Guyana Times Daily - February 25, 2016

The Race to LGE 2016

“I want to look at youth empowerment in terms of vocational training” – Bell Vue-Eastern Good Intent candidate P17 THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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

Issue No. 2778

Thursday, February 25, 2016

PRICE

Damning Rodney CoI Report findings

PNC Boss breaks silence …claims report “flawed”

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Former P8 Policeman slapped with murder charge

Page 9

Sheila Veerasammy Hosororo residents tipped to be new horrified by Police, GDF excesses PPP MP Page 7

Page 2

– fear return of Burnhamite days following illegal raids

Mother P12 allegedly confesses to “choking” 8-year-old son to death Schools P17 in Guyana celebrate Culture Day

SOCU being “kicked about like a political football” – P14 British expert Worker confesses to killing employer

Guyana accredits 2 new Ambassadors

Page 14

Ambassador Mordehai Amihai-Bivas presenting his Letters of Credence to President David Granger at the Accreditation Ceremony at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday

Education Minister hospitalised

Security guard critical after EBD accident Page 11

Page 14

Fisherman hangs self at Montrose home Page 10

P7

Court Marshal charged with causing death of pedal cyclist – alcohol level reportedly exceeded the legal limit P7

2 news

thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Hosororo residents horrified by Police, GDF excesses – fear return of Burnhamite days following illegal raids

O

utraged residents of Hosororo Hill, Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) are on the brink of receiving justice as two investigations have been launched into the allegations of an unprecedented homeinvasion/raid conducted by Guyana Defence Force (GDF) officers along with ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley confirmed that residents are completely traumatised after at least three houses were arbitrarily raided by GDF and GPF ranks in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

However, Commander of F Division (Interior locations), Ravindradat Budhram, believes the reports are being blown out of proportion.

Both the Police and the regions intelligence committee have since launched independent investigations into the allegations to determine what exactly transpired.

“The invasion”

Guyana Times understands that on Sunday morning, members of the Joint

Services were hunting for suspects in relation to an assault case currently being investigated by the local Police.

According to reports, several young men allegedly assaulted a man on Saturday evening during a floodlight football match which was held in the community.

Residents recollected that the servicemen, clad in their military uniforms and equipped with guns in their hands, practically forced their way into the villagers’ homes without properly identifying themselves.

Residents were not told about the purpose for the exercise, and neither did they present a search warrant. The residents agreed that the servicemen were rather unprofessional in their approach and exhibited the bearing that they are above the law.

According to one resident who asked not to be named, the early morning military operation felt some semblance of the grim occurrences that plagued the country during the 70’s and 80’s when soldiers conducted multiple raids without probable cause

or reason and were parading the streets, instilling fear into the populace.

Cover-up

The Regional Chairman said the Police have since denied the allegations made by the residents, indicating that there might be some “coverup” involving the entire incident.

While not speaking directly on the incident, Ashley posited that often times, senior Police ranks would “protect” junior ranks who would have acted out of line.

Nonetheless, he expressed that he was beyond horrified at the news of the allegations and he charged that he will ensure the relevant authorities do everything in their power to uncover the truth so that justice can be served.

“We will not subscribe to that kind of behaviour. From what I heard from the residents, it appears that these men feel the law does not apply to them. Residents said they did not provide a warrant and the Justice of Peaces in the region indicated that they never signed any document for

Regional Chairman Brentnol Ashley

the search,” he stated.

Moreover, Ashley will be meeting with the residents today to address their concerns.

Police’s take

On the other hand, the Police are contending that nothing of the sort took place.

The Divisional Commander explained that the servicemen visited the area to conduct a regular search/arrest exercise in rela-

tion to the assault case being investigated.

He confirmed that four young men were arrested for questioning as the investigations continue.

Return of Burnham days Concerns are high that there might be a return of the “Burnham days” where the military was being influenced by the State to conduct political operations.

In the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report, the three-member panel that investigated the circumstances which led to the death of Historian, Dr Walter Rodney, concluded that the Disciplined Services were working under the influences of the State in using excessive force against Guyanese citizens who did not share similar political convictions, or who were opposed to the practices of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government.

It would seem that the current Disciplined Forces are tilting in the direction of the operations of the PNC, the largest political unit in the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition; the same party the Commission has concluded was responsible for Rodney’s death.

With the APNU/AFC Government in place, things seem to be leaning in that direction, particularly with the operation of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

SOCU was established back in 2013 as a law enforcement agency to investigate exclusively allegations and reports relating to money laundering and terrorism as part of Guyana’s international obligations to strengthen its Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) apparatus. However, things

seem to have taken a dramatic twist, as the Unit has been finding itself in operations that should only involve the Police. The same has been happening with the GDF. The illegal operations of SOCU came to light on December 30 last, when a highspeed chase along Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown, left three persons dead – GDF Sergeant Robert Pyle; his wife, Stacy Pyle; and the driver of a Canter truck, Linden Eastman.

Sergeant Pyle and a team from SOCU were supposed to have been conducting surveillance on a home of former Head of NICIL Winston Brassington at Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown. They became engaged in the highspeed chase with a vehicle occupied by Opposition parliamentarian Charles Ramson Jr’s wife Alana Seebarran and her brother.

During that high-speed chase, Pyle slammed into the truck that was travelling in the opposite direction, resulting in his and the other deaths.

While the GDF claimed Pyle had been on an official operation, there were reports that he was never instructed to get involved in any chase.

The Government has since refused to launch a Commission of Inquiry into the incident, prompting condemnation from politicians and rights groups.

Subsequently, SOCU was involved in another operation during which it allegedly swooped down on a city businessman.

The businessman’s lawyer Anil Nandlall had told media operatives that a contingent of 12 SOCU ranks “unleashed” themselves into the businessman’s home before the break of dawn, under the pretext of investigating money laundering activities.

Teachers’ housing project moving into implementation phase

T

eachers will soon have the advantage of receiving a loan to construct their homes through the long-anticipated Teachers’ Revolving Housing Fund, which is awaiting the go-ahead from a capable financial institution to manage the project.

This was according to Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) General Secretary Coretta McDonald, who, during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, explained that the project was ongoing and the money was currently in an account at the bank, waiting to be utilised for the benefit of teachers across Guyana.

However, she stated that owing to the unreasonable interest rates being proposed by a number of commercial banks the Union has had consultations with, it was unable to run off the project.

McDonald confirmed that the amount of interest that the banks were expecting the teachers to pay was the same amount they would have to pay if they were directly taking a $2 or $3 million loan from the banks.

“This is unfair to the teachers. It’s not like the money belongs to the bank, it’s our money that we have acquired over the years. We can’t allow this,”

she reported.

The Union will now be looking to have talks with cooperative societies to assess if they are capable of handling the project.

McDonald had explained in a recent interview with this publication that the Union would be incapable of supervising the fund, and, therefore, it had suggested to the Education Ministry that it should provide trained personnel to offer professional assistance.

The fund is intended every year to benefit 20 teachers from across Guyana who would be selected to receive a grant of $2 million to facilitate construction of their homes.

Teachers who have land with a transport, title, or deed in their name automatically qualify for the loans. In addition, the teacher must be a “financial member” of the GTU. The beneficiaries would then be required to repay the money after a certain period of time, to provide for the next batch of teachers to be chosen the following year. The process would be an ongoing one.

McDonald had disclosed that over the years, the Union had been waiting for the goahead, it was able to accumulate $200 million to fund the project.

news

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thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, February 25 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, February 26 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, February 25 – 05:55h-07:25h and Friday, February 26 – 06:20h-07:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery rain showers can be expected throughout the morning, while light rain showers can be expected in the afternoon. Clear to partly cloudy conditions can be expected in the evening.

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

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.47 metres and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 05:59h and 18:17h reaching maximum heights of 2.68 metres and 2.69 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:51h reaching a minimum height of 0.52 metre.

wednesday, February 24, 2016

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“We have no authority on our own land” – Tasserene Toshao … as miners continue to pollute waterway

A

n influx in the reckless and environmentally unfriendly mining activities in the Akawaio Village of Tasserene, Upper Mazaruni in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) is generating aggravated hardships for the indigenous inhabitants who are now forced to consume heavily polluted waters, simply because they are yet to receive legal authority over their land to take matters into their own hands, given that Government appears to be lagging behind in addressing the situation.

Tasserene Toshao John Spencer is imploring the relevant authorities to urgently intervene to dissuade the negative impacts of mining in the community in order to bring relief to some 300 frustrated residents who are finding it challenging to conduct everyday activities, such as cooking, washing laundry and bathing.

Tasserene villagers have been waiting for over 10 years to acquire their land title in order to gain the requisite authority to deal with the excessive mining in the area, which is now causing pollution to the community’s primary potable water source.

In 2007, the community applied for an Amerindian Land Title. In August 2012, then President Donald Ramotar handed over the “land title certificate” to then Toshao of the village Alvin Joseph; however, the titles were almost immediately withdrawn subsequent to an objection filed by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) based on certain hindrances which needed to be addressed.

Guyana Times understands that the situation was dealt with accordingly. Though the issues were resolved, Tasserene village was never granted its title.

As a result of having no authority over their land, more and more mining blocks, permits and concessions are being issued for mining to take place in the indigenous community.

Tasserene Toshao John Spencer

In September 2015, an addition of 60 new mining blocks covered the lands claimed by the village and according to the Toshao; this number appears to be steadily increasing.

“We don’t have authority on our own land and with the mining influx, more excavators going inside and we can’t do anything,” he lamented.

The Amerindian leader explained that the situation was initially bearable since the mining took place at a great distance away from the village and the creek; however, only recently, the

mining activities escalated and miners are now conducting operations a stone’s throw away from the community.

Spencer related that he made several attempts to engage the miners on the issue but they reportedly refused to cooperate. He also made contact with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock who promised to dispatch a team to the area sometime next month to deal with the situation. However, Spencer believes the Ministry could be more rigorous in their approach and perhaps do more to assistance the Amerindian residents.

On the matter of the land title, the Toshao said the Minister gave little details on the progress. “So far, all the Government said is that they are working on it,” Spencer related.

Moreover, he expressed concerns over the fact that GGMC officers visit the community without consulting the Village Council.

“When GGMC officers come to our village, they do not consult with the Village Council. They go and do their own thing in the fields and then they go back to Georgetown and we are left without answers,” he exasperatedly stated, noting that the rights of the people are being violated.

“We need Government’s intervention as early as possible. Our land is being destroyed by the miners in the area. Tasserene residents are aching,” expressed a concerned Toshao.

He noted too that the residents are ready and willing to work with the Government in addressing the situation.

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thursday, february 25, 2016

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

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

Editorial

STEM deficit T

he new Minister of Education and the President of the Republic have pronounced conclusively on the need for, and commitment to, a focus on what has been dubbed the STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. But what has been avoided is whence will the teachers be sourced to teach these subjects? A few years ago, the PPP Administration, acknowledging the lack of qualified teachers, had even proposed recruiting foreign teachers. That idea died on the vine, but there has been no evidence that the lacuna was filled during the interregnum

by UG and Cyril Potter.

The Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has consistently raised the issue of the remuneration package of our teachers not to mention the local training programme spearheaded

by NCERD, CPCE and UG as the reason for the shortfall in teachers for these “hard subjects”. Remuneration is once again on the agenda and while in the big picture, this issue must be rectified, there are wider issues behind the identified teacher shortage in the STEM subjects.

In the USA, money is surely not lacking, but like Guyana, it also has a shortage of teachers in the STEM subjects. On the other hand, China and India, even when they were mired in poverty, had been churning out teachers and graduates in these subjects like cookies. In fact, most of the developed countries source a good chunk of their Maths and Science manpower from India and China.

Money counts, but there is another factor that helps to form a vicious cycle in this crucial area of education.

Fundamentally, there are not enough teachers here and in the US, because there are not enough students excited about the STEM stream. It is not surprising, therefore, that the pool of STEM trainee teachers, drawn from those STEMaverse students, is correspondingly small.

When these teachers enter the school system, they invariably promote the idea that the subjects are “hard” and the circle continues. Studies in the US indicate that the school system, teachers and, most importantly, parents all have to be supportive and work in unison to turn the tide.

The school system has to move away from the “teach to the test” approach overall, but especially in the STEM subjects.

The hands-on approach, supported by laboratories, is crucial for success in this area. Concepts and application, not cramming excite the young, enquiring mind. The Ministry had begun to move away from the focus on standardised testing in the primary school and this must be extended to the secondary and tertiary levels, but has to be supported by improvement in lab facilities.

Teachers and parents will have to convey to students that careers based on the STEM subjects – especially in the technology component – will deliver the greatest financial rewards. In Guyana, there is an inordinate rush by students for the “business” stream: they will have to be informed that there will be no businesses if the latter are not supported by STEM knowledge. Even the financial windfall in derivatives that brought untold wealth to Wall Street were based on the innovations of Maths “Quants”.

Parents are the critical cog. Students in high-scoring Maths and Science countries like China and India feel parental, peer and community pressure to achieve high academic goals. STEM subjects do need more focus and parents will have to be educated about this and encouraged to guide and help their children accordingly.

In the US, there was the suggestion that teachers of the STEM subjects be paid more. The National Education Association, which represents teachers, argued against such a proposal. “Simply being a teacher of a hard-to-staff subject does not equate with effective instruction.” We are not suggesting that teachers ought not to be paid more in Guyana. But even more crucially, an enthusiasm for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths engendered in our students will prove more effective in the end.

Female Officers of the Guyana Defense Force (GDF), during one of their drill displays at the ceremony to mark Guyana’s 46th Republic Anniversary at D'Urban Park Tuesday afternoon

Mr Oditt’s leadership of GuySuCo was worrying Dear Editor, In a news media letter of February 20, Vic Oditt, a former Chairman of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and a businessman with varied investment interests, stated that gross mismanagement by GuySuCo and specifically its agricultural operations of the Wales Sugar Estate (WSE) has been responsible for operating losses over the years and will result in closure of WSE at the end of Yr 2016. He concurred with others that GuySuCo in its present form and structure cannot survive without annual subsidies from its sole owner, the APNU/AFC Govt. which apparently has made the decision to start shedding unprofitable GuySuCo assets.

During Mr Oditt’s tenure as Chairman of GuySuCo it operated at a loss and there is no evidence which would indicate that he had formulated and implemented strategies to arrest the annual losses which have continued to this day. He now claims to have several bright ideas to get WSE back on track to profitability. Firstly, he proposes that WSE be converted into a public company and its shares sold to Guyanese. A new, competent management team would then be appointed and skilled senior staff and other employees who were forced out of the system for political reasons will be rehired on newer and fairer

terms. The newly-appointed management team will be able to increase sugar production from 9000 to 30,000 tonnes per year, returning WSE to profitability in three years. Power generation, sugar refining and packaging as valueadded products will be instituted through participatory privatisation. He gave no detail as to how these fantasy ideas will become reality and where funding will come from to resurrect a run-down sugar estate to its former glory, but he noted that grants and soft loans were available for the take, probably from the clouds.

Unfortunately, GuySuCo was unable to access money from these sources to upgrade its operations although it did receive generous EU sugar price support which it squandered.

Turning around any loss operating corporation is difficult. Turning around a farm-based one is unheard of. For the past several months, the Government has been deliberating on GuySuCo’s blueprint Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report, but has failed so far to present publicly a viable plan for the industry. Sugar production is costing GuySuCo about US$0.43 per lb, while world markets are paying about US$0.14 per lb. for sugar, FOB. It is inconceivable, therefore, that GuySuCo could narrow

this gap in the foreseeable future to make its operations profitable without large capital investments into an industry with poor infrastructure and whose field operations need to be mechanised if field layouts could be changed as labour availability has been getting scarcer, erratic and expensive. The Tonnes Cane per Tonnes Sugar (TS/TC) yield ratio would need to be increased significantly also. Manufacture of valueadded products from sugar such as ethanol is possible, but GuySuCo does not have and would be unable to obtain the investment capital needed for plant installation, since investors would find such projects unattractive at this time as the low cost of fossil fuel has made ethanol production uneconomical.

Crop diversification for GuySuCo is not a viable proposition, because it lacks capital, technical know-how and management skills to convert sugar cultivation to other profitable tropical crops such as bananas, plantains and citrus. Therefore, if the large subsidies paid to GuySuCo are to end, Government will have to think outside the box and dispose of GuySuCo’s assets in a planned way and invest the proceeds into other segments of the economy to create jobs, which are so desperately needed not only for the displaced sugar workers but others as well.

To prevent prime ara-

ble sugar lands and other valuable GuySuCo assets falling into the hands of unscrupulous speculators, the Government would have to include caveats in its sale agreements to ensure that the properties sold are used for specified purposes aimed at developing the economy of Guyana for the benefit of its people and not for the quick financial reward of speculative investors.

