GuyanaTimes

Fishermen reject Ramjattan’s piracy ploy

Fishermen reject Ramjattan's piracy ploy

– State, not citizens responsible for fighting piracy

Public Security

Minister Khemraj Ramjattan admitted that the move to arm fishermen in an effort to combat piracy was greeted with much reluctance and, as such, the plan is unlikely to follow through.

Recently, the Government disclosed that it is considering granting firearm licences to fishermen to help them ward off pirates who have been on a rampage in the Corentyne area over the years.

However, speaking to media operatives on Friday, Ramjattan noted that some fishermen were not too keen on the idea and requested the implementation of stronger patrol systems instead.

“That suggestion (arming fishermen) is coming with some criticisms even from some of the fishermen. They would prefer that we have patrols in mid-ocean

with them. I told them that that would be too expensive. The other is to arm them and, whenever anybody would come to attack them, they can take care of themselves. But a lot of them seem reluctant to do that. I don’t know what then will be the option,” he explained.

Piracy has been a sore issue for fishermen, especially in Region Six (East

Berbice-Corentyne). Many have complained that there is an abundance of talks about the problem but little to nothing is being done to fight it. However, the Minister said he has not yet reached a dead-end.

In fact, the Minister was quite interested in a letter published in one of the daily locals entitled “Plenty of talk about piracy but too little action to curb it”, which made reference to a document titled “Strategy for the Conduct of Effective Antipiracy Patrols in the Territorial Sea and Rivers of the Republic of Guyana” which addressed the issue of piracy.

In the letter, written by one Captain Rouchie E W Adams, he noted, “There is a plan that I just recently read and I have asked the Permanent Secretary to get up that plan.”

The writer indicated that the document was initial-

ly submitted to the Home Affairs Ministry in 2013 and some of its contents were accepted upon. Some contents on the document included the area of the territorial sea and the ten main waterways which provide access to the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean; the specific areas of responsibilities for various Police Divisions; and a list of assets considered necessary to efficiently and effective-

ly conduct maritime operations in the sea and rivers. Some of the equipment included vessels, communication equipment and safety and emergency equipment.

Further, the document underscored the importance of proper training to maritime officers, pointing out that equipment would be useless without due training.

According to the letter, the recommendations were accepted by twelve police-

points along the coast using their expertise to operationalise; various types of marine electronic equipment, communication equipment, safety equipment, emergency equipment and if possible small territorial sea patrol craft suitable for our territory. Guyana has experienced former Coast Guard officers who were trained in maritime operations in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America and Brazil. These officers know the Guyana coast like the palm of their hand and can be used to conduct not only anti-piracy, but also anti-contraband, search and rescue, fisheries protection and armed board and search training for marine policemen and personnel from other agencies. There is also the Matpal Marine Institute with fully accredited Guyanese lecturers presently housed at Critchlow Labour College; it is a satellite of the Caribbean Maritime Institute based

men who commenced training in July 2013 which lasted until April 2014, however only eight succeeded. Also, a large quantity of the recommended equipment were purchased and shipped to Guyana in July 2014, the letter stated. Though for some reason, the plan never saw fruition. As such, the writer recommended that the new Government review this plan.

“My recommendation for assistance from China would be in the form of equipment such as radar to be erected at strategic

in Jamaica, which is ‘white listed’ by the International Maritime Organisation. This training facility offers several courses for seamen and issues worldwide recognised certification to successful candidates,” the writer penned.

The Minister noted that he was impressed by the contents of the letter and will consider reviewing the plan in its efforts to combat piracy. “I like the idea and I think I have to meet that person or read that plan and try to implement as much of it as possible,” he said.

Chainsaw operator jailed for unlawfully wounding

Achainsaw operator was on Tuesday afternoon sentenced to four years imprisonment after he was found guilty of unlawful wounding.

Anthony Gladstone of Moruca, Region One (BarimaWaini) made his appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate Court. According to a report by the Police, on June 27 at Aranka Backdam, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Adrian James.

The defendant, who was not represented by an at-

torney, said that he and the Virtual Complainant (VC) were arguing over money owed by Barama Company at the Landing in Moruca while drinking. He then told the court that the argument continued until he collected a cutter and broadsided the VC. The VC was chopped to his left side forehead in the process, and was subsequently hospitalised.

Gladstone told the court that he was sorry for what he did. Magistrate Scarce then sentenced him to four years in prison for his crime.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Piracy has been a sore issue for fishermen, especially in Region Six

Fishermen in Region Six going about their daily business

Thundery to light rain showers can be expected throughout the morning, with heavy rain showers dominating throughout the afternoon. Light rain showers are expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 06:44h and 19:14h reaching maximum heights of 2.76 metres and 2.65 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:17h and 12:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.46 respectively.

Former AG condemns Govt’s “bureaucratic obesity”

– says Govt not ‘lean and clean’, challenges outlandish spending

By Michael younge

uyana’s

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs

Minister Anil Nandlall on Saturday strongly condemned what he deemed the outlandish spending and extravagance being displayed by the ruling Administration as he expressed shock over revelations that President David Granger’s inauguration cost over US$1 million.

Nandlall, speaking during an interview with Guyana Times on Saturday afternoon, said that the ruling A Partnership for National Unity+ Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition Government was suffering from various forms of “bureaucratic and governmental obesity”, warning that in the end, it is only the public purse that will become anorexic.

He said that revelations by current Minister of State Jose Harmon that most of the monies that were spent on the inauguration of Guyana’s eight Executive President came from donations were attempts to hoodwink the public and remove suspicion that the “big bash” which occurred at the Providence Stadium on May 26, did not hurt the public purse in any way.

Nandlall argued that even if this was the case and all of the monies were

indeed inflows from donations, then the Government had the moral responsibility to say how the monies were sent, who the beneficiaries were and who was in charge of the entire event, as well as payments.

“We are grimly told that most of those monies came from donations. We are not told, however, how much actually came from donations and how much came from the treasury. But more significantly, is it proper to receive donations and simply spent it… without any form of checks and balances… accountability during the process”, he offered.

He explained that a probe of the event should be undertaken as he was not quite sure that taxpayers should foot any extravagant bill arising from what he continuously referred to as a “big bash”.

“Is the nation going to be presented with a list of these donors and how much money they donated… so that the nation can be assured that the monies did not come from the treasury”, Nandlall asked before quizzing again whether a “country like Guyana can afford such extravagance… mind you… this effect was being held by an Administration who while they were in the Opposition preached every day about lean and clean Government and trimming of fat….”

Nandlall opined further that it was simply not enough for Minister Harmon to make such a statement and be let off the hook. He was surprised that the media was not probing for answers to burning questions surrounding the President’s inauguration and the finances associated with the event.

Extravagance

The former Attorney General reminded the new Government that while it was in Opposition, it had preached day and night

humongous amount of money that tax payers have to pay… so what we have is the opposite of trimming of fat…”, he insisted.

The former Legal Affairs Minister also explained that having examined the official gazette which contains the assignment of responsibilities of each Minister, he is convinced that some of the Ministers have no work or specific responsibilities assigned to them.

about the need for transparency, openness in Government and an end to extravagance. Now the shoes are on the other foot, however, it was “eating its words and abandoning strongly held positions on transparency and good governance”.

He argued that apart from the cloud of secrecy surrounding President Granger’s inauguration, citizens must be concerned about the bills the new Ministers and President are racking up.

“In this vein, I feel compelled to point out that this is a Goverment of 26 Ministers strong… four Vice Presidents and a series of advisors to Ministers and the President… in many instances, you will find that as many as three Ministers are doing what one Minister under the PPP used to do…”, he stated.

He continued by saying that in most instances, two Ministers have been assigned to do what one PPP/C Minister used to do.

“Each of these Ministers, along with the Vice Presidents and advisors have to be paid a salary… assigned vehicles with drivers… telephone and electricity and Internet bills have to be paid… provided with a maid… a gardener… an official staff… when all of this is added up… it is a

Nandlall said that he, like hundreds of Guyanese, were at a loss with respect to the portfolios of some of the Ministers within Ministries.

“My findings are amazing… Amna Ally is listed as

the Social Cohesion Minister within the Ministry of the Presidency… she is assigned the responsibility of “equalities and ethnic relations”… what is that… the nation is unaware what this Minister’s responsibilities are”, he opined.

Ordinary Ministers of Government earn a salary that could be as low as $400,000 per month and as high as $1.4 million as is the case of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister. There are a number of other benefits and perks that come with the job which are not spelled out in the laws.

President David Granger

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

Sunday Editor: Michael Younge

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Police Force Origins and Continuity

Yesterday, with all pomp and ceremony - and snarled traffic in Georgetown - the Guyana Police Force (GPF) celebrated its 176th year of existence. The GPF has been ubiquitous in the news recently but for the wrong reason: a steep upsurge in crime highlighted its inability to perform adequately its core function which is to ensure security. The Minister of the newly baptised "Ministry of National Security" - formerly the "Ministry of Home Affairs" - confessed that his task to clean up crime may be bigger than he thought compared to his frequent lambasting of his predecessor Clement Rohee in and out of the National Assembly.

While Mr.Ramjattan had delved into a social psychological theory to suggest that "greed" was behind the crime upsurge, perchance he will be using this anniversary to reflect on the reasons why the GPF was formed in 1939. He could discover that the fault may lie equally with the nature of the Police Force as with human greed. The latter, after all, like poverty, has always been with us.

The GPF was formed directly after the abolition of slavery in 1838. It was surmised correctly by the authorities that the ex-slaves would move off en masse from the plantations. It was also surmised, incorrectly as it turned out, that these freedmen would be a threat to the security of the class that had kept them in bondage for hundreds of years. The official launching of the GPF in 1839 is significant because it was decided that the organisation should be patterned on the Irish Constabulary rather than the London Metropolitan Police. A visit to Ireland by the new Commissioner was considered warranted.

The key difference between the two units was that since the Irish were deemed "dangerous", their police were armed and organised along military lines, unlike the London "Bobbies" which only had batons. From the beginning of its existence, the Guyana Police Force was a "force" to protect the ruling strata from the hoi polloi. Police Stations were established strategically near the newly formed villages.The early force was dominated by Barbadians to ensure that there would not be the centripetal pull of "kith and kin" when orders were given. The British policy of "divide and rule" was at work.

When the freedmen, who were all of African descent, proved generally unthreatening, their imported indentured servant replacements - first the Portuguese and then the larger waves of Indians on the Sugar Plantations with their cutlasses - were defined as threats to be subdued. African Guyanese were now recruited to keep them in line. Shootings of striking Indian sugar workers in 1872, 1896, 1898, 1903, 1913, 1924, 1939 and 1949 were a major factor in influencing adverse race relations in the colony between its two major groups. But this does not mean that the Police were in any way benign to perceived threats from the African populace and Police excesses in the 1905 "riots" in Georgetown are testimony to that.

So what Mr.Ramjattan ought to be looking at, in addition to the greed of ordinary Guyanese, is the orientation of the Police towards the citizenry: they are to be protected and served not subdued and cowed into submission. This foundational paradigm change was encapsulated in the legislation that former Minister Rohee introduced in the last Parliament to change the name of the "Guyana Police Force" to the "Guyana Police Service". The legislation was blocked by Mr.Ramjattan, his party the AFC and APNU.

This historically induced pattern of differential recruitment into the GPF became structurally entrenched from within and without the organisation. This has led to efforts since before independence to rectify the "imbalance". The latest effort was with the Disciplined Forces Commission (DSC) of 2003, of which now President Granger was a member. It is hoped that on this 176th anniversary of its formation, this and the other 163 recommendations of the DSC will be implemented.

Why the AFC will accept the broken Accord

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Times editorial of 3rd July 2015 titled "Power sharing: the promise vs. the reality" is significant for what it has chronicled for history. "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" (Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet), so what does it matter if its power sharing, big tent, sharedgovernance. coalition government and unity government?

The objectiveof the "have not" is to achieve equality with the "haves". Those whocall for power sharing to include the PPP/C are advocating that abridge be built across a river which does not exist. The AFC has beenthere and done that and with the camouflaged PNC: nothing works.

Contempt

Either the AFC is blind or they are sincerely foolish. Its obvious theemperor Moses has no clothes as he parades and struts about in his regalnakedness. Every Minister at the Presidential secretariat has beengiven more power than him as Prime Minister. But he does not see orknow that because of blind ambition.

The greater the intensity of thePNC leader's contempt of the AFC's Prime Minister

the more he willsuccumb. But it will backfire among the AFC's membership with enragedcontempt more dangerous and stronger.

If Mr Moses Nagamootoo agreedto become Prime Minister to cut ribbons, and tell the state media(GINA, NCN and Chronicle) how to do their jobs he was Georgetownchoked and robbed. Prominently,dutifully and patiently sitting next to"massa" as a lap dog during cabinet meetings isn't he the AFC's shameand a most humiliating imagery - worse than how Robinson Crusoetreated his Boy Friday?

Addictive

The APNU -AFC Cummingsburg Accord has been violated with impunity butAFC leadersproudly and most vehemently deny it. Power is an addictiveaphrodisiac and those who have been smitten cannot easily be curedunless they are highly morally developed. But it also depends who areinfluencing the AFC agenda and charting its political course to knowwhy they are in this mess.

If a monolithic AFC dares acknowledgethere is disagreement, then the co-

alition automatically collapses.Quite contrary to Mr Moses Nagamootoo's lofty boast the AFC will notbe walking away with its 12 seats. Neither will all AFC's MPs followtheir glorified Prime Minister. Because they entered parliament as ajoint ticket, Dr Harold Lutchman as the "neutral" list conduit willofficially inform the Speaker those who leave are no longer MPs byAPNU's direction. Guess who will stay!

Rotate

Who stands most to lose is the AFC 'sAfrican-Guyanese leaderships who violatedall their own AFC race rotation rules to make MrNagamootoo theirIndian Prime Ministerial candidate just so that APNU would win. They willnot follow their Prime Minister and quit the coalition. Why did MrNigel Hughes who was expected to rotate and automatically succeedAFC leader MrRamjattan so quickly broke the AFC rotation rule infavour of MrNagamootoo?

MrNagamootoo was only a recent PPP/Cabsconded just before the 2011 elections --just three years ago.

Triumph It certainly speaks

well about Mr Hughes intelligence,formidable political astuteness. He sacrificed his own personalambition so that the greater African Guyanese objective could materialise. After his2012 ultimatum issued to the PPP/C government was ignored, the African-Guyanese dominated village of Agricola miraculously erupted in race riotsdirected against Indians/ PPP supporters and any others in their path. Both the PNC and PPP haveno equal like him within their ranks.

Intractable

Considering the PNC dominated APNU was desperate for coalitionunity to remove the PPP/C government and based on MrNagamootoo'scomplaints that he should have been the successor PPP leader insteadof DrJagdeo, his firmness to become President of Guyana seemedintractable. But for a second time and for a higher office than theSpeaker he promptly surrendered any equal rights to be thepresidential candidate of the APNU-AFC coalition during negotiations.

Sultan Mohamed

have a conspiracy theory...

Dear editor, It’s 1 a.m. in the morning and I can't sleep, a name pops into my head: "Granger", followed by a thought "Why was the PNC/APNU being non-compliant, refusing to pass any of the previous bills in the assembly?It dawned on me that this may have been a ploy to ensure that all the funds remained in their respective accounts for when they would slither their way into Office.Think about it a

minute: the premise of the PNC and its supporters’ very ominous smear campaign was that the PPP/C was corrupt by misusing and stealing money from State treasuries. To date, no signs of mass corruption have been found and every allegation has proven to be unfounded. This shows the lack of intelligence of the PNC.In my conspiracy theory it is indeed the PNC who will be siphoning State funds. This conspir-

acy is plausible since the now opposition has already been branded "thieves", any funds that go missing under the new Administration would be blamed on the PPP/Cand from my point of view this is a very ingenious psychological game being played by the PNC.Is the new government going to create welfare programs for its supporters on the alleged basis that they were "marginalized"?

The rice and sugar indus-

try receiveda financial assistance obviously to stabilize the economy. Can you imagine how this looks to a person with no job, poor education and from a modest upbringing?

These individuals would be in absolute outrage because in their minds everyone else is getting a free ride except them?

V. Apana

The LottoNL-Jumbo team during a Tour de France training session in Utrecht, Netherlands (The Telegraph)

2:00 am curfew is sign of no vision and backward leadership

Minister Ramjattan made his first “big” move to reduce crime and domestic violence and to produce a better work force and an economic solution for Guyana all in one decision. I have never seen such backward and visionless thinking by a public service leader in my entire life.

