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Department of Tourism to host Guyana Coconut Festival P11 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2955

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, August 22, 2016

PRICE

Ministers in Parliament undermine accountability – US report Page 3

… MPs forced to “toe the party line”, not answerable to voters

2 bandits shot dead in separate robberies

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyanese stepmom charged P12 with strangling death of 9-year-old Queens girl

Pages 2 & 10

Adamantium named top gold producer

Shears-toting bandits nabbed after robbing P2 couple

...as miners, GGMC face off ahead of week-long festivities Govt not interested in constitutional P7 reform – Nandlall … says abandoned Parliamentary Standing Committee is proof

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman along with the top awardees at a simple ceremony held at the Guyana Pegasus Hotel on Sunday evening (Photo:Marceano Narine)

Sinking economy

Ali scolds Jordan over “fairy-tale” excuses Page 9

All public places will have Internet access – President

Page 9

GLDA to P11 expand poultry production in hinterland areas

2 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Bandit shot by accomplice after Shears-toting bandits robbing Berbice family nabbed after robbing couple

The bandits gained entry to the premises by climbing onto a shed and forcing their way through a bedroom window

A

bandit was accidently shot and killed by his accomplice while making their escape after robbing an East Bank Berbice family during the wee hours of Sunday.

The dead bandit has been identified as Odan Lallbeharry called “Stew”, 45, of New Forest, East Canje, Berbice.

According to reports, “Stew” was among five armed men who invaded and robbed the Edinburg Village home of shop owner Nankumar Datt and it was while they were escaping that he was shot and left behind by his accomplices.

“During (the robbery) one of the suspects received gunshot injuries in the process of exiting the premises and was later pronounced dead on arrival at the New Amsterdam Hospital,” a Police report said.

According to the Police,

the incident occurred sometime around 01:30h.

Datt’s eldest daughter, Kelly, related the ordeal to Guyana Times on Sunday when she explained that she was awoken by the sound of persons walking on the zinc shed attached to their two-storey house and shortly after her father shouted that bandits were coming, they should run.

“But when he shouts that, the bandits hear and so they hurry and break the window to my sister’s room and come in the house. She was trying to open the room door to get out but she was having a hard time so they catch and start beating her,” the traumatised Kelly related.

The 21-year-old said that she was then confronted by two men and tried to prevent them from getting to her father, who escaped to seek help. Their mother was in hiding at the time.

She said that the men be-

gan shouting for her father by his call-name “Ball Head” and after they were unable to locate him, they began beating her and her 19-year-old sister.

At time there were five men in total, all of whom were masked, she stated.

“They beat us bad… they were hitting us with a cutlass; then they told us to put on the lights, and asked for money,” the young woman recalled.

She went on to say that three of them remained upstairs with her sister while two of them forced her downstairs into the shop, where she handed over some money, while they picked up a quantity of phone cards.

“They bring down my sister and continue to beat her and after some time took us back upstairs and asked for more money. So I tell them they have to search the place but then my mother came out and give them the mon-

ey ($100,000) because they start beating me and my sister again,” she recounted.

Kelly further told this newspaper that the men also took away her mother’s gold bracelet and some artificial jewellery that she and her sister were wearing, before escaping.

“They told us not to move from the upstairs so they stay right there and then we hear two gunshots in the downstairs and we get scared because we thought was my father get shoot,” she stated.

The young woman said that they remained upstairs for a few minutes until they heard noises from neighbours and came downstairs. She noted that when they came down and got outside, they saw a man lying outside on the bridge, while her father was with the neighbours who were gathering around. The Police then arrived at the scene.

In a subsequent statement, the Police said that they arrived on the scene at about 02:00, and found the injured bandit on the businessman’s bridge, clad in dark clothing and a pair of construction gloves.

The Police added that the suspect was taken to the hospital for treatment but succumbed to his injuries.

Police say they managed to extract some vital information from the bandit before he succumbed.

That information led to the arrest of two individuals who are currently in custody assisting with the investigations.

R

anks of the Guyana Police Force have arrested two suspects who alleged attacked and robbed a young man and woman at Cummings Lodge, East Coat Demerara.

According to Police reports, the incident occurred sometime around 00:30h at the University of Guyana Access Public Road, during which the victims were relieved of a cellular phone valued $60,000 and $20,000 in cash.

It was reported that Anthony Dharamraj, 20, and Anisa Issehani, 18, both of Cummings Lodge, were walking on the UG

Access Road when they were attacked by two men, one of whom was armed with a pair of shears.

The perpetrators dealt the victims several lashes about their bodies before robbing them of their cell phone and the cash.

The matter was reported to the Police and swift action led to the arrest of the two men. Searches conducted on the suspects found the stolen items in their possession as well as the shears used during the crime.

Meanwhile, the victims were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were treated and sent away.

Man arrested with shotguns, ammo

P

olice in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) have arrested a man who was found in possession of three shotguns and over 100 cartridges.

According to Police Public Relations Officer Jairam Ramlakhan, the discovery was made sometime around 03:00h on Saturday.

He noted that the Police, acting on information, went to Karasabai, located sixty miles from Lethem, and apprehended a male who was in possession of a bag. A search conducted on the man’s belongings unearthed the three shotguns along with 178 cartridges.

The man was taken into custody and is assisting with investigations.

3 Ministers in Parliament undermine accountability – US report NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, August 22 –08:30h-10:00h and Tuesday, August 23 –08:30h-10:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, August 22 – 07:00h-08:30h and Tuesday, August 23 –07:50h-09:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Sunny conditions interrupted by heavy rain showers in the late morning and early afternoon hours, while clear skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 07:11h and 19:32 reaching maximum heights of 2.77 metres and 2.73 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 13:05h reaching a minimum height of 0.50 metre.

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… MPs forced to “toe the party line”, not answerable to voters

T

he presence of Ministers in the National Assembly can serve to undermine established checks and balances; Members of Parliament (MPs) are not answerable to the voters and must ‘tow the party line’.

The blistering findings are contained in a report funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance in Guyana.

The report which was recently completed for review

by USAID or the United States Government has found too that in Guyana’s politics and affairs, “the National Assembly itself does not play an effective oversight role.” The report also highlighted that there is now evident fractures in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) government.

The Tetra Tech ARD group contracted to prepare the report, found that since MPs are “answerable to their parties and not to voters, given the use of party lists for elections, MPs toe the party line.”

The report pointed to the fact that in Guyana’s political system, Ministers of Government are also required to be MPs, “further

reducing the separation of powers and undermining checks and balances…Thus, the Assembly is often referred to as a rubber stamp.”

Pointing to the deep-seated political divisions that exists on the local landscape, the USAID report said, “an effective opposition veto of government legislation as well as the president’s non-assent to opposition-initiated legislation during the 2011–2014 Assembly created a political impasse that was not surmountable through negotiations and compromise, and which was what led to the early dissolution of the Assembly and elections in 2015.”

The report has documented that now the coalition has a one-seat majority in the Assembly, the opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is claiming that the government is flouting parliamentary rules.

It points to the introduction of legislation by Government and voting in the same session, making it impossible for the Opposition to review the bill and to have a meaningful debate.

Fractures

The report did find that, “Broadly speaking, the 2015 election results suggest to many observers an opportunity for change… The

APNU+AFC ran in the 2015 elections as a coalition, on a reform agenda that includes constitutional reform.”

The USAID report cautions however, “The extent of the intended reforms varies depending on whom is asked; according to senior party officials, everything is on the table, including the electoral system and parliament.”

It said the coalition is a multi-party, multi-ethnic group, which may signify another shift in Guyanese politics away from ethnicity towards more issue-based politics, “however, fractures in the coalition are evident.”

4

guyana-times.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

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

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

Editorial

Exclusions and discriminations

T

he report produced on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) titled, “Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Assessment of Guyana”, is valuable for several reasons: the least not being it was produced by a source seen as “friendly” to the present Government. Friends are allowed to be candid in their assessments and the subjects are expected to take suggestions in good stead.

One observation related to the accusation by the Government that a statement in late July to a New York group by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo constituted “race baiting”. What Jagdeo actually said was “There is an assault on our democracy. There is an assault on people of Indian origin. There is an assault on supporters of the PPP. What we thought would never return to Guyana in just one short year has returned with full force, and even worse in some regards than the Burnham era.”

Honing in on the section that referred to “an assault on people of Indian origin”, a statement issued through the offices of the Prime Minister and Presidency “condemn(ed), in the strongest possible terms, the irresponsible, hateful race baiting and malicious fabrications and falsehoods uttered by Opposition Leader Mr Bharrat Jagdeo.” In the following days, a sharp debate has erupted on the claims and counterclaims that, unfortunately, followed the lines of cleavage where race and politics coincide in Guyana.

However, the USAID report, the data for which was compiled towards the end of last year – at least six months before the Opposition Leader made his statement – pointed out in reference to discrimination, “...there is perceived and real ethnic exclusion from the political processes and social discrimination based on race, gender, socio-economics, and sexual orientation.

There is also de facto discrimination of indigenous people and those who live in the periphery in terms of access to social services and economic development.” It also said, “Too few resources are used for public good. Rural and hinterland communities are disproportionately affected.”

Since the report took pains to confirm what had long been denied publicly – which is that the two major parties are ethnically based, it is difficult to understand the Government’s denunciation of Mr Jagdeo for highlighting the concerns of his constituency. A few weeks later, President David Granger, who is both the leader of the PNC and APNU, addressed a gathering of African Guyanese at the “African Forum” and referring to the PPP Administration, bluntly said: “There is evidence that there was discrimination.” Claiming that “we no longer have to face the song-and-dance people”, he explicitly acknowledged that African Guyanese must work together to ensure the enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights through their full and equal participation in all aspects of society.

No one should denounce these statements as “racist” or as “race baiting” as they reflect the reality of politics being practised in a polity in which the concerns of the ethnic constituencies must be addressed. While the report went on to suggest a raft of short and mediumterm measures to address the above and other political challenges in Guyana, they all are centred on constitutional changes that will not be easy to agree on in the short or medium terms as we explained in yesterday’s editorial “State of the State”.

What we would suggest is the Administration implement immediately the “Ethnic Impact Statement” proposal it promised in its Manifesto. What this means is before any policy or initiative is launched, the Government should issue a statement on its possible impact on the several ethnic communities. For instance, if the Police and GDF are to embark on a recruitment drive or if the People’s Militia is to be resuscitated, statements should be issued ahead of time explaining whether and why there might be discrepancies in ethnic composition.

To proceed otherwise is to invite charges of “ethnic discrimination”. And most likely, counter charges of “race baiting”?

A bit of melancholy and unbridled joy converged at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Olympics on Sunday as Brazil breathed a collective sigh of relief for having pulled off South America’s first Games (Reuters)

Raksha Bandhan observed

by Guyanese Diaspora

Dear Editor, Raksha Bandhan, the festival of brotherly love and protection, was observed last Thursday (a holiday in India) in the Indo-Guyanese diaspora in their homes, but being a work day, it was observed on Sunday in Mandirs around the US. Although a Hindu festival, Raakhi, as it is popularly called by Indo-Caribbean immigrants, takes on a secular tone with non-Hindus and non-Indians partaking in the ritual ceremonies.

The term raakhi brother is often used for those nonblood males who received a rakhi.

In India, the festival is celebrated by people of all faiths. In the Indian diaspora, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains, and Sikhs participate in the celebrations.

In the United Arab Emirates, for example, Hindus and non-Hindus celebrated Raksha Bandhan at the Indian Consulate. And in Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname, non-Indians (including Freddie Kissoon) also observed Raakhi.

Raksha Bandhan has become a kind of non-secular

festival filled with love. It is a festival in which brothers or males renew a bond as well as their commitment to protect their sisters or females.

Raksha means protection. The females tie a sacred thread on the wrist of males and they in turn offer her a gift and commit to protect her against dangers and help her to succeed in life.

This bond of protection is very important and has relevance in a place like Guyana where there is so much hatred for people based on their race especially those who don’t support the ruling dispensation – it is alleged that non-supporters are victimised on account of their race and political affiliation.

One should also not forget that Indo-Guyanese females have been the subject of much physical attack (rape, etc during ethnic violence) and domestic abuse.

Atrocities against all women of all ethnicities have been growing, and thus, this Indian festival has much relevance in Guyana, making the bond of protection most apt especially at this time in our country’s history when government is terminating

the employment of so many Indians and Amerindians, making life difficult for females.

For Raakhi, among Indians, sisters or females tie a “rakhi” or holy thread (which have taken on ostentatious forms in recent years), symbolising prayers for well-being and protection, on the wrist of their brothers (males), apply tilak, and give them sweets; the brothers present a gift to their sisters.

In India, every female (away from parental home) practically journeyed back to spend some quality time with their siblings, tying Rakhi on the wrists of their brothers with a promise of protection in return and exchanging gifts. Raakhi is celebrated with fervour in the Hindu community worldwide.

In India, several females tied raakhi on my wrist in communities I visited; I observed many a raakhi in India, Trinidad, Guyana, and Fiji where the observance is very much the same everywhere.

In India, constituents tied raakhi on politicians and females also tied raakhi

on soldiers serving the nation in unfriendly terrain on the border to Pakistan and in Kashmir.

Raakhi exists in all colours and shapes, with some even made from real gold – quite a change from when it was a simple thread.

Raksha Bandhan became very popular in India by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore in the nationalist struggle against British colonial rule. It took on patriotic symbol to get young boys and girls involved in the freedom movement.

Raksha Bandhan was also very popular in Bollywood where actresses tied raakhi on co-stars or those close to them.

The beautiful Deepika Padukone, for example, tied raakhi on her bodyguard.

Some also did so on Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and other celebrities.

In NY, at the mandirs, females tied colourful Raakhi and performed aartie on males.

Traditional meals were served.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Practice of pressuring the Government is a healthy development

Dear Editor, I congratulate President Granger for announcing that the government would build a monument at the Parade Ground to properly memorialise the victims of the historic 1823 Demerara Revolt.

The president has done the right thing; he has listened and responded in the affirmative to the demand and the wishes of the representatives of the African Guyanese community— something that the previous government failed to do.

In the context of our fragile ethnic dynamics, President Granger must be commended for his political bravery—taking government action that directly

favours its ethnic constituency, even if that action is just and necessary, opens the President and the government to charges of ethnic favouritism. The fact that the government has had to fend off charges of ethnic cleansing from the PPP makes the president’s announcement even more noteworthy.

