed have enough space for everyone to ply their trade.

In City Council’s statement however, it said that all vendors present supported the plans.

8 news

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS

Con artist jailed

A

Regent Street, Georgetown, con artist was on Thursday jailed by Magistrate Faith McGusty for two counts of larceny.

Dwayne McDonald got 18 months after admitting he stole one Samsung Galaxy cellphone from Nikosi Beaton. Additionally he was jailed for six months for stealing $6000 from Jonathon Nichols, the sentences will run consecutively.

The court was told that the incidents took place on

April 4 at Anaira Street and April 25 on Regent Street, respectively.

It was brought to the attention of the court that the man allegedly preys on young and innocent victims, before he commits his crimes. He conned Beaton, 14, a student into believing he knows the young man’s aunt.

According to Beaton, who was in the company of his father in court on Thursday, said the defendant, who is unknown to him approached him on the day in question

and told him that his aunt ‘Gwendolyn’ told him (accused) to call her from his (defendant) phone.

Beaton said he did not oblige because he was out of credit. The defendant offered to put credit in the phone for him and when he took out his phone McDonald ran away with it.

The teen told the court that he along with several other persons give chase and caught McDonald.

The court was also informed by the Prosecution that McDonald was no

stranger to the court as he was previously jailed for a similar offence.

In court on Thursday, McDonald told several conflicting stories in his explanation and apologised for stealing the phone and money. In handing down the sentences, Magistrate McGusty stated that based on the seriousness of the offenses and the fact that the defendant preys on young innocent victims to carry out his crimes, she will not be lenient with him.

Funeral parlour employee lands in court for making ‘dead water’ threats

A

Bel Air, Georgetown, man on Thursday pleaded guilty with explanation for making threats against his ex-wife.

He appeared at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Faith McGusty.

It was alleged that Ronald Goodman on 21 April at Bel Air made use of threatening language to

Sarah Goodman.

The man, an employee of a city funeral parlour, in his explanation told the court he had a heated argument with the woman.

Magistrate McGusty asked Goodman to tell the court exactly what he said on that particular day and he related that he told Goodman that she has one

week to live because he will throw ‘dead water’ on her.

Prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that indeed the VC complained that he threatened to throw ‘dead water’ on her in her statement to the Police.

In court on Thursday, Sarah Goodman said she became fearful for her life when the threat was made,

since the defendant has a history of hurling statements of that nature against her. This, she said, prompted her to report the matter to the Police and he was arrested.

Ronald Goodman was fined $10,000 and placed on a one-year bond to keep the peace.

Bourda Market vendor charged with threatening language

A

Bourda Market vendor was on Thursday placed on $10,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court charged with threat-

ening language.

Devin Messiah, 24, of Lot 245 South Road, Bourda, Georgetown, is accused of using threatening language against Ryan Dowlin on 23

February last at Alberttown, Georgetown.

The man pleaded not guilty to the charge, and told the Magistrate he is a clothes vendor at the Bourda

Market.

The case will continue on April 29 since prosecutor Blackman made no objections to bail.

Linden man slapped with assault charge

A

man, who hails from Block 22, Wismar, Linden, was on Wednesday granted bail in the sum of $20,000 by Magistrate Clive Nurse,

when he appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court to answer to the offence of assault causing actual bodily harm.

The defendant, 30-year-

old Orette Blackman, a taxi driver of Lot 198 Block 22, Wismar, pleaded not guilty to the offence which alleged that he unlawfully assaulted Natasha Daniels on

April 23, which resulted in actual bodily harm.

The case will continue on May 3.

Eyew tness

Freedom... ...to communicate

F

ree speech is protected by the Constitution – no one can mess with that right. Right? Except for some sleazy dictators in countries like North Korea and their wannabe imitators in Guyana like the Prime Minister and his shill. But free speech isn’t just being able to speak your mind to the person next to you. It becomes meaningless when you’re prevented from using available technology to share your thoughts.

And it’s not just about the Opposition being unable to get its press conferences covered by the Chronic. It’s about me and you not being able to use the latest technology in voice and data transmission to share our thoughts with the world – like everybody else does – at the lowest cost because of a decision made by the PNC 26 years ago. Like Faulkner said – the past isn’t dead, it isn’t even past!

Your Eyewitness was plunged into this deep funk by the latest “announcement” – the “Telecommunications Bill” will be laid in Parliament for debate “before the end of May”. Whoopi!!” This bill was supposed to’ve been passed since 2012! Now our worthy MPs would’ve returned from their 56-day recess on May 4th...why can’t they get to it right away? And we know the schoolchildren will be given a special one-week holiday the “last week of May”, so you can be sure – like always – the Parliamentarians will be following suit.

So let’s return to why the past is still haunting us by stifling our freedom to communicate. Back in 1990, the PNC privatised our Telephone Company. For a song – as we wrote some time ago. But to rub salt into the wound, they also agreed no one could compete with GTT for another 20 years. But you’ll say, Dear Reader, the 20 years was up since 2010.

Well, go to the head of the class...but the PNC hadn’t quite done with us...they’d also rubbed pepper into the wound by giving GTT the right to decide whether they want to “give up” the monopoly!! Can you believe it? Who’ll give up a monopoly, a licence to virtually print money?

Not GTT! And you can’t blame them. So we’ve had scads of competitors – the biggest one being Digicel – holding their breath for GTT or roll over and play dead.

Now, some might say, what’s the present Government to do, with the “sanctity of contracts” and all that jazz.

Well...do what even that bastion of America has done.

Break up the monopoly!!

But you and I know it ain’t gonna happen. In the meantime, GTT are bringing in some big foreign acts for the Jubilee.

Give the natives more baubles! And they’ll communicate with drums! ...to extract communications The Crime Chief’s (CC) getting a tad testy about what he feels is unfair criticism. He complained, “It’s very appalling that persons are criticising us for not solving crimes and others are questioning the way we are solving them.” He was reacting to one citizen becoming leery about the spike in solving crimes after “confessions”. Now the CC wouldn’t have exactly allayed suspicions by his riposte: “When we have a suspect in custody, I always advise that we interview them intensely. In most cases, they crack and confess.”

“Interview them INTENSELY.”!!??! Your Eyewitness can just see the rubber truncheons wielded by burly policemen reducing suspects into quivering lumps of jelly under the glare of the 55W bare bulb! Of course, they’ll “crack and confess”!

But seriously folks, we have to be concerned about police interrogation techniques to “solve” crimes –- if for no other reason than it could be us at the receiving end of the truncheon. ...to raise healthy babies Not only is the First World shipping their cigarettes and fried chicken because they’re not good for THEM. Now they’re shipping baby milk with vegetable oil.

If coconut oil’s so good in the formula, why don’t the fellas importing the fake milk give their kids directly?

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

news

9

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Grave dangers in using some vegetable oils in infant milk ...authorities confirm GA-FDD’s charge

T

he Government Analyst-Food and Drugs Department (GAFDD) recently pronounced that LAILAC infant milk, a product distributed by International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA), cannot be considered “infant milk”, because of its specific vegetable oil content.

The importance of the issue was highlighted because of the potentially deleterious effect the vegetable oils could possibly have on infants The GA-FDD had stated in the media through its analyst that the composition of the LAILAC milk is not suited for infants since the compound used to replicate the natural milk fat found is breast milk was listed simply as vegetable oil. Exacerbating the situation was that the product has no information highlighting which particular vegetable oil is used in the imported milk.

In a further report, the analyst also stated the Materials Management Unit of the Public Health Ministry had complained about defective batches of LAILAC milk.

While vegetable oils can be used as substitutes for the fats in “mother’s milk”, they must be of a specific type that lend themselves to digestion by infants.

Many vegetable oils are broken down into fatty acids that are simply excreted by the baby, or more danger-

ously can combine with other substances such as glycerol to form soaps which can adversely affect the infant.

The IPA has since sought to rebut the statements made by the GA-FDD, citing the body as being “discriminatory” and “deliberately” targeting the company.

In seeking to substantiate its claims that LAILAC is indeed suitable for infants, the importer highlighted that “All milk based baby formulas are made with cow’s milk, vegetable oils, vitamins, minerals and usually fortified with iron (as recommended by the American Academy of Paediatrics)… The natural content of milk fat is poor in

According to the IPA “LAILAC Infant milk is manufactured by NUTRIBIO, located in France. The company produces several brands of milk including Nactalia and LAILAC. It produces several brands of products of which LAILAC is the brand marketed in the Middle East, Caribbean and Africa. In this region, Guatemala also imports this brand. All its products are manufactured in France.”

Against a background of widespread concerns that substandard products are frequently shipped to Third World countries, however, the statement that LAILAC is not distributed in France

these fatty acids and does not allow the formulae to reach the minimum requirements.

For this reason, it is necessary to use vegetable oils.”

It ignored however the GAFDD’s point that the specific vegetable oils were not identified, which could be potentially harmful to infants, as described above.

or Europe, but to “Middle East, Caribbean and Africa - all Third World countries should send warning signals to officials in these countries.”

Scientific background

In many formulations that are accepted in developed countries, “analog fats” or vegetable oils that have been spe-

cially modified can be substituted for mother’s fat.

As described by one authoritative Internet paediatric source: “The first step when designing a fat for infant formula is to match the fatty acid profile of mother’s milk. This is achieved by the use of various raw materials. The fatty acid profile differs somewhat between women depending on diet, heritance,etc, but one thing is very much conserved and that is the high content of C16 as the main saturated fatty acid in the milk.”

The next step said the source, “is to look at the triglyceride structure, how the fatty acids in the fat are connected to the glycerol backbone of the triglyceride. The structure of the triglyceride is of crucial importance for the baby’s ability to digest the fat.

In mother’s milk fat the important C16 is mainly situated in the middle position of the

triglyceride, whereas the unsaturated fatty acids are in the outer positions. In a normal vegetable oil or fat, the structure is opposite, with the C16 in the outer position and the unsaturated in the middle.

“When the baby eats fat, an enzyme cleaves the outer fatty acids of the triglyceride and they will be digested as free fatty acids. However, if those free fatty acids are made up of C16 as in standard vegetable oil, they cannot be digested as free fatty acids due to their high melting point.

To be digested the C16 needs to be in the middle position of the triglyceride, where it will be digested as a monoglyceride” said the paediatrician.

The source highlighted that the necessary care and due-diligence has to be paramount, especially where infant formula is concerned and

“in this case with the free fatty acids C16 [vegetable oil] composition being ambiguous, it would be plausible to conclude that the milk would not be suitable for infants since it might not be digested properly.”

The paediatrician posited that nutritionally, breast feeding is the best food source for infants. He said formula milk in general should be avoided, unless of course there is no other alternative. The source then made example of the infamous Nestlé debacle where the company in the 1970s was accused of “getting Third World mothers hooked on formula, which is less healthy and more expensive than breast milk”.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, april 29, 2016

News Govt meets with Norwegian officials - PPP disappointed with partnership efforts of Administration

M

inister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday met with a visiting Norwegian delegation after the officials paid a courtesy call on his office, located at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The team of officials are visiting Guyana to meet with their counterpart agencies to discuss the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) projects.

Guyana’s Office of Climate Change and the Project Management Office for the GRIF Project both fall within the Minister’s purview.

The team was led by Hege Ragnhildstveit, Senior Adviser, Government of Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative; and included Tron Lovdal, Senior Adviser, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Department for Climate, Energy and Environment; and Ane Marit Lid, Adviser, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.

Minister Harmon was joined by Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Rear Admiral (ret’d) Gary Best and Nikolaus Oudkerk, from the Project

Management Office, Ministry of the Presidency.

and other matters connected to the Guyana-Norway

Development Bank (IDB) and civil society. The GRIF

Minister of State Joseph Harmon meets with Norwegian delegation members Nikolaus Oudkerk, Project Management Office; Tron Lovdal, Senior Adviser, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Department of Climate, Energy and Environment; Hege Ragnhildstveit, Senior Adviser, Government of Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative and AneMarit Lid, Adviser, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. Also present was Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Rear Admiral (ret'd) Gary Best

The Norwegian delegation is set to hold talks with their counterpart agencies on the GRIF Projects’ development, challenges, implementation and scheduling with the Project Management Office (PMO)

Agreement.

