Guyana Times Daily - June 26, 2015

friday, june 26, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$12M in cocaine from Guyana busted in NY

Heeralall Sukdeo, the owner of Sukdeo and Sons Fishing Establishment in Queens, New York, USA, was arrested following the discovery of more than 268 kilograms (kg) of cocaine hidden among frozen shrimp shipped from Guyana.

In a US Daily News report, it was stated that the shipment of cocaine was addressed to “Randolph Fraser” which is apparently Sukdeo’s alias. Sukdeo was held without bail as the authorities continue their investigation. According to reports, a drug-sniffing dog detected the drugs in a shipping container that arrived at the Red Hook Terminal from Guyana last week. The street value of the cocaine discovered is estimated to be more than US$12 million.

Upon discovering the drugs, agents secretly removed the coke-filled shrimp and tailed the container after it cleared customs on

June 15, US Homeland Security Special Agent Ryan Varrone reported. The container was delivered on Monday to an unidentified warehouse in

Brooklyn where agents spotted Sukdeo together with others, organising and supervising the unloading of the shipment of shrimp. Sukdeo, 59, was arrested, but report-

edly declared his innocence claiming that he was present in the vicinity of the truck containing the shipment, because he was curious about its contents. It was report-

ed that Defence Attorney Andre Travieso said Sukdeo has never been arrested before and was confident that it was a huge mistake.

This came weeks after a US citizen was arrested at the John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport moments after disembarking a Caribbean Airlines flight from Guyana with almost 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of cocaine in baking powder packets. Alizah Zaneshia Henry was nabbed by US Customs and Border Protection Agents as she attempted to smuggle the cocaine through security at the Airport. During a search, a large number of Champion Baking Powder packets were discovered under the

clothes in her suitcase. Given that there was a previous case whereby a man was arrested with some 8.1kg (18 pounds) of cocaine in Champion Custard Powder packets, the contents of the packets were tested and proved to be cocaine. Henry was told of the offence and arrested on federal smuggling charges. According to information received, the “baking powder” was turned over to Homeland Security. She will be prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office in the US Eastern District Court of New York. In recent weeks, another woman was also caught with some 5.8kg (13 pounds) of cocaine at the JFK Airport.

Security sector’s

US$4M assistance from China to be readjusted to suit new priorities

In light of the new Public Security Ministry’s priorities, the list of areas of support in which Guyana stands to benefit from China will be readjusted in keeping with the Ministry’s new focus areas, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told the media of this development following a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Zhang Limin on Thursday. Minister Ramjattan pointed out, “We have gotten a list that the previous Government had sent to the Chinese Government for support ... equivalent to US$4 million, I have asked the Ambassador … just for some minor adjustments I might want to make to that list, in the light that we are going to put some priorities in other areas than the last administration, so we intend to do a readjustment to that list, and he was open to that.”

During this meeting at the Public Security Ministry, Brickdam, the two officials discussed areas of mutual interest that could see possible collaboration between the two countries, which will in turn benefit them both. According to the Minister, the meeting was a very good one which brought him up to date with the bilateral relationship between Guyana and China as it relates to security.

Among other issues discussed were training and capacity building for officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF). Noise nuisance is also another area which will be given a lot of attention, and for this, the Government of Guyana will be requesting quality testing materials, which would be able to effectively measure the decibels of music systems and/

or other objects and systems that contribute to this form of nuisance. Also, Guyana will be seeking technical support from China to deal with piracy.

Meanwhile, in the area of training, a request has been made for local officers to be trained in Guyana by visiting facilitators.

The reason for this is more individuals will have access to the training, as opposed to a few going overseas, according to the Minister. Further, Guyana has received assistance for the Guyana Fire Service from the Chinese Government, over the past few years, in the form of fire trucks and protective gear.

This was highlighted by Minister Ramjattan who was at the time speaking of the strong relations shared by the two countries.

Meanwhile, several other countries have also indicated their willingness to assist Guyana in the area of security; these include Russia, which has pledged its commitment to providing assistance through training and capacity building for the officers in the GPF. Canada will also be assisting in this regard. Training will be provided to local officers in five areas: gender violence, women in police leadership, human rights, crime scene management, and public corruption.

Outgoing Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Nicole Giles, had pointed out that funds will be available through a grant of Cdn$750,000 to help develop the local justice system. It is expected to be spent on legislative drafting, improving the administrative department of the courts and training for lawyers and judges along with capacity building for Police Officers among other areas.

More than 268 kilograms (kg) of cocaine had been hidden among frozen shrimp shipped from Guyana

june 26, 2015

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, June 26 – 12:30h-14:00h and Saturday, June 27 – 13:30h-15:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, June 26 – 11:20h-12:50h and Saturday, June 27 – 12:30h-14:00h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers can be expected in the early morning hours, with heavy rain showers expected in the later morning. Light rain showers will dominate through the early afternoon, with some sunshine prevailing in the later afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 11:55h reaching a maximum height of 2.21 metres.

Low Tide: 05:26h and 17:51h reaching minimum heights of 0.99 metre and 0.98 metre respectively.

Rohee unveils PPP/C’s post-elections game plan

...Party retooling to be combative, militant Opposition

By Michael younge

The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) over the next few weeks will roll out a comprehensive and politically sound strategic plan for regaining the reins of Government sooner than later, as it is now fully settled in its role as an Opposition party following the results of the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

This is according to PPP/C Executive Member and General Secretary, Clement Rohee who said that the new David Grangerled Administration will be taught a very good lesson about how effective and democratically sound parties function in Opposition, while preparing to again enter the Executive with grandeur. Rohee, speaking with Guyana Times during an exclusive interview at his office in Freedom House, Georgetown, said that the party has already made a strategic and tactical adjustment within its internal structures. “Our being in Opposition, however, is not simply to oppose for the sake of opposing. We will be a militant Opposition. We will be an Opposition that would ride on the basis of our manifesto and we will act as though we are readying ourselves to be in the Government sooner rather than later”, the General Secretary offered.

Expectations

He said that he understood the public’s expectations of the party while in Opposition and the anticipation surrounding the outcome of the recently filed election petition. “There are some who believe that the petition, if successful, will result in the removal of the

Granger-led Administration. There are others who are going on the experience of the Janet Jagan administration or election petition in which the court did declare in favour of new election but not necessarily the Janet Jagan administration being removed from office”, he stated.

He said that Guyanese would have to wait to learn about the outcome of this petition and what will be the ruling of the court while he maintained that the PPP/C will not be sitting idly by during this time. Rohee made it clear that the PPP/C will be going to Parliament and will not buckle under the pressure from civil society groups and the Government to rush to the national assembly for the sake of symbolism. “We will return to Parliament at time when the party after having assessed the political climate of the country… the extent to which the Government has responded to our demands particularly in respect of the witch-hunt that is now being executed

by the hirelings and underdogs and after the climate which seems to be all pervasive in terms of fear and intimidation is less all pervasive… when another of other social and economic matters are addressed and when we feel as a party that the climate is conducive to the party taking up its seats in the national assembly… then and only then we will do so…”, he remarked firmly during the interview.

The General Secretary said that the PPP’s Central Executive Committee and Executive have developed its strategic plan which contains its own political agenda, parliamentary agenda and extra parliamentary agenda to be pursued while in Opposition. He said that the party plans to also continue to wage protest in respect to electoral reforms at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), and for the removal of GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally.

“… all of that will fit in the framework in respect to

the roll and place of the PPP in the country…”, Rohee advised Guyana Times He said that the party is continuing its consultations with its membership and supporters explaining that “right now the mood of our membership and supporters is that we ought not to be sitting in the Parliament until such time that we believe it is conducive to do so…”.

Leadership

Asked what sort of leadership the party will bring to the state of affairs in the country while in Opposition, Rohee said that it plans to be “fighting and combative party” which will expose the excesses, discriminatory and illegal actions of the de facto Government. He said that the party also plans on adopting constructive approaches with respect to the fulfilment of its manifesto promises even though it is not in office. Rohee said that the PPP, would over the next few weeks, take time to reorganise its representatives at every level of governance internally and externally.

He said the party was bemused by the amount of stakeholders locally and internationally who were suddenly concerned about the PPP’s occupation of its parliamentary seats, its wellbeing and future. “It seems to me that there is some worry about the PPP not being in Parliament… we are not worried about us not being in Parliament… but there seem to be others out there who are concerned about our political welfare… political future… and the persons and individuals who have expressed that concern are people who are known to be die-in-the-whole anti-PPP people”, he confessed.

PPP/C General Secretary, Clement Rohee

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Literacy in Guyana

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From the grammar of local television news anchors, politicians, other leaders and business persons; spelling in news stories, commercials on national television and posters displayed on shop fronts countrywide; to local menus, public information, official documents and vehicle slogans; the state of Guyana’s English language is as tragicomic as it is horrifying.

Whether or not we explain them away as “typos”, or “simple errors in English”, it indicates something is tragically wrong. Little wonder that today our youth and the less educated believe incorrect English is correct and inexcusable “mistakes” are the norm. It suggests we are nurturing a nation of illiterates and semiilliterates, with little to no clue that their grasp of our official language is deplorable and inadequate and very few, if any at all, seem bothered.

Whether we speak English, Mandarin or the click language of the San peoples, knowing (and displaying that knowledge), the rules of grammar and spelling reflect some aspect of our intelligence and promote credibility in ourselves and in what we are saying and writing.

Our low standards have been annually illustrated in the generally mediocre to poor exam results in English at local, regional and international examinations. If Guyanese adults are barely, if at all, proficient in English, how can we expect their children to be better?

How have we reached to such low levels is a question for our educators, social scientists and politicians. The more tragic situation is that it is not considered a priority, to be fixed as soon as possible.

It’s not impossible to see why. Our native tongue today, English, has often been considered of little value because once we feel we can communicate our idea, we have little need to learn to do more.

Any more effort on the English language is considered unnecessary. Being proficient in English does not seem to influence our finances, so it falls way behind in the national economic psyche.

Our low literacy standards also encourage a low level of intellectual creativity, perhaps evident in our paucity of literary excellence. Just consider too, which drama or theatre production attracts a bigger audience and makes the most money – though we can all agree that good theatre does not necessarily mean an intellectual production with perfect grammar.

Reading, writing and speaking the standard form of any language is extremely important all over the world because it opens doors to better jobs and provides more opportunities for success, not to mention the fact of presenting a good image of one self.

Few employers want to deal with semi-illiterate employees, much less illiterate ones, because the lack of literacy often leads to a lack of communication that in turn can cause significant financial loss.

In addition, few better-educated persons take seriously or find credible any person whose speech is laden with grammatical errors. This also extends to organizations or businesses whose public information contains regular grammar and spelling mistakes.

That English language has and will continue to evolve does not suggest we write and speak however we want as long as we get our point across.

Rather, at the time of our speech and writing, the language has a grammar and rules of grammar that make communication clearer, thereby helping avoid ambiguity, misunderstanding and misinterpretation.

Arbitrary grammar and spelling in our speech and writingbecause we don’t know the correct way - cannot create good communication and should not be the solution to our present ignorance of a language most of us consider our native language.

PPP/C protest, boycott and recount of ballots

Dear Editor, The PPPC has rejected the officially declared result of the May 11 elections, contending it was defrauded out of office because the declared result did not reflect the actual votes in the ballot boxes.

Its request for a recount (not re-tally) of the votes has been denied by GECOM. It has boycotted Parliament and has been engaged in public protest action demanding a recount of the ballots to put pressure on the government to force GECOM to carry out a recount.

It is not clear if a recount of the ballots (not re-tallying as was done by GECOM and passed off as a recount) will alter the outcome as declared by GECOM. Can the PPP/C sustain the boycott or protest actions? Will it attract widespread support for its actions? And are those actions enough to force a recount of the ballot?

It appears that only a court order can force a recount. The PNC, unlike the PPP/C now, was able to force

recounting of ballots and have election results thrown out because it had the capacity and ability to shut down Georgetown forcing the hand of the PPP/C government and GECOM forcing the hands of the dictates of the PNC.

The PPP/C lacks a similar capacity as the PNC to shut down the country forcing a recount. The PPP/C never prepared itself for a current eventuality even though analysts repeatedly warned the party of this possibility.

When the PPP was ousted from office in December 1964 and when elections were flagrantly rigged between 1968 and1992, the party had justifiable reason for protest actions.

It was a victim of electoral fraud and its supporters were victims of racism. The PPP received widespread support for its actions – boycott of Parliament, picketing exercises, labour strikes, student strikes, civil action, economic inactivity to punish the Burnham dictatorship, international solidar-

ity, etc. In addition, the political parties and civic and religious organizations came together to fight against electoral injustice. There is no similar support for the PPP/C now in its justifiable demand for a re-count of ballots.

During the struggle for free and fair election between 1964 and 1992, the PPP was led by a charismatic political figure who was respected for his integrity and incorruptible honesty.

Dr Cheddi Jagan was a down to earth person who lived for and dedicated his struggle for the upliftment of the poor and working class.

He was not motivated by self-wealth or monetary gains. He was a person of and for the masses. People willingly came forward to support Jagan’s cause for restoration of democracy because of the enormous respect and admiration they had for the man and because they saw themselves as part and parcel of the party and of the struggle.

They came forward willingly and asked: “Comrade Cheddi, what do you want us to do?” to bring about political change or to advance the democratic process. Anything Jagan asked, people were willing to do it. So he could sustain his political struggle against electoral fraud for 28 years.

Now the PPPC lacks a similar leader like Jagan and the motif for a street struggle for electoral justice. There is hardly a charismatic figure to lead the battle or the support to force a recount or win over support of the population or the international community.

Most of the respected, towering political figures, the erudite thinkers and popular leaders among the grass roots have been excommunicated for inexplicable reasons.

Few among the current figures inspire confidence among supporters and fewer have won the admiration and respect of the population.

PPP/C support to City Council to clean up Georgetown

Dear Editor,

Quite recently, many of us have been bemused by the political verbiage and display of renewed energies of the apparently reinvigorated and rejuvenated Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown. No longer distracted it would seem, by their continuous glaring and mischievous efforts to embarrass and sabotage the efforts of the legitimate PPP/C Government to bring im-

provements to the quality of lives of the Guyanese people, but perhaps enthused by the fact that they were now in partnership with and serving their own, and they can now direct their energies towards providing, at the least, some of the services (though limited) they ought to have been providing to citizens of Georgetown over the past two decades, viz: maintaining the internal drains and canals, fixing the kokers/ pumps/sluices and collecting

the household garbage.

I am dismayed by the resolve and continuous determination of some to lay the blame for the deplorable condition of the City, notwithstanding the recent limited intervention by those responsible for its condition, to address the root cause of the prevailing condition.

Heading the list of the irresponsible, the reckless and the recalcitrant must be the City Council which encouraged roadside/pavement

vending and with its consequential negative impact on the upsurge in dumping of garbage and blocking of drains, blocking the free flow of pedestrian and other traffic.

While I congratulate the volunteers, including the private businesses, may I also express the hope that it is not merely a short term display of showmanship aimed at attracting attention and concomitant personal benefits.

The Atkins CIWEM Environmental Photographer of the Year is awarded to Uttam Kamati for his inspiring image “Watering Melon”. Kamati’s winning image depicts a husband and wife watering watermelon saplings on the Teesta river bed, in West Bengal, India. Kamati is an amateur photographer and filmmaker from India, who captures the work of humanitarian projects, transforming these endeavours into candid, touching scenes. He wins the prestigious title of Environmental Photographer of the Year and £5000.

Do you have a development plan for Guyana?

Dear Editor,

It is now pellucid to all that this regime is in a witch hunting, vindictive mode that would take this country nowhere and which is certainly going to usher us into ruin.

With no vision, hence no mission, to continue Guyana on the upward trajectory left by the PPP/C, these people are doing the unthinkable. It is not quite unthinkable when you look at their modus-operandi, because we are familiar with their performance from 1964 - 1992, when the economy steadily declined into a point of no return.