The President’s announcement comes two weeks after he challenged African Guyanese at Cuffy250’s State of the African Guyanese Forum to come up with an action plan and also committed his government to actualising five points of the United Nations 10-point mandate to gov-

ernments in recognition of the International Decade of Peoples of African Descent.

For me, this decision to erect an 1823 monument at Parade Ground is a first down-payment on his promise at the Forum.

The announcement also vindicates the view that African Guyanese must make demands of the government in pursuit of policies and actions that directly and indirectly benefit their community. Even if the President had already made up his mind about the monument, the fact that the 1823 Coalition and other African leaders publicly questioned the president’s appearance at the monument erected by

the PPP at the seawall and simultaneously lobbied him behind the scenes, would have played some role in the eventual outcome.

For me, this practice of pressuring the government, particularly one that benefited from your votes is a healthy development that can only expand our democratic space.

Some may say it is just a monument; the government has to deliver real benefits before it can be properly evaluated. My answer to that viewpoint is that what is important here is not simply the monument but the principle that is at play.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 5

guyana-times.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

5

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

Celebrating Mahatma Gandhi Day

Dear Editor, On October 2, 1869 a great teacher was born in Porbandar, Gujurat, India.

The weapons that existed in his lifetime cannot be compared to the sophisticated means of mass destruction available today not just to nations but to ordinary individuals whose only aim is to destroy innocent people anywhere in the world.

Anger, greed and injustice are not new to mankind but resorting to violence to correct historical wrongs is now

so frequent that we need to remind all societies about the life of the Mahatma, the greatest universal apostle of peace in modern times.

Too many of his birthdays have gone by without any sustained effort to pass on his message to those who may not know of his achievements. Excessive reliance is placed on national and locally (mostly religious) organisations planning an event in which those who already know about him participate. However with-

Practice of pressuring...

It’s about government responding to the just demands of the masses and respecting the wishes of a constituency on a very sensitive historical and cultural matter. The PPP’s act of disregarding the wishes of the African Guyanese constituency as it related to the location of the monument was disrespectful and reflected the dominance mindset of that government.

President Granger is cor-

recting that wrong.

Like others, I was concerned that the President was going to speak at the Seawall Monument. But in the end he used his appearance to correct the injustice that accompanied its erection at that location. In that regard, it is now incumbent on the African Guyanese leadership to remove the stigma attached to the monument.

out great fanfare or expense every single person irrespective of race, religion, nationality or social status, can show appreciation for this great soul by trying to step into his shoes by initiating or participating in an event to show that his life and message can still provide answers to some of the social issues confronting mankind today.

The following non-exhaustive list are a few activities that each person can attempt to sense his great-

FROM PAGE 4

As much as the PPP’s rationale for its actions in the African Guyanese community was grounded in bad intentions, we should not condemn every piece of infrastructure to the garbage heap; we have to turn them into spaces of and avenues for liberation.

Yours truly, David Hinds

ness without relying only on religious leaders, temples or any formal organisations.

Fast for the day; skip a meal or just eat less. Be a vegetarian; Wear less clothing as permitted by the climate; Do not pollute but instead clean up the neighbourhood. See and discuss the movie GANDHI and other shows of his life.

Persuade and assist all schools to get speakers to inform the children of his legacy. Donate blood, food, clothes, books or other material possessions to those in need, particularly to strangers.

Practice Ahimsa which does not simply mean non-violence, but non-harm.

Words, ill-thoughts, anger, harsh judgements are all forms of harm to us or others. Tell the truth even if it means loss of social or economic status. Do not smoke or consume alcohol or anything that alters the mind.

Take the longest walk that your health with allow,

either alone or with others, preferably to highlight or redress a social wrong or injustice. Passive resistance or soul force is infinitely superior to body force.

Jesus, Socrates, Tolstoy, Buddha and many successful political leaders used this method. Be prepared to admit temporary failure if your end cannot be achieved by peaceful means.

Do not try to convert anyone by telling them they can only obtain salvation by following your religion because it is a blatant lie historically supported overtly and covertly by governments. All religions have produced holy, charitable, loving, caring human beings.

Be silent for as long as possible while meditating.

Control your lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride, or fear. Show respect and appreciation not only for family and friends but all forms of life and the environment.

Obtain copies of the book that provided him with in-

spiration and comfort in his most difficult days, the Bhagavad-Gita and donate to others who may very well find and apply Vedic concepts other than truth and non-violence which he practiced irrespective of the consequences.

This is India’s gift to the world and appropriately donated to President Obama by Prime Minister Modi on his first trip to USA. Government and private schools should ensure that these books on him are readily available in libraries, classrooms.

A dinner in the evening for speeches and fundraising for a charitable cause can crown the day with resolutions to ensure that he lives on. Name a street, a building, or other structure after him or reward deserving students by financing Mahatma Gandhi scholarship.

Yours sincerely, Ramnarine Sahadeo

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

Page

guyana-times.com

Foundation (PART TWO)

By Enozia Vakil

H

ere are some points you can keep in mind as parents to maintain a positive atmosphere at home: * A positive, calm, nurturing and comfortable home environment improves parental vision. * You should encourage cooperation and not competition. * No coercion and only communication is advisable. * Don’t call your children with negative names. Use respectful and encouraging words to foster a feeling of security and trust. * Always be approachable and amiable. Your children should feel free to communicate with you and ask their queries. Be like a friend to your child. * Be a patient listener and give importance to your child’s opinion. Also explain your viewpoints. * Your children should contribute according to their abilities. * Never compare your children since each child is unique. Recognise and appreciate his individuality. * Spend quality time with your children and also keep separate time for family activities. * Believe in your children and the children will believe in themselves. Look at their talents and achievements and not their failure. * Encourage the children to learn from their mistakes.

2. Be realistic with your expectations

One of the most important factors to remember while bringing up your child is to keep your expectations real-

istic. Your child is bound to make mistakes at some point of time, and you need to deal with it patiently and gracefully.

Remember that your child is still small and inexperienced, and he will most likely emulate what he observes around him.

Children will learn to do what you expect from them if your expectations as a parent are realistic. As parents, you have to realise that children don’t learn at the same rate and within the same time frame and with the same ease. Nor can they reach a uniform level of achievement even when they grow up to be adults. Even though, parents are aware of this, still they have high expectations from their children. Naturally, there will be some expectations but they shouldn’t be too rosy expectations.

Sometimes rosy expectations can inspire parents to spend quality time with their children and give their children enough support to use their potential to the maximum extent. However, if unrealistic expectations exceed the potential that the child has, it can be harmful for the child’s development and selfimage. So, parents actually need to be patient for the child’s skills and interests to develop in his formative years.

If parents are high achievers, they expect their children to reach that level. However, as parents you should realise that children’s job is to learn and play. So let them enjoy their childhood and don’t bog them down with your expectations. You can’t expect adult behaviour from little children! Parents often feel exasperated by their

children’s behaviour, all they want is your attention and that is an example of normal behaviour from children.

3. Encourage family bonding

Family time is extremely important for a growing child.

Introduce him to the different members of your family; explain how they are related to him and how he should be treating them. This way, he will learn to value people around him and as well be learning the importance of family right from the beginning.

You can arrange indoor and outdoor games, family picnics and get-togethers, potlucks and other fun activities to encourage strong family bonding. Children from broken homes suffer from social maladjustment whereas children coming from homes where family relations are really strong grow up to be confident and have a positive outlook.

4. Set strong ground rules

As a parent, it is extremely important for you to set down rules for your child, especially after he has started his school. Now is the time to make a routine timetable for your child. Set out fixed hours for playtime, homework and screen time. Give him 15 minutes every day to clean his room and an hour to relax out in the garden.

Try to make a flexible routine and don’t be too strict while allocating time for study and play. Keep adequate time for playing as sports help in both physical and mental development.

5. Make him understand

Probably the most important aspect of growing up is to

make your child eat healthy food. Children’s good habits always need to start early. If your child insists on picking up a pack of two-minute noodles from the supermarket, ask him to read out the ingredients on the label. Explain him why he should not consume instant food with harmful ingredients like sodium glutamate that can cause health complications in the long run. Educate your child about the importance of having a nutritious diet as compared to junk food.

6. Reward your child

It is a great idea to reward your child for his good behaviour. This will keep him motivated and will help him stick to being at his best behaviour always. However, a key point to note here is to avoid rewarding your child with materialistic things like chocolates, an hour of TV and the like. Make the rewards intangible – a hug, a word of appreciation etc.

Reward your child with good experiences – this way; he will learn that happiness lies in enriching experiences rather than worldly pleasures.

From novice to expert: Knowing and moving through the stages — like everything else, learning follows its own pattern

By Robert Taibbi

Y

ou’ve undoubtedly heard or read about the stages of learning – whether it be tackling the clarinet, understanding the nuances of relationships, or the pathway of a career. But they’re worth recounting because they provide a way of both gauging yourself and knowing the pitfalls. Here are the four stages; see where you’re at: Stage #1: Know what you don’t know. This is Tom, a novice. He sits in meetings and all he feels is stupid and incompetent compared to his more seasoned peers. While they seem cool and collected, he is rattled and anxious, partly because they do seem so cool and collected. Bad days he feels like a fraud who at any moment can be busted for knowing not much.

He makes up for it by trying to sound smart and wearing good suits. He works really hard so his boss will be impressed and works even harder, so his clients will feel even more impressed. He continually feels overwhelmed and tired, though, of course, he tries hard to not let it show.

Stage #2: Don’t know what you know. If Tom survives probation (and he probably will), he eventually gets traction. The problem now is that Tom doesn’t know what he knows. He has a great meeting with a new client but then the next one is a bust. He speaks up in the staff meeting and folks seem to like his ideas, but next time they ignore them.

The problem here is that though Tom has actually learnt a lot, he can’t quite unify and articulate these gains. Because he doesn’t yet have a solid foundation, his performance is inconsistent and in his mind unpredictable. He’s in transition.

7. Encourage physical activity

Believe it or not, the children of today are more likely to be affected with lifestylerelated disorders like childhood obesity, diabetes and even high blood pressure. So if you don’t want your child to be a couch potato in his early years, encourage physical activity right from the beginning. Get into the park along your child with a ball and play with him. You can also get him enrolled in swimming classes – a good way to keep him fit and active. (momjunction.com)

He needs to step back and take stock of what he has in fact learnt and discovered; he needs to set goals and get the support he needs to become more proactive and deliberate.

Stage #3: Don’t know what you don’t know. This is Carla, an eight-year veteran. Unlike Tom, Carla has moved through Tom’s messy stages. She has solid skills, and she knows she has the down. Her “bring it on” attitude means that she feels that she can handle whatever is thrown at her. She sees herself as more progressive, more ready to embrace the new while her boss does not, leaving her feeling a bit boxed in and frustrated.

Don’t know what you don’t know means you don’t know stuff, but you have a big blindspot and can’t see it. The corollary of this is that you think you know everything. Does this sound familiar? It should. This is most adolescents who feel invincible and views the adults as out-of-touch and oldfashioned. Carla has a heightened (and unrealistic) sense of her own power.

This is a dangerous time when a sense of entitlement and power can lead to the dark side – cheating, corruption, etc. In smaller, less drastic forms Stage 3 folks are less sensitive, feel impatient, burned out and restless.

Stage #4: Know what you know.

But if you don’t quit or get in trouble at Stage 3, you turn the corner. Here you settle down and realise you are not omnipotent after all, that there are some things you don’t do that well, but that is okay – you don’t have to be all things to all people and you’re willing to delegate to others. While your style is different from that of your boss, she no longer seems like the dinosaur and you are able to use her as a consultant to help you stimulate your thinking. You move from loose cannon/troublesome senior/renegade politician to settled student/prefect/statesman. The downside, if you’re not careful, is that you go on autopilot and simply coast, become complacent, and push your creativity to the side.

So these are the major stages. How long they take depend on you and circumstances, but full ramp up is somewhere in the 8-10 year range. Though your own path will have its unique challenges and dips, there are patterns to moving from novice to expert. The key is giving yourself some slack if you are a Tom, staying alert and close to your values if you are a Carla.

Stay aware, know the course, realise it’s a journey. (psy-

chologytoday)

NEWS

7

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Govt not interested in constitutional reform – Nandlall …says abandoned Parliamentary Standing Committee is proof

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“

he desertion of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitution, the erection of a Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform without consultation with Opposition are all evidence that the Government has no interest in bringing about constitutional reform,” former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has said.

Nandlall, in an interview with Guyana Times, contended that the established Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform has been abandoned, since it has not met since the coalition government took office in May 2015.

He argued: “…in my view, this government has not exhibited any evidence that they are interested in constitutional reform although they promised that to the people in their manifesto at the 2015 General Elections.”

Nandlall noted that the Parliamentary Committee, which was set up under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration and chaired by the then Opposition Leader and now President, David Granger, has met once since it was instigated.

He lambasted the Government for not activating the Parliamentary Committee, and “going behind the Opposition’s back and setting up their own Constitutional Reform Committee” – a Committee which he said is made up predominantly of lawyers.

Thus, he asserted that the Government’s concept of re-

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

form seemed to be a process shrouded in secrecy.

He also stated that the Opposition was not included in the consultation of the Steering Committee and “when we cornered the Prime Minister on the topic, he stated that he had consulted with the President and the Government”. Nandlall fervently emphasised that consultations should be both external and internal.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition had promised constitutional reform in its manifesto for the 2015 General Elections. According to the former Attorney General, the APNU/AFC manifesto stated that within the first 100 days of the coalition being in government, there would be “the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Committee with a mandate to complete consultations, draft amendments and present same to the National Assembly for approval within nine months. Sixteen months

later, the House is yet to see anything”.

“APNU/AFC recognises that the Constitution, in its current form, does not serve the best interest of Guyana or its people. Within three months of taking up office, APNU/AFC will appoint a Commission to amend the Constitution with the full participation of the people.

The new Constitution will put the necessary checks and balances in place to consolidate our ethos of liberal democracy. Freedom of speech, reduction of the power of the President and the Bill of Rights will be enshrined in the document,” the coalition manifesto had outlined.

It also stated that a Commission consisting of representatives of trade unions, the Private Sector, religious and faith-based organisations, women, youths, professional organisations and the University would be set up.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) had criticised the Government-established Committee for Constitutional Reform, stating that it fell short of being fit for the purpose as it was dominated by lawyers.