The delegation will also meet with other connected agencies, such as the Guyana Forestry Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Inter-American

Projects are at different stages of implementation across Guyana.

In an invited comment, Ragnhildstveit said that the meeting was fruitful and appreciated.

“The Minister of State was very kind to receive us this morning and it was very encouraging to hear his remarks that Guyana appreciates the cooperation with Norway. The Minister of State is very concerned about Guyana’s rainforest and the people who live there as well as the importance of combating climate change,” she said.

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), under whose Government the GRIF deal was established, has called on Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman, to withdraw statements he made that were misleading to the nation about the project.

The Party said Trotman told the National Assembly during the budget debate that all of Guyana’s productive forest was allocated by the previous PPP/C Government, mainly to foreign investors. However, the Party has called for the Minister to retract and apologise.

“As shown in publicly available and internationally verified reports, Guyana’s forests cover an area of 18,483,000 hectares with seven million hectares having been allocated for concessions, less than 38 per cent of Guyana’s forest or about 55 per cent of the State Forest Estate… In summary, the PPP/C Government allocated approximately 15 per cent of Guyana’s forest to large concessions, about the same as the [People’s National Congress] PNC Government. To this day, 5.5 million hectares, or close to half the State Forest Estate, remains unallocated,” the Party said in a statement on Thursday.

It said Guyana’s forest management standards within the allocated concessions are among the highest in the world and that deforestation and degradation, as well as governance standards, have been independently verified and assessed since the commencement of the Guyana-Norway partnership on forests in 2009.

The most recent Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) report dated October 2015 shows that Guyana’s forest cover has a deforestation rate of 0.062 per cent, one of the lowest rates in the world, the party argued.

Speaking on the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, the PPP reminded that Guyana had in 2009, signed one of the world’s most ambitious partnerships to recognise the contributions made by countries like Guyana in combatting climate change.

By 2015, Norway had committed to paying over US$200 million to Guyana for the services provided by its forest. The public is reminded that US$80 million earned by Guyana under the Guyana-Norway Partnership is allocated for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project which was originally intended to be completed in 2017.

“This deadline was within the realm of the possibilities; however, the combined [A Partnership for National Unity] APNU and [Alliance For Change] AFC Opposition parliamentary parties used every opportu-

nity in the 10th Parliament to block its movement forward,” the Party said adding that there was no justification for such ant-national actions. “Their arguments were based on the most spurious suppositions despite the fact that they were given all the documentation available on the project by the then President Ramotar.

Vital years were lost as they placed their petty partisan politics above the nation’s best interests.”

The Opposition party said since the new Government took office, Norway has put a pause on disbursing US$40 million payment. This is in addition to the US$80 million waiting to be deployed for the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project. There is no progress towards a new agreement, despite the fact that the last payment under the partnership was to be paid for performance up to the end of 2014. Over a year has passed since the expiry of the partnership and no efforts appear to be exerted by the Government to make up for this lost time.

Guyana has an economy in trouble and people’s quality of life is deteriorating, yet the Government myopically turns its back on hundreds of millions of dollars that the country has earned.

This is unfathomable.

Furthermore, the Party said it has real concerns about the Government’s commitment to the standards required by the partnership – especially as they relate to governance, transparency, accountability and the quality of technical work.

“The LCDS MultiStakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) has not met since the Government took office. Information about GRIF-funded projects is no longer available on the LCDS website nor publicly announced by the Government.

Amerindian and other stakeholders are no longer consulted about the LCDS or the Guyana-Norway partnership and there is no word on the Opt-In Mechanism for Amerindian villages,” the PPP said.

5-month-old dies in Belmont accident

P

olice on the East Coast of Demerara are probing a fatal accident that occurred on Wednesday which claimed the life of a five-month-old baby.

Randy Williams, of Belmont, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was hit by a motor lorry while his brother was pushing him across the roadway in a stroller.

According to reports, about 17:00h on Wednesday, the driver of the motor lorry was proceeding along an access road at Belmont when it is alleged that the eightyear-old boy who was pushing the toddler in a stroller attempted to cross the road and the vehicle collided with the stroller.

The child was rushed to the Georgetown Public

Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the lorry is currently in Police custody, assisting with the investigation. Acting Traffic Chief Boodnarine Persaud related that as investigations continue, the Police are looking at all angles. He stated that up to press time, he was unsure as to whether or not the driver would be charged.

friDay, APRIL 29, 2016

guyana-times.com

11

News

Deadly prison riot

Pastor’s son shot during Cellphones, lighters passed La Penitence robbery through “pouching” – CoI hears A A shopkeeper of North East La Penitence, Georgetown, is currently a patient at a city hospital nursing a gunshot wound to his left foot after being shot during a brazen daylight robbery.

David Sooknanand of Savage Street, North East La Penitence, Georgetown, was held up by two men armed with firearms who took away an undisclosed sum of cash and escaped in a waiting car.

According to the man’s mother, wife of a pastor, the family lives in the upper flat of their two-storeyed building while the business is in the bottom flat. She related that about 11:30h, a male and female entered her son’s business under the pretext of purchasing cooking gas. “The female and male come to buy cooking gas, and there is a little

door that you have to open to pass through the gas bottle… when he opened it to pass the gas is when they

got in… we have a trap door separating where I was from them and I peep and saw them and beg them hard not to kill son, I begged them then I put down trap door and bolt it,” the traumatised woman stated. The pastor’s wife explained that she heard shots being fired downstairs and thought that they had killed her son.

She further explained that the two bandits made

good their escape in a white car which was parked in front of the Sukhnandan’s grocery shop. “He said he doesn’t know them but the car is an old model white car. We don’t have a camera at that one side but a neighbour said she saw them carrying goods they stole from the shop when they were leaving. They took all the cash from the business too,” she stated.

The woman revealed that it is not the first time the grocery shop has been targeted. She explained that David’s now dead wife was shot to her mouth during a previous robbery.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times was informed that an investigation has been launched and the Police are searching for the perpetrators who are still at large.

Security guard chopped to death during attempted robbery

A

security guard, attached to the Best Buy Hardware Store, Bladen Hall, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was killed after challenging two men who invaded his workplace while he was on duty.

Dead is Sattaur Kaderr, 53, of Foulis, ECD. He was chopped about his body by two men in what is believed to have been an attempted robbery.

According to reports, around 22:45h on Wednesday, Kaderr at-

tempted to confront two men who had entered the business place’s compound from the rear and it was during this confrontation that the perpetrators dealt several chops about the security guard’s body with cutlasses before fleeing the scene.

Kaderr was subsequently rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The deceased man’s son indicated that his uncle telephoned informing him and

their family of the tragedy that had befallen his father.

It was highlighted that Kaderr had only been employed at the entity for one year prior to his death. He leaves to mourn his wife, three children and other relatives.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Thursday said that investigations were still ongoing. However, several persons were taken in for questioning – two of whom remain suspects.

part from inmates retrieving contraband items from parcels thrown over the Camp Street Prison fence, banned items are also smuggled into the Prison by way of “pouching” (transported in the rectum).

Chief Prison Officer Roddey Denhart in his testimony to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) on Thursday explained that when prisoners would go out to court or “labour outside” they would collect the items and place them in their rectum.

“I have seen cellphones, lighters, and surprisingly one time I saw a charger in an inmate’s anus,” Denhart told Commissioners.

“When we conduct our prison search, we would unearth it in any way,” he further explained. These revelations were disclosed after the Commission attempted to ascertain where inmates would acquire materials to start fires.

Prison Medex Patricia Anderson, who is stationed in the Prison’s infirmary, also explained that the staff in the Medex department has, over the years, removed a quantity of marijuana which inmates would attempt to smuggle in their rectum. She, however, stated that in her experience, she has never retrieved cellular devices or lighters.

“I never pull out any-

Chief Prison Officer Roddey Denhart testifying on Thursday

thing else,” Anderson testified. She also explained that the staff on duty at the time would be the ones to retrieve such items. Anderson further explained that any search would be documented.

It was on April 20 that the Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels expressed that contraband at the prisons was a “multimillion-dollar business”. He had also opined that the loss of resale value from seized contraband items was responsible for the disdain inmates had for him.

Samuels also explained that “for the last two years” when he held the post of Officer in Charge, pounds of narcotics had been removed which caused inmates to in-

cur significant losses from the trade.

“The record is there to show that I would have removed pounds of marijuana during raids and thousands of packs of cigarettes were found…if you do the mathematics based on the resale value in prison, those prisoners would have lost significant amount of cash and all those are reasons why they would not like a person like me around,” the Deputy Director of Prisons had expressed.

“Many of them [prisoners] manage to maintain families; many of them manage to pay a lot of fees that are attached to their imprisonment while in there…I’m putting systems in place to prevent them from carrying out those businesses [and] more than likely, they’re gonna be affected,” Samuels further observed.

On April 5, inmate Carl Brown, who is currently serving 13 years for murder, claimed that prisoners could purchase mobile devices for $7000 in the Camp Street Prison.

The inmate admitted that he used cellphones to update his Facebook account about life in prison.

Brown had also told the Commission that whenever a phone is seized, a fee is paid and the phone is returned.

12 news

friDay, APRIL 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Pomeroon boat ‘accident’

Linden municipality owes Investigation takes NIS $70M, LUSCSL $65M twist as murder

BY UTAMU BELLE

T

he newly elected administration of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) is now grappling with the significant effects of inheriting a “cash strapped” municipality.

This evidence was revealed its first statutory meeting on Wednesday. The municipality’s indebtedness of millions of dollars, including $70 million to National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and $65 million to Linden Utility Services Coop Society Limited (LUSCSL) were brought to the fore and examined carefully, with the Treasurer declaring that presently the council cannot afford to pay its current NIS balances.

The LM&TC also owes outstanding monies to LUSCSL for electricity, including that of streetlights. Town Clerk (TC) Jenella Bowen said the ongoing matter involving NIS, presently before the court has been pending for some time and this is the second time the municipality was taken to court over the issue. There is however a monthly payment agreement to pay off outstanding balances.

“There is an agreement that on a monthly basis, $200,000 will be paid on our indebtedness,” Bowen told the meeting.

Councillors surmised that the payment of the Council’s monthly instalments to ease the debt would continue to grow, even as it attempts to have it paid off. As such, it was established that in order to settle the debt, more avenues of revenue would have to be secured.

Until then, it was established that employees’ payment will continue to be affected, a fact the TC said has been cause for worry. It was noted by the treasurer that employees are working for a salary which is below minimum

is suspected

– boat captain allegedly disposed of man’s body

W

LM&TC statutory meeting on Thursday

wage: “There are times on a monthly basis where you have enough money to pay NIS, however when we pay NIS, we do not have enough to pay wages and salaries and there are times when you have to choose… We have made several efforts and NIS has been very patient with us,” she said.

Reacting to the revelations, Councillor Leroy James stated that it’s a “travesty and a disgrace”, what the staff of the LM&TC went through as a result of the financial crisis and made the suggestion for Government’s intervention. James also described the situation as “unacceptable”, “immoral” and “wrong”, with Holland in total agreement, stating that it’s also a “shame.”

“I was made to understand that as a result of our indebtedness to NIS, staff would have been denied the basic services like sick leave benefits… pension. I was shocked out of my socks… That’s human injustice, that’s gross indignity.

That’s unacceptable… I would like for some action be made, every possible action on our part to advocate for some kind of Government intervention, however possible and however the law allows,” James said.

Meanwhile, Councillor Devin Sears estimated that it would take the municipality 29 years to pay off the $70 million debt as he called for financial intervention and direct solutions to garner enough funds.