Corruption and other untold vices became the order of the day which brought this country to its knees. It almost caused our total demise. Thankfully the PPP/C came to our rescue.

We are in 2015 and back with the same PNC/APNU.

They have nothing constructive to do with their “win” so they are going hard on these trumped up charges of corruption, while sharpening their witch hunting skills.

To begin with, if the PPP/C was into corrupt practices they would not have signed onto the Integrity Commission and declared their assets. The Integrity Commission is the place where public officials, especially those in government, submit statements of their assets.

To date the PPP/C parliamentarians have complied except the then opposition, now in government. Why! If this is not rife corruption then what is?

To say that you are lean and clean yet you hide your statement from public scrutiny speaks volumes. I guess they’re waiting to declare theirs when they demit office, or as someone said, we might never know. Is a government official debarred from buying state assets? Is this the APNU witch hunting team’s corruption scandal? Come on get real.

What you need to do is get on with the business of building this country. Talk development, not this empty vindictive nonsense. The people are tired of it.

To have inherited a stagnant economy like Guyana and bring it to a place where one can visibly see a change in fortunes is beyond comprehension.

First, they had to wipe off a crippling debt left by the PNC then create an economy. This, the PPP/C most admirably, in agriculture, education, telecommunication, water supply, electricity and general infrastructure, you name it and the PPP/C did it. We brought respectability to a place called Guyana.

The PPP/C has no problem with these senseless probes. All we are asking is to let it be done freely and transparently. We have nothing to hide hence. We are not fearful of any investigation.

However, let such probes be done by independent untainted auditors. While we bemoan the waste of taxpayers› money in these endless witch hunting stunts, we ask the all important question, where is your vision? What are your developmental plans for this nation?

Neil Adams

PPP/C protest, boycott and...

So people won’t come out in their numbers to give support to the party’s demands. So the party may not be able to sustain its local campaign to boycott the Parliament or its protest movement to pressure the government to force GECOM to do a recount or to have a forensic audit done on the votes.

It should also be noted that between 1964 and 1992, the party was supported by the international community and the diaspora.

It received international

financing from the diaspora and other forces and various independent groups (including those associated with this writer) led the struggle abroad for free and fair elections. In addition, the international community was very sympathetic to Jagan’s struggle because they know he was definitely cheated out of office.

The PPP/C needs to put forth a clear-cut case of electoral fraud (so far it is anemic) if people will support it and if it will win in court.

The Cummingsburg Accord was just a political strategy

Dear Editor, It is fast becoming evident that the Cummingsburg Accord was just a political strategy by the PNC-led APNU and AFC to fool the Guyanese people for their votes at the May 2015 elections.

And yes the Guyanese People were fooled because today we are seeing the blatant disregard or violations of the Accord, with absolutely no objections from either the APNU or AFC.

Both Nagamootoo and Ramjattan have recognized the total disregard for the Cummingsburg Accord now that the coalition is in government. They seem only satisfied with their personal achievements of holding the positions of Prime Minister, Vice President and Minister and to hell with what takes place after.

But many Guyanese are saying that both Nagamootoo and Ramjattan will simply have to obey the wishes of the President because the AFC failed miserably to deliver the 11 per cent Indian vote to the coalition, hence their silence on the violations of the

Cummingsburg Accord by the PNC-led APNU of the coalition government.

In this connection, what are the functions of Moses Nagamootoo as the Prime Minister of Guyana and Khemraj Ramjattan as a Vice President and Minister of Public Security within the spirit of the Cummingsburg Accord?

Apart from being the leader of Government business in the National Assembly, Nagamootoo is responsible for the business of NCN and Guyana Chronicle. But Nagamootoo has no other choice.

Was he consulted on the ministerial appointments?

The answer is no. Is he consulted on the internal affairs of the country? The answer is no. Is he consulted on the appointment of Presidential Advisors? The answer is no. Is he the Chairman of Cabinet sessions? The answer is no.

The office of the Prime Minister in Guyana has certainly become relegated and therefore serves no purpose. But Nagamootoo just can’t say anything. He is now with his tail between its legs in the

coalition government.

In relation to Khemraj Ramjattan, a Vice President and Minister of Public Security, was he consulted on the establishment of the Ministry of Citizenship? The answer is no. Was he consulted on the appointment of the National Security Advisor to the President? The answer is no.

The crime rate has risen sharply under the APNU+AFC coalition government, but Ramjattan being the Public Security Minister is silent, since he seems to be at sea.

But when he was in the Opposition, he waged criticisms against the former Minister of Homes Affairs stating that he must resign. Well it seems that Ramjattan, who is now the Public Security Minister, should now resign.

It is interesting that some members of the public are of the view that Nagamootoo and Ramjattan are being muzzled on the basis of the AFC’s 11 per cent fiasco and deception.

Stanley James

And the party has to court international support for campaign for a recount – the diaspora, foreign governments and international organizations.

No PPP/C leader has visited the diaspora or met with officials of other governments laying out a case of electoral fraud on May 11. It will be difficult for the party to sustain its street actions or boycott Parliament for a recount.

Vishnu

PPP/C support to City Council...

But the beginning of a renewed effort to provide citizens the services the Council has denied them for some time and also, to solicit and effect the behavioral and attitude changes the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Government under the PPP/C sought to effect , even without the City Council’s and the then opposition support. .

The City Council’s financial records would evidence the fact that while it expended significant amounts of the citizens rates taxes on employment costs over the years, that body denied citizens the range and quality of services to which they legitimately looked forward.

May I also add that the very City Council and many with a political axe to grind against the PPP/C, its political advocates continue to shamelessly and without good cause blame the party for starving the it of financial and other support.

Consequentially, it would seem, recent heavy rainfall and flooding must be blamed on the PPP/C.

May I draw attention to the fact that over the past decade, the PPP/C Government did provide significant financial and other material support to the City Council to assist in the Georgetown clean-up.

I provide below some details of the nature and extent of this perennial support provided by the PPP/C Government to put the lie to the continual claim and excuse that the PPP/C Government did starve the City Council of resources.

This support includes the significant intervention by the PPP/C Government under the Clean up my Country Programme which saw just over G$ 0.5 M from our country’s 2014 national budget being expended on cleaning main canals, community drains, servicing kokers

Bisram from page 4 from page 4

and sluices, debushing the LeRepentir Cemetery, etc in Georgetown.

The Clean-up Programme emphasized the fact that the clean up exercise was not a one off activit,y but that the local authorities, including the City Council, were expected to sustain the very communal assets that were cleaned/rehabilitated by Government.

This included some of the City Council’s trucks that were rehabilitated under the Clean up Programme.

The PPP/C Government did work assiduously, notwithstanding the lack of support from the City Council, the then opposition, and many contributors to the garbage situation who have now awoken to the realization that they have created and contributed to the flow of garbage in the public spaces, and they must assist to clean it.

Norman Whittaker

Publish information about missing vehicles, those getting free gas

Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has noted with dismay the big noise being made by the Granger administration fueled by sections of the media about “missing state-owned vehicles amounting to over 28)”.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon is purported to

have said “we have a bigger amount missing across all government ministries and agencies”.

The PPP/C calls upon Mr Harmon to publish the information showing the type of each vehicle, the registration number of each vehicle as well as the names of each ministry and agency to which the vehicles are attached. Further, the PPP/C calls on the Granger administration to publish the names of the “former government officials who have been filling up their tanks and those of their families”.

PPP/C Freedom House

Page Foundation

By Laura Lifshitz

In my eyes as a child, no one – not even my dad – was more powerful than my mom, who I nicknamed “The Strong Woman.” She couldn’t lift elephants with one hand like the “Strongman” at the circus who lifts weights with

1. You’re the one person saying stuff that nobody wants to hear

When you’re raised by a truth-telling, strong woman, you grow up expecting that people will want to hear and can handle hearing the truth. Guess what? Most of the times, they can’t.

his nipples and animals with one hand, but her personality and presence were striking enough that when she needed to intimidate or make an impression, she sure did.

Just ask the children I grew up next to who made the mistake of teasing me, only to find my mom outside their front doors yelling in her heavy Brooklyn accent. When you’re raised by a strong woman, there is no doubt that these 13 things will happen to you:

One day, a boy from my high school showed two photos of babies to my mother and he said, “Yeah, those are my children.” For some bizarre reason, this guy thought that would impress my mother, me and our friends who were gathered in my family kitchen.

My mom said, “Hmm, with yaw boy parts? I don’t think so. My guess is these are yaw (“your” said in Brooklyn-style) cousins, and you think it’s cool to pass

these children off as yaw own.”

All of us laughed… except him. Fact was, my mom was right but did he want to be called out on his own mistruths? Nope. Now, here I am as an adult woman, and when it comes time to hold back my words, I struggle.

2. You aren’t too empathetic

While my mother is a kind listener and empathetic to people, growing up when I messed up, my mom was not always there to say, “I’m sorry.” Instead, she told me, “Boy was that stupid!”

She was right – most of the time, whatever I did was pretty stupid, but eventually, she came back around to offer the empathy to ease the sting.

I’m a very empathetic person, but I’ve grown to adopt my mother’s method: backwards. I offer empathy first and then say, “Why the heck did you do that?” in a gentler way.

I’m almost afraid sometimes to be too harsh, so I tend to sweeten that last bit of news a bit too much when, more often than not, I should be direct.

3. You worry about men meeting your mom, not your dad

My dad is mild-mannered in comparison to my mother. Besides, he was

working a lot, so when guys came to my house, I didn’t worry as much about what he might think. But I sure worried about what my mom did.

Even if my dad didn’t like someone, he wouldn’t make it as obvious as my mom would. If my mom suspected anything about a person, she directed questions, showed skepticism and verbally disapproved if she felt it was appropriate.

The worst part was when I could see the “I can’t stand this person,” or “I don’t believe this person’s nonsense” look all over my mother’s face, because I knew the second that person left, I was going to get grilled.

Later on in my life, I found that I show everything on my face, and if I doubt someone, I don’t hide it. It can be frustrating, because sometimes, I’d like to keep my feelings under wraps. But I think people find my honesty refreshing (sometimes).

4. You learn that forgiveness is not always warranted

My mom is stubborn, and forgiveness (besides for her children) does not come easy to her. You’d think I would be the same way, but I’m actually the opposite: too forgiving. I wish I could draw the line in the sand the way

she did.

In high school, a friend of mine lied to her about something I was doing that was harming me, and my mom never forgave him. He turned out to be a terrible “friend” to me.

When I was in my twen-

5. You become the intimidating woman I ran into my elementary school crush a few years ago and joked how he was supposed to marry me. His response? “You were always too much of a woman for me,

ties, I gave chance after chance to men who were most often abusive. I didn’t know how to cut bad people out of my life. My mom would always tell me, “Laura, people are not as honest or as genuine as you are. Trust me.”

Sadly, she was right. While I’ve gotten better, to this day, it can be hard for me to let go of bad people and situations.

even in third grade.”

When you’re raised by a strong alpha woman, you become one in many ways. You become the girl boys are freaked out by and the woman men are intimidated by. You hear how men probably won’t ask you out because you scare them away. You hear you’re too “smart” or “loud.”

You wish that, some days, you could be a sweet, little wallflower who all the men will take to, but when you realise how difficult it would be for you to change, you say “screw it” and move on.

6. You fight battles for folks who can’t fight for themselves

At 12 years old, I punched a boy twice my size in the face, because he was choking a helpless kindergartener. At 27 years old, on a bus back to my college, I heard a man verbally abusing his wife. She sat there, quiet as a mouse, and took it all. Finally, I stood up and put this man in his place. My mom always stood up for us, whether it was neighborhood bullies, crappy teachers or terrible boyfriends. She never shirked from anyone and taught us to fight back if we had to.

When an eighth grader smacked me in the face, and I was a little first grader, my mom told one of my older sisters, “Find her and don’t forget to take out yaw earrings first.”

7. People come to you for advice

Despite my mom’s honesty being too much for people, they still came around to ask her for her two cents.

Person after person sat at our kitchen table while my mom listened and cashed in her opinion. (Yahoo! News)

Roopnaraine says will not sack UG VC

…awaits installation of new council

By Gomatie GanGadin

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has said that despite the fact that a no-confidence petition has been circulated against the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG), Jacob Opadeyi, he would not interfere in the matter at this time.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Thursday at the Parliament Building, Dr Roopnaraine related that while he understood that the University of Guyana was facing serious situations and things needed to be fixed, he was not of the view that his interference would solve the issue. He explained that he preferred to await the appointment of the new council and let the matter be dealt with at that level.

“I don’t like conflicts, you know, where they rule out any possibility of negotiation. What I would wait for frankly, would be the meeting of the new council which would be sometime next week. Let the new council come in. Unfortunately, the new council will be coming in to meet the petition of noconfidence so they will have to deal with that … I don’t think there should be any interference from me at this point in time. Given the situation which has unfolded, I think it would only be exacerbated by the Minister

putting his hands there. We have a problem up there; they have to resolve it and I personally do not like conflicts with no room for negotiation,” he expressed to this publication.

No interference

In the meantime, he noted that no interference meant that he would not terminate Opadeyi’s contract, but would wait for it to come to an end, after which the position would go through the due course of being advertised. This was even as he expressed optimism that the Vice Chancellor would do the right thing and remove himself from a position in which he was clearly not wanted. “Since Opadeyi’s contract

comes to an end in October and I don’t believe that he’s a masochist, I don’t think he would stay in a situation where nobody wants to work with him and so I’m waiting on the new council and they will have some work to do, because the morale is very low at the University,” Dr Roopnaraine said.

The two unions – the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) –have signed a petition signalling a vote of no-confidence in the Professor in his capacity as Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Guyana. The unions said they had “no confidence in his ability to administer the affairs of the University of Guyana, the premier educational institution of the country”.

In a statement to the press, the unions said the Professor, who has responsibility for the day-to-day management of the institution was responsible for infractions which they said were either illegal, based on the laws of Guyana and statutes of the University of Guyana , or unethical as they were opposed to the best interest of the institution.

The unions said Opadeyi has been blatant in his disregard for the Terms of Resumption Agreement signed March 2, earlier this

year between them and the University’s administration. Added to that, they say, is the “eroding [of ]the powers of the Academic Board as prescribed in the statutes of the University of Guyana; compromising academic quality and integrity for the sake of cutting costs; a dictatorial, vindictive, micromanagement leadership style that is characterised by dishonest and deliberately misleading communications; altering terms and condition of work without consultation with employees; failure to honour contracts with employees including illegally withholding legitimate payments due to staff; circumvention and breach of University financial systems, practices and procedures; fi-

nancial mismanagement and impropriety including but not limited to system override at the bursary; repeated failure to meet legal obligations to transfer deductions from workers’ salaries to various bodies and the failure to provide a safe and healthy working environment.”

The unions continued that the “exorbitant executive cost and size with little consideration for UG’s indebtedness, poor productivity of the executive, unjustly and dishonestly staining the public image of the University and its staff, and general failure to act in the best interest of the University are all the more reasons why the VC must leave office.

Rohee unveils PPP/C’s...

He opined that when these persons are expressing their concerns about the PPP/C’s political welfare and wellbeing, the party wonders what is their agenda and obviously they can’t be genuinely concerned about the PPP’s agenda and our welfare as a party. Rohee said that they wanted PPP/C in office merely to legitimise the new de facto Government and it had nothing to do with representing the over 49 per cent of the voting populace that preferred the PPP to govern.

Whenever the PPP goes to Parliament, Rohee says

the new Government will “understand that we are serious about our concerns... demands and the way they treated professionals and other people who appeared to be supportive of the previous administration”.

Rumours

He denied rumours that people were leaving the party and distancing themselves but argued that because of the discriminatory and illegal actions of the Government many were left on the breadline looking for jobs to maintain their livelihoods. The General

Secretary said that as the new plan is kicked into high-gear the party’s political philosophy and posturing will become clearer to the masses and the other political stakeholders in the Government.