Finally, the closure of WSE will have serious adverse effects on the lives of its workers. The offer of alternative employment at Uitvlugt Estate some 21 miles away for the redundant WSE workers without any compensation for their resettlement or daily transportation will most likely be difficult for them to accept, as at the end of the day, they have to earn a living wage. Similarly, the small West Bank Demerara (WBD) farmers who have been supplying cane to WSE will find the additional transportation cost and time spent in travelling and waiting to make their deliveries to Uitvlugt Factory too costly and the thin profit they were making will be wiped out unless GuySuCo is willing to up the price paid to them.

If not, they too will be heading for the sunset as cane cultivation will become too costly for them to make a profit.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, february 25, 2016

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The flag raising ceremony I am now somewhat hopeful and Indian participation Dear Editor, Some of the phrases that came out of the flag raising ceremony were; ‘Burnham styled grandeur’, ‘the Indians did not show up’, ‘an A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) celebration’, ‘the flag is really nice to look at’ and ‘Guyana is seeing a revival of its image’.

I personally love to see patriotic events like this.

I believe it revives a sense of commitment to country and for “brotherhood/sisterhood”. And even though it may be the right thing to do, I am not fully sure it was done right. For instance, the location of the ceremony is not on mutual grounds in terms of political demographics and therefore it implies an exclusion of a large part of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) base. This is compounded by the fact we are just out of the most divisive elections in decades and wounds are still open.

Therefore, it would be clear that a large part of Guyana may not show up.

Leading up to the ceremony, there was a deliberate show of recolouring

that reflects the APNU party and many felt it is party propaganda using tax payer’s money. Some also believe that the upcoming one-month long events are simply an early start on APNU future campaigns.

In a nutshell, it seems to some that we are seeing a rebranding of Guyana in the image and likeness of APNU. On the other hand, it seems the Indians are deliberately not taking part in unity efforts, which makes the above points seem validated. In any unity effort, everyone has to play a role and I believe our Indian brothers and sisters have to rise to the occasion and seize this moment to secure our country’s future. The PPP has to understand sooner than later that the political landscape has changed and they need to open their eyes and adjust to that environment.

You cannot simply blame APNU for everything when we all know it takes two to tango, therefore the PPP must atone and restructure if they want to remain relevant.

It seems the air is filled

with lip service for unity but the acts on the ground are telling a different story.

It is telling a story of State control, a solidifying of party power and a doubling down on both sides towards the anger and resentment of their respective bases. However, the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) and the aftermath will prove whether the Government is serious about unity.

So far, the Government is showing great efficiency in celebrations, rebranding and party propaganda but there are not showings any signs of competency for economic recovery. Why are we not seeing economic stimulus that will help to revive the Private Sector? Why is there no consumer confidence on Regent Street and other shopping districts?

Where is the sense of urgency for these things as apposed to the grand celebrations?

Happy 46 Guyana!

Sincerely, Malcolm Watkins (Certified Supply Chain Professional)

Dear Editor, As my Bajan wife and I watched the pieces of video footage I recorded from the 46th Republic anniversary celebrations, we talked of the nostalgic events of the day. Then after a brief silence, she mused “I wonder how the [People’s Progressive Party] PPP feels looking at this”. To say that I did not consider that thought several times over the course of the last few weeks would be less than the truth; however, I would not have voiced it because my wife, though she has lived in Guyana for more than six years, is not interested in politics. I knew (or so I think) what happened in my wife’s head that caused her to verbalise her thoughts on the night of the February 23, 2016.

I first brought my wife to Guyana in 1988. We returned in 1989 to get married. In 2011, my wife returned to what she claims is a “different Guyana”.

She says that when she first came to Guyana in late 80’s, Guyana was clean and the people were more happy and mannerly. She said the country she saw when she returned

We deserve a lot better Dear Editor, Why is it the belief of the Georgetown City Council that they have brought down heaven on earth for the citizenry because they have dug a few drains, or created a play area on Merriman Mall?

Should they not have been doing this all along and much, much more?

What will it take to get the folks at City Hall to understand that we deserve a lot better. These are no favours being granted. With the requirement to purchase strictly new tyres with the ban on used tyres, we need proper roads to drive on not those pot holed, crater filled second class roads that will damage them in no time.

With the Zika epidemic exploding all around us, we need the rid of the profusion of mosquitoes; tourists and visitors will not come if we don’t control this mosquito infestation. There is need to improve the sanitary conditions and to step up the fight against rodents in the municipal markets.

Copious amounts of rat poison should be placed in the sewerage system beneath the market, while traps should also be set in known rat-runs and close to nests. Rat bites

and scratches can result in disease and rat-bite fever. Rat urine is responsible for the spread of leptospirosis, which can result in liver and kidney damage. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), a viral infectious disease, is transmitted through the saliva and urine of rats.

But one of the most historically dangerous rat-borne diseases that can be contracted from the markets is the bubonic plague, also called “Black Plague,” and its variants.

While the local cattle

industry is growing, the absence of a modern abattoir in Georgetown that meets international standards is restricting local farmers from exporting beef to the lucrative Caribbean Community (Caricom) market. The municipality’s abattoir needs urgent repairs to the floor and hot a water system – this continues to be overlooked and has been so for years.

There are hardly any street lights to illuminate the streets of Georgetown.

This makes it a paradise

for bandits who prey on persons trying to get from one place to another. And I can go on and on and on.

It is time the City Council wakes up and smells the coffee. Life could and should be a lot better for the residents and visitors to Georgetown.

Sincerely, Nadine Jerrick

in 2011 was nasty and the people were not as friendly and they drove violently. (She drove in Barbados and the USA but refuses to drive here). So when she voiced the other night that she wondered what the PPP must be feeling, I am sure it was because of the culmination of the positive things that have been happening in Guyana over the last few months.

I must admit that over the last five years it has been no small task trying to convince my wife that Guyana will get better. But even as I verbalised those words, a modicum of doubt tickled my conscience. My wife spoke often about the filthy condition of the country and the accompanying blame-game, the petty kind of politics, the void of proper customer service, etc. They had all amounted to too much drama for her.

Living in Christ Church, Barbados; Maraca Valley, Trinidad; and then South Bend, Indiana, USA; were contrasting realities when compared with Guyana.

Those places were clean, the people drove with care and the rule of law was in effect. So when I said, “Guyana will get better,” she would spontaneously reply, “Let’s leave and return when it gets better”.

The truth is I always wanted my wife to want to live in Guyana because after 24 years away from home, I want to live here.

I have spent two decades away from Guyana educating myself and working.

Now I want to stay here and give back to my country – to, as it were, ‘dedicate my energies towards the happiness and prosperity of Guyana’. So when I sensed her reluctance of wanting to remain here be-

cause of the Guyanese reality, I was always perturbed. However, with her outspoken, incredulous comment on the night of our 46th Republic anniversary, I felt a sense of hope.

I heard in her question a comparison of the two Guyana’s that she had become accustomed to. And she seems to love this new one, like she loved the one in the late 80’s. I heard in her musings the realisation that Guyana can become better; maybe, it is getting better.

So I am now somewhat hopeful. We have not yet spoken about what she thinks of all that is happening in Guyana these days. I am still afraid she might not quite be satisfied and may want us to leave. What I know is that that huge flag, hoisted in that evening wind, coupled with the massive clean-up campaign, with the equally saturated burst of nationalistic pride (Bajans are very proud people), my wife is beginning to like Guyana, again.

So pray with me as I muster the courage in the coming days to have this much needed conversation with her. For indeed, if she decides to stay in Guyana, I would be a much less uneasy young man. And more so, I will be able to unequivocally focus my attention and energies on working to help move Guyana forward as we become, again, the envy and pride of the Caribbean.

Yours faithfully, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey Independent Candidate WortmanvilleWork-en-Rust

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Foundation Continued

The factors that make adolescents harder to teach: Personal priorities can change.

For the child at school, their first priority might have been achievement (doing well for self and parents), friendships second (being well liked by others), and third appearance (looking well in the eyes of others.)

For an adolescent, the priorities can be reversed. How one looks is most important because that creates the appearance which directly affects fitting in and social belonging, while the importance of achievement can now rank last.” Teachers have to reassert the importance of study at a time when social and physical imperatives can trump the academic priority.

Focus can become disorganised The self-management system that was adequate for the simpler, sheltered, more secure world of childhood is no longer sufficient to cope with the increased demands of secondary school, the family expectations of acting older, the hormonal changes from puberty, the increased push and shove of peer relationships, and the increased exposure to influences from the larger world. All this complexity is extremely confusing, making it hard to pay sustained attention in any one direction as distractibility, inconsistency, and forgetfulness become common signs of slippage. Teachers have to contend with more personal concerns competing for the young person’s attention.

Susceptibility to boredom increases The infant is full of wonder, the child is full of curiosity, but the adolescent is easily bored. Why might this be so? To separate from childhood, the adolescent has to give up many childish objects and activities the young person now feels “too old” to do, but are still missed. Truly at a loss, the adolescent challenge is to establish a new interest base that provides personal meaning,

enjoyment, and fulfilment. This will take a lot of exploration, experimentation, and experience to do. In the meantime, developmental boredom can set in on two fronts. There is boredom from emptiness: “I don’t know what to do with myself!” And there is boredom from entrapment: “I hate what I’m made to do!” Boredom is painful because it is lonely, an emotional state of not being able to connect with oneself, other people, or the world in a self-satisfying way. It is both of these boredoms that

the adolescent can be the rule breaker should she or he so choose. One can see this change acted out around the issue of homework. It bewilders parents how their teenager can forget to bring completed homework to school, lose it in their backpack, or leave it in their locker, in each case failing to submit it in class. But to the resistant adolescent, this makes perfect sense: “You can’t say I didn’t do it, and you can’t make me turn it in!” Encountering increased arguing, testing limits, making excuses, and

an adolescent can bring to class. Thus those teachers who can excite new interest in developmentally disaffected students are doing psychologically lifesaving work.

playing for delay, teachers of adolescents (now “in loco parentis”) often face more active and passive student resistance in class.

Authority is more frequently resisted The child grew up in the age of command. The little girl or boy believed that they had to obey significant adults.

Grown-ups were the rule makers, and children were the rule followers. “I have to do what I’m told.” But adolescence is liberation time because now the young person knows they are growing up in the age of consent. “My parents can’t make me or stop me without my agreement. Choice is up to me!” Gone is the illusion of parental control. Grownups are still the rule makers, but now

Learning becomes more risky For the child, the joy of learning was being able to know and do more, being rewarded by parental approval when one did, and by parental encouragement when one tried. Learning was a positive chance to increase self-esteem. With the more developmentally insecure adolescent, however, particularly among a classroom of more contentious peers, actively participating by declaration of need and discussion of topic becomes more risky in at least five ways.

First, you have to declare ignorance: “I don’t know.” (Peers: “You don’t know

that?”) Second, you may make mistakes: “I messed up.” (Peers: “You got it wrong again!”) Third, you can feel stupid: “I’m not getting it.” (Peers: “What’s the matter with you?”) Fourth, you get to look foolish: “This is embarrassing.”

(Peers: “You’re really slow!”) And fifth, you get evaluated: “suppose I fail?”

(Peers: “You’ll never learn!”) It can take a lot of self-esteem for an adolescent to dare classroom participation. This is why teachers who keep a tease-free classroom help make learning safe for speaking up, joining in, and trying to understand.

In addition, a teacher can affirm ignorance: “All learning starts with admitting we don’t know.” A teacher can value mistakes: “Getting it wrong is how you learn to get right.” A teacher can be sensitive to feeling stupid: “You’re not feeling stupid; you’re learning at your own rate.” A teacher can respect fears of looking foolish: “Letting others see you struggle is brave to do.” And a teacher can give supportive evaluation: “Now you know more than you did before.”

There is temptation for online escape.

Today’s adolescents grow up in two worlds, not one. There is the directly experienced offline world of ordinary daily demands and growing responsibilities, and there is the electronically mediated world of instant and infinite online entertainment.

Although incorporating some Internet time for instructional use, most classroom teaching requires more offline effort and interaction. If you were an adolescent, in which of these worlds would you prefer to spend your time?

Would you rather engage with academic demands or escape into Internet enjoyments? It is because online life is so tempting that by comparison offline life can feel so unrewarding. Teachers today have to contend with adolescents who feel more meaningfully tethered to the Internet and all one can do there and through there, than to attending to what is being formally taught. (Excerpt from

pyschologytoday.com)

* Make sure you don’t have your children on too much of a schedule – is there time for free play? Can you really be in the moment of play with your children, getting lost in their wonderment of this new world around them? *When your children act silly, do you tell them to straighten up – or do you rejoice in their joyousness? Make sure you are making a daily point to embrace their spirits, no matter how they may express joy. *For older children – instead of limiting your conversations to “what did you do in school today,” you could add “when did you feel the happiest today?” Helping our children to reminisce on positive memories and experiences sets an early practice/habit of focusing on what we are grateful for... *Encourage your children to always play. Of course, this doesn’t take a lot of arm tugging when they are little – but making sure they maintain this habit well into their preteen and teen years can set them up for maintaining the habit when they are adults. *When your children walk into the room, does your face light up? Or are you expeditiously giving them a once-over, scanning for an unbuttoned shirt, an unwashed face, or unkempt hair? Our faces should convey to our children what we feel in our hearts, not what we think in our heads. *Cultivate a practice of heart based living in addition to head based thinking. Of course, we have to use our heads to look both ways before crossing the street, to pay our bills, to make meetings, etc. However, we must also develop a practice of living and feeling within our heart space, connecting and opening up to others, and feeling the full spectacle that is part of human BEING. *Check our judgements at the door when it comes to our children. There is a saying

by Khalil Gibran that goes “your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself. They come through you, but not from you. You may give them your love, but not your thoughts - for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies, but not their souls. For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit – not even in your dreams.” This speaks to the fact that we must let our children be their own unique spiritual selves – not the selves we envisioned for our children, not mirrors, reflecting only the positive attributes of ourselves we allow others to see on Facebook and Instagram. (Excerpt

from pyschologytoday.com)

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thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Sheila Veerasammy Worker confesses tipped to be new PPP MP to killing employer

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Sheila Veerasammy

heila Veerasammy will be replacing Dr Clive Jagan as the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition Member of Parliament (MP).

Veerasammy currently holds the position of the General Secretary of the Women Progressive Organisation (WPO), an arm of the PPP/C which was formed in 1953 by the late Janet Jagan, with the aim of protecting the rights of women.

In 1979, Veerasammy joined the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO),

the Party’s youth arm where she was encouraged to empower herself. She attended the Accrabre College and then in 1984, she studied political science in Russia on a scholarship.

Upon her return to Guyana, rather than being allowed to continue on her path of self-elevation, Veerasammy was forced into an arranged marriage at age 20 and settled into being a housewife; albeit she was still active in party work, which was all done on a voluntary basis.

She was employed at the Transport and

Harbours Department as a Personal Assistant to the Commonwealth Adviser; but was subsequently retrenched when it was reportedly discovered that she was a member of the WPO/PPP. On February 11, the National Assembly was informed that Dr Jagan resigned from his post, following his absence from the House since the beginning of the year.

Guyana Times was subsequently informed that the politician is ill and currently seeking medical attention abroad.

Court Marshal charged with causing death of pedal cyclist – alcohol level reportedly exceeded legal limit

P

atrick Higgins, a senior Court Marshal, was granted bail in the sum of $810,000 when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence charges.

It is alleged that on February 23 at Houston Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Higgins drove motor car PTT 4701 in a dangerous manner causing the death of Juene Carroll Marshall, 60, of Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

At the time of the accident, the defendant’s alcohol level exceeded the legal limit with respect to the consumption of alcohol, the Court was told.

Attorneys representing the defendant, Dennis Paul and Roger Yearwood made an application for bail, stating that Higgins was a Senior Marshal attached to the High Court of Guyana.

Yearwood stated that his client was never charged with any offence prior to the current one. Paul then told the Court that on the day in question after the accident occurred, the defendant remained on the scene while Police Officers took approximately one hour to respond.

29 for the driving under the influence of alcohol charge

Patrick Higgins

He added that the defendant did not make any attempt to evade the Police or interfere with the investigation. He further told the Court that his client met the criteria for bail to be granted and there were no grounds for which the bail application should be denied or refused.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne objected to bail on the grounds that a life was lost. She stressed that at the time of the accident, the defendant was above the legal alcohol limit.

She told the Court that the defendant also gave Police Officers a wrong address.

The defendant will return to Court on February

and on March 4 for the causing death charge.

F

ollowing the arrest of a man at Five Mile Junction, Mid Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) with 600 grams of cannabis in his possession, Police realised that he was wanted for the murder of his boss, Jaynarine Basdeo who was clubbed to death.

Basdeo’s skeletal remains were found on February 2 at Kurubang, Mazaruni. He was reportedly from Fort Ordinance, East Canje, Berbice. At the time of the discovery, a length of wood was found in close proximity to the remains.

Police believe that Basdeo was slain in midJanuary by his 32-year-old employer. Following interrogation, the suspect who also hails from Berbice reportedly confessed to murdering Basdeo.