The TC suggested that the re-establishment of the Kara

Kara toll-booth might assist in such regard.

In moving forward, the Mayor said it is his heart’s desire to see a resolution to these issues, however he stressed that even with better financial management the council will be in the same boat. He said as a result of making representation on the council’s behalf regarding the issue, he has received positive word from Central Government.

This may be a positive step forward, since the previous Interim Management Committee (IMC) Chairman Orrin Gordon had indicated to this newspaper shortly before he left office, that the cries of the municipality seemed to have fallen on deaf ears even though it had been brought to the attention Government.

“I did get positive word from Central Government that it is something for us to look into,” Holland said.

The Mayor went on to propose that the TC and all other managers manage effectively to prevent any such recurrence.

“I believe it should not be allowed in this council. I believe persons are working hard and I believe we should respect their labour. I believe they deserve their benefits… and I believe we should get some intervention from Central Government on this issue,” the Mayor said.

At present the people of Linden benefit tremendously from a $3 billion electricity subsidy.

Plan of action for Hindus

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Dead: Abdool Shameer

hat appeared to be a boat accident is now suspected to be murder as Police probe the circumstances surrounding the death of Abdool Shameer, a 58-year-old labourer, who went missing on Monday evening in the Pomeroon River, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Shameer’s body was recovered in Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini) on Thursday.

The initial reports had stated that about 02:00h on Monday, Shameer, also called Mohamed Shameer, of Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon, was crossing the Pomeroon River in his boat when another boat, which was powered by an outboard engine, collided with him. After the collision, Police said that Shameer could not be located; however, the 33-year-old captain of the other boat, who hails from Siriki, Pomeroon River, was unharmed.

Suspicions were raised after it was revealed that the dead man and the surviving captain had “old grievances”.

Meanwhile, a passenger of the suspect’s boat confessed that after the collision the captain allegedly disposed of the man’s body. When questioned

by Police, the eyewitness alleged that the captain took the body to Moruca, where he disposed of it. The eyewitness later took Police to the scene where the body was buried and family members positively identified the remains.

The body was retrieved and taken to the Charity wharf and was later transported to a Charity funeral home. An autopsy will be performed on the decomposed body shortly. The eyewitness was released while the captain remains in custody.

However, relatives of the dead man believe that both men should be charged for murder.

According to the dead man’s brother, Fizal, he last saw Shameer on Monday morning about 10:30h in the Jacklow area. He said he left to visit a friend at Jacklow and upon returning, the accident occurred. Family members related to Guyana Times that they were most disturbed at the manner in which the entire accident was dealt with. They are contending that the act was planned and described the incident as “hideous”, saying that after the accident occurred, a report should have been made to the Police instead of disposing of the body. They opined that the accident was planned as revenge.

hile the Indian community as a whole need to take a serious look at their institutions and begin to re-examine them for their relevance to their present circumstances, the condition of the Hindu section is most dire. Whether it is suicide, alcoholism, domestic violence and other dysfunctional responses to societal pressures, it is the Hindu that is most affected. This Indian Arrival Day, which will be commemorated next Thursday, is as good a time as any to begin to craft a holistic action plan.

The following was first offered back in the early 1990s: Firstly, there has to be a reinterpretation, reformation, reaffirmation and re-grounding of Hinduism’s Dharmic [religious, cultural, educational and social] institutions and traditions to deal with the present place (desh), time (kaal) and circumstances (parishtiti) in which we find ourselves.

Secondly, there must be a constant unmasking of the social maya or those structural forces that keep us entrapped and also its various champions and promulgators.

The “ Dharma for the age” has been launched many times before in our long history and its outline can be summarised in four SUTRAS [maxims]: LOK SANGRAHA, LOK SANSKAR, LOK VIYAWASTHA and LOK KALYAAN. When their principles are fully implemented they lead to the Hindu vision of the ideal society – RAM RAJYA. LOK SANGRAHA – to gather the people together. Hindus have to see themselves as one family. In the words of Swami Vivekanand: “Then and then alone you are a Hindu, when every man who bears the name from any country, speaking our language, or any other language, or any other language, becomes at once the nearest and the dearest to you … when the distress of any one bearing that name comes to your heart and make you feel as if your own son were in distress… when you will be ready to bear anything for them”.

The Hindu believes that ultimately, the whole world is one family – VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM, but understands that love, like all other relationships, must begin at home.

LOK VIYAWASTHA –- to organise the people. This was reinforced by Sant Tulsidas in his magnum opus, Ramcharitmanas – SANGHA SHAKTI KAL YUG: in this age, organisation is power. Historically, the plantation experience produced an unintended consequence when it united the people against their common oppressor – the colonial power. Much of the abuses of the jati system [status by birth, commonly dubbed the “caste system”], for instance, have been eradicated in Guyana.

Guyanese Hindus have many organisations, but they are sorely equipped with the resources needed – human, material, ideological … etc. to effectively serve the needs of the community. This is one main reason why there is lethargy in the community’s activities and response.

Hindu organisations have to become much more activist-oriented. One glaring lacuna to be filled is the need for social counselling – alcoholism, wife battering, and suicide attempts.

Hindu organisations and leaders have to also become more outspoken when Hindu interests and rights are threatened – this is their duty. Hinduism does not end in the mandirs: it does not even begin there. Our organisations have to also expose others to the Hindu vision … not in the aggressive, offensive manner of the Christian evangelicals, but in the Hindu tradition of sharing without asking for conversion. We must teach as well as learn… we who were JagadJanini [world teachers] cannot be students only.

Hindu organisations must stop blaming the “enemy” only and take charge of helping Hindus to craft their destiny.

A great deal of responsibility lies with the professional class.

They are figures of respect in our community because that is part of our tradition. They, however, have a reciprocal duty, as part of that same tradition, to go amongst the people and share what their common Dharma has bestowed upon them.

Hindu organisations must stop quarrelling with each other, while unquestioningly kneeling before others. They will have to respect each other before respect from others will come. A united Hindu organisation will assist in this facet of the new Hindu plan of action for the 21st Century in Guyana.

News

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friDay, APRIL 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

CIOG’s women Digicel participates in "Girls in ICT Day" celebrations arm launches D programme for the elderly igicel Guyana, in collaboration with the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) on Thursday en-

T

he Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana’s (CIOG) women arm, the National Committee for Sisters' Affairs (NACOSA), on Thursday launched their “Love and Respect our Elderly” project which is aimed at reaching out to Guyana’s elderly by offering a range of health and social services.

Head of the Committee, Aleema Nasir, related that

for the vulnerable elderly in Guyana. She further explained that elderly women are often indirectly isolated from society because of health constraints that render them immobile as well as responsibilities such as babysitting. This, she stated, often times leads to depression, and as such, the project will be looking to tackle this issue by providing a forum where they can meet and socialise with each

NACOSA Head Aleema Nasir

the project was inspired by the need to improve the lives of the elderly, most of whom face challenges on a daily basis.

“We are concerned for our elderly,” Nasir stated, while highlighting some of the struggles that the elderly face, particularly women. Nasir explained that through the project, a number of medical and social services will be made available

other. “We also want to have little mind exercises with them which exercise their brain and improve their memory,” she stated.

Nasir related that the committee has also been hosting a number of cancer camps and medical outreaches across Guyana so as to reach out to those who are unable to access these services on their own.

“NACOSA’s mission is

to raise the level of education and quality of life of women throughout Guyana.

It seeks to promote the uplift and development of Guyanese women and girls through the provision of educational, moral, spiritual, financial and other forms of assistance. NACOSA’s stated objectives are as follows: to provide social services to women; to educate women, youth and children; to conduct a literacy programme for women and children; to provide counselling services, and to equip women with income generating skills,” she stated. She revealed that the Committee operates in several regions of Guyana, and its activities include Islamic classes, seminars, medical outreaches and parenting skills training.

Doctor Mujahid Ghazi, a cancer specialist who has been working alongside NACOSA, also explained that during his time in Guyana, he has noticed that cervical cancer goes undetected until the late stages due to the fact that women are not readily able to access the necessary medical attention. Ghazi highlighted the fact that the World Health Organisation had declared Guyana as the country with the highest cervical cancer related deaths while lauding the committee for its efforts.

Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally in her address to the gathering stated that she is pleased at the efforts of the committee to ensure that the elderly are given the necessary attention.

Minister Ally pledged her support for the programme, and announced that she and her Ministry would be getting on board to assist and ensure that the elderly is taken care of in Guyana.

ebrated on the fourth Thursday in April, annually.

“This initiative is one that Digicel will always support, women and technology is important. We are very

Students from Bygeval Secondary on Girls in ICT Day

gaged in a colloquium at Bygeval Secondary, on the East Coast of Demerara.

Some 300 girls were given the opportunity to be involved in interactive sessions at the event and view presentations by Digicel.

Additionally, flash drives were distributed to every girl who attended.

The Girls in ICT initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is a Global effort to raise awareness on the authorising and embolden women to actively work in the ICT field globally. This day is observed by the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) and Caricom in Guyana.

Girls in ICT Day is cel-

proud to say that over 50 per cent of our workforce is women; we have a lot of girls in ICT,” Communications Manager Vidya Sanichara said.

It was highlighted that in Digicel’s decision to support Girls in ICT, they have attempted to boost the number of women in technology and women in leadership within the organisation across the Caribbean, Central America and the Pacific markets.

“As a brand, we recognise that gender equality in technology is a serious issue globally, but Digicel remains committed to playing our part in helping to bridge this gap,” Kenneth McGrath, CEO Digicel Caribbean and Central America noted.

At the Caricom Secretariat’s symposium; the feature remarks were given by Deputy Secretary General of Caricom, Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes and Minister Nicolette Henry, Minister within the Education Ministry with responsibility for youth and culture.

Additionally, over 300 girls from various schools in and around the capital city received tokens from Digicel and its corporate partners for participating during the Question/Answer segment in the Girls in ICT Forum and Exhibition, which was hosted at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Tambiea Rouse, a student, voiced her excitement about the event which was conducted at her school.

“Today I learnt a lot about ICT; it was a great experience for me and I won a phone and also received a flash drive from Digicel! I thought today would be very boring but I’m really glad I came. I had so much fun and I think after today I will pursue a career in ICT”.

It was emphasised that such events open windows for women to become knowledgeable and encouraged to pursue a career in the ICT sector.

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guyana-times.com

friDay, april 29, 2016

News

GDF, GPF ranks honoured for valuable service

Passport Office Forensic Audit

Auditors found no evidence of fraud - recommend separation of Police work from immigration

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Ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) braved the heavy downpours to receive their honorary medals from President David Granger

By Devina Samaroo

R

anks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) braved the heavy downpours on Thursday afternoon as they marched onto the muddy tarmac of the incomplete D’Urban Park arena to receive their honorary medals from the Commanderin-Chief David Granger.

One by one, President Granger handed out medals to a total of 120 ranks who stood resolutely at attention in the pouring rain as the band played a series of national songs.

Also in attendance were Government Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and other members of the Disciplined Services.

The shedless bleachers also accommodated a handful of persons who had turned out to witnesses the annual medal presentation parade.

After receiving their medals, the ranks marched off and the parade continued as the band took centre stage.

The beating retreat lasted

for approximately 15 minutes until the flag party marched on to begin the lowering of the Golden Arrowhead that was swaying wildly in the night sky.

The medals

The Military Efficiency Medal is awarded to serving members of the GDF who have completed 10 years of service with good conduct and are approved by the Chief-of-Staff following recommendation by the Medal Awards Committee. This Medal is made of nickel, circular in shape and measures 35mm in diameter. On the obverse of the Medal is the Cacique Crown in the centre which is encircled by the inscription “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, while on the reverse, there are two crossed swords and the words ‘Military Efficiency Medal’.