He said the PPP/C, will never go under and will never sink, Rohee maintained, certainly not under his watch and that of the current executives. “Sit back, watch… no one knows how to fight for democracy and people’s rights… stand up to tyranny and illegitimate regimes like the PPP does”, Rohee.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi

Labourer sentenced to jail for gun, ammo possession

ALabourer will be spending the next nine months in prison after he was found guilty of gun and ammunition possession by Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday.

Twenty-year-old Timothy Taylor of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, was sentenced to two years imprisonment for two charges that had been lodged against him since the beginning of the year.

The charges state that on January 6, he was found carrying a .32 revolver with three live rounds of .32, while on Avenue of the Republic, in Georgetown. He is not the holder of a firearm licence.

Guyana Times understands that Police Constable Neil Thornhill found the revolver and the ammunitions on Taylor. He had testified in court to seeing the accused along the carriageway of the Avenue of the Republic acting in a suspicious manner. Hence, Constable Thornhill and another officer had gotten off the patrol vehicle and chased the accused until he was apprehended and searched.

He was subsequently taken to the Brickdam

Timothy Taylor

Police Station where he was officially charged as he had told officers that he had no licence for the firearm found on his person.

Before handing down her ruling, Magistrate McLennan told the court that the prosecution had to prove four elements to establish the guilt of the accused. She detailed these as the need to establish that the accused had physical or custodial possession of the firearm, that he had knowledge of it, that it was a firearm under the Firearm Act and that he is indeed an unlicensed holder.

The Magistrate stated that during the trial, discrepancies were uncovered in the case of Police

Prosecutor Jones. However, she pointed out that the defence had failed to prove their client’s innocence to the court and she thus had to resort to the prosecution’s case. There, Magistrate McLennan told the court that she found that the prosecution had proven the relevant elements to the case.

She explained that Police Constable, Thornhill had testified to finding the .32 revolver with the corresponding ammunition, stating that she found him a credible witness. The firearm and ammunition had also been tested by Sergeant Jackson in the ballistics section. He testified to their authenticity and also that they are classified under the Firearms Act as weapons that require licences.

The chain of the custody of evidence was also scrutinised for which Magistrate McLennan stated her belief that it had been unbroken, thus giving more credence to the prosecution’s case.

Testimony was given to establish the last element that Taylor was not a licensed firearm holder. Thus, the Magistrate told the court that she was satisfied that the prosecution had proven

beyond a doubt that the accused is as guilty as he was so charged for the offence.

However, Taylor’s Attorney Collis Baveghems believed that the mentioned discrepancies were enough to acquit his client. He told Guyana Times that Thornhill and the other officer he was with had made contrary statements during their testimonies although they were both their when Taylor was searched and arrested.

Reference was also made about the gun which was said to be in the crotch of the accused but he had submitted that it would have been difficult to hide a gun in one’s crotch. He had presented the testimony of his client who had stated that the gun was in Thornhill’s pocket.

However, the court had found that story to be fabricated. Although Taylor was sentenced to two years imprisonment; one year for each charge, he will only be spending nine months in prison as the sentences will run concurrently. A prison year is equivalent to nine calendar months.

This is in addition to $1000 fine for each charge.

Illegal firearm charge against Sophia man

The charge of illegal firearm possession was dismissed against a once convicted felon on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after the Police Prosecutor failed to prove that he had committed the offence.

Desmond Williams, 26, of 1267 B Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, walked away from the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts cleared of all charges after his lawyer presented a no case submission to Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Williams was charged on October 24, 2014 after he was allegedly found with 11 rounds of .32 ammunition and a .32 Taurus semi-automatic pistol in his possession without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The gun is alleged the same gun that was used to kill Prashad Nagar Businessman Saleem Azeez Abdool in October, 2014.

However, Magistrate Judy Latchman told the court that the Prosecutor had failed to prove satisfactorily the four elements nec-

essary to convict Williams of the offence.

Guyana Times understands that a necessary witness in the Prosecution’s case, an officer skilled in ballistics, had failed to present himself in court to give testimony, thus forcing the Magistrate to ask the Prosecutor to close his case.

Williams was charged with robbery under arms in 2010 when he appeared before the then Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

Apparently, the Virtual

dismissed

Complainant (VC) Oudit Seenarain was in front of a daycare when he was approached by a gunman who drew a weapon on him and in response he pulled out his licensed firearm and there was an exchange of gunfire. The gunman was wounded but he still attempted to jump onto the motorcycle but Williams, who was riding it, rode away.

However, Williams’ Attorney Patrice Henry defended that it was a case of mistaken identity.

Eyew tness

Singing...

...for supper

There’s an old song that wondered about “the things you do for love”. From what’s going on after the elections, it’s clear that folks will do a heck more for “money and power”.

There are the contractors who turned on a dime and didn’t just genuflect to the new dispensation, they actually prostrated full length - flood and all - and asked for forgiveness. They knew not what they’d done!

But that was to be expected, no? Then there were some, who flattered to deceive. We’d heard a lot about “the youths” - representing a turn from the old way of doing things, especially in the political realm.

Most of these incipient iconoclasts, not surprisingly, were from the Opposition ranks. After all, the entire premise from those quarters HAD to be “newness”, “difference” and indeed....change! Who best to represent “change” than youths?

Early on from Linden, we saw a ripple of challenge to the old order, led by two locals Sharma Solomon and Vanessa Kissoon.

They were skipping a generation and harking back to the Linden that had challenged Linden Forbes Burnham, mere months after they’d named the town after him! They demanded representation in the corridors of power in Georgetown - knowing that like the Lotto - you gotta BE in it to have a chance of “winning” it.

But they were taught a rough lesson: those that control both the venue of the battle and the agenda, will always win. To their credit they retired back to their town and threw their all into the campaign - and the results are there to see.

However when the spoils were distributed, not a crumb was thrown their way. They should’ve learnt another lesson: some folks, especially older folks, have long memories.

But this Eyewitness kinda hoped they would’ve stood up and represented the new thinking their earlier action had hinted at. Sadly it was not to be. After sending out some “hold me...loose me” releases, Solomon is sulking. More alarmingly, his associate Vanessa Kissoon has evidently decided to jettison herself respect, accept being discarded like used Kleenex and started ingratiating herself back into her party’s good graces.

How? By lashing out at the PPPC and Bharrat Jagdeo for not going to Parliament: “They’re behaving like spoiled brats!”

Vanessa’s so transparent, isn’t she? She’s projecting her own capitulation to the injustice done to her and telling the PPPC they should accept being cheated of elected office.

This Eyewitness has disagreed with Kissoon, but had also complimented her for her “spunk”. But even this has disappeared in what will be her futile effort to be treated with respect.

She should take a page from the PPPC’s playbook.

....a self serving defence

The Stabber News first allowed Goolsarran to write a shameless self-serving defence of his willingness to audit NICIL - after criticising the company and its CEO for years.

And as if this wasn’t disgraceful enough, it then regurgitated the entire putrid effusion as a news article!! What next? Allowing that racist from Charlestown to “excuse” snuffing out those lives in that church and then reprinting it as news?

But this Eyewitness has a question for Goolsarran.

According to the 2015 ACCA Rulebook, Art 120.2, “a professional accountant may be exposed to situations that may impair objectivity. It is impracticable to define and prescribe all such situations. A professional accountant shall not perform service if a circumstance or relationship biases or unduly influences the accountant’s professional judgement with respect to the service.”

After all that he has written about NICIl and Brassington, can he really say he’s “objective”?

Have you no shame, Sir?

...a different tune

Back when the PPPC government announced that the CJIA expansion would cost US$135M, the Opposition and the MuckrakerKN screamed it was “daylight robbery”. A bigger airport in St Maarten cost just US$117M!!

Why the silence now that the new govt says they need US$65M more!!?

Auditor General's report shines light on $22M overpayment to contractors

The Auditor General’s Report on public spending for 2013 was on Thursday laid in Parliament and again it highlighted the issue of overpayment of contractors – this time amounting to some $22 million under the previous Administration.

In addition, the report states that there were also overpayments on contract works administered in prior periods, which amounted to $187.184 million. “It was reported that several of these entities are facing serious challenges in recovering the amounts overpaid. This continued trend, coupled with the no evidence to suggest that disciplinary action of any kind had been meted out to engineering or other staff involved in the assessment of works in progress and the certification of progress payments is troubling, and hints at management’s perceived inaction to remedy the current situation.”

Giving a breakdown of the lapses, the report revealed that the sum of $3.8 billion was budgeted for the Highway Improvement –East Coast Demerara Road Project. The civil works component of this project was separated and awarded in seven Lots, commencing from 2011. As at December 31, 2013, amounts totalling $2.034 billion were expended. At the time of reporting, Lot One (Better Hope to Montrose) was terminated and is before the courts. The outstanding work on Lot 1 was behind schedule. Extensions of time were approved due to utilities removal, inclement weather, encroachment of the Government’s reserve, as well as the increased scope of works. The extensions were granted until 30 October 30, 2014. At the time of the physical inspection in July 2014, the works were approximately 70 per cent complete.

Additionally, the report state that at the time of reporting, works on Lots Three to Seven were all behind schedule. However, extensions of time were granted up to June 17, 2015 for Lots Three to Six due to utilities removal, inclement weather, and encroachment of the Government’s reserve. “The Ministry of Public Works was still awaiting approval for the extension of time for Lot Seven from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board,” the report cited.

The report stated that two advances each, other than the stipulated mobilisation advances were paid on Lots Three and Four, which is in breach of the contracts. “The additional advances amounted to $89.620 million and $48.030 million for Lots Three and Four respectively. At the time of physical inspection in July 2014, the works on

the various Lots were all at different stages, with Lot Three (La Bonne Intention to Beterverwagting) and Lot Four (Beterverwagting to Triumph) being 30 per cent complete; while, Lot Five (Triumph to Mon Repos), Lot Six (Mon Repos to De Endragt), and Lot Seven (De Endragt to Good Hope) were 80 per cent, 90 per cent, and 80 per cent complete respectively.”

Highway East Bank Demerara Regarding the East Bank Highway project, the report stated that on December 8, 2010, the Government of Guyana and the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) signed a Loan Agreement to commit amounts of US$2,000,000 and US$20,000,000 respectively, for the East Bank Demerara Four Lane Extension Project. The civil works component of this project was separated and awarded in three Lots in 2011. At the time of reporting, works on all three Lots were behind schedule. However, extensions of time were granted due to utility cables hindering work on the schedule. However, extensions of time were granted due to the utility cables hindering work on the Mocha Bridge and DDL High Bridge in relation to Lot One (Providence to Covent Garden) and Lot Three (Diamond), respectively. In relation to Lot Two (Vreed-en-Ruste to Prospect), the reported stated that the Supervising Consultant indicated that there was no justification for an extension of time, which would have resulted in liquidated damages being applied. However, a Government Infrastructure Committee recommended a waiver of the liquidated damages, and the InterAmerican Development Bank subsequently granted its “no objection” to the extension. As at August, 2014 the works were 42 per cent, 69 per cent, and 50 per cent complete for Lots One, Two and Three respectively.

Hope Canal

On the issue of the Hope Canal, which has had several delays, the AG report said that construction of the alternative outlet at Hope for the regulation of the East Coast Demerara Water Conservancy commenced in 2011, and was to be completed in 2013. At the time of reporting in September, 2014 amounts totalling $3.157 billion were expended. The Project comprised of 23 different components, which included civil works, operation and monitoring of machinery for construction of the channel, supply of materials, equipment, fuel, lubricants and design and supervision costs.

“At the time of report-

ing, 17 of the 23 components were practically completed; while three were substantially completed. The other three components, which were at various stages, included the construction of a High level Sluice Outfall Structure. The initial project duration for the High level Sluice Outfall Structure was 18 months; however, the Contractor was granted extensions of time up to December 15,

2014, with the main reasons cited being delays in handing over of the Project Site to the Contractor for the commencement of the construction works and unavailability of construction materials.”

Fixed, mobile pumps

In relation to the acquisition of pumps, on July 26, 2010, the Government of Guyana and the ExportImport Bank of India signed

a Credit Agreement in the sum of US$4 million for the purpose of acquiring, installing, and commissioning of six mobile and eight fixed pumps. The contract was awarded in the sum of US$4 million. At the time of reporting, amounts totalling US$2.991 million were paid to the Contractor. The six mobile pumps were received and are located at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD); Pine Ground, Mahaicony

(ECD); Rose Hall, East Berbice; Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, Berbice; Three Friends Village and Lima Village, Essequibo Coast. Seven of the eight fixed pumps were received; however, only four were complete; while the other three had no pump shafts. The other pump was reportedly sent to Miami, USA to facilitate factory testing. The four complete pumps were installed in Manarabisi, Skeldon, Berbice; Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara; Bagotville, West Bank Demerara and Paradise, East Coast Demerara; while the three incomplete pumps were kept at a warehouse owned and managed by the pump manufacturer agent in Guyana. In addition, a sum of US$126,000 was paid for pump spares; however, these were not supplied up to the time of reporting.

East Bank Highway project

Nandlall takes issue with KN over judicial interference accusations

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, referring to the Editor’s note in a Letter to the Editor he had published in the Kaieteur News on Tuesday, June 23 sought to clarify the allegations being peddled regarding the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration’s influence on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The letter, entitled “Anil Nandlall objects”, which was submitted by Nandlall himself, contained information which sought to deride the previous edition’s editorial which opined: “It should be made clear that if the PPP was still in office, Magistrate Artiga would have been fired just as how the PPP fired Magistrate Geeta Edmonds who was about to sentence the son of former Prime Minister Sam Hinds”.

In his letter, Nandlall highlighted that the Editor made no attempt to justify or even explain this “bi-

zarre conclusion”. At the end of the letter, the Editor inserted a note which read “Indeed, the conclusion that the executive played a part in the dismissal of Magistrate Geeta Chandan was unfortunate and regrettable. But the executive has been known to influence decisions by the very Judicial Service Commission.”

Nandlall, in an invited comment, said the Editor made another “damaging conclusion” when he claimed that the previous executive is known to have influenced decisions by the JSC. Nandlall then acknowledged the Editor’s inclusion of two cases in which he attempts to establish that the former PPP/C Administration and in particular, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, interfered with and undermined judicial independence.

In the note, the Kaieteur News Editor wrote “Justice Bovell Drakes was appointed a High Court Judge, but

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Bharrat Jagdeo refused to acknowledge the appointment… Also, because of a decision he handed down, Justice Janarayan Singh was never confirmed as a Judge and actually had to go to court to secure the benefits accruing to him. The person who was Justice Singh’s nemesis was Bharrat Jagdeo.”

Nandlall, in setting straight these allegations, explained that it was indeed President Jagdeo who

appointed Justice Bovell Drakes a Judge.

“The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) made

a recommendation for this appointment to be made and President Jagdeo sent back the recommendation with certain inquiries as he is constitutionally empowered to do. In the end, however, President Jagdeo made the appointment,” he explained.

In relation to the allegations of nonpayment of pensions to former Judge, Justice Singh, Nandlall pointed out that he never became qualified to receive any pensions. “Firstly, Justice Jainarine Singh’s acting appointment to the bench was made by former President Jagdeo upon a recommendation of the JSC.

“Secondly, the JSC never recommended to the former President that Justice Singh’s appointment be confirmed and therefore, Justice Singh never became qualified to receive pension as a Puisne Judge, since only substantive office holders attract pension in law.

“The JSC knew that full well but sought the intervention of the Accountant General who so advised in writing. “Therefore, this issue had nothing to do with the former PPP/C Administration, former President Jagdeo, or politics in general. It is a matter of pure law,” Nandlall contended.

Thieves raid electronics store at Anna Regina

Businessman Govinda Harnarine from Reliance Village in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) is counting his losses after his cellphone store, Future Electronics, was broken into by unknown thieves.

Harnarine, aka Ajay, made the discovery around 08:00h on Wednesday when he and his colleague visited the store at Anna Regina. The burglary comes almost two weeks after Anil’s Wireless Connection in the Anna Regina Old Market was broken into and over $3 million in electronics were stolen. To date, no one has

been held in connection with that break-and-enter.

Police from G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands) have visited the scene. Fingerprints were taken and the Police are following up on leads. No one was in custody up to press time.