It is clear that the minister doesn’t have hard scientific data to back up his conclusions, so I will do him a favor and provide some assumptions from my observation as an average citizen.

1. Most crimes being committed are done by 100% sober people with a clear plan to kill and rob; they are not leaving bars at 2am to do this. This is obvious and needs no scientific backing

2. Domestic violence that is rooted in alcohol consumption is generally done in the rural areas in small rum shops and bottom houses. So it would have been

better for him to put a limit on DDL and DIH production if he wanted to see results

3. Road Accidents are caused by inexperienced drivers who bribed the police for their driver’s licenses, compounded by the police not enforcing the traffic laws.

4. The management of work performance is a dynamic between the employers and employees that has to be carried out among them and should not be policed by the state. He is clearly showing signs of interfering in people’s freedoms and private lives (signs of dictatorship)

5. People have the right to spend their hard earned money however they wish, the Government has no right to even comment on this. Again you are interfering in people’s private lives and the private sector. So to avoid any bad surprises Minister Ramjattan

should know that drinking and partying will continue after 2 a.m. regardless of the curfew and there will be an increase in unregulated underground parties rendering our young people even more vulnerable. Business will be affected through the loss of revenue. It is my projection that the local economy will lose approximately G$154,000,000 weekly (see my public figure Facebook page for assumptions).

Minister Ramjattan is confirming my position taken during theperiod of elections, that the coalition is comprised of backward thinkers with visionless strategies, taking our country down the wrong path. As I said before, this government consists of “Paddle Boat” captains steering a Cruise Ship.

Malcolm Watkins

Repair the Patentia main bridge

Dear Editor,

We the residents of Patentia West are very much dissatisfied with the managment of our main bridge, catering for uses of Patentia West, PatentiaPln-area L and Patentia Skull city. The said bridge was constructed over sixty years ago and hasbeen repaired from time to time. However, with the opening of the new housing scheme and businesses (especially wholesalers) the traffick has become too heavy for our main bridge which recently collapsed.

A new wooden bridge was constructed at the western end of Patentia two year

ago but because of the importance of the main bridge, the new bridge was hardly used and we were told by regional officials that it would be used while the main bridge was being repaired. This never happened.

We later understood that the main bridge would be removed and a smaller bridge or walkway would be constructed instead. This is madness considering the quality of the new bridge under construction and the damages being done to the roadways. The new bridge wouldn’t last very long. The heavy traffic that would traverse the Patentia

tarmac to get access to the new bridge would be a hazard to us and our children. Also, the main bridge is located in the middle ofPatentia while the new bridge is situated at the far end of Patentia rendering access to many residents difficult.

The Patentiamain bridge can be repaired since only one main beam out of six was broken. If materials were to be provided,vthe people of Patentia would willingly repair it and one resident has already volunteered to use his personalhymac.

Pt. Chandrecca Persaud, JP.

History has repeated itself

The electoral process in Guyana is like no other in the world and it is fittingly an important case study. Down through the years much has been said and written about the process, but many of us never really pay much attention or sat down to do an in-depth study of the whole process. And the reason for this is that no one really takes serious steps into reviewing anything electoral until possibly when the next elections come around. In this regard I intend to engage you in another electoral research.

It began when the colonials granted us autonomy and during the evolution of political parties (a transition from British Guiana to Guyana). The main parties at that time were the PPP/C, The United Force and a few other smaller parties. The heavyweights were The PPP/C and The UF. The PPP/C during that time was commandeered by two men, Dr.CheddiJagan and Mr. Linden Burnham: two men who were a representation of the two dominant ethnicities in Guyana. At that stage the true democratic process was evident and everything seems set for a grand takeoff.

Then, the idea of absolute power and the concept of corruption flooded Burnham's head a causing a split in the party. Burnham formed the PNC under the protection and auspices of the US and British Government, knowing fully well that they would enable him win the elections. The boy from Lincoln's Inn could command the Queen's English while at the same time seemed more suave

and fittingly better "leadership material." He would not rile at the British like Cheddi - at least so it seems - and he was more servile in his approach towards the colonial masters. This was Burnham's time to soar.

The system of voting instituted by the British was the constituency system or what is commonly called "first past the post" system. Under that system people voted for their leaders based on their love for and their ability to deliver. The constituency system lends credence to that; you had to vote for the constituency representative as well as for the party. Contrary to popular sentiments voting was not the racially polarized between the two major segments of this country; the constituency system to a great degree eliminated that. The result of elections under that system saw the PPP/C coming out as the overall winner. The British and the Americans were dissatisfied with that result hence they encouraged Peter D'Aguiar of the UF into a coalition with the PNC to oust the PPP.C. The UF obliged and that was the last election.

Soon thereafter the voting machinery came under the PNC's control, rigging and electoral tampering became the order of the day. Fraud and an unreliable election system is the handiwork of the PNC Party. The PPP/C became the victim of a fraudulent system causing it to lose all the elections post 1964.

It is a history that no country would like to emulate, in the early days there were separate boxes for each political party

and the votes cast in the boxes marked PPP/c never reached destination much less were counted. It was a common spectacle to see boxes of PPP.C ballots either burning or floating downriver.

Then, the voting system turned into one where voters were asked to state their preference at polling stations. If the voterresponded "for Cheddi" then there was an automatic answer:"you have voted already." Voter intimidation and violence by the police as well as from PNC supporters were commonplace. I was pleasantly surprised to see a video footage of this carried in the StabroekMewspaper.

Another area of PNC plunder was overseas balloting and proxy voting, all avenues abused by the regime to win elections. Ghost elections, the father of the nation called them, people who were dead voted and those who were alive came from nationalities who never knew of a place called Guyana.

At the height of his rigging campaign Burnham told Errol Barrow of Barbados that "you will be a fool to be in power and lose it." That infamous statement would again be tested as we see the metamorphosed PNC taking control again.

Fast forward to May 11th 2015 and all these thoughts flood the mind again, the coalition, the rigging and the unbridled support for the de-facto regime coming from the British and the Americans. History has repeated itself.

Neil Adams

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Page Foundation

Anu Dev

Tomorrow is CARICOM Day! Long weekend!!!

Incidentally, two "CARICOM Days" ago I had just graduated from high school. It feels like so much time has passed since then but at the same time it feels like just yesterday I was back in high school.

Tomorrow is the first Monday of July, a day set aside to celebrate Caribbean Unity. There are aspects of Caribbean Unity that I think have been particularly successful, CXC being one of the most important to me.

And after having spent two years on the Joyce Gibson Inniss Hall of Residence of the UWI Medical School at St Augustine Trinidad, among students from most of our Caribbean neighbours I developed a better perspective of how and why a unified Caribbean could be possible and necessary. The thing is we have so much in com-

CARICOM Day 2015!

mon, us and them.

There’s so much overlap with the food we cook, the music we listen to and the slang we use. It was incredible to see that all of the kids from the different islands had a version of curry that they cooked- I must’ve seen at least five different ways of cooking curries. Variations on a theme, but a theme nevertheless.

We all learnt so much about each other’s culture and I began to really understand the whole concept of Caribbean unity on not just an intellectual level, but on an emotional level. I mean, I always used to get emotional supporting our West Indian cricket team,

alternating between weeping tears of joy and tears of anguish, but this past year I’ve managed to make personal connections with persons from the different Caribbean countries.

Over the past year or so, we’ve been assigned public health research projects. One of the areas my group honed in on was that of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - with good reason because according

to a PAHO 2012 report, the Caribbean region has the highest burden of NCDs in the Americas! The things that keep us together!

Non-communicable diseases, like Diabetes and Hypertension ("high blood pressure"), are those that are by definition non-infectious and non-transmissible among people. An infectious disease would for instance be malaria. NCDs are the leading causes of death and disease worldwide.

In our readings for the project, we stumbled upon the 2007 Declaration made by the CARICOM Heads of Government, “Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases”. So it was heartening that at least we were taking a common approach to this major challenge. It demonstrated perfectly one of the main reasons for us to stick together as a region, apart from sharing a common heritage and culture - the benefits of pooling our resources.

And it was interesting to read about the follow-up implementation of this seminal declaration towards which each member including Guyana made "commitments" towards achieving the original goals. At this time the declaration had been implemented with different levels of success with the most successfully achieved in the larger countries. Our own previous Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy was a

key figure in placing the NCDs on the agenda of PAHO, the Commonwealth, the UN, WHO and possibly as a new Development Goal for the world. This is progress borne out of cooperation at the CARICOM level.

While there is some

“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

gloom and doom about the future of CARICOM, it is evident there has been progress in many areas. For there to be further and wider real change and real progress , it’s absolutely essential for our Caribbean leaders to work together to tackle the epidemic of NCDs and other challenges collectively. We need to buckle down and implement policies (guided by research) as a unified Caribbean.

Happy CARICOM Day!

Moussy “Colour Your Life Promotion” ends

Southland International officially closed the Moussy “Colour Your Life Promotion”, with the grand

drawing on Saturday at the Bounty Supermarket on Water Street. The country wide promotion had six drawings around Guyana; it

of Guyana. She had used her cash prize to help facilitate her studies and expressed how winning the money was perfect at the

left Georgetown and made its way to Essequibo and Berbice before coming back to Georgetown for the grand drawing.

The winners would have had to place three Moussy Malt caps into an envelope with their name, telephone number and address, and place it into boxes that were provided at several locations across the country including Nigel’s Supermarket, Bounty, Bonnies, DSL Cash and Carry, Survival Supermarket, Budget Supermarket, N & S Mattai, and Southland’s main office on Brickdam, Parika and Anna Regina.

This will be the second year Moussy Malt consumers were given a chance to compete for $1 million. Last year’s winner was Pere Deroy of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who was studying International Relations at the University

time, since she needed it to help cover her boarding expenses for her two-year programme in Canada.

This year, the grand drawing of $1 million was won by Laurence Poole of 9th Street Paradise, East Coat Demerara. There were also three hampers that were won by other lucky Moussy consumers; the winners were Claudia Rodrigues, Donna McCrae and Mamtaa Karran. The consolation prize winners all received baskets filled with beverages that Southland International distributes.

Over the past few months there have been many drawings and lucky persons won televisions, hampers, cash vouchers, Apple iPads, Samsung S4 smart phones, Samsung 40” Smart LED TVs, US cash prizes and grocery vouchers.

The spinning of the wheel at Bounty Supermarket

Countdown to Carifesta XII… Slow progress; Guyana still to select delegation

With less than 50 days away from the launching of Carifesta XII, Guyana is yet to select a delegation of its best local acts to represent the country at the Caribbean’s premier festival of arts, which will be held in Haiti, August 21-30.

Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry, who has direct responsibility for culture, told the Guyana Times on Saturday that auditions for individuals desirous of being a part of the delegation are still ongoing, and she is unsure of when it will come to an end.

Following the conclusion of these auditions, suggestions/recommendations will have to be submitted and deliberated upon, the necessary paperwork will have to be completed, and then the delegation can be officially announced to the public.

The delegation selection committee is being headed by Lennox Canterbury, a longtime member of Guyana’s Carifesta machinery. Efforts by this publication to contact Canterbury for an update on the selection process proved futile.

In the meantime, Minister Henry acknowledged that

time is catching up but she assured that everything will be in order in time for the grand festival. She explained that the Guyana had a late start in its preparations for Carifesta due to the recently concluded General and Regional Elections. Nonetheless, she guaranteed that stakeholders are working tirelessly towards ensuring that Guyana makes its biggest and best representation at the arts festival.

In addition, the Minister was unsure of the limit to the number of individuals to be placed on the delegation; however she noted that the aim was to send as much representation as possible.

For Carifesta XI, there was a 50-person limit imposed by the Caribbean Community (Caricom) for all participating countries. Furthermore, Henry pointed out that it is too premature to arrive at an estimated cost for this event.

Meanwhile, according to the Ministry’s website Guyana has registered to participate in 11 areas including visual arts, literary arts, culinary arts, fashion, craft, symposia, theatre, dance, music, master class, and children and youth focus.

Carifesta was organised

Two arrested for robberies committed on taxi drivers

Two residents of Sophia, Greater Georgetown are presently in police custody after they were implicated in the robberies of two taxi drivers in separate incidents between May and July 2015.

The two men who have been positively identified of committing the robberies are expected to make their first court appearance on Monday.

They were accused of robbing taxi driver Carlos Pollydore of his motor car on July 3 while driving along C Field, Sophia, and Shabeer Mohamed of his motor vehicle on May 29, at Cumming Lodge, East Coast Demerara.

In addition, the two men

also attempted to rob Ryan Marks at C Field, Sophia, on July 1, while armed with knives.

According to information received, the two men were arrested and so far identified as the perpetrators of two of the robberies involving the use of firearms. The Police, upon receiving reports of the robberies, launched an investigation into the matters. Based on a tip off, the men were arrested and taken into custody. Only recently, the Guyana Police Force stated that armed robberies, particularly with the use of a firearm, were down, as well as robberies where instruments other than firearms were used.

Residents complain about condition of Naamryck access road

by then President Forbes Burnham and the first festival was held in Guyana in 1972. Today, it is the largest cultural and artistic event in the Caribbean. Carifesta celebrates diversity and similarity; talent and brotherhood and it give artists the opportunity to discuss, share experiences, and learn from one another.

Haiti already signaled its intention of hosting the biggest and best ever Carifesta in the Caribbean. Though the country is still in recovery from the 2010 earthquake, it is fully prepared to present a festival of a lifetime, which will be celebrated under the theme “Our Roots, Our Culture, Our Common Future”.

The celebrations will take place in five different cities over the two-week period. These cities are Port-auPrince, Jacmel, Cap-Haitien, Gonaives, and Cayes, each representing certain popularity within the country or holds significant historical representation.

Following weeks of persistent rainfall throughout Guyana, residents of Naamryck Backdam, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, have bemoaned by the condition of the access road.

Speaking with the Guyana Times, Vicky Surujpaul disclosed that, for the pass month, the main and only access dam into Naamryck Backdam commonly called “Ken Dam” has been in a deplorable condition, preventing vehicles from traversing along it. He explained that there are about five parts along the road that has some huge holes and are slushy.

“Is only one way in, and every time it rains this is what happen; the dam turn into slush and vehicles can pass cause the dam full with slush,” he stated. According to the resident, who is also a farmer, the condition of the dam is still the same, even though the weather has recently improved.

He revealed that the condition of the dam is so deplorable that the bumper of a car which was heading into the dam a few days ago was knocked off. Surujpaul

stated that the despite the plea of residents to the authorities, nothing has been done on the road. This is particularly devastating as the Naamryck leads to the busy Parika Backdam road, which is currently being paved.

Naamryck is home to mostly farmers who cultivate cash crops and the con-

farmer went onto say that the residents could not take the condition of the road anymore, so about 30 farmers got together and place the truck of jamoon trees strategically along the dam to allow vehicles access. “We come together and cut down some jamoon trees and dig out the slush from the

dition of the dam has caused huge losses some of them. “The road full with slush so the farmers can’t get to take out their good. So everything spoiling and this causing we to lose a lot of mon-

holes in the dam and then put the trees there to full it…we didn’t had no choice we had to do something to help we self,” he stated.

ey,” Surujpaul cried out. The

Carifesta XII “Our Roots, Our Culture, Our Common Future”

Junior Education Minister, Nicolette Henry

Some 30 farmers from Naamryck Backdam came together to temporarily fix parts of the road

The farmer laying the jamoon trees along Naamryck Backdam

PSC supports 2:00 am curfew for bars

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) is in full support of the 2:00am curfew imposed on bars, nightclubs and liquor stores across the country, despite the outcry from local businesses that the imposition will negatively impact their operations.

According to the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act, the Minister is required to set a close-off time for businesses operating with liquor licences and in fact, the stipulated time on those licences read 2:00am. Therefore, the imposition of the 2:00am curfew is nothing new but, in fact, an already existing law which was constantly being breached.

PSC Chairman Norman McLean, in an invited comment, pointed out that the law clearly states that these businesses should be closed by a certain time and therefore, stakeholders should not be vexed but rather they must comply. “The law says 2 o’clock; the law is the law. It was always there,” he asserted.

Owners of popular nightspots in the country are complaining that a 2:00am will be bad for business because the night generally starts at midnight for Guyanese partygoers. However, McLean indicated that the owners may just have to review their marketing

strategies. He pointed out that in some countries, like England, there are provisions in place for clubs to be closed at midnight, and the curfew does not pose as an obstacle to earning a profit.

A manager of a popular nightclub shared similar views, disclosing that clubs in North America, particularly Canada, have a 2:00am shut-off time which works quite well and it does not

interfere with the profit making aspect of the business. He mirrored McLean’s comment by stating that Guyanese promoters, club owners and partygoers simply need to adjust their marketing strategy and lifestyles to coincide with the law.