The Border Defence Medal is awarded to serving members of the GDF and the GPF who would have had cumulative service on a border location in excess of one year and are approved by the Chief-of-

Staff/ Police Commissioner following recommendation by the Medal Awards Committee. Similarly, this Medal is made of nickel, circular in shape and measures 35mm in diameter. On the obverse of the Medal is the Cacique Crown in the centre which is encircled by the inscription “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, while on the reverse, there is a circular image of Mount Ayanganna on which is planted the Golden Arrowhead; at the base of the depiction of Mount Ayanganna are bushes and water.

The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded to serving members of the Disciplined Services for 15 years of continuous service with good conduct and approved by the Police Commissioner following recommendation by the Medal Awards Committee. The obverse of the Medal is similar to the others, while the reverse displays a key, a baton and an axe with the words ‘For Long Service and Good Conduct’ inscribed.

Deadly prison riot

Medex breaks down in tears as she recounts horror

orensic auditors who recently examined the records of the Central Immigration and Passport Office of Guyana say there was no evidence of fraud at the office, but highlighted several minor irregularities, relating mainly to breach in procedures.

The 29-page audit report which was made public Wednesday by the Ministry of Finance stated that there were some issues that need to be addressed to ensure the effectiveness of the office.

“In the course of our audit and our examination of documents and records, our audit team found no evidence of any malfeasance or any fraudulent activity,” the report stated.

It however noted that there needs to be urgent action on the key findings which can be implemented without delay, including redefining the organisation’s structure.

Police v Immigration

A recommendations by the auditors is for there to be a separation of the functions of the police from that of the immigration: “Police personnel now fill the role of immigration officers at the passport office and points of entry/exit.

Consideration may have to be given in due course to separate the duties with employees of the Department of Citizenship being full time immigration and passport officers and not policemen/policewomen seconded to passport office or airports/

seaports.”

It noted that policemen/ women now seconded may have to be given the option to remain as policemen/ women or be fulltime passport and immigration officers.

“To go with this decentralisation of services and to ensure that the functions of each division are competently performed, effective training of all staff should be mounted and carried out over time. The training programmes may include preparing and issuing procedure manuals for processes and activities that are considered key to the successful functioning of the section/division,” it added.

Citizenship

On the issue of Citizenship, the auditors said there were some instances where applicants were granted citizenship without meeting all the requirements.

The requirements are Police Clearance; Income Tax Liability Statement; National Insurance Scheme Compliance Statement; Copy of spouse’s Passport, Copy of Spouse’s Birth Certificate; and Marriage Certificate.

“It was observed that even though some applicants not meeting all the requirements, approval for citizenship was granted in these instances,” it report cited.

The auditors recommended that in future, all applicants for citizenship should meet all require-

ments as stipulated, subject to ministerial discretionary power.

Passports

It said while there were no major issues with regards to the issuance of passports, there were instances where records are not properly kept.

“The original ‘cancelled’ receipts in 23 Receipt Books were not appended in the respective books which contravenes Financial Regulations,” the auditors wrote.

It recommended that upon cancelling a receipt, all copies should be retained in the Receipt Book in accordance with Financial Regulations.

“Besides this adverse observation, over the period under review Passports in general were approved and issued to applicants who have met the Requirements. Hence the controls and governance systems appear to be operating efficiently,” it stated.

The report also recommended that there be a review of the organisational structure of the passport office among others.

“In the past, the position of Chief Immigration Officer was held by the Commissioner of Police.

This will require change as a result of the establishment of the Department of Citizenship and the separation of functions. One suggestion (and it seems logical under the new structure) is (iv) that the Head of Citizenship Immigration and Passport services could fill that role,” it stated

CoI hears prison officer “choked and robbed” in Camp St jail

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

he level of violence and aggression inmates have shown towards prison wardens continues to increase. Chief Prison Officer Roddey Denhart on Thursday disclosed that one prison officer was recently “chocked and robbed” in the compound of the Georgetown penitentiary. He also testified that another inmate placed an improvised weapon, a spear, on the chest of another warden.

This comes on the backdrop of the account of other witnesses that “intimidation” and a strong gang culture presence has become prevalent at the Camp Street facilities.

Denhart, who has served as Chief Prison Officer for four years, recalled that on the evening of 2 March he

saw inmates lighting fires on the catwalk but observed that firemen were able to put out the fires in five minutes.

Commissioners also heard that while the prison has a specified time when inmates are expected to retire to bed, inmates would always be up and they sleep in a shift system.

“They would always be up; some would be sleeping now, some would be sleeping later on,” the Chief Prison Officer explained. He recalled some of the threats inmates hurled at him.

“You Denhart, we gan kill you!” he remembered clearly.

“They would call you anti-man, tell you bout your family,” he further recalled.

The officer also confirmed that inmates were throwing liquids on officers but none

reached him.

In recounting the events of 3 March, the day of the deadly blaze, the Chief Prison Officer related that before the fire, Officer in Charge (OC) Kevin Pilgrim instructed that the door to Capital A be locked because of improvised weapons inmates were aiming at officers, coupled with their threats.

Denhart explained further that the OC advised that officers wait until the “necessary support” was garnered from other ranks.

Denhart also testified that inmate Collis Collinson had always been “difficult” and has been in and out of prison. Commissioners heard that Collinson was one who would not adhere to instructions.

He also related that Deputy Director of Prisons

Gladwin Samuels was called “killa” and “murder man” by inmates. Denhart also said Samuels is disliked because of his disciplinary nature and opined that his absence is responsible for some of the disorder that persists in the penitentiary.

In his recollection of witnessing the inmates who were burnt, Denhart recalled that he became weak upon witnessing the ghastly scenes. He stated that at that point he sat on the tarmac to regain his composure.

Chief Prison Officer Medex Patricia Anderson in what was at times an emotional testimony, recounted to Commissioners the triage system that was used to treat inmates hurt by the fire. She noted that of the 16 inmates who were injured, 1 had died.

Chief Prison Officer - Medex Patricia Anderson

When attorney representing the prison service Eusi Anderson asked the prison officer to describe what she saw upon entering the Capital A division, the witness broke down several times. The Medex related that she was “looking for survivors”. She saw six or seven persons with their burnt skin piled at the door and the lifeless body of another inmate lying on a bed.

Because of her emotional state, she could not recall whether this or any other

body was headless.

Commissioners asked the witness if she received counselling for the trauma she witness and she responded in the negative. The CoI also heard that the prison doctor whose name was given as “Chandrika” was not at the penitentiary at the time.

However, Anderson posited that her staff present at the time were able to manage the situation as most of those whom they treated survived.

The CoI continues today.

friDAY, april 29, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the world

China passes new laws on foreign Syrian conflict: Aleppo in “catastrophic” state, says UN NGOs amid international criticism

C

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he United Nations says the situation in Syria’s city of Aleppo is catastrophic, after dozens of people were killed in attacks on targets, including a hospital.

Air strikes on and around the Medecins sans Frontieres-backed al-Quds hospital killed at least 27 people, while more than 30 died in other attacks.

UN envoy Jan Egeland said the next days would be vital for the humanitarian aid lifeline for much of Syria.

The violence has left a partial truce hanging by a thread.

UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura warned the cessation of hostilities agreed between non-jihadist

The violence has left a partial truce hanging by a thread

rebels and Government forces on February 27 was now “barely alive”.

Separately, the Syrian Government reported that 150 US troops had arrived in the town of Rmeilan in Syria’s predominantly northern Kurdish province of Hassakeh, denouncing it

as an “illegitimate intervention”.

US President Barack Obama said last week he was deploying 250 troops to Syria to help certain rebel groups fight so-called Islamic State (IS). (Excerpt from

hina has passed new laws on foreign Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) State media said, amid criticism.

The full text was not immediately available, but previous drafts stated that NGOs would have to submit to Police supervision and declare sources of funding.

Critics say the laws amount to a crackdown, but China has argued that such regulation is long overdue.

There are currently more than 7000 foreign NGOs operating in China.

The bill has undergone several drafts after international criticism that it was too onerous. The White House has said the bill will

The new laws could impose Police supervision on foreign Non-Governmental Organisations

“further narrow space for civil society” and constrain US-China exchanges.

Amnesty International said on Thursday that the law was aimed at “further smothering civil society”, and called on China to scrap it.

“The authorities – particularly the Police – will have virtually unchecked powers to target NGOs, restrict their activities, and ultimately stifle civil society,” said William Nee, Amnesty’s China Researcher. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

BBC News)

India planning to publish US election 2016: Former House Speaker sex offenders list Boehner calls Ted Cruz “Lucifer”

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S presidential hopeful Ted Cruz has been called “Lucifer in the flesh” by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, John Boehner.

Boehner, a fellow Republican, has also reportedly said he would not vote for Cruz if he becomes the nominee.

Their rift dates back to

when Cruz led a group of hard-core conservatives to force a Government shutdown in 2013, against his party’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Boehner has described Donald Trump as a “texting buddy”.

He also said they have played golf together for years and he would vote for the billionaire if he were the Republican nominee, the

Stanford Daily reported.

The billionaire is the front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination, ahead of Cruz.

The Texas Senator is seen by many Republicans as the only option to prevent Trump from being the party’s candidate. Others, however, dispute this, saying he is a divisive figure. (Excerpt from BBC News)

I

ndia’s Government is drawing up plans to publish a register of convicted sex offenders, a minister has said.

Junior Minister of Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said “guidelines are under preparation in consultation with various ministries”.

The move comes amid widespread demands for tougher action on sexual violence, more than three years

since the fatal rape of a student in Delhi.

The incident led to protests and the introduction of tough anti-rape laws.

However, brutal sexual attacks against women and children continue to be reported from across the country.

The planned register includes a wide range of details about convicted sex offenders, including names, ad-

dresses, telephone numbers and current photographs.

Relevant crimes range from stalking and voyeurism to rape and aggravated sexual assault. Child offenders will also be included.

“It will instil fear in the minds of repeat sexual offenders and the public would be benefited from it,” another Junior Minister for Home Affairs, Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhury said. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

on for Guatemalans Gene therapy reverses sight Search buried in rubbish dump slide loss and is long-lasting

A

genetic therthey have inherited apy has ima faulty gene. proved the viUntil now there sion of patients who has been no treatwould otherwise have ment and they gradgone blind. ually become blind.

A clinical study The therapy inhas shown that the volves injecting a improvement is longworking copy of the lasting and so the gene into the back therapy is suitable to of their eyes to stop A life transformed: Joe Pepper was slowly going be offered as a treat- blind until a gene therapy reversed his sight loss more cells from dyment. ing.

England Journal of Medicine.

The researchers The researchers A team at Oxford found that not only does the will apply for approval to begin trials to treat more com- University are treating a treatment halt the disease, it mon forms of blindness, such rare disorder called choroi- revives some of the dying cells as macular degeneration, deremia. The disorder affects and improves the patient’s viyoung men whose light-de- sion, in some cases markedly. next year The results have been tecting cells in the backs of (Excerpt from BBC News) published in the New their eyes are dying because

3 Mexican Police Officers , 2 soldiers to stand trial for torture

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he five are accused of torturing a woman who was detained in the southern state of Guerrero last year.

The case gained notoriety when a video showing the officers putting a plastic bag over the woman’s head and pointing a rifle at her head was published on social media earlier this month.

Pressure groups say Mexican security forces “rou-

tinely” use torture.

Officials from Mexico’s Security Ministry said the video was genuine and showed an incident in the town of Ajuchitlan del Progreso on February 4, 2015.

Defence Secretary General Salvador Cienfuegos apologised for the conduct of the security officials It shows a female soldier placing a plastic bag over a handcuffed female suspect’s

head and holding it tight to cut off the suspect’s air supply.

A female Police Officer can be seen pointing a rifle at her head.

“Are you going to talk?” the soldier asks the suspect.

“Have you remembered yet?

Answer me, who is Maria?”

As the suspect almost loses consciousness, the soldier can be heard calling her “an old drama queen”. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

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escue workers in Guatemala City are searching for survivors after part of a huge rubbish dump collapsed on Wednesday following heavy rain.