“Being accountable to party leaders rather than to the electorate has robbed our representational politics of the vitality political participation provides. A range of reforms are necessary, therefore, to make our national Constitution a genuine blueprint for democratically acceptable politics. Issues such as reformed presidential powers and a Bill of Rights

are two obvious features.

However, the strongest argument is the need to convince party leadership to replace their monopoly control of political decision-making,” the organisation said.

There have been many calls for constitutional reform, especially in relation to the reduction of the powers of the executive. And according to some political critics, reforms seem to be the last thing on the agenda of the Opposition and the Government.

Constitutional reform has also been touted by USAID as the fix for Guyana’s dysfunctional political climate. It has been stated that the main test to democracy, human rights, and governance in Guyana is its legacy of political parties structured along ethnic lines and single party dominance.

However, Nandlall argued that constitutional reform has always been on the front burner of the PPP agenda, citing that there have been over 200 changes to the

Constitution while the PPP was in office.

He stated that prior to the 1992 General Election, the Party had promised constitutional reform and a few months after it gained power a Constitutional Reform Committee was set up. “The work of that Committee was overtaken by a larger body established under the Administration called the Constitutional Reform Commission, this Commission was a broadbased one and comprised of all of the political parties in the Parliament, religious organisations, the labour movement and Private Sector and civil society organisations”. “…I believe it is unfair to say that the PPP was not active on the question of constitutional reform, but, more fundamentally, what you are reforming the Constitution to achieve, that is the fundamental question,” he added.

“Guyana has a good Constitution and so it is important to work together to

get the Constitution to function rather than ask for it to be changed again,” he said, adding that there are a number of calls for changes in the Constitution but it was not clear what the desired reforms were.

He posited that the people calling for the reforms should prepare a document articulating what their proposals were, so that they can be studied.

“In my view, while the Constitution has a very important role to play, there are many persons who are placing too much importance on the Constitution.

The Constitution simply outlines the structure by which a country is to be governed and what rights the people have and what the State’s obligations are, outside of that, the Constitution can achieve very little. It has to do with how it is interpreted, and how the bodies that the Constitution vest powers in are able to function,” he stated.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

IN THE COURTS

‘Disciplining’ of son lands father in court

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father of three on Friday appeared before Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court charged with unlawfully wounding one of his sons.

Terrence Hopkinson, 51, of Lot 67 Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on August 5, 2016, at Uitvlugt, he un-

lawfully and maliciously wounded Trevor Hopkinson with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution contended that on the day of the incident, both the defendant and the virtual complainant (VC) the son, were involved in a heated argument.

Reports are that the defendant picked up a piece of wood and dealt the VC sev-

eral blows about his body.

The VC reportedly fell after which the defendant continued to hit him until several persons came to his assistance.

He was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was admitted.

The matter was reported to the Leonora Police Station and the defendant was arrested and charged.

Hopkinson told the Magistrate that his son was being unruly and as such he had to “discipline” him.

However, Magistrate Lambert explained to the defendant that there is a difference between discipline and abuse.

Hopkinson was granted bail in the sum of $40,000 and is scheduled to make a next court appearance on September 16, 2016.

Lindener on $175,000 bail for statutory rape

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Lindener who appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse on a statutory rape charge on Wednesday, was granted bail in the

sum of $175,000.

The defendant Odida Briggs, 25, a mechanic who hails from 524 Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, appeared at

the Linden Magistrate’s Court charged with the rape of a child under the age of 16.

It is alleged that he engaged in the sexual pene-

tration of a 15-year-old female, sometime between March 4 and 5, at Canvas City, Wismar.

The matter was adjourned to August 30.

Linden man charged with unlawful wounding granted bail

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avin Richards, 37, was granted bail in the sum of $30,000 on Wednesday when he appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden

Magistrate’s Court on a charge of unlawful wounding.

The defendant of 251 Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar, Linden, pleaded

not guilty to the charge which stated that he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Kemall Jennings at the Bayroc ballfield, Wismar, Linden on

Sunday, June 12.

He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on September 13.

Eyew tness

Rectifications...

T

...and words and lands

his must be the season for making "demands" on the Government. After Prezzie accepted there was nothing untoward about groups hollering for attention when they consider themselves neglected, some in the African Forum audience renewed their claim that if Amerindians had "gotten" lands, why shouldn't Africans?

If the Amerindian "grants" were on account they'd arrived before everybody else, the claimants argued, then what about that 10,000 year-old fossil of "Luzia" in Brazil that has negroid features?

Now the moment these claims were made, you just knew this was just the beginning of a whole new wave of claims and counterclaims for the national patrimony.

And that's what it's all about, isn't it? It's always about that: in this case those who "came first" should get the inside track on whatever is being doled out – and in this case, land.

So before you can say "boo!", we had the first riposte from an Amerindian group – the Guyana Organisation of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP). In the run-up to the national gathering of the Toshaos Council on the coast, they've just demanded that certain "misnomers" in the Amerindian Act be changed. The first one went straight to the heart of the contention made by the African group and their claim for land.

That in the Act, the phrase "grant of land title" should now read "the return of land"... And the second change demanded pretty much explains why – that the word "Amerindian" should be replaced by "Indigenous People".

To make the point pellucid, the Title of the Act should now be changed to "1st Guyanese Act". Now your humble Eyewitness can just hear the outraged screams of protest from the "other side"!

Because if these changes are made, the whole argument for the African indignation at Amerindians getting lands, fails. Official confirmation would be granted to the latter – and with that, their claim to the land. The demanded change even undermines a more nuanced objection the African claimants had made – that some Amerindian tribes had arrived in Guyana AFTER African slaves. This view assumes the nine tribes of Amerindians in our territory make the Amerindians different "peoples".

Most Amerindians had gone along with this view – until it was used to undermine their claim to the land.

So now the demand is for "Amerindian" to be changed to "Indigenous People" –- not "Peoples". So if all the Amerindians are "one people", it really doesn't matter.

That even one of them was in the territory of modern Guyana when Columbus sailed past on his third voyage means they had the first dibs on ALL the land.

And the rest of us should be lucky they don't want to drive the rest of us back into the sea!

...on slave rebellion monument

The 1823 Slave Rebellion took place on the East Coast of Demerara and hastened the move from "amelioration" of slavery to full "emancipation" by 1838. Hundreds of African slaves were killed before and after the rebellion, including dozens who were impaled at the Parade Ground as a "lesson" to those who were also impatient for emancipation.

We should also remember the above Rebellion because of the fight between the PPP's Ministry of Culture and several African cultural groups as to where a monument commemorating the event should be located. The PPP Government consulted some groups and chose the beginning of the East Coast Highway where the rebellion had occurred, while a larger number of organisations felt it should be at Parade Ground – the site of the public executions.

In a judgement worthy of Solomon, Prezzie attended this year's commemoration at the "Government's" site – and promised a new Monument at Parade Ground!

...of Pharma bottom house

The Ministry of Public Health's been mandated to "renegotiate" the rental of the Pharma bottom house. But the Albouystown facility doesn't even have a loading dock – much less one to unload the usual consignment of four or five containers.

The drugs will be parachuted in?

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

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Sinking economy

Ali scolds Jordan over “fairy-tale” excuses T

he Mid-Year Report presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan last week confirmed our worst fears. The economy is decelerating with all the key sectors displaying signs of extreme distress and compounding the situation is the fact that Government wants Guyanese to believe in a fairy tale – that the El Niño phenomenon was responsible for the dismal economic performance.

This is according to Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Opposition Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali. In his analysis of the 2016 Mid-Year Report, the former Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister said: “It is not too late for the Government to reverse the economic collapse.”

Ali, in his assessment, said in order for

Public Accounts Committee Chair, PPP/C MP Irfaan Al

Government to turn things around, it had to start by accepting the economy was in “reverse gear”, then craft an appropriate economic plan that would place the country back on a positive growth trajectory.

“We must remember that the first step to solving a problem is to accept it exists. Hiding our heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich will not help. It will only create more false hope in the short term,” Ali advised.

Ali, an economist by training, has since observed that in addition to the stagnant economic growth rate, “even more depressing is the fact the local economy decelerated for a second year in succession, amidst the recovery of international commodity prices and the Golden Jubilee celebration that was expected to resuscitate or breathe new life into a slowly dying economy.”

He has surmised that the poor performance of the economy may be attributed to notable contractions in key sectors that were masked by the increased

All public places will have Internet access – President

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s a means of keeping up with the new age of technological advancement, the Guyana Government will ensure that all public places, particularly schools, have access to the Internet, while more Cyril Potter College teachers will be given laptops.

President David Granger made this disclosure on his televised programme, “The Public Interest”, stating that Government remained committed to Information Technology and Communication (ITC) advancements and employment generation, especially for youths. He indicated that it took ITC training, inter-connectivity and the provision of computers very seriously as a means for driving Guyana toward technological advancement.

“I see that every single public place, school, hospital, prison will eventually have the ability to access the Internet and expect that the Private Sector will follow suit,” he said, highlighting that the establishment of a Ministry of Public Telecommunications was one of the steps toward an innovative country.

Of recent, the Government, which was put

into office via a pro-youth platform with promises of employment of thousands, has come under heavy criticism for its 180-degree turn from its 2015 Election Manifesto promise, especially with youth unemployment registering at 40 per cent.

President Granger had himself announced that creating jobs for people was not the Government’s business, a sentiment which was echoed

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

However, after being publicly chastised for that statement, the Government made an about-turn at the recent award ceremony of the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Development (SLED) programme, when Granger declared that if employment, the principal means for people to escape from poverty, was unavailable, the youths would fumble.

“This Administration is committed to generating employment,” Granger noted, while stating that since its election to office, his Administration has funded several youth development projects, aimed at generating employment through entrepreneurship capacity building.

The Administration, the President said, in order to reduce unemployment also launched the billion-dollar youth employment programme in the hinterland, “which saw 2000 young people in 106 communities being able to access knowledge and grants for entrepreneurship”.

He also stated that as a member of the then Opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), he visited many schools in Amerindian communities and saw computer laboratories without computers and computers without Internet access. The Head of State stated that with the liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, all children in schools would be given an opportunity to access the Internet.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

production reported by the large mining companies, namely Guyana Goldfields Inc and Troy Resources.

“For the first time in our recent history, the entire economy is carried by one sector… not so long ago,

our economy benefited from growth in multiple sectors, including agriculture, services and manufacturing which helped us to weather the stormy external environment,” Ali pointed out.

Taking a jab at Government and its resort to blaming weather for the poor economic performance, Ali recalled that Guyana was able to survive the global economic and financial crises and managed to record positive growth, when economies in the Caribbean and the rest of the world were collapsing.

“This year El Niño alone disrupted the entire economy… almost every sector was adversely affected by El Niño, according to the Minister of Finance in his half-year report,” a sarcastic Ali remarked.

He suggested that while the poor performance of

several industries may be attributed to the uncertainty created from the review/renegotiation by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government of concessions granted to foreign investors, “the Minister would like us to accept his fairytale story that El Niño was responsible”.

Ali is of the opinion that without a doubt things were “dry” in the country, “We have a drought with respect to ideas from the Government to move the country forward economically.”

He reminded too of the growing criticism emanating from the Opposition camp that to date the Government was yet to present a comprehensive economic plan for Guyana.

10 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016| GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Adamantium named top gold producer …as miners, GGMC face off ahead of week-long festivities

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damantium Holdings has been named the top gold producer of 2015 when the Natural Resources Ministry in concert with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) held an award ceremony at the Guyana Pegasus on Sunday to kick off the week-long festivities of Mining Week 2016.

Adamantium declared 13,399 ounces of gold for 2015 making the company the top local producer for the year.

The mining company had been prominent in the news this past week when it was discovered that both Adamantium and Atlantic Fuels Inc shared several close connections including Directors – one such being Managing Director of the Guyana Water Inc (GWI,) Dr Richard Van WestCharles.

The two companies also share the same Kingston, Georgetown address, with Atlantic Fuels Inc securing an import/wholesale licence for fuel to supply, in part, the mining operations.

Other top awardees recognised on Sunday evening included Mohamed’s Enterprises, which was the top gold dealer.

Bosai and RUSAL— both bauxite mining companies—were also awarded for their stellar performances in that extractive sector, while Toolsie Persaud was recognised as the country’s top quarrying entity .

Guyana Goldfields was recognised for its safety track record at its Aurora Mines.

Other special awardees included industry pioneers Edward Shields, Dick Manning and Cyrilda De Jesus.

Special awards were also handed out to media representatives who would have been providing coverage for the sector, including Clifford Stanley of the Guyana Chronicle, Gaulbert Sutherland of Stabroek News and Jarryl Bryan of Kaieteur News.

Face-off

The pleasantries, smiles and recognition were preceded however by a ‘laying down of the gauntlet’ by both industry representatives and GGMC Commissioner (ag), Newell Dennison.

There were calls for greater inclusion and drastic changes to be implemented, not just in the extractive fields but in the relationship between the two bodies.

Guyana Women Miners’ Organisation (GWMO) President Ulrica Primus, in her brief remarks to the gathering, said, “Mining is a machine driven by numerous parts; if we only seek to re-organise, enforce and take a firmer stance on just miners, we are only addressing half of the problems.”

She submits that in order to create realistic chang-

Ronaldo Alphonso of Adamantium Holdings receives the award from Business Minister Domonic Gaskin for the top gold producer of 2015 (Photo: Marceano Narine)

es, “the input and respect for every player is needed”.

Her sentiments were echoed by Andron Alphonso, who, speaking on behalf of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), said he was looking for a greater level of commitment on the part of the GGMC not just in its enforcement measures, but along the lines of actually assisting miners.

He spoke of the need for the introduction of greater support services to the mining sector, such as extension services used in the agriculture sector. Mining, he said, needs similar assistance.

800,000 ounces possible

Alphonso spoke too of the impending ban on the use of mercury in the mining industry and the impact it could have on an ill-prepared sector.

He opined that with the impending ban, efforts at improving recovery techniques needed to be stepped up ten-fold.

He spoke to the fact that techniques currently employed in the sector only saw a 20 to 30 per cent recovery rate for gold.

Better technology, he said, can more than double this. The GGDMA Vice President suggested that while Guyana saw record gold declarations last year, if better recovery techniques were used, gold declaration could have possibly eclipsed 800,000 ounces as against the 400,000 plus ounces that were declared in 2015.

The GGDMA Vice President observed too that while there were high hopes and expectations in the industry, these could only become a reality through continued collaboration.

Rome was not built in a day, he recalled, and added that building a world-class mining sector locally would take time.