However, McLean noted that if businesses do in fact find that the 2:00am shutdown is interfering with their operations, then they should collectively make a factual plea for the amendment of the law. “There is a perception that this will be bad for business. If that is the base, then let’s change the law,” he stated.

In the meantime, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan disclosed that there are numerous individuals who are already lobbying him for the reconsideration of the curfew. “I am getting a number of the bar and liquor restaurants already lobbying me, but I will not, in any way, try to retract on that … I want all of them, every night, they should be closed…,” he maintained.

Ramjattan is firm in his belief that the curfew will transform Guyana’s economy into a better one. He also noted that various women’s group across the country are in favour of the 2:00am curfew.

Eyew tness

Wrong answer...

...on youths

Was the editor being ironical at the new Chronicle when he contraposed its editorial call for a new Guyana National Service (GNS) with a story on the “Industrial Site Day Care Centre” for pre-schoolers?? Naaaah!! With all those heads rolled and about to be rolled, prudence would be the order of the day! So this Eyewitness will chalk up to serendipity, the sly suggestion that “National Service” is just “Day Care for Youths” - under a different name.

For years now President Granger’s been saying with all the problem the country’s facing from unemployed youths, we should bring back the National Service. Well, since the GNS has been gone so long and present day youths don’t know anything about it, maybe it’s time we lift the cover over the sepia-coloured veil that’s been thrown over it? First of all the GNS was launched in 1974 by Burnham within his overarching thesis that Guyanese society in general, and youths in particular, were “undisciplined”. Military style institutions would whip them into shape.

The GNS was just a teeny bit softer than the GDF from which it drew practically all its leaders. The first leader was GDF Col Desmond Roberts and the second Brigadier Joe Singh who was later transferred by Desmond Hoyte to head the GDF. Then there were the People’s Militia, the Young Socialist Movement and the Women’s Auxiliary etc. - which all had military training. This Eyewitness would want to know which one of the 5 stated objectives of the GNS are to be revived”. Create an untied and “truly Guyanese society”? So who’s gonna say what’s “truly Guyanese”? “Settle youths and complete development projects especially in the interior”?

So how many of the thousands of youths from the first experiment actually settled in the interior? How many want to go there now? “Inculcate the Socialist ideology of Guyana into Guyanese youths”?? Really? And finally, “mobilise and train youths in relevant development skills especially related to the hinterland”. What is this? Hunting and fishing? So we return to our starting point? Is “Day Care for Youths” the best we can do? The National Service was conceived at a time when the third world was looking at alternatives to the Capitalist Model of development.

Much of its developmental activities were framed within the “Feed, Clothe and House” fiveyear plan, so where’s the GNS’ cotton, pigs, corn or whatever from that era? Blowin’ in the wind. This Eyewitness admits we have to do something for our youths. But in this 21st century, we should focus on providing well-paying jobs for them.

Rather than sending them to “Day Care”.

...or mistaken question?

Now while President Granger might favour the resuscitation of the GNS (not to mention the National Cadet Corps in high schools) his Youth Minister, Rupert Roopnarine seems to be marching to a different drummer. He brought along his Government’s answer to Odinga Lumumba - Aubrey Norton, who’s his “Youth Empowerment Advisor” - to a “National Consultation on Youths at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre. (The latter was, of course, without even a consultation with the AFC, much less a “national consultation”. But that’s grist for another mill.)

Trouble was, neither of them mentioned their President’s suggestions for youths. Brother Norton (That’s what Minister Roopnarine called him. Norton found religion?) insisted that the new thrust for youths would be “bottom up” rather than “top down” to promote a “Guyanese culture”.

This Eyewitness isn’t sure, but maybe this is what prompted long-time anti-alcohol activist Vidya Kissoon, to ask that “drinking” as a part of Guyanese culture be de-emphasised?

But not to worry. We confirmed that Brother Norton said, “bottom up” not “bottoms up”.

...on debt

Venezuela ships us oil. We owe them for it. We ship them rice. They owe us for that. Why say this is a “debt write-off” by Venezuela.

Then we’ve also written of their debt, no? How come that’s not mentioned?

PSC Chairman Norman McLean

Controversial Former Presidents Benefits Bill to be debated on July 9 Man remanded for raping 6-yearold cousin

The David Grangerled Government will, on Thursday July 9, move the second reading of a controversial bill, which aims at repealing the Former Presidents (Benefits and other Facilities) Act 2009.

The bill, which will be moved by Attorney General Basil Williams, also seeks to install a slew of capped benefits and other facilities for former executive Presidents when they demit office.

The bill has been the centre of much controversy over the past three years and has not managed to secure the support of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), which deemed it “vexatious, illegal and unconstitutional”.

A similar bill was first presented in the 10th Parliament back in 2011 and appeared to target former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance

for Change believe enjoys unlimited benefits and a hefty pension package.

On Thursday, Attorney General Williams is expected to lead the debate for the Government even though the current Opposition, the PPP/C, has not indicated whether it will occupy its seats in Parliament.

This bill, if passed, will slash several benefits for Guyana’s Former Presidents – Samuel Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar. The new bill seeks to put a tight cap on the benefits that the former leaders can enjoy at the expense of the state’s coffers.

Of particular interest is the pension for the former Presidents. The proposed bill has not slashed the pension allocation from $1.2 million; however, the bill limits other expenses incurred for utilities such as telephone, water and electricity.

However, former Attorney General and

Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has already argued that the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2015 will not apply to former presidents nor the current president.

“In my humble view, the bill, if it becomes law, will not affect nor apply to the benefits and other facilities which accrue to any former Presidents under the Former President (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act 2009,” Nandlall argued, while stating that it will also not affect nor apply to President David Granger who is entitled to the benefits and facilitates under the 2009 Act on the same basis and for the same reasons as former presidents.

He said that, if enacted, the bill cannot, in law, retroactively or retrospectively affect the entitlements conferred by the 2009 Act.

“More significantly, any attempt to utilise this bill as an instrument to deny and

deprive any or all of the aforementioned persons, or their entitlement under the 2009 Act, would be unlawful, unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.”

Additionally, the Constitution Amendment Bill No. 1/2015, first published on June 18, 2015 and read on June 25, 2015, relates to 222 A of the Constitution and seeks to provide financial autonomy to several service commissions, as well as the Chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Guyana Elections Commission.

The bill, to be read by Attorney General Williams, also seeks to amend the Third Schedule relating to Article 222 A of the Constitution, to provide financial autonomy to the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission, the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, the Public Procurement Commission, and the Office of the Ombudsman in addition to the aforementioned.

This bill overall seeks to enhance the functioning of these entities, by guaranteeing and strengthening their administration and control of monies allocated to them to carry out their functions pursuant to the Constitution.

Aman was remanded on Tuesday for having sex with his six-year-old cousin at Lower Pomeroon River, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

The man made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate Court, where he was not required to plea to the indictable charge. He was charged with the rape of a child and family member.

According to reports, the man (name not provided), on June 14 at Grant Low Land, Lower Pomeroon River, engaged in sexual activity with a six year old by forcefully penetrating her. He was not represented by any legal representative, and told the court that he does not know his age nor does he have a wife or children.

He was remanded to prison until July 13 for the commencement of his trial.

Charity man remanded on drug charge

Dion Gonsalves, 22 of Charity Squatting area, was on Tuesday slapped with two drugs charges when he made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate Court.

He was charged for the possession of narcotics and trafficking the drug. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The first charge stated that, on June 29 at Charity Back Street, Gonsalves

sold two grams of cannabis (marijuana) to a Police Constable. It was also alleged that, on the same date and time, he had in his possession 5.5 grams of cocaine. Bail was granted in the sum of $50,000 for the first charge, but was refused for the second charge.

He is expected to return to court on July 22 for commencement of the trial related to the cocaine possession, and was not represented by an attorney.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Former President Samuel Hinds

Former President Donald Ramotar

Ram Sanasie in custody for wife’s murder

Deokaran Sanasie, the 59-year-old owner of Ram’s Spare Parts, was taken into police custody on Thursday last for questioning in connection with the murder of his wife, Patricia Sanasie who was gunned down in front of her Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara in January last.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that the businessman is being grilled while stating that it is premature to say whether or not charges will be laid against the businessman.

Guyana Times understands that Sanasie was arrested on Thursday evening after he turned up at the Criminal Investigations Headquarters with his lawyer, Michael Summersault.

In addition, this publication understands that the Police are in possession of several recordings of the businessman threatening to kill his now dead wife. The recordings are presently being verified to determine to authenticity of the voices. There are also other telephone records which suggested that the man might have played a part in his wife’s murder.

Sanasie, 45, was shot five times by a lone gunman after returning from church as she was about to drive into her yard. She was in the company of her eldest daughter who only last week

positively identified her mother’s killer.

On the night of January 12, the now dead woman arrived at her Lot 129 Atlantic Gardens home and exited the car to open the gate so that her daughter could drive into the yard. It was while doing so that the lone gunman confronted her and pumped at least four bullets into her body.

Initially, there were allegations that Sanasie’s husband had contracted some-

one to kill her, since on the night of the shooting the gunman was clear on his target. The couple had been together for the past 28 years and had three daughters.

The businessman, when contacted, said that he did not know anything about his wife’s killing. He stressed that he had been in the United States since early December and knew nothing of the shooting.

In February 2014, the businessman was shot three

times about his body while outside his business place on Fourth and Light Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown. He had claimed that his wife and her younger brother were behind the failed attempt on his life, but this was denied by the two siblings.

Sanasie said that he and his wife had been separated since the shooting and he had ceased all contact with her. He said he left his wife alone, so that she could figure out what she had to and find her way back to him.

This was all rubbished by the dead woman’s brother, Vishnu Persaud, who met with media personnel a few days later and released a recording of purportedly an ex-Police officer, who claimed that he was contracted by a close family member to kill the now dead woman, warning his sister.

The male on the other end of the line claimed that he made the decision to alert her as a way of getting back at the family member over a soured business deal.

However, Richard Stanton, 39 of Lot 53 Princes Street, Georgetown, was arraigned for the murder of the woman in April and was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry when he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Man shot by pellets at Bush Lot

Police on Saturday said that four men armed with firearms entered a house at Bush Lot, Corentyne, and held up occupants Valerie Williams, Rose Raphael, Bibi December and Shameer December.

The incident occurred at around 20:20h on Friday night, and saw the perpetrators taking away a total of $100,000 and a quantity of jewellery.

A statement from the Police stated, “As the perpetrators were leaving the home, the Police say that they accosted Dorwin Lord, 18, who was entering the premises, and discharged a cartridge in his direction and escaped. Lord was hit by pellets to his face and has been admitted to hospital.”

Investigations are in progress.

Beyond the call of duty

Satiricus knew he was a duffer, but that didn’t mean he didn’t try to push himself. He tried to read all kinds of self-improvement books and books about great leaders. But his favourite inspiration was to witness leaders in action.

As Satiricus thought about the just finished elections, he could see the gap between the words from the platform by leaders and their actions afterwards. There was that Bull Khan. Speaking on the stage and from his looks, you’d think he was another Gandhi. But look how he’d kept that old codger waiting for hours, then slipped out the back door while telling his assistant to give the oldster a dismissal letter.

No pension! Old fella probably had to forage for a living at Haags Bosch. And imagine Bull Khan was supposed to bring folks together in “communities”! “But here,” thought Satiricus as he looked at Rum Jhaat, “was a real leader - leading by example.” Now that the Jhaat was a Minister he’d passed a law that all bars and watering holes had to be closed by 2am.

Did the Guyanese public know what a sacrifice the Jhaat was making to pass this law, which even HE had to obey? This was a man who’d been drinking for forty years across the length and breadth of Guyana. And his proudest boast was that he’d been dragged from every bar in the land when they closed at daybreak.

Now he’d have to stop at 2am! Satiricus was a sucker for stories of sacrifice and a tear slipped down his cheek as he thought of Rum Jhaat’s renunciation. But last night, the Jhaat had taken his heroism to a new level. From his own experience - only he who feels it, know it - Rum Jhaat knew it wasn’t going to be easy for his fellow imbibers.

“Rum till ah die” wasn’t just a low class lyric, it described a life style that the Jhaat and friends practiced. Satiricus had been assigned to cover Rum Jhaat as he kept his promise to visit all the bars he knew so wellto comfort his friends who he knew would be getting withdrawal symptoms when they stopped drinking at 2am. He knew because he’d practiced with his fellow Minister “Pat her Son” at their place of work.

The Jhaat’s hands were still shaking as he gave his speech, took two quick shots and moved on to the next bar. Ah... what a man! It was only now that Satiricus appreciated the sacrifice made by the captain of the Titanic as he went down with his ship. The Jhaat should get an OR!

Residents complain about...

from page 7

While the residents have implemented a temporary fix to the problem, the man noted that if it continues to rain then the condition will worsen. He is calling on the authorities to get the road permanently fix and end the woes of the farmers and residents of Naamryck Backdam.

According to the farmer, works on the Parika Backdam road began last year and are still ongoing. He noted that they are unsure whether their road will also be fixed.

“I don’t know what happening cause one time you hear they gon fix we road and then they say they ain’t fixing it so we don’t but we would really like if it could be done cause is an important road not only for we but for other farmers from Parika who does farm at the back here,” he

stated.

In addition to the condition of the road, Surujpaul pointed out that farmers from Naamryck Backdam have been facing a lot of losses over the past few months.

He disclosed that during the intense May/June rain, they had several floods that washed out crops. “It used to rain and wash out the crops. Then we plant back and it get wash out and the same thing happen again… like about three sets of crop we lose,” the farmer noted. Recently, work has begun along the Parika Backdam access road to have it pitched. While residents of both Parika Backdam and Naamryck Backdam welcome this, the latter are asking that their road also be upgraded to improve the condition of the road.

The couple in happier times

Police mark 176th anniversary amidst rising crime rate

...Minister Ramjattan fazed by challenge

By Michael younge

Vice President and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, on Saturday morning, took a salute from junior and senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force as the entity kick started activities to celebrate its 176th anniversary of serving the public, at a time when domestic crime is spiraling out of control.

Ramjattan, decked out in a suit, took the salute as ranks marched pass the Public Security Ministry of Public Security on Brickdam. Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud received also his salute on Young Street, Eve Leary.

The parade, which was led by Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken, moved off from Police Headquarters, Eve Leary at 06:00h heading east onto Young Street, south onto Parade Street, east onto Lamaha Street, south onto Waterloo Street, east onto Regent Street, south onto Camp Street, west onto Brickdam, north onto Avenue of the Republic, east onto Church Street, north back onto Camp Street, west to Young Street and back to the Police Headquarters.

The route march featured ranks from all divisions, while the resources of the force such as their tools of trade are placed on display.

Ramjattan joined in the celebrations which will continue through the month of July with several activities aimed at highlighting the gains made by the Police Force here since its establishment.

Meanwhile, Police

Commissioner Seelall Persaud recommitted the Guyana Police Force towards tackling the scourge of crime, telling ranks following the march that the time for excuses was over as more and more resources were becoming available to the entity to make Guyana safer. He called on ranks to become more professional and accountable as they execute their constitutional and lawful manner, as he underscored the urgent need for policemen to rid the society of elements and individuals which have no interest in abiding by the laws of the country.

Persaud took time out to congratulate the serving members of the force for their performance during the past elections period, which he said was a “critical” time.

He expressed the view that the ranks performed well and got through the period which proved to be very trying if one considers all that took place.

The Police Commissioner made these comments despite the fact that the crime rate sky rocketed under his tenure during the first half of the year.

Additionally, the Commissioner failed to directly address the concerns of the public about the hike in crimes over the past few weeks, despite assurances from Minister Ramjattan that the Government and the Police had embarked on a “strategic” approach to fighting crime.

In fact, following public pressure, Minister Ramjattan admitted that to solve the current crime situation a herculean effort was needed, admitting also that the new Government may have underestimated the weight and gravity of the situation before gaining access to office.

Back in 2011 and 2012, Minister Ramjattan, who was an opposition politician, had severely criticised the then Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for not doing enough to control the crime rate in the country.

Ramjattan had lambasted Rohee and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic for failing the people and not being able to properly administer his responsibilities as security Minister.

It’s just two months now that Ramjattan has been appointed as Guyana’s Public Security Minister and already he is facing the same criticisms as Rohee from an inpatient citizenry anxious to relish the joy of a safe and secure society.