The thieves gained entry after removing the grillwork and breaking the door of the store. No weapon was found on the scene. They carted off $1 million worth of cellphones and a laptop. Four Blu phones, iPhones, Samsung handsets, memory cards and one laptop were reportedly stolen.

“When I came, the place was ransacked, they went away with all the phones, they left all the accessories and other small items, I never get rob [before] since I am doing this business,” Harnarine related.

The businessman, who is renting the store space, does not have any security camera on the premises. He is calling on the Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

The ransacked cellphone store

Future Electronics at Anna Regina

Guyoil fuel probe

PPP/C demands Govt reveal names

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is calling on the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to publish the names of the former Government officials who it claims have been abusing the credit facility at the Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) Gas stations across the country.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had disclosed that the new Government has discovered a rampant abuse of the credit facility which is extended to the various Ministries and state agencies in Guyana and is currently in the process of investigating the matter.

“We are investigating

it; I do have in my possession some evidence that Government personnel in the previous administration were abusing that facility. We have asked Guyoil to present us with these accounts and these statements and those persons that were drawing fuel and not paying for it will have to pay for it,” Harmon said.

In light of this revelation which appears to be attacking the company, Guyoil issued a press release explaining, in detail, each step taken in the transaction of sale of fuel to the various Government Ministries and agencies.

It stated that the Government Ministries and agencies are granted monthly credit by Guyoil in pur-

Lindener remanded for alleged gun possession

ALinden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) resident was remanded to jail on Thursday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry for the prevalent offence of illegal gun possession.

The accused, 34-year-old Devon Robeiro is among a long list of men brought to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for illegal gun and ammunition possession.

The recent upsurge in violent crimes, particularly which involve the use of firearms, have caused the public to react with blatant outrage as the death toll has been climbing within the last few months.

Only recently, a toddler was riddled with bullets that were meant for his father. With heartfelt sympathy outpouring from the public, the good news is that the toddler will live.

However, the citizenry is crying out for more to be done by the Administration about the huge number of guns that still appear to litter the streets and particularly fall into the hands of quite desperate characters.

They are calling for harsher penalties than the three to five year sentences

that unlicensed firearm holders currently face.

For Robeiro, this is the case as the charges allege that he was found with .9 mm ammunition, a .25 pistol with matching rounds and a .38 revolver on June 23.

Robeiro pleaded not guilty and his Attorney made an application for bail, stating that his client is a man of well repute in Linden and has no reason to flee from justice since he is innocent. He mentioned that the Police had threatened to lock up his client thus forcing him to admit to the offence.

In continuation of his application, the Attorney informed the court of his client’s age, place of abode and the fact that he is a member of the Regional Association of Loggers and the owner of a logging business.

However, Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru indicated to the court that this does not mean he would not flee. He stated that ranks from the Criminal Investigative Division (CID) received information about the guns which led them to search his home. They did this in his presence, the Prosecutor stated, and the guns with the ammunitions were found.

Also, he stated that the defendant did not only make an oral statement but a caution statement to the Police claiming ownership of the unlicensed weapons. Thus, the Prosecutor said bail should be refused as the defence is yet to put forward a special reason why he is not guilty of the offence.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry sustained his no bail application and ordered Robeiro to appear at the Linden Magistrates’ Courts on June 30.

chasing fuel at the company’s service stations and terminals, for which strict procedures have to be adhered to for the supply of fuel.

“A Ministry or agency

has a number of officers who are authorszed to sign fuel orders. The names and specimen signatures of these officers along with a specimen of the fuel order are sent to Guyoil’s Head Office, cop-

ies of which are made and lodged at each service station and terminal.

The management of Guyoil also request the registration numbers of the vehicles authorised to be sold fuel but primary focus is on the authenticity of the fuel order and the authorised name and signature therein,” the release stated.

It went on to explain that upon receipt of a fuel order from a Ministry at the service station, the officer on duty verifies the name and signature of the authority with the specimen in place and if they conform, fuel is sold to the vehicle and an invoice is issued.

“Copies of invoices are

sent from the service stations and terminals to the finance department at Head Office where they are processed and a statement is generated and sent to the Ministry or agency every month.

The Government Ministries and agencies are generally prompt with their payments and are among the better customers of Guyoil in that regard,” it added.

Guyoil noted that its management is giving the Government its full cooperation with these ongoing investigations with the objective of reducing and eliminating any such malpractices.

A Guyoil Service Station

Devon Robeiro accused on illegal gun possession

“Critics want to separate us”

…Nagamootoo reacts to Cabinet chair nix

Prime Minister and Leader of the National Assembly, Moses Nagamootoo on Thursday reiterated his claim that he was not bothered that President David Granger has been chairing Cabinet despite the Cummingsburg Accord, signed between the two parties, explicitly stating that such task must be delegated to the Prime Minister.

Speaking to the members at the second sitting of the House since the 11th Parliament was convened, Nagamootoo noted that the Constitution aptly states that the Cabinet must and will be chaired by the President and he has always placed the Constitution first and foremost.

As such, he says he will follow the dictates of the Constitution and is not bothered nor will he be bothered by what the critics have

been saying as it relates to that particular issue. “Much has been said as to whether the Prime Minister chairs Cabinet or the President and I wish to take this opportunity here, in this Parliament, to say that the Constitution says who chairs Cabinet. And I readily acknowledge and bow to the prescription of the Constitution, which says that the power and the authority of chairing the Cabinet resides in the President and, therefore, I will not be bothered by this kind of cavilling that appears in the public to set the Prime Minister and the President at each other and perhaps set them apart,” Nagamootoo said.

He, however, admitted that the matter will be put up for a Constitution review. However, the Alliance For Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have set about

to resolve issues surrounding the breach of the accord.

The first official Cabinet meeting convened by the new Administration was chaired by Granger and not Nagamootoo, as is stipulated under the Cummingsburg Accord signed by APNU and AFC parties to contest the elections. When asked about this, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan told another section of the media that he too was unperturbed. He offered that it was the first official meeting and President Granger, as Head of State, would have had to address the Ministers, and he for one wanted to hear from the President. “He (the President) had a number of things (to say) that I was very proud of. Listening to him, as to what he would like to see happen in this next Government … it is clear to me that he had to speak because the man is

our President,” Ramjattan was quoted as saying. “We want this coalition to work. We know how fragile coalitions can be and we know how people out there who do not like the coalition will want to prick us with these little sensitive matters so that they can literally take us over the brink,” he added.

Commentators had pointed out after the signing of the Accord, that to have the Prime Minister chair the Cabinet when the President is available is a breach of the Constitution. Article 106 (3) of the Constitution states, “Cabinet meetings shall be presided over by (a) the President; (b) in the absence of the President, the Prime Minister; (c) in the absence of the President and the Prime Minister, such Minister as the President may designate.”

In accordance with the

principles of statutory interpretation the word “shall” indicates an obligation as opposed to discretion on the part of the President to delegate the responsibility to another functionary outside of the conditions laid out in Article 106 (3).

According to the February 14th Accord, the President shall, among other things, delegate the responsibilities of domestic national affairs and the chairing of Cabinet. Other responsibilities delegated to the Prime Minister should have included recommending ministerial appointments and providing the organisational structures of Ministries for the approval of the President; appointment of head of agencies and non-constitutional commissions, with the required and agreed democratic mechanisms of consultation and domestic security (Home

Affairs). The parties had also agreed that Cabinet positions would be allocated on a 60/40 basis between APNU and the AFC, respectively. In addition to the breach in the chairing of the Cabinet, the Accord was not followed by the new Government for the allotment of 40 per cent of the Cabinet positions to the AFC, with no explanation forthcoming from either side of the coalition.

In the meantime, Nagamootoo has said that with the responsibility of constitutional review under his belt, “I intend to, in the shortest possible time, to establish a consultancy group of imminent, legal personalities who can advise on the way forward and who can, perhaps, craft the Terms of Reference for a Constitutional Commission to be established… .”

Blind Society begins registration for 2016 CSEC programme

The Guyana Society for the Blind is encouraging suitable persons to be part of its Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) programme for persons with disabilities.

Ganesh Singh, the CSEC coordinator for the Guyana Society for the Blind, stated that the programme aims to deliver the CXC curriculum in seven subject areas to persons who are blind, visually impaired, has other physical disabilities and to persons with mild learning disabilities.

He noted that the subjects taught are Social Studies, English Language, Principles of Business, Office Administration, Human and Social Biology, Religious Education and Caribbean History.

The methodology utilised is electronic as all the notes are given to the students on flash drives. The student, with assistance if needed, will place the drive into their computers and transfer its items. Textbooks are also scanned and transferred into electronic formats.

The students utilise these with text-to-speech software, which allows the computer to talk to students and for them to interact with the computer system.

Singh stated that the Society was currently in the

recruiting process for its third batch of persons to complete the programme for which the classes begin next week. To qualify for this programme, a person must be between the ages of 14 and 40, have a disability, possess decent comprehension skills, and have the capacity to cope in a fast-paced environment, at the CXC level.

He noted that the programme has been very successful as the first batch of students who began the programme in 2013 wrote exams in 2014, and produced an overall pass rate of 82.4 per cent.

The top student, Rosemary Rhamitt, wrote five subjects and received five Grade Ones. She now studies at the Cyril Potter College of Education. The second-place student, Odessa Blair, who received five Grade Twos, is now a student at the University of Guyana pursuing a degree in social work. He stated that they were currently awaiting the results of persons who wrote the exams this year, and he was very confident of the students’ success.

He noted that the programme itself is free of charge. Persons will only have to provide their own transportation and food. He added that the teachers in this programme and examination costs are paid

for by the Education Ministry. Special services are available for persons with disabilities in rural Guyana, such as Regions 10, Six or Two, who have access to the Internet and a working computer. These persons can join in on the programmes via Skype.

As it relates to the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations, Singh mentioned that due to limited resources, the Society will not be able to offer NGSA to persons, but CAPE is under consideration. The Guyana Society for the Blind’s CSEC programme was conceptualised in late 2011 when the students received computer training. Singh said it was through that training that “they portrayed great potential to succeed academically” and worked with them to make it possible to qualify themselves.

Singh, who is also blind, said being able to write the exams has boosted the confidence of the visually impaired in Guyana, as they are now assured of gaining qualifications that can shape them into well-rounded individuals who can contribute to society. Interested persons can contact the Guyana Society for the Blind at 226-4496 and 2317976.

Govt tables five “priority bills” in National Assembly

The Government on Thursday tabled five new bills in the National Assembly, which were also read for the first time. These were presented by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which has 32 seats in the National Assembly, was absent from the sitting. The Bills are the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015; the Former Presidents’ (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2015; the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2015; the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering

the Financing of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2015 and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill 2015.

Minister Williams said that the Constitution (Amendment) Bill when passed will grant financial autonomy to constitutional agencies, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported. These include the Office of the Auditor General; the Public, Police and Teaching Service Commissions; the Guyana Elections Commission; the Supreme Court; the Office of Public Prosecutions; Office of the Ombudsman; and the Public Service Appellate Tribunal. Finance Minister Jordan said that the Fiscal Management and Accountability Bill will amend the Fiscal Management

and Accountability Act, extending the application of the Act to the Minister. It will also free the agencies catered for under the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 from their automatic obligation to their budgetary agencies. The Former Presidents’ (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill will cap some of the benefits, including tax-free concessions, to which former Presidents are now entitled. This Bill also specifies some conditions under which the benefits may be enjoyed. The Anti -Money Laundering Bill will amend the AML/CFT Act, and the Local Government (Amendment) Bill allows for the setting of the date for Local Government Elections, which were last held in 1994.

State media for major shakeup

…GINA under fire for huge debts to Chronicle, NCN

Prime Minister and Minister of Information Moses Nagamootoo announced that it is the Government’s intention to have a complete reform in the information network and communication sector of Guyana as he announced plans for a major shake-up of the state media.

Nagamootoo was at the time addressing the National Assembly at the second sitting of the 11th Parliament on Thursday.

Firstly, the Prime Minister boasted of Government’s success in “revolutionising” the Guyana Chronicle newspaper by changing it from a “partisan propagandistic rag” into a source for Government information that is credible.

“Today, Guyana is experiencing what it appears to be a magical transformation of the public information landscape,” he said, re-

ferring to the changes in the writing style in the Guyana Chronicle.

This is the vision Government has for the entire state media print and broadcast network in the country, Nagamootoo said. The Government Information Agency (GINA) and the National Communication Network Inc (NCN) are the next two state media entities in for a similar transformation.

Nagamootoo said these agencies will soon have a new Board of Directors which will be replaced with “professional representatives” and people who are committed to standards.

“They must not only carry out function to educate and entertain people but they must also be accountable and viable,” he said, noting that it is the will of the A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change

Miners being urged to follow guidelines

Amid an upsurge in mining activities the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission is urging all miners to adhere to the safety rules, as they may save their lives.

President David Granger had ordered an investigation into a recent series of mining accidents that has resulted in at least 11 deaths. The President stated that engineers and representatives of mining associations would be part of a team that would look into the issue.

Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) President Patrick Harding stated that engineer Colin Sparman, from the organisation would be part of the investigative team. He perceives that the deaths could have been caused by the severe weather conditions that have been affecting the interior terribly. Harding stated that unsafe mining practices could have also contributed to these deaths as most times, miners were more interested in the bounty in the earth than their own safety.

The GGMC stated that miners who were involved in particularly land-based mining, including in reworking tailings or in working loose/ unconsolidated soils, during this current rainy season, should conduct their mining activities in a manner that took into consideration most, if not all, of the safety guidelines pertaining to safety in mines.

The Commission advised miners to follow general rules such as always putting safety first in every aspect of mining and ensuring that there were safe ways of getting in and out of the mining pit. Miners were also reminded that stripping should be encouraged at all costs and that safety rules

should be established in each dredge camp, and briefing and debriefing should be done before each day’s work.

The GGMC reminded mine owners and managers about the Mine Safety Guidelines that they should take note of on a daily basis. These owners and managers must provide workers with appropriate safety gear. They must also provide adequate information, instructions, and training, and supervision of workers to ensure they are not exposed to hazards. It called on the mine workers to fully comply with instructions given for their own safety and health and those of others. Miners are also urged to immediately warn all other workers who could be in danger.

Mine managers were also asked to pay keen attention to the rules to abide by when operating in and around an open mining pit, by ensuring that pit faces are stable. This can be done by maintaining the angle of repose (the natural gradient at which the material remains stable), and ensuring that the mine maintains benches which add stability to the material being worked, keeping it from sliding into the pit. Also disallowing undercutting and isolating unstable ground until it is fixed were recommended. On May 17, a mining pit caved in at Mowasi Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) around 14:30h while it was raining heavily. According to information received, at least 17 miners were working in the mining pit which was an estimated 40 feet deep when it caved in. The seven survivors managed to run out of the mining pit as it collapsed, but owing to the silt and the water, those who were further down were unable to make it out.

Moses

(APNU/AFC) administration to promote professional journalism. More pointedly, Nagamootoo said GINA is in for a major shake-up to rectify all the alleged malpractices and unethical behaviour it has been engaging

throughout the years.

He disclosed that GINA currently owes millions of dollars to various agencies for advertisements during the election campaigning season. Particularly, Nagamootoo revealed that GINA owes the Guyana Chronicle some $76 million. An investigation is currently underway to detect the other instances of misconduct within the agency, the Prime Minister said.

“We will make sure all advertisements placed by GINA into the larger media for publication and dissemination are paid for… It is unacceptable that we have such an abuse of taking out ads and booking out ads and not paying the money,” he said.

Furthermore, Nagamootoo explained that it is Government’s intention to ensure GINA executes its mandate, which

is to accurately inform citizens about the activities of the Government, the various Ministers and public officials. “(It should) be place in public domain as information so you can have an informed populace who can make better choices,” he said, noting that the agency should not be promoting racism and other “side agendas”. “It should not be an agency to appoint people to monitor calls of individuals, to sit and be paid to wiretap and intercept Facebook messages and to do things that are not within the domain of public information,” he persisted.