Four bodies have been found, but dozens of people were pulled out of the rubbish alive. Many are still missing.

Eyewitnesses said they

heard a rumble as part of the rubbish heap slid down a slope.

About 1000 rubbish pickers work at the dump and the authorities say some ignored an evacuation alarm.

Jorge Perez, 23, told Guatemala’s Prensa Libre newspaper he had tried to rescue his brother when the rubbish and earth around them

started to move.

“I was with my brother. The earth opened and was going to swallow us up.

I grabbed my brother by the foot. I held onto his shirt. The rubbish was pressing down on him more and more. Some people were running and fell into the rubbish. “(Excerpt from BBC

News)

Venezuelans start signature drive for recall referendum

V

enezuelans opposed to President Nicolás Maduro have started gathering signatures for a recall referendum.

Under Venezuela’s Constitution, Presidents can be removed from office by means of a referendum once they have served half their term.

At this earliest stage of the process, one per cent of those on the electoral roll must sign the petition to start the process.

Speaking as the signature drive began, Maduro dismissed the move and said he would serve out his full term.

Maduro was sworn into office on April 19, 2013 and

Thousands of people came out onto the streets to sign the petition for a recall referendum

has, therefore, served half of his six-year term.

Thousands of Venezuelans queued to sign the petition in the capital, Caracas. Miriam Leal, 54, told Agence France Presse news agency that she was

signing “to end this anarchy”.

“We don’t have medicine, work, education, and on top of that there is the electricity problem,” she explained.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

friDAY, april 29, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Gold Board Forensic Audit

Heavy rainfall expected over Gossai denies wrongdoing, says next 4 days – Hydromet audit report “misleading” - fmr Natural Resources Minister still silent

F

ormer Secretary to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), Bobby Gossai Jr has described as “misleading” the final report of a Forensic Audit into the operations of the GGB as he denied allegations of any wrongdoing.

Robert Persaud

The 114-page audit report made public on Wednesday covered the period January 2012 to May 2015 and said there was evidence which showed that Gossai forged the signature of the Board Chairman, Dr Gobind Ganga, which allowed the then General Manager to proceed on his remaining annual leave for 2014.

“Acting on information provided to us, we confirmed that the signature of the Board Chairman was lifted from another document.

This is a gross act of forgery that should be pursued by the appropriate authorities,” it stated.

However, Gossai in a statement Thursday denied he fraudulently used the then Chairman’s signature.

“At no given time did the Secretary used, reused (“lifted”), misrepresented or disguised the signature of the former chairperson for any

undertaking in his capacity on the Board, for professional or other benefits,” Gossai stated.

The report also accused Gossai of executing political directives of the former minister, an allegation he vehemently denied, noting that his role has always been professional and legal.

“The Secretary acted in full compliance within the mandate of the Guyana Gold Board Act, the management of the GGB and, where necessary through effective policy guidance from the former Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, which was always related to the Board of Directors by the former Chairperson,” he stated.

He added that all the tasks performed by him were done with full disclosure and consent of the Chairperson of the Board.

The former Policy Adviser in the Natural Resources Ministry also rubbished statements in the report that he was appointed unilaterally by Persaud, contrary to the Guyana Gold Board Act, noting that his appointment as Secretary to the GGB Board was as a result of a Cabinet Decision.

But, the Forensic Auditors have argued that the Secretary should have been recommended by the board and approved by the minister.

Gossai said the directors, during the period under review exercised their duty with “effective professionalism for the development of the organisation.

“Moreover, the Board of Directors of the Guyana Gold Board during the period of January 2012 to May 2015 developed and implemented new and improved mechanism which allowed

for the enhanced management and accountability of the functioning of the organisation,” he reasoned.

He added that during this period, the board and management worked with both local and international partners to improve the overall functionality of the organisation in the areas of human resources development and improved trading and compliance related matters.

Persaud’s silence Meanwhile, Former Minister Persaud is still to respond to the allegations made against him by the auditors.

Bobby Gossai

The forensic auditors said Persaud on several occasions acted contrary to the powers vested in him by the Gold Board Act, which speaks about minister having the power to give directions of a general or special character as to the policy to be followed by the Board, while approving the appointment of, and the remuneration payable to, the General Manager, Secretary and such other officers and other employees.

Among those breaches the auditors highlighted the appointment of Gossai: “In our opinion, the Act does not give the Minister the power to name or nominate the Secretary to the Board and the Minister’s action amounted to a usurpation of the Board’s authority.”

This publication emailed the former Minister on the allegations, but is still to receive a response.

Following the 11 May, 2015 General and Regional Elections Persaud migrated to the United States of America.

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he Public Infrastructure Ministry and the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown are collaborating to clean drains and canals in city areas that are likely to flood.

The Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Agriculture has advised that much rainfall is expected over the next four days.

Rainfall values are expected to exceed 100 millimetres, with the highest intensities to be expected on Saturday and Sunday, the Hydromet Service said in a weather brief.

The Service is urging res-

idents of low-lying areas and areas where there is poor drainage to take precautionary measures to prevent flooding.

Meanwhile, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson said works were currently ongoing in several areas, some of which is completed. “Most of the drains in the Subryanville area were cleaned and cleared, but we have to repair the culverts and that’s ongoing at the moment,” said Minister Patterson.

He reminded that the Ministry and the M&CC started cleaning drains and outfalls in areas that are

flood-prone since last year.

Many of the main canals and sluices in the city and other areas across the country which were neglected were also targeted. “The overall objective obviously is to ensure that the water recedes off the land as quickly as possible,” Minister Patterson explained.

The city’s drainage system can only take off 1.5 inches of rainfall in 24 hours. In recent years, flooding has occurred in the capital city resulting in damage to property, infrastructure and livestock.

Dance teacher killed in Lamaha St accident D ance teacher Nerisa Spencer was on Thursday evening killed in a three-vehicle smash-up on Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

Reports are the 34-yearold woman of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, was walking to church when the accident occurred. The driver of one of the vehicles is critically injured and is a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital. More details of this story will be in Saturday’s edition of the Guyana Times.

One of the vehicles involved in the accident (NCN photo)

Search warrant issued over Prince’ death

Guyana Goldfields Chairman pays courtesy call on President Granger

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ounder and Executive Chairman of Guyana Goldfields Incorporated, Patrick Sheridan on Thursday called on President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency. He was accompanied by the company’s Country Manager, Violet Smith.

During their discussions, Sheridan updated the Head of State on the operations at the Aurora Gold Mine in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven. The company just declared a commercial production of 40,000 ounces for the first quarter of the year.

“We are projected to produce between 130,000 and150, 000 ounces this year,” the Chairman said.

In a brief comment after the meeting, Sheridan said that while they were still

It is unclear what role painkillers played in Prince’s death

A

Founder and Executive Chairman of Guyana Goldfields Incorporated, Patrick Sheridan presents President David Granger with a photograph of the Aurora operations

in the process of optimising operations at Aurora, they are very much engaged in exploration throughout the Cuyuni Region and entering into joint ventures with local miners wherever possible.

Guyana Goldfields was awarded the mining lease by the Government of

Guyana in November 2011.

Total gold production at the Aurora Mine is estimated to be 3.29 million ounces over its 17-year lifetime.

In September last year, President Granger visited the Aurora operations to witness the first gold pour.

search warrant was obtained in relation to the home of Prince shortly after he died, court documents show.

The musician’s Minneapolis home and recording studio, Paisley Park, was searched on April 21, the day he died.

But authorities won a court order on Thursday to keep the warrant sealed, arguing that making it public would hamper their work.

Prescription painkillers were in the singer’s possession following his sudden death, officials tell US media.

But it is unclear what role, if any, those drugs may have played.

Carver County Deputy Sheriff Jason Kamerud said reports that the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) had been called in were not accurate.

A post-mortem last week discounted suicide – but a medical examiner said full results could take several weeks.

Prince, 57, was found dead in a lift on his Paisley Park estate.

There was no sign of trauma on the body, Sheriff Jim Olson said, suggesting the singer had died alone.

There have been suggestions the star was addicted to the painkiller Percocet, which he had been taking since 2009 to relieve hip pain.

His former percussionist, Sheila E, told the news agency Prince had suffered the effects of years of jumping off speakers on stage while wearing high heels.

However, claims of drug dependency have been refuted by the singer’s long-time lawyer, L Londell McMillan. (Excerpt from BBC News)

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, APRIL 29, 2016

Mother and Daughter Pageant T

celebrating 25th anniversary

he Mother and Daughter Pageant is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year as Guyana celebrates its golden jubilee.

This year’s pageant is being held under the theme “25 Flights of Love” and will take place on Saturday, May 7, at the National Cultural Centre (NCC). Tickets are already available at the NCC box office.

The Pageant will feature contestants in the junior, middle and senior categories. It is the only local pageant that brings together mothers and their daughters on one stage in competition.

Pageant Director and Executive Producer, Dr Sulan Fung

believes that this year’s event will be extraordinary. She recalled that when her mother started the pageant, she was just a baby and now she is happy to be the one leading the beauty event.

Dr Fung also announced that this year’s pageant will feature a special 25 years journal which will chronicle the pageant over the past 25 years. Many of the past winners are expected to be at the NCC to support the event as they reflect on their days on the big stage.

Sulan’s mother, Educator, Ingrid Fung, is one of the producers of the show and she is promising a breathtaking event.

Mrs Fung said she is pleased with where the pageant is today

and how much it has grown over the years. She said when the pageant started 25 years ago, no one expected that it would have lasted this long. It began as an idea in the staff room of St Joseph High School and has grown into Guyana’s longest running pageant.

This year’s event will see contestants competing for a number of big prizes, including trips to several overseas destinations. It is also the first time that the event will have a 76-year-old mother gracing the stage in addition to a mother who is visually impaired.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, APRIL 29, 2016

10 Street and Eclipse at the corner of Main and Church Streets, New Amsterdam

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new piz- Lil Rick za joint is expected to open its doors in New Amsterdam today.

10 Street will offer to citizens and visitors to the town ice-cream, burgers sundaes and coffee.

Proprietress, Attorney Naomi Christie told Guyana Times Entertainment that 10 Street will be the first business place in the town to

offer such a wide variety of ice creams and pizzas.

“Many persons have eaten pizza before but with the variety of toppings, 10 Street will be offering, it will bring a whole new experience to pizza.”

Breakfast, snack or lunch, 10 Street plans to cater to all of your cravings.

The complex situated at Main and Church Streets, New Amsterdam, is the newest addition to the Littlerock chain of businesses in the town.

Tonight will also be the first time Eclipse will be opening its doors to the public. A multipurpose facility, it is expected to function as a state-of-the-art night club, with the possibility of be-

ing transforming into a banquet hall or large conference room for other events. These ideas are however still in the infant stages as the new hot spot in the town opens tonight, but only for invitees.

On Saturday night, Lil Rick will be in the house to “hot up de place” and give party lovers the hype that is expected from what will be the largest night club in New Amsterdam.

Best known for his “wuk up” performance, Lil Rick has undisputedly earned himself the infamous title as the ‘Hypa Dawg.’ He is guaranteeing that fans will have non-stop hype from the moment he steps on stage on Saturday night.

Shakti Strings Band

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he Indian Action Committee (IAC) will be holding its annual melas to commemorate the arrival on East Indians in Guyana on Thursday, May 5, at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground, Essequibo; and on Sunday, May 15, at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, Corentyne, Berbice.

Both events, which will feature all-Guyanese artistes, are also part of the organisation’s activities to mark the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s independence.

The Sangeet Rhythms will be the accompanying band in Essequibo while the Shakti Strings Orchestra will feature at the Tain

Beyoncé’s fans loving surprise album “Lemonade”

B M

oray House Trust and Indus Voices present ‘Raag Rang – Colourful Melodies’. This is a musical presentation of different poets from India and Guyana.

The event will be held on May 3, from 18:00h at Moray House, located at 239 Camp and Quamina Streets Georgetown.