Thus far, there have been over 25 murders recorded since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government took office. Several murders are still unsolved and, even with recent shift around of senior police ranks, the Government

said it is hoping to solve them as soon as possible.

One of the most recent shooting is that at Nandy Park where known criminal Travis Rudder’s body was riddled with bullets, while his 18-month-old son and girlfriend injured. The Police claimed that that they are working with leads but they have failed to arrest anyone in connection with the murder of the young man and the attempted murder of the others.

Only on Saturday morning, the Police highlighted that Charles Caesar, 40 of Line Path, Skeldon was found at on the foreshore at No. 66 Village, Corentyne, with a suspected gunshot injury. In addition, they have reported that four men armed with firearms entered a house at Bush Lot, Corentyne, and held up several occupants and took away a total of $100,000

and a quantity of jewellery. A teenager also was shot and injured as the gunmen discharged a cartridge when they were leaving to ward off persons who might want to go after them.

In light of the crime wave, Ramjattan highlighted that some of the measures that will be put in place to tackle

this problem are an increase in patrols, the acquisition of adequate resources to properly equip policemen, provide necessary training, and bettering community-Police relationships.

The previous administration has spent billions of dollars to correct these deficiencies, but crime continued. Ramjattan is maintaining that the crime rate cannot be reduced immediately, but in fact, a long-term plan is needed to curb the scourge.

Additionally, there are approximately 164 recommendations which were produced by the Discipline Forces Commission and are there to guide reform of the Force. There are also a set of proposals made by the former PPP/C administration on crime and reforms as well as a 15-point plan put forward by former President Donald Ramotar.

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

PPP/C has nothing against Harper – Ramotar

– says she would have been good PM and MP

By Michael younge

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has nothing against former Guyanese Diplomat Elizabeth Harper, even though she turned down an offer from the Party to represent it in the 65 seat legislature as a Member of Parliament (MP). This is the position of former President Donald Ramotar who is also an Executive Member of the PPP/C.

Ramotar, speaking during a brief interview with the Guyana Times on Thursday afternoon, said that Harper has made her choice and the Party respected her decision with respect to the offer. He stated that contrary to the nasty campaign being waged against Harper, the PPP/C still believes that she would have made an excellent Prime Minister (PM) and legislator.

He maintained that there was no rift between Harper and the PPP/C Executive before or after her decision while explaining that, as a democratic entity, the Party was bound to behave with maturity and tact. “Though I am disappointed over her decision, the PPP/C and Mrs Harper will continue to enjoy cordial relations. She would have been an ideal and good Prime Minister,” the former President remarked.

Ramotar was convinced that one-time Prime Ministerial Candidate for the Party dealt sufficiently with questions from sections of the media about her role after the

May 11 General and Regional Elections with the PPP/C. “I believe that she has dealt appropriately and sufficiently with the issues raised about her future since the elections,” Ramotar advised, declining that speculate about what may have led Harper to decline the offer.

Harper rose to the forefront of local and national politics back in February when the Party announced that she had been selected to contest the May 11 Elections as its Prime Ministerial Candidate, running side by side with its Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar.

Back then, the Party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee told media, “The Central Committee of the PPP/C, the second high-

est decision making body of our Party after Congress, has just concluded a historic meeting having considered a report from the Executive Committee on the subject of a Prime Ministerial Candidate. It was presented with a single nomination for the candidate to be the Prime Ministerial Candidate for the PPP/C.

The Central Committee unanimously endorsed the nomination presented by the Executive Committee and reaffirmed the tradition established since 1992 whereby the PM candidate would be a member from Civil Society.”

Rohee said then that while there were several other contenders in the race for the position, it was Harper who managed to receive the unanimous votes of the Committee

due to her wealth of experience and qualifications.

“Mrs Elizabeth Ann Harper brings to the table, that sparkle; that burst of freshness that will energise and inspire membership, supporters and well wishers to work hard for the Party’s victory at the polls. Mrs Harper has, for years, laboured in the ravines of international diplomacy in service of our people and nation. She is a proven servant of the people in service of our country and nation. She is a proven servant of the people of Guyana. The consummate public servant and totally committed to placing at the disposal of the PPP/C Government, her invaluable skills and experience she has accumulated over the years and which will contribute immensely to a strong, stable and secure Guyana,” the General Secretary shared.

Harper was the country’s serving Director General within the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and a respected diplomat who represented Guyana internationally at several auspicious events. She later resigned to campaign for the PPP/C and was warmly accepted by thousands of Guyanese who rallied with the PPP/C during its reelection bid.

During the campaign, Harper said that she would work to fight domestic violence after breaking her silence on her own traumatic experience, to protect the lives of children and women, and to lobby for a better life for all Guyanese.

No date fixed for hearing of election petition

Just over a week after the main Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), filed an election petition in the High Court, questioning the validity of the May 11 General and Regional Elections, Chief Justice Ian Chang is yet to set a date for the first hearing of the matter.

On June 24, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, filed the petition on behalf of the Party’s Executive Member, Ganga Persaud, asking the Court to grant a number of orders, including the nullification of the last election as well as an order for fresh election to be held, among several others.

After the documents were filed, copies were served to the parties involved and the Chief Justice will have to issue notices informing the parties of the date fixed for hearing of the petition. However, the parties are yet to receive

this notice.

The petition named the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Keith Lowenfield, and the representatives of the list of candidates for all of the eight parties that contested the recently concluded General and Regional Election, as the defendants.

These are Donald Ramotar for the PPP/C, Harold Lutchman for the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, Marissa Nadir for The United Force, Mark Benschop for the Independent Party, Saphier Hussain-Subedar for the National Independent Party, Vishnu Bandhu for the United Republican Party, Genrald Perreira for the Organisation for the Victory of the People, Leon Saul of the Healing The Nation Theocracy Party.

Attorney Anil Nandlall filing the election petition at the Registry of the High Court

Elizabeth Harper

Building Social Cohesion

By Ryhaan Shah

In San Francisco recently, a Native American student wore an eagle feather that he considered sacred, to his high school graduation ceremony after resolving a court fight with a California school district. The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the student in the lawsuit, said, “His determination to advocate for what is right has inspired us all.”

Ryhaan Shah

The question about what is right vis a vis cultural identity arises here from time to time. Hindus have advocated for the right of Hindu students to wear their sacred thread, and Rastafarians for their locks. Female Muslim students are allowed to wear the hijab as part of their uniform.

The fight for such rights can be contentious and the newly established Ministry of Social Cohesion could conceivably become an arbiter in such matters. Yet the idea of social cohesion coming from this government is suspect simply because of what has gone before when the PNC/APNU was last in power.

This government has direct linkages to the Burnhamist past which set out to “mould” us into “one people” literally in a physical sense. It is embarrassing that serious politicians still hold to the simplistic notion that the solution to our racial discord lies in the creation of a “mixed” race. Did the “mixed” category emerging from the days of slavery solve anything?

That President Granger chose to have Sir Shridath Ramphal speak at his inauguration at Providence Stadium discloses his own close relationship with that past. In his speech, Sir Shridath pontificated on the “myth of otherness” and the “reality of oneness” indicating a Burnhamist direction on racial and cultural matters. Will there be attempts to “mould” us, yet again?

The “Guyana Times” has initiated a discussion on social cohesion through two recent editorials which pointed to how Canada and European countries are dealing with the issue through their respective policies. In every instance, social cohesion is accepted as providing directives that would create societies of shared values which would include inclusivity; equal opportunities of access and full participation of all groups; respect for differences in a pluralist society; and the promotion of policies that would ensure fair practices and mediate justly in any racial or cultural conflict.

Those countries, however, have large homogenous populations that are dealing with minority groups whereas, in Guyana, there are two large minorities, Indians and Africans, and a growing Amerindian population. Add to this mix the racial violence that has marred our political landscape from the 1960s to the present and the issue becomes very volatile.

The Minister of Social Cohesion Amna Ally plans to get stakeholders around a table to develop a five-year strategic plan to further the government’s “one nation” plan. How they will tackle the government’s own image of division will be interesting: a wholly African-Guyanese inauguration at Providence Stadium and a wholly African-Guyanese-American victory parade in Brooklyn.

President Granger appears to be president for African Guyanese with even the famous 11% staying away.

Policies of social cohesion also deal with racial/cultural conflicts and ours go back even beyond the 1960s which saw race riots, the Wismar Massacre, the “Son Chapman” explosion; then moved on to the terror and racism of the PNC dictatorship; the PNC’s post elections violence from 1992 to the present when vehicles and a home were burned; and the terrorism with its epicenter in Buxton followed by the phantom squad violence at the turn of the century. These are among the major events that have shaped and exacerbated our racial division.

No real social cohesion will be built if the emotional and physical scars left by these incidents are ignored, and given the Coalition’s campaign strategy that the PNC’s past should be forgotten, the stakeholders might well have to convince the subject minister of the importance of dealing with our violent history.

Perhaps, they will recommend the establishment of an independent truth and reconciliation commission as is done in other countries with racial conflict. A recent Canadian truth commission uncovered the cultural genocide carried out against Canada’s First Peoples and while a “Stabroek News” editorial drew parallels with the treatment of our Amerindian nations, my first thoughts went to the attempts to deculturalise Indians here. Every idea of assimilation, oneness and moulding intends ethnic and cultural loss for Indians.

There will be healing only when the past is examined and the truth is told. If this government has the maturity and wisdom to do what is right, we might finally be able to unshackle ourselves from our egregious past and achieve real unity.

Guyana, Venezuela maritime controversy… Regional, International support welcomed, says former Foreign Affairs Minister

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rasleigh Jackson has welcomed the support of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Members States to Guyana over Venezuela’s “illegal” decree, which claims most of the country’s continental shelf.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Saturday, Jackson commended President David Granger and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government for its position in standing up to the neighbouring country to protect its sovereignty.

The former Minister pointed out that he hopes Venezuela exercises “good sense” and put an end to its illegal claim over Guyana’s territorial waters. “Venezuela is a sensible country and made a mistake by publishing a decree that is illegal. I hope good sense will prevail and they will withdraw the decree,” he stated.

Asked whether he has any advice on the way forward for the Government as it prepares to face Venezuela to resolve the matter, Jackson declared that he will wait to see what course of action the new Administration takes, noting that they have been handling

the contentious matter sensibly. He went on to outline that Venezuela’s action is against international laws and the country would not want to be in that position.

President Nicholás Maduro in May issued the decree claiming most, if not all, of Guyana’s territorial waters off of the Essequibo Coast. This came in the face of the Venezuelan President’s upset over oil exploration concessions granted by Guyana to United States company, ExxonMobil.

The decree was issued exactly one week after the company reported significant oil finds in the Stabroek Block and covers the area where the explora-

Sunday’s freak storm aftermath…

tion activities is being conducted.

Since this claim by Venezuela, Guyana has been receiving the support of several countries and international organisations. Only recently at the 2015 Caricom Heads of Government Summit in Barbados, President Granger in his opening remarks enlisted the support of Member States as it seeks to defend its territorial integrity, sovereignty and national independence.

Following this, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla PersadBissessar, has committed her country’s support for Guyana against its standoff with Venezuela. She made this comment following a meeting with Guyana’s President on the sidelines of the Summit.

Persad-Bissessar posited that Trinidad will not sit “idly by” and see Guyana lose its territory. “Trinidad and Tobago fully supports Guyana with respect to the border dispute, we have gone a step further, we have always had discussions with Guyana and we offered to assist in any way that we can by having dialogue at the bilateral or multilateral level”, Persad-Bissessar told the Guyanese Head of State.

On the other hand, President Granger was also able to put forward Guyana’s case to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Kimoon. During a brief engagement at the Caricom summit, President Granger informed the Secretary General of Venezuela’s latest aggression towards Guyana which has now gone beyond Guyana and Venezuela as it has contaminated relations with the entire Eastern Caribbean.

While acknowledging that the Good Officer Process and the Geneva Convention still stand, the President said he humbly informed the UN Official that those have been exhausted. However, the UN Secretary General has given a commitment that a mission will be appointed and sent to Guyana with the aim of addressing the matter from a more in depth and informed platform. “We expect the UN Secretary General to play an important role in reducing the level of tension and to support Guyana in having the decree withdrawn.”

President Granger has also stated that his Administration will stand ready to receive the UN mission when the time arises to deal with the issue.

GPL urges affected residents to contact emergency services

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc is saying that all the necessary repairs were made to the major networks that were damaged during the freak storm which occurred last Sunday, and as such, a majority of the affected areas should not be experiencing any electrical problems, such as constant power outages or voltage fluctuations.

Sunday’s storm had severely affected the coastal areas in Demerara and Berbice, resulting in extensive destruction to GPL’s primary and secondary networks.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Saturday, the company’s Public Relations Officer Wadecia Donald related that those networks were fixed and as such, everything should be back to normal.

However, when presented with reports of complaints from several residents from the Berbice and West Demerara area, Donald noted that individual cases may exist where persons are still affected and as such, she is urging them to contact GPL’s emergency services for assistance in correcting the problem.

Residents have been complaining of the inconvenience caused by the constant power outages and the addition expense they now have to endure owed to the damaged appliances and wastages of food supplies.

GPL noted that while reports to the media can bring awareness to the situation, a real resolution can only take effect if residents make a for-

mal complaint to the relevant department.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s storm saw a total of 21 broken poles recorded in Demerara

while Berbice recorded five. In addition, Sunday’s storm resulted in extensive damage to roofs and fences of some homes in South Georgetown as

well as in Parfaite Harmonie and other parts of West Bank Demerara. A few areas along the East Bank of Demerara also experienced damages.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Rasleigh Jackson

Cane Grove man shot dead by Police

Afather of three was shot twice to his chest by Police ranks attached to the Mahaica Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Saturday afternoon after he reportedly went berserk and damaged the Police vehicle while ranks were responding to a report of disorderly behaviour.

Dead is Junior Gullivar, 28, of Strathavon, Cane Grove, ECD. According to information received, the man who is commonly known as “Reggie” had an issue with one of his neighbours after he would continuously harass a group of young ladies.

The neighbour, who thought Gullivar’s actions were overbearing, telephoned the Police request-

ing that the man be arrest. As the Police arrived on the scene, the now dead man advanced towards the unarmed Police ranks that were in the Police motorcar.

Holding a cutlass in his hands, the man fired several chops at the vehicle, causing one of the windows to break. The two Police ranks reportedly left the scene and returned; one armed with a revolver and the other with a bigger firearm.

However, Gullivar was nowhere to be seen. The two armed ranks reportedly staked out the area and as the young man stepped out of his house, he was reportedly shot and killed.

Kenny Gullivar, brother of the dead man said he was cognizant of the fact

that his brother was wrong to damage the Police vehicle but lashed out at the Police for the manner in which the situation was handled.

“My brother does trouble some girls but he nah really mean anything… the neighbour called the Police and meh brother who does go and come pick up a cutlass and chop the Police car… one of the window break… but the Police went back to the station and come back with guns and after they nah see he, they hide behind a tree and when meh brother stepped out the house they shoot he”, he told Guyana Times

He stated that that the Police could have at least shot his brother to one of his legs and arrested him rather than aiming at his

No date fixed for hearing...

In the petition, Persaud asks the court to “determine and declare that the whole of the electoral process was so flawed, contained so many procedural errors and so many instances of fraudulent and/or suspicions actions that the results that have been derived from the process cannot be credibly deemed to represent accurately the will of the electorate”.

Additionally, a request was made for the High Court to “determine and declare that the number of valid votes cast differs from the number of votes upon which seats in the National Assembly were allocated to that list, and further that the Guyana Elections Commission be directed to review the said lists and to accordingly reallocate such seat in accordance with sec-

tion 97 of the Representation of the People Act”.

The Party is also asking the Court to find that the refusal of the Returning Officers to grant a final general count, as requested by the Counting Agents of the PPP/C is unlawful, null and void.

Furthermore, a request was made also for the recount of all ballots cast in the May 11 Elections and

chest. When this publication spoke to the dead man’s brother, he was furious and noted that they will not allow the Police to remove the body until they see someone in authority.

The angry brother stated that he witnessed everything and the Police will not have a chance to cover up the matter, since he accused the Force of twisting stories around. Junior Gullivar’s body was taken to the funeral home where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Guyana Times understands that the two Police ranks involved in the incident were placed under close arrest and an investigation has been launched by the Office of Professional Responsibility.

from page 12

for the court to grant such redress in conformity with the National Assembly (Validity of Elections) Act, Chapter 1:04, as may be just, appropriate and necessary, including, but not limited to, ordering fresh elections to be held in the whole or part, for the purpose of rectifying the said results. And that the court give such incidental, ancillary and supplementary direction as it may deem fit, including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the reallocation of the seats in the National Assembly.