Both the APNU and AFC, while in Opposition, claimed that state media were in the habit of providing biased coverage. Particularly, during the just concluded election campaign season, NCN and the Guyana Chronicle were attacked for providing positive coverage to the then

ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and sidelining the other contesting political parties.

Meanwhile, Nagamootoo announced Government’s intention to give to Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice) its long awaited television channel.

He disclosed that Government is currently in the process of repairing the communication transmission system among other things to ensure Linden receives highclass transmission. “I believe the time has come when we return the Linden television so they can have programmes they desire, programmes to suit their needs and their necessity,” he said. In fact, Nagamootoo said Government will soon be restructuring the entire Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA).

Prime Minister and Minister of Information

Nagamootoo

Canada to help Guyana set up Sovereign Wealth Fund

By Gomatie GanGadin

The Guyana Government is set to receive the help of the Canadian Government in setting up its Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) should US-based oil company ExxonMobil confirm that the country can produce oil in large quantities.

This was revealed by Minister of Governance and Patrimony, Raphael Trotman on Thursday when the second sitting of the 11th Parliament was held.

examining modules which are best suited for this environment,” Trotman said.

Last month, when the oil giant announced that it had discovered oil during its drilling in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, President David Granger said it became even more important for his Administration to set up the SWF. This particular type of Fund is defined as pools of money derived from a country’s reserves, which are set aside for investment purposes that will benefit the

tries have created SWFs in diversifying their revenue streams. For example, the United Arab Emirates relies on oil exports for its wealth. Therefore, it devotes a portion of its reserves to its SWF that invests in other types of assets that can act as a shield against oil-related risk.

President Granger had vowed that the disposal of any natural resource would go towards benefiting the people of Guyana. He reminded that before assuming office, he had mooted the

“The wealth of the nation is our wealth. For too long, the people of Guyana have stood by while a small group seemingly well-protected share among themselves the fruit of the earth … we intend to, very shortly, to establish the Sovereign Wealth Fund. The sale of resources, whether gold or silver or timber or uranium, goes to that Fund …. Through the support and help of the Government of Canada, we are currently

country’s economy and citizens. Funding comes from Central Bank reserves that accumulate as a result of budget and trade surpluses and even from revenue generated from the exports of natural resources. The types of acceptable investments included in each SWF vary from country to country; countries with liquidity concerns limit investments to only very liquid public debt instruments. Some coun-

creation of the Fund into which surpluses from exportation of all minerals would be paid, so that “children will not have to live in poverty; that no matter what happens to the resources of the country, there will always be wealth to look after their education”.

In the meantime, Trotman told the House that in keeping with the President’s goals and desires, the Administration

was indeed a Government of national unity that eliminated one-party rule in Guyana.

He noted that in that regard, he praised the establishment of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, which he related would ensure that the segregation of the country became a thing of the past. He shared that the administration was also actively pursuing the re-establishment of the Integrity Commission – “not as a witch-hunting [exercise] but one in which the assets of officials will be declared, scrutinised and questioned” – and the Rights, Human Rights and Gender Equality Commissions for the representation of all.

Further, the Minister of Governance expressed the desire of President Granger to see the eradication of the stigma attached to the holding of elections, and the fear and concerns which mount at this time dispelled.

Moreover, he explained that regardless of the situations the Administration would be faced with, it would never prorogue nor dissolve Parliament for its selfish needs. To this end, he disclosed that the constitutional provisions for the prorogation, suspension and dissolution of Parliament will be taken under review by Attorney General Basil Williams, to limit the situations in which it was applicable. Trotman also expects that the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, which was tabled Thursday, would pave the way for the holding of the much-anticipated Local Government Elections before the end of the year or early 2016. Initially, the coalition Government had promised to hold Local Government Elections within the first 100 days of being in office.

US visa system up and running

The United States Embassy in Georgetown has announced the restoration of Visa Processing Systems which allow the printing of visas for applicants whose non-immigrant visas (temporary visit – holiday/tourist/student) applications were approved on interview dates June 8 to June 23, 2015. Applicants who were issued blue coupons between June 8 and June 23 should appear today, June 26, 2015 to pick up their passports at the respective times indicated below.

Please refer to the schedule below and please confirm your arrival time at the Embassy for those specific pickup times. This will prevent unnecessary delays and long wait lines.

Please note that this is specific to non-immigrant visa applications only. Please

DO NOT bring any personal belongings with you to the Embassy, just your ID card and the blue slip.

Information about Immigrant Visa (Permanent Visa) pick-up times will be announced as those visas become available.

We deeply regret the inconvenience to travellers who are still waiting for their visas. We strongly encourage applicants who were approved for visa issuance to appear on June 26 as per the above schedule; however, if circumstances do not permit you to appear, please contact our Visa Inquiries Unit via email to visageorge@state. gov to make alternative arrangements.

Mother, baby survive 5 days in Colombian jungle after plane crash

Ayoung mother and her baby have been found alive five days after their plane crashed in the jungle of western Colombia.

A Colombian Air Force Chief described their survival as “a miracle”.

Maria Nelly Murillo, 18, and her one-year-old son were found by rescuers near to where their small Cessna plane crashed in Choco province.

Murillo had some injuries and burns while her baby appeared to be in good health.

The twin-engine Cessna plane, which was carrying fish and coconuts, had been flying from the town of Nuqui on the Pacific coast to Quibdo, the capital of Choco.

It disappeared from the radar of the civil aviation authorities 20 minutes into the flight.

When the Pilot did not respond to any calls, officials knew something was wrong and dispatched a plane to search the area.

It took the search team two days until they finally spotted a white dot in the dense jungle, which turned out to be the remains of the Cessna.

It had crashed, for reasons not yet known, in the Alto Baudo region.

When the search team reached the Cessna, they found its Pilot, Carlos Mario Ceballos, dead in the cockpit.

There was no trace of Murillo or her baby, Yudier Moreno, which the passenger list said had been on board.

But according to Colonel Hector Carrascal of the Colombian Air Force, rescuers took hope when they noticed that the cabin door was ajar.

“It could have opened on impact, but it could have been opened from the inside,” he said.

“But that’s when we started to worry. We didn’t have a clue what had happened to them: they could be lost in the jungle trying to survive or they could have

died already.”

But then the rescuers found clues which led them to believe Murillo and her baby could still be alive.

Coconut shells near the plane and a discarded flip flop in the jungle lifted their hopes.

They also found the baby’s birth certificate near a tree, which convinced them that Murillo was trying to leave a trace of her path through the jungle.

Part of the search party scoured the jungle on foot while others flew over the area in a helicopter using a loudspeaker to shout Murillo’s name and urge her to return to the crash site.

But for two days their search yielded no results.

Finally, on Wednesday, they located Murillo about 500 metres from the site of the crash in a ravine on the banks of a river.

“It’s a miracle. It is a very wild area and it was a catastrophic accident,” Colonel Carrascal said.

Of the baby, he said: “His mother’s spirit must have given him strength to survive.”

They were airlifted to a hospital in Quibdo. Murillo told medical staff that she had managed to open the cabin door and run into the jungle as fire was spreading in the cabin.

She then reportedly went back for her baby, at which time she sustained burns to her face, an arm and a leg. Afraid the plane might explode, she walked into the jungle along the bank of a small river.

Details of how she survived are still sketchy, but local media said she came across a couple of indigenous people who helped her.

She was also able to drink coconut water from the coconuts the plane had been carrying, local media said.

She reportedly heard the calls over loudspeaker from the rescue helicopter which prompted her to make her way back to the crash site.

Maria Nelly Murillo and her baby were taken by helicopter to a hospital in Quibdo

Minister of Governance and Patrimony, Raphael Trotman

Harper vows to move ahead in nation-building

… doesn’t wish to “re-enter the news”

Former Prime Ministerial Candidate of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), Elisabeth Harper said she was seeking to move ahead, working towards the building of Guyana.

The former Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, who maintained that she did not wish to “reenter the news”, said that was all she was going to say at this time.

Harper, who had worked within the Foreign Affairs Ministry for close to 40 years, said goodbye to staff members, including former Minister Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett in early April to team up with then President Donald Ramotar as the Prime Ministerial Candidate of the PPP/C for the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

The Party was, however, defeated at the May 11 polls and since then Harper had been out of the spotlight. Her personality was displayed during her deliveries at a few of the Party’s political campaigns, where she focused primarily on domestic abuse and women’s rights.

Her debut was made at the March 8, 2015 commemoration of the life of Dr Cheddi Jagan at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, Corentyne. There she registered her Party’s confidence in its success at the polls.

And although she was heavily criticised for her inability to secure votes for her party, she remained resolute, noting that her interest was in the building of Guyana and its people. She

was positive that she could have influenced the affairs of the country and become one of the leading role models for Guyanese, especially women.

Guyana’s development “I believe that I can use the almost 40 years that I have spent in the Foreign Service promoting Guyana’s interest abroad to contribute even further to Guyana’s development, particularly in the area of the creation of jobs, a better education system, reducing crime,” Harper had said during an interview with the State-owned National Communications Network (NCN) weeks before the elections.

She also spoke about the need for youths to be further encouraged to remain in Guyana and to participate in the building of its future.

Harper spoke about the

need for efforts to be made to further improve the education system here which she believed could have redounding positive effects on the moral stock of the population.

She admitted that she had suffered physical abuse, and had vowed to work closely with all concerned to eradicate the scourge from society.

Harper began her career back in 1976 as a clerk in the registry within the Foreign Affairs Ministry before giving service at the High Commission in London for four and half years. Recalling one of the things that steered her in the right direction, Harper said, “An instance where I had passed a file to the desk officer and I had made a notation on it with some advice and he took it to the Permanent Secretary and both of them thought I had some potential and I was moved from the registry into another department.

“I believe that was a turning point in my career. It taught me that to take initiative was not such a bad thing,” she said.

She returned to Guyana in 1996 and was appointed Director General of the Ministry in 2001.

Harper has three children – Melissa, Regan and Natasha who she is very proud of and a step-daughter. She also has two grandchildren.

Harper also spoke about her passion for the elderly and caring for her mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

Govt to decide on ownership of Marriott after audit

The way forward on the world-class Marriott Hotel, which recently opened its doors for business in Guyana, will soon be decided by the A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Administration when the results of the financial audit into the operations of the Atlantic Hotel Inc are revealed.

Both the APNU and AFC were vehemently against the establishment of this international branded hotel, citing that the huge sums of money could have been better invested into a state-ofthe-art university, that the hotel will take away business from the locals, and that an excessive amount of tax holidays were allowed for the project.

Also, the AFC, while in opposition, had threatened to impose sanctions

on the Marriott agreement between the Government and Atlantic Hotel Inc, the special ownership vehicle created by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the state’s holding company.

Now that APNU and AFC are the new coalition Government, the fate of this multimillion-dollar investment is within their hands.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, speaking to media operatives at a postCabinet press briefing on Wednesday, explained that when the results of the audits are released, then the Government will make a decision on the way forward for the Marriott.

“Cabinet considered the matter and was advised by the Minister of Finance that an audit has already started into the project and Cabinet would arrive at a

final decision after the audit has been completed,” he said.

The luxury hotel boasts 197 guest rooms and suites that offer views of the ocean at every turn. Its ballroom has the capacity to accommodate between 400 and 700 persons.

It can also be transformed into four sections to host smaller events. The hotel also has five boardrooms and an open style kitchen to allow patrons to dine in the restaurant and watch their meals being prepared by expert chefs.

Its indoor gym will cater mainly for its guests but membership will eventually be offered to the public. When it was opened, there were several outstanding works to be completed to the infrastructure of the hotel. Efforts to contact an official to provide a comment in this regard proved futile.

GDF launches search to find missing Pomeroon farmer

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has launched a search and rescue operation for the missing Pomeroon farmer, following a collision of a GDF Coast Guard boat and another vessel on Wednesday. Missing is Pomeroon farmer Orton Benjamin. The Defence Force said the operation is utilising special-

ist equipment and the services of divers, adding that the Army is in contact with Benjamin’s family and will provide them with all necessary assistance during this difficult time.

Meanwhile, Chief-ofStaff, Brigadier Mark Phillips has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ac-

cident involving the GDF vessel and Benjamin’s boat. The Guyana Defence Force deeply regrets this unfortunate incident and will remain engaged in the search for Benjamin until he is recovered.

Benjamin’s wife, Simone Benjamin was also injured in the accident and is currently hospitalised. Benjamin of Recess, Lower Pomeroon in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) was taking his wife and their seven-year-old to Liberty Primary School when tragedy struck.

The Captain of the other boat is presently assisting Police with the investigation. Speaking from her hospital bed at the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital, a traumatised Simone Benjamin said that her husband was taking her to her place of work when the other boat struck theirs, which was being powered by a 15

horsepower engine.

“We were crossing the river to head over Liberty when the Coast Guard boat hit our boat.

All I heard is a loud noise and our boat upturned, the little boy began to swim; I couldn’t see my husband back,” a tearful Benjamin related, explained that her

husband struck his head and fell into the murky water of the Mighty Pomeroon.

The teacher added that she did not hear the other boat coming. “I am thanking God for my survival, I am a true Christian; my husband was a good man, we marry for 20 years,” Benjamin related.

She further related that she was rescued by neighbours who rushed to the scene. Persons also started to dive to find her husband, but all of those efforts proved futile. The occupants of the other boat escaped unhurt.

Former Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper says she is interested in building Guyana

The Marriott Hotel Guyana

Liberty area where the incident occurred Wednesday morning

Survivor Simone Benjamin

Series of measures in place to tackle upsurge in crime – Ramjattan

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said that a series of measures have been put in place to tackle the upsurge in criminal activities here.

While he did not outline what these measures were, Ramjattan insisted that Government will start with ensuring that a more professional Guyana Police Force was created through the weeding out of what he described as “rogue cops”. Speaking to this publication on Wednesday, the Minister said moves were being made to clamp down on criminal activity in the country and the Police were also on the agenda. “We will be weeding out corrupt cops.”

Ramjattan said the Administration has adopted a hard-line, zero-tolerance approach against that type of wrongdoing as it sought to make communities safer. However, he noted that there was need for communities to provide information and also to be fearless and speak out so that such ills could be removed. Asked to comment on the recent escape of a prisoner who was being held at the Number 51 Police Station Lock-ups and who escaped while two officers were on duty, Minister Ramjattan said the Police Force was not made up of perfect men and women and so there would be lapses. “But we will have to tighten up on all of those. All the rogue cops we have to knock them off; we have to get rid of all the bad cops,” he added.

In noting that there has been an upsurge in criminal activity, the Public Security Minister said the Ministry has employed a series of

measures to tackle crime. While admitting that he could not pronounce on the causes of the recent upsurge in murders, break-and-enters, piracy and armed robberies which have been making headlines in the local media on a daily basis, Minister Ramjattan said there were some elementary underlining causes of crime. These, he outlined, included poverty, a deficit in moral values, drunkenness and drug abuse.

Suggestions welcome

However, responding to the recent increase in execution-style killings and more particularly, the recent shooting to death of a man during which his girlfriend and 18-month-old baby were also shot, Ramjattan said it would be difficult to stop that type of crime. “I don’t know if you have a vendetta against another criminal gang what we can do Policewise. It is very difficult, but we will be happy to receive

suggestions. What do you do, two gangs at war, one comes in the night and start shooting at you and innocent people get injured. Our society had grown over the years into a very violent one, and what has caused it? The socioeconomic circumstances, poverty, hopelessness and marginalisation…”

In speaking on piracy, he said there was need for more resources, and also the registering of boats and utilising of firearms from the nearest police station when fishermen are going to sea. These arms would be returned at the end of the fishing expedition.