Mammoth contribution

Turning his attention to the Mining Week activities, Alphonso used the opportunity to encourage all and

sundry to participate.

He suggested that the time be used to garner an unbiased knowledge of the industry, since it would have been portrayed negatively in recent times.

Gold production, spearheaded mainly by the work of small miners, must be applauded for its mammoth contribution to the economy, according to Alphonso.

Acting GGMC Commissioner Dennison sought to impress on the mining representatives the importance of safety and the need for a paradigm shift in the recovery methods employed.

Extracting minerals with the application of appropriate techniques and technology, obviating the use of mercury is of utmost importance, according to Dennison.

He said those in the industry should consider these changes inevitable since the industry will soon demand more mechanical and chemical collecting methods.

Dennison also sought to assure miners that while the GGMC was looking to embrace bringing educational awareness to the sector, it would not let up on its role as an enforcement body.

He spoke too to the importance of practising onsite safety at mining operations, saying that there needed to be an attitudinal change where common sense and common decency were common goals for the broader development of the industry.

This, he said, requires serious commitment to partnership and collaboration “first with each other as citizens” and with institutions like the GGMC, which, according to Dennison, is “here to serve and guide”.

Incentives/penalties

Espousing the importance of safety and more efficient mining practices, he spoke about the impact of mining on the environment and the role of those who would have caused the damage—miners.

He spoke to the unwillingness on the part of some

miners to reclaim mined-out areas since some find the exercise too costly or their operations would have been il-

legal, among a host of other reasons.

Dennison said regardless of the excuses, this was an issue that had to be confronted head on both by the mining community and the GGMC. He noted that incentives or penalties were available tools in order to achieve the objective.

He used the opportunity to also lament some of the shortcomings of the GGMC itself and pointed to its human resource and other operational constraints.

Dennison said while not wanting to make excuses for the GGMC, half of the entity’s staff has about five years’ service with the regulatory body and advocated training as the first approach towards remedying the situation.

Restored standards

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, in his brief contribution to

mark the commencement of the annual activity, reminded of Government’s commitment to restoring the standards that it has set for the industry.

He too shared his views on the importance of safety.

Trotman also used the occasion to announce that in future there will be a greater presence by the GGMC and officials from the Guyana Revenue Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency and other related agencies at several of the larger mining operations locally.

Trotman was among a slew of Government representatives at the forum led by Head of State, David Granger, Vice President Carl Greenidge and Business Minister Dominic Gaskin.

The Private Sector was also represented through Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairperson Eddie Boyer.

Suspected bandit dead, another beaten R anks of the Guyana Police Force are probing the death of a 21-year-old man who was fatally shot in Pearl, East Bank Demerara (EBD), after it was reported that he, along with two others, allegedly attempted to rob a businessman on Saturday night.

Police identified the dead man as Seon Clarke, called “Cash Money”, of Old Road, Land of Canaan, EBD. A Police report said that Clarke was shot while the other man was allegedly beaten by residents of the area.

“Initial investigations revealed that about 14:00h (on Saturday) the deceased and a male went into a grocery store at Sarah Johanna, EBD, and was observed by the proprietor behaving suspiciously. The proprietor made his way to the public road and alarmed a Policeman who was passing at the time; the Police responded and in the process, he summoned other Policemen. The men fled into the bushes, and during the process, two loud explosions were heard. A search was conducted, but they were not found,” the Police report stated.

It continued that about 22:30h that night “members of the community spotted the men on the Pearl Public Road and apprehended them; during the process, it was alleged that one of the public spirited citizens shot Clarke and inflicted a beating on his accomplice.

The men were handed over to the Police, who rushed them to the Diamond Public Hospital, where Clarke was pronounced dead on arrival, whilst his accomplice was treated and taken into

The man who was shot dead

Police custody”.

However, residents of the community have denied shooting or beating the men and claimed that it was the Police who apprehended the robbers and not the residents.

Instead, residents related that a blue car pulled up alongside the business place and three men exited before jumping into the shop via an opening at the fence.

One of the men, the residents claimed, was carrying a firearm and held the businessman and his wife at gunpoint. However, the businessman managed to escape, rushed onto the public road and raised an alarm.

They claimed that the driver of the suspected “getaway” car drove off after residents began gathering.

This alerted the men and they rushed to the back of the yard and escaped into the bushes. The residents said that persons were searching for the men but could not find them.

Villagers claimed later that evening, two of the men were spotted in the neighbouring village of Pearl. The Police were summoned and apprehended the men.

“We didn’t beat nobody… if we de beat them, then they wouldn’t still be alive,” the residents related.

One person even went on to claim that Clarke was shot by his accomplice.

“When the people start to gather around them, one of them had a gun and like he was trying to scare the people them away and he shoot the other one by mistake,” one resident told this newspaper.

However, when contacted on Sunday evening, Crime Chief (ag) Hugh Jessemy told Guyana Times that investigators were still in the Sarah Johanna/Pearl area trying to determine exactly what transpired the night before.

“Right now we are just trying to determine from everyone what really transpired… but we are looking at all the possibilities, we haven’t ruled anything out,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Police sources explained to this newspaper that the suspect in custody was claiming that he and Clarke were beaten by the residents in the area before the 21-year-old was shot. The source added too that the suspect admitted to being in possession of a firearm and that they had gone to the shop with the intention of carrying out a robbery.

At the time when this newspaper was in Sarah Johanna talking to the residents, several Police ranks had escorted the suspect to Pearl and he pointed them to the area where he disposed of the firearm.

The Police were able to recover the weapon and are continuing their investigations.

NEWS

11

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Department of Tourism to GLDA to expand host Guyana Coconut Festival poultry production in hinterland areas T BY: Indrawattie Natram

P

Poultry

oultry meat and egg production is expected to increase in Regions Seven (Cuyni-Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) through the Guyana Livestock Development Authority’s (GLDA) “Black Giant Poultry” initiative.

According to the Government Information News Agency (GINA) on Saturday, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the GLDA, Dr Dwight Walrond explained that the purpose of the Black Giant Poultry is to foster growth in egg and poultry meat production in the hinterland communities “as a means of mitigating the difficulties associated with access to poultry as a source of protein” by utilising a resilient species of poultry known as the “Black Giant” in the outlying areas.

“Because of the logis-

tics in moving feedstuff into the hinterland areas, we thought it best to have a breed that is adaptable to those conditions. The Black Giant can scavenge well in the yard system so we don’t need these commercial feeds for those birds and when we look at the amount of eggs they produce per year and the amount of meat from each bird, we think that that is the ideal bird to assist our hinterland communities,” Dr Walrond related to GINA. Dr Walrond also stated that this strategy will be implemented in other hinterland and coastland regions, utilising the authority’s resources in the future.

“We would have to work with Deep South, South Rupununi and if you know how these communities operate, we have a lot of vil-

lage flocks, school flocks, women’s group and working with each one of them and supplying breeding stock to each one would be key,” Dr Walrond explained.

It was also highlighted that facilitation is being made to guarantee that an adequate number of birds will be available for distribution to the communities.

A major role will also be played by GLDA’s hatchery in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, in allowing the availability of hatchlings for the initiative.

The GLDA official sees this project as a fruitful one in the future, “and I know, not only the hinterland communities will grab hold of that, but also some of the coastal communities because if you look at the cost of Creole eggs that’s a thriving business. On the coast now we have some farmers doing Creole eggs only,” Dr Walrond added.

In accordance with the Ministry of Finance’s midyear economic report, the country’s livestock industry grew by 0.8 per cent for the first half of 2016 compared to the corresponding period in 2015.

The Black Giant Poultry initiative is expected to lead to greater productivity of chickens among livestock farmers, improve biosafety in the industry, as well as reduce the cost of protein sources for consumers in the hinterland.

he coconut industry that has been left behind for quite some time will be under the spotlight in October as the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Business in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and private stakeholders will be hosting a Coconut Awareness Week during 15 to 23 October, 2016 with a wide range of events.

The Week's events will highlight the importance of coconut and its uses. According to Director General of Tourism Donald Sinclair a River Appreciation Day and Speed Boat parade along with a Ministry of Agriculture outreach will start the activities.

The activities include a coconut awareness launch of festival icon, motorcade to Mahaicony ground for World Food Day observance, Launch of Festival Souvenir magazine, Ministry of Agriculture Coconut cook out, State of the Coconut Industry forum, and launch of National Coconut Development Roadmap.

A coconut summit and Business meetings is schedule for October 21 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, and on October 22 the festival continues with a coco splash entertainment sequence.

The week will conclude with a coconut award ceremony on October, 23.

At a stakeholders meeting, Sinclair said that farmers from Pomeroon will be actively involved and that Essequibo is an important

Region to start off the week's activities, since Pomeroon is the "Heart of the Coconut".

During his address he said that the industry has been out of attention for a while and it is time for farmers, living in the Pomeroon, to be equipped with the necessary knowledge about the fruit and its many uses.

At the meeting, Chairman of the Essequibo Chambers of Commerce, Dalip Singh, and Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt pledged the Region's support towards the Week’s events. The boat parade will put Essequibo on the map in terms of Tourism, he noted.

For the activities, nations such as Suriname, Brazil, India and Mexico have indicated their interest in participating. The Week of activities also coincides with Agriculture Month. The events are to be hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture Maritime Authority, and the Guyana Police Force.

“Petty” accountant fined for assault

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n accountant was on Friday morning fined $10,000 after he pleaded guilty to an assault charge read to him by Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate’s Court, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Mark Newton, 24, of Lot 25 Hague, WCD, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on August 14,

2016, at Vreed-en-Hoop, he assaulted Joseph Andrews.

The prosecution contended that on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant (VC) and the defendant were both attempting to board a Route 32 minibus when the defendant fell.

Newton reportedly got up and pulled the VC out of the bus and started to assault him. After several persons in the vicinity intervened,

the defendant left the scene.

The matter was reported and Newton was later arrested and charged.

He explained to the Court that the VC pushed him out of the way in order to get into the bus and was unapologetic in doing so.

Apart from the fine, Magistrate Lambert ordered Newton to seek anger management counselling, stating that he was “petty”.

12 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Guyanese stepmom charged with strangling death of 9-year-old Queens girl

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The little girl was found dead in the bathtub of their home on Friday evening (NY Daily photo)

9-year-old Queens girl, whose bruised, naked body was found in a bathtub strangled by her wicked stepmom, Guyanese Arjun Samdhi Pardas; the New York Daily quoted Police sources as saying.

Pardas was charged on Saturday with killing

Ashdeep Kaur in the bathroom of their Richmond Hill home, according to sources.

Detectives grilled the 55-year-old stepmother at the 102nd Precinct Stationhouse for hours, after finding her hiding at a friend’s home.

A haggard Pardas was

walked out of the precinct around 19:00h wearing a white Tyvek suit. A small woman, she grimaced when asked if she killed Ashdeep and appeared to start crying as she was placed in the Police car.

“She was not treating her really good,” said Ashdeep’s

Ashdeep Kaur, 9, was found strangled to death Friday (NY Daily photo)

uncle, Manjinder Singh.

“The girl told me she got beat up by her. Twice she told me she grabbed her and threw her on the bed. I was not thinking she would kill her.”

Arjun Pardas is walked out of the 102nd Police Precinct Stationhouse last Saturday after she was charged with murder (NY Daily photo)

Ashdeep’s grief-stricken dad, Sukhjinder Singh, was seen being helped out of the Stationhouse by two relatives at about 11:00h on Saturday. The stone-faced father didn’t say a word.

The girl emigrated from India, where she lived with her mother, and joined him in Queens three months ago.

“Her father wanted her to be here, to stay in US,” Manjinder Singh said.

“There are better schools over here. Everything is good. She was doing good, learning English.”

But the father’s dream of a better life for his little girl turned into a nightmare on Friday.

Relatives said Ashdeep feared her stepmother, who is from Guyana, and said the woman had hit the girl. They hadn’t thought the punishments would rise to that level of abuse.

According to relatives, on the day of the murder, a woman who shares part of the 112th St home —including the bathroom— told Ashdeep’s dad that Pardas and his daughter had gone into the bathroom together.

The stepmother emerged alone and before leaving the house with her two grandchildren, told the housemate that the girl was still inside

taking a shower.

When the housemate went to use the bathroom about 6pm she discovered the girl’s lifeless body in the bathtub. There was no water in the tub.

“The stepmother did whatever she did with her in the house,” another relative said. “The dead body was in the bathroom, and she ran away.”

Two children who were found with Pardas when she was arrested were put in the care of the city’s child protective services, WCBS-TV reported.

A neighbour said Pardas had lived on the street for years and didn’t get along with her family.

“I never knew she was capable of doing that,” the neighbour said. “That’s why it’s such a shock.”

An autopsy was scheduled to determine how Ashdeep died.

Manjinder Singh was beside himself with grief and struggling with regret that he didn’t do more to protect his niece.

“She had been living with us two or three days, sleeping over,” he said, his voice cracking. “I shouldn’t have dropped her off. Her father said drop her home, and the second day, she’s dead.”

Sugar worker charged for armed robbery

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worker attached to the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate was on Friday remanded to prison after he was slapped with a robbery under arms charge.

Sheldon Manning, 31, of Plantain Walk, West Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Christel Lambert at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on August 12, 2016, at Uitvlugt while being armed with an offensive weapon – a knife – he robbed Alex Allicock of one cell phone and $13,000 in cash.

The prosecution contended that on the day of

the incident around 19:00h, the Virtual Complainant (VC) was walking along the Uitvlugt Public Road when the defendant attacked him from behind.

The VC was struck to the back of his head and fell to the ground after which the defendant relieved him of the items.

Allicock was picked up by public-spirited persons and a report was lodged at the Leonora Police Station.

The defendant was positively identified by the VC during an identification parade.

He was subsequently taken into custody and charged. He will make his next appearance in court on September 12, 2016.

NEWS

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Mining Week activities

GGMC hosts 1st Pork-knocker exhibition in Linden A

s a prelude to this year's Mining Week activities, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) hosted an exciting PorkKnocker Day playoffs and exhibition in Linden on Saturday.

The activity, which was the first of its kind in the community and also conducted as part of the 100 years of bauxite mining observances in the community, was hosted at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground, Wismar. It featured numerous games and exhibitions, including cricket, batelling, jigging, shovelling and mine res-

A scene from the exhibition

Smart Achievers’ camp concludes with grand exhibition, tour

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he Smart Achievers’ Academy summer camp concluded on Saturday with a grand tour to Guyana Marriott and the Light House by some 50 children.