Some of the grounds laid out in the election petition includes: valid ballots being wrongly deemed rejected; Statements of Poll (SoPs)used to ascertain the results contain arithmetic errors; multiple voting by persons and impersonation of persons; PPP/C ballot attendants and polling agents being prevented from accompanying the ballot boxes; and the fact that there were fraudulently concocted SoPs.

Another ground highlighted in the court document states that many of the SoPs used by GECOM and the CEO to ascertain the results were not the Statements of Poll which emanated from the polling stations but were fraudulently concocted and inserted into GECOM’s machinery.

Prior to the filing of the petition, the Party was required to file an ex-parte application, seeking permission from the court to file the actual election petition. The matter was heard before Chief Justice Ian Chang, who granted leave for Tuesday for the petition to be filed.

The election result disclosed by GECOM shows that APNU/AFC secured a 4000 plus win with 207, 200 votes while the PPP/C gained 202,694 votes.

Younge’s Take

Batman and Ramjattan

Batman, to this date, remains one of the fictional superheroes that is admired for the manner in which he fights crime and responds to the cries for help from the residents of Gotham City.

He is also the symbol of hope for the residents of this imagined city because he drives fear into the hearts of the villains and mutants who would otherwise terrorize them.

Additionally, Batman stands tall as the bedrock of law and order apart from the security forces that are tasked with the responsibility of bringing those who murder, steal and interfere with residents, to justice.

In short, when Batman says he’s fighting crime, he means it and citizens look forward to seeing him in action. His good looks, cool slangs and wealth aside, he is the real deal and the city remains safe under his watch.

For Guyanese, the reality here is different and it appears that Batman who operates in a fictional world is doing a far better job in fighting crime than those who are constitutionally empowered to do so.

Every single day, Guyanese are beaten, robbed, murdered and abused.

Over the past weeks, the situation has worsened reaching alarming levels especially when one considers the types of crime and criminality that are threatening the bedrock of law and order here.

State officials, including the President and his Minister of Public Security have the luxury and protection of personal body guards and security detail while citizens are left exposed with no protection from the vicissitudes of criminals, pirates and cold-hearted bandits.

Citizens often time cry out for help directly and indirectly because of the suffering and pain that they are made to endure as a result of losing their loved ones and personal property. Time and time again, the implore the State, Government and armed forces to more actively fight crime and make Guyana safe again.

In return, they are offered platitudes and promises. They are promised that “in time” things will get better and are told that “the Government is tackling crime in a strategic manner”. And platitudes like “crime is caused by greed”.

The truth is, no one has time to wait on the Government or new Minister to settle in and take proactive measures to end this wave of criminality which is becoming more patient and bold in our society.

Citizens deserve to hear from the Government how it plans to tackle the scourge of crime in a meaningful and results based manner. While in opposition, President David Granger and the newly appointed Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan had shared with the media plans and proposals that they had to reduce crime.

They had argued boldly that they knew what needed to be done and if they became Government citizens would see results. Now in Government, they have become mute: saying little or nothing about the increased crime wave and hiding behind the veils of their offices, official engagements and familiarization visits and tours.

This is not good enough for political parties which appeared so serious and concerned about fighting crime while in opposition to the point where they moved and passed no-confidence motions against the then Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee.

Closing bars and clubs at 2:00am will not stop the wave of criminality or dissuade wrong doers from committing dastard crimes. Reviewing the process for issuance of gun licenses will not help either. Transferring policemen from one location to another also will have no impact on causing a direct reduction in crime. Convenient and inconsistent trite rebukes and condemnations of the Minister Ramjattan cannot stem the tide of violence that is grappling this country.

Since the new administration came to power back in May, there has been lots of lip service and Guyanese already are growing tired. It is time for action! It is time for operation ‘fight crime! It is time for citizens to feel safe again and live in comfort

The longer the former very vocal Minister takes to say what he will do with the reforms presented by the previous Government for the security forces, the plans the AFC and APNU had proposed, the proposals of foreign and local entities and the concerns of citizens, we will remain removed from a speedy solution.

Guyana needs a Batman while citizens wait on Minister Ramjattan to get into his crime fighting suit and apparatus and deliver on his core responsibilities. He cannot be comfortable with playing the role of Robin who only puts in an appearance for photo ops and when it is necessary

Countering Venezuela’s expanded claims... Strategies proposed by former Ambassador Ishmael

Amid the deepening controversy between Guyana and its neighbouring oil rich country Venezuela, Guyana’s former Ambassador to Venezuela, Dr Odeen Ishmael took the liberty of penning a 7000 words proposal for dealing with the issue and made several recommendations for the preservation of Guyana’s territorial integrity as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela continues to push its claim to Guyana’s sovereignty.

Regardless of which approach is taken, Dr Ishmael underscored the crucial need for Government to be relentless in frustrating Venezuela’s efforts in its unjust claims on Guyana’s land.

“The policy Guyana may wish to pursue in dealing with the Venezuelan threat may be set out in the following long term and short term objectives:

“The long term objectives are: the security of the borders devolved to the new state at the time of independence, and internationally recognised; the achievement of a final settlement of the dispute with Venezuela.

“The short term objectives are: the maintenance of the territorial status quo pending the resolution of the problem; the elimination of the immediate threat to the security and territorial integrity of Guyana; bringing an end to the continued military, economic, political and diplomatic harassment of Guyana – the armed incursions, airspace and marine violations, subversion and interference with the country’s economic development; securing the withdrawal of the Venezuelan military forces from the Guyana section of Ankoko Island, illegally occupied since 1966.

Military option

Dr Ishmael considered the pursuance of the military option, both from Guyana’s and Venezuela’s end.

“The physical military disparities with Venezuela have been quite evident. This military preponderance of Venezuela, in addition to what appeared as a resourcerich economy, has posed a real threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity,” he noted.

However, he also pointed out that the intense support Guyana has thus far received from the international communities and the outcome of the Malvinas War in 1980’s, which are all factors contributing to the influence upon Venezuela to restrain from using its military force in this dispute.

Therefore, he suggested that Guyana continue to build deeper relationships with select countries such as China, for its own border problems with Russia and India and Brazil and Colombia to counteract Venezuelan’s efforts to “purchase” the sympathy of some Caricom countries.

Also, he recommended that Guyana strengthen its

relations with the United States Government in a “manner designed to encourage it to pressure Venezuela to accept the finality of the 1899 award.”

In addition, he noted that Guyana must also work to influence opinion in Venezuela itself for the withdrawal of the claim to western Essequibo.

“Some media reports from Venezuela indicate that the Venezuelan government has reservations that it can never achieve what it is claiming,” the former ambassador highlighted.

Development

Dr Ishmael recommended also that government expend as much as it can towards the development of the Essequibo area.

“At the moment, the Essequibo region is a large sprawling area mostly undeveloped and sparsely populated. It is suggested therefore that the Guyana Government, as a matter of policy should give a high priority to the development of the region. This includes the relocation of people from the urban areas for their direct involvement in agriculture and industry in the interior. At the same time resource diplomacy should be actually pursued to encourage mineral exploration, forestry and agricultural development particularly through joint ventures with foreign governments and companies,” he stated.

This would help because, in the Venezuelan media, numerous reports indicate that the current area of controversy is often referred to as an “uninhabited jungle tracks or no man’s land” and this perception may have prompted Venezuela’s claim.

“If western Essequibo were fully settled and developed with a larger population, the outrageous claim would not have been made,” Dr Ishmael speculated.

Further, he noted that Government should give high priority to the Guyana- Brazil road project as it would hold great economic and political significance to the territorial claim.

“The political benefits to Guyana would be substantial. The major regional power, Brazil, which participates in its construction, would insure its safety and that of the sur-

rounding territory from attack. The highway would help strengthen Guyana’s title to the Essequibo, thereby further minimising Venezuela’s chances to appropriate it,” he reasoned.

Dr Ishmael recognised that Guyana’s resources may be limited to develop western Essequibo and therefore, prompted Government to encourage, on a selective basis, foreign investment in the area.

Consolidating its support

Dr Ishmael noted that Guyana should not be remiss and complacent of the support it already has and must continue to work to hold on to traditional support while simultaneously building new ones.

“Guyana’s diplomatic options are significant. For instance at the bilateral level, Brazil will continue to be supportive of Guyana’s efforts to preserve peace and stability in the region. Important Latin American countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Peru should have no difficulty in the maintenance of the territorial status quo. In the Caribbean, Guyana can continue to count on the understanding and solidarity of Guyana’s Caricom partners. While continuing to work within the OAS, Guyana must increase its role in the Association of Caribbean States, the Treaty of Amazonian Cooperation, the Rio Group and UNASUR,” he explained.

Another important factor to consider is that of Venezuela’s growing influence in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Dr Ishmael highlighted.

“With this is mind, Guyana must work to influence OPEC states to support its position. Continuing Guyana’s diplomacy among Arab states, particularly within the ambit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is therefore a prime necessity. This has been done, especially from 1997, but it must be stepped up especially at this time,” he urged.

He encouraged too that the Guyana Government approach the British Government to be more proactive in the issue, since it is also a party to the 1899 arbi-

tral award and the Geneva Agreement.

He noted that countries of Africa and Asia could be considered Guyana’s natural allies and the Guyana Government should keep them fully informed at all times. Countries like Cuba which have given support firmly and publicly in the past, should not be allowed to slide into a neutral stance, Dr Ishmael warned.

Public opinion

Another important tool Guyana must take advantage of is the influence of public opinion of the issue, Dr Ishmael pointed out.

“Through the effective means of the Internet, information on Guyana position on the border controversy can be effectively disseminated all over the world. At the same time an effective education campaign in Guyana must be carried out, as part of the school curriculum, to inform young Guyanese of the history of the country’s borders. Such education should also embrace the tertiary educational institutions, offices and industrial establishments. Well-produced radio and television programmes can supplement such an activity. Printed, audio and video resources must be prepared and readily available,” he suggested.

Amerindians fear state audits will further delay Toshaos’ Elections

Several Amerindians have raised concerns that the Government’s audit in village assets within the various hinterland communities will further delay the already protracted Toshaos’ Elections.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced that before these critical elections can be held, Government will have to complete an extensive audit into the villages’ assets because of reports which allege the irresponsible spending of monies to provide the hinterland communities with much needed supplies.

However, Guyana Times recently spoke with a few Toshaos from Regions One, Two, Seven and Nine who expressed some skepticism that the auditing process will be quite time consuming and will result in the postponement of the elections once again.

In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Karrau’s Toshao Shane Cornelius noted that the auditing process has not yet started in his community but a date for the election is already set, and this stirs some uneasiness among residents.

The Toshao of Santa Rosa Basil Cornelius not-

ed too that his village is yet to be audited and he hopes the Government can complete the process before elections. If not, he hopes the Government understands the importance of the Toshaos’ Elections and hold off the audits for the time being. He explained that any further delay of the Toshaos’ Elections will severely affect the development of the various communities.

Capoey’s Toshao Ralph Hendricks noted too that it is impossible to complete the audits before the elections. Wakapow Toshao Lloyd Perreira expressed similar sentiments.

Dr Odeen Ishmael

The Toshao of Santa Rosa Basil Cornelius

11 corneal transplants done at GPHC

Arecord breaking number of corneal transplants were performed during the past week at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by specialists brought in from a United States (US) based foundation, located in Queens, New York.

The team of US experts visited Guyana last week to perform a series of corneal transplant surgeries. They arrived on the morning of June 30, and immediately head to GPHC where they spent the entire day at the Ophthalmology Clinic, seeing over 35 patients.

Head of the Ophthalmology Department, Dr Shailendra Sugrim, generated the list of patients to be seen by the team on their arrival and from this pool, the team selected patients that were suitable for the transplant surgery.

In the following two days, July 1 and 2, the surgeons performed a total of 11 transplants, one cataract surgery and one removal of corneal foreign body. The

team brought the corneas with them, along with special micro-surgical ophthalmic instruments to perform these surgeries. The donor corneas came from three US eye banks namely: Eastern Virginia, Texas Lions and NE Pennsylvania.

The team will work closely with Dr Sugrim to follow up on those patients who were operated on. However, some of these patients required second opinion from the US-based experts.

The team of specialists was accompanied by members of the Subraj Foundation and was headed by Dr Rahul M Jindal. It has been travelling to Guyana since 2008 and had previously conducted six corneal transplants here. These transplants were successfully done in August 2014, and the corneas were donated by the NE Pennsylvania Eye Bank.

Additionally, the team had also performed a record breaking 26 kidney transplants during a previous visit. Dr Jindal thanked the Chief Executive Officer of

GPHC, Michael Khan, the nurses and Dr Sugrim for the “superb” arrangements made to facilitate their work in the operating rooms and clinics.

Drs Waller and Pasternack also expressed their gratitude to the President of Subraj Foundation, George Subraj, for facilitating the humanitarian mission. Subraj also promised to fund additional missions in the future to perform kidney and cornea transplantation at the GPHC. The visiting team commented that their aim is to sustain these procedures in the public hospital, where the procedures are free.

While the US-based team has departed, it is working with Dr Sugrim to generate a list of patients who may require corneal transplants on their next visit, which is likely to be in September of this year. Patients who are interested in the free service are urged to contact Dr Sugrim at the GPHC, where all the procedures will be performed completely free of cost.

CANI officially launches JYIC 2015

– The official youth event for the summer vacations

Come Alive Network Inc (CANI) is a local non-governmental and not-for-profit organisation that focuses on promoting youth and community development by using applied global perspectives to effectively contribute to our society. The group’s intention is to teach young people about self-value and their roles in society.

In 2014, the group hosted their first “Just Youth It” Conference (JYIC) and it was a huge success. It was a forum filled with motivational speeches and edutainment. Some of the presenters were Gordon Mosely, Sara Barratt, Rosh Khan, Carlvin Burnett, along with the network’s very own Ryan Hoppie. The participants were surprised when Lisa Punch, our very own Guyanese star, put in a last minute appearance. Also present at the event was reigning Miss Guyana Universe Nikata Barker, Miss Guyana Talented Teens 2014 and 2013, Miss India Worldwide 2014 and other “local celebrities”.

This year the organisation has no intention of

disappointing the general public, and they are promising a packed, entertaining and motivational programme. The organisers have released a few names of international speakers, which include Marc Boneo, who is the United Nations Youth Representative for the Caribbean. The young Trinidadian man also runs a successful hydroponics project and he is a farmer and entrepreneur. Joining him is Teokah Dove, who recently received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award at Buckingham Palace on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago. The third speaker is Kifus, a video game and animation designer who lives in California but originates from Trinidad as well. Others will be attending the event to facilitate the programme, along with many young capable Guyanese people.

The organisation has gotten great feedback from the participants of JYIC 2014 and prompting them to make the event annual.

Two of last year’s participants shared their experience of how impactful the

conference was for them; these were Travis Bruce and Jaylana Hartman. They told this publication that they hope that every young person gets the opportunity to have a similar experience to theirs. They said that it was their “Ah-Hah” moment, and as a result they have become more motivated to serve Guyana. The two individuals have both joined more young voluntary groups to begin their journey towards achieving that goal. The event takes place on August 15 at the Theatre Guild from 9:00h-18:00h. Those persons interested in being a part of the programme can apply online via their Facebook pages “Come Alive Network Inc” or “Just Youth It Conference”. The application is simple and straight forward, and persons can inbox the Facebook page if there are any inquires. The event is an all day event, so there is a $2000 cost attached for food and transportation. The event coordinators promise an inspirational programme and they are urging all young persons between the ages of 15-35 to apply for the JYIC.

Amerindians fear state audits...

Additionally, Peter Persaud of The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (AAMG), in an invited comment, said it is inevitable for the Amerindian communities to become frustrated at the thought of a possible delay of the elections.

As such, he is calling on the Government to recognise the importance of these elections and not to allow its audits to interfere with the legal process. He cited a section of the Amerindian Act 2006 which reads “not less than three months before the date of the Village Council elections the Minister shall arrange for a general audit to be carried out…” and he explained that it is ludicrous for the Government to order the auditing of village assets in a matter of weeks before the Toshaos’ elections.

Guyana Times understands that several villages received letters indicating that the elections would commence from July 16 to July 22. However, many villages are yet to be informed of the date for elections.

To be elected as a Toshao,

a person must be eligible to stand as a Councilor and should not have held the position for the two consecutive terms preceding his or her nomination. The next focus immediately after the elections, according to Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, would be the National Toshaos Council (NTC). He indicated that, in keeping with the new Government’s 100 day action plan, the Administration intended to depoliticise the NTC, allowing Amerindian leaders to discuss the way forward without any sort of alliance. However, the NTC receives its mandate through the Amerindian Act n° 6 – 2006 and is funded under Government of Guyana revenues, but the Minister did not say what measures would be taken to depoliticise the Council without infringing on the Law.