Based on informa-

tion received, the suspect claimed that he worked for the miner for about three weeks and that in January, he asked his employer for his money, which amounted to 10 pennyweight of gold and was refused payment.

As a result, an argument ensued between the two men and it was at this point in time that the suspect picked up a length of wood and death the deceased several blows. He then went to the mining camp and removed 12 pennyweight of gold from a bucket under Basdeo’s bed.

A senior Police ranks stated that after committing the act, he went into hiding and it was only after he was arrested for the cannabis that ranks realised that he had committed the heinous act. He is expected to be charged shortly.

8 news

thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Eyew tness

Former Policeman slapped with murder charge Beating a (hasty)

Surmattie Ramnaress, called Savita

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olin Bailey, a former Police Sergeant, was on Wednesday arraigned for the murder of his reputed wife when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan

at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that between August 30 and 31, 2013 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), he murdered Surmattie Ramnaress, called Savita.

In Court on Wednesday, Police Prosecutor Simone Payne told the Magistrate that the prosecution’s file was complete, but requested more time to acquire information on Colin Grant, the other person charged with the same offence.

The lifeless body of Ramnaress of Lot 2430 21 Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, was found about 10:00h lying face down in her office near her garage.

Her throat was slit, her head bashed in and her hip was disjointed while sections of her multimillion-

Former Policeman Colin Bailey

dollar property were destroyed by fire.

The bottom flat of the house was completely drenched with kerosene and the entire house was ransacked, which suggested that the woman was robbed before she was killed.

The perpetrators also

set alight a bond behind the house, which was completely destroyed. After the robbery, the killers escaped in one of the woman’s motor cars.

Further information received revealed that the recordings from the internal and external surveillance cameras were missing.

Investigators from the inception believed that the robbery might have been an inside job, since there were no signs of forced entry to the premises.

In addition, the woman’s property was protected by a high grilled fence and an alarm system, which, according to neighbours, did not go off during the night of the gruesome murder.

The matter will continue on March 15, 2016.

Several Lindeners fined for traffic offences

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everal Lindeners who appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in relation to traffic violations were slapped with fines after being found guilty of committing the offences.

Ceon Caesar of Lot 167 Half Mile, Wismar, was fined $25,000 for continuously crossing double yellow traffic lines. The incident occurred on February 14 on the

Amelia’s Ward Public Road.

At the time, he was the driver of hire car B5039. If in default, he would be required to spend an alternative of three weeks in prison.

Meanwhile, Carl Garrette was fined a total of $35,000 for two separate traffic offences.

According to the particulars of the case, on Wednesday, February 17, when a “no parking” traffic sign was lawfully placed along Republic Avenue, Mackenzie, to regu-

late the movement of traffic, Garrette failed to conform to the indication of the said sign. At the time of the incident, he was driving hire car HC 4975. For this offence, he was fined $25,000, with an alternative of four weeks’ imprisonment. The particulars of the other charge stated that he failed to stop the engine of the said car while it remained stationary. As such, he was fined $10,000; if in default, he will face two

weeks in prison.

Also appearing before Magistrate Nurse was Terrence Anetole, who was fined $7500 for failing to wear a seat belt. Anetole, of 2333 Central Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on Monday, February 15, he failed to wear a seat belt while operating motor car PLL 8414 along Burnham Drive. If in default of payment, he will face a week in prison.

Moblissa woman charged for unlicensed sale of liquor

A

woman, who hails from Moblissa, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway was granted bail by Magistrate Clive Nurse on Wednesday for the offence of attempting the sale of spirituous liquor.

Thirty-four-year-old Sandra George pleaded not guilty to the charge and was placed on $25,000 bail when she appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court. It is alleged that on February 13, she offered

to sell 20 bottles of Banks Beer, six bottles of Ivanoff Vodka, two bottles of High Wine, 28 bottles of Guinness, five bottles of GT Beer, 12 bottles of Extra Mature Rum and two bottles Cherry Brandy without being

the holder of a valid intoxicating liquor licence. The incident is alleged to have occurred at Moblissa.

George is scheduled to make her next court appearance on March 29.

retreat...

S

...on Mash

ometimes life is stranger than fiction. What do you say when the Government is accused of beating a hasty retreat from Mash and then goes on to replace the event with a military manoeuvre by the GDF crammed “Beat a retreat”? While this army manoeuvre is quite common in the Commonwealth, it originated in Britain where especially after a battle might’ve been lost...a bugle is blown to signal the troops to retreat back behind the safety of the castle walls.

And, of course, this was the origin of the phrase “to beat a hasty retreat”!! And your Eyewitness returns to the question of how and why was Mash abandoned. If the Government’s going to scrap an event that was launched in the very first year of attaining Republican status, and continued every year since – both by the PNC and the PPP – shouldn’t there be at least some sort of discussion by the representatives of all the people in that weighty body called the “National Assembly”?

How the heck are we going to develop traditions if we keep yanking events such as Mash on and off the national calendar like a yo-yo? Whatever we may think of Mash – and there was a vociferous minority that thought it was “too vulgar” – it did serve to bring our people from every part of the country together. Even while they might’ve been in separate parts of the country, THEY WERE PERFORMING THE SAME ACT. The fellow who literally wrote the book on how nations are built – Benedict Anderson – emphasised the importance of the peoples in the “pre nation” going through the same routine in building the sense of “oneness” that a nation presumes. But that doesn’t mean that the nature of the event wouldn’t also have an impact. So the promulgators of the “vulgarian” criticism should be asked to show why perchance the “wining down” might be just what it takes to promote republican values. And so for the other side.

Because who’s to say there aren’t folks out there who believe we shouldn’t have the GDF “beating a retreat” on the day we finally became free. In fact, based on the revelations of the Rodney CoI – including information from a book written by the incumbent President Granger – probably the majority of the country might be opposed to the GDF now being given centre stage once again by the Government.

On this question of what to do on Republic Day...it is hoped that the Government will beat a hasty retreat on having the GDF “beating a retreat”.

Until “we the people” have been consulted.

...on Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP)

Who does Jordan think he’s foolin’? Everyone and their uncle know this APNU/AFC Government’s been fighting tooth and nail from day one to scuttle AFHEP. It’s there in the record of Parliament. Their main objection was the project “as presently constituted” was too expensive. They more or less announced there were kickbacks included which made the prices “high”.

Well, they’re in Government now. Why don’t they reexamine the contracts? Surely a financial whiz like one Jordan pretends to be will be able to sniff out fraud immediately. Then again, an American company - Sithe, a division of Blackstone – was the main contractor. The Government could take whatever whiff of fraud they have to the Americans – who take a VERY hard line against their corporations engaging in bribery.

And lastly, if the Government doesn’t like the PPP’s “configuration” on AFHEP, but WANT the project, why don’t they call in some financiers and come up with their own “configuration”?

...or just returning to the sole ole?

After reading the Rodney CoI’s Report of the GDF’s modus operandi during the 1970s, your Eyewitness wonders what exactly has changed when he reads about the GDF soldiers wantonly assaulting folks at Hosororo?

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

news

9

thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Damning Rodney CoI Report findings

PNC Boss breaks silence

…claims Report “flawed”

L

eader of the controversial People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), President David Granger has finally broken his silence on the damning findings of the internationally acclaimed Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry which accused his party of being involved in extrajudicial killings, political assassinations and the intimidation of hundreds of innocent Guyanese at the behest and order of former Prime Minister and President Forbes Burnham.

Granger, whose party the PNC is also specifically adjudged of HAVING orchestrated and ordered the death of renowned Guyanese Dr Rodney, was grilled by Guyanese media for answers on Wednesday after several party executives continued to duck questions following the submission and subsequent leakage of the Report.

The PNC leader, who is also the current Head of State and former commandant of the GDF under the Burnham and Desmond Hoyte presidencies, claimed that the Report emanating from the Commission is “badly flawed”.

The President told reporters on Wednesday that he has not had a chance to fully peruse the Report and discuss it with his Cabinet.

Nevertheless, he indicated that Government intended to challenge the findings of the Report, which he maintained is flawed.

“I would not like to comment in too much detail in this point in time. The matter

President David Granger

has not been fully discussed by the Cabinet … when you look at details of the evidence provided, it is clear that the Report itself is badly flawed and we intend to challenge it. We intend to challenge the findings of the Report and the circumstances under which that Report was conducted,” he stated.

According to the Head of State, it was noticed from the inception of the Inquiry, which commenced while the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition was in Opposition, that the Commission was paying a lot of attention to hearsay evidence.

He noted that the most glaring example of the flaw in the Report was the fact that the Commission decided to accept the evidence of ex-Policeman Robert Gates who was currently in prison.

“They brought a convict out of jail, who at the time was a constable in the Guyana Police Force. He re-

ported verbatim on a conversation between the (former) President of Guyana, the (former) Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force and two (former) Assistant Commissioners of Police. He was not present so how did he know what was going on and why should the Commission believe that he knew what was going on?” the President queried.

In addition, President Granger outlined that the Commission also brought one of the persons who were present at that said meeting into the country for 10 days, put him up at a hotel and sent him back to the United States without asking him a question. He was referring to then Crime Chief, Cecil “Skip” Roberts, who was implicated

D

espite the return of the rains in recent weeks, the livelihoods of many farmers in Region Five (Mahiaca-Berbice) are under threat as rice crops have begun to die in the Mahaica-Mahaicony area.

This is due to dry conditions which have been prolonged by the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Regional Chairman of Region Five Vickchand Ramphal told Guyana Times on Wednesday that in addition to the two pumps that are currently operational, two others are needed to ensure that there is an adequate supply of water to the affected farmers.

Ramphal further stated that the region has engaged Agriculture Minister Noel Holder on the drought situation. “I made contact with the Minister at the beginning of the dry season and he pledged to give support,” the Regional Chairman stated.

The Regional Chairman also stated that he is in constant communication with officials of the

Mahaica-Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) to ensure that the complaints of farmers are remedied.

He noted that over the last several weeks, the agency has been addressing the issues of drainage and irrigation. The Regional Chairman also encouraged farmers to cooperate so that there is equitable distribution of water into the farmlands.

This comes in light of recent reports that some farmers in areas closer to the main canal have been blocking the water flow to allow more water to enter their fields. This activity has caused the farmlands further away to be deprived of the necessary water supply, thus garnering the brunt of the El Niño conditions.

The farmlands in the area have been divided into five blocks and the MMA-ADA recently implemented a system where farmers would be allowed to pump water for two days. Although the MMAADA has issued warnings to ensure that water in the ca-

into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Rodney?” the Head of State questioned.

However, the Rodney CoI Secretariat had denied bringing Roberts into the country,

The three-member panel that head the probe into Dr Walter Rodney’s death

by several witnesses as having a hand in Dr Rodney’s assassination.

“Why should the Commission accept the word of a convict and refuse to bring onto the stand the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who in fact was supposed to be at that meeting with former President Burnham and also was the Chief Investigator

Region 5 Chairman calls for more pumps …as rice crops begin to die

Dr Walter Rodney

nals is allowed to flow freely, some farmers have reportedly continued to hoard water for their lands.

The Regional Chairman had previously explained to Guyana Times back in January that the weather conditions were making the availability of fresh water scarce and that the Kaliserabo canal, a main source, was clogged with weeds. While an excavator was deployed to remedy this situation, Ramphal had opined that excavation of the said canal would have taken several months to complete.

Rice cultivation is the main economic activity in the Mahaica/Mahaicony area and farmers would have already expended millions to bring their crop to the present stage.

The current weather conditions have continued to threaten over 17,000 acres.

Ramphal had previously stated that Government needs to make the necessary interventions to ensure that rice farmers in that community do not incur financial losses.

saying he came on his own.

According to the Secretariat, the Commission wanted to take sufficient testimony from witnesses before flying in the former Police Officer to testify.

Moreover, President Granger pointed out that the

Commission of Inquiry has incurred tremendous expenses on Guyanese taxpayers, adding that the money spent could have been used to build several schools.

He added too that despite being given several extensions – three by him after he came into office and three by his predecessor former President Donald Ramotar, who initiated the Inquiry – the Commission failed to deliver what was expected of them.

“They just gobbling up money and at the same time, they are not providing the Guyanese people with the truth. We supported the Commission’s pursuit of truth, but the Commission has varied from its mandate, accepted a lot of hearsay evidence and not given the Guyanese people what they deserve – that is to say what were the circumstances under which Dr Rodney acquired a certain device (and) how that device came to be detonated,” the President remarked.

The probe into Dr Rodney’s death commenced in February 2014 and was headed by a three-member panel – Barbadian Queen’s Counsel, Sir Richard Cheltenham (CoI Chairman); Jamaican Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline SamuelsBrown and Trinidad-based Guyanese Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam.

Three months after the coalition assumed office, the

probe was brought to an end, leaving several testimonies incomplete or, as in the case of Roberts, unheard.

The Report was deposited on February 8 at the chambers of the Attorney General as instructed and subsequently conveyed to the President who has not officially released it.

According to the leaked report, based on testimonies given, evidence gathered along with the events and circumstances that occurred at the time, it was concluded that the then Prime Minister, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, had such an “absolute” grip on the society that he “de-humanised and belittled many Guyanese”.

The 155-page document provided extensive details on the relentless abuse and misuse of the State in carrying out activities that were in blatant breach of legislation which separated the Executive arm of Government from the doings of the armed forces.

Dr Rodney, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) cofounder, died on June 13, 1980, when a bomb, planted in a walkie-talkie, exploded on his lap as he sat in his brother’s car a short distance away from the Georgetown Prisons.

The device was reportedly given to him by an army sergeant, William Gregory Smith, who reports say had been used by the PNC Government to assassinate its main political opponent.

10 news

thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Fisherman hangs self Region 9 drought at Montrose home New wells being dug

R

elatives and friends of 36-year-old Trevon Ishrilall are still in a state of shock and grief after learning that the fisherman was found hanging from a rope outside of his Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD) house on Monday night.

Reports are that Ishrilall, who resided at Lot 25 Third Street, Montrose, ECD, was out imbibing with a fellow fisherman at a nearby seawall parlour, a few hours before the incident took place.

According to his mother, he was intoxicated when he returned home and was outside the house in a hammock talking loudly, which was routine whenever he was ‘high’.

The distraught woman stated that around 19:00h, she told him to eat his dinner and ‘lock up’ the house when he was ready to go to bed and then she proceeded to the upper flat of the house with her husband, leaving her son alone in the yard.

It was not until sometime after that her older daughter and son-in-law arrived that the discovery was made.

Natasha, the sister of the deceased, told Guyana Times that her mother had telephoned her requesting that she come with her husband to collect an engine for her husband’s fishing boat on the night in question instead of coming very early the morning.

“My mother told me to come and I told her around 08:30pm

Dead: Trevon Ishrilall

I would come with my husband for the engine because he is a fisherman too… when we got here and he drove in with the vehicle, my parents were on the verandah watching out for us and I asked them where Trevon was. They thought he went out back on the seawalls but I tell them how I see him standing up under the shed… when I go to him I see he was hanging by a rope,” the sister explained.

This newspaper was told that Ishrilall was gasping for breath when he was discovered. His sister related that she rushed to hold his body upright while her husband cut the rope from his neck.

“As soon as the rope cut we rush him to the hospital but when we arrive there they said he was already dead… he was never a suicidal person, he never said anything to indicate he was fed up with life

or would have killed himself… even his friends who he was drinking with said he never mentioned any problem or threatened to commit suicide so we are shocked and puzzled,” Natasha related.

Relatives related to this newspaper that they are disturbed about the manner in which the Police have handled the matter when it was reported.

According to a relative, a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officer has been “grilling” them about cutting the man loose, noting that they should not have cut the rope but should have waited for the Police before any action was taken.

The relative related that the entire family is grieving and would have expected that the Police would have sympathy while conducting investigations such as suicide cases.

“He was drawing in deep breaths and that is why they try to cut the rope fast to save his life, not to kill him. The Policeman said we shouldn’t have cut the rope but waited.

The Policeman should understand that we were trying to save his life because he wasn’t dead when we began cutting the rope. Then they said how they can’t do the post-mortem examination until Friday so we have to wait on them before we can arrange any funeral,” she added.

Ishrilall leaves to mourn his parents, his sister, his brother and other relatives.

… conditions improving – Chairman

T

hrough collaborative efforts with a number of governmental and non-governmental organisations, the ongoing drought condition in Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) is starting to see significant improvement.

This was according to Region Nine Regional Chairman Brian Allicock who told Guyana Times during a telephone interview that the support the region has received has helped tremendously.

Over the past few weeks, there have been consultations between the agencies on how they intend to start projects to tackle the drought, but Allicock indicated that they have now started to execute the actions they had formulated and there has been evident progress.

He related that the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) had visited the region last week to assess the situation in order to work on solving the water issues and targeting specifically the establishment of wells. In addition, a support group that goes by the name ‘SOS’ is working along with officials to locate a drilling machine, which will be used on a longterm basis to aid in getting

Region’s Nine Regional Chairman, Brian Allicock

water to residents, as part of the water programme which is partnered with GWI. Additionally, Allicock said that a number of private companies have been getting on board in rendering support to the affected region.