The camp, which was held in Ruimveldt, hosted an exhibition and cultural display on Thursday by the participants. The exhibition displayed several crafts that were made by the children which were viewed by their parents and onlookers.

The children were engaged in several training programmes ranging from etiquette to education. They were also exposed to com-

puter training and learning Spanish.

The lone teacher of the camp Deon Dafsand explained that the children were chosen from the Ruimveldt area who are considered slow learners.

She highlighted that she selected the Ruimveldt area for the camp because she noticed as a teacher many of the children are slow learners and many times parents would send their children to her for assistance with their homework.

The teacher said that she did not want the children to be kept indoors only to learn but to explore Guyana’s his-

toric sites and learn more of Guyana’s history.

The children were also exposed to education of signs of abuse and the importance of relaying any act of abuse to an adult.

The camp catered for children of all ages and lasted for a six-week period.

The children who were ecstatic to be a part of the Smart Achievers’ Summer Camp were happy to inform this publication that they can now count in Spanish.

They expressed elation to be part of the summer camp and will be looking forward to next year’s camp.

cue.

Exhibits from several companies, including Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI); Banks DIH Limited; the Linden Hospital

Complex (LHC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were also on show.

GGMC Resource and Documentation Officer Beatrice Roberts Austin said the activity was family-oriented, with families from outlying communities, such as Coomacka, in attendance.

"We're doing two things, we're bringing Porkknocker Day to Linden, because Linden is one of the hubs – it's one of the gateways to the interior. There are quite a few families out here that mine and also significantly, it's a hundred years of bauxite mining in Guyana and we want to honour that, the industry and the people- families who've made huge inputs, made sacrifices for the bauxite industry. We want to recognise them and honour them," Austin related.

EPA Environmental Officer Dillon said he welcomed the opportunity to meet and inform people about the environment as it related to its protection, conservation and management. Notable, he said, was the fact that this was done in a fun and interactive way, through environmental games and trivia.

Brochures and information on the environment were also available.

Mining Week continues today with the National Mining Exhibition at Jubilee Park, Georgetown, followed by a public lecture on the oil and gas sectors in Savannah Suite, Pegasus on August 25; Porkknocker Day Bartica edition at Regatta Pavilion on Saturday, August 27 and Mahdia Playoffs at Mahdia Community Centre Ground on September 3.

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guyana-times.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

Regional

Trinidad and Tobago Costa Rican fishermen held signs inter-governmental in Jamaican drug bust FATCA agreement with US T

Finance Minister Colm Imbert and US Ambassador John Estrada signed the agreement

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n agreement that will pave the way for the implementation of the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States has been signed.

On Friday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert and US Ambassador John Estrada signed the agreement that was enacted in the United States in 2010.

The agreement is a mod-

el IA Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA), which is designed to improve international tax compliance through mutual assistance in tax matters based on an effective infrastructure for the automatic exchange of information.

In a statement , the Ministry of Finance described the signing of the IGA as “another milestone in the relationship between both countries on tax mat-

ters”.

The signing brings to an end about three years of negotiations between the countries on the Agreement.

“The signing is also timely as it was completed before September 30 deadline set for the exchanging of information between both countries.” The twin-island republic and the US will now move to bring the agreement into force.

This would allow for the automatic exchange of information between both countries and also ensure that foreign financial institutions, including local banks and insurance companies, will not be subject to a 30 per cent withholding tax.

To bring the IGA into force, the Minister of Finance will take to the Parliament, the necessary legislation, among other things, to provide for the automatic exchange of information by the Board of Inland Revenue to the United States Inland Revenue Service. (Excerpt from CMC)

T&T: Millions needed to repair Napa defects

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wo years after it was closed due to structural flaws, the National Academy for Performing Arts (Napa) of Trinidad remains closed and is not likely to reopen anytime soon.

GML Enterprise Desk obtained an inspection report on the facility commissioned by the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism which reveals several structural flaws that could present public danger and which must be corrected urgently before the facility is re-

opened.

The facility cost taxpayers half a billion dollars and remedial work will cost taxpayers millions more.

The report identified structural deficiencies in almost the entire building, including the UTT facility, catwalk, stage area, roof and ceiling.

In December 2014, BBFL Caribbean Limited was contracted by the Ministry of Arts and Multiculturalism in December to conduct a condition survey on the

building and found “several defects” which required further investigation by a certified welding inspector.

The company retained the services of Certified Welding Inspector-Non Destructive Testers Limited (NDT) to so the necessary tests.

NDT concluded that none of the welds inspected were acceptable to code due to weld profiles, undercut and the porosity beyond allowable limits. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

hree Costa Rican fishermen were remanded on drug trafficking charges following a court appearance in the southern parish of St Elizabeth, Jamaica on Friday.

The Costa Ricans – Christiania Baldivia, Kendry Spencer and Francisco Flores where charged along with three Jamaicans.

The Jamaicans – Jobome Wedderburn, 23; Jerome

Campbell, 21 and Elrado Linton, 46, all from the western parish of Westmoreland, are also fishermen.

The men were held on July 29, after the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard intercepted them and seized 470 pounds of marijuana.

The Costa Ricans have been charged with possession of, dealing in trafficking, taking steps to export and conspiracy to export

marijuana.

They were also charged illegal entry.

The Jamaican fishermen were charged with conspiracy to export the drug.

While the Costa Ricans were remanded, the Jamaicans were each offered bail in the sum of J$500,000 (One Jamaica dollar =US$0.008 cents).

The men are scheduled to return to court on September 6. (CMC)

UNICEF says funding to prevent cholera crucial to advance development in Haiti

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he United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says funding to prevent cholera in Haiti is crucial to advance development in the Frenchspeaking Caribbean country.

U N I C E F ’ s Representative for Haiti, Marc Vincent, said eventually he would like to totally eliminate cholera in Haiti.

“That means we need to continue working on the rapid response mechanisms, and we need to ensure that the long-term access to sanitation and water eventually covers all the country,” Vincent told UN News Centre. “But the National Sanitation is a development programme, and it will take time to change behaviour and to ensure universal ac-

cess,” he added.

However, Vincent said one of the challenges that UNICEF faces in addressing cholera in Haiti is funding the rapid response mechanisms.

“We need predictable funding,” he said. “Since humanitarian funding is of a short duration, it is so difficult to know from one year to the next how much money

you will be able to plan for.

“We are hoping to put the rapid response on a longer-term development footing, and then many of these mechanisms can be used, as I said, to prevent waterborne diseases, as well other contagious diseases,” he added.

“Therefore, one of the challenges we have is mobilizing development funds to keep these mechanisms in place and build up the capacity of the [Haitian] Ministry of Health,” Vincent continued.

His comments came as a United States federal appeals court last week upheld the United Nations’ immunity from a damage claim filed on behalf cholera victims in Haiti. (Excerpt from CMC)

Fire-damaged cruise ship moored to safety

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he United States Coast Guard says the firedamaged Caribbean cruise ship, Caribbean Fantasy, was “moored safely” on Saturday at Pier 15 in San Juan Harbour.

“The Unified Command is developing an assessment and disposal plan for potential hazardous and nonhazardous waste,” said the Coast Guard, adding that it has established a 100-yard safety zone around the ves-

has been deployed around the vessel “as a precautionary measure against potential discharge from the vessel.”

The Coast Guard said that fire-fighting teams that entered the engine room Saturday morning reported that only a single source of fire contained in the engine room remains.

It also said that the Unified Command has implemented an air monitor-

Guard, the US National Transportation Safety Board, RINA Services and the flag state, Panama, is underway.

On Wednesday more than 500 passengers escaped from the Caribbean Fantasy, using emergency after a blaze erupted in the ship’s engine room.

The vessel was travelling from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico.

The ship usually runs sev-

More than two dozen people were hospitalised for smoke inhalation, dehydration and shock

sel.

“There have been no reports of pollution near the vessel at this time,” it continued, stating that the vessel is being closely monitored, and 2500 feet of boom

ing plan in the vicinity of the vessel and Pier 15 to ensure the safety of responders and the local community.

Additionally, a joint marine casualty investigation with the US Coast

eral times weekly between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

More than two dozen people were hospitalised for smoke inhalation, dehydration and shock. (Excerpt from CMC)

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the World

Turkey wedding blast blamed Iraq hangs 36 men over 2014 Camp Speicher massacre on child suicide bomber

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raq has hanged 36 men convicted over the 2014 massacre of hundreds of military recruits, Government officials say.

They had been found guilty of involvement in the "Speicher" massacre, named after a base near Tikrit where up to 1700 recruits were kidnapped before being executed in a massacre claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

"The executions of 36 convicted over the Speicher crime were carried out this morning in Nasiriyah pris-

M

This is the first instance ISIL used a child in a suicide bombing attack in Turkey[Sedat Sunda/EPA]

ore than 50 people have been killed and scores more wounded in a suicide attack at a wedding ceremony in Turkey's southeastern province of Gaziantep, near the Syria border.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that "Daesh is the likely perpetrator of the attack", using the Arabic name for ISIL, also known as ISIS. The suicide bomber who attacked the wedding party was a child between the ages of 12 and 14, Erdogan said.

The President added that it is not yet clear whether the teenager detonated a suicide vest, or the vest was detonated remotely by someone else.

"Turkish authorities are now going to look for further proof about the identity of the suicide bomber," said Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Gaziantep.

"They will try to find out whether this was someone used by adults who strapped explosives around his body and remotely detonated the

explosive."

This is the first instance ISIL used a child in a suicide bombing attack in Turkey, Ahelbarra said.

In comments shown live by broadcaster NTV, Erdogan also confirmed that 51 people had died in the blast, and 69 were wounded. Seventeen of the injured were "heavily" wounded, Erdogan said.

"Our country and our nation have again only one message to those who attack us: You will not succeed!" he said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Morocco’s King urges Diaspora to reject Islamist extremism

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he King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, has called on Moroccans living abroad, many of them in Europe, to defend a tolerant form of Islam and reject extremism.

It was his first address to the five million Moroccans in the Diaspora since the recent attacks in Europe by Islamist militants.

European citizens of Moroccan origin were implicated in some attacks.

Condemning the murder of innocent people, the King singled out the killing of a priest in France.

Two followers of so-called

Islamic State (IS) slit the throat of Father Jacques Hamel, 84, during Mass at his church in a suburb of Rouen.

"Killing a priest is forbidden by religion," King Mohammed said in his speech on Saturday evening.

"Murdering him inside a church is unforgivable madness, for he is a human being and a religious man – even if he is not a Muslim."

Two of the IS militants killed in the aftermath of the Paris attacks in November were Belgians of Moroccan origin, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the

suspected ringleader, and Chakib Akrouh, a suicide bomber.

The three IS militants who bombed Brussels in March, Khalid and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui and Najim Laachraoui, were also of Moroccan origin.

The king said that those who engaged in terrorism, in the name of Islam, were "not Muslims".

"Their only link to Islam is the pretexts they use to justify their crimes and their folly," he said. "They have strayed from the right path, and their fate is to dwell forever in hell." (Excerpt from BBC News)

Inflation hawk to take top job at Bank of India

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Urjit Patel

rjit Patel has been named as the new Governor of the Reserve Bank of India – the

country's central bank.

Patel, currently Deputy Governor, is a one-time Yale University economist who worked at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the early 1990s.

He is known to be very hawkish on inflation, which remains one of the big worries in the Indian economy.

Patel replaces Raghuram Rajan whose term, which was at times controversial, ends on September 4.

Rajan had been expected to stay for a second term but decided to return to academia.

In a recent interview with the BBC, Rajan denied having ever been publicly critical of the Government.

Patel takes charge at a time when India has the fastest-growing major economy in the world and its currency, the rupee – which hit record lows in 2013 – is more stable.

And while there have been concerns about inflation rates creeping up as oil prices recover and food costs rise, many expect the central bank to cut interest rates later this year to help stimulate more growth. (BBC

News)

on," a spokesman for the governor's office in Dhiqar, the province of which Nasiriyah is the capital, told AFP. "The Governor of Dhiqar, Yahya al-Nasseri, and Justice Minister Haidar al-Zamili were present to oversee the executions," Abdelhassan Dawood said.

"They were transferred to Nasiriyah last week after the President approved the executions."

Dawood was referring to the necessary green light from Iraqi President Fuad Masum.

Following the death of

more than 300 people in the worst ever single bomb attack to strike Baghdad last month, Haider al-Abadi, Iraqi Prime Minister, had said he wanted to expedite the execution of inmates sentenced to death in terrorism cases.

Nasseri confirmed to AFP news agency that the executions were carried out by hanging.

His spokesman said that about 400 of the Speicher massacre victims were from Dhiqar, which is predominantly Shia and located in Iraq's south. (Al Jazeera)

Philippines will leave UN – leader threatens

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hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to "separate" from the United Nations after it criticised his war on drugs as a crime under international law.

Duterte said he might ask China and African nations to form another body.

He also accused the UN of failing on terrorism, hunger and ending conflicts.

Duterte, elected in May, has sanctioned the killing of traffickers to try to wipe out the drugs trade.

The UN has repeatedly condemned the drive as a violation of human rights.

Some 900 suspected drug traffickers have been killed since Duterte was elected on May 9.

Last week, two UN human rights experts said

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

Duterte's directive for Police and the public to kill suspected drug traffickers amounted to "incitement to violence and killing, a crime under international law".

In an expletives-laden tirade against the UN on Sunday, Duterte branded

the experts "stupid", saying they should count the number of innocent lives lost to drugs.

"I do not want to insult you. But maybe we'll just have to decide to separate from the United Nations," he said.

"If you are that rude, we might just as well leave," he said.

"So take us out of your organisation. You have done nothing. Where were you here the last time? Never.

Except to criticise," he said.

Duterte said the UN should refund its contribution "so we can go out".

Duterte said the UN had been unable to combat hunger and terrorism and had failed to end the killing of civilians in Iraq and Syria.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Vietnam doubtful of TransPacific Partnership sign-off

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The TPP is in doubt due to opposition in the US

ietnam, with its strong export-led economy and potential for growth, is tipped to significantly benefit from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

The country expects revenue to increase by as much as 50 per cent when tariffs apply under the 12-nation trade deal.

"Vietnam wants to have an open economy," says Tran Du Lich, a former government trade adviser.

"We have been integrating with international and regional economies, with a number of free trade agreements."