The Minister stated that “without a Council or without the Toshaos, there is very little that we can do for the communities”, which is why the Ministry needs to

get on with its work. When questioned on the designated date for the Toshaos’ Elections, Minister Allicock vaguely mentioned that they were to be held on the 22nd but insisted that village assets must be audited before. Meanwhile, Toshao of Santa Rosa Basil Cornelius expressed his excitement about the imminent elections, noting that he is confident he will win again. Cornelius said he will be campaigning for more skilled and qualified individuals to work in the village and to continue the fight for Amerindian development.

Toshao of Karrau Shane Cornelius also expressed confidence in running for elections.

He noted that he has a three-year plan to help develop the community and this includes the formulation and implementation of new village rules and the establishment of village offices. He also intends to promote tourism in the village in an effort to better the lives of the residents of the community.

Some of the JYIC committee members (from left) Stacey Gordan, Ashraf Dabie, the Executive Director Ryan Hoppie and Crystal Gonzales

Tunisia declares state of emergency

Tunisia has declared a state of emergency, just over a week after 38 tourists, mainly Britons, died in an attack in the resort city of Sousse. The state of emergency gives security forces more pow -

ers and limits the right of public assembly. Authorities had already tightened security in the wake of the attack on 26 June, deploying more than 1400 armed officers at hotels and beaches. Security

forces were criticised for not responding more quickly to the attack in Sousse, when a gunman opened fire on tourists on a beach and in a hotel before being shot dead by Police.Those killed included 30 Britons.

The gunman has been identified as student Seifeddine Rezgui, who authorities say had trained in Libya.

Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid conceded in a BBC interview that the slow response of the Police was a key problem. He said Rezgui had probably trained with the Ansar al-Sharia group, and the Government says it has uncovered the network behind the Sousse attack.

Analysts say Tunisia has been put at risk by the chaotic situation in neighbouring Libya, and by the threat posed by Tunisians who have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq returning home.

The last time Tunisia declared a state of emergency was in 2011, in the uprising which overthrew President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. It was lifted in March 2014. Officials are expected to pass a counterterrorism bill that has been in Parliament since early 2014 in the coming weeks.

Varoufakis accuses creditors of “terrorism”

Greek Finance

Minister Yanis Varoufakis has accused Athens’ creditors of “terrorism”, the day before a referendum on an international bailout.

Speaking to Spain’s El Mundo newspaper, he said the country’s lenders wanted to “instil fear in people”. Huge rallies were held by both sides in the referendum on Friday night.

The Government has urged voters to say “No” to the terms of a bailout package, but opponents warn

that this would see Greece ejected from the eurozone.

Greece’s current bailout programme with the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank ran out on Tuesday. Banks have been shut all week, with limits imposed on cash withdrawals.

Varoufakis said the socalled “troika” of creditors wanted a “yes” vote to win so they could humiliate the Greeks. “Why did they force us to close the banks?

To instil fear in people. And spreading fear is called terrorism,” he said.

He added that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras would still reach an agreement with creditors if the result was “No”, and that banks in Greece would reopen on Tuesday whatever the outcome.

Correspondents say it is unclear whether this will happen. The BBC’s Chris Morris in Athens says that, for many, this has become a choice about whether to stay in the eu -

rozone. With so much at stake, he says, the rhetoric is getting nasty.

Tens of thousands of Greeks attended the rival rallies on Friday night. Tsipras told supporters Greece needed “say a proud ‘No’ to (European) ultimatums” to sign up to fresh austerity. He denied a “No” vote would mean leaving the European Union - though opponents said they believed Tsipras could not deliver on such a promise. (Except from BBC News)

Migrants disrupt tunnel traffic between France and UK

Traffic along the Channel Tunnel connecting Britain and France has been disrupted when dozens of migrants attempted to enter restricted areas of the tunnel in Calais, according to officials.

The disruption late Friday night was the latest in a series of incidents involving some 3000 migrants, mostly from Africa and the Middle East, who are camped around the northern French port in the hope of reaching Britain.

“From 10:30pm, around 150 migrants attempted to enter the platforms,” a spokesman for the Pas-deCalais prefecture in northern France told this publication. The spokesman added that traffic was interrupted, with long queues of cars forming, but it reportedly resumed around two hours later.

The migrants “seek to cross the Channel by any means”, a Eurotunnel spokesman said, adding that

the tunnel “suffers from attempted intrusions every night”. “We have adapted our transport system to ensure the best level of security and keep our trains running,” the spokesman added.

Eurostar, which also runs passenger trains through the tunnel, though not at night, said its services had not been affected.

Calais is one of the front lines in a wider immigration crisis in which European countries are struggling to agree among themselves how to deal with growing numbers of migrants fleeing conflict or poverty.

Around 3000 migrants are currently camped out around Calais in northern France and are trying to cross the Channel into Britain. Many migrants want to get to Britain because they speak English, have family connections or are convinced they stand a better chance of getting a job there. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Colombia has 1st legal euthanasia

A79-year old Colombian man has become the first person in the country to die legally by euthanasia. Ovidio Gonzalez was suffering from terminal throat cancer and said he had been suffering unbearable pain.

Colombia’s Catholic Church has said euthanasia is morally unacceptable and it has threatened to close its hospitals across the country. However, Colombia is one of the few countries in the world, and the only one in Latin America, where euthanasia is allowed.

Assisted suicide was approved by the Constitutional Court in the 1990s. But no procedures had been performed because the measure had not been regulated. It was only in

May that the Health Ministry intervened and issued a set of guidelines for hospitals.

Gonzalez died in a clinic in the western city of Pereira, after a legal battle. His son Julio Cesar is a cartoonist with one of Colombia’s top newspapers, El Tiempo.

“My father received the news (that the procedure had been approved) with relief,” said the younger Gonzalez, better known by his pen name Matador, or The Killer. “It is a pity that it had to be like that. My dad deserved to go with less publicity,” he added.

Euthanasia is highly controversial in the predominantly Roman Catholic country. Critics also point out that the measure has not been voted by Congress. (BBC News)

Hinduism is not a risk factor for suicides in Guyana

Dear Editor, I find two oddities in The Guyana Chronicle, June 29threport (by TejramMohabir) on suicides in Guyana.

Religion was cited as a ‘common risk factor’ for suicide among Guyanese (along with Trinidadian and Surinamese) East Indians: “In Guyana, Dr. Harry identified culture and to a lesser extent religion as common risk factors of suicide”with “30 percent [of those committing suicides]”being“Hindus and Pentecostals”.

My question is what are the similarities and causes in the beliefs shared by Hindus and Christian Pentecostals which trigger the pathology?

To my mind, the only commonality is their “Indianness”. Very many

Indians (especially Hindus, who are seen as following a heathen religion) have been converted to Pentecostalism, as they are targets by proselytizing Christian churches in Guyana, India and I’m told by a reliable source, Trinidad and Tobago. Pentecostalism, as with other Christian sects (and Abrahamic religions) subscribes to a Judgment Day and believing in a unique prophet or saviour is critical to be ‘saved. Hinduism subscribes to no such eschatology – which is why it is easy to convert Hindus who share a more complex and nuanced philosophy of life such as Dharma (universal law), Karma, Reincarnation, Moksha (liberation/release from the karmic cycle of births and deaths), as well as, Autars (Avatars

such as Rama, Krishna and Buddha). Thus, there is no similarity between the two religions which could be considered a ‘common risk factor’.

Furthermore, if Hinduism was a factor one would expect India with 80% Hindus to be way over the top, while Guyana is taking the lead as the country with the highest suicide rate. As I showed in my book, Under Attack! The Caribbean Indian, using figures from the 2002 Guyana population census, while Indians were 43.5% in 2002 (falling from 48.6% in 1991) for the same period, Hindus declined from 35.0% of the population to 28.4% while Pentecostalism rose from 7.5% to 16.9% of the population.

Yet, India with 80%

Hindus, has a much lower suicide rate with 10.6/100,000 people as compared to the global rate which is 16/100,000. The Guyana Chronicle article gives the global average of 11.4 which is still higher than India’s.

One can conclude that India’s suicide rate is clearly not driven by her predominant Hindu culture. As well, men (as in Guyana) have a higher incidence of suicide than women at a ratio of 2:1 in 2012. What then is responsible for this disparity? The cited report states: “It is observed that social and economic causes have led most of the males to commit suicide whereas emotional and personal causes have mainly driven females to end their lives.”

The other unexplained

oddity is that, in T&T, more women are said to commit the act, whereas in Guyana (as in India), men are more prone to suicide. How does one reconcile this divergence in Caribbean countries with similar ethnic makeup?

Finally, there is what is called a ‘clustering’ effect which is not acknowledged in the article. It was reported that when Marilyn Monroe died of ‘acute barbiturate poisoning’the rate of suicide [in the USA] rose by as much as 12 percent. Perhaps the most tragic case of ‘clustering’, or the contagion effect, happened in the top ranked heavyweight boxer, George Chuvalo’s, family. He revealed: “The worst time of my life [1985] was when my son died of an overdose and my wife died

(of suicide) in a four-day period...” But those were not the end his harrowing tragic losses.

Two more sons died of drug overdosing in 1993 and 1996. In another report, a family in Guyana had has suffered the loss of a son who committed suicide by drinking pesticide and his stepmother reported that her former husband and his son died of suicide, while she herself thought of it once. So, while the causes are varied (including the introduced ‘clustering’ effect such as family history/conditioning and the availability and use of pesticides/ herbicides in Guyana) it has been shown that Hinduism is clearly NOT a risk factor.

Yoursrespectfully, Veda NathMohabir

Members of Tunisia’s security forces were deployed to the beach for a ceremony of remembrance one week after the attack

NSBF Conference Finals…

Big names assert themselves as teams to watch – teams will play for national glory from today

BY TREISTON JOSEPH

Anumber of the top basketball schools stamped their authority with wins in the

Niles (27 points) and Terron Welch (20 points) combined for 47 of LTI’s total point production.

Niles also had 13 rebounds while Welch had 18

with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

On the East Coast of Demerara, President’s College emerged as the champions with a 46-28 win

Chris Bowman was also pleased with the on court play and urged the players to show the same type of discipline in the one week national tournament.

Conference Finals of the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) that concluded on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Kwakwani Secondary, which has the most wins in NSBF history, won the Region 10 zone yet again with a tough 64-60 win against the Linden Technical Institute (LTI).

Dellon Wallace was the top scorer for Kwakwani with 19 points while Troy David had 12 points in the win.

With only two offensive threats on the team, Dennis

boards as both recorded double-doubles in the loss.

First time winners of the tournament – St Roses High School showed their versatility with a 47-34 win over former national champs Marian Academy.

Nathan Saul dropped a game high of 19 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds. Anferenee Jervis had 10 points and 11 rebounds to lead St Roses to victory.

Meanwhile, New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School (NAMS) easily defeated JC Chandersingh 42-27 as Sherland Gillis led the way

over Plaisance Secondary School.

Jaleel Duke scored a game high 14 points while Anton Fileen had 10 points for the top East Coast side.

Meanwhile at a presentation ceremony involving the Director of Sport Christopher Jones on Sunday at the CASH, the winning teams were presented with their trophies and medals.

Jones pledged support to the YBG for the brilliant job that they continue to do while urging the student/athletes to “twin” their sport with academics.

Director of the YBG,

The National side of the tournament will start today from 16:00h with an opening ceremony set to feature high ranking officials from Government.

The opening ceremony will also include the honouring of a few persons and sponsors while seven ambassadors of youth basketball will also be named.

Following the opening ceremony, four games will be played featuring two Under-19 games, one Under-14 and 16 games as well as a game featuring girls to tip of the national tournament that will conclude on July 12.

Narayan wins Men’s over35 GBTI tennis title

Chethan Narayan went the distance to win this year’s GBTI Men’s over-35 champion after he overpowered Godfrey Lowden to win 6/4, 6/4 on Saturday.

It was evident that both men brought their best game and pushed each other to produce spectacular tennis. Lowden led a break in both sets, but was unable to maintain it. Narayan was adamant with his crisp and clean passing shots as he raddled Lowden at the net.

The Men’s Singles Open has narrowed down with Leyland Leacock appearing more relaxed as the tournament progresses. Bishan Dalip was defeated 6/3, 6/1 by Leacock, a challenging player in the tournament.

Anthony Downes got his first workout of the tournament when he faced Oswin Coggins in a match of power. He held on to win one game, despite Downes directing most of the points with power and variety. Downes took the set 6/0, 6/1.

The match of endurance and will was played

between Daniel Lopes and Andre Erskine. In the first set, Lopes had a 2/0 lead after one of the longest game point of the tournament this year. The pair went to deuce 12 times on Erskine’s first service game, which had the spectators at the edge of their seats in suspense with each point.

The score eventually tied at 4/4, but the effectiveness of the sliced backhands of Lopes proved to be the kryptonite for Erskine’s game. While making a high percentage of winning shots, he was unable to tighten his net game and win the volleys at the critical juncture of the game. The match was a constant shift of balance of power between the players; however Lopes’ game was exemplary. He anticipated the ball well and played defensively to always stay in the point, which forced Erskine to make the errors.

Lopes won the game 6/4, 6/3 and sets up a rematch against Anthony Downes, who defeated him in the Assuria Singles Finals this year.

Tenelec Inc pumps US$6000 into Berbice Cricket

Tenelec Inc, based in Washington, USA, has renewed its sponsorship of Under-15 and senior 50 over cricket in Berbice for the 2015 season.

At a simple but significant ceremony held at the Albion Sports Complex, Bobby Deonarine, uncle of West Indies all rounder Narsingh Deonarine, said that he is delighted to be part of the development of young cricketers and cricket in general in Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies.

Speaking on behalf of himself and partner in business, Tom Gruntzel, Deonarine said that they have been involved in Berbice cricket for over 15 years and will continue to do so.

Berbice Cricket Board

Executive Anil Beharry thanked Tenelec Inc for coming on board once again. He said that this surely shows the level of confidence the company has in the Cricket Board.

He told the gathering of cricketers to take full advantage of these competitions and advance their careers and thanked them for attending.

Admi nistrative Officer, National Sports Commission, Education Ministry, Department of Culture, Youth and Sports, Gurvy Harry commended the BCB for staying the course, despite all the challenges they faced.

Former national Under-19 Captain and all-

these competitions over the

rounder Shawn Perriera thanked Tenelec Inc for helping to mould and fashion the

Bobby Deonarine of Tenelec Inc, Washington presents sponsorship cheque to Gurvy Harry and Angela Haniff in the presence of other representatives of the sponsor, officials of BCB, representative of regional administration and cricketers who have participated in

years

lives of so many

cricketers in Berbice. He added that the sponsorship brought hope for the young cricketers.

From Left: St Roses, Director of Sport Christopher Jones, President’s College, Kwakwani Secondary, Chris Bowman, New Amsterdam Multilateral and Director of YBG Rayad Boyce after the presentation ceremony

From right, Chethan Narayan (winner) and Godfrey Lowden (runner up)

Injury forces Ryan Harris to retire

Australia fast bowler

Ryan Harris’ battered right knee has finally given out on him, ending his days in the baggy green less than a week before the first Test of the Investec Ashes, which he had hoped would be the capstone on his international career.

In a grievous blow to Australia’s plans for their attempt to defeat England on their home soil for the first time since 2001, two sets of scans during the tour match against Essex confirmed that Harris would be unable to get himself right in time to take part in this series.

As a result, he has decided to retire from the game, having set this tour as the final frontier after being ruled out of last summer’s World Cup campaign in order to give himself the best chance to play against England. Harris’ final international match was the Sydney Test against India in January.

“Given the news I received yesterday, and after talking it over with my family, I know now is the right is the time to step away from cricket,” Harris said. “I’m pretty lucky, I have had a wonderful career and nothing made me prouder than pulling on the baggy green.

“I played 27 more Tests than I ever thought I would and I have relished every single moment of them. I couldn’t have played with a better bunch of blokes and walking away from the team and our support staff is probably the hardest thing to stomach right now. This is a very special team and I know they will do Australia proud in this Ashes series. I know I will certainly be watching every ball.

“I am lucky enough to have a wonderful family who have supported me through the ups and downs of my career and I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life with them and spending time with my new son Carter. Whatever is next for me, and I don’t know what that is right now, I know it will still involve cricket as that is what I love and I want to be able to give back to the game that has given me so much.”