Making reference to Julius Ferreira, he explained that Ferreira has mastered the mechanism of trapping water with the use of special equipment which they would be replicating to aid in reducing the effects of the drought condition and supplying water to the residents.

Allicock informed that the Department of Governance has also been assisting in acquiring equipment for the region, which will be used in the long-term

to supply water. These pieces of equipment will make it easier to identify where water catchments are in the region. He reported that the Government has been doing its best, but the community is tasked with identifying the areas of issue so that the region would be able to overcome the drought.

Also there have been recent downpours in the region which to an extent, have aided the situation. According to Allicock, the rainy season is expected to commence in March.

Commenting on whether there might still be a food shortage, as was previously indicated in a recent interview with this publication, Minister Allicock said that crops are still affected, especially cassava, which is the region’s main staple but a team is already getting into readiness if there is indeed a case of acquiring food. The need for food, he stated, would be met by the relief committee.

With an effort to avert similar situations from reoccurring, the regional officials are strategising so that they are be better able to cope with droughts.

“If we had a better plan, we would be able to handle these kinds of situations,” Allicock stated.

Shortage of final resting place

Le Repentir cemetery to be expanded

M

The Le Repentir cemetery

oves are now afoot to extend Le Repentir cemetery in order to provide spaces for burial.

With limited spaces at the cemetery, alternative measures are being examined to rectify this situation. This is according to Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) Chief Engineer Colvern Venture who on Wednesday explained that a plan is being examined to have an extension done to rectify the situation and ensure normalcy in facilitating burials at the site.

Venture noted a committee from the Communities Ministry and members of the Town Council are expected to convene a meeting shortly to address the issue on alternative steps to commence expansion. The undertaking will see the expansion being done to the entire eastern section, which is in close proximity to

Mandela Avenue. This section will be used to facilitate burials over the next four years.

Le Repentir, the oldest burial site in the capital city, is filled to capacity.

During its statutory meeting at City Hall on Monday, the Chief Engineer explained to the Council that there was an urgent need for allocation of a new burial site.

The current situation has forced persons to build tombs on top of existing graves to lay their loved ones to rest, or make alternative arrangements to have them buried at another burial site.

It was noted that a plot of vacant land situated on the lower East Coast of Demerara was proposed for a new cemetery. To date, approval has not been granted to have that plot of land used for that purpose.

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thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Security guard critical after “We will challenge ruling” EBD accident Technocrat Ministers ruling

– Granger maintains

H

President David Granger

ead of State David Granger has maintained that the Administration will challenge the recent court ruling, which deemed the presence of Government Ministers Winston Felix and Keith Scott in the National Assembly as Technocrat Ministers as unconstitutional.

Speaking with media operatives on Wednesday, President Granger stated that while his Administration has decided to abide by the ruling, it remains steadfast in its decision to challenge it.

“We had consultations and the Speaker of the National Assembly is aware of our views but we will operate within the law and we will challenge the ruling and we’re convinced that we are correct,” he stated.

When asked by Guyana Times whether the proceedings to challenge the ruling have been filed already, President Granger said that it “ought to have been filed by now”,

noting that Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams is responsible for getting this done.

Efforts to contact the Attorney General on Wednesday to confirm this proved futile.

Former acting Chief Justice Ian Chang on Friday last ruled that Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix and Junior Social Protection Minister Keith Scott cannot sit as technocrat members in the National Assembly since they are candidates on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) successful List of Candidates for the May 2015 General and Regional Elections.

Justice Chang stated in the 15-page ruling, that while Government is allowed to name technocrat Ministers who will sit in the National Assembly as nonelected (non-voting) members, those persons should not be on the Candidates’ List for the party.

However, the Head of State expressed his surprised at the ruling of the outgoing Judge, who came out from his pre-retirement leave to hand down the decision. He pointed out that since 1966, there have been technocratic Ministers in the National Assembly as the law provides for it.

“It was rather regrettable that the former acting Chief Justice should come out of his leave to issue such an order… I was very aston-

A

security guard attached to the Barama Company is in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital following an accident at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Tuesday. The injured man has been identified as 34-year-old Roy Davidson of Timehri, EBD.

According to information received, Davidson was attempting to ride across the East Bank Public Road in the vicinity of F&T Designs when he was struck by a motor car, which was heading south.

The impact of the collision caused Davidson to be thrown into the air and he landed on the car’s wind-

screen before falling to the roadway.

He was picked up and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, but was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention. The driver of the car is in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

Motorcyclist injured in Ruimveldt accident Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix

ished that Justice Chang’s ruling and the circumstances under which he decided to deliver that ruling,” the Head of State remarked.

At Monday’s sitting, Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland stated that while he was not officially served a copy of the High Court ruling, he is aware of it and believed it should be acted upon.

“I must tell this House that I had determined as of yesterday that the information in papers was sufficiently reliable. The position is therefore that the Speaker will uphold the Court’s decision… acceptance of a decision of the court must be unequivocal at all times,” the Speaker had said.

At the time of Dr Barton’s pronouncement, neither Felix nor Scott were presence in the House, which reconvened Monday to continue the consideration of the 2016 Estimates and eventually went onto pass the $230 billion Budget.

A

motorist is nursing injuries after he reportedly collided with a lorry in the vicinity of Distribution Services Limited (DSL), Ruimveldt Georgetown, on Wednesday.

Harilall (only name), 48, of Lot 62 6th Street, BB Eccles, East Bank Demerara, suffered lacerations to the head, legs and arms. He was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was treated and sent away.

According to information received, the man was heading to Georgetown and in the vicinity of DSL, he collided with the lorry that was about to turn at the intersection. As a result, Harilall ended up under the truck.

He was assisted by public spirited citizens and rushed

The motor cycle that Harilall was riding at the time of the accident

to the hospital.

Michael Harilall, son of the injured man, told Guyana Times that he was at work when he received a telephone call about the accident and immediately

rushed to the scene.

“I see he had blood coming running down his head,” when I arrived.

The truck driver was questioned in connection with the incident.

12 news

thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

El Niño weather

130 acres of rice destroyed in Wakenaam – 300 acres lost in Region 6, 2000 acres under threat

O

ver 130 acres of rice crops have been destroyed, with more likely to go down the drain for rice farmers in Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), as the prolonged dry weather condition continues.

General Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) Dharamkumar Seeraj said that the situation in the farming community does not seem to be getting better.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Wednesday, Seeraj

explained that out of the 530 acres of rice that were planted for this new crop, over 130 have been lost.

“They planted 530 acres and they are likely to lose more with the way things are going,” told this publication. He said also there is approximately 2000 acres in Essequibo in danger.

Meanwhile, over at Leguan, the situation is no different, Seeraj said.

Farmers in the community would normally plant somewhere around 4000 acres of rice; however, because of the prevailing weather sit-

uation, only 40 acres have been planted this crop. Half of that amount has already been lost.

“They didn’t plant much because of the losses,” he said.

The same situation has been happening in Crabwood Creek, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) he said. There, farmers have lost some 300 acres so far for this crop in. Farmers are “hard-pressed for irrigation and are at their witsend,” he told Guyana Times.

Since the beginning of the year, rice farmers have

been experiencing severe losses of their crops due to the drought; he recalled, noting that nothing much has been forthcoming from Government in this regard.

Government earlier this week had said that the prolonged dry weather conditions have led to intensified drought situations, particularly in Region Nine (Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu).

This has brought numerous hardships to farmers and residents in the area.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has been integrally involved in vari-

ous Ministries to assess and tackle the ongoing situation.

On January 15, this publication reported on Region Nine cattle farmers having to transport their animals over vast distances to locate water.

“Cattle have to move very far distances to get water… [to get to] the swamp areas,” stated Terrence Boston, a farmer in the Rupununi. The farmer had

also stressed that this constant movement was “not commercial”.

The Ministries of Agriculture, Public Health and Communities are said to be working in collaboration with those affected to offer support to the communities.

The drought has been attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon.

Mother allegedly confesses to “choking” Assuria security guard rewarded for bravery 8-year-old son to death

T

he security guard who singlehandedly thwarted four bandits in their attempt to gain entry into the Assuria Guyana Head Office was tangibly rewarded on Monday for his courage.

Police had reported that on February 10, 2016, a security guard on duty at Assuria Insurance Company on Church Street, Georgetown, was confronted by four men, one of whom was armed with a firearm.

During the confrontation, the security guard resisted and a scuffle ensued with the armed man, who dropped the firearm. The guard quickly retrieved the weapon. The man then escaped, along with his accomplices, following the

A

Assuria NV Director of Foreign Operations Suniel Nandpersad presents the gifts to Griffith, the security guard. Also present were General Manager Yogindra Arjune (right) and Assuria (GY) Operations Manager Clyde Muntslag (left)

foiled robbery.

On Wednesday,

the

company rewarded Griffith (only name given) with a

computer and a monetary gift for his bravery.

28-year-old West Bank Demerara (WBD) mother has reportedly confessed to “choking” to death her eight-year-old son, whom she described to Police ranks as “very mischievous.”

Dead is Emmanuel King of 565 Parfaite Harmonie, WBD. Guyana Times was reliably informed that the mother initially claimed that the child fell off a guava tree during the afternoon of February 21 after which he retired to bed. At about 22:00h, the mother went to check on the child but found him in a motionless state.

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

pronounced dead on arrival. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum when contacted told this publication that the woman had confessed to her husband that due to frustration, she reportedly took a bed sheet an choked the child to death while he was sleeping.

Upon hearing this, the husband contacted the Police and the woman was arrested and remains in custody. The Crime Chief added that a post-mortem examination will be performed on the child’s body on Friday to determine the child’s cause of death.

However, Guyana Times understands that the mother was in a constant habit of abusing the child.

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thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Duty-free concessions reapproved for head teachers, deputies

H

ead teachers and their deputies within the public school education system will now receive a one-off duty-free concession.

This decision was announced following a meeting between the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

It has been several years since a proposal was made

Kitty Market restoration

Vendors welcome rehabilitation

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald

by the GTU for head teachers and their deputies to be given duty-free concessions. However, there were much discussions on the issue with the GTU representatives and teachers even threatening industrial action if their proposal was not granted.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Wednesday, GTU General Secretary Coretta

McDonald revealed that 87 head teachers and 46 deputy head teachers will comprise the first batch of beneficiaries of the restarted project, which had been signed in 2011 to cover the years 2011-2015.

Over the years, more than 200 names of eligible teachers were submitted for the duty-free concession benefit, but these were overlooked, even after negotiations.

Selected teachers would be notified and asked to submit a vehicle quotation to the GTU which would then be forwarded to the Education Ministry for approval.

McDonald added that the debunching act which will serve to regularise the education system while still benefiting teachers was still in the process of being completed by the Education

Ministry.

However, she noted that there were certain guidelines with respect to the debunching act that they were not in agreement with, since the packages that were proposed by the Ministry were not enough to facilitate what the Union was looking forward to doing in an aim to enhance the working conditions and rights of all teachers.

The debunching act will work to address the salaries of teachers who hold different positions within the public school system.

The Union’s attention has been engaged in having its proposal implemented, whereby teachers with the same status would be categorised and paid in accordance to the years of experience they possess.

Linden Councillors pass noconfidence motion against Town Clerk

C

ouncillors of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion against Town Clerk Jenella Bowen following her decision not to rescind disciplinary letters against two of the Council’s employees.

The motion was passed during the final statutory meeting of the Council before it is replaced after Local Government Elections (LGE). It was moved by Councillor Gordon Callender and seconded by Councillor Eon Halls.

Speaking with this newspaper, Interim Management

Committee (IMC) Chairman Orrin Gordon said the matter was a trivial one, and Bowen engaged in the action against the employees while she was on sick leave which, according to him, meant she was technically off the job.

“We felt she should have waited, done a thorough investigation, then take the necessary action. The fact is that she was given a leave of absence by means of a sick leave which means you’re technically not on the job... she chose not to rescind the letters and insisted on not rescinding”, the IMC Chairman stated.

Gordon added that, ac-

cording to the law, the Town Clerk was under the directive of the Council and if Bowen chose to be defiant, she should have done so in writing.

He added that there were other issues which the Council has had in relation to the Town Clerk, and it felt “disrespected” by her recent decision.

“It sends the wrong message to the new Council which will be here shortly.

It is foolishness and she continues to remain defiant,” Gordon said.

He said he intended to engage the Minister of Communities on the issue.

Kitty market under construction

T

he once-dilapidated Kitty Market is now showing signs of progress as rehabilitation works continue.

While renovation is currently in progress, the historical edifice will retain its architectural design. New features, however, are expected to be included during the restoration process, which will allow stallholders and vendors to conduct their businesses in an improved and healthy environment.

On Wednesday, this newspaper spoke with a number of stallholders, who expressed their delight that the market is being rehabilitated.

Harry (only name given), who has been selling at the Market for the past 30

years, explained that he was impressed with the work being done. He noted that this move would enhance the business community, as it would also cater for the needs of the neighbouring community.

Another vendor, Zaman popularly known as “Fat Boy”, stated that the restoration was a most welcomed venture, which would assist in boosting incomes for stallholders as customers would be encouraged to transact business there. He noted that this change would mean new and improved healthy working conditions for both vendors and customers.

Another vendor stressed that she was elated about the project.

Rehabilitation works are being done on the structure in phases to accommodate vendors plying their trade in close proximity.

Construction work commenced at the Market in January and is expected to be completed at the end of May. The Kitty Market, which was established in 1882, began at the railway line near the abattoir. Over time, the initial site was extended until 1970 when it was taken over by the City Council.

Kitty Market, which is timber-framed, was meant to serve Georgetown’s Atlantic Coast neighbourhoods in the city’s east end which include Campbellville, Bel Air and Prashad Nagar.

14 Education Minister hospitalised E thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

ducation Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has been hospitalised at a city hospital.

While details of his sickness remain sketchy, Guyana Times was told that he was expected to be discharged today.

Roopnaraine, who is also the leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), was notably absent from the National Assembly dur-

Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

ing the period leading up to the passage of this year’s National Budget.

The 73-year-old joined the WPA in 1977 and quickly became one of the leaders of the party, along with Dr Walter Rodney, Dr Clive Thomas and Eusi Kwayana.

He was an activist politician and at the height of the years of People’s National Congress (PNC) repression was arrested on charges

of burning down the PNC headquarters. He also narrowly escaped death when he was attacked by PNC party thugs.

After the assassination of Dr Rodney, Roopnaraine became leader of the WPA. He has been a member of the Guyanese Parliament for many years, with a virtually unique reputation for the incorruptible representation of people across all racial lines.

Guyana accredits 2 new Ambassadors – both reiterate strong diplomacy ties

Death of ACP Balram Persaud

Police Force saddened

T

he Guyana Police Force (GPF) is mourning the loss of Assistant Commissioner (ACP) Administration, Balram Persaud, who died on Tuesday morning after being seriously injured in a vehicular accident at the West Bank of Demerara, over two weeks ago. The 54-year-old died around 10:30h at the Woodlands Hospital.

While information surrounding the extent of his injuries remains unavailable, it was previously known that the Assistant Police Commissioner, who suffered from a heart condition, sustained at least six broken ribs.

About 23:00h on February 5, Persaud, who was on annual leave, was on his way to a Police function in the city when he reportedly lost con-

trol of his car and crashed into a utility pole at Schoonord, West Bank of Demerara, in proximity of the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Since the accident, ACP Persaud was admitted at the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital, where he was said to be recovering. However, on Saturday last, he was removed from that medical institution and taken to Woodlands.

On Wednesday, the Police Commissioner, senior officers and other ranks of the GPF express their sadness at his passing, just months before his retirement, which would have been in August this year.

In a statement sent out by the Force, it said “... wish to offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Assistant Commissioner Mr Balram Persaud at this

time of their bereavement.”

Persaud enlisted into the Guyana Police Force on May 5, 1984, with regulation number 12684 and was posted to F Division (Interior locations) following the completion of his initial training.

He gained his secondary education at the Anna Regina Multilateral School and the Government Technical Institute where he earned passes at the GCE ‘O’ Level and the Ordinary Technical Diploma in Building and Civil Engineering, respectively, and through his discipline, dedication and commitment to duty, rose steadily through the ranks.

He earned his first promotion to the rank of Cadet Officer in 1986 after completing the Standard Officers’ Cadet Course; Assistant

Japan’s Ambassador to Guyana Mitsuhiko Okada presenting his Letter of Credence to President David Granger

The late ACP Balram Persaud

Superintendent in 1987, Deputy Superintendent in 1995; Superintendent in 1998; Senior Superintendent in 2002; and Assistant Commissioner in 2008.

Assistant Commissioner Balram Persaud served in several areas within the Guyana Police Force in addition to F Division. These comprise the Tactical Services Unit, Special Branch, Department of Development, Force Control and A (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara), B (Berbice), C (East Coast Demerara) and D (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) Divisions.