However, the TPP is in doubt due to opposition in the US. US President Barack Obama has been trying to push the deal through before the end of his term in January.

If he runs out of time, prospects for the deals success are dimmer because the two main candidates to replace him oppose the agreement.

US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has voiced her opposition to the trade pact during her campaign.

"I will stop any trade deal that kills jobs or holds down

wages, including the TransPacific Partnership. I oppose it now, I'll oppose it after the election, and I'll oppose it as president," Clinton said.

If the US Congress does not ratify the agreement, it will effectively collapse.

If the TPP does not go ahead happen, it could leave the door open for China to forge closer economic ties with some member nations.

That could undo a lot of President Barack Obama's so-called pivot to Asia.

The US and China are vying for influence in the region, and Vietnam is a key factor. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What is your opinion on the unemployment rate in Guyana?

Lorenzo Persaud – Diamond

“I think it's contributing to the illegal emigration of a lot of our citizens. If we're not getting opportunities or anything to work with, what's the point of staying when the cost of living is too much? How will the poor survive in this economy? A lot of university students are being underpaid for their degrees and have to settle for jobs below their qualifications.”

Shanaz Mohamed – Grove

Chateram Dhanrajh – Georgetown

“Do you want it in one word? Terrible! Just imagine

"I think that more industries should be created in an effort to provide employment for young people; many of them just finish CXC with a lot of subjects and cannot even get a job. With the establishment of more agro-processing industries, more jobs can be created and more young people would be more occupied.”

Rensford Wilson – Linden

Leslie Benjamins – Georgetown

“Unemployment is a critical issue. The Government and the nation suffer from it. The unemployment rate in Guyana is becoming frightening. The greater the number of the unemployed or the longer

"I feel the Government needs to look into the issue of unemployment more serious because the youth is the future and they need to create jobs for the youths. The youths out there get frustrated very fast, especially when they ain't getting nothing to do. So they need to look into that seriously and create some jobs for young people. It's a very serious and widespread issue. Sports is one thing that keep youths off the road. The Government needs to put more money into that because sports also help to lift the country.”

Lawrence Talbot – Linden

"In Region 10, the issue of unemployment is a very challenging situation. We have a lot of children that come out of school, can't get jobs. That's my concern because I know a lot of people who are highly qualified. I know University of Guyana graduates who come out and can't get work here

Tiffany Griffith – Linden

"Unemployment is very prevalent in Guyana for various reasons, one being school dropouts. It's hard to get a job in Linden. They don't have enough businesses, so you have to go and work at a store or on the market, even if you have the qualifications to get a good job and earn a better income. Most young people, they rather stay home and you find that they get a lot of idle time. I think there should be more training workshops that can help young people find a job so that they can elevate themselves."

“It’s a main problem surrounding crime and every problem Guyana has.

The unemployment rate is quite high, but I believe the problem lies with minimum wage. There are two types of employment: 1) [those with] no job opportunities for people and 2) jobs with nextto-nothing pay. Guyana has these problems and it needs to be dealt with urgently.”

Vishal Rajpersaud – Essequibo Coast

“It is very sad that the unemployment rate is very high in Guyana. Many students who graduated from university are still unemployed, or underemployed. There are many factors which are causing unemployment, including limited businesses, low standard of living, and much more. I’d suggest that we encourage individuals to invest in their talents and create their own source of employment.”

they are without work, the more money the Government has to shell out. Therefore, the nation does not just have to deal with the lost income and decreased production, but also with an additional cost.

The Government can help to reduce the unemployment rate in Guyana by implementing various strategies and policies.

For example, place more emphasis on education and training. The aim is to give the long-term unemployed new skills which enable them to find jobs in developing industries.

Often times, the unemployed is more concentrated in certain regions. To overcome this geographical unemployment, the Government could give tax breaks to firms who set up in rural areas. Alternatively, they can give financial assistance to unemployed workers who move to areas with high unemployment.”

Avinash Odal – West Bank Demerara

I had six subjects at CSEC and couldn't get a proper job. Now, as youths of Guyana, we are forced to swallow our pride and lower our standards just because we have needs, while others have responsibilities and we work our asses off for next-to-nothing. Sure, the Government was too busy to even care for the youths.

So tell me what is he [The President] going to do with these students, or as they like to say ‘the future of Guyana’, who wrote approximately 19-20 subjects? And then they have the audacity to say Guyana is becoming brain drained!”

Emrith Davison- Corentyne

and this is what people are grumbling about. There is no data on how many people are employed. So even though you have self-employment, in terms of underemployment there is no data to give an insight (on) how many people are underemployed or how many people are partly employed."

“Unemployment is a worldwide problem, and we don’t have one million people in Guyana that we can’t find jobs for them. I don’t think that jobs are not there, but some people got too much of pride. Some people just want to do what they want to do.

They say that they can’t find a job, but they are not planting.

If all who say that they can’t find work just plant a few beds of something and when it is ready, pick it and go and sell is they will make money…Guyana has plenty jobs because we have plenty land.”

Analisa Tomby – Corentyne

“I am working, but there

are some of my friends who I went to school with who have never worked. Some of them say that I am lucky to be working.

I think that some jobs are hard to come by, but generally, the Government has been providing jobs for many of us.

Most of my friends have gone into the teaching profession and some of them into nursing.

The boys, they will not want to do nursing and then some children don’t spend time with their books when at school and still expect to get a good job and there is nothing that says that young people cannot become a security guard.

Some of us a lazy and blame it on jobs not available.”

Justin August – Corentyne

“We just have a set of children coming out of school with plenty CXC [subjects], and last year my son finish school and he still can’t get a job with seven subjects. I got a daughter graduate from UG and not working. Yes, the President said we need to create our own jobs; well, then let them give the children the capital to start up their own business.”

Rovin (Only name given) – Essequibo Coast

"More jobs are needed, too many young people are on the streets, idling and are before the magistrate courts for illegal activities. Industries need to be created. As soon as children leave school they should be occupied and given a job, then in Essequibo we need a University of Guyana so that young people can pursue a degree and be highly qualified for jobs."

Raju Maesh – Essequibo Coast

"Too many young people are involved in illegal activities because of the lack of employment. The Government needs to create employment for young people and take up their idle time; it's time for the creation of cottage industries, the issuing of soft loans for the establishment of small businesses, with this in place young people will be occupied."

17

feature

monday, AUGUST 22, 2016 | guyana-times.com

The old courthouse that was destroyed by fire

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he ancient community of Christianburg is prided as being the first settlement in Linden, situated in the captivating Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) area, with a rich history dating back to the early 1800s.

Even before Linden, which now incorporates Wismar and Mackenzie got its name, there was Christianburg, and earlier settlers were said to be Dutch who initially settled down the Demerara River in a little community which they referred to as Arague.

The area now known as Christianburg was also said to be a vast sugar plantation nestled on the left bank of the Demerara River, now also referred to as the West Side. The picturesque area of Christianburg is officially known as the community's first village, which was established during the Dutch inhabitancy.

But the area was first referred to as Stabroek, un-

ing quarters by the English, also settled at Christianburg back in 1803.

Tasked with providing lumber for the construction of the huts and buildings, Patterson is said to have acquired the services of the earlier Dutch settlers, Amerindians and even slaves to work alongside his logging establishment.

The difficulty of transporting logs in those days eventually led to Patterson's establishment of the first sawmill at Christianburg, with the powerhouse being the waterwheel which generated hydro power from the nearby Katapulli Creek.

These new developments had followed in the year 1855. In addition to generating power for the sawmill, the waterwheel was also a useful means of generating much needed electricity to the nearby huts and buildings under Patterson's closeknit establishment.

Patterson's large house had also been constructed in

trict emissary and dispensary. The Wismar area was later developed alongside Christianburg, followed by Mackenzie on the opposite shore.

Christianburg today The Christianburg community today is very much alive with its rich history and remains a close-knit family-oriented area.

A visit to the area would reveal that names of earlier settlers such as DeClou, Allicock and D'Anjou are still in existence. It is reportedly home to numerous centenarians, one such being Agatha Campbell, also known as "Mother Gathie" who lives at Stewart Path, Christianburg.

Today, Mother Gathie stands strong at 104 years.

Also to date, the famous waterwheel, although no longer in operation, remains one of the earliest landmarks in the Linden community. The Katapulli Creek is also one of the most pristine sites in the Christianburg

proximity to the Demerara River, on that section of the river bank which would later be called Wismar. Years later the house which had become a popular landmark had also served as the Christianburg Magistrate,s Court, which was destroyed only a few years ago by fire.

Being the first community to develop in the area, Christianburg was later referred to as a Seat of Government, containing a Police Headquarters, dis-

community. As a matter of fact, as any Lindener would know, it is hard to talk about Christianburg without mentioning or sparing a thought of the Katapulli Creek.

D'Anjou Alley, an area named after one of the earlier settlers, also to date remains. The quiet community now sports a recreational ground, health centre, cemetery, nursery and primary schools, with a few scattered family-oriented businesses. It also has an active

The church

til then Governor Christian Finnette settled there along with his wife, Burg. The area was actually renamed 'Christianburg' by Finnette who coined his first name along with that of his wife’s.

There is much history and earlier beginnings in Christianburg, known by many today as the home of the famous waterwheel. In fact, Scottish Engineer John Dagleish Patterson, who had been invited to Guyana to establish and develop liv-

Community Development Council (CDC). Gully like alleys are also a prominent feature of the community.

On a sunny day, Christianburg with a majestic view of the Demerara River is the perfect spot for bird watching or quiet relaxation.

As other communities later came on stream, including Mackenzie on the eastern shore of the Demerara River, Christianburg is known as the one which initially set the pace for numerous others to follow.

The waterwheel

A view of the Katapulli Creek

18

guyana-times.com

MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016

ARCHIE

You need to put greater emphasis on love, romance (March 21- and relationships. You can April 19) bring about favorable changes if you work with someone you care about to build a stable future.

ARIES

Don’t leave anything to TAURUS chance. Making plans that (April 20- you can adjust along the way May 20) will lead to your success. Stay alert and be ready to take advantage of an opportunity.

DILBERT

Take command, but don’t GEMINI antagonize someone who is (May 21stubborn or likely to fight June 20) back. Keep your life simple and focus on personal improvements, not on trying to change others.

Unexpected changes must CANCER not be allowed to throw you off (June 21- course. If you adjust to whatJuly 22) ever transpires and carry on, you will reach your goal and surpass your expectations.

PEANUTS

Your attitude will make LEO a difference as to how others (July 23treat you. Optimism is a good Aug. 22) way to attract opportunities.

If you believe in yourself, so will everyone else.

Cut to the chase and take VIRGO care of legal, contractual and (Aug. 23Sept. 22) financial matters quickly. If you let your emotions run the show, you will lose your equilibrium. Don’t let someone else take charge.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Secretive actions will lead LIBRA (Sept. 23- to trouble. Honesty will bring Oct. 23) about the results you want in the quickest manner. Refuse to let anyone bully or put pressure on you.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Put your energy into an emSCORPIO ployment search, personal im(Oct. 24- provements and striving for Nov. 22) financial gain. Size up your situation and make reasonable changes that will lead to concrete results. Ask and you will receive.

Nothing will be as it apSAGITTARIUS pears. Don’t rely on hearsay; (Nov. 23- get to the root of the matter and Dec. 21) decide what’s best for you. Now is not the time to be a follower.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Emotional game-playCAPRICORN ing is best ignored. You are (Dec. 22- best off focusing on personal Jan. 19) growth and doing what will bring the highest rewards rather than trying to accommodate someone else’s demands.

Embrace change, work AQUARIUS hard and strive to turn a plan (Jan. 20into a reality. Live life accordFeb. 19) ing to your rules, and don’t give in to others’ emotional demands. Be true to yourself.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES You need to put greater (Feb. 20- emphasis on love, romance March 20) and relationships. You can bring about favorable changes if you work with someone you care about to build a stable future.

monDAY, august 22, 2016

US Men waltz to gold in basketball

Rio Olympics close in spectacular fashion

T

he 2016 Olympics Games in Rio closed on Sunday evening in spectacular fashion as the host country, Brazil, featured pageantry and local flavour along with the customary parade of flags and athletes from countries that participated in the Games.

The ceremony culminated with a party featuring samba schools from Rio’s world-famous Carnival and the extinguishment of the Olympic flame.

At the end of the medal tally, Team USA finished with a total of 121 medals -- 51 more than second-place China. That is the largest margin by any country in

a non-boycotted Olympics since 1932, when the U.S. beat Italy by 67 medals.

T h e

Americans also topped their previous high of 110 Olympic medals, which they set in Beijing in 2008.

Michael Phelps once again took home the most medals of any Olympian (six), while Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles will each leave with five.

U.S. women took home 27 gold medals, by far the most of any country’s female contingent, and 61 medals total.

On the other hand , the Caribbean region’s medal total at the 31st Olympiad in Rio, Brazil jumped to 28 Saturday, a day before the curtains come down o n the Summer Games.

Jamaica and Cuba are now tied for the most medals of any Caribbean nation – 11 medals apiece. But Jamaica has one more gold medal than Cuba – coming in at 6 to date with Usain Bolt of course claiming three of those gold medals – while Cuba has 5.

The Bahamas now has increased its medal count

Dominant Brazil take volleyball gold

The Brazilian volleyball team were overjoyed with their success

N

eymar was in the crowd to watch Brazil win the men’s volleyball title for a third time in Rio, as Italy had to settle for silver yet again.

Host nation Brazil regained the Olympic men’s volleyball title by beating Italy in straight sets on the final day of Rio 2016.

Brazil were runnersup in the last two Games, but struck gold on home soil as Italy were beaten 25-22 28-26 26-24 in front of a boisterous crowd, in-

cluding Neymar, at the Maracanazinho.

Now three-time Olympic champions in men’s volleyball, Brazil’s previous success came when they beat Italy at the Athens Games in 2004.

Italy must wait at least another four years for an elusive gold, having been forced to settle for silver on three occasions.

Brazil trailed 11-8 in the first set, but rallied to win six points in a row and take a 16-12 lead before pushing on to get their

19

noses in front.

A tense second set swung this way and then the other, but a partisan crowd ramped up the noise as Brazil saved two set points and went on to take a 2-0 advantage.

There was no way back for Italy and there were jubilant scenes after Brazil sealed a seventh gold of the Games.

The United States came back from two sets down to beat Russia 3-2 and take bronze in a thriller earlier in the day. (SportsMax)

to two while other Caribbean nations medalling have one apiece. They are: Trinidad & Tobago, The Dominican Republic, Grenada and Puerto Rico.

Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago scored the twin island Republic’s only med- al – a bronze – during the Men’s Javelin T h r o w Final.

A

United States’ DeAndre Jordan dunks against Serbia

fter several close games along the way, the US men’s basketball team was all business on Sunday as they routed Serbia, 96-66, in the gold medal game.

Kevin Durant led the way, hitting three-point bombs, driving for dunks, handing out assists and making steals on defense. After a close first quarter, which ended with the U.S. up 19-15, the Americans blew the game open in the second frame.

Durant had 24 points by the half and the U.S. had a 23-point lead, 52-29.

The Americans extended their lead in the third quarter and were up by as many as 41 in the fourth.

Durant finished with 30 and DeMarcus Cousins added 13 in a balanced U.S. attack.

This was a radically different game from the earlier U.S.Serbia encounter in group play, where the Serbs missed a three pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime. Instead, they lost 94-91.

The Americans also had tough, close games against Australia, Spain and France, and often looked vulnerable, particularly on defense.

This was the third straight Olympic gold for the American men, who last lost to Argentina in the semifinal round in 2004, and had to settle for a bronze.

Carmelo Anthony, who was on that 2004 team and the three squads since, became the first American male basketball player to win three gold medals at the Olympics.

20

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

MONDAY, august 22, 2016

Sri Lanka v Australia, 1st ODI, Colombo

Finch, Smith help Australia pass SL spin test S ri Lanka had no fewer than six slow-bowling options - half of them specialists. And by the time Australia batted, the dry Premadasa pitch had begun to bubble and spit. In the Tests, these ingredients had led to humbling defeats for the visitors while the local spinners reaped sackfuls of wickets. But perhaps for the first time on tour, Australia satisfactorily negotiated the spin challenge.

The win wasn’t always pretty, but it was comfortable enough. With Aaron Finch and Steve Smith making half centuries, Australia chased down 228 with three wickets and more than three overs to spare.

It had been Australia’s quicks’ discipline that had earlier tethered Sri Lanka to a relatively modest total, even given the difficult conditions. Mitchell Starc took three important wickets as he became the quickest bowler in history to 100 ODI wickets, and James Faulkner inflicted even more damage, delivering a double-wicket maiden upon which Sri Lanka’s innings pivoted, and claiming four wickets for 38 all told.

Faulkner had cajoled Kusal Mendis into a miscued pull early in the 30th over, then had Angelo Mathews athletically caught at point four balls later.

When Starc took another wicket soon after, Sri Lanka had slipped from 124 for 2 to 132 for 5, and though Dinesh Chandimal was at the crease through the rest

Steven Smith hit five fours in his 92-ball 58 © Associated Press

of the innings, Sri Lanka could not muster the 250 which might have represented a winning score.

Starc prospered on a customary full length, and each of his wickets were the result of drawing batsmen into drives. He knocked down Kusal Perera’s off stump in the first over, got Dhananjaya de Silva miscuing a slower ball to claim his 100th wicket, then had Milinda Siriwardana out with a similar delivery.

Faulkner bowled his cutters more liberally and generally pitched the ball on a length. Starc did not concede a boundary through his ten overs. Faulkner was exemplary at the death, giving away only 17 in his last three overs, and claiming two scalps in them.

Smith’s 58 provided the chase its middle-overs substance, but it had been Finch who made quick ground in the early overs, so as to give the middle order

a wide margin for error. He clubbed his second ball for six, and did not slow his rate of scoring while the fielding restrictions were in effect even though balls began to misbehave early on. By the end of the 10th over, he had hit seven fours and two sixes in a score of 48 from 36 balls.

Finch departed in somewhat controversial circumstances - when Amila Aponso, the debutant leftarm spinner, had one leap away from the bat off a full length. The ball ended up in the hands of Angelo Mathews at slip, but such was the turn on offer, that it is possible it got there with no interference from Finch’s bat.

Whatever the case, Smith took the chase by the collar from then onwards, but his was a steadier innings.

Aponso beat his bat virtually every over, but Smith kept out the straighter deliveries and scored off the shorter ones. He was dropped on

15 when, at slip, Mathews failed to hold a catch that had deflected off the wicketkeeper’s pad. The remainder of his outside edges landed safely away from fielders. It was not the most fluent innings Smith has played, but it was the kind of surface on which survival was laudable enough.

Aponso was the most accurate of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, and unlucky to finish with only one wicket from his 10 overs. His colleagues left their surge too late. Dilruwan Perera had Smith caught at short leg, but the score was already 190. He took two more wickets towards the finish, and Lakshan Sandakan one more to add to the earlier wicket of Matthew Wade.

Australia lost four for 32 through that late period, but that was not a dramatic enough slump to threaten the result.

Sri Lanka’s top-scorer Dinesh Chandimal had earlier brought a Test-match zen to the first ODI, as he hit an unbeaten 80 from 113 deliveries. He scored in singles and twos exclusively to begin with, and was content to go without a boundary until his 46th delivery. The majority of his runs came square of the wicket; the cut, sweep, dab and legside flick the more favoured among his strokes. The Australia seamers increasingly rolled their fingers over the ball as the innings progressed, but Chandimal was largely wise to their changes of pace - though his shots did also

South Africa v New Zealand, 1st Test, Durban

3rd day lost to sodden Kingsmead outfield

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ew Zealand 15 for 2 (Williamson 2*, Taylor 2*, Steyn 2-3) trail South Africa 263 (Amla 53, Wagner 3-47, Boult 3-52) by 248 runs Looks deceived at Kingsmead when despite blue skies and sunshine, no play was possible on day three. A wet outfield, which has not recovered from the recent relaying process, took 65mm of rain overnight and did not dry out over the course of the morning and early afternoon. It has received a full day of sunshine and, barring any further mishaps, should be ready for play on Monday morning.

Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and the rest of South Africa’s attack will find conditions completely different to what they were when they took the field on Saturday afternoon. The overcast skies and persistent drizzle have moved away and after a full day of sun, the pitch would have flattened out.

After rain interrupted play on Saturday afternoon, a steady drizzle turned into a downpour and although the showers had abated by 6am, the outfield was cov-

The Kingsmead outfield did not recover from 65mm of overnight rain © Gallo Images/Getty Images

ered with water. Conditions improved significantly between then and 9:30, when it was announced that the morning session would be lost and an inspection would take place at noon.

The umpires asked for no artificial measures to be used in drying the outfield in that time, preferring to use the natural processes of sunlight and wind. The super-sopper was not brought out because the muddy patches were too soft and using it would only have worsened the damp outfield.

By 12pm, there was further improvement but areas outside the square - which were in pristine condition - and along the perimeter of the outfield, where scant

grass had left the sandy patches exposed, were still too wet. Underfoot conditions were deemed “treacherous,” and a second inspection was planned for 2pm.

Even then, the damp patches had not improved enough for play to resume.

Of particular concern were patches where puddles had gathered at the edge of the covers, which will lead to questions over the number of covers at Kingsmead.

Currently, Kingsmead’s covers keep the pitch and square protected but do not extend to the rest of the outfield. It is estimated that Kwa-Zulu Natal Cricket Union would need around R400,000 (US$30,000) to better protect the ground.

Should cricket be played in winter again, that investment may have to be made but this time, few would have expected it was needed.

Winter rainfall has been prevalent this year despite it being an unusual occurrence in Durban. In the last three weeks, the same amount of rain has fallen that the city usually gets over the three months from August to October. The excessive rain, along with the delayed start to the relaying of the outfield which took place in June, left the outfield unable to cope with the unexpected moisture.

Light was also a concern with early sunsets threatening to eat away at playing time, but play continued until 5:20pm on the first day.

Still, 12.2 overs were lost on day one and 68 on day two, bringing the total number of overs lost to 170.2. Still, 180 overs remain and with good weather forecast for the next two days, there may be enough time for a result other than a draw. Sunday’s tickets will be valid for the remaining two days or for a Dolphins domestic match later this season. (Cricinfo)

find infielders more often than he would have liked.

He hit only three boundaries in his innings.

Mendis was the recipient of much good during his 67 from 95 balls. He was dropped on 14, survived a close lbw shout on 25, was almost run out twice, and mishit plenty of his shots.

However, unlike Chandimal, Mendis didn’t completely omit the more exuberant strokes. His most memorable shots was a regal lofted straight drive off Moises

Henriques, and a lofted legside flick off Faulkner.

Beyond these two halfcenturies, three others made bit-part contributions to the score. Tillakaratne Dilshan made 22 before falling to the Dilscoop. Siriwardana hit 19 off 26 in a 41-run stand with Chandimal, and Thisara Perera made 21 off 14 in the death overs. Australia’s seamers were difficult to get away at the finish, conceding only 41 in the final six overs, but much of the damage had been done earlier on. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka innings (50 overs maximum) M Perera b Starc 1 T Dilshanc Smith b Henriques 22 B Mendis c Head b Faulkner 67 LD Chandimal† not out 80 A Mathews* c Head b Faulkner0 D de Silvac Bailey b Starc 2 T Siriwardanac Finch b Starc 19 N Perera c †Wade b Faulkner 21 M Perera c Hazlewood b Faulkner 10 M Aponso not out 2 Extras (b 1, w 2) 3 Total (8 wickets; 50 overs) 227 Did not bat: PADLR Sandakan Fall of wickets 1-3 (MDKJ Perera, 0.4 ov), 2-45 (Dilshan, 11.1 ov), 3-124 (Mendis, 29.1 ov), 4-124 (Mathews, 29.5 ov), 5-132 (de Silva, 32.2 ov), 6-173 (Siriwardana, 42.4 ov), 7-209 (NLTC Perera, 47.4 ov), 8-224 (MDK Perera, 49.2 ov) 10-1-32-3, Bowling: Starc Hazlewood 10-0-56-0, Faulkner 10-1-38-4, Henriques 9-0-48-1, Zampa 7-0-34-0, Head 4-0-18-0 Australia innings (target: 228 runs from 50 overs)

D Warnerc †MDKJ Perera b NLTC Perera 8 A Finch c Mathews b Aponso 56 S Smith*c sub (MD Gunathilaka) b MDK Perera 58 M Wade† c Dilshan Sandakan 26 G Baileyc Sandakan b MDK Perera 39 M Henriquesc sub (MD Gunathilaka) b Sandakan 6 T Headst †MDKJ Perera b MDK Perera 10 not out 5 J Faulkner M Starc not out 5 Extras (b 2, lb 1, w 12) 15 Total (7 wickets; 46.5 overs) 228 Did not bat: A Zampa, JR Hazlewood Fall of wickets: 1-40 (Warner, 7.2 ov), 2-79 (Finch, 14.2 ov), 3-128 (Wade, 24.6 ov), 4-190 (Smith, 37.5 ov), 5-202 (Henriques, 40.1 ov), 6-216 (Bailey, 43.3 ov), 7-222 (Head, 45.3 ov) Bowling: Mathews 7-0-330, Dilshan 3.5-0-25-0, Perera 5-1-25-1, Aponso 10-1-27-1, Siriwardana 6-0-34-0, Perera 100-48-3, Sandakan 5-0-33-2

McGregor leaves Diaz pouring with blood after brutal decision victory

Nate Diaz’s face takes a pounding as McGregor connects with a powerful left hand during their rematch in Las Vegas

T

he Notorious’ Conor McGregor reclaimed his loss over Nate Diaz with a majority decision win at UFC 202 and immediately called for a third bout at 155lbs with the Stockton native.

The bitter rivals embraced following the back and forth contest that saw Diaz hit the canvas three times before the fight hit the third round. However, Diaz rallied

in the final rounds and put the Irishman in considerable danger, particularly in the third round when he battered him against the fence before the bell sounded.

By the time the fight ended, it was anyone’s guess who had taken it. The judges’ scorecards underlined the closeness of the affair as two scored it 48-47 for McGregor, and the other deemed it a draw.

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21

sports

Garner says T20 mentality hindering Test development

F

ast bowling legend Joel Garner says the successful emergence of Twenty20 cricket has dulled the appetite of younger players for the longer version of the game, and has also contributed to a negative work ethic in the region.

Garner, currently serving as West Indies team manager, said the Caribbean was losing too many of its young cricketers and T20 cricket had only served to perpetuate the problem.

“When you look at our cricket, we’re challenging up to Under-19 [level]. When you look at every world competition, West Indies are there. Where we have the challenges is when we go away,” Garner said here. “I think everybody looks at the T20 cricket and they want to play the T20 format of the game instead of playing the longer version. And it’s a matter of choice – why work for five days when you can work for three hours.

“I think that’s the mentality and it’s something we have to try and change, in terms of how our players look at the cricket and the type of cricket our players want to play.”

While West Indies’ Test fortunes have declined significantly over the last two decades, their stock in the shortest format has risen considerably.

Only last April, they became the first nation to won the T20 World Cup twice, when they beat England in dramatic final in Kolkata.

They had beaten hosts Sri Lanka to win their first T20 title in 2012.

Joel Garner

In contrast, they languish at number eight in the Test rankings, just a few ratings points above minnows Bangladesh.

The glitzy Caribbean Premier League has also emerged in recent years as a success, and has been filling stadia around the region while the first class tournament continues to be poorly attended.

Garner, a West Indies Cricket Board director and the president of the Barbados Cricket Association, said tough decisions needed to be taken.

“Drastic situations call for drastic measures and while T20 cricket is a money-spinner, a money-earner, I think if we want to be at the top of the world we have to do things a little bit different,” the 63-year-old said. “[We have to] get used to playing the longer version of the game, get people to become more professional and I think if we can get them to become more professional,

then performances will improve.”

The ongoing four-Test series against India has offered little hope of a resurgence with West Indies already trailing 0-2, following two heavy defeats in the first three Tests.

Successful Test debuts for Roston Chase, who scored an unbeaten hundred in his second Test, and for fast bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Miguel Cummins, have been encouraging but Garner said it would take much more to get West Indies back on top again.

“The key to West Indies fortunes is to get a team that is performing and a team that stays fit and a team that’s improving,” he pointed out.

“You have to start some place and if it is you’re starting with a new squad then it will take time, it takes a little bit of patience. The way to go about it is to encourage the fellas to work hard and improve with each performance.”

Increased games at the first class level would also be key to any revival, Garner noted.

“If you look at the amount of games the Indian fast bowlers would have played against the amount of games the West Indian fast bowlers would have played, there’s a vast difference,” he argued.