Indus Voices, led by Amar Ramessar, is a group

of talented musicians whose aim is to show that music is truly universal and is an effective tool in bridging gaps.

This programme will feature ghazals, qawaalis and other writings inspired by the poetry of Kabir Das, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusro and Rabindranath Tagore.

Indus Voices will launch their second composition from DamraPhagBahar, Holi Songs of Demerara

Campus. Leading dance troupes, singers and other artistes will perform at both melas.

In addition, there will be a variety of games, food and drinks available at both melas. Both events are slated to commence at 17:00h with gates open from 16:00h.

Admission is free and as usual, alcohol will not be allowed.

Currently, the IAC is in the process of organising a symposium to discuss the contributions of East Indian immigrants and their descendants to the achievement of independence. An announcement would be made shortly regarding the dates and venues.

published in 1916 by Lalbihari Sharma. Indus Voices had previously composed SakhiUtiKar. This collection of poems is the oldest known book of poetry by an indentured immigrant in the Caribbean.

The programme will also feature some renditions of Guyanese folk songs.

The public is invited.

Admission is free.

eyoncé cemented her status as the queen of surprise releases on Saturday, releasing a completely new album and videos called “Lemonade” via a widely-anticipated one-hour special on cable network HBO to fan acclaim.

During the show, which ignited social media as fans breathlessly enthused about, and debated, the programme and its content, Beyoncé appeared to address longstanding rumours of trouble in her marriage with rapper Jay Z. After levelling accusations in her song lyrics about being cheated on, Beyoncé made clear in the last tracks of the new album that she has decided to reconcile with him and continue in the marriage.

In a preview earlier this week, the singer teased fans with a snippet promoting the show, mysteriously intoning “The past and

the present merge to meet us here. What are you hiding? Why can’t you see me? You’re the love of my life.”

Fans, who wondered if Saturday’s show was to be a concept video with new music from the R&B star, found out on Saturday that was pretty much the case, with chapters carrying titles that riffed on the grieving process stages such as anger, denial and forgiveness.

Before the end of the programme, which featured a compilation of music videos, vignettes, vintage, home-movie style footage and poetry, Beyoncé, 34, had dropped “Lemonade” onto the Tidal streaming service. The film was also available via Tidal.

Beyoncé’s last album, in 2013, was also marked by a surprise release. She kicks off her new tour this week in Miami. (Excerpt from Reuters)

friDAY, aPRIL 29, 2016

19

Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2016, Mumbai…

Firm Rohit, fiery Pollard gun down 175 A

dropped catch and a botched run-out attempt left Mumbai Indians coach Ricky Ponting a bit sheepish, during a midinnings interview, as he admitted a few things hadn't gone to plan after they chose to bowl in the final match at Wankhede stadium for IPL 2016. The batting, though, couldn't have gone smoother. Rohit Sharma struck his fourth fifty in four chases this season and nothing the Kolkata Knight Riders could do made a difference.

There were six bowling options thatGautum Gambir could use - all of them had played international cricket - to defend a total of 174 which he had helped build with his 29th half-century in the IPL. But his team relies on the spinners to effect a slowdown and drive the batsman into panicking. That was not possible with dew gathering on the outfield, making it quicker, and helping the ball come onto the bat.

Its impact was clear as Rohit and Ambati Rayudu struck 10 boundaries in 34 balls and as Kieron Pollard , playing his 100th IPL match, muscled his way to an unbeaten 17-ball fifty and sealed victory with his sixth six of the night.

Gambhir, though, did not hide behind any ex-

cuses. He said the batsmen should have scored 15 more runs and added that as international cricketers they should know how to deal with dew. It was a case of adapting to a tough situation - as he himself did while batting. A sweet timer of the ball on the off side, bowlers often try to tuck him up to keep him quiet.

two fours.

Mumbai could have dismissed him on 8 but Mitchell McClenaghan fluffed a simple caughtand-bowled chance in the second over. The other Knight Riders opener Robin Uthappa was given a life on 35 when Parthiv Patel missed a run-out . Chris Lynn, who was brought in

Rohit Sharma kept the chase on track with an unbeaten 68 off 49 balls.

So Gambhir opened up his stance, which helped him clear the front foot quicker, allowing a smoother bat swing when he hit through midwicket. Twenty-two of his 59 runs came in that region, including a six and

to lengthen the batting in place of fast bowler Morne Morkel, was dropped on 2

by Tim Southee, and when Yusuf Pathan offered a chance at redemption one ball later, Southee dropped the catch and conceded a

boundary.

No such mistakes plagued Mumbai's batting, with Rohit's timing and Pollard's brute force finishing the game off with 12 balls to spare.

The only thing that went right for the Knight Riders was their catching.

A fine grab from Yusuf at slip got rid of Parthiv in the second over of the chase.

Suryakumar Yadav took a sharp catch at the long-on boundary to bring Rayudu down. Lynn capped things off in the 13th over when he leapt up at long-off to take a catch on the edge of the boundary, popped the ball up before the momentum pushed him out of bounds and came back in to complete the dismissal. Jos Buttler had to walk back for 15 and Mumbai still needed 69 off 42 balls.

In walked Pollard, who had seemed a bit slow in the field perhaps because of the knee injury that kept him out of the World T20. But with bat in hand, he looked very assured. He struck his third ball for four, pelted three sixes in the 16th over - curiously bowled by R Sathish - and bashed three more in the 18th to wrap things up. "Pollard is peaking at the right time," Rohit said at the presentation.

The West Indian had come

into the match with only 71 runs in his last six innings.

While Pollard's contribution is a good sign for Mumbai going forward, tonight's chase was built on Rohit's unbeaten 68. He began with a rip-roaring six over square leg and pushed on with a pristine cover drive. None of his shots

taxed him for effort and yet the ball simply flew away.

His composure was also noteworthy and seeing off tight spells from Shakib Al Hasan (1 for 30) and Sunil Narine (2 for 22) went a long way in handing Knight Riders their second loss of the season. (cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Kolkata Knight Riders innings (20 overs maximum) RV Uthappa†c Pollard b Harbhajan Singh 36 G Gambhir*c Pollard b McClenaghan 59 Shakib Al Hasanc †Patel b HH Pandya 6 SA Yadav c & b Southee 21 AD Russell b Southee 22 CA Lynn not out 10 YK Pathannot out 19 Extras: (lb 1) 1 Total: (5 wickets; 20 overs) 174 Did not bat: R Sathish, UT Yadav, SP Narine, JD Unadkat Fall of wickets: 1-69 (Uthappa, 7.4 ov), 2-77 (Shakib Al Hasan, 8.5 ov), 3-121 (Gambhir, 13.5 ov), 4-130 (SA Yadav, 15.5 ov), 5-145 (Russell, 17.2 ov) Bowling: TG Southee 4 -0 -38 -2, MJ McClenaghan 4 -0 -33 -1, JJ Bumrah 4 -0 -34 -0, Harbhajan Singh 4 -0 -32 -1, HH Pandya 2 -0 -15 -1, KH Pandya 2 -0 -21 -0

Mumbai Indians innings (target: 175 runs from 20 overs) RG Sharma* not out 68 PA Patel† c Pathan b UT Yadav 1 AT Rayudu c SA Yadav b Shakib Al Hasan 32 KH Pandya b Narine 6 JC Buttler c Lynn b Narine 15 KA Pollard not out 51 Extras: (w 5) 5 Total (4 wickets: 18 overs 178 Did not: batHH Pandya, Harbhajan Singh, JJ Bumrah, TG Southee, MJ McClenaghan Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Patel, 1.1 ov), 2-67 (Rayudu, 6.5 ov), 3-78 (KH Pandya, 8.6 ov), 4-106 (Buttler, 12.6 ov) Bowling: JD Unadkat 3 -0 -49 -0 , UT Yadav 2 -0 19 -1 , Shakib Al Hasan 4 -0 -30 -1 , SP Narine 4 -0 -22 -2, R Sathish 2 -0 -30 -0 , AD Russell 3 -0 28 -0

Villarreal beat Liverpool Warriors end in Europa League as Rockets’ season in Adrian Lopez strikes late resounding fashion

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iverpool's ambitions of reaching their first European final in almost a decade suffered a blow as Villarreal netted an injury-time winner in the first leg.

After a first half of few chances, Cedric Bakambu's header clipped the Reds upright shortly after the break.

Liverpool went closest when Roberto Firmino's low shot hit the post.

The Reds looked set for a creditable draw in Spain until they switched off to allow substitute Adrian Lopez to tap in Denis Suarez's low cross.

Despite the dramatic winner, the Europa League semi-final still remains del-

T

Liverpool will need at least three goals if Villarreal score at Anfield

icately poised before next Thursday's return leg at Anfield.

The winners will face either Spanish holders Sevilla

or Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, who drew 2-2 in their first leg, in the Swiss city of Basel on 18 May. (BBC Sport)

he Golden State Warriors put the finishing touches on their series against the Houston Rockets with a 114-81 win in Game 5 on Wednesday night. Despite being without Stephen Curry, Golden State had little trouble closing out the series, 4-1, to advance to the conference semifinals.

The Rockets came out in Game 5 looking like a team ready to get on with the offseason already.

Other than James Harden, who scored a game-high 35 points on 12-of-23 shooting, this was an embarrassing effort by Houston in a seriesdeciding game. The team

shot just 32 percent from the field, which was seemingly symptomatic of a team that knew it was overmatched.

The Warriors went up 37-20 after the first quarter Wednesday, then extended their lead to 22 points entering halftime. Houston came out of the break with five unanswered points to cut the lead to 17, but that was more or less the last sign of life from the team this season.

Klay Thompson led Golden State with 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting in 29 minutes. Draymond Green also filled the box score with 15 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

The team will face the winner of the Clippers-Blazers series in the next round.

Meanwhile, Trail Blazers took a commanding 3-2 lead in their series against an injury hit Clippers team.

Portland’s C.J McCollum led all scorers with 27 points on 9-18 FG shooting. Top scorer for the Clippers was J.J Redick with 17 Points.

Charlotte Hornets also took a 3-2 series lead on the Miami Heat behind Courtney Lee’s late game clutch 3-pointer. Marvin Williams was the leading scorer for Charlotte with 17 points while Miami’s Dwyane Wade led all scorers with 25 points. (SBNation.com)

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guyana-times.com

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

Powell ready for international recall L

Lewis Hamilton says he can't fall further behind Nico Rosberg

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nigmatic opener Kieran Powell has once again made himself available for West Indies duty and hopes he can force his way back into the Caribbean side.

The 26-year-old returned from a mysterious self-imposed break from the regional game last month, playing two games for Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the just concluded Regional first class championship.

During his time away, Powell flirted with baseball, undergoing a couple of trials for Major League Baseball franchises.

And while noting he had not completely given up on baseball, he stressed cricket would be his immediate focus.

“Obviously cricket has always been my first love.

It’s something that comes naturally to me and I’m really good at it,” said Powell.

“That’s why I’m back playing first-class cricket.

I’m fully ready whenever they (West Indies) need me.

[West Indies head coach] Phil Simmons wanted me to play the games to make myself eligible for selection. I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain.”

Prior to disappearing from the spotlight, Powell was viewed as one of the brightest batting prospects in the Caribbean.

The left-hander had captained West Indies A and the Hurricanes, and was solidifying himself as a credi-

ble option as a reliable Test opener. He has played 21 Tests, scoring 1072 runs with three centuries – two of these coming in the same Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka four years ago.

Powell’s last Test was two years ago when New Zealand toured the Caribbean and he now believes he has a good chance of competing for an opening slot in the side.

“I saw that [selector] Courtney Browne had mentioned my name in an in-

Powell announced his return emphatically, stroking a hasty 55 off 54 balls in the Hurricanes first innings of 430 against repeat champions Guyana Jaguars.

The match was his first first-class game in a year and his first on Caribbean soil in two years, and he admitted it took some getting used to.