He also performed duties as Staff Officer to the then Home Affairs Minister in 1999.

During his service, Assistant Commissioner Persaud held command positions as Divisional Commander in C and D Divisions, Assistant Commissioner – Operations and finally Assistant Commissioner – Administration. He also performed the duties of Police Commissioner on occasions during 2014 and 2015 when the substantive Commissioner was off duty and on vacation leave overseas and was a representative of the Guyana Police Force on the National Commission on Law and Order.

In the course of his development into a knowledgeable and versatile Police Officer, Balram Persaud attended several overseas courses and seminars in a number of countries, including St Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad, and a Public Safety and Security Management Programme at the University of Guyana. He was also a member of the Guyana Police Force team at the Third Meeting of the Guyana/ Brazil Joint Commission on Police Cooperation and Drug Repression which was held in Brazil in 2013.

Assistant Commissioner Balram Persaud was awarded the Police Force’s 150th and 175th anniversary medals and has given almost 32 years of exemplary and yeoman service to the Police Force and citizens of the country, and will be remembered by many as a very approachable and experienced Police Officer.

P

resident David Granger has accepted the Letters of Credence from the non-resident Ambassadors of Israel and Japan to Guyana.

The two diplomats – Ambassador Mitsuhiko Okada of Japan and Ambassador Mordehai Amibai-Bivas of Israel – handed over their credentials to the Guyanese Head of State at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday morning. The documents were presented in the presence of Deborah Yaw, Director General (acting); and Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who is acting as Foreign Affairs Minister while Minister Carl Greenidge is out of the country.

After receiving the credentials from the Japanese Ambassador, President Granger noted that despite the distance between the two countries, they have managed to cement their relationship through intensified economic cooperation and trade, adding that his Government intends to expand this.

“Guyana looks forward to continuing cooperation with Japan, particularly in the areas of economic, social and physical infrastructure and technology transfer.

Investments in social infrastructure, particularly in education and public health, will sustain a more skilled and healthier workforce and thereby generate increased benefits for our people. They will enable our industries to improve their efficiency and competitiveness,” he stated.

The President further expressed his appreciation for Japan’s support in developing Guyana, noting that the country has also benefited from Japan’s cooperation with the Caribbean Region.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador Okada stressed his commitment to enhance diplomatic relations between the two countries.

“Japan and Guyana are global partners that share common interests, face common challenges and common basic viruses. Based on the spate of inter-partnership, Japan and Guyana has maintained close bilateral relations in various areas including fishery, utility and human exchange,” he stated.

The Japanese diplomat added too that his country has taken steps to strengthen its relations with other Caribbean

countries. Ambassador Okada will replace former non-resident Japanese Ambassador to Guyana Yoshimasa Tezuka, who served from 2012.

On the other hand, Ambassador Amibai-Bivas of Israel remarked that both Guyana and Israel share several important qualities, such as a strong sense of nationhood despite the countries’ youth. The Ambassador commended Guyana for protecting its natural resources from over exploitation, particularly in light of climate change and the effects of deforestation, noting that the country is on its way to becoming one of the leaders of sustainable development.

Moreover, the Israel Diplomat pointed out that no country the world over is undisturbed by turmoil. “History teaches us that it doesn’t really matter if you are a small or big nation; if you are Christian, Jewish or Muslim; if you are located in Europe, Asia or the Caribbean, as long as we share the same values of freedom and tolerance and respect for life and human dignity, we are compelled to confront those who want to destroy our civilisation. Our sovereign states, their borders and the civilisation societies we promote, will prevail,” the Israelis Ambassador said.

Giving a brief comment after receiving the credentials from Ambassador AmibaiBivas, the Guyanese Head of State pointed out that Guyana is resolutely committed to the promotion and maintenance of international peace.

“Your accreditation affords the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the State of Israel the opportunity to continue to work together for the maintenance of international peace and security. It allows us, also, to deepen our relations in pursuit of peace and the sustainable development of both states… We believe that peace is essential for there to be national development. Peace and security, also, strengthen the ties of amity and comity between nations and regions,” Granger stated.

Ambassador AmibaiBivas has replaces non-resident Israelis Ambassador to Guyana, Amiram Magid, whose tour of duty ended in 2014.

thursday, february 25, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

News

SOCU being “kicked about NA businessman “Bristol” freed like a political football” M – British expert ‘Son-Son’ murder trial

B

ritish Financial Expert Sam Sittlington has taken a swing at the political Opposition for what he said are attempts to demean the work of the controversial Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which has been making the headlines most recently.

Sittlington, who has been working along with the Unit for over a month, said it is being “kicked about like a political football” and advised that major investments be made in the Unit so that it could put a damper on activities such as drug trafficking, gold smuggling, fraud, cash couriers, tax evasion and other acquisitive crimes.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Sittlington told reporters that SOCU has been doing its best under difficult circumstances.

“They will be successful and I hope that the prosecutions that they are currently working on will be supported by the Judiciary in terms of criminal trial and forfeiture. The comments made can be demoralising for the staff and certainly for Assistant Commissioner [Leslie] James. But you know what; they get on with their job, in a professional manner,” the expert told Journalists.

He said he would have loved for SOCU to respond to some of the comments made in the press, if even to allay the fears of the business community, ‘that legitimate businesses have nothing to fear’. After all money laundering is about money and the conversion and concealing of money from criminal activity.”

According to Sittlington, his stay in Guyana and attachment to SOCU, have so far allowed him to look at the administrative arm of the Unit and advised on systems to aid its smooth running.

“I have met with most of you here individually (their partner agencies) in some capacity over that time. I have conducted training seminars on money laundering encompassing all the key agencies and courtesy of the Bank of Guyana. I have conducted several training events within SOCU where I saw a need. I have held workshops with the [Director of Public Prosecutions] DPP

British Financial Expert Sam Sittlington

and SOCU investigators and I have drafted several aid memoirs for SOCU to assist operational requirements.”

He said that his recommendations are to the point and are not meant to downplay the work or role of SOCU or Government in any way but rather they are his honest opinions following his time here. “They (his recommendations) are designed to be constructive to enhance capabilities of all the agencies involved and are delivered by a friend of Guyana.”

Just recently, former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran said the original role of the Unit as merely an investigative arm into money laundering activities has expanded vastly under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration, particularly with no prior public announcement, and that these new mandates appear to be stimulating unnecessary fear within the country.

SOCU was established in 2014 on the recommendation of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) and was intended to be a Police unit operating under the authority of the Police Commissioner but with a close relationship with the Financial Intelligence Unity (FIU) established under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act, Chapter 10:11 of the Laws of Guyana.

Though the Terms of Reference were approved

by Cabinet, they were not publicly disclosed. All that

was announced was that “the Unit is expected to be dedicated to investigating suspected financial transactions suggestive of money laundering and financing of terrorism,” according to Dr Roger Luncheon, the then Head of the Presidential Secretariat.

SOCU has been involved in several probes involving alleged money laundering and recently, the Unit seized more than $16 million in foreign and local currencies in two separate raids on homes belonging to prominent business people.

In November 2015, the Unit seized US$45,630 and €740 suspected to be the proceeds of criminal activity from a Bulgarian national who they suspected was laundering money.

Sometime ago the Unit also seized an undisclosed quantity of jewellery at a local airport. This incident comes on the heels of a similar seizure conducted last month which has since prompted a multimilliondollar lawsuit against the Government.

SOCU Head Sydney James had disclosed that officials will be clamping down on money launderers, and a number of operations were launched last weekend.

Though SOCU is operating under the AML/CFT Act, the business community is said to be becoming more and more apprehensive about the impact these activities will have on their operations.

urder accused Charles Henry, also known as “Charles Bristol” of Main Street and Lad Lane, New Amsterdam, was on Wednesday set free of the indictment for murder at the Berbice High Court.

“Bristol” walked out of court a free man after the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty. He was on trial for the April 16, 2014, shooting of Errol Lindo, also called “Son-Son”, 51, at High Dam, Caracas, West Canje, Berbice.

The New Amsterdam businessman is the owner of Bristol Mall and is a former national Volleyball captain.

State Prosecutor Natasha Backer in her address to the jury said the defence presented a weak case and the prosecution has proved without reasonable doubt that the accused Charles Henry murdered Errol Lindo. She told the jury that nowhere in the evidence had it been proven that Lindo gave Henry permission to break down his house.

In criticising the evidence by one of the witnesses for the defence, Backer argued that Rohit Sugrim did not give a statement to the Police but appeared on the witness stand two years after the incident to tell a story. “You heard Indranie Nanlall say that she saw him by his car loading his gun. He went there to kill,” she said to the jury.

The State Prosecutor in her address noted that the defences’ claim is that Lindo was attacking the accused with an axe. “Where is the axe that they talk about?

He did not tell Corporal Inderpaul that there was an axe when the Police went to the scene and arrested him.”

Nine witnesses took the witness stand for the prosecution.

The defence called four

Charles Henry, also called “Charles Bristol”

witnesses but relied on the accused himself to tell the story. In an unsworn statement, Henry said on the day in question, he went to Lindo’s yard after being told that the now dead man had not been occupying the building for several months.

He said when he and the workmen arrived to dismantle the house, there was a young lady in the yard with a cutlass in her hand, who threatened to chop them, claiming that she was the owner of the property and instructed the men and Henry to leave the yard. “I said to her I am the owner of the estate, I am going to ask you to leave the yard peacefully.”

The accused in his testimony said the woman was cursing and he called the Police but was told that they did not have transportation at the time. “I raised my head and saw Mr Lindo coming through the gate. He picked up an axe.

He was about 15-feet away from me, coming with the axe over his head towards me. I took out my licensed firearm and fired a warning shot and he was still coming. I tried backing up but he was still coming. I fired a second shot to his left side

leg to stop him. That did not stop him, he still kept coming with the axe over his head and I kept backing up.”

Henry related that the fatal shot was discharged as he was on the ground and Lindo was coming over him with an axe.

In addressing the jury, defence Attorney Kim KyteJohn said the Prosecution’s key witness, Travis Crandon, was confused during his testimony which was riddled with inconsistencies. She said the accused told the court that he was under threat as Lindo was attacking him with an axe.

“There were witnesses that went into the witness box and testified to that. The accused himself recounted the sequence of events and how he thought he was going to be killed by his attacker,” the defence Attorney said.

Justice Franklyn Holder in directing the jury reminded them that the defence was under no obligation to prove its innocence.

“It is the prosecution that has to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused on April 16, 2014, murdered Errol Lindo.”

Following his threehour, 50 minutes address to the jury, it took the 12-member panel two hours to return to the packed courtroom to deliver the verdict.

Speaking with this publication, Henry said his heart goes out to Lindo’s family because they have lost a loved one. “It was never my attention to take a life; I hope the family will understand that.”

The deceased mother Viola Lindo, said the jury was not fair in its decision. “He was my breadwinner, it is not fair. His sister that witness him die, she died two months after,” the grieving mother said as one of the dead man’s siblings wept.

Fiji cyclone death toll rises sharply

T

he death toll in Fiji has jumped to 42 amid fears for remote areas and islands yet to be reached by relief teams, days after a devastating cyclone.

Cyclone Winston, thought to be one of the strongest storms to hit the Southern Hemisphere, left 8500 sheltering in evacuation centres.

Teams are still being deployed. Officials said they met “grim images of devastation” on reaching Koro Island.

The Red Cross has warned that the toll could still rise further.

The powerful cyclone, which struck last week-

end, brought winds of over 320km/h (200mph), torrential rain and waves of up to 12m (40ft), flattening many buildings in parts of the main Viti Levu island and Koro islands, Fijian officials said.

It has been described by the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation as the worst to ever hit the country.

Many among Fiji’s coastal communities lived right by the shore and saw their homes demolished by the cyclone Fijian Government spokesman Dan Gavidi tweeted on Wednesday that 42 people have been confirmed dead and rescue teams are continuing to be

The Republic of Fiji’s official Twitter account has shared aerial images of the devastation caused by the cyclone

deployed across Fiji to reach affected areas.

Officials are also warning of the threat of Dengue and Zika spreading, as both

viruses are carried by mosquitoes which can breed in stagnant water left by the storm. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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thursday, February 25, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Navin Hansraj: Revolutionising the local plantain chips business

“I

Businessman; Navin Hansraj

f the plantain chips come from Guyana, then it packaging somewhere else” was the conclusion of one side as a group of friends debated the origin of the best tasting plantain chips available in New Amsterdam. A glance at the labelling soon upturned that belief: “Maya Hot and Spicy Plantain Chips, product of Guyana”.

The $500 at stake over the bet was quickly handed over. Sampling soon began and a further debate commenced, this time over the type of spices used.

Navin Hansraj, the manufacturer of Guyana’s ‘number one’ plantain chip, had no idea that his product caused such a heated debate but would have been proud its international quality was recognised.

However, Hansraj did not have plantain chips in mind as the business he wanted to get involved in when he returned to Guyana, as he was hoping to invest in the water business.

Hansraj said he returned to Guyana from the US in 2011 and invested $7 million in the water business: $5 million to set up the factory and $2 million for the

equipment. In addition, Hansraj spent a further US$7000 to purchase other equipment, labels and bottles from a company registered in China.

Unfortunately a few weeks after sending the US$7000 to the Chinese company for the equipment and bottles, the company took down its website. “It was just a company set up to scam persons and I was tricked; it was a hard hit because it was the money I had worked for and saved to come back home and do something,” he said.

eign plantain chips on the shelves of shops. “So I got the idea and wanted to get into the business, because I realised that it has the scope.

I did not want to do it like the other people and just fry plantains and put them in a bag. No one was doing this at an international standard.”

To start the process, he set up MMH Enterprise, the name coming from the initials of his two daughters; Miley Maya Hansraj and Marian Maya Hansraj.

Together with his wife, Priya Ramjit, he ventured into plantain chip making,

Maya Coconut Oil

With just the factory space and a few pieces of equipment, the young entrepreneur made a slight adjustment and started producing five-gallon bottles of water, but the competition was stiff and the business only lasted for one month.

“I was thinking what to do, because I had the space and one day I saw a packet of plantain chips being sold at a local shop which was imported from a Caribbean country and that is here I got the idea from.”

Hansraj said it was troubling to see so much plantain on the local market and for-

Cambio Rates

but soon realised that just frying the plantain chips and packaging them was not going to take the market by storm and he decided to add flavourings. Now, you can buy Maya Hot and Spicy, Regular or Ripe Plantain Chips in Guyana and Trinidad.

“We have a secret recipe which we use,” he revealed.

None of his nine employees has the knowledge to duplicate the recipe, which was created by his wife.

MMH Enterprise has since grown and today produces coconut oil which has a shelf life of one year, and

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Buying

Maya Plantain Chips

day I’ve worked until now.

Every decision I’ve made and every small step I’ve taken have made a big difference toward achieving my long-term goals. I told my wife one day, ‘Let’s quit our

jobs and move to Guyana.’

We accomplished this goal because we saved our money (making many financial sacrifices along the way), so don’t let the fear of failure paralyse you. Just do it…”

Business News

Market statistics Cur

several other products, although like any other business, it had been hit by challenges which have hampered further expansion.

However, the businessman intends to press ahead and introduce Maya Sweet Potato Chips and Maya Breadfruit Chips during the second half of this year.

Since establishing the business in 2012, Hansraj says he has been approached by several business persons who want to invest in his company, including large known distributors in the country. However, he has not found favour with any of their proposals.

The young businessman of Canje, Berbice is encouraging others to think carefully before taking up a business venture. “I didn’t just wake up today as a successful business owner. I’m where I am because of every

Selling

Fixed as at January 27, 2016 Calculated at 94% purity

U.S.

$1202.40

$150.70

Gross

$232,177

$205.98

$208.43

Net

$215,925

$ 225.78

$228.68

GBP

$285.88

$289.50

CAN

$148.99

USD EURO

Indicators as on February 24, 2016 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$31.87

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$10.890/cwt

London Sugar

$398.25/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

-4.77 Change %

-0.82 +0.10 USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1228.40

$1229.40

Low/High

$1221.50

$1254.30

+3.00

+0.24%

Change

Business Concept – Leadership The activity of leading a group of people or an organisation or the ability to do this.

Leadership involves: establishing a clear vision, sharing that vision with others so that they will follow willingly, providing the information, knowledge and methods to realise that vision, and coordinating and balancing the conflicting interests of all members and stakeholders. (Business Dictionary)

Barbados gets Best Caribbean Destination 2016 Award

B

arbados has been voted Best Caribbean Destination 2016 in recognition of outstanding performance and partnership by Expedia, the largest retailer of travel products in the Caribbean.

The award, which was presented during the Caribbean Travel Marketplace in The Bahamas, was a continuation of Barbados’ recent winning streak and marked the seventh international award Barbados has received over the past year.

The island was also

dubbed Best Destination

by Caribbean Journal, and ranked third among the islands of the Caribbean by TripAdvisor in 2015.