“So even though [India’s] bowlers may be new, they’ve got some experience. We’ve got fellas who are early 20s or who’ve been playing two, three years. The only thing we can do is keep working with them.” (CMC)

Malta Supreme 11-race programme

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eam Evolution Rider Raul Leal continued to one of the dominant forces in local cycling, as he raced to first place, carting off the spoils in the feature 35-lap event Malta Supreme 11-race programme on the Saturday at the inner circuit of the National Park.

Leal dusted the likes of Paul DeNobrega and Raphael Leung to secure his sixth win of the season in a time of hour, 19 min-

Raul Leal

utes and 36 seconds; Mark Harris, Andre Green and Junior Niles rounded off the top six positions.

The other winnings in the day’s proceedings included: Andrew Hicks (Juveniles), Junior Niles (Veteran’s U-50), Raymond Newton (Veteran’s O-50), Nicholas Alphonso (Mountain Bike), Adelie Hodge (BMX Boys and Girls 12-14), Alex Leung (BMX Boys 6-9) and Sherwin Sampson (BMX 9-12 and 12-14).

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GUYANA-TIMES.COM

MONDAY, august 22, 2016

WICB Regional Under-19

Guyana complete 3-peat by defeating Windwards

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Keemo Paul

he Travis Persaud led Guyana Under-19 team will go down in history as they completed the three-peat yesterday after defeating the Windward Island by five wickets in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Under-19.

Guyana’s most establish player and vice-captain Keemo Paul and one of the youngest member of the team Bhaskar Yadram was at the helm of their historical moment. Paul was the spearhead of the bowling attack with three wickets while Yadram top scored.

Batting first the home team Windwards were restricted to 142 all out in 42.2 overs with only Johnel Eugene (42) and Emmanuel Stewart (22) making it past 20.

Paul (3-16) and Looknauth Chinkoo (332 from 10 overs) led the destruction for Guyana while all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford impressed with two wickets. Kheshram Seyhodam was once again effective with an economy rate of 3.2 as he grabbed one wicket from his quota of 10 overs while Malcolm Hubbard also grabbed one wicket.

The Guyanese bowlers stifled the Windwards’ batsmen and from a position of 59-5 they never recovered.

In reply the winners lost their first wicket with the score on 33 but it was really easy sailing for them as they batted responsibly and executed well to win by five wickets. Yadram top scored with 41 not out while receiving support from Rutherford

Dyal Jagdeo of J’s Printery hands over copies of Logos to Mark Papannah of RHTY&SC, MS

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Bhaskar Yadram

21, Raymond Perez 24, Paul 20, Joshua Persaud 13 and Renaldo Ali-Mohamed four not out.

Alick Anthanaze and Jonathan Taylor snared two wickets apiece while Rasheed Fredericks claimed one victim.

The win meant Guyana added to their 2014 title at home and 2015 title in Jamaica. The team has also lived up to expectation and has done its country proud as most cricket lovers and pundits had high expectation prior to the event.

Pepsi Under-19 Cricket Team assist Angoy's Avenue and Bush Lot Cricket Clubs

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he young cricketers of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S Pepsi Under 19 Team on Wednesday last assisted their counterparts of the Angoy Avenue Cricket Club of New Amsterdam and the Bush Lot Cricket Club of West Coast Berbice.

The team donated a pair of batting pad, wicket keeping pad, wicket keeping gloves and a basketball to the Angoy Avenue Cricket Club while the West Berbice Club received four trophies for the presentation ceremony of their annual cricket academy.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTYSC, Hilbert Foster at the presentation ceremony stated that the RHTYSC on an annual basis makes it a priority to assist other sports clubs in Berbice to fulfil their mandates. He proudly stat-

Assistant Secretary/CEO Franklyn Ross hands over the donation to Angoy's Avenue Cricket Club

educational materials. The Pepsi Under 19 team which consists of national junior cricketers Brandon Prashad, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Slyus Tyndall and Plaffina Millington, Foster stated that the team was proud to assist the two Clubs and

RHTY&SC’s Anil Ramnarine hands over trophies to R Saywack of Bush Lot CC

ed that Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation is the only one who assists competitors to improve themselves as it was important to assist every youth to fulfil their potentials.

To date the RHTYSC has assisted a total of 39 sports Clubs, NGO’s, Churches and Schools in 2016 with over $1.2M worth of trophies and

urged the members of the Bush Lot and Angoy Avenue teams to always strive for excellence and to use the donation for its intended purpose.

Foster expressed profound disappointment at the state of Berbice Cricket which is currently in turmoil due to a Court injunction and he issued an appeal for everyone to work together to return the county to its

Rose Hall Town Week attracts more sponsors

former glory. Foster recalled that when he resigned as Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee in 2014 after completing over 1500 programmes/activities over a seven years period, Berbice Cricket was at its strongest level but in a short two years span has fallen apart due to matters unrelated to cricket.

The experienced sports administrator who in 2011 became the First Club Official to win the prestigious National Sports Personality Award, stated that unless something is done by those in charge of Berbice Cricket, it would die a painful and swift death. The RHTYSC, M.S he stated would continue to play its part and issued an emotional appeal to other major cricket Clubs in Berbice to assist less fortunate cricket clubs so that Berbice Cricket can improve.

Representatives of both Clubs expressed gratitude to the RHTYSC, M.S and its Pepsi Under 19 team for the assistance. President of the Bush Lot Club Mr. Robbie Saywack stated that the RHTYSC, M.S has been the inspiration between his Club’s mission to assist youths that the Bush Lot Cricket Club was using the National Awardee as a role model to emulate.

he township of Rose Hall between September 14-25 would be a hub of activities as Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and its eight cricket teams host the 2016 Town Week celebration.

The Township would be celebrating its 46th anniversary after been granted the status of township on the 20th of September, 1970.

The activities planned for the two weeks programme includes a Day of Sports, Launching of a Booklet on the history of the township, Career and Business Fair, Educational Competitions, Rose Hall Town Cuisine Competition, Opening of a Family Recreational Park, Medical Outreach Programme, Launching of a Television Documentary, a Massive March Past consisting of 700-1000 marchers and Grand Opening Ceremony.

Several more sponsors over the last week came on board to assist the RHTYSC and the cricket teams to organise the best town week celebration in the history of Guyana. The Office of the President would be contributing 100 Guyana flags to decorate the township while Club Patron, H.E President David Granger has contributed a special message for the 40 pages booklet on the township’s history.

J’s Printery of New Amsterdam donated a quantity of large full coloured logos of the 46th anniversary

while Matadeen’s Western Union and Metro Office Supplies has contributed a thousand promotional leaflets, that would be shared out at the Berbice Expo.

Mayor of the Town, Vijay

mony. Popular Rose Hall Town Businessman Poonai Bhirooj and Imran Hamid have also pledged to sponsor special events with Bhirooj standing the cost of lighting up the Independence Arch Square while Hamid would be sponsoring the Essay Competition for Secondary School students.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to the sponsors for coming on board to assist the RHTYSC Cricket teams to make the 2016 anniversary celebration a memorable one for every resident of Guyana’s smallest township.

Foster stated that all plans are falling into place

Mayor Vijay Ramoo hands over souvenirs to Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

Ramoo also handed over a large supply of anniversary shirt clips, cups and pens to the organisers. Other donors coming on board were the Anamayah Memorial who is sponsoring the Basketball Competition, the National Communication Networks who is contributing air time to promote the event, Bobby and Son Boutique is sponsoring of several Rose Hall Town flags while H.C. Alphonso and Sons is contributing 10 tons of white sand towards the construction of the Family Recreation Park.

The Government Information Agency (GINA) also visited the township on Wednesday last and would be producing a Television Documentary which would be launched during the opening cere-

and disclosed that several major sponsors would be unveiled shortly. The long serving Secretary/CEO stated that this is one of the most challenging programme that the cricket teams are undertaking due to the fact that that the admission fee for all the events are free and as such, sponsorship would have to be obtained to cover every angle.

Sponsors already on board includes Goodwood Racing Service, Demerara Bank, Republic Bank, Office of the Prime Minister, Hand in Hand Insurance, Ministry of Social Protection, The Guyana Tourism Authority, Kings Jewellery World, F+H Printery, Impression Printery, Digital Edge, Scotia Bank and the Guyana Police Force ‘B’ Division.

West Indies v India, 4th Test, Port of Spain

4th day called off in 1st hour ―West Indies 62 for 2 (Brathwaite 32*) v India

A

It was another sunny day with no play in Port of Spain © AFP

ll efforts to get the Queen’s Park Oval ready for play were given up in the very first hour of the fourth day. At around 10.25am, the fourth day was called off.

Since the early morning

on day two of the Test, there had been barely an hour of rain, but the outfield was in such a bad state that not a ball was bowled for three days. The ground was not fully covered, it didn’t have a super sopper, and Test

cricket went through another surreal day of no action.

With the Test certain to end as a draw, Pakistan were all set to become the new No. 1 Test team; India needed to win this Test to retain their top spot. (Cricinfo)

guyana-times.com

monday, august 22, 2016

23

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat. U-17 League

Henrietta move to #2 in Essequibo H

enrietta United FC on account of a walk over from Charity Extreme moved into the second place spot in the points table of the Essequibo leg of the ongoing GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 League.

The match was scheduled for The Anna Regina Community ground on Saturday but Charity did not show up. Sunday’s match between Mainstay Goal Star and top of the table Queenstown United was not played as of the field not being properly marked, specifically, the 18-yards and 6-yards areas.

Meanwhile, Beacons’ Joshua Jones continues to

hit the back of the nets with consistency in the Bartcia leg of the league.

Jones scored all three of his teams’ goals in their 2-1 win over Ballers and a 1-1 draw with Riverview; Emanuel Atherly netted Ballers’ consolation goal

while Kellon Richardson responded for Riverview in the drawn match. In latest play, Shairoon Khan blasted the nets in the 26th and 57th minute in leading Lazio to a 2-0 blanking of Agatash FC. Wolves United did not have to break a sweat in taking

Caribbean Badminton International Championships

Guyanese doubles teams into the finals

Action in the boys’ doubles

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he Guyanese players competing at the Caribbean Badminton International C h a m p i o n s h i p s (CAREBACO) currently playing in Aruba is into two finals. In the Mix Doubles, Narayan Ramdhani and Priyanna Ramdhani will look to claim the top title while in the Boys Doubles, Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra will look to create a similar feat.

In the Boys and Girls Singles both Narayan Ramdhani and Priyanna Ramdhani lost in the SemiFinals and settled for Bronze Medals.

In the Boys Singles,

Guyana’s number one Seeded player, Narayan Ramdhani, battled the Dominican Republic’s number three Seeded player Cesar Adonis Brito Gonzalez. The Dominican took the first game at 21-18.

Narayan then came back in the second game to win 1921. Gonzalez then sealed his spot in the final game at 2111.

The Girls Singles saw Guyanese Priyanna Ramdhani versus Amanda Yearwood of Barbados. The Barbadian took the first game at 21-14. Priyanna then took the second game at 13-21 and then lost the final game at 21-13.

Boys Doubles- Narayan Ramdhani and Jonathan Mangra defeated Jade Allman and Joshua Smith of Trinidad and Tobago in the semi-finals in two straight sets; 21-11 and 21-18 to reach the finals.

Mix Doubles- Narayan Ramdhani and Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Renaldo Sinanan and Jade Renales (Trinidad) 21-8, 21-7 to reach the finals.

The GBA would like to thank Mohamed’s Enterprise, Republic Bank, NSC, BK International, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Crown Mining, Gio Tech and Cosmopolitan Trading.

Boyce & Jefford Committee conducts annual officials’ workshop

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he Boyce & Jefford Track and Field Committee hosted its annual workshop for officials in Linden on Saturday as part of its developmental mandate ahead of this weekend’s Track and Field Classic at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground, Linden.

Technical Director of the Boyce & Jefford Track and Field Committee, Mark Scott conducted the workshop. Scott informed that it is important to continue to host the forum since the rules of the sport is always being updated.

Mark Scott

“About 90 percent of the officials we use are from Linden. This is deliberately done to build capacity of officials in this communi-

ty where the meet is held.

Based on what we have done over the years, these officials are among the most knowledgeable in the sport,” Scott indicated in a press release.

The workshop has been an annual feature of the Classic, which is aimed at developing officials according to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rule book. Approximately 35 Officials attended to forum on Saturday, representing the core group to officiate at the meet this weekend.

Joshua Jones

Henrietta United Football Club

full points against Potaro Strikers which did not show up.

Riversview were able to rebound to a solid 2-0

win over Rising Stars in their next match thanks to a Kellon Richardson brace which were scored in the 25th and 50th minute. Lazio

and Wolves also won via the walk over route from Potaro Strikers Agatash FC, respectively.

Malteenoes Sports Clinic commences today

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oday the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) will commence its summer sports programme for children 17-years and under. The event will take place on weekdays at the entity’s premises at Thomas Lands.

The camp will be facilitated by former national player and coach, Mark Harper, along with other established coaches. The aims of the programme are: to provide a variety of fun and enjoyable activities which are expected to provide immense pleasure and satisfaction, while teaching the basic skills of the game; to develop hand eye co-ordination, sharpen reflexes, agility and flexibility, balance and speed; to teach the rules of the game by step-bystep instructions; to develop life skills, such as self-confidence and self-discipline; to build and improve skills and athletic capabilities.

Mark Harper

Children will also learn the basics of the game through playing a variety of games that cover all facets of cricket. Games will be designed for small groups to ensure that all children get a go, and that they can test, learn and practice skills as they go. There will also be matches during the programme to test the skills, confidence and mental capabilities of players.Apart from the qualified

coaches, Guyana Amazon Warriors player, Steven Jacobs, who is a member of the club, along with several of his Warriors teammates, will be on hand to deliver motivational lectures during the course of the camp.

The programme aims to attract 60 participants.

Registration forms can be picked up at MSC from 15:00h Monday-Saturday.

The fee for children 13-years and under is $1500, while 17-years and under will pay $2000. Children coming in groups of five will get a special package. Guidelines for the programme will be available when uplifting the registration form.

The event will run up to September 2. For more information interested persons can contact 225-6509 or call the club’s treasurer, Troy Lewis on 613-2575.

mondAY, august 22, 2016

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

Rio Olympics close in spectacular fashion

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WICB Regional Under-19

Guyana complete 3-peat by defeating Windwards

US Men waltz to gold in basketball

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