Cricket Australia has named Pat Cummins as Harris’ replacement on tour. Cummins was to take part in the Australia A tour of India but will now fly from Sydney to join the Australians ahead of the Cardiff Test. Harris will not fly home immediately but remain with the team as a source of advice to the younger bowlers.

Harris was a late starter to international cricket, making his Test debut against New Zealand in 2010 after nearly a decade in domestic ranks. However his combination of bustling pace, swing and seam, plus an indomitable spirit that

allowed him to shrug of a succession of major injuries, made him one of the most effective Australian pace bowlers of all time.

He played pivotal roles in numerous Test series, notably Sri Lanka in 2011, before proving himself the outstanding bowler on either side during the dual Ashes series in 2013-14. Harris’ 46 wickets across nine Testshe missed the first match in Trent Bridge - allowed him to experience victory over England after taking part in the 3-1 defeat at home during 2010-11.

Perhaps his finest moment of all was reserved for South Africa, when Harris defied the pain of loose cartilage floating around his right knee, sometimes pressing visibly against his skin, to rip out the last two wickets and secure a memorable series victory in March 2014. The coach Darren Lehmann, a former state team-mate and longtime mentor of Harris, described him as “one of the most talented players I have ever seen.”

“Ryan always gave it his all for his country and he epitomises everything the baggy green stands for,” Lehmann said. “His never-say-die attitude was his signature as he left absolutely nothing on the field each time he played and I think that is something for which he should be incredibly proud.

“His beautiful wife Cherie and his new son Carter, his dad Jim, his late mum Gai and his brother Gavin will be so proud of him and what he has achieved and the legacy he leaves behind. The team and I are certainly very proud of everything he has achieved on and off the field and we wish him all the best in whatever he decides to do next.”

After the South Africa series, Harris had undergone extensive knee cleanout surgery, and worked assiduously to return to fitness for the Border-Gavaskar Tests against India. While

British

Grand Prix… Hamilton wants Silverstone win for fans

Lewis Hamilton says he wants to win the British Grand Prix for the 140,000 fans who are expected at Silverstone for the race today.

The world champion starts from pole after beating Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in qualifying.

still bowling well, he showed signs of losing some of his earlier zip, and CA elected not to consider him for the World Cup to try to replicate his careful preparation for the 2013 Ashes series, when he returned slowly to the game after shoulder surgery.

As recently as last week in Canterbury, Harris said he was trying to adjust to the pain he inevitably faced when landing on his right knee. However he was even less mobile than usual following the Kent match, leading to the scans that confirmed his inability to play in this series. Harris has often said he knew he only had a certain number of balls left in his body. Unfortunately for him and Australia, it was fewer than either had hoped for. (Cricinfo)

It is the eighth pole in nine races this season for Hamilton, who has a 10-point championship lead over Rosberg.

“Today hopefully I did them proud and I am going to do everything I can to make them even happier tomorrow,” he said.

Hamilton beat Rosberg by 0.113 seconds to huge cheers from the crowd of 105,000 on Saturday.

A victory on Sunday would be his fifth this season and his third at his home race after previous triumphs in 2008 and 2014.

“Every year I have come here it has always been special,” Hamilton said.

“What’s really encouraging is you see such a large group of people and so much support and you realise no matter whatever negative comment or opinion there may be at a particu-

lar point during the year, these fans are avid racing fans and they are here no matter what.

“That is great to see. I am so grateful to see the sheer support there is here for the Brits.”

Hamilton took pole despite a difficult weekend. He struggled in Friday practice but Mercedes found some problems with the set-up of his car overnight and he was much happier on Saturday morning.

However, Rosberg outpaced him in final practice and in the first two parts of qualifying before Hamilton put a lap together at the start of the top 10 shoot-out that beat the German by 0.113secs.

“This is a very tough circuit to really pinpoint to get it right,” Hamilton said.

“For example, yesterday second practice was a wasted session because the car wasn’t right settings-wise.

“My long run was a second off Nico’s and then we find there were problems and fix them and this morning it was fine.

“That takes a step out of your stride. But I guess if

it was easy, and it was just P1, P1, P1, it wouldn’t be exciting.

“I like trying to rectify things and trying to improve and naturally it makes the day even more satisfying when you pull out that good lap.”

Rosberg said that he thought he had done enough on his first lap in final qualifying to beat Hamilton.

The British Grand Prix has been won from pole position only three times in the last 17 years and Rosberg joked that he took solace from that statistic.

He added, with a smile: “That’s incredible and that’s why I was quite happy not to be on pole today because I know those statistics and the chances are much bigger to win the race from second!

“This week was one of the biggest differences on long-run pace. Lewis was struggling quite a lot so that’s another hope I have, although his set-up has changed quite a lot since. Lewis has two laps on the tyres he is starting the race with and that is another small thing that can help.”

(BBC Sport)

Murray beats Seppi at Wimbledon after injury scare

Britain’s Andy Murray overcame a shoulder problem to beat Italy’s Andreas Seppi in four sets and secure a place in the second week of Wimbledon.

Murray, seeded third, won 6-2 6-2 1-6 6-1 to set up a fourth-round clash with Croatian 23rd seed Ivo Karlovic.

There were worrying moments for the 2013 champion as he failed to win a game for 40 minutes and had treatment to his shoulder in the fourth set.

But having lost six games in a row, Murray swept through the last six.

“The shoulder is fine now,” the Scot told BBC Sport afterwards.

“Towards the end of the second set it started to tighten up. When he took a medical time-out, it cooled down a little bit.”

Murray, 28, had won his last six matches against 25th seed Seppi and appeared on course for another

straightforward win when he led by two sets after little over an hour.

With all areas of his game working smoothly, the Scot was in complete control thanks to four breaks of serve, only for two medi-

cal timeouts to shift the momentum.

It was Seppi, 31, who first called the trainer to work on his ankle, and the break in play had a major effect on both men, with Murray double-faulting twice on the re-

sumption to drop serve.

An unexpected lapse threatened to become something more serious when Murray dropped serve again, clutching his shoulder, and Seppi then broke at the start of the third set as his opponent screamed “Useless!” at his own efforts.

The British number one was now in real trouble, requiring an intensive bout of treatment to his shoulder at the changeover, but once again the break in play benefited the injured party.

Urged on by a now firedup Centre Court crowd, Murray resumed with the positive intent of his early play and recovered the break to end a 40-minute spell without winning a game.

The world number three dominated the closing stages, clambering all over the Seppi serve as he broke three times to wrap up victory in two hours and eight minutes. (BBC Sport)

Ryan Harris’ career has been cut short by a recurring knee injury

Andy Murray

This was Hamilton’s third pole position at Silverstone, the previous two coming in 2007 and 2013

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Pallekele, 2nd day…

Sarfraz fights as Pakistan crumble against seamers

The discipline of Sri Lanka’s seamers bore down heavily upon Pakistan, and Sarfraz Ahmed was left conjuring another revival act after another collective batting failure. Rain interrupted play frequently, and 20 overs were lost despite play being extended till light faded, with Pakistan trailing by 69 runs, and last man Imran Khan standing with

Sarfraz.

Sri Lanka’s tail lasted only 3.5 overs into the morning, after which their seamers hit back with the wickets of the Pakistan openers, and the visitors slipped further with Younis Khan’s run-out at the stroke of lunch. From 45 for 3, Azhar Ali uncharacteristically countered with several boundaries to make 52, but Dhammika Prasad and Nuwan Pradeep never

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka 1st innings

FDM Karunaratne st †Sarfraz Ahmed b Azhar Ali 130

JK Silva c †Sarfraz Ahmed

b Rahat Ali 9

WU Tharanga c Younis Khan

b Yasir Shah 46

HDRL Thirimanne c sub (Babar Azam) b Yasir Shah 11

AD Mathews* c sub (Babar Azam) b Yasir Shah 3

J Mubarak st †Sarfraz Ahmed

b Yasir Shah 25

LD Chandimal† lbw b Rahat Ali 24

KTGD Prasad c Yasir Shah

b Azhar Ali 0

PHT Kaushal lbw b Rahat Ali 18

RAS Lakmal not out 6

N Pradeep lbw b Yasir Shah 0

Extras: (lb-3, w-3) 6

Total: (all out; 89.5 overs) 278

Fall of wickets:1-15 (Silva, 4.3 ov), 2-106 (Tharanga, 34.5 ov), 3-133 (Thirimanne, 44.2 ov), 4-137 (Mathews, 46.6 ov), 5-204 (Mubarak, 66.6 ov), 6-248 (Karunaratne, 77.5 ov), 7-248 (Prasad, 77.6 ov), 8-264 (Chandimal, 84.2 ov), 9-277 (Kaushal, 88.6 ov), 10-278 (Pradeep, 89.5 ov)

Bowling: Rahat Ali 21-4-743 (1-w), Ehsan Adil 14-3-37-0 (1-w), Imran Khan 16-3-51-0 (1-w), Yasir Shah 31.5-4-78-

5, Azhar Ali 7-0-35-2

Pakistan 1st innings

Shan Masood lbw b Prasad 13

Ahmed Shehzad c †Chandimal b Pradeep 21

Azhar Ali c Karunaratne b Pradeep 52

Younis Khan run out (Silva) 3

Asad Shafiq lbw b Prasad 15

Sarfraz Ahmed† not out 72

Misbah-ul-Haq* lbw b Pradeep 6 Ehsan Adil lbw b Kaushal 0 Yasir Shah c †Chandimal b Prasad 18

Rahat Ali lbw b Kaushal 2

Imran Khan not out 0

Extras: (lb-4, w-1, nb-2) 7

Total: (9 wickets; 64 overs) 209

Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Shan Masood, 8.5 ov), 2-40 (Ahmed Shehzad, 11.3 ov), 3-45 (Younis Khan, 18.2 ov), 4-91 (Asad Shafiq, 31.2 ov), 5-135 (Azhar Ali, 40.5 ov), 6-151 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 44.6 ov), 7-152 (Ehsan Adil, 45.5 ov), 8-197 (Yasir Shah, 56.5 ov), 9-202 (Rahat Ali, 59.5 ov)

Bowling: KTGD Prasad 191-78-3 (1-w), RAS Lakmal 14-1-64-0 (2-nb), N Pradeep 14-5-26-3, AD Mathews 4-13-0, PHT Kaushal 13-1-34-2

allowed a partnership to develop, three of them getting terminated in the 40s.

The zip and movement available to Pakistan’s fast bowlers on day one was not quite there for Sri Lanka, but they made up for it with their perseverance. Prasad caused problems with his usual energetic effort combined with accuracy. Although he and Suranga Lakmal were taken for a few runs when they pitched it up, they also kept testing the batsmen, as did Nuwan Pradeep’s greater control and shorter lengths.

It was the bustling Prasad who produced the breakthrough, hitting Shan Masood full on the boot in the ninth over, and appealing loud and long enough to convince umpire Ian Gould. Replays showed umpire’s call for both point of impact on the boot and on the stumps.

With Lakmal hit for a few boundaries by Ahmed Shehzad, Pradeep was brought on and struck with his third delivery, his tight line confusing Shehzad, who edged behind in trying to leave one too late.

Angelo Mathews then came on himself and squeezed the runs further, with only four coming in six overs after Shehzad’s fall. Younis was looking comfortable with his defence, but the lack of runs made him push for a tight single in the last over of the session, and Kaushal Silva found his mark from short midwicket. Runs came much quicker

Sarfraz Ahmed gathers runs during his knock after the interval. Sri Lanka tried bowling full searching for swing. It wasn’t alarming movement, and Azhar picked up fours regularly through the off side. Mathews positioned deep point soon, but Azhar was able to place it wide of the fielder on occasion.

The hosts then tried banging it short from round the stumps, especially to Asad Shafiq, but the pair survived till a 20-minute rain delay. Facing his first ball upon resumption from Prasad, Shafiq was caught on the crease to a length ball that came in.

Azhar kept counter-attacking and Sarfraz was anyway going to play his shots, a top-edged hook falling safely behind square

off Prasad, before another shower arrived and forced tea to be taken.

Pradeep, who had bowled superbly without enough reward, got two in quick succession after tea. Azhar had prospered on the drive, and he fell by it, nicking Pradeep to second slip.

It was a proper crisis by now at 135 for 5 and in walked Misbah-ul-Haq, batting down the order due to a groin strain. He lasted 17 balls, Pradeep suddenly going wide of the crease and angling one full to strike the pad.

Yet again, it was Sarfraz who stepped up. He had been loose when he came in, but applied himself after tea. Of course, his style of batting meant the score

kept moving. Calculated drives were hit through the off side, singles and twos were picked square both sides of the wicket. His confidence rubbed off on Yasir Shah, who hit some meaty strokes in an eighth-wicket stand of 45.

There was not much of a role for the offspinner Tharindu Kaushal till later in the innings, when he nailed a couple of tailenders lbw.

In the morning, Yasir Shah took his wicket-tally for the series to 22, and became only the second visiting bowler after Shane Warne to take three fivefors in a Test series in Sri Lanka, when he ended the hosts’ innings by trapping Pradeep lbw. (Cricinfo)

Tour de France 2015… Rohan Dennis wins Utrecht Grand Depart

Rohan Dennis rode the fastest individual time trial in Tour de France history to claim victory at the opening stage of this year’s race in Utrecht.

The Australian rode 13.8km in 14 minutes and 56 seconds at an average speed of 55.446 km/h, with German Tony Martin five seconds behind in second.

“To wear the Tour de France yellow jersey, it’s a dream,” Dennis said.

Team Sky’s Chris Froome was 50 seconds back as Steve Cummings placed highest of 10 British riders in 10th.

Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali was the best performer among Froome’s fellow contenders for overall victory at the 21-stage race, which ends in Paris on 26 July, Astana’s Italian rider finished 22nd, seven seconds ahead of 2013 winner Froome, 15 seconds clear of Spaniard Alberto Contador and 18 seconds ahead of Colombia’s Nairo Quintana.

“It’s the longer efforts I’ve been training for and I’m happy to have that out the way,” said Froome.

British former Olympic champion Chris Boardman set the previous fastest individual average speed over

a Tour de France stage with 55.152 km/h at the 7.2km prologue of 1994.

“Everything went perfectly,” said Dennis, who will wear the leader’s yellow jersey for the start of stage two on Sunday - a 166km ride along the Dutch coast that is likely to end in a bunch sprint.

“We went with the tactic of going out early and setting a benchmark and making everyone chase me,” the 25-year-old BMC rider added on ITV4.

Dennis’s Swiss teammate Fabian Cancellara came third with a time of

15 minutes and two seconds, while Britons Geraint Thomas of Team Sky and Alex Dowsett of Movistar came 12th and 13th respectively.

Cummings, 34, last rode the Tour in 2012 and this year is competing for Team MTN-Qhubeka, the first African-based team to tackle cycling’s most prestigious race.

Meanwhile, Astana’s Lars Boom completed the stage despite suggestions he should be withdrawn for failing a test for low cortisol levels, which can indicate abuse of cortisone. (BBC Sport)

Rohan Dennis rode the fastest individual time trial in Tour de France history

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21 sports

Chris Gayle Academy to have first graduation

The Chris Gayle Academy has had a successful first year, with 20 young men receiving the necessary skills and training to enter the cricketing world and make a positive impact in their respective communities.

In celebration of this achievement, the international West Indian cricketer, through his charity arm, the Chris Gayle Foundation, will host the official graduation exercise and fundraising dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Wednesday, July 8 at 18:00h.

The evening’s proceedings will also include a special auction of iconic memorabilia from past and present West Indian cricketers such as Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Garfield Sobers, Michael Holding, Dwayne Bravo and, of course, Gayle.

The opening batsman lauded the efforts of the participants in the programme, as well as the management

and technical teams, for the pivotal role they played in bringing to reality this vision of developing the sport of cricket in Jamaica at the youth level.

“It is an overwhelming feeling to see a passion and a vision that I hold very close to my heart come to life,” he said. “I am extremely proud of the dedication of the young men who participated and the tenacity and hard work of the coaching and technical teams who supported them in making our first year a resounding success.

“This represents a new era for the development of cricket in Jamaica and I anticipate that as we enter our second year, we will be able to accept more persons into the programme and make an even stronger impact,” added Gayle.

Through the assistance of The Change Foundation, a UK-based organisation, the academy has been able to take a great leap in pro-

viding technical training for the youngsters, in addition to personal development and interpersonal skills development. However, Gayle admits that more can be done with additional support.

“I believe that with more support the talent of youngsters who may be challenged because of socio-economic factors but have a passion for playing cricket, can be unearthed as they benefit from training programmes such as the one offered by the academy. It is for that reason we have decided to host a graduation paired with a fundraising dinner and auction, where we hope to raise additional funds to pump into the programme.”