“It’s sort of like taking a shark out of water and then setting it back in. You need to learn to swim again.”

West Indies have a busy

Kieran Powell

terview saying something about opening batsmen and positions being available,” Powell said.

“I think my return has already opened the minds of the selectors to my possible return to international cricket.”

He added: “They know my number, they know my email address so they can get in contact with me. I’m willing to open dialogue and see where it goes.”

upcoming schedule, hosting the one-day Tri-Nations Series involving Australia and South Africa in June, and a four-match Test series against India beginning in July.

The Caribbean side will also take on Pakistan in two Tests, five One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals in the United Arab Emirates starting in October. (CMC)

Williamson confirmed as New Zealand Test captain

K

ane Williamson has officially been confirmed as New Zealand's captain in all three formats, and later this year is set to become the 29th man to lead the country in Test cricket.

Williamson was in charge at the World Twenty20 in India earlier this year and has led New Zealand in 36 matches across ODI and T20 cricket. His appointment as Test captain was a mere formality after the retirement of Brendon McCullum in February, and at a press conference in Auckland on Thursday it was confirmed that he would lead New Zealand in all three forms.

"Kane has been a leader within the team for a long time now and already shown himself to be an extremely capable captain," David White, the New Zealand Cricket CEO, said. "He's respected by his peers and the wider cricket community for his professional approach both on and off the field, and has a superb cricket brain.

"His drive to see the team succeed and his passion for the game are what you look for in a leader. He's

ready for the role and will only continue to grow."

New Zealand's next international tour is to Africa in July-August, when they are set to play Tests in both Zimbabwe and South Africa.

At 25, Williamson is expected to become the thirdyoungest man to captain

ber of experienced players around me for support and will certainly look to utilise this. We're all striving for the same thing and that's to represent New Zealand with pride and win cricket games."

"I've certainly learnt a lot from Brendon, as has ev-

ewis Hamilton says he must beat Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg at this weekend's Russian Grand Prix to kickstart his title defence.

Rosberg has won the first three races of the season to build a commanding 36-point lead in the championship.

Hamilton said: "Of course there is an urgency. I can't really afford to fall any further back than that.

"Who knows how the weekend will go? It could be as bad as in the past but I'm hoping it will be positive."

Hamilton has finished second, third and seventh in the races so far.

Bad starts took him out of the reckoning for victory in the first two races in Australia and Bahrain and then in China technical trouble left him at the back of the grid, from where he was involved in a crash at the first corner.

Formula 1 has introduced new rules this season that gives the drivers more

Lewis Hamilton (left) and Nico Rosberg

control at starts, reducing the technical assistance they get from the car.

And Hamilton said he had been encouraged before Sunday's race in Sochi by the fact he had made a good start in Shanghai from his position at the back of the grid.

"I made the best start," he said. "At the end of the weekend the team analyse the starts and I had the best of everyone, they told me.

"This is a circuit where you need that because I

think it is one of the longest runs to Turn One and it is easy to get drafted so a good start would help."

Rosberg, who has won won six grands prix in a row dating back to last October in Mexico, said he was expecting a fightback from Hamilton over the remaining 18 races.

"I'm pleased with the way I'm driving," he said.

"For me it's not six straight, it's three, because I only count from the start of this season. (BBC Sport)

Torres eyes career pinnacle with Champions League triumph

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ernando Torres says winning the Champions League with Atletico Madrid would be the pinnacle of his career.

Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres is dreaming of a Champions League medal with his boyhood team that he says would represent the biggest achievement of his career.

Torres is enjoying his most prolific season in the league since the 201011 season, when he left Liverpool for Chelsea in a £50million move.

Diego Simeone's side moved a step closer to European glory with Wednesday's 1-0 semi-final first-leg win over Bayern Munich.

And 32 year-old told Radio Marca: "Winning the Champions League is the

Fernando Torres

only thing left for me to live here. Nothing would be comparable, not even the league.

"Bayern is still the favourite, but we are ready to compete against anyone."

Atletico lost the final two years to city rivals Real Madrid when Torres was coming towards the end of

his Chelsea career.

When asked about that final, he added: "I know nothing of what happened two years ago. I'd rather not talk about it because I was not part of it.

"If you want to know more, you better call Saul." (Sportsmax)

Du Plessis out of IPL R Williamson will captain across all three formats

New Zealand in Test cricket, behind Stephen Fleming and John Parker.

"It's certainly an honour.

I've really enjoyed my time spent as captain and believe this team can achieve a lot," Williamson, who is currently in India for the IPL, said.

"I'm lucky to have a num-

eryone who has played with him. The culture that he and Mike [Hesson, the coach] have cultivated has been a huge part of this team's success in recent times. We not only have good players, but good people too and that certainly makes any captain's job easier." (Cricinfo)

ising Pune Supergiants batsman Faf du Plessis has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL with a broken finger. Du Plessis tweeted the news on Thursday.

Du Plessis is Supergiants' second-highest run-scorer with 206 runs at an average of 34.33 in six matches. He scored consecutive fifties against Gujarat Lions and Kings XI Punjab, both of which came in losing causes.

This is the second injury blow for the franchise, in their debut season, after England batsman Kevin Pietersen was ruled out earlier this week with a calf is-

sue.

If the injury does keep du Plessis out of action for six weeks, as he tweeted, that also makes him doubtful for

the start of South Africa’s tri-series in the West Indies, which starts on June 3 and also includes the hosts and Australia. (cricinfo)

It is not the business of the Commission ...

continued from 23

the year before their calendar of activities for the following year and that way, we are able to ask the Ministry of Finance for sufficient funding to offset those activities they are having,” the Commission head explained.

Jones revealed, “This club is new to us, the Athletics Association

President would have indicated to me that just a week or two before when the club actually registered with the Athletics Association and if one looks at that, it is actually a registration of convenience, but, nevertheless, the Sport Commission came on board and were willing to sponsor two of the athletes.”

21

sports

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Safarova to meet Pliskova in all-Czech Prague semi-final

S

traight-set victories for Lucie Safarova and Karolina Pliskova ensured at least one Czech will reach the final of the Prague Open.

Lucie Safarova will meet Karolina Pliskova in an all-Czech semi-final at the Prague Open after beating Hsieh Su-wei 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 Safarova had not tasted victory this season before returning to home soil for this event, but picked up her third of the competition by overcoming her opponent from Taiwan.

The world number 16 failed to serve out the set at 5-4 as Hsieh forced a tie-break, but the Czech stormed into a 6-2 lead before taking set point at the second time of asking.

After a late rain delay, Safarova returned without a loss of momentum and completed a deserved triumph by breaking her oppo-

Lucie Safarova

nent.

Pliskova came out on top in her previous encounter with Safarova in Stuttgart last week and she booked her place in the last four in far more routine manner, the defending champion taking just 51 minutes to see off Camila Giorgi 6-2 6-1.

Top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova lost the first set to Monica Puig but fought

back brilliantly to come out on top in a tightly contested match.

The Russian had to slog it out for two hours and 18 minutes in order to complete a 4-6 7-5 6-4 triumph.

Kuznetsova's semi-final opponent will be Samantha Stosur, who took even longer – just under three hours – to beat Barbora Strycova 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4). (Sportsmax)

Champions Sevilla on course for Europa League history

H

olders Sevilla came from behind to earn a draw against Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final in Lviv.

Sevilla, winners of the tournament in 2014 and 2015, led early on through Vitolo's close-range strike.

Marlos equalised with a composed finish from 18 yards before Taras Stepanenko headed the Ukrainian side in front before half-time.

But Kevin Gameiro's late penalty earned the Spaniards a draw.

The French attacker showed no signs of nerves, converting confidently from the spot after Facundo Ferreyra fouled Vitolo just inside the area.

The result leaves Sevilla on course for a third consecutive Europa League success, with the two away goals making them firm favourites to advance to the final in Basel.

No team has won three consecutive European ti-

Kevin Gameiro’s late penalty earned the Spaniards a draw and a chance to create history

tles since Bayern Munich achieved the feat 40 years ago, and if Unai Emery's side progress from next Thursday's second leg in Spain, only Liverpool or Villarreal stand between them and a piece of history.

Sevilla have not won away from home all season in this competition and have managed just one victory on

their travels in La Liga, so a draw in Lviv represents a fine achievement.

But their home form is excellent - they have won 14 of 18 league games at their Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium - meaning their bid to become the first team to win the Europa League three times in a row remains very much alive.(BBC Sport)

Jayasuriya back to lead selection panel S

ri Lanka Cricket has confirmed the return of Sanath Jayasuriya as chief selector, little more than a year since he stepped down from the role. The board had expressed a desire to reinstall Jayasuriya as chief selector for several weeks but was awaiting the sports minister's approval, which it has now received. The new selection panel takes office on May 1 and will serve for two years.

The other members of the four-person panel are former wicketkeeper-batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana, who was once Jayasuriya's opening partner; former fast bowler Eric Upashantha, who has worked in a Jayasuriya-led committee in the past; and former offspin-

ner Ranjith Madurasinghe, who is a member of the present selection committee under Aravinda de Silva.

Jayasuriya had also joined de Silva's panel in the weeks preceding his appointment "in order to provide continuity", in SLC secretary Mohan de Silva's words.

The Test squad to England is likely to be selected by the de Silva-led committee, as the team is due to depart on May 4.

However, Jayasuriya's panel is set to take over in time for when the limited-overs squads for the tour are named.

Jayasuriya previously held the post from January 2013 to March 2015 and developed a reputation for being a hands-on selector, as he was often seen around

the team during tours and training sessions. During that period, Sri Lanka won a World T20 and a Test series in England, both in 2014, before exiting the 2015 World Cup in the quarterfinals. It was Jayasuriya's committee that formalised Angelo Mathews' ascension to the Test and ODI captaincy. However, the period was also beset by public disagreements between Jayasuriya and senior players, who have now retired.

Beyond the trip to England, Sri Lanka have other major series on their horizon in the coming year.

They are scheduled to host Australia in July and August, before departing for a full tour of South Africa in December. (Cricinfo)

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

GFF/Stag Elite League Finale…

GSL/Golyn & Sons 10/10 Softball...

Top-of-table battle Amazon Warriors on tonight at GDF shock Vipers XI – leaders Slingerz FC and Fruta Conquerors to face-off

T

op-of-the-table team, Slingerz FC will be looking to keep their unbeaten run going as they battle Fruta Conquerors at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Ground.

Slingerz FC currently sit on 31 points and are undefeated in 11 League games in this, the Finale stage of the Stag Elite League. Second-place Fruta

Jahall Greaves

Conquerors are keen to put an end to this impressive streak as they themselves seek their 10th win of the season. Conquerors are currently enjoying a good run of form after winning six consecutive matches and sit just three points behind Slingerz FC. Top scorers for Fruta Conquerors, Jahall Greaves and Hubert Pedro, with seven goals each, will be eager

to get their names on the score sheet against the team with the best defensive record in the League.

In the lone encounter between the two teams in this half of the campaign, Slingerz FC came out the victors with a 2-0 domination.

Winners of the Genesis Half of the Stag Elite League, Slingerz FC, will

Delon Lanferman

Trayon Bobb

tory tonight will set the cat among the pigeons as the league stage winds down.

GDF FC, a side suffering three successive defeats, will be aiming to turn their recent struggles around as they come up against an inconsistent Alpha United unit. Top scorers for Alpha United are veteran striker Anthony “Awo” Abrams and national striker Delon Lanferman, with eight goals each.

For GDF FC, Olvis Mitchell A D P has five goals so 6 +21 31 far and will be 13 +16 28 aiming to help 10 +17 21 the soldiers to 15 -2 16 victory and two points to move to 22 -5 14 14 points.

15 -7 8 Action kicks 25 -17 6 off at 18:00h.

be hoping history repeats itself, as they look to push forward and separate themselves from the rest of the pack with just three League games remaining.

