Guyana Times Daily

North Rupununi students visit National Assembly P17

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

Issue No. 3062

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

PRICE

Minister SharpePatterson drops bombshell on Guyanese

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Education in crisis, Govt cannot skimp on spending – Roopnaraine P12

…says “going to private hospitals means you have money, so pay VAT” …taxing condoms is taxing safe sex – Dr Anthony

Page 7

Bandits shoot, rob ECD man in Finance Ministry’s compound …escape with $3M

Budget adds further burdens on Guyanese P9 – FITUG

Page 10

Emergency works!

Brazilian charged for killing Guyanese miner

P8

Teacher freed of sex charge P14

A team from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) was on Tuesday evening engaged in emergency works at the junction of Young and High Streets, Kingston, Georgetown. A high volume of water was seen flowing in the direction of the Canadian High Commission, but according to officials no possible threat is foreseen

Budget demonstrates Govt’s strength to make tough decisions – Harmon Page 3

…dismisses Opposition’s criticisms as scare tactics

21 US deportees arrive in Guyana

P14

Fish depot robbery

3 charged, remanded P14 to prison

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news

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wednesDAY, december 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, December 7 – 10:30h-12:00h and Thursday, December 8 – 12:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, December 7 – 09:30h-11:00h and Thursday, December 8 – 10:50h-12:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers with the possibility of sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, while clear skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to North North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 10:13h and 22:42h reaching maximum heights of 2.31 metres and 2.32 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 03:36h and 16:11h reaching minimum heights of 0.85 metre and 0.94 metres respectively.

saturday, december 3, 2016

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2016

Daily Millions

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Budget demonstrates Govt’s strength to make tough decisions ‒ Harmon …dismisses Opposition's criticisms as scare tactics

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udget 2017—its allocation and controversial tax measures are demonstrative of the strength of the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to take hard decisions to build the economy.

The position was adumbrated by Minster of State Joseph Harmon−the most senior Government speaker in the 2017 debates thus far−on Tuesday, as he appealed to the Guyanese populace to understand the realities within which the 2017 Budget was crafted.

According to Minister Harmon, “reason will resume its seat when you allow for emotions to take flight… Guyana will be a better place with this budget.”

Responding to the unrelenting criticism levelled against the 2017 Budget, particularly by the political Opposition ever since its presentation on November 28 last, Minister Harmon said that the complaint was in fact a rebellion against order.

Scare tactics

According to Minister Harmon, the Guyanese people have grown accustomed to the scare tactics of the PPP/C. He used the occasion of his contribution to the debate to suggest that the PPP/C is in fact engaged in its scare tactics in order to appeal to its dwindling support base, ahead of its Congress to be held in a few days in Essequibo.

According to Harmon, a similar tactic was employed by the previous administration during the public wrangling over the amendments to the AntiMoney Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Laws.

Minister Harmon said

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

the PPP/C at the time went about the country scaring people by telling them businesses will have to shut shop as a result of the failure of the then opposition to agree with the then PPP/C Government over its proposed amendments.

According to Harmon, the PPP/C is a political party notorious for raising the spectre of violence to gather its flock, “and now it is no different they are attempting to vilify a well-crafted budget for their narrow political agenda.”

Green agenda

Turning his attention to the green agenda being promulgated by Head of State, President David Granger, the Minister of State firstly dismissed the previous administration’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) as a “narrow concept.”

The APNU/AFC Government, according to Harmon, is looking to move a green agenda concept to reality.

Drawing reference to assertions he made during

a delegation he had led to a Parliamentary forum at which point it was adumbrated by Professor Clive Thomas that successive generations will have ideas as to where to advance a country.

According to Minister Harmon, it is in this context that government considers LCDS ‘Environment 101’ but the green pathway being pursued by the incumbent is in fact ‘Environment 505’.

“LCDS was a narrow vision and we have to broaden it,” said Harmon, as he alluded to the President’s green pathway being the vessel to be used.

Harmon was adamant that LCDS was merely a concept that could not have been translated into actionable plans and projects.

Harmon said Guyana’s pursuit of a green pathway will positively transform the economy and to guide

the process government is looking to craft a green state development plan.

This plan, he said, will reorient the structure of Guyana’s production base, while pursuing the diversification of the economy that reduces reliance on the ailing traditional sectors such as sugar, rice and bauxite.