Meanwhile, addressing Community Policing Group (CPG) members at the Kilcoy-Chesney MultiPurpose Complex Building on the Corentyne also on Wednesday, Ramjattan said Police stations throughout the country were suffering from a lack of vehicles which could assist them in their fight against crime. “Some stations on the West Coast of Demerara, Springlands, Fort Wellington Police Stations have no vehicle. It is a very bad situation,” he explained. Recently Guyana acquired a quantity of vehicles to be used by the CPG; however, Ramjattan told the meeting that 20 of them would be given to the Police. “We need those vehicles for patrols. Bare your chafe. The CPG will get back the vehicles which will have to be put into the National Budget which will be out between the end of July and September.”

Meanwhile, he urged the CPG members who are offering voluntary service to utilise foot, bicycle and motorbike patrols.

GTM recorded $106M after-tax profit in 2014

The Guyana and Trinidad Mutual (GTM) Fire and Life Insurance Company Limited on Wednesday evening held its 90th Annual General Meeting, declaring a $106.6 million after tax profit for the year 2014.

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ram Singh, in his report, stated how pleased he was to report that the company has made a surplus of revenue over expenditure of $327 million before the adjustment for the policyholders’ liabilities, compared to $187.4 million in 2013. He added that after the adjustment for policyholders’ liabilities, the company made a profit of $106.6 million for the year 2014, compared to $31.5 million for 2013, this represents an increase of $75.1 million or 238 per cent.

Singh highlighted that the company had performed fairly well notwithstanding the economic and other challenges facing the Eastern Caribbean States, in which the company operated. The company recorded a $67.88 million or 5.4 per cent growth in premium net of reinsurance and a $78.58 million or 5.4 per cent growth in total revenue amounting to $1.53 billion.

Also, after taking into account provisions for in-

Republicans urged to embrace new approach towards Cuba

Former US Secretary of Commerce Carlos M Gutiérrez indicated in an op-ed published by The New York Times that Republicans should cast aside past positions and join the steps that the White House is taking towards relations with the island.

Republicans and the business community should embrace the new approach of the US Government towards Cuba, an article published by The New York Times on Tuesday, June 23 stated.

Gutiérrez, former chief executive of Kellogg and Secretary of Commerce during the George W Bush Administration, said: “I believe that it is now time.”

Gutiérrez, co-Chairman of the Albright Stonebridge Group, argued: “It has now been six months since Mr Obama’s policy shift was announced. Both

Governments have confirmed plans to open embassies, and negotiations have covered a variety of issues.”

The former official notes that almost every week a new Congress delegation arrives in Havana and admits that “I never expected negotiations to get this far.”

Gutiérrez highlights his initial scepticism, “Like many fellow Republicans and Cuban-Americans, I was critical when President Obama announced in December 2014 that his Administration would begin to normalise ties between the United States and Cuba.”

However, he goes on to state that he is cautiously optimistic that negotiations can move forward, in contrast to plans by some Republican Congress representatives to obstruct measures and even cut the funding for the State

Former US Secretary of Commerce

Department to open a US Embassy in Havana.

According to the politician, his 30-year career at the Kellogg Company taught him that business “can have a transformational and uplifting impact on communities and whole so-

cieties”.

He also praised steps by certain US credit card companies to authorise transactions in Cuba, as well as recent sports exchanges.

Regarding the criticisms of some presidential candidates, including Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, that Obama has conceded too much, Gutiérrez argued that the changes so far have been “incremental” and that this will be “a long and gradual process”.

He notes that contrary to popular belief, the executive actions of President Obama do not allow for free and open trade with Cuba, nor for Americans to visit the island as tourists, a ban which does not apply to any other country in the world.

In conclusion, Gutiérrez urges his fellow Republicans and the business community not to “ignore the possibilities ahead.”

crease of policyholders’ liabilities of $220.44 million, the Chairman stated that the company had recorded a net profit after tax of $106.6 million. The company’s Independent Auditors Report stated that it is believed all financial statements give a true and fair view in all material respects of the financial position of the company as at December 31, 2014; its financial performance, and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.

The Chairman noted the members of staff of any organisation are its most valuable assets as he acknowledged the performances of those members of the company’s sales team who have excelled and the sterling efforts of the administrative team during the year 2014.

The meeting contin-

ued with the presentation of awards to insurance advisors who excelled in their services.

The GTM Quality Award went to Bernadette Charles from St Lucia. Charles was the only person to qualify for this award from the company’s Caribbean Offices. The GTM Quality Award is presented to insurance advisers who sold a minimum of 35 life policies and maintained a 90 per cent persistency for two consecutive years. Other awardees in this category were Hansraj Singh, Peter Bryan, and Anthony Semple. The Premium Club Award is presented to persons who produced an annualised income of at least $1.5 million, with 35 issues and a persistency of 90 per cent. These recipients were Charles, Valerie Archer, Japheth Hackett, Singh, Bryan and Anthony Semple. The sales person of the year is Singh who hails from Guyana and achieved yet another Chairman’s Award. The Chairman’s Award is awarded to an insurance adviser who receives the Sales Person of the Year Award for both companies in the same year.

The Sales Person of the Year Caribbean offices is Charles. Charles won a total of three out of four awards available to the Caribbean Offices.

GAWU reopens credit union

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Cooperative Credit Union Society Limited has instructed the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to recommence deductions following an agreement between the two entities.

In a release on Wednesday, the Union disclosed that in keeping with the Memorandum of Agreement between the parties, deductions of contributions in favour of the Credit Union from workers’ earnings will recommence with effect from the work week, July 5 to 11.

“It is the firm understanding of the Credit Union and GuySuCo that workers’ savings henceforth at the end of each month will be remitted to the Credit Union and thus no further indebtedness to the Credit Union should ever arise,” GAWU mentioned. According to GAWU, the Credit Union and GuySuCo have agreed to continue to address the settlement of the outstanding sum of money owed to the Credit Union, which totalled $188,045,825 as of May 31. Nevertheless, the Union outlined that those members who wish to continue their service with the Credit Union are welcome. It assured that it would spare no efforts to reauthorise the Corporation to facilitate members’ savings in the Credit Union. Earlier this month, GAWU was forced to suspend its Credit Union as a result of GuySuCo’s failure to remit over $154 million of workers’ contributions. The Union had to make a “regrettable but unavoidable decision” advising GuySuCo to cease deductions from workers’ earnings in this regard.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Awardees of GTM

GTM Chairman Ram Singh

The launch of “Bridging

The Gap”; connecting Caribbean style at the prestigious Brooklyn Borough Hall last weekend, was deemed as huge success with 16 designers showcasing their pieces.

The evening kicked off with the talented student designers featuring Lisett Mendoza, Darya Filipchyk and Shackeema Brown from Kingsborough Community College who did an excellent display of fabrics.

They cleared the way for the Caribbean designers, including Lady Ruth from Haiti. The upcoming designer is in the business for just under a year and has been creating quite an interest with her pieces. She has at least two brands on the market and on the night of the event, she presented four collections – “Lady R” and the lingerie line “Deshabillemoi”, the “Ladies to Bride Collection” and the “Lady and Lord” accessories.

The other design-

ers for the opening night were Minka from Jamaica; Melissa Payne from Guyana; and Mayanka from French Guiana, currently residing in Paris, France.

Trademarked in June 2004, Mayanka’s brand offers a feminine glamorous and daring ready-to-wear line, after specialising in women designs at the most pres-

Three time National Drama Festival winner and veteran Playwright Ronald Hollingsworth will be producing his hilarious drama “Diplomatic Blow” at the National Cultural Centre on June 27 and 28.

The play features two Diplomats (Leslyn BobbSemple and Alana Craigen) who, during their stint in Guyana become involved in unwholesome relationships with local Guyanese men (Mark Kazim and Sean Thompson).

The men – one of whom becomes haughty and begins to treat his Guyanese family

and friends with contempt –are only out to ensure they secure visas for themselves.

The maid (Clemencio Goddette) serving at the home of one of the Diplomats decides she will not be subjected to the behaviour of the locals and she retaliates aggressively.

Playing the role of the jilted girlfriend is Nirmala Narine, whose father (Paul Budnah) will stop at nothing to ensure that his daughter is not put to shame.

Leza Singh plays the part of the mother of one of the locals, who she supports in his pursuit for a visa and

other benefits he could derive from his relationship with the Diplomat.

The play is being Directed and Produced by Ronald Hollingsworth and Sheron Cadogan-Taylor, while Mark Luke-Edwards is performing the duties of Production Manager. Nicola Moonsammy and Sandy Thompson are the Stage and Properties Managers respectively.

Tickets for the event cost $2000 and $1200 and are available at the National Culture Centre or any cast member. Action starts at 20:00h.

tigious fashion designing school of Paris – ESMOD. Other Caribbean designs were Geneve Powell from Jamaican; Christine Samuels and Aytava from

Saint Lucia; Tiffany Rhodes “Butch Diva”, Domique La Roche and veteran designer Robert Young from Trinidad. Frederick Agyemang represented Ghana.

An integral part of Caribbean Heritage month in the United States was undertaken with the aim connecting Caribbean Style in a new fashion age, coming out from both the cross-cultural Caribbean backdrop and the dynamic Diaspora nexus of Brooklyn, New York.

“It was a great feeling launching ‘Bridging The Gap’ during CaribbeanAmerican Month. I must thank the Borough President Eric Adam and staff, designers, models and my team for making this a success”, Sonia Noel, Guyanese fashion icon related. Noel was part of the planning committee of the event which has brought a new dispensation of fashion between the two worlds, thus bridging the gaps.

This fantastic fashion showcase, she said, was truly an amazing addition to the Caribbean-American celebration.

Guyanese songtress, Lisa Punch has been tipped as the new holder of the Miss World Guyana Title and is expected to be crowned at a coronation ceremony this evening at the Guyana Marriot, Hotel, Kingston.

Guyana Times was reliably informed that several persons have been shortlisted and interviewed but at the end, Punch would have satisfied all the criteria. While up to late Thursday evening, Guyana Times Entertainment was still trying to confirm the news, members of the committee remained tightlipped. Punch won the first ever ‘Star Guyana TV Reality Show’ here in 2006. She is multitalented, as she has found her grounding as Host of the Caribbean Music Box Talk Show and ‘Hard Vibes’ under the wings of Mondale Smith on BTVCh2, before branching into radio on NCN and Hits and Jams while in Guyana. She now resides in the USA.

Lisa Punch was expected to arrive in Guyana last

evening as well as Reigning Miss World Guyana Rufiyaa Husain. The 65th Edition of the Miss World 2015 pageant will be held on December 19, at the Crown of Beauty Theatre in Sanya, China. Rolene Strauss of South Africa will crown her successor at the end of the event.

In the meantime, Guyana will be crowing its Miss World delegate this evening at a lavish ceremony which is expected to he attended by diplomats, Government officials and other invitees.

Apart from the crowning, the much anticipated event will see performances by popular radio host Nuriyyih Gerrard and talented poet Randolph Critchlow. The coronation ceremony will be hosted by former beauty queens Ruqayyah Boyer, Miss World Guyana 2013 and Reigning Miss World Guyana Rufiyaa Husain.

All donations received will go towards the Miss World Guyana Beauty with a Purpose humanitarian fund. Immediately after the coronation ceremony, the former Miss World Guyana and franchise holder will host a press conference.

LBrothers Entertainment brings to you a comedy filled Caricom weekend with the cast of ‘Bashment Granny Part 3 – Bashy Dead” featuring Keith “Shebada” Ramsey, “Bad Boy” Trevor and their friends.

There will be three shows countrywide. The first show kicks off in Linden on Saturday, July 4 at the McKenzie Sports Club ground, starting at 20:00h. Tickets are available at Muslim Top-Up Shop and Boutique and Bernard’s Variety Store.

The second show will be in Georgetown at the National Cultural Centre on Sunday, June 5. Those

tickets cost $2500, $2000 and $1500 and are available only at the National Cultural Centre. Showtime is 20:00h. The National Cultural Centre Dress Code is in effect.

The final show will be held in New Amsterdam, Berbice on Caricom Day, Monday July 6 at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute Ground (NATI), beginning at 19:00h. Tickets are available at La Rose Variety Store (in the market), Fordy’s Snackette and Candy Shop.

For the Jamaican comedy group, it will not be only entertainment for the 10 days they will be in Guyana. Part of the proceeds from

the combined three shows, will go to Solomon Austin from St Garbiel’s School who was pushed down a flight of stairs and now requires surgery after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

This surgery amounts to a total of $2.5 million. The group will also be hosting two drama workshops for winners in the Schools Category of the 2014 National Drama Festival, participants of the Guyana Prize for Literature and current students of the National Drama School, respectively.

So come out to have fun, laugh and support a worthy cause this Caricom weekend with “Shebada” and his friends.

As the international pageant draws near, this year slated for Austria, Guyana is yet to select a representative to the event.

Director of Simpli Royal, Pamela Dillon stated that the representative must be a citizen of Guyana; being between the ages of 18 to 26; being between five feet, five inches and six feet tall, with weight in proportion to height; possessing beauty of face; and having an outgoing personality, among others.

More importantly, the selected one must be motivated, a focused young woman, who will fulfill the ideals of the competition and showcase Guyana’s stance on protection of the planet. Taking into consideration the prospects of Guyana becoming an oil rich nation, the delegate must be able to promote Guyana to the world.

The designers are also encouraged to design a national costume depicting Guyana’s rich culture, diversity and especially Guyana’s natural resources.

Auditions to select the perfect young woman to represent Guyana will be held on Monday, July 6 at the Cocoa Stix Spa and Saloon at 251 South Road Bourda, Georgetown.

Those who are interested can contact franchise holder, Pamela Dillon on telephone numbers 665-4565 or 225-2303.

The Earth Pageant is expected to draw scores of beauties from around the world and will definitely showcase their curvaceous bodies, as they vie for the title. Guyana’s representative will be mandated to assist in helping to preserve and restore Mother Earth and to support Guyana’s role of raising awareness of climate change.

The last Miss Guyana Earth is Stacy Ramcharan who represented Guyana in the Philippines.

Residents of St Ignatius and surrounding communities in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) are in for a treat this weekend as DP Production hosts one of the biggest events to hit that part of the country. The event referred to as “Natural Togetherness” is set to sizzle on Saturday evening at the St Ignatius ground and will feature International artistes, as well as Guyana’s very own Natural Black.

All plans are set for the event that will also see performances by Yoland Nedd, a versatile singer from the Shakti Strings Orchestra who is known for his overwhelming talent, along with Lisa Punch, Jackie Jaxx, Nesta, Bonesman and Llaman. Emcee for the event will be no other that

Guyana’s funniest man, Chow Pow who is expected to treat the audience with come laughter.

DP Productions has been making waves in the local and international entertainment field for the past nine years. The company’s credits include charted hits for some of Guyana’s biggest entertainment names, such as Natural Black, Timeka Marshal, Eddie Niblett, Lisa Punch, Jumo Primo, Adrian Dutchin, Nesta, Jackie Jaxx, Jory and Kester D, among others.

Further cementing its position as Guyanas’ leading production house, is the recently concluded Soca Monarch Competition, in which DP was the producer of nine of the 15 finalists.

Two years ago, DP built a recording studio to facilitate recordings for select-

ed artistes under the DP brand. This has resulted in DP being catapulted to the premier position in Guyana for recording and production quality.

It is based on this proven track record that the production house has decided to go one step further, and shoot a video for Natural Black, their biggest act. This video is slated for international distribution.

It is behind this backdrop that the concert is planned for the Rupununi Village. Following the concert, there will be a VIP after party billed for the Amazonas Hotel, and a scenic shoot at one of the falls at the foot of the Kanuku Mountain Range which will also be included in the video. Tickets for the concert cost $1500 while the VIP party will cost $5000.

All plans are in place for the hosting of the most anticipated party fea turing Jamaican Dancehall artiste “Spice” at Club 704 on Saturday evening.

Tickets for “Spicy Saturday Party” are going like hot cakes and patrons are all excited and cannot wait to see yet another performance by the Jamaican artiste who has created some heat waves. She last performed at Club 704 in 2014 and it was by pop ular demand that she returns to please her fans.