Gayle is encouraging Jamaicans from all spheres to bat for this worthwhile cause and help him to transform the sport and assist many youngsters to learn the game of cricket as well as life skills.

(windiescricket)

Visa problems force Suriname out of World Cup qualifiers

Visa problems have forced Suriname to pull out of Under-19 World Cup qualifiers, leaving three countries to vie for an automatic spot in next year’s finals to be staged in Bangladesh.

Because of the South America country’s withdrawal hosts Bermuda, United States and Canada will now play each other twice here.

The winners will go straight to Bangladesh, while the second-placed team will get another chance to reach the World Cup at a global qualifier later this year.

The Bermuda Cricket Board said Suriname withdrew because it was unable to secure transit visas for its players to pass through the United States.

Bermuda take on the US in today’s opener at Somerset and will then play Canada on Monday at St David’s.

Bermuda cricket has generally been in the doldrums internationally since the island reached the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, but Under-19 captain Delray Rawlins, a 17-year-old slow bowler, said he expected big things from his team.

Patriots thump Tallawahs...

Brathwaite should have been dismissed in the 19th over when Horace Miller dropped an easy chance in the deep, and that mistake allowed the big all-rounder to guide his side to 199-5.

The Tallawahs began their chase knowing that success or failure could well rest in the hands of Chris Gayle. Having made successive undefeated half centuries in his two previous innings, he was the man in form. It was not to be as Sheldon Cottrell dismissed him with a full delivery that Gayle swiped at and missed.

While the loss of their captain would have been hugely disappointing for the Tallawahs, there was still the batting available to chase

down this total. Cottrell had other plans as he picked up the wicket of Chadwick Walton, giving him a chance to pull out his salute celebration for the second time in two overs.

Chris Lynn could well have departed next ball if not for a remarkable piece of good fortune. The Australian batsman inside edged the ball which appeared to clip the stumps on the way past.

The stumps were left intact and the ball raced away for four.

The required rate for the Tallawahs was getting out of control by the end of the Powerplay with the Jamaican side just 37-2 off their first six overs. Things only got worse when Mahela Jayawardene

“It’s a big opportunity for the 14 of us to go to the world stage and put Bermuda back on the map,” Rawlins said.

“It’s brilliant to be playing at home, it’s going to help the boys a lot.

“Hopefully, it gives them that sense of what it really means to play for their country, and wear the badge on their chest. Hopefully, the crowd can come out and push behind the boys and get us to the World Cup.”

Next year’s Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh will he held between January 22 and February 13.

was run out for nine.

When Lynn also fell to the excellent Cottrell for 20, the required rate was more than 13 an over with the best of the Tallawahs batting back in the dugout. From that point onwards the result was never in doubt as wickets continued to tumble.

Afridi, who has had limited success in the tournament to date, bowled a maiden on his way to figures of 2-10 as he, and fellow wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi (4-23), took a stranglehold of the middle overs of the Tallawahs’ innings from which they could not escape.

The Tallawahs crumbled to 80 all out as the Patriots secured victory by a massive 119 runs (CPL Release)

Da

The Chris Gayle Academy has had a successful first year

Hinds wins Malta feature race

– Jagdeo cops BMX double

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds continued his fine run this season with another easy victory on Saturday in the feature race of the fifth annual Malta 11-race programme, sponsored by Banks DIH Limited.

Hinds of Linden crossed the finish line unchallenged in the main event – the gruelling 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race.

Coming down to the final stages of the race, Hinds and Alonzo Ambrose pulled away from pack, and when race official Joseph Britton

Competing on the inner circuit of the National Park,

rung the bell to signal the final lap, the two were together and had gained some dis-

tance from the chasing pack.

The top performers pose with the trophies at the conclusion of Saturday’s race event. Jagdeo defeated Jeremiah Harrison to win the BMX 9-12 and then got the better of Thuran Garbarran to lift the BMX 12-14 title.

The two-way fight for the top spot petered down to a one-sided affair, as Hinds pulled away from his younger rival on the final 200 metre stretch, crossing the finish line unchallenged to continue his dominance in 2015. He clocked one hour, 19 minutes, 42.90 seconds (01h: 19m: 42.90s) to register his fifth victory of the season.

Ambrose was also unchallenged in taking second spot, but a group finish ensued for positions 3-6. Stephano Husbands took third, followed by Akeem Wilkinson, Robin Persaud and Jamal John in that order.

Earlier, Jonathon Jagdeo of Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club copped a double in the BMX races, while Alexander Leung won the other BMX

Leung was again a dominant force in the BMX 6-9, winning ahead of Jessica Mohabir and Shai Sue Hang, who finished second and third respectively.

In the other races, Daniel Perriera, Casey Abrams and Marica Dick were 1-2-3 in the 12-14 Boys and Girls race, while Ralph Williams (Under-50) and Kennard Lovell (Over-50) won the Veteran races.

Jamal John was the top

Juvenile rider, beating off the challenge of Andrew Hicks and Christopher Griffith, while Seon Budhan, Ozia McUally and Nicholas Alphonso were the top three finishers in that order in the

Mountain Bike race. The day’s activity was organised by national coach Hassan Mohamed and Banks DIH representative Tony Ramcharan was on hand to assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion.

Jonathon Jagdeo proudly displays his trophies after winning two BMX races

Banks DIH representative Tony Ramcharan presents the winner’s trophy to Orville Hinds in the presence of organiser Hassan Mohamed

This spectator applauds the effort of Orville Hinds as he approaches the finish line

Nedd confident of Regional U-17 title

– Squad departs today for Tobago

BY RAJIV BISNAUTH

The national Under-17 cricket team will de-

part Guyana this morning, confident of doing well in the fourth edition of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional tournament which is scheduled to bowl off in Tobago this Tuesday with three games.

The six-team tournament

will be played from July 7 to 14 and will comprise five rounds and fifteen 50 over matches.

The participating teams are the traditional regional teams: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands.

However, Coach Garvin Nedd during an exclusive interview on Saturday said he is backing his charges to make Guyana proud, adding that the team would be going all out to win the title.

“Overall we have a very a

good all-round team. We have players with the ability to perform at this level and win matches. The main strength of this side, however, is the team unity and self-belief. The players are a mentally strong group of young men. At the moment the players are thinking about their contribution to the team and the overall team goals.”

Nedd continued, “We had a positive attitude in the camp, team spirit and the level of discipline are very high and that the players are eager to get into action”.

Nedd admitted that the squad has had adequate preparation leading up to the regional championships.

“The squad participated in the Inter-County under-17 tournament earlier this year

and also we had a nine-day encampment period so our preparation leading up is great,” Nedd said. Guyana will be in action

Female Inter-County 50over tournament…

Millington’s bowls Berbice to win

Off-spinner Plaffiana Millington was in top form as he grabbed six wickets to ensure Berbice an easy 10-wicket victory when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior female intercounty 50-over tournament commenced on Saturday at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ground.

Essequibo batted first and were soon back in the pavilion after being bowled out for a meager 19 runs in 12 overs.

Selena Shewram had the

highest score with six runs while Natasha Boson supported with five runs. Left arm seamer, Erva Giddings supported Millington with 2-7.

Openers Melanie Henry (07*) and Katana Mentore (04*) cruised to victory in overs as they ended on 20-0.

Millington was given the player of the match award. The competition continues today with Essequibo facing Demerara at the said venue.

Red steel win thriller...from back page

Akmal seemed to be playing on a different pitch from everyone else as he alone seemed to come to terms with the Warner Park surface.

Just when he seemed to be under no pressure at all he attempted a cut shot off Bishoo that was juggled but then taken at first slip by Dilshan.

It was at this point that the chase began to seem a lot more difficult as Bishoo (4-24) and Narine (1-18) got the ball to turn and spit and wickets continued to fall.

on Tuesday against Jamaica. The Guyanese will then play the Windward Islands on July 8, Barbados on July 10, the Leeward Islands on July 12 and hosts Trinidad and

Having looked like they were cruising to victory the Red Steel just kept stuttering in their pursuit. In the end Red Steel got home with one ball to spare as a Bishoo no ball drew the scores level and the resulting free hit was smashed for six by Kevon Cooper.

The win for the Red Steel means they are lifted from the foot of the CPL table and the Amazon Warriors replace them there. Both teams have games in hand but they will need to start putting some victories together to keep pace with the current leaders. (CPL Release)

Tobago on July 14. Barbados are the defending champions after winning the tournament last year. Guyana’s full squad reads: Ronaldo Mohamed (Captain),

Bhaskar Yadram, Ramnarine Chatura, Raymond Perez, Ashmead Nedd, Timonthy Mc Almont, Sagar Hathiramani, Adrian Sukwah, Steve Deonarine, Asif Ally, Richie

Looknauth, Sylus Tyndall, Joshua Persaud, Kevin Sinclair, Joshua Jones, Gavin Boodwah, Tameshwar Motiram and Romain Muniram.

Garvin Nedd

Ronaldo Mohamed

guyanatimesgy.com

Red Steel win thriller against Amazon Warriors

Acareer best bowling performance from Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel captain, Dwayne Bravo, set up his side’s first win of this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Amazon Warriors were all out for 118 which seemed to be far short of what they needed. However, the Red Steel chase

came down to the last over in a thrilling finish at Warner Park but the Red Steel snuck home.

A brilliant start with the ball from veteran all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, put the Red Steel in charge early on. The South African began with a maiden over and when he came back for his second he picked up two wickets in three balls – remov-

cost of just one run. It wasn’t until Kallis’ third over that the Amazon Warriors were about the shake off the shackles as Brad Hodge and Lendl Simmons hit 15 runs off those six balls. It looked as if Hodge would move through the gears to get the Guyana innings back on track but he fell to a brilliant catch by Samuel Badree off his own bowling.

was far from straight forward as the Guyanese spinners made it very hard for their opponents. The game

ing Tillakaratne Dilshan and Denesh Ramdin. At the end of his first two overs he had collected two wickets for the

In a brave move, the Amazon Warriors promoted Sunil Narine to bat at five in a pinch-hitting role but it did

not work out. While he struck a couple of boundaries during his 15 ball stay, the 14 runs he gave the side did nothing to reacquire the lost impetus. He fell trying to clear the long on boundary off Dwayne Bravo only to be caught by Cameron Delport.

The only man that managed to hang around was Simmons but he struggled to score at the kind or rate that would allow the Amazon Warriors to post a really competitive total. He managed to get to 50 off 47 deliveries before he was bowled by a Dwayne Bravo ball that he attempted to pull which kept lower than he thought.

It became a procession of wickets from that point onwards as Dwayne Bravo collected four victims for the cost of just 18 runs, his best Twenty20 bowling figures, as the Amazon Warriors stumbled to 118 all out.

The Red Steel chase began well enough, with Kallis looking like he would anchor the chase all the way to its conclusion. Delport departed early but Kallis had helped his side knock off half of the required runs before he was well caught by Christopher Barnwell for 20 off 21 balls.

When Darren Bravo de-

SCOREBOARD

Guyana Amazon Warriors innings (20 overs maximum)

LMP Simmons b DJ Bravo 50

TM Dilshan c Benn b Kallis 2

D Ramdin*† lbw b Kallis 0

BJ Hodge c & b Badree 19

SP Narine c Delport b DJ Bravo 14

CD Barnwell c & b DJ Bravo 6

Umar Akmal c ScantleburySearles b Cooper 0

V Permaul run out (Benn/†Kamran Akmal) 8

M de Lange b DJ Bravo 2

D Bishoo not out 5

RR Beaton c Mohammed b Cooper 3

Extras: (b 1, lb 3, w 5) 9

Total: (all out; 19.4 overs) 118

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-6, 3-41, 4-67, 5-90, 6-95, 7-104, 8-108, 9-112, 10-118

Bowling: JH Kallis 3-1-16-2, J Botha 3-0-14-0, KK Cooper

3.4-0-25-2, SJ Benn 2-0-190, S Badree 1-0-2-1, DJ Bravo 4-0-18-4, JPR ScantleburySearles 3-0-20-0.

parted in the next over it opened the door for the Amazon Warriors but Kamran Akmal quickly slammed it shut on his way to 30 off 17 balls. Fresh from his brilliant bowling performance, Dwayne Bravo

Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel innings (target: 119 runs from 20 overs)

JH Kallis c Barnwell b Dilshan 20 CS Delport b Permaul 22

DM Bravo c Beaton b Narine 19 Kamran Akmal† c Dilshan b Bishoo 30 DJ Bravo* b Bishoo

JN Mohammed st †Ramdin b Bishoo 2 J Botha not out 7 JPR Scantlebury-Searles st †Ramdin b Bishoo 2 KK Cooper not out 7 Extras: (lb

would have been hoping to be there when the winning runs were knocked off but a perfect Devendra Bishoo leg break spun past his outside edge hitting his off stump.

Patriots thump Tallawahs by 119 runs

The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots bounced back from yesterday’s defeat in the Hero Caribbean Premier League with a comprehensive victory over the Appleton Estate Jamaica Tallawahs. A brilliant 82 from the Patriots’ Evin Lewis set up a target of 200 and the ever impressive Sheldon Cottrell saluted his way to figures of 3-15 as the home side won easily against the 2013 CPL champions.

Opening the batting with Martin Guptill, Lewis recorded his highest T20 score and his first significant contribution for the Patriots. Having impressed last season with the Red Steel, these runs for his new side will have delighted the young batsman.

SCOREBOARD

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots

M Guptill lbw b Theron 35

E Lewis run out 82

*M Samuels c wkp Walton

b Russell 19

Shahid Afridi c Lynn

b Santokie 14

C Brathwaite not out 36

T Willett run out 1

D Thomas not out 0

Extras (b4, lb3, w5) 12

TOTAL (5 wkts, 20 overs) 199

Did not bat: +S Dowrich, Sohail Tanvir, S Cottrell, T Shamsi

Fall of wickets 1-71 (Guptill), 2-143 (Samuels), 3-144 (Lewis), 4-189 (Shahid Afridi), 5-198 (Willett)

Bowling: Santokie 4-0-381 (w2), Vettori 4-0-34-0, Taylor 4-0-39-0, Theron 3-029-1 (w1), Russell 4-0-421 (w2), Miller 1-0-10-0.

JamaicaTallawahs

b Cottrell 8

C Lynn c wkp Dowrich

b Cottrell 20

M Jayawardene run out 10

A Russell lbw b Shamsi 18

H Miller b Shamsi 2

D Vettori c Cottrell

b Shahid Afridi 1

J Theron st Dowrich b Shamsi 1

J Taylor c Lewis b Shahid Afridi 0

K Santokie b Shamsi 4

N Miller not out 2

Extras: (lb1, w5) 6

TOTAL (all out, 16 overs) 80

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Gayle), 2-18 (Walton), 3-43 (Jayawardene), 4-51 (Lynn), 5-55 (H Miller), 6-56 (Vettori), 7-62 (Theron), 8-63 (Taylor), 9-74 (Russell), 10-80 (Santokie)

Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 2-012-0 (w1), Cottrell 4-0-15-3 (w1), Brathwaite 2-0-190 (w1), Shahid Afridi 4-1-102 (w1), Shamsi 4-0-23-4.

front of square off Jerome Taylor.

*C Gayle b Cottrell 8

+C Walton c Brathwaite

The openers had made 71 in just over seven overs when Guptill became the first wicket when he shuffled across his crease attempting to work Rusty Theron to mid-wicket. He missed and the ball struck his pad as he was dismissed

LBW having made 35 off 25 balls. Lewis kept on going,

bringing up his half century with a brilliant drive for six that was clubbed back over the bowlers head. Lewis combined with his captain, Marlon Samuels, as the two men put on 72 runs at 10 an over. For once it wasn’t Samuels that looked the most fluent of the Patriots batsmen as Lewis was brutal on anything that was short. Perhaps his best shot was the six he pulled in

Samuels never really got going and he was happy to just give the strike to his young partner. In attempting to run the ball down to third man for a single, Samuels was caught by the keeper off the bowling of Andre Russell.

Lewis looked like he was all set to make his first Twenty20 hundred when

the

for 82

balls. That brought Carlos Brathwaite to the crease and once again he made some quick runs. His tournament strike rate is over 200 and once again he was finding the boundary on his way to 36 in 18 deliveries, his highest T20 score.

Shahid Afridi set off for an ambitious single only to see

opener run out

off 45

The Patriots celebrate another wicket on their way to an easy victory

Dwayne Bravo celebrates the fall of another Amazon Warriors wicket