The Minister used the opportunity to speak to some of the partnerships that will inform the crafting of its green developmental plan, including the United Nations and the German Development Bank. Harmon spoke too to actions to be undertaken in the areas of protected areas and land management and the preservation of national patrimony for use by future generations, in addition to cementing Guyana’s role on the international scene in securing green solutions to climate related challenges. (Gary Eleazar)

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wednesDAY, december 7, 2016

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

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

Editorial

International Civil Aviation Day

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uyana has made significant strides in our efforts for regional aviation security integration and collaboration, as the aviation sector plays a critical role in facilitating connectivity, trade, commerce and tourism.

Compared to the rest of the world, Guyana’s aviation sector remains small; however, Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson earlier this year assured that in ‘setting the stage’ for a robust aviation sector, there were plans to ensure better compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Towards this end, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his 2017 Budget presentation, had announced that an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system and an Air Traffic Control simulator were procured in 2016. These facilities, he assured, will enhance the country’s capacity to manage our airspace, while aiding in our quest to attain the ICAO Category One compliance, a key requirement for establishing direct routes to more destinations.

In addition, Guyana’s partnership with the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) is expected to raise the nation’s ICAO compliance.

The purpose of International Civil Aviation Day is to help generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States, and of the unique role of ICAO in helping States to cooperate and realise a truly global rapid transit network at the service of all mankind.

As the United Nations and world nations have now adopted Agenda 2030, and embarked on a new era in global sustainable development, the importance of aviation as an engine of global connectivity has never been more relevant to the Chicago Convention's objectives to look to international flight as a fundamental enabler of global peace and prosperity.

Every five years, coinciding with ICAO anniversaries, the ICAO Council establishes a special anniversary theme for International Civil Aviation Day. Between these anniversary years, Council representatives select a single theme for the full four-year intervening period.

For 2015-2018, the Council has selected the following theme: “Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind”.

The campaign highlights ICAO’s efforts to assist States in implementing ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). The main goal of this work is to help ensure that SARP implementation is better harmonised globally so that all States have access to the significant socio-economic benefits of safe and reliable air transport and can address safety, security and emissions-related issues. In 1944, delegates from 54 nations gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Stevens Hotel in Chicago at the invitation of the United States of America.

At this event, the participants concluded and signed the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known more popularly as the ‘Chicago Convention’, the defining international agreement which has since permitted the global civil aviation system to develop peacefully and in a manner benefiting all peoples and nations of the world.

International Civil Aviation Day was established in 1994 as part of ICAO's 50th anniversary activities. In 1996, pursuant to an ICAO initiative and with the assistance of the Canadian Government, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/51/33, which officially recognised December 7 as International Civil Aviation Day in the UN system.

Further, the General Assembly urged Governments as well as relevant national, regional, international and intergovernmental organisations to take appropriate steps to observe International Civil Aviation Day. The day is still celebrated around the world for the people of the aviation community like ATC (air traffic control); airport management; airlines and, of course, the aircraft themselves.

This day also celebrates dangerous flights like QF32 and others that were in disaster but the pilots and crew managed to save the passengers and most of the plane, as well as the terror of the 9/11 event and the world’s worst plane to plane collision involving a KLM 747 and a Pan Am 747 at Schiphol airport, Amsterdam.

Countries are urged to celebrate for CASA, FAA, NTSB, ASTB and other aviation safety regulators and investigators around the world so that today's aviation stays much safer than it was.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas The Georgetown Public Hospital, in collaboration with the Guyana Lottery Company, hosted its annual Christmas Tree light-up in the hospital's compound on Monday. Staff of both entities were joined by children of the paediatric ward of the hospital as they ushered in the festive season (Dexter Ceres photo)

Passing of a Tollywood Film icon once loved in Guyana Dear Editor, Popular Indian actress, Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister (CM) of the state of Tamil Nadu (TN), where many Guyanese trace their ancestry, died on Monday night from cardiac arrest; she was hospitalised for over two months having won re-election by a landslide earlier this year. Ms Jayalalithaa had a huge (Bollywood/ Tollywood) cadre of cinema fans abroad and was well known among cinema goers in Guyana during the late 1960s and 1970s for her role in religious films. The older generation Guyanese Americans also remember her and spoke well of her acting; they remember her films very fondly, describing her as a religious Goddess or Devi portraying such characters in the holy Hindu scriptures.

They say she was most gorgeous and displayed some of the finest acting talent in Indian cinema.

She was an iconic figure in India, as well as among Tamils overseas, including Guyanese in the diaspora, as well as in Guyana.

Guyanese crowded to see her films when she ruled the Indian film industry.