Grace Hamilton, commonly known as “Spice” was born on August 6 in Jamaica and grew up in Old Breaton, St Catherine, where she attended Breaton Junior High School, and later St Catherine High School. Throughout her career, she has performed at various stage shows, both in her home

land of Jamaica and overseas, the biggest

She is currently signed with Madhouse Records and has also collaborated with Jimmy Cliff on one of his albums with the hit single “I Want I Do I Get”. Her most current song –“Fight Over Man” – was released on the Madhouse Label and has been creating some buzz in the Caribbean and further

Come this Saturday, she is expected to create a whirlwind with several of her new hits and will be accompanied by the sounds of Deejay Tallest, Selector Diamond and Gully Ras from

The event is sponsored by Fly Jamaica. Admission to the event is $2000 and doors will be opened at

Miss Guyana Earth, 2014, Stacy Ramcharan

The excitement is boiling to scorching degrees and claws are coming out as the ‘Princess Karaoke Star’ event grinds into second gear.

At the first round of the event which exploded last Saturday inside Club Next at the Princess International Hotel, some 25 singers blazed a trail to impress the judges as they each battled for whopping cash prizes and an opportunity to represent Guyana in Trinidad later this year.

Twenty-five-year-old Adrian Ramlochan, also called “Adri”, is a professional dancer and is a member of the Jewan Ka Nritya Dance Troupe led by radio personality, Roshini Boodhoo.

He was born at Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara to Jacqueline Jackson and Amernauth Ramlochan and is the second child. His siblings are Mahendra Ramlochan, also called “Johnny” and Amrita Ramlochan.

He grew up in Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara, a village he can call his own because of the familiar faces and friendly people he has become fully acquainted with over the years.

This talented dancer attended that Crane Nursery after which he completed his primary education at the Blankenburg Primary

The contestants brought out their ‘A’ Game and fused rich vocals, creativity and props as they all strived to evade the whip lash of elimination. At the conclusion of the first round, there were a few sullen faces as five unlucky persons were ousted from the contest because of half hearted and lacklustre performances.

At this round, Georgetown’s Lashaun Charles took the top spot with Iodele Gilbert, Queen Maria and Lisa Walcott following in hot

School where he wrote the National Grade Six Assessment and secured a spot at East Ruimveldt Secondary.

There, he topped his class at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in 2008. He is currently pursuing a career in finance and business management and has partnered with a business in making his dream come through.

His childhood was one of the happiest phases of his life. He was just relaxed and carefree, no worries, no du ties and he of ten got to hang out with his friends even when school was closed.

He remem bered going to the backdam to pick fruits, go fish ing, bird watch ing, talk Nancy stories and to swim in the canal with his siblings and friends. On a much more quiet day, he enjoyed being indoors with his family watching a movie while eating some of mommy’s delicious sugar cake.

pursuit. The Bartica ‘hottie’ Sylene Griffith surprised the judges by belting out a Whitney Houston selection to nab a spot among the top 10 best showcases.

In this line-up too were Sharon Jacobs, DJ Mongo Slade, Junior Corbin, Michael Spencer and Sharon Martin all of Georgetown. Promising contestants to watch out for are Oquela Jones, Amanda Khanai, Dameon Apple, Sandra King and Michael Leung who displayed winning potentials.

learnt to respect and appreciate what dancers do. His passion for dance grew and he became comfortable and developed as time went by.

Dance has definitely assisted him to become more disciplined. It has given him the much needed exposure as he had the opportunity to dance in every county thus far.

Through dance, he had the chance to meet several other local and even international dance groups and ar-

On Saturday evening at 20:30h round two will be staged at the same venue and the contestants have all promised to rain ‘fire and brim stone’ as they each stake a claim on the coveted 2015 Princess Star crown.

Those competing on Saturday, June 27 are Oquela Jones, Sharon Martin, Amanda Khani, DJ Mongo Slade, Sandra King, Lashaun Charles, Sharon Jacobs, Elizabeth Leung, Michael Leung, Petal France, Iodele Gilbert,

and true inspiration.

Like every mother, she has guided, nurtured, educated and believed in him. The most important thing is that she has never judged his decisions or the path he has chosen. He also has great respect for his friend Kumar Kissoon.

“I have watched him balance studies, lifestyle, dance, social voluntary work and family. I have pulled a page out of his book and now I too have mastered the art of creating balance and achieving my goals which have influenced my life positively”.

tistes.

He encourages anyone who wants to take up dance as a career to do so without second thought. “We’re only young once and we should grab the opportunity to be a part of something that not only preserves culture but it also keeps you occupied positively and plays an integral role in self discipline. Dance allows you to express yourself, when you’re out there dancing it just you and your music”.

His love for dancing came about after seeing his friend performing on stage, thus he was inspired and joined the dance group. It was challenging and was harder than he thought. He

“I can safely say that I have become an inspiration to aspiring dancers and I am happy to say that I even assist with choreographing; mainly Indian but exploration in African, hip hop and folk dance styles”.

Five years from now, he sees himself a businessman, furthering his studies. In an interview with the young dancer, he says that his mother is his role model

Apart from dancing, he runs a partnership business and is also a member of the Dharmic Nauajawan, a youth group that worked in areas of eradicating the social ills of society, giving to charity and conducting blood drives.

On a lighter note, he enjoys a good hot meal of pumpkin and roti. Strangely he has a lot of black shirts but his favorite colour is actually burgundy.

At the end of the competition, the eventual winner will take home cash prizes, bragging rights and a recording deal with one of the top recording studios, plus an all expenses paid weekend for two at a top resort in Guyana, and the opportunity to represent Guyana in Trinidad.

World Vision New Testament Church of God, the Lima Baptist Church and First Assembly of God has announced the return of Prophetess Juanita Bynum to host a life changing prayer movement in Guyana from June 25- 27.

On June 25, the televangelist will host a Pastor and leaders conference at the Princess International Hotel which starts at 15:00h and is open to all pastors and church leaders throughout Guyana, with an admission fee of $10,000.

A prayer movement for the general public will take place on June 26 and 27 at the National Park, in Georgetown. The general conference is set to begin at 19:00h with an admission fee of $2000 for adults.

Bynum had visited Guyana as recent as January and had promised to return

to continue “the will of God” and this time, take Guyana into a new dimension spiritually. Many claimed that her visit had transformed their lives and that they cannot wait to experience what the Lord will say to his people through this “magnificent woman of God”.

Local artiste Kester Deane, who will chair all three nights of Bynum’s return, noted that anyone who attended the previous conference would have heard her say that she will not stop until “a mighty move of God has occurred in Guyana”. He urged all Guyanese to come out and support this movement and accept the blessing that the Lord has to give. The event will also feature a variety of local gospel artistes including Cherlyn Maloney, Renwick Duesbury, Renee Winchester, Shawn Sobers, among others.

Junior Corbin, Dameon Apple, Sylene Griffith, Queen Maria, Lisa Walcott, Michael Spencer, Brian Gonsalves, Oconell Morgan, and Winifred Mason.

Sylene Griffith

DJ Mongo Slade

Lashaun Charles

Lisa Walcott

Juanita Bynum

Cherlyn Maloney

Digicel Nationwide School Football Tournament Georgetown leg

St John’s outplay Marian Academy for easy 4-1 win

By TreisTon Joseph

St John’s College were simply the better team on their way to an easy 4-1 win against Marian Academy on Thursday at the Education Ministry Ground when the Digicel Nationwide School Football Tournament continued in Georgetown.

St John’s basically had their way with Marian Academy controlling most of the ball possession as well as dictating the pace of the game.

Joel Yap opened the scoring for St John’s with an easy tap-in to the right of Marian’s custodian.

However, a defensive lapse by St John’s allowed Joshua Brazao to place his shot in the upper left hand corner of the goal to equalise for Marian in the 26th minute as the first half ended with the game on 1-1.

On resumption, Tyrese Forde capitalised and easily scored for St John’s in the 39th minute with a booming

right footed shot.

Levi Harry followed after dribbling two defenders in the 18-yard box, switching the ball to his left foot and cracking a shot in the right corner of the goal to register St John’s third goal of the evening in the 53rd minute.

Forde would then put the final nail in the coffin in the 58th minute to register a double to seal the win for St John’s College.

Games will continue today at various venues across Guyana.

BEI upset defending champions in thriller

The Berbice leg of the fifth annual Digicel School Football Tournament lived up to the excitement for which the Tournament is known, when the Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) upset regional defending champions, Vrymens Erven Secondary (VESS) 3-2 in a penalty shootout after the two schools had played to a 3-3

from the penalty spot after the referee blew his whistle with the ball in the penalty area.

BEI made several attempts to get their scoring started, but goalkeeper Rickford Williams was up to the task as the defending champions enjoyed the halftime break in the lead.

With the score on 3-1, BEI were soon back in the scoring area when Dwayne Alleyne dribbled past three opponents and was awarded a penalty after being brought down in the box. Alleyne made no mistake in the 85th minute scoring the penalty.

Guyana will rebound against Antigua – Shabazz

Following their 2-0 loss to Cuba in the opening game, Guyana’s National Under-23 team will rebound when they play against Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Olympic Qualifier, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz said.

“I think we will battle them with courage,” Shabazz said, while speaking on tomorrow’s important encounter, given the fact that only one team will advance from the group.

“Our squad is disciplined and works to the point where they will give their blood,” Shabazz said.

In terms of changes to the team who started against Cuba, Shabazz would only say “we may bring in Jamaal Harvey into the team: he came on and was solid”.

Against Cuba, Guyana started with Anthony Whyte between the uprights and a defensive line-up that featured Joshua Brown, Daniel Whyte, Les Charles Critchlow and William Europe. In the

midfield, there were Englishbased Kadell Daniel, Alpha United’s Daniel Wilson, GFC’s Kareem Knights and Trayon Bobb who plays in the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League with Caledonia AIA. Up front, Bobb’s teammate at Caledonia, Pernell Schultz was paired with Den Amstel FC’s forward Dellon Lanferman.

The game kicks off at 18:00h after the Cuba-Aruba clash which gets on the way at 15:30h.

Bolt withdraws from Jamaican trials 100m

Mystery surrounds the fitness of Usain Bolt after he withdrew from the 100 meters at Jamaica’s national trials on Thursday and his management team failed to provide any explanation for his absence.

Bolt was due to run the shorter sprint in an attempt to sharpen his form for the world championships in Beijing in August, where he is automatically entered to defend the 100m and 200m titles he won in 2013.

However, Bolt’s name was removed from the list of entrants for the 100m released by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) late on Wednesday.

“He was entered and has since been withdrawn,” JAAA general secretary Garth Gayle told Reuters on Thursday, giving no further details.

The 100m got underway at 1000 local time (1500GMT) on Thursday with a qualifying round. The quarter-finals are scheduled for 1855.

Bolt, 28, had been entered along with Yohan

Blake, Asafa Powell and Nesta Carter in the preliminary list published by the JAAA on Sunday.

He had appeared to be in good shape when training on

coach Glen Mills

Wednesday, sources said.

The 100m and 200m world record holder has struggled for form this year with modest best times of 10.12 seconds over 100m in Brazil and 20.13 for 200 in Ostrava.

The 10-times world championship medalist expressed concerns after a pedestrian

and agent Ricky Simms have yet to respond to questions about what his next move will be. He is scheduled to run Diamond League races in Paris on July 4 -- an event he pulled out of last year with a foot injury -- and Lausanne five days later. (Reuters)

Shelton McPherson, who had earlier squandered four goal-scoring opportuni-

draw at the end of regulation time.

Playing at the Burnham Park in New Amsterdam, VESS were off to an early start as they set about defending their regional title when Burris Griffith found the back of the net two minutes into play.

Five minutes later, Kevon Williams made it 2-0 when he took his shot

On resumption, six goalscoring opportunities were squandered by BEI. However, a lurking and dangerous Griffith made good use of a pass he received from Williams and sent VESS 3 up in the 80th minute.

VESS were enjoying a comfortable 3-0 lead with 10 minutes to play when Coluis Brunette dribbled two defenders to score, reducing the deficit to 3-1.

ties for BEI, made amends and equalised in the 86th minute to send the game to penalties.

The competition continues today when Skeldon High take on Skeldon Line Path Secondary at the Skeldon Community Centre in another first-round match of the knockout competition.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Dashing opener

Dwayne Smith says Barbados Tridents are focussed on sweeping all four of their home matches in the Caribbean Premier League.

The defending champions are on a two-game winning streak after beating Guyana Amazon Warriors by 49 runs in their opening game and following up with a 16-run victory over Jamaica Tallawahs on Tuesday night.

Smith played a key role in the second win, top-scoring with 56 from 53 deliveries, and said their aim was now to leave Barbados undefeated.

“It’s good to get a good score and also to go on to win, so I just hope that we can go on and win the other two games and win from here 4-0,” Smith said.

He added: “We just want to go out and win the other two games. Once we can leave here four-nil, I’m sure

that momentum will take us through the other matches.”

Opting to bat first, Tridents tallied 161 for four off their 20 overs, with Smith playing a pivotal role at the top order. He helped add 57 for the first wicket Dilshan Munaweera (24) before putting on a further 60 for the second wicket with Shoaib Malik who finished unbeaten on 43. Tridents then reduced Tallawahs to 50 for three

in the eighth over, a position from which the visitors never recovered, as they finished on 145 for nine. Smith said Tridents had been well prepared for the conditions at Kensington Oval.

“We actually had two practice games on the pitch so we knew how it was going to play, so it was just for us to get the scores out there once we bat first; or if we bowl first, chase those [totals] down,” Smith noted. The right-hander, who was short of runs in the recent Indian Premier League, said he was pleased with his form.

“It comes down to hard work. I’m always concentrating on my game though it may not look so to people, I always work hard on my game,” Smith said. “It’s paying off now and I’m confident that I can pick back up so I don’t worry about those things.” (CMC)

20.29 to win the 200m at the recent New York Diamond League meeting where he said he ran his “worst turn ever”.

Bolt’s

Joel Yap of St John’s celebrates as he watches his strike rock the back of the net (Treiston Joseph Photo)

Usain Bolt

Dwayne Smith

Football action on Thursday

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Sri Lanka strong after Kaushal 5-for

Offspinner Tharindu Kaushal and pacer Dhammika Prasad carved out Pakistan’s batting order, bowling the visitors out for 138 on the first day of the second Test at P Sara Oval. Pakistan’s batting implosion took place in the second session of the day - a rain-affected one with an interruption of 55 minutes - as they slumped from 70 for 2, losing their last eight wickets for 68 runs.

Sri Lanka’s top order blunted Pakistan’s attack and they went to stumps at 70 for 1, trailing by 68 runs with Kumar Sangakkara and Kaushal Silva to take strike tomorrow.

Sri Lanka had found themselves in a similar position in the Galle Test, when Pakistan’s top order had failed. In that game, Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq’s resistance had snatched the game away from Sri Lanka, but on a pitch known for its record of producing results, Sri Lanka’s attack tightened their grip on Pakistan, all without the help of Rangana Herath, who did not bowl an over in the day.

At the centre of Sri Lanka’s effort was Kaushal, who was picked for the second Test in place of the injured Dilruwan Perera. He was given only one over before lunch, but he owned the second session with a spell of nine overs, conceding 35 runs for five wickets. He tossed up the ball, extracted sharp turn and also made use of the bounce on offer from the track.

Kaushal, playing his first Test at home, deceived both Mohammad Hafeez and Asad Shadiq with turn. The 31st over, cleaved in half by a rain break, saw Kaushal trapping Shafiq plumb in front before Misbah-ul-Haq was run-out by a mile a result of poor calling between the Pakistan captain and Sarfraz.

Sarfraz nudged and nurdled in his effort to revive Pakistan’s innings with the lower order but fell to a flighted delivery from Kaushal, going for the drive but only managing an inside edge that ballooned off his pad to Angelo Mathews at slip. Pakistan’s innings lasted only four overs after that and Sangakkara’s diving ef-

fort at long-on to dismiss Yasir Shah, after he had run from mid-on, fittingly capped off Kaushal’s five-for.

If the second session belonged to Kaushal, it was the quicks Prasad and Dushmantha Chameera, making his debut, who set up the first, responding to the challenge of having to bowl first.