Telegraph readers also voted Barbados the best destination in the Caribbean for family holidays, best Caribbean beach holiday destination, best destination for activity and adventure holidays, and best destination for wedding and honeymoons.

The island has also been shortlisted in the destination category for the Routes

Americas 2016 Marketing Awards, according to South Florida Caribbean News.

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) CEO, William Griffith, said the latest award from Expedia was testament to the collaborative efforts local industry partners have been making on behalf of the island.

He added that it was a clear manifestation of the significant work being done by the entire BTMI leadership team in the major markets of the UK, USA and Canada. (StLuciatimes.com)

Investors' guide

Stocks close higher in massive intraday reversal as oil steadies

U

S stocks closed higher on Wednesday as some stabilisation in oil prices offset declines in financials to help stocks recover from an intraday decline of more than 1.5 per cent.

“I think it’s the move in crude and month-end flow,” Jeremy Klein, chief market strategist at FBN Securities, said, noting many investors were waiting on the sidelines for the start of the new month and to see if the S&P 500 could break 1950.

“Despite all that (talk of oil prices heading lower) crude is hanging in there and we’re not just getting swung around by it. Then you have the chance to bring in some buyers,” he said.

Oil recovered from a sharp overnight decline to settle up 28 cents, or 0.88 per cent, at US$32.15 a barrel.

The rise in oil prices helped the major US averages come well off session lows

in midday trade and turn higher. The US Department of Energy’s weekly crude inventory data said US oil barrels rose by 3.5 million, about half what the American Petroleum Institute reported late Tuesday.

Gold futures for April delivery settled up for a secondstraight day at US$1239.10 an ounce, up US$16.50. Gold futures came off session highs and Treasury yields turned higher as stocks gained in afternoon trade, with the two-year yield at 0.76 per cent and the 10-year yield at 1.75 per cent.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up about 53 points after earlier falling more than 250 points.

The Dow transports held about half a per cent lower in the close.

European stocks closed about two per cent lower or more. The STOXX Europe 600 fell nearly three per cent, ending almost 40 per cent below its 52-week in-

traday high.

Overnight, the Chinese yuan midpoint fix was also set slightly weaker against the dollar. However, the Shanghai composite closed about 0.9 per cent higher while most Asian equities declined.

The US dollar index traded little changed, with the euro steady at US$1.10 and the yen at 112.09 against the greenback. Pound sterling continued to weaken against the dollar amid concerns over the UK’s possible departure from the European Union.

Meanwhile, Fed policymakers indicated rate hikes remain a possibility.

Late Tuesday, Fed Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said that Fed officials “simply do not know” what course of action they would take at their next meeting three weeks from now, adding that it was too early to assess the impact of current market volatility. (CNBC)

17

news

thursday, february 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

The Race to LGE 2016 “I want to look at youth empowerment in terms of vocational training” – BellvueEastern Good Intent candidate

BY SHEMUEL FANFAIR

I

ncumbent Chairman of the Toevlugt-Patenita Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Roy Bennett is one of the two candidates running for Constituency Three, which is Bellvue-Eastern Good Intent. Bennett is of the belief that his managerial experience has qualified him to represent the needs of the area.

The A Partnership for Toevlugt-Patenita NDC Chairman, Roy Bennett National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition candidate stated that his main platforms include the economic development of youth and improvement in the area’s drainage and irrigation systems.

“I want to look at youth empowerment in terms of vocational training; drainage and irrigation is a critical role since we have a number of drainage systems in the community and I want to ensure a more efficient drainage system,” posited that candidate.

Bennett explained the he wants to ensure that the trenches are regularly cleaned and noted that this function was taken away from the local authority. The candidate explained that these works are conducted by a Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) crew. He stated the residents in his constituency have argued that “the D&I crew is not doing efficient work in a timely manner.”

“I am hoping that for central government to return that function to the local authority, since it is our responsibility to ensure we have drainage in our community,” Bennett emphasised.

In addition to youth empowerment and improvement drainage systems, the candidate said he intends to approach the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to ensure that road projects are carried out.

“There is a number of internal roads that need to be done. I hope to approach the [Regional Democratic Council] RDC to have those roads done, especially in an area that we call Area 73 that has over 60 households,” Bennett explained.

“The structure of local government is that funds are limited and to achieve anything you must approach either the RDC or central government,” the candidate posited.

Although street lights have already been installed for some time now, Bennett explained that additional street lights in cross streets and other areas away from the main roads will be lit. He stated that some of the allocations to the Council will be utilised to ensure that street lights are placed at certain strategic points.

“In our community, there are certain areas that are affected by crime whether it is ‘choke and rob’ or ‘pickpockets’; if we have lights in there, we feel it would ease such things.”

Bennett observed that the closure of the Wales Estate will impact greatly on his community.

“The closure of Wales Estate would have a significant impact since most of the members of my area work at Wales Estate and it would be important [that] training comes in [for] youths so that they would be able to find other jobs outside the sugar belt,” the candidate posited.

Bennett emphasised that there are also plans to restart catering classes.

“We had Home Economics and catering classes at the NDC before. I would like to see that to get a bit larger [to] incorporate for single parents to help them cushion the closure [of Wales Estate].

The candidate revealed that APNU/AFC has pledged to provide more funds for the community with regards to the diversification of the Bellevue ground from just a cricket ground to a multi-purpose ground where other sporting activities and events can be held.

“They pledged to do the reassessment of homes in our community so that you have an equitable distribution of taxes in the community because some houses do not pay taxes and the two kokers which belong to the Council, they pledged to upgrade those two outlets so that we may have a more efficient drainage system,” Bennett explained.

The candidate opined that he is the better man for the job.

Bennett stated “I feel I have the capabilities of managing this constituency; I have a vision that encompasses the whole NDC and I feel that if I am placed here I will have more contacts with central Government…”

He stated that his chances of winning are “very great.”

Wales Workers strike on Republic Day

E

mployees at Wales used the February 23 Republican celebrations to continue their industrial action against the proposed closure of the estate.

Guyana Times has learnt the majority of workers did not report for the day’s duties.

This publication was told on Monday that workers were ready to move ahead with the planned strike action despite threats of a halt to sugar production. Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in a statement last week posited that these strike actions “would leave the Corporation with no alternative but to put a halt to the current crop…”

Last Tuesday’s industrial action saw the work force turnout at Wales Estate at 20 per cent while Blairmont on the East Coast of Demerara saw a 28 per cent turn-out.

Albion was said to have accounted for between 70-80

A section of the crowd from last Tuesday’s strike action at Wales Sugar Estate

per cent turnout of staff and Uitvlugt was fully operational. Information on staff turn out percentages on this week’s strike action at the various estates is yet to be garnered.

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) Komal Chand had stated

last week that the workers are committed to downing their tools to address the issues which have been affecting them. Apart from standing in solidarity against the closure of Wales, workers were said to be seeking to engage in collective bargaining and to have their Annual Production Incentive [API]

dispute settled.

Subsequently, talks between the Union and the Labour department within the Social Protection Ministry were described as being in “deadlock.” GuySuCo’s position is that its total revenue for 2015 was $18.4 billion while its employment costs amounted to $21.6 billion.

Sugar workers are demanding increases dating back to their 2015 wages.

The Corporation intends to discontinue the Wales Sugar Estate in early 2017 which many believe will turn the community into a “ghost town.” Many workers are yet to make a decision whether to transfer to Uitvlugt or to receive severance packages.Meanwhile, workers have vowed to further intensify their strike and protest actions if the decision to close Wales in not rescinded.

Schools in Guyana celebrate Culture Day

By Kizzy Coleman

S

chools across the country hosted various cultural activities with the aim of celebrating Guyana’s 46th Republic Anniversary.

This year saw much creativity by various schools as they highlighted Guyana’s culture.

Students of different backgrounds joined hands in depicting their cultures and embracing the cultures of their colleagues. With dances, songs and stories, the history of Guyana was told. Delectable dishes, cultural pieces of each ethnic group and historical pictures were displayed at various schools.

Some schools organised parades in which the students all decked out in costumes with floats which displayed Guyana’s diverse culture, took to the streets.

Other schools held mini-fashion segments where various traditional attire was displayed, or held concerts which educated the students on the significance of all cultures in Guyana. Students learnt of the drums of the Africans and the flute of the Indians. They also learnt of Guyanese oral traditions including the famous stories of the old higue and the moongazer while folk songs were sung.

The Headteacher of Zeelugt Nursery School Shaundell Fresco expressed her delight that schools were able to hold a culture day annually, stating that it was needed.

“Children growing up today have no clue about Guyana’s culture; they do not know where they came from and they have limited knowledge of the struggles that their ancestors faced, so this culture day seeks to inform them of such,” she explained.

Trisha Narine, a teacher of the Uitvlugt Secondary School, disclosed that students were very excited

Students of the North Georgetown Secondary School

about learning of the different cultures in Guyana.

“I am happy to see the children embracing each other’s culture and they are happy about this too. There was much anticipation for this celebration and I’m happy that we can have it every year.”

She added that all schools should embrace unity and take pleasure in displaying Guyana’s diverse culture of which all Guyanese should be proud.

Students can look forward to this event for many years to come as the culture day has the support of the Education Ministry.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, february 25, 2016

ARCHIE

Taking on too much will spark your emotions and (March 21- cause you to lose focus. You April 19) need to prioritise in order to overcome any feelings of incompetence. You can make a difference if you are disciplined.

Listen attentively. You TAURUS have more to gain from be(April 20- ing a spectator than a particMay 20) ipant. Learn, summarise and prepare to bring about changes that will help you advance.

ARIES

dilbert

Your success rate will GEMINI (May 21- climb if you put your best foot June 20) forward and stay true to your beliefs and abilities. Putting forth your best effort will lead to victory.

CANCER

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

Make interesting changes to your home. Emotional issues will arise, but if you are sensitive to other people’s suggestions, you will end up satisfying everyone’s needs.

Romance should be a priLEO ority. Make a commitment to (July 23someone you cherish in orAug. 22) der to bring about positive change. Sharing your plans will allow you to do something special.

Refuse to be tempted by VIRGO a sales pitch or an invest(Aug. 23ment that sounds too good to Sept. 22) be true. Limit your spending, and focus more on creating a stable and inviting domestic situation.

Calvin and Hobbes

Love, romance, friendship LIBRA (Sept. 23- and relaxation should take Oct. 23) top priority. Share your feelings and make personal improvements.

SUDOKU

Emotional reactions will SAGITTARIUS flare up, along with question(Nov. 23- able information that can Dec. 21) cause problems between you and a friend or family member.

Say little until you have all the facts. Indulgence will be costly.

TODAY’S WORD – TROIKAS (TROIKAS: TROY-kuz: Russian carriages drawn by three horses.)

Average mark 22 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 35 or more words in TROIKAS? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD – CONTORTS consort coon coot corn cost cotton

croon croton onto toon toot torn

torso tort trot roost root scoot

scorn snoot snort soon soot sort

Try something you’ve nevSCORPIO er done before. Explore new (Oct. 24Nov. 22) possibilities and consider how you can make a difference to a cause you believe in. Your input and hands-on help will lead to greater acknowledgment.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Don’t try to change others CAPRICORN when you should be concen(Dec. 22- trating on making personal Jan. 19) improvements that will help you get ahead. Hone your skills or update your appearance.

You’ll see things clearly AQUARIUS (Jan. 20- and get the inside scoop. Your Feb. 19) insight and imagination will enable you to successfully carry out an ambitious project.

Romance is featured.

Look for a unique way to PISCES (Feb. 20- impress someone you want to March 20) get to know better or who is special to you. A kind gesture will speak volumes about the nature of your feelings.

thursday, february 25, 2016

19

SA v WI, 1st Women’s ODI, East London…

Sans Souci Jaguars win Dottin five-for derails South Africa Women 10/10 title in Wakenaam

F

ifties from Hayley Matthews and Britney Cooper, followed by a five-wicket haul from fast bowler Deandra Dottin set up West Indies Women’s 16run win against South Africa Women in East London.

West Indies, opting to bat, lost their opener Shaquana Quintyne early, but a 56-run stand for the third wicket between Matthews and Dottin lifted the team past 100.

Matthews top-scored with 56, but both she and Dottin were trapped lbw by Sune Luus in quick succession, pegging the visitors back. Cooper, though, provided West Indies with much-needed impetus, stroking an unbeaten 55 off 66 balls, with six fours and a six. Cooper added 48 runs in the company of Shemaine Campbelle, as West Indies ended with 214-7.

South Africa’s opener Trisha Chetty made a steady start to the chase, scoring 47, but her dismissal in the 23rd over led to a slide, as quick blows from Dottin and Anisa Mohammed reduced the hosts to 120 for 7. Marizanne Kapp (69*) and Shabnim Ismail (34) put up a brief resistance, combining for a 70-run partnership, but Dottin and Quintyne

eventually ran through the tail to bundle South Africa out for 198.

Dottin was the pick of the

bowlers with 5-34, her maiden five-wicket haul, while Quintyne and Anisa chipped in with two scalps apiece.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD West Indies Women innings (50 overs maximum) HK Matthews lbw b Luus 56 SL Quintyne b Ismail 18 SR Taylor* lbw b van Niekerk 13 28 DJS Dottin lbw b Luus MR Aguilleira b van Niekerk 7 B Cooper not out 55 SA Campbelle† c du Preez b Klaas 26 A Mohammed b Ismail 6 TD Smartt not out 1 Extras (lb-1, w-2, nb-1) 4 Total (7 wickets; 50 overs) 214 Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Quintyne, 6.5 ov), 2-57 (Taylor, 14.2 ov), 3-113 (Dottin, 25.3 ov), 4-119 (Matthews, 27.2 ov), 5-131 (Aguilleira, 30.2 ov), 6-179 (Campbelle, 42.4 ov), 7-209 (Mohammed, 49.3 ov) Bowling: S Ismail 10-0-40-2 (1-w), M Kapp 10-1-32-0, M Klaas 5-0-33-1, CL Tryon 4-119-0, D van Niekerk 10-2-252 (1-w), D Devnarain 1-0-140 (1-nb), S Luus 10-0-50-2

South Africa Women innings (target: 215 runs from 50 overs) L Wolvaardt c Dottin b Mohammed 10 T Chetty† b Dottin 47 M du Preez* c & b Mohammed 7 M Kapp not out 69 L Lee lbw b Dottin 0 4 D van Niekerk b Dottin D Devnarain run out (Cooper) 1 S Luus b Dottin 10 S Ismail c Dottin b Quintyne 34 M Klaas c Taylor b Quintyne 0 7 CL Tryon b Dottin Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-7) 9 Total (all out; 48.5 overs) 198 Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Wolvaardt, 9.6 ov), 2-49 (du Preez, 13.6 ov), 3-82 (Chetty, 22.5 ov), 4-82 (Lee, 22.6 ov), 5-92 (van Niekerk, 24.2 ov), 6-94 (Devnarain, 24.6 ov), 7-120 (Luus, 32.1 ov), 8-190 (Ismail, 47.2 ov), 9-191 (Klaas, 47.5 ov), 10-198 (Tryon, 48.5 ov) Bowling: TD Smartt 4-0-10-0, SC Selman 5-0-29-0 (1-w), ASS Fletcher 7-0-27-0, A Mohammed 10-1-36-2, DJS Dottin 8.5-0-34-5 (4-w), HK Matthews 8-0-34-0 (1w), SL Quintyne 4-0-15-2 (1-w), SR Taylor 2-0-11-0

Rohit, Nehra hand Bangladesh a thrashing

R

ohit Sharma is a one-day nerd. He takes his time at the start, gets accustomed to conditions and cashes in only once he is set. India were sent in on a noticeably green pitch in Mirpur and the ball was nipping about. Bangladesh, armed with four fast bowlers, made the test as difficult as they could with tight lines around the off stump and moving the ball both ways. Shikhar Dhawan failed. Virat Kohli failed. Suresh Raina failed.

Rohit could have failed too - he had 21 hard-earned runs when he was dropped by Shakib Al Hasan - but he did what good batsmen do and cashed in.

Soon, even questions meant to flummox him - like Mustafizur Rahman - became easy. He mistimed one of Mustafizur’s delivery for a six over square leg en route to a pristine 83 off 55 balls which led India past Bangladesh in their Asia Cup T20 opener.

Rohit’s form is old news for India. His innings was clearly the difference between the two sides, but the most heartening outcome from the Mirpur match was Hardik Pandya passing his own exam with flying colours. He was promoted to No. 6, ahead of MS Dhoni who was declared fit to play even if he had to use a back brace while keeping wicket, and matched Rohit’s strike rate. What was remarkable is that Rohit usual-

ly goes beserk after he has bedded into an innings, but Pandya was able to reel off boundaries five in 11 balls - to thrust India’s score from the possible to the improbable. They had been 97 for 4 with only 5.1 overs left and finished at 166-6.