Hundreds of thousands of Tamils (Madrassis as they are called in Guyana) took to the streets in mourning the passing of their political leader, beating their chests

and screaming. Bollywood and Tollywood stars also came out to pay rich tributes to her acting and her role in making Indian cinema popular abroad. Her films and serials were seen all over Asia and the former east bloc countries.

Jayalalithaa co-starred in several films opposite the great actor MG Ramachandran who was also made famous in films depicting Hindu Gods in epics like the Ramayana.

He was described as extremely handsome in his youth, and she was among the most beautiful actresses to come out of India. MG Ramachandran left acting and took up active politics, defeating the popular Congress Party of Indira Gandhi. He became Chief Minister.

Jayalalithaa joined him. And when he passed away two decades ago, she succeeded him as Chief Minister. She was in and out of the Chief Minister position. She defeated the Congress led Alliance over five years ago and won reelection three months ago, defeating the same alliance.

She is supportive of Modi, though her party is not part of the central government.

Politicians from across the political aisle showered glowing praises on the popular politician.

Prime Minister Narendra

Modi (from BJP), as well as his cabinet colleagues and the President Pranab Mukherjee (Congress Party) and the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul all showered accolades on Jayalalithaa.

Government institutions will be closed for three days as a mark of respect for her.

And there will be seven days of mourning. Schools and colleges will also be closed for the rest of the week.

I had the rare occasion to see her once when I visited Madras some fifteen years ago when she was Chief Minister. She was a huge magnet for Tamils.

They stormed her public appearances to see her. Her meetings usually attracted tens, if not hundreds of thousands of followers. A survey I conducted on her performance and re-election chance showed her heading for defeat; she lost reelection. She would make a come-back. During her rule, she courted Tamils abroad to visit TN and to invest in their ancestral state. She had set up a diaspora office in her administration.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (of Tamil descent) recently (last October) visited Chennai, the state capital, but he said he regretted he did not meet the popular CM. However, Nagamootoo told me that he recognised the

popularity of the great CM and her acting credentials. He said the CM’s office treated him like a head of state according him all protocols for such an office. Guyanese who visited Madras and holy cities (like Rameshwaram – where Lord Rama first landed in India after returning from Sri Lanka where he defeated the evil Rawan) say they were treated with respect and love in visits there.

Jayalalithaa was making her state friendly to visiting overseas-based Indians.

Jayalalithaa contributed enormously to the transformation of TN and helped to reduce the poverty level in the state. It was the second best governed state (first being Modi’s Gujarat) under her watch. In TN, she introduced a number of safety net schemes to help the poor, providing them with free or close to free basic rations like rice, flour, oil, grains, etc. She also offered free education to all and free, safe drinking water in the state and protection and rights to girl children.

She will long be remembered for the progress and development of TN earning the pride and respect of Tamils overseas, including Guyanese of Tamil descent.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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

Is the M&CC better off than when we started?

Dear Editor, A good predictor of the next nine months at City Hall under its current leadership is the last nine months. Citizens and Councillors in looking at the period must ask themselves one question, are we better off now than when the new leadership took charge?

As we close the calendar year we owe hundreds of millions to contractors and other service providers, and this does not include the $1.8 billion owed to GPL. Our accounting system leaves much to be desired, it took the Auditor General to tell us that scarcely a dollar of the $300 million given

by Central Government for the Georgetown Restoration Programme cannot be properly accounted for; the Government recently turned down a request for a $600 million bailout by the city, including a $200 million request to fund a clean-up of the capital for Prince Harry’s visit. Last month is perhaps the second month in the last nine in which workers were paid on time. We are in a crisis with no end in sight under our current leadership.

Are we better off today than when we started?

Look back to our crude eviction of the vendors and minibuses from the Stabroek Market Square. Because of a lack of clear vision, the buses have returned and we still

hunt a permanent home for our vendors. When Central Government looked at our actions they begged us to be “sensitive” to the plight of the vendors. However, we did not learn from this experience, as we went on to dislocate vendors from Robb and Bourda Streets, a move our Head of State David Granger weighed in on and described as “reckless”.

We’ve implemented a “Container Fee” to which we are yet to pass a bylaw to give it legitimacy, yet taking a rough hand to block businesses that would not comply with payment.

With Government intervention we were led away from the courts and into the Tripartite Committee; we’ve stopped turning up to engage the Private Sector.

The Parking Meter contract is now legend, with Government intervention.