Prasad struck early with Ahmed Shehzad’s wicket, bending his back to extract all the help he could find from the pitch, but just as impressive was Chameera, who harried Pakistan’s batsmen with speeds of 145kph in his first spell, and even reached the 150kph mark in the second session.

There was swing on offer, too, and Chameera’s pace and accuracy discomfited Azhar Ali and Hafeez during their 46-run second wicket partnership. The pair found themselves squared up and often late on pulls and defensive shots, besides having to dig out accurate, swinging yorkers from the young pacer.

Just as the pair had seen off the toughest period of play, Prasad returned in the 16th over and struck with his first ball, with umpire Paul Reifell overturning the onfield umpire’s decision and declaring Azhar out caught behind.

Hafeez’s innings had held most of the first session together, and he hit some pleasing shots during his stay - the straight

drive off Chameera to bring up Pakistan’s 50 was one of them. A partnership between him and Younis could have taken Pakistan to a very different situation, but the latter struggled in his 100th Test appearance, surviving two lbw shouts from Mathews on 0. In the first over after lunch, he tried dropping his wrists to what appeared to be a short delivery off Prasad. The ball didn’t sit up as much as he anticipated and he only ended up lobbing it to Dinesh Chandimal behind the stumps, setting off the implosion.

Chameera also got among the wickets towards the end of Pakistan’s innings, when Zulfiqar Babar chopped a quick delivery on to his stumps.

Before the game, Mathews had called for better shot selection from his batsmen and the manner of Dimuth Karunaratne’s dismissal would have come as a disappointment. The opener had worked for a start but chased at a full, wide delivery off Junaid Khan on 28. Silva survived a close review in the 19th over, when Pakistan went up in appeal for a catch at slip. Replays showed there was no contact between bat and ball, but later suggested the batsman was struck in line and there was a chance of an lbw, which appeared to remain unexplored. Silva finished unbeaten on 21, with Sangakkara on 18. (Cricinfo)

2-51, 3-74, 4-89, 5-95, 6-96, 7-113, 8-117, 9-124, 10-138

Bowling: KTGD Prasad 13-2-433, AD Mathews 9-4-16-0, PVD Chameera 100-33-1, PHT Kaushal 10.5-0-42-5. Sri Lanka 1st innings FDM Karunaratne c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Junaid Khan 28 JK Silva not out 21 KC Sangakkara not out 18 Extras (b 2, nb 1) 3

Total (1 wicket; 32 overs) 70 To bat: HDRL Thirimanne, AD Mathews*, LD Chandimal†, KDK Vithanage, KTGD Prasad, PHT Kaushal, PVD Chameera, HMRKB Herath Fall of wickets: 1-47. Bowling: Wahab Riaz 9-219-0, Junaid Khan 10-326-1, Zulfiqar Babar 7-4-90,

Tharindu Kaushal struck twice in two overs

U-23 Olympic qualifiers… Shabazz lauds “brave fight” in face of defeat

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Guyana suffered a 0-2 loss to Cuba on Wednesday to kickstart the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) leg of the Under-23 Olympic Qualifiers, but Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz said his players put up a “brave fight” and he is proud of their efforts.

First-half goals from Frank Manuel Lopez and Darian Perez, who scored in the seventh and 41st minutes respectively, handed the Guyanese an early defeat and left them without a point at the start of Group Two action at the Antigua Recreation ground, St John’s, Antigua.

“We put up a brave fight against a Cuba team that was more experienced and superior to us in several departments,” Shabazz confessed on Wednesday evening.

He added, “I am proud of the effort of the lads and we look forward to an equally challenging encounter against the hosts Antigua. We battled well and created some chances especially in the second half. But the experience and composure of the Cuba overwhelmed us.”

With two games remaining in the four-team group, Guyana must win both matches going forward to stand a chance of moving forward in the qualification phase.

The young Golden Jaguars will look to rebound today when the face hosts

Antigua, before they take on Aruba in the final game of the group on Sunday.

Shabazz stated, “We may bring in Jamaal Harvey into the team- he came on [against Cuba] and was solid. Going into the game versus Antigua we must treat them with the same respect as Cuba. They are a formidable opponent, more offensive than Cuba, and in front their home fans. I think we will battle them with courage. Our squad is disciplined and works to the point where they will give their blood.”

On Wednesday, Antigua started the competition in resounding fashion, nailing Aruba 7-0, while in Group One action in Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis hammered the Cayman Islands 6-0, and Haiti outplayed Barbados 2-0.

In the Group Three game in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica whipped St Lucia 6-1.

GOA Future Open badminton tourney… Ramdhani, Abrams to contest Ladies Singles final

National players

Priyanna Ramdhani and Kara Abrams have booked their spots in the final of the Ladies Singles at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) sponsored Future Open badminton tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. Ramdhani turned in a dominant performance to beat Ayanna WickhamWatson 21-3, 21-7, while Abrams got the better of

Abosaide Cadogan 21-18, 21-4.

Below are the summarised scores from games on day two.

In the Men’s Singles semi-finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Avinash Odit 21-9, 21-11. In the Ladies Singles Semi-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Ayanna WickhamWatson 21-3, 21-7; and Kara Abrams defeated Abosaide Cadogan: 21-18, 21-4. In the

Ladies Singles third place game: Abosaide Cadogan defeated Ayanna WickhamWatson 21-3, 21-7. In the Men’s Doubles quarter-finals: Gokarn Ramdhani/Grandison Robinson defeated Akili Haynes/Tyrese Jeffrey 2112, 21-10; and Jonathan Mangra/Avinash Odit defeated Ransell Ramsaroop/ Tyreese Richards 21-7, 21-9.

In the Men’s Doubles semi-finals: Narayan Ramdhani/Nicholas Ali defeated William Holder/

Haymant Ramdhani 2110, 21-14; and Jonathan Mangra/Avinash Odit defeated Gokarn Ramdhani/ Grandison Robinson 21-12, 18-21, 21-16. In the Ladies Doubles semi-finals: Priyanna Ramdhani/Abosiade Cadogan defeated Ayanna Wickham-Watson/Emelia Ramdhani 21-7, 21-7; and Kara Abrams/Siya Persaud defeated Andrea Bernard/ Amanda Daniels: 21-11, 2111.

GTA to host Olympiad, fun day on Sunday

The Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) has collaborated with the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) to observe this year's World Olympic Day celebra-

tions with a promotional activity that celebrates the Olympic Movement for the sport of tennis.

The inaugural tennis Olympiad and Fun Day will be held on Sunday at the National Racquet Centre on Woolford Avenue and Camp Street from 10:00h to 15:00h. Racquets and balls will be provided and there will be free tennis lessons, special high-energy fun activities and competitions geared for all ages.

All members of the public who wish to pursue ten-

nis as a recreational sport will have an opportunity to try out the sport, watch top players and beginners challenge each other, meet tennis coaches and join a club. The GTA hopes to attract at least 40 new participants to the sport.

Digicel Senior squash championship… Anthony Islam off to positive start

Anthony Islam won the first game in the Digicel Senior National Squash Championship which began on Wednesday evening with three matches at the Georgetown Club Courts.

The 13 year old defeated senior Yang Hapoei 3-2 as his improving form and fitness were the keys to a 9/11, 8/11, 11/6, 11/2, 11/8 comeback win.

The evening's second

game saw veterans Alwyn Callendar and Pedro Towers go head to head with the former claiming victory 11/2, 11/7, 11/9. Never allowing his opponent to settle, Callendar made certain to close the game just as his opponent was approaching his best form on the night. Meanwhile Daniel Islam showed promise in his match up with veteran Medhi Ramdhani, but in the end was treated to an exhi-

bition of experienced ball placement, most notably in the first two games. As the Match moved into the third game the fitness of youth was enough for Islam to wrestle away that game 11/7. Islam was able to secure another set win, before the winded veteran secured victory at 11/7, 11/5, 7/11, 8/11, 13/11. The tournament continues throughout the remainder of the week.

Jamaal Shabazz

Jonathon Mangra watches as his partner Avinash Odit executes a shot

Gokarn Ramdhani is airborne as he plays a shot, while his Doubles partner Grandison Robinson pays close attention

GOA’s Vice-president Charles Corbin presents the donation to GTA President Grace McCalman

El Dorado Trading onboard with GSSF Steel Challenge

Pavasky

TDorado Trading Tamesh Jagmohan

he Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF) in commemoration of its first anniversary will be hosting a Steel Challenge Shooting match on Saturday at the Guyana Defence Force’s Timehri Range.

The match, which has been exclusively sponsored by El Dorado Trading, will be an eagerly contested one, a release from the GSSF highlighted.

At the small ceremony at the headquarters of El Dorado Trading, located at Lot 136 Young Street, Kingston, Georgetown, President of the GSSF, Vidushi Persaud, in accepting the kind sponsorship, conveyed thanks to Tamesh and Pavasky Jagmohan of the company.

Persaud, in her capacity as Match Director, noted that “Steel Challenge is the perfect way to introduce new shooters to the safe sport of steel shooting because of the easy-to-understand rules and scoring, coupled with the satisfaction gained from the instant audible "ping" heard when the bullet hits the steel plate.” As an affiliate of the Steel Challenge Shooting Association, a sister body of the United States Practical.

Shooting Association, the GSSF over the last year has been organising matches following their strict safety policies. This simple, yet action-packed shooting sport attracts Guyanese pistol shooters from all around the country on a regular basis.

According to the GSSF, Steel Challenge Shooting is considered to be the fastest practical shooting competition in the world. The upcoming competition prom-

ises to be an exciting one, which will consist of four different stages, where competitors will shoot at five individual steel targets per stage.

Shooters will be scored using an electronic timing device, penalties of added time are applied for any misses after the designated stop plate is shot and the total time taken is the score: all while being closely monitored by the Federation’s Range Safety Officers.

The shooter with the lowest time to hit all the plates overall in the match will be declared the winner.

On Saturday, shooters will compete in two SCSA Divisions: Wildcat and Limited. The prizes up for grabs will be awarded to the top three overall in each division. Wildcat Division will have competitors using .32ACP and any other calibre lesser than a 9mm, while those in the Limited Division will shoot 9mm or higher calibre hand guns.

To add to the prestige of this GSSF’s first anniversary showdown, members who will be shooting full power handguns (Limited Division) will be competing for the rights to hoist the El Dorado Trading Steel Challenge Cup.

Managing Director of the company, Tamesh Jagmohan, indicated that this Cup will be a Challenge Trophy, which the winner will have to defend annually in the month of June to commemorate the anniversary of the Federation.

Each year the winner’s name and corresponding year will be inscribed on a plaque attached to the Cup’s base.

GBTI tennis open... Squires outplays Dainty to claim first win

Day five of the annual Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Tennis Open produced some exciting games, with last year’s Men’s Open runner-up Phillip Squires chalking up his first win.

Squires, who was beaten by Anthony Downes in the final last year, had a surprising battle for his first match. Squires is recognised for his agility and playful style, but it was evident that he is not in his best form.

GBTI 2014 Novice winner, Orande Dainty, played exceptionally well in his transition into the Open category. His big serves and aggressive ground strokes earned him four games, but the higher margin of errors on his part handed Squires victory at 6-2, 6-2.

Squires’ path to the final is threaten by the presence of number four seed Daniel Lopes, and number two seed, Leyland Leacock.

Meanwhile, Nicola Ramdyhan in her quest to retain her title wasted little time in knocking over junior, Allan Chung, out of the Ladies Singles Open. She won the match comfortably at 6-0, 6-0. On the other court, Kalysia Fraser dispatched Kizzy Richmond 6-3, 6-2 out of the competition.

Philbert Clark started strong in his match against Mindat Lallbeharry in what

would appear to be a trouble-free win for Clark until Lallbeharry levelled the set at 4-4. Clark did not hesitate after this point to close the set at 6-4 and quickly repeated a similar margin of victory win in the second set. On the same half of the Men’s Open draw, Lopes took an easy 6-1, 6-0 win over Charles Adams. The last match of the evening went to Harry Panday after his opponent, Alfonso Field, tweaked his back during the third game of the first set.

Field tried to press through the pain, but serving became extremely difficult. Harry will now take on Seanden David-Longe on Saturday night at the GBTI Recreational Centre, Bel Air Park.

Games will recommence on Saturday morning for juniors, while the Open matches will begin at 16:30h.

Jagmohan (centre) hands over the sponsorship funds to GSSF President, Vidushi Persaud. GSSF’s Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Ryan McKinnon is at left, while from right are GSSF’s Vice-president Michael Blake and Managing Director of El

Philip Squires

The Barbados Tridents made it three wins out of three in the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier

Holder shines as Tridents smash Red Steel

League as they blew the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel away with another stunning display at the Kensington Oval. Jason Holder was destroyer-in-chief for the de-

fending champions, the West Indies ODI captain producing a devastating spell of fast bowling after the Red Steel had won the toss and elected to bat.

They were a shambles at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, 3-4 and 205, Holder taking 3-11 from

four hostile overs, including the wickets of the dangerous Kamran Akmal and Darren Bravo.

Dwayne Bravo (30) and Jason Mohammed (20) tried to steady the ship for the shell-shocked visitors, putting on 46 for the sixth wick-

et, before Bravo slapped a Jeevan Mendis long-hop straight to Navin Stewart at cover, much to the Red Steel skipper’s disgust.

They managed to see out their overs but only just, finishing on 95-9 - and the Tridents wasted no time setting about their task as Dwayne Smith and Dilshan Munaweera looked like men in a hurry.

Munaweera smashed 39 off 28 and Smith 33 off 29, before they were dismissed in successive balls by Sulieman Benn, both holing

out in the deep either side of a drinks break.

It didn’t make any difference as the Tridents cruised towards their target regardless, Shoaib Malik and Jonathan Carter seeing them home with a massive 40 balls to spare.

Kieron Pollard’s side will play their final home game against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on Saturday, while the Red Steel aren’t in action again until Sunday 4 July when they meet the Guyana Amazon Warriors in St Kitts. (CPL.com)

SCOREBOARD

Rampaul 4-0-24-1, RJ Peterson 4-0-20-1, RR Emrit 2-0-170, KA Pollard 4-0-16-1, BMAJ Mendis 2-0-7-1. Barbados Tridents innings (target: 96 runs from 20 overs) DR Smith c Botha b Benn 33 EMDY Munaweera c Mohammed b Benn 39 Shoaib Malik not out 10 JL Carter† not out 15 Extras (w 1) 1

Total (2 wickets; 14 overs) 98

To bat: KA Pollard*, JO Holder, BMAJ Mendis, ND Stewart, RJ Peterson, RR Emrit, R Rampaul Fall of wickets: 1-73, 2-73. Bowling: S Badree 2-0-240, KK Cooper 2-0-12-0, JH Kallis 4-0-22-0, DJ Bravo 2-016-0, SJ Benn 3-0-20-2.

R

Windies slump to 8th in ODI rankings

Bangladesh have overtaken West Indies for seventh spot in the latest International Cricket Council one-day team rankings.

The Tigers have moved to 93 ratings points following their 2-1 win over World number two India in the three-match series which ended in Mirpur on Wednesday.

Bangladesh won the opening ODI by 79 runs and sealed the series with a six-wicket victory in the second game. They lost the final game by 77 runs.

The triumph was Bangladesh’s first ever victory in a bilateral series over India.

This was engineered in large part by all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan who

Indies slump to eight in ODI rankings

scored 52, 51 not out and 20 in the three games, while taking three wickets, to return to the top of the ICC All-rounder rankings. World champions Australia remain on top the standings with 129 points, well clear of India on 115. World Cup losing finalists New Zealand lie third on 112, marginally ahead of South Africa on the same number of ratings points. Sri Lanka are fifth on 106 while England are sixth on 98 points. West Indies are also eighth in the Test rankings headed by South Africa and are fourth in the Twenty20 rankings lead by reigning World champions Sri Lanka. (CMC)

West

Jason Holder celebrates the wicket of Darren Bravo to claim his third wicket of the game in his Man of the Match performance. (CPLFacebook photo)