That total was placed un-

der a little trouble from Sabbir Rahman, who struck 44 off 32 balls, but the other end became a revolving door of batsmen and by the end, Bangladesh’s concerns were more about batting the 20 overs out than chasing the total down. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD India innings (20 overs maximum) RG Sharma c Soumya Sarkar b 83 Al-Amin Hossain S Dhawan b Al-Amin Hossain 2 V Kohli c Mahmudullah b 8 Mashrafe Mortaza SK Raina b Mahmudullah 13 Yuvraj Singh c Soumya Sarkar 15 b Shakib Al Hasan HH Pandya c Mahmudullah b Al-Amin Hossain 31 8 MS Dhoni*† not out 0 RA Jadeja not out Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 3) 6 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 166 Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Dhawan, 1.3 ov), 2-22 (Kohli, 4.3 ov), 3-42 (Raina, 7.5 ov), 4-97 (Yuvraj Singh, 14.5 ov), 5-158 (Sharma, 19.2 ov), 6-158 (Pandya, 19.4 ov) Bowling: Taskin Ahmed 3-022-0, Al-Amin Hossain 4-0-373, Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-40-0 (2-w), Mashrafe Mortaza 4-040-1 (1-w), Mahmudullah 2-09-1, Shakib Al Hasan 3-0-15-1

Bangladesh innings (target: 167 runs from 20 overs) Soumya Sarkar c †Dhoni b Bumrah 11 Mohammad Mithun b Nehra 1 Sabbir Rahman c †Dhoni b Pandya 44 Imrul Kayes c Yuvraj Singh b Ashwin 14 Shakib Al Hasan run out 3 (Sharma/†Dhoni) Mushfiqur Rahim† not out 16 Mahmudullah c Sharma b 7 Nehra Mashrafe Mortaza* c Jadeja b Nehra 0 15 Taskin Ahmed not out 10 Extras (lb-4, w-6) Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 121 Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Mohammad Mithun, 2.2 ov), 2-15 (Soumya Sarkar, 3.2 ov), 3-50 (Imrul Kayes, 9.5 ov), 4-73 (Shakib Al Hasan, 12.3 ov), 5-82 (Sabbir Rahman, 14.1 ov), 6-100 (Mahmudullah, 16.3 ov), 7-100 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 16.4 ov) Bowling: A Nehra 4-0-233 (1-w), JJ Bumrah 4-0-231, HH Pandya 4-0-23-1 (3w), R Ashwin 4-0-23-1, RA Jadeja 4-0-25-0 (2-w)

S

ans Souci Jaguars defeated G Square Cavaliers of Belle Plaine by four runs to win the final of the Banks DIH/ Virgin Promotions 10/10 tournament on Sunday in Wakenaam.

Sans Souci Jaguars posted 115-3, batting first in front of a large crowd at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground in Good Success. Nokta Moses struck 63, while Siddiq Mohamed made 37.

G Square Cavaliers responded with 111-5. Kamal Khan got 37 and Jaggernauth Manbodh 27; Beesham Moses claimed 2-15.

Jaguars beat Sans Souci by five runs in their semifinal encounter.

Nokta

Siddiq Mohamed

Moses slammed 50; Wayne Osbourne had 1-15 in Jaguars 102. Sans Souci replied with 97-1. Osbourne cracked 45 and Roopnarine Persaud 38; Beesham Moses

CPL stars set to light up...

HONG KONG - Tanwir Afzal (capt.); Nadeem Ahmed; Haseeb Amjad; Jamie Atkinson; Waqas Barkat; Ryan Campbell; Chris Carter; Mark Chapman; Babar Hayat; Aizaz Khan; Nizakat Khan; Waqas Khan; Adil Mehmood; Anshuman Rath and Kinchit Shah. Coach – Simon Cook.

NEW ZEALAND Kane Williamson (capt.), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee and Ross Taylor.

Coach - Mike Hesson.

INDIA – Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt.); Ravichandran Ashwin; Jasprit Bumrah; Shikhar Dhawan; Ravindra Jadeja; Virat Kohli; Pawan Negi; Ashish Nehra; Hardik Pandya; Ajinkya Rahane; Suresh Raina; Mohammed Shami; Rohit Sharma; Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh. Team Director – Ravi Shastri.

OMAN - Sultan Ahmed (capt.); Aamir Kaleem; Aaqib Sulehri; Adnan Ilyas; Ajay Lalcheta; Amir Ali; Bilal Khan; Jatinder Singh; Mehran Khan; Munis Ansari; Rajeshkumar Ranpura; Sufyan Mehmood;; Vaibhav Wategaonkar; Zeeshan Maqsood and Zeeshan Siddiqui. Coach – Duleep Mendis.

IRELAND - William Porterfield (capt.); Andrew Balbirnie; George Dockrell; Andrew McBrine; Tim Murtagh; Kevin O’Brien; Niall O’Brien; Andrew Poynter; Stuart Poynter; Boyd Rankin; Max Sorensen; Paul Stirling; Stuart Thompson; Gary Wilson and Craig Young. Coach – John Bracewell.

NETHERLANDS Peter Borren (capt.); Wesley Barresi; Logan van Beek; Mudassar Bukhari; Ben Cooper; Timm van der Gugten; Vivian Kingma; Ahsan Malik; Paul van Meekeren; Roelof van der Merwe; Stephan Myburgh; Max O’Dowd; Michael Rippon; Pieter Seelaar and Sikander Zulfiqar. Coach – Anton Roux.

PAKISTAN - Shahid Afridi (capt.); Anwar Ali; Imad Wasim; Khalid Latif; Khurram Manzoor; Mohammad Amir; Mohammad Hafeez; Mohammad Irfan; Mohammad Nawaz; Mohammad Sami; Sarfaraz Ahmed; Sharjeel Khan; Shoaib Malik; Umar Akmal and Wahab Riaz. Coach Waqar Younis.

SCOTLAND - Preston Mommsen (capt.); Richie Berrington; Kyle Coetzer; Matt Cross; Josh Davey; Ali Evans; Con de Lange; Michael Leask; Matt Machan; Calum MacLeod; Gavin Main; George Munsey; Safyaan Sharif; Rob Taylor and Mark Watt.

Coach - Grant Bradburn.

SOUTH AFRICA - Faf du Plessis (capt.);

had 1-20.

G Square Cavaliers got the better of Maria’s Pleasure by seven wickets in their match-up. Maria’s Pleasure managed 83-4, taking first strike. Marsh Singh got 22; Lokram Narine took 2-15. Cavaliers scored 84-3 in nine overs in response. Kamal Khan made 37 and D. Scott 23.

Leorayan Ramlakhan had 1-12. In the opening fixtures, Good Success lost to Jaguars, while Cavaliers beat Zeelandia.

Jaguars collected a trophy and $100,000 and Cavaliers a trophy and $30,000. Nokta Moses was named the Most Valuable Player and Man-of-theMatch in the final. from page 23

Kyle Abbott; Hashim Amla; Farhaan Behardien; Quniton de Kock; AB de Villiers; JP Duminy; David Miller; Chris Morris; Aaron Phangiso; Kagiso Rabada; Rilee Rossouw; Dale Steyn; Imran Tahir and David Wiese. Coach – Russell Domingo.

SRI LANKA Lasith Malinga (capt.); Dushmantha Chameera; Dinesh Chandimal; Niroshan Dickwella; Tillakaratne Dilshan; Rangana Herath; Shehan Jayasuriya; Chamara Kapugedera; Nuwan Kulasekara; Angelo Mathews; Thisara Perera; Sachithra Senanayake; Dasun Shanaka; Milinda Siriwardana and Jeffrey Vandersay. Coach - Graham Ford.

WEST INDIES - Darren Sammy (capt.); Samuel Badree; Sulieman Benn; Carlos Brathwaite; Dwayne Bravo; Johnson Charles; Andre Fletcher; Chris Gayle; Jason Holder; Ashley Nurse; Denesh Ramdin; Andre Russell; Marlon Samuels; Lendl Simmons and Jerome Taylor. Coach – Phil Simmons.

ZIMBABWE - Hamilton Masakadza (capt.); Tendai Chatara; Elton Chigumbura; Tendai Chisoro; Graeme Cremer; Luke Jongwe; Neville Madziva; Wellington Masakadza; PJ Moor; Richmond Mutumbami; Tinashe Panyangara; Sikandar Raza; Vusimuzi Sibanda; Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams. Coach - Dav Whatmore. (www.cplt20.com)

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New Zealand v Australia, 2nd Test, Christchurch, 5th day…

Australia claim No. 1, McCullum exits

Steven Smith’s men have soared to the number one spot in Test cricket

A

t once a benediction and a coronation, Brendon McCullum’s final moments as a Test cricketer marked Australia’s ascendancy to the world No. 1 Test ranking after a resilient and relentless performance by Steven Smith’s men.

It was Smith at the other end as Adam Voges stroked the winning runs through cover after key contributions from Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja. A target of 201 was never enough for New Zealand to defend against an Australian batting line-up that has carried much before them since the harsh lessons of England last year.

Since the nadir of Trent Bridge, Australia have won seven of nine Tests without once tasting defeat, enough to hand them the ICC Mace as the world’s top team and a $1 million prize. This was the first time Australia reached No. 1 since 2014, but the difference now was a far younger team aware there was still much more to do: namely to succeed in Asia, against

Sri Lanka and India over the coming 15 months.

Befitting their enduring loyalty to McCullum, New Zealand’s effort was never less than wholehearted. This was epitomised by Neil Wagner’s continued bouncer assault on the tourists, despite carrying what had been revealed to be a broken left hand from a Burns shot that burst through his fingers on the fourth evening.

Even so, it was occasionally puzzling to see New Zealand not really trying to generate pressure through disciplined lines and reverse swing, which Matt Henry in particular was able to find.

Smith relished the challenge of matching McCullum’s outlandish field settings with creativity of his own.

Khawaja had a fortunate escape in the second over of the morning, edging Trent Boult precisely between the wicketkeeper and a wide sole slip. Thereon he accumulated his runs in calm style.

Batting was more of a struggle for Burns, who was

Windy City Open…

Fernandes to play Duncalf in 1st round qualifying

Jenny Duncalf

Nicolette Fernandes

uyana’s squash ace Nicolette Fernandes is down to face England’s Jenny Duncalf in the first round qualifying phase of the Windy City Open in Chicago, USA, later this week.

Currently ranked 24 in the world, Fernandes has been enjoying a great stint so far this year, finishing runner-up in both the Granite Open and the Winnipeg Winter Club Open on the PSA Tour in January.

The 32-year-old Englandbased Fernandes will face a stiff challenge from the world number 16 Duncalf, and the

match should produce a high level of competitiveness as both players would be fully aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses having campaigned in the same jurisdiction.

Once Fernandes gets past Duncalf and progresses further in the competition, she will move up the rankings, but on the flip side, should she lose to Duncalf, her ranking could be adversely affected.

Given recent form, Fernandes would be no walkover for Duncalf and a keenly contested match is anticipated.

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struck one glancing blow on the helmet by Wagner and others on the body. He took 35 minutes of play to add to his overnight score, but refused to be flustered and eventually went to a deserved fifty.

Tim Southee’s entry to the attack brought another Khawaja edge, this time held smartly by McCullum above his head. Smith arrived to one last display of lateral captaincy from New Zealand’s retiring leader, a packed leg side field and another short-ball attack.

Having been hit hard by a bouncer in the first innings, Smith resolved to attack, and

boldly hooked his first short ball from Wagner over the head of the man at fine leg.

He used the full width of the crease to open up other scoring zones, and was soon bringing the target well within reach.

After speaking with the umpires, Smith took the opportunity for an extra 15 minutes to try to seal the game without breaking for lunch.

Burns rose to the challenge with a pair of boundaries before being bowled by Boult when going for a third, leaving Smith to concede the job could not be done before the interval.

The remaining 16 runs were duly polished off in early afternoon, Voges finishing off the match with a princely cover drive. Australian celebrations were of the reserved va-

riety: partly out of deference for McCullum, but also in acknowledgement of the fact that getting to the top is one thing, staying there quite another. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD New Zealand 1st innings 370 Australia 1st innings 505 New Zealand 2nd innings 335 Australia 2nd innings (target: 201 runs) JA Burns b Boult 65 DA Warner c †Watling b 22 Wagner UT Khawaja c McCullum b 45 Southee SPD Smith* not out 53

AC Voges not out 10 Extras (lb-4, nb-2) 6 Total (3 wickets; 54 overs) 201 Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Warner, 12.1 ov), 2-113 (Khawaja, 36.3 ov), 3-179 (Burns, 47.4 ov) Bowling: TA Boult 17-1-601, TG Southee 7-2-30-1, MJ Henry 9-1-33-0 (1-nb), N Wagner 18-4-60-1 (1-nb), CJ Anderson 3-0-14-0

21

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Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, PSL final…

thursday, february 25, 2016

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Haddin, whose knock was a more measured one, remained unbeaten on 61 off 39 balls, his third fifty of the tournament.

Islamabad ultimately won emphatically with six wickets and eight balls to spare.

They had begun on a positive note as well with fast bowler Mohammad Irfan striking in the first over to dismiss opener Bismillah Khan for a duck. Pietersen, playing his third T20 final this

season after the Ram Slam and Big Bash League, promised much before holing out to deep square leg for 18; Asif Ali completing an excellent catch.

Sangakkara and Shehzad then married power and timing in an 87-run partnership, highlighted by Sangakkara’s extra-cover drive for six off Mohammad Sami, for the third wicket. The pair ensured that Quetta motored past 100 by the 13th over. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Quetta Gladiators innings (20 overs maximum) Bismillah Khan c †Haddin b Mohammad Irfan 0 Ahmed Shehzad c Badree b 64 Mohammad Sami KP Pietersen c Asif Ali b 18 Russell KC Sangakkara c Imran 55 Khalid b Russell Mohammad Nawaz (3) b Badree 7 Sarfraz Ahmed*† c Smith b 3 Mohammad Irfan 12 GD Elliott not out Anwar Ali c Khalid Latif b 13 Russell NL McCullum not out 0 2 Extras (lb-2) Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 174 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Bismillah Khan, 0.3 ov), 2-33 (Pietersen, 5.1 ov), 3-120 (Sangakkara, 14.3 ov), 4-135 (Mohammad Nawaz, 15.4 ov), 5-147 (Ahmed Shehzad, 16.3 ov), 6-153 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 17.4 ov), 7-168 (Anwar Ali, 19.4 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Irfan 4-0-

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fter a spectacular display of fireworks lit up the start of the final of the inaugural Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Dubai, Dwayne Smith produced the cricketing equivalent of it, firing Islamabad United to the title. He struck 73 off 51 balls, 52 of them through boundaries. Smith’s effort came after Quetta Gladiators had put up a challenging 174 with fluent half-centuries from Ahmed Shehzad and Kumar Sangakkara. Islamabad captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who had termed the PSL almost like a “World Cup” at the toss, sealed the victory with a flick past midwicket and sparked off wild celebrations.

Smith, who had struggled to get the ball off the square during his 37-ball 19 in the third qualifier against Peshawar Zalmi, got into his shot-making stride right away on Tuesday night, cracking fours off his second and third balls. He then followed it up with a brace of fours in the next over, off spinner Nathan McCullum, who was bowling for the first time in the tournament. Nathan managed to bowl PSL’s only centurion Sharjeel Khan, who had been added to Pakistan’s World T20 and Asia Cup squads, for only 12, but Smith continued his slap-happy strokeplay and raised a fifty off 32 balls.

Smith was dismissed when he sent a top-edge to Kevin Pietersen to backward point in the 16th over, but Brad

25-2, Imran Khalid 3-0-26-0, S Badree 4-0-38-1, Mohammad Sami 4-0-31-1, AD Russell 4-036-3, DR Smith 1-0-16- 0 Islamabad United innings (target: 175 runs from 20 overs) DR Smith c Pietersen b Zulfiqar 73 Babar Sharjeel Khan b McCullum 12 61 BJ Haddin† not out AD Russell b Aizaz Cheema 7 Khalid Latif c Zulfiqar Babar 16 b Anwar Ali Misbah-ul-Haq* not out 1 5 Extras (lb-5) Total (4 wickets; 18.4 overs) 175 Fall of wickets: 1-54 (Sharjeel Khan, 5.4 ov), 2-139 (Smith, 15.3 ov), 3-147 (Russell, 16.1 ov), 4-173 (Khalid Latif, 18.2 ov) Bowling: Anwar Ali 2.4-029-1, NL McCullum 3-0-241, Aizaz Cheema 4-0-341, Zulfiqar Babar 4-0-41-1, Mohammad Nawaz (3) 3-015-0, GD Elliott 2-0-27-0

Wagner’s hat-trick sinks Flamingo

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Islamabad United won the inaugural PSL title

GFA/Stag Premier League…

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Smith (73) muscles Islamabad to title win

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estern Tigers attacking mid-fielder, Randolph Wagner, hammered a superb hat-trick against Flamingo FC to lead his side to a thumping win in the latest round of matches in the Georgetown Football Federation (GFA) Stag Premier League at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.

Wagner, who continues to have a rich run of goal scoring form in the League thus far, was the chief architect in the final score line reading 3-0 in favour of the Tigers. His goals came in the 45th, 75th and 90th minutes.

Despite the score line, Flamingo would be ruing their chances in the first half against the West Ruimveldt based side as they could have entered half time with the scores 1-1.

However, the final half was a showcase of the Tigers dominance and experience,

Randolph Wagner

as they controlled most of the play until the final whistle to help maintain their unbeaten run in the league. In the earlier game, Santos FC edged Northern Rangers 1-0 in an enticing encounter. Santos wasted no time in taking the lead as Ryan Hackett netted in just the second minute of the game.

Hackett was again was on the lookout for loose balls and he had somewhat an

easy chance to put the youthful Santos up by two when he wrapped his left foot around the ball, but only succeeded in powering it to the side netting to end an eventful first half.

Northern Rangers started the second half with much enthusiasm as just two minutes in, Sherwin Grimes had a clear cut opportunity to level the score with a simple one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but spilled the chance by sending it wide.

In the 52nd minute, Grimes was again in the action as he collected a well directed pass, only to head it over the cross bar. Santos, in looking to preserve their unbeaten run, simply held possession of the ball until the final whistle was blown.

The League continues today at the same venue where Riddim Squad will take on Police FC from 18:30h and then Campton will do battle with Beacon from 20:30h.

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guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, february 25, 2016

can build the base of Danny reviews the “We the team locally” – Shabazz CPL Player Draft

By Akeem Greene

By Danny Morrison

W

ell now, it’s been a heck of a time in T20 cricket globally...let alone the recent CPL T20 Player Draft in Barbados.

And, like many cricket lovers, I’m rapt to see some more big names of international class wanting to be involved with CPL. There are some truly magnificent superstar T20 names about to appear for the first time in the Caribbean Premier League! The likes of Brendon McCullum finally gets to make the biggest party in sport.

Also Mr Cricket is on deck too...No fuss with the Huss...

Michael Hussey at last...and quality Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson makes it.

I’m looking forward to seeing youngish Adam Zampa with his leggies on West Indies soil this CPL. And other fab Aussie rockers back are Brad Hodge and Chris Lynn....who always pack a punch!

Great to see Bangla’ boy Shakib Al Hasan is back for more steel pans and excitement.

Other Kiwi guys to get on board are Anton Devcich and Colin Munro for the first time...and Marty Guptill always loves a Caribbean party!

The big Pakistani quartet of Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim and Sohail Tanveer will kick into gear as per...those naturally

Danny Morrison: “It’s gonna be one helluva fest this year…”

gifted guys are always an interesting prospect in this fabulous format.

And watch out for my fav ‘gun-slinger’...Lasith Malinga...with burly Thisara Perera and Sangers - Kumar Sangakkara – who makes up the Sri Lanka trio and is one of a hugely exciting set of six marquee players for the first time this year. Every cricket fan can watch Sangers bat for days and months on end!

Quality with a capital ‘Q’.

Canada and the USA have got three drafts each... and as per I’m looking forward to how these dudes go??!...Nikhil Dutta is an exciting prospect, whilst Steven Taylor made some memorable strides in CPL III. Then there’s the Terrific Ten...South Africa have no less than 10 piling into the Caribbean Premier League for 2016.

It’s gonna be one helluva

fest this year with run machines Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, David Miller and box office man, AB de Villiers, to Carib shores. Nasty fastie, Morne Morkel, and dynamic all-rounders Wayne Parnell and David Wiese. Spin wizards Robbie Petersen and Tabraiz Shamsi to contend with too!

So, all in all, I can’t wait to see these ‘rock-stars’ in action in the middle of this year at the Caribbean Premier League season 4! And with the move to Florida also on the horizon, this could well be our biggest season yet as cricket lovers across the USA get gripped by CPL – Cricket.

Played. Louder.

One of the wonderful pieces of timing with the advent of the Caribbean Premier League....is the amount of ‘star quality’ players that are keen and excited to extend their careers, because of this brilliant new revolution within the game of cricket.

Truly passionate cricket fans, across all formats, get to see these dynamic fellows on their shores...in the West Indies on a regular action packed basis! The nature of the T20 franchise system means that the ‘local star content’ may get to swap about and also move amongst different island teams.

I, for one, hope that this will help bring this unity of togetherness in the West Indies nations to ultimately see the Caribbean thrive across all forms. Bring it on!

(www.cplt20.com)

Guinness Greatest of the Streets- West Dem leg…

F

ollowing the Golden Jaguars 2-0 thumping of Suriname on Sunday at the National Stadium, Head Coach of Guyana’s national football team, Jamaal Shabazz, posited that the core of the team can be built around the local based players.

“I think these guys have demonstrated that we can build the base of the team locally, unlike before when no football was playing; now with the advent of the Elite League we have the team playing which is good for us and we have a good foundation at home and then we can look to the overseas based players to provide that extra attraction to the team,” Shabazz explained.

In the past the Golden Jaguars team was largely a composition of foreign based players, due to the lack of consistent competitive football on the local scene.

Now with the dawn of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Elite League, the “cream of the crop” of Guyana’s football talents is constantly exposed to more high quality of football.

The team on Sunday boasted numerous young and skillful talents and by all accounts the Head Coach was impressed.

“We saw some interesting contributions from Daniel Wilson, and we introduced Dwayne Lindie and Dellon Lanferman very late in the game and we will be hearing a lot of them in the future and Trayon Bobb as

Jamaal Shabazz

well,” he said.

“Jackie Chan” second coming Arguably one of Guyana’s best strikers of this era, Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson has certainly failed to blossom to the prestige many thought he would by now due to many unfortunate acts of misconduct and indiscipline.

Shabazz, who before the match appointed Richardson as captain to test his maturity, was pleased with his performance on the field on match night.

“I think it’s exciting times for him to come in at this stage of his career as captain and lead by example and score two goals as well. Throughout camp he has shown tremendous leadership by working with the younger players and this is a new “Jackie Chan” that we are seeing to be ultra valuable to the programme,” Shabazz highlighted.

Before last Sunday when he scored both goals, Richardson last played for

the Golden Jaguars back in 2012.

He said of his comeback game, “It was a good performance, especially since I had to lead the team; people always think about me wrong, I showed them tonight and proved them wrong.”

He added, “This is the improved “Jackie Chan”, I’m turning a coach in a few years, I have to improve on my behaviour to coach the youngsters and help the youngsters in the Jaguars to go forward.”

Richardson who played Major League Soccer (MSL) in the United Sates is of the view that this team has a bright future.

“It’s just a good team we have now, especially with the local players and we certainly have a good team coming up for the Caribbean Cup; in my assessment they are willing to learn and work,” the player strongly emphasised.

The Golden Jaguars’ next assignment will be against Anguilla in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Cup on March 23.

In explaining the road ahead for the Jaguars, Shabazz said, “We want to take one day a week with the national team and give them back to the clubs for the rest of the week because we will only have about five days in camp before the Anguilla game so we think if we do one weekly session and they play twice a week in the Elite League, this is what the doctor will order for the team.” (akeemg@ guyanatimesgy.com)

GCB Under-15 Championship…

Showstoppers stop Final round matches on today Shattaville Gunners at Wales and Enterprise 4-1 in final

By Treiston Joseph

S

howstoppers put on a show for their supporters at the Pouderoyen Tarmac to walk away with the Guinness Greatest of the Streets West Demerara title in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Showstoppers were able to pull off a 4-1 win against Shattaville Gunners to lift the title for the first time.

The high paced action went back and forth in the opening minutes of the game with both teams searching for fluidity and the weaknesses of their competitors.

However, it was Shattaville Gunners who drew first blood with Marvin Henry slotting in an easy chance after receiving a pass from the left side of the field.

Dexroy Adams answered in the 37th minute with an equaliser that came after confusion with Shattaville’s defence that gave the forward an easy chance in front of goal.

The second half was filled with both teams pushing the play in an effort to win the match before the end of regulation time.

Constant pressure from Showstoppers along with smooth counterattacks caused Shattaville’s defence to collapse causing a plethora of goals coming in the space of five minutes.

Marvin Josiah started the assault with a goal in the 55th minute before Adams hammered in another goal to complete his double in the 59th minute. Josiah would score again in the 60th for his double; ensuring Showstoppers of the title.

Speaking after the final, Guinness Brand Manager, Lee Baptiste, said he was pleased with the turnout as well as the quality of matches, including that of the final, during the course of the tournament.

The next leg of the Guinness Greatest of the Streets will be held on the East Coast of Demerara at a date to be announced shortly.

Seon Glasgow

By Akeem Greene

T

he final round matches of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/ Dave West Indian Exports Guy-NY Inter-County, Under-15, 50over tournament will be played today at the Wales and Enterprise grounds.

At Wales, the unbeaten Demerara will play GCB President’s XI, while at Enterprise, Essequibo will come up against Berbice.

Demerara, by all accounts, have booked themselves a spot in the final

following commanding victories over Berbice and Essequibo.

Their star performer has been Guyana Under-15 player and stylish left-handed opening batsman, Sachin Singh, who has racked up 170 runs in the tournament to date.

Against Essequibo, he hit a fluent 50, and along with Shoaib Sham, who struck a composed 79, romped Demerara to a 112-run victory.

The Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) player then cracked a superb 120 to help his county team defeat Berbice by three wickets.

The Berbicians, who have won one and lost the other, will look to the likes of Aaron Beharry and Seon Glasgow Jnr, along with the in-form batsmen Jevon Shultz, who stuck a blistering 66 in the match against Demerara, and Fawaz Gafoor, who made 73 in the said match, in a bid to make the final.

Essequibo’s only win came against the GCB President’s XI by 65 runs, and they will need of a massive victory if they wish to stake claim for a place in the final.

The likes of Lance Roberts and Azim Mohamed will need to continue their consistency with the bat, but their bowling will need to improve as they have leaked far too many extras.

Sachin Singh

GCB President’s XI, on the other hand, are winless and certainly want to end the competition on a successful note.

Their major downfall has not being able bat in partnerships and pose challenging totals, and just like the Essequibo, their bowling has not been disciplined as they gave away 37 runs in extras in the match against Essequibo.

The final will feature the top two teams on Saturday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda.

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, february 25, 2016

23

Leal crowned Burnham cycling champ

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Raul Leal

eigning Tour of Guyana Five-Stage champion, Raul Leal emerged the overall champion of the Forbes Burnham memorial ThreeStage cycling meet, which concluded on Tuesday.

The Team Gillette Evolution rider clocked five hours, 54 minutes, 05 seconds (05h: 54m: 05s) to finish ahead of teammates Marlon Williams (05h: 54m: 36s) and Orville Hinds (05h: 55m: 17s).

They were followed by Paul deNobrega (05h: 59m: 33s), Shaquille Agard (05h: 59m:

The top performers of the Burnham memorial cycling event

34s) and Junior Niles (06h: 01m: 40s) in that order.

Jornel Yearwood won the junior category in six hours, one minute, 58 seconds (06h: 01m: 58s), while Raphael Leung finished second and Christopher Cornelius third. Niles won the veteran segment ahead of Jaikarran Sookhai and Stephen Fernandes, while Christine

Matheson of Trojan Cycle Club in Berbice grabbed the female category, with Whitney Poyer second.

Meanwhile, Leal won the first stage in Berbice on Sunday, but his teammate Hinds was in superb form on Tuesday when he won both stages.

On the second stage on Tuesday morning from Linden

to Homestretch Avenue, a distance of 65 miles, Hinds clocked two hours, 52 minutes, 42 seconds (02h: 52m: 42s), to finish ahead of Niles (02h: 52m: 54s).

They were followed by Romello Crawford, Leal, Raphael Leung and Williams in that order.

On Tuesday afternoon, the third and final stage took place

from Sheriff Street to Belfield and back, with Hinds clocking a winning time of one hour, 52 minutes, 06 seconds (01h: 52m: 06s). Leal finished second, followed by Williams, deNobrega, Silvio Inniss and Michael Anthony.

The event was sponsored by the Burnham Foundation.

Ambrose makes case for Joseph’s CPL stars set to light up ICC World T20 elevation to senior side

Sir Curtly Ambrose

Alzarri Joseph was a standout in West Indies Under-19 successful World Cup campaign

F

ormer West Indies fast bowler, Sir Curtly Ambrose, said Antiguan pacer Alzarri Joseph should be promoted to the senior set-up on the basis of his ability and not his age.

Joseph picked up 13 wickets to help West Indies win the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh

earlier this month.

The 19-year-old pacer grabbed three for 39 off 10 overs to inspire West Indies to a five-wicket win over India in the final.

“I believe that age has nothing to do with if you are ready or not,” declared Ambrose.

“Sachin Tendulkar, one of the greatest players ever, made his Test debut when he was 15 or 16-years-old, when I figured he should have been in school and look how [it] turned out.”

During the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Joseph delivered the fastest ball in the tournament at 91.5 mph and bowled consistently around the high 80s-90 mph.

He removed the stumps in four of his 13 wickets, had three lbw decisions, while three of his victims

were caught by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off tentative edges.

“So what you are telling me is that if Alzarri is doing well at age 19, and we think he can get the job done, why wait until he is 22?,” asked Ambrose, who claimed 405 Test scalps in 98 matches and 205 wickets in 172 oneday internationals.

“By then he may just lose focus or say, ‘I am fed up’.”

The powerfully built, 6 ft 4in Joseph hit helmet and gloves with his pace and bounce in Bangladesh to unsettle batsmen and trigger prospects of a revival in West Indies fast bowling.

He bowled with similar intensity to claim seven for 46 against Windward Islands last November.

“Alzarri still has a lot to learn, he has pace, which is good, but I figure that whenever I go close enough to him to sit and talk about cricket I would let him know that pace is good because you can intimidate people,” said Ambrose.

“But to be able to consistently put the ball in the right area is the key and the foundation to being a great fast bowler.”

Joseph returns to regional action for the Leeward Islands Hurricanes when they take on Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in Trinidad on Friday. (Jamaica

Gleaner)

With the exception of Brendon McCullum (right) and Kumar Sangakkara (second right), all the other marquee players will be playing in the World T20

C

hris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, AB deVilliers, Martin Guptill, Shane Watson, Shakib Al Hasan and Lasith Malinga are just some of the CPL stars who are set to feature in ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 after the squads were confirmed on Tuesday.

The 27-day event begins in Nagpur on March 8 with 19 players set to feature in their sixth straight event, while Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the finals on April 3.

West Indies trio Dwayne Bravo, Gayle and Denesh Ramdin will be aiming to feature in their sixth successive event, which were previously staged in South Africa, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Zouks favourite Darren Sammy will lead the West Indies, who will bid to regain the title they last won in 2012 in Sri Lanka.

South Africa’s de Villiers, Sri Lanka pace bowler Malinga and Australia all-

rounder Watson – who will all feature in the CPL later this summer – will each attend their sixth straight ICC World Twenty20, alongside Black Caps duo Nathan McCullum and Ross Taylor, JP Duminy, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Shahid Afridi.

The full squad lists are as follows: AFGHANISTAN Asghar Stanikzai (capt.); Dawlat Zadran; Gulbadin Naib; Hamid Hassan; Hamza Hotak; Karim Sadiq; Mohammad Nabi; Mohammad Shahzad; Najibullah Zadran; Noor Ali Zadran; Rashid Khan; Samiullah Shenwari; Shafiqullah Shafaq; Shahpoor Zadran and Usman Ghani.

Coach – Inzamam-ulHaq. AUSTRALIA - Steve Smith (capt.); Ashton Agar; Nathan Coulter-Nile; James Faulkner; Aaron Finch; John Hastings; Josh Hazlewood;

Usman Khawaja; Mitchell Marsh; Glenn Maxwell; Peter Nevill; Andrew Tye; David Warner; Shane Watson and Adam Zampa.

Coach - Darren Lehmann.

BANGLADESH – Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (capt.); Abu Hider; Al-Amin Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun; Mushfiqur Rahim; Mustafizur Rahman; Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan; Sabbir Rahman; Shakib Al Hasan; Soumya Sarkar; Tamim Iqbal and Taskin Ahmed.

Coach – Chandika Hathurushinghe.

ENGLAND Eoin Morgan (capt.); Moeen Ali; Sam Billings; Jos Buttler; Liam Dawson; Steven Finn; Alex Hales; Chris Jordan; Adil Rashid; Joe Root; Jason Roy; Ben Stokes; Reece Topley; James Vince and David Willey. Coach – Trevor Bayliss. turn to page 19

thursday, february 25, 2016

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

Danny reviews the “We can build the base of the team CPL Player Draft locally” – Shabazz Pg 22

Pg 22

Danny Morrison has labelled South African batsman AB deVilliers as the “box office man”

Many are hoping that Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson can cement a place in the Golden Jaguars line-up (Marcenao Narine photo)

Guinness Greatest of the Streets- West Dem leg…

Showstoppers stop Shattaville Gunners 4-1 in final Pg 22

Members of the Showstoppers team pose with the winner’s trophy after the final on Wednesday morning

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