President David Granger characterised its original cost to consumers as “burdensome”, the Finance Ministry deemed parts of the contract with regards to taxation as “ignorant”, and the Attorney General’s Chambers described other aspects of said contract “onerous” on citizens. These are but a few of the issues which we made the national headlines with, of which the question must be put again, are we better off today than when we started?

City Hall has been rudderless, with compass or course. We’re fighting a guerrilla warfare against the decadence of the past; a climb to the tallest tree would tell us, however, we’re in the wrong jungle. That is why a new strategic direction is needed. I am suggesting that we build on President David Granger’s sound proposition and vision for capital towns as engines for economic development, giving leadership to the regions they are a part of, ultimately contributing to national development.

We have to move away from what President Granger calls “compound mentality” concerned with “control rather than consultation and collaboration with residents”. Instead with a new “capital mentality” we are concerned with “moving beyond providing traditional municipal services”. The new emphasis would be “promoting business, driving economic development and giving leadership to our regions”.

The new vision also embraces a “commercial mentality” where infrastructure, investment, innovation, information and communication technology are all central in fostering economies of scale which are essential to economic growth within the framework of a green economy.

My vision would realise our National Capital City as a growth driver within a green economy by pursuing several core initiatives which, over the next year, will see us more fiscally responsible, streamline our services offered for efficiency, re-tool our workers for greater productivity and engage civil society and the Private Sector towards partnerships; synergies for success.

My agenda would be pro-business to compete with the international capitals of the world because people don't visit countries, people visit cities. This is why whether coming into our country by sea or air, your destination is Port Georgetown (GEO).

I would meaningfully re-engage the Private Sector.

In this context I would setup the Mayor’s Business Forum that improves what the current Tripartite Committee sets out to do. I would include civil society and increase representation from Central Government to include, for instance, the Business Ministry and Tourism Ministry. Youth representation and representation from the new Guyana Market Vendors Union would also be included.

A few months ago I sat down with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the

Where is the reciprocity?

Dear Editor, Granger in his dire need to legitimise, as well as bring his Government into recognition in Caricom brought the Prime Minister of Barbados to Guyana at our 50th Independence celebration. Minister Freundel Stuart was given a red carpet welcome and accorded all the courtesies befitting a leader of another country. In so doing, President Granger was extending the love, friendly and good neighbourliness that exist, or should I say "should exist" between fellow sister Caricom territories. At a regal ceremony held here, Mr Stuart was given Guyana's second highest award, The Order of Roraima.

Now, Barbados held their golden jubilee cele-

brations a few weeks ago and Mr Granger was in attendance, taking some of our soldiers with him to perform a spectacular fireworks display, which they did commendably. Now, one would have thought that the Prime Minister of Barbados would have reciprocated with the usual knighthood of our leader, but this was not to be.

Instead, Mr Granger was only made mention of that he was in attendance and that he gifted the Bajans with his fireworks and nothing else. Without even delving into the details, one can readily conclude that his visit there did not hit a very high note where the Bajan was concerned. His presence there was lowkeyed to say the least.

So, being crestfallen as he was, President Granger then made the excuse that he was not there hunting for an award, but to show his appreciation of the Barbadian Prime Minister for his support in our border issue with Venezuela. Now, I am looking up my history to see if this statement coincides with anything I know about Barbados' sterling support for Guyana and have come up empty handed. And even if that was so, why didn't the Guyanese leader get a knighthood, or some other dignified recognition from his Bajan counterpart? Where is the reciprocity? For Stuart to have accorded Granger any other accolade it would have been an indictment on his, as well as other democrat-

ically elected leaders in Caricom. I like to go back a little into history, when Burnham died none of the Caricom Leaders came to his funeral, no not one.

Were they so busy that no one could have attended?

No? They were all showing their disdain for the lack of democracy in Guyana.

It was protest action from Caricom's leaders.

I would close by saying this, despite Nagamootoo's rhetoric of "not being an Indian" he could have been afforded all the accolades of "An Indian" from India's Government, why couldn't Granger be given that respect right here in his backyard?

Sincerely, Neil Adams

Georgetown Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) to discuss the challenges to doing business in our capital city. It was an insightful discussion and I look forward to continued fruitful engagements with these en-

tities, other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and citizens, as we move Georgetown forward.

Sincerely, Sherod Avery Duncan Councillor

Should schools be closed to allow teachers to attend union meetings?

Dear Editor, At mid-day on Monday (December 5, 2016) I noticed with much surprise that all the schools in the Corriverton area where I live were being closed for the day. Upon inquiry I was told that the schools were being closed to allow teachers to attend a Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) meeting.

Assuming that what I was told is correct (and I have no reason to doubt it), I am forced, as a very concerned citizen, to question the wisdom and propriety of such a (mal)practice at a time when our schools are performing so badly (as can be gleaned from the national examinations results, especially in Maths and English).

I am by no means ‘anti-union’; indeed as a High School Teacher in New Amsterdam, I used to be the Secretary of the

Berbice Branch of what was then known as the AMM (Association of Masters and Mistresses), the equivalent of a union for High School teachers, but we used to keep our meetings in the afternoons or week-ends. I am firmly of the view that the students should not suffer, nor the parents inconvenienced in order to facilitate a Union meeting which can just as easily be held in the afternoon after the normal closure of schools or at weekends or during school holidays (the Christmas break is just around the corner!)

I plead with our dear teachers and the GTU to please reconsider their modus operandi with a view to not rob the poor students of valuable classroom work, nor impose inconveniences on the hardworking parents.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

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WEDNESday, december 7, 2016

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n Howard Gardner’s Frames of Mind, he proposes that there are seven main areas in which all people have special skills; he calls them intelligences. His research at Harvard University was in response to the work that Alfred Binet had done in France around 1900. Binet’s work led to the formation of an intelligence test; we are all familiar with the “intelligence quotient,” or “IQ,” the way that intelligence is measured on his test.

This type of IQ test was used as the basis of another one with which most of us are familiar: the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), which is taken my most college-bound high school students.

Both of these tests look predominantly at two types of intelligences: verbal and Maths. If a person does well on these, s/he is considered “intelligent,” and is a candidate for one of the better colleges or universities. But what about everyone else? How many of you who are reading these words have used the phrase “not good at taking tests,” when talking either about yourself or your child?

The Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory proposes that there are other measures of intelligence beside these two.

I offer this information to you so that you can understand that while many teachers have some knowledge of MI theory, most of our schools are not fully set up to use it to the advantage of all students.

That being the case, perhaps you can either (1) be involved in helping your child’s teachers and school to provide a more balanced programme that develops his intelligences that are not more included in the curriculum or (2) find activities outside of the school environment in which your

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Foundation

child can develop his dominant areas of intelligence.

You should also know that MI theory posits that each of us has, to some degree or another, all of these intelligences. Some of them are simply more developed than others. Furthermore, we are all able to improve our ability in each of these areas.

Gardner stresses that the intelligences are equal in their importance. In alphabetical order, they are: Bodily-kinesthetic: using one’s body to solve problems and express ideas and feelings.

Actors, athletes, a n d

dancers use their w h o l e bodies in this way, much the same way that craftspeople, sculptors, and mechanics use their hands.

These questions can determine if an adult has a strength in Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence: * Do you regularly participate in a sport or some physical activity? * Is it difficult to sit still for long periods of time? * Do you enjoy working with your hands in creating things? * Do you find that ideas and solutions to problems come to you while you are exercising or doing some sort of physical activity? * Do you enjoy spending your free time outdoors? * Do you speak with your hands or other body gestures?

* Do you learn more about things by touching them? * Do you enjoy thrilling amusement park rides such as the roller coaster and other activities like this? * Do you think of yourself as being well-coordinated?

In order to learn a new skill, do you have to practice it to learn it, rather than read about it or see it in a video?

These are some questions to determine if children may be exhibiting a well-developing Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence.

Does your child: * excel in more than one sport? * move various b o d y parts when

required to sit still for long periods of time? * have the ability to mimic others’ body movements? * enjoy taking things apart and putting them back together? * have a hard time keeping hands off objects? * enjoy running, jumping, or other physical activities? * show skill in activities that require fine-motor coordination, such as origami, making paper airplanes, building models, fingerpainting, clay, or knitting? * use his body well to express himself?

Interpersonal: perceiving the moods, feelings, and needs of others. It includes salespeople, teachers,

(Part one)

counsellors, and those we have come to call the helping professions.

These questions can determine if an adult has a strength in Interpersonal Intelligence: * Have people always come to you for advice? * Have you always preferred group sports to solo sports? * Do you usually prefer talking to other people about a problem, rather than figure it out on your own? * Do you have at least three close friends? * Do you prefer social activities over individual pursuits? * Do you enjoy teaching others what you can do well? * Are you considered to be a leader, either by yourself or others? * Do you feel comfortable in a crowd? * Do you prefer to spend your time with others than alone?

These are some questions to determine if children may be exhibiting a well-developing Interpersonal Intelligence.

Does your child: * enjoy socialising with friends? * seem to be a natural leader? * empathise easily with others, which leads to his give advice to friends who come to him with problems? * seem to be street-smart? * enjoy belonging to organisations? * enjoy teaching other children – either peers or younger ones? * have two or more close friends? * serve as a magnet for social activities with others? (childdevelopmentinfo.com) TO BE CONTINUED

Field trips - why they’re A

important

s I prepare - quite last minute, I must admit - for my field trip to Trinidad, I decided to write about what I think the importance of field trips are.

Field trips are not a new concept. It is perhaps, one of the best ways for students to see the application of their knowledge in real life. One of the biggest complaints Ashley Anthony students have is that they can’t understand how what they’re learning will apply to their lives. When will I use organic chemistry? What’s the purpose of learning about dialects and linguistics? However, by going on relevant trips, students are able to see what they’ve been learning in practice. The can see organic chemistry principles being used in a pharmaceutical lab, or they can see the interaction of different dialects in a marketplace. It helps the students understand topics much more deeply, and gives them a perspective, which cannot be attained from just textbooks. They don’t just learn what, but they learn why. “Why is this important?” “How will this help me?” These are some of the questions that are answered by field trips. When students understand the answers to these questions, they are more likely to want to study.

Sometimes, field trips p r o v i d e students with knowledge that they could not else have obtained. For example, in Caribbean countries such as Guyana, it is no hidden fact that all of our schools don’t have the best of resources. It is the reality. Sometimes there are concepts that need to be explained for the syllabuses that require equipment that the school may not have. Rather than just learning the theory, it helps for the students to take a trip to a lab, or even to another school that does have the equipment so that they can see how it works. It is easier to remember something that you’ve done (or seen done) than something that you’ve just read about.

Finally, school trips help to build memories and character. Often times, school trips take us to places that we would not ordinarily go. They push us out of our comfort zones and force us to interact with people of different cultures. We learn how to spend extended time with persons who aren’t related to us, and we may even become more tolerant of other people’s behaviours, which will be incredibly useful in the future, especially in college and in the workplace. Students become closer friends with each other, and they make memories that may last for lifetimes.

So yes, while school trips, especially long ones, may take away from traditional teaching time and may be expensive, if done right, they are definitely worthwhile.

7 Minister Sharpe-Patterson drops bombshell on Guyanese news

wednesDAY, december 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

…says “going to private hospitals means you have money, so pay VAT” …taxing condoms is taxing safe sex – Dr Anthony

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overnment has roundly rejected the avalanche of criticism against the proposed 2017 Budget measure to impose the Value Added Tax (VAT) on health services and medicines, saying that persons that opt to use private facilities and outlets have money to pay.

Minister within the

It was at this point in time the Minister told the House that if anybody wished to go to a private facility, it meant they had money and, as such, must pay VAT. Dr Anthony had been unrelenting in his criticism of the Administration’s signalled intention to apply VAT to drugs, medical sup-

Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson

Communities Ministry, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson dropped that bombshell as she delivered her contribution to the debate over the 2017 expenditures.

She was at the time responding to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Dr Frank Anthony, whose shadow remit in the National Assembly involved the Public Health Ministry.

Dr Anthony had minutes earlier in his presentation lamented the Government’s move to apply VAT to basic medicines and services, and bemoaned the acute shortages of drugs that would plague the public health systems, forcing persons to seek treatment privately.

Minister SharpePatterson, in rebutting Dr Anthony, sought to point out that free medical services were provided by the Administration.

plies and medical services.

The coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government is literally taxing the sick, and Dr Anthony appealed to Government to repeal the careless taxation measures or withdraw the Budget in its entirety.

He told the House, “I am totally at a loss to describe this level of callousness that is being exhibited by this Government…Where is the compassion?”

Lamenting the state of affairs, Dr Anthony reminded the House that the World Health Organisation (WHO), in addition to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), has been advocating the world over to ensure that medicines and health-related services and supply did not attract taxes.

He told the House that for many years the Guyana

Government has been compliant with this regime, and the APNU/AFC Administration was looking to reverse what obtains.

In an appeal to the conscience of the members of the Government, Dr Anthony questioned where was the compassion for the sick, elderly, poor and disabled.

According to Dr Anthony, the measures to impose taxes on the sick demonstrate the nature of the APNU/AFC Government.

He drew the attention of the House that Budget 2017 has brought with it 57 new tax measures, including the

“I am totally at a loss to describe this level of callousness that is being exhibited by this Government…

Where is the compassion?”

– Dr Anthony imposition of VAT on health services and medical services, and questioned whether Government had, in fact, undertaken an assessment

of the impact of its decision.

Dr Anthony called on Government to provide its assessment of the number of jobs that would be lost at pharmacies, maternal and elderly care facilities and other related institutions.

The MP was adamant that the APNU/AFC policy of taxing medicines and health services would have a negative effect on the public health gains made over the years.

According to the former Government Minister, the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Guyana will suffer since the antiretrovirals will now be attracting VAT. Dr Anthony even told the House that condoms would now attract VAT, which effectively meant that Government had placed a 14 per cent tax on safe sex.

“I urge this Government to urgently repeal these exploitive tax measures,” he said.

Bemoaning the state of affairs proposed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Dr Anthony noted that a visit to a medical practitioner would attract VAT. He said Government has been speaking laudably about the need for neonatal care and reducing infant mortality, but the very medicines and services re-

PPP/C MP Dr Frank Anthony

quired to ensure that there was a favourable outcome would be attracting 14 per cent VAT. “If you go to a nursing home to recuperate its 14 per cent VAT,” Dr Anthony bellowed as he cited many of the other numerous services that would now attract the tax.

He was adamant that very often the public health facilities had inoperable equipment or with drug shortages, leaving persons with no choice but to resort to private pharmacies and services.

“If you are hospitalised, the meals that you eat will now attract 14 per cent VAT,” Dr Anthony said.

He too also used the occasion to remind that VAT

was now being imposed on accessories required for differently abled persons, such as hearing aids and wheelchairs.

The former Minister lamented too that Government was even seeking to tax the partially blind since VAT was now applicable to spectacles.

“If you get diarrhoea”, according to Dr Anthony, the treatment for this too will attract VAT even as he sought to emphasise that this also obtained for the treatment of high blood pressure and headaches.

In withholding his support for the 2017 Budget, Dr Anthony described the proposal as visionless, ruthless and careless. (Gary Eleazar)

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News

wednesDAY, december 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Brazilian charged for killing Guyanese miner Old dreams…

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2 4 - y e a r - o l d Brazilian was on Tuesday charged with murder and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Makail Jackson Da Silva, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, is accused of killing Ken Lewis, also known as called “Kid” and “Kenny” at Dukwari Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni). Reports are Da Silva was arrested after the body of his North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) coworker was discovered in a mining pit at Dukwari Backdam.

It was alleged that between November 29 and 30, 2016, he murdered Lewis.

Police in F Division (Interior locations) arrested Da Silva on Thursday last after Lewis’s body was

Tuesday, the suspect and the deceased were seen leaving their mining camp; however the suspect returned alone later that evening.

The following day, November 29, at about 10:00h, the General Manager and a group of workers discovered Lewis’s

body after they followed a trail of blood some distance away from the mining camp.

The matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court where Da Silva is scheduled to make an appearance on December 15.

Supenaam poultry farmer remanded for narcotics possession

A Murder accused, Makail Jackson Da Silva

discovered on Wednesday last with multiple wounds.

According to Police reports, about 16:00h on

54-year-old poultry farmer of Supenaam village on the Essequibo Coast was on Tuesday remanded to prison for the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

Latchman Paul, also called Lachi, made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

According to the facts, at 15:30h on November 3, 2016, Paul was apprehended by Police while in possession of 28 grams of cocaine

in a car on the Rivertown Public Road. He was heading to Supenaam from Lorna Scott’s Perseverance home.

Police, acting on information, stopped the car and subsequently made the discovery. The man was told of the offence and was later taken to the Suddie Police Station. The substance was weighed and amounted to 28 grams of cocaine. The driver was also apprehended, but was later released.

Bail was refused, and the matter was postponed to December 24, 2016.

Region 2 vendor on bail for threatening behaviour

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twenty-nine-yearold vendor from La Belle Alliance Village on the Essequibo Coast was on Tuesday granted bail for threatening behaviour.

Yogeshwar Kumar made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie

Magistrate’s Court.

Police allege that on December 4, Kumar made use of threatening behaviour toward Lall Bacchan.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, and was granted bail in the sum of $15,000.

His next appearance is set for December 13.

J

…deferred?

ust around the time the PPP was launched in the early 1950’s in Guyana to agitate for the independence from Britain, over in the US, African Americans were once again questioning where exactly they figured in the “American Dream”. After all, the American Republic had been founded on the promise “all men were created equal” with the “inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”! And blacks shore weren’t treated equally then. Now? The poet Langston Hughes asked the question in his poem “Harlem”, “What happens to a dream deferred?”

And he wondered, “Does it dry up/Like a raisin in the sun?/ Or fester like a sore—/ And then run?/ Does it stink like rotten meat?/ Or crust and sugar over—/ like a syrupy sweet?/ Maybe it just sags/ like a heavy load./ Or does it explode?”

And here we are in Guyana, 50 years after we DID get “independence” and if we’re honest with ourselves – whether we’re supporters of the PNC, PPP or AFC – we must accept Langston Hughes’ question is still a valid one for us, the Guyanese people. Especially now that Budget 2017’s being presented. What happens to our dreams that’ve been deferred since 1966?

Because we did have dreams didn’t we? The British had raped us for 150 years…and before that the Dutch.

We had been treated as chattel that had no rights…and as bonded labour that was supposed to have SOME rights that were respected in the breach more than anything else. So we dreamt of a time when we too could live with some measure of ease in dignity.

And those who we elected as our leaders to fight for those dreams to become reality promised us that was their mission. The latest lot that were put at the head of the Government – the PNC-led coalition Government – actually promised to deliver “the Good Life”. In capital letters. But the sad reality this budget exposes is those leaders only see the dream for themselves.

How else could the Cabinet give themselves a 50 per cent raise, but Government workers 10 per cent and sugar workers zero per cent? Isn’t that what the British used to do with one salary scale for themselves another (much lower one) for the “natives”? How could they impose hidden taxes on basic items for the poor via the ironically named “exempt” VAT category, when Prezzie’s $24 million annual salary is tax free?

So have our dreams dried up like raisins in the heat of official scorn and neglect? Or is like a festering sore that runs with pus?

Or maybe explode?

But for that to happen, we have to start thinking for ourselves, don’t we?

…not relevant?

After our, so called “independence”, our own poet Bob Marley took notice of our “dreams deferred” and crooned his “Redemption Song”. He gave us – and our leaders – the historical background for our condition: “Old pirates, yes, they rob I,/ Sold I to the merchant ships.” But those pirates and ships were commissioned by the Queen who legalised that inaugural “human trafficking” by passing laws that said we weren’t human.

But today, in pursuit of our dream of equality, our leaders in Caricom have crafted a demand for reparations from Britain. When David Cameron, then PM of Britain, came to the Caribbean, some enlightened leaders warned us to “beware of Brits bearing gifts” – while denying us our just reparations claims.

But to our surprise, Harry, grandson of the Queen – head of the State of Britain and Church of England – visited here, the local leader of the Reparations Committee said “the ‘Prince’ has no say” in reparations so don’t bring up the matter.

He should, emancipate himself from mental slavery!

…of El Dorado

Back in the day, Queen Elizabeth I authorised Walter Raleigh to seek gold in our El Dorado. He failed and was beheaded.

So how come El Dorado’s been found but we’re still dirt poor? Should we behead someone?

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

9 Tax-heavy 2017 Budget “pressures” Ordinary Guyanese - FITUG news

wednesDAY, december 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

poverished state”. FITUG urged the President David Granger-led Administration to re-look, with a view to rescind, the many measures which will be “severe blows on and badly hurt the people, especially the poor and working people of our country.” As the Budget de-

Members of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

T

he proposed fee increases for the 2017 Budget, coupled with over 100 taxes being increased in recent months has brought on “new pressures” to the Guyanese populace including workers, pensioners and other ordinary citizens who stand to face the brunt of the burdens.

This is the contention of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) which noted on Tuesday that upon its examination of next year’s Budget, it has concluded that Government has “woefully fallen short” of its promise of “Delivering the Good Life to All Guyanese”.

“Budget 2017 puts the masses of Guyanese at a severe disadvantage and will certainly worsen the already bad social conditions in the country,” FITUG stated.

In fact, the union group expressed that the Budget will only serve to engender even “greater hardships on our already overburdened working-class”.

Chief among the concerns raised by the body included

the introduction of Value Added Tax (TAX) on electricity and water; the reduction in the number of VAT exempt and zero-rated items which will impact medical supplies and services, and treatments; the introduction of an environmental tax; the increases in the costs of passports; the introduction of fees for TIN certificates; the massive increases in the costs for a number of licences, fees and penalties and the increase in the departure tax.

“The latest burdens to be added comes just a few months