However, Fruta Conquerors will be looking to take advantage of their current momentum after storming back from a one-goal deficit against Monedderlust on Tuesday evening to secure a 2-1 vic-

Elite League Table # Team 1. Slingers FC 2. Fruta Conquerors 3. Alpha United 4. Pele 5. GDF FC 6. Buxton United 7. Monedderlust 8. GFC

tory. A victory against Slingerz FC will see them level on points and will set up an exciting race to the finish.

In the first game of the double header tonight, Alpha United will come up against GDF FC, with both teams battling to finish in the top four. The army men trail fourth-place Pele FC by just two points and vic-

MP 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

W 10 9 6 5 4 2 1 0

D 1 1 3 1 2 2 3 1

L 0 1 2 5 5 7 7 10

F 27 29 27 13 17 8 8 8 31

-23

1

T

he latest round in the Golyn & Sons 10/10 softball cricket tournament saw some scintillating cricket and some shocking results.

The tournament, organised by the Guyana Softball Cricket League (GSL), continued last weekend at the Leonora Ground, West Coast Demerara, and saw arguably the biggest upset of the tournament when Amazon Warriors whipped Vipers XI by five wickets.

Labelled as underdogs before the match, Amazon Warriors XI bowled out the overconfident Vipers XI for 89 in 9.2 overs. Riaz Mohamed’s three wickets for nine runs from 1.2 overs and Sham Singh’s 3-23 from 2 overs destroyed the Vipers who decided to bat first.

In reply, Amazon Warriors XI started very circumspectly and allowed the required run rate to climb rapidly, but with the fall of the first wicket, Feroze Rohoman played some big shots to all parts of the ground to top score with 46 (7x6s) off just 17 balls to put the run chase back on track.

The middle order was stabilised with a responsible knock from skipper Imran Hack (13 not out) who took his team to 90-5 in 10 overs and the upset win.

Bowling for Vipers XI, Arif Hussain (2-14 from 2 overs) tried his best to limit the opposition, but it was the rest of the bowlers who let them down.

Speedboat SC defeat West Coast Blazers

Speedboat SC defeated West Coast Blazers XI by four wickets in a high-scoring affair.

West Coast Blazers won the toss and batted first, scoring a challenging 1058 in 9 overs, with Richard Burnette scoring a brisk 48 (1x4;7x6s) off 20 balls to take the fight to Speedboat SC. Kishore Smith took 2-8 and Imran Hamid 2-11 off their two overs and were the best bowlers.

In their reply, Speedboat SC were struggling somewhat until Wazir Hussain entered the fray and clobbered 55 not out (1x4;8x6s) off 17 balls to achieve victory for his team. Sri Krishna Murti took 2-24 off 2 overs.

with 5 sixes and 3 fours while featuring in an unbroken partnership of 86 with Quincy Jones, who scored 46 not out (6x6s) to ensure an easy victory for Omesh XI.

Omesh XI subdue Crossbreed Warriors

The final match saw Ruimzeight XI returning to their winning ways by defeating Mighty Lions by six wickets. Mighty Lions XI batted first and scored 92-2 in 10 overs, with Skipper Manoj Persaud continuing his rich form with 46 (5x6s)

Omesh XI pounded Crossbreed Warriors into submission by eight wickets.

Crossbreed Warriors took first strike and rattled up a challenging 107 all out in 10 overs, with Mark Grant look-

Ruimzeight XI defeat Mighty Lions

Travis Drakes on the attack during his 47 not out against Crossbreed Warriors

ing in good touch and being the only one to offer some resistance with 20 (2x4s;1x6) off 7 balls. He was going at a good run rate, but seemed to lose concentration and was caught on the long off boundary going for another big shot. Travis Drakes was the chief destroyer with the ball, bagging 4-12 from his 2 overs. He was supported by Avinash Persaud with 2-20 from 2 overs.

When Omesh XI began the run chase, they were in early trouble, but Drakes capped a good day at the office with a solid knock with the bat. His solid and positive stroke-play saw him ending on 47 not out laced

off 30 balls to anchor the innings.

Ruimzeight XI replied with 97-4 in 9 overs to clinch victory. Chaitram Nauth clobbered 40 not out (4x4s; 3x6s) off 23 balls and with support from Indar Dhukie (20 – 1x4; 1x6) saw his team through.

The tournament, which is co-sponsored by Trophy Stall and Miss Love Trading, has so far left spectators with renewed interest in softball cricket in the West Demerara area.

The upper East Coast zone is scheduled to begin next week with a series of matches slated.

Schoolboys’ Tape Ball Competition bowls off this weekend

T

he Georgetown Tape Ball Cricket Academy will stage three days of schoolboys’ cricket over the Labour Day weekend. The event will form part of its Golden Jubilee celebration activities and will begin on Saturday at 09:00h at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.

The Tape Ball Competition is open to all school teams with free entrance; however, teams are encouraged to contact the organisers Colin

Jacobs on 613-0844 and

Dereck Young on 6665857.

The competition continues on Sunday, May 1 and will conclude on Monday, May 2 with semi-final matches and the grand final.

Sponsors for the threeday extravaganza include P&P Insurance Brokers Ltd, Goodwood Racing Service, E-Networks and the Trophy Stall.

Trophies and medals will be awarded to the winning team and other top performers.

Jones clears air on Penn Relays team:

“It is not the business of the Commission to sponsor an entire trip for athletes’’

By Akeem Greene

D

irector of Sport, Christopher Jones has addressed the current controversy concerning the 18-member school relay team that jetted off these shores on Wednesday to attend the Penn Relays championships in the United States.

It was reported by team manager Keisha Burnette, who travelled with the squad, that the team received no support from the Government of Guyana, but rather from a Jamaica alumni association in the United States, through former Guyanese runner Tanya Barry.

In an exclusive interview with the Guyana Times Sport on Thursday, Jones lamented the untimely manner in which the group approached the National Sports Commission (NSC) for support.

“The group actually came to me on the 1st April; that was my first meet and encounter with them and that’s when they shared with me that they have been invited to participate in the

Penn relays,” Jones said.

He added, “The letter of invitation they presented to me was not addressed to the club, but rather to someone by the name of Tanya Burnette; they would have indicated to me that they would have need to raise some G$4.2 million to attend this meet and when the question was asked how much they would have been able to garner thus far, zero dollars was the response.”

On this note, the Director emphatically stated that “it is not the business of the Sports Commission to sponsor an entire trip for athletes because these are not athletes that come from the national pool in terms of the athletics association”.

Guyana Times Sport was made to understand that the club which comprises students from the Fort Wellington Secondary School, West Coast Berbice, was scheduled to have an appointment at the US Embassy on April 6; however, it was indicated to the Director that all 18 of the persons have no cash to pay for the visit at the US Embassy.

Jones vented that it was foolhardy to expect anyone to fund someone going into an embassy to obtain a visa since “we have absolutely no control over that procedure, so I encourage them to get the visa and once they do, they can come back to the Sports Commission and that is when we would let them know in terms of what assistance can be had from us”.

The Director went on to say, “They returned to me only last week Thursday [21st April] and indicated that 18 of them would have received their US visa and that’s when I indicated to them we would be able to sponsor two of the athletes going abroad.”

Jones explained that indeed the Commission has athletes’ best interest in mind and is willing to provide finances for them to travel overseas, but the process of seeking assistance needed to be done in a timely manner.

“Currently, the policy that obtains and this is what all of the Associations are aware of, they have to submit to the National Sports Commission Turn to page 20

GFA/Stag Premier League

F

second win from 10 matches thanks to successful strikes from Orlando Ricketts in the 38th minute followed by Matthew Nedd (52nd) and Dwayne Layne in the 85th minute.

The defeat means that Beacon occupy the cellar position, having lost eight of their 10 matches to date while winning one and

Rampaul finds form in Surrey draw

R

esurgent West Indies seamer Ravi Rampaul finished with a sixwicket match haul as Surrey drew with Somerset in the County Championship on Wednesday.

The right-armer took a single wicket in Somerset’s second innings of 122 for four to add to his five wickets in the first innings, taking his tally in two games this season to 14.

Somerset were bowled out for 353 at the close on Tuesday and Surrey, starting their second innings on

Wednesday, declared on 181 for eight.

Sri Lankan star Kumar Sangakkara followed up his first innings 171 with a top score of 71.

Set 292 for victory, Somerset were rocked early when Rampaul removed opener Tom Abell in the second over without a run on the board.

Left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari then took three more wickets as Somerset stumbled to 62 for four but James Hildreth (40 not out) and Peter Trego (34 not out) put on 60 for the fifth wicket to prop up the innings and stave off a shock defeat.

The 31-yearold Rampaul, who played the last of his 18 Tests four years ago, has signed a two-year deal with Surrey. (windiescricket)

aynauth Jeffrey of Team Coco’s won the sixth round of the Tradewinds Circuit Races in Florida, USA on Wednesday as Team Coco’s continue their domination in South Florida.

His teammate Jaime Ramirez, who was his breakaway companion, placed second, with former Florida State champion and current pro rider on the Astellas Pro Cycling team, Jake Silverberg rounding off the podium. Hamza Eastman

Raynauth Jeffrey (file photo)

Part of the action at the races in Florida

and Stephano Husbands were fourth and fifth respectively.

Cycling fans were once again treated to a magnificent display of team riding as Coco’s took control of the race from the drop of the flag.

Jeffrey started the proceedings by attacking from the beginning, followed by a constant series of counterattacks from Husbands, Jamal John, Eastman and Ramirez.

It was as early as the fourth lap into the race that

Ramirez and Jeffrey separated themselves from the pack and were never caught.

The other Coco’s rider, John, finished in the peloton, capping off another successful day for the team, while Guyanese master cyclist James Joseph had a sterling performance to finish in the pack as well.

The other riders making the top ten were: Jonet Hernandez, Jean-Luc Contant, Mateo Sanchez, Oscar Florea and Mariusz Baran.

Georgetown Football Association Stag Premier League Points Standings

Flamingo trounce hapless Beacon 3-0

lamingo FC produced a complete performance to further push Beacon to the bottom of the table when they won 3-0 on Wednesday in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Stag Premier League at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Bourda.

Flamingo secured their

23 Jeffrey breezes to victory in Tradewinds Circuit Race R guyana-times.com

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

drawing the other.

In the other match, table-toppers Western Tigers were held by Police one-all in their exciting drawn encounter.

Western Tigers, before this match, would have won seven matches of their nine and looked to add one more win under their belt, but a goal by Leron Charles in

Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts Western Tigers 10 7 1 2 26 8 +18 23 Police 10 5 3 2 17 10 +7 17 Santos FC 9 5 2 2 13 11 +2 17 10 +7 15 Riddim Squad 9 4 2 3 17 Camptown 9 4 3 2 12 15 -3 14 Flamingo 10 2 6 2 14 21 -7 10 Northern Rangers 9 2 6 1 8 15 -7 7 Beacons 10 1 8 1 12 30 -18 4 the dying minutes prevented what looked to be certain victory.

Charles’ goal came in the 93rd minute to rescue

his side from the jaws of a fourth defeat in the League.

The Tigers’ goal came in the first half from a cheeky shot on goal by Devon Forde

in the 43rd minute.

The West Ruimveldtbased team lead the points standings trailed by Police.

friDAY, APRIL 29, 2016

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

GFF/Stag Elite League Finale…

Top-of-table battle on tonight at GDF – leaders Slingerz FC and Fruta Conquerors to face-off

Pg 22

Fruta Conquerors’ Eon Alleyne in a fierce battle against Slingerz FC’s Murilo Barbosa in a previous encounter between the two teams

Firm Rohit, fiery Pollard gun down 175

Jones clears air on Penn Relays team:

Pg 19

Kieron Pollard pummelled 51 off 17, including two fours and six mighty sixes, to see his side home with two overs to spare.

“It is not the business of the Commission to sponsor an entire trip for athletes’’

Christopher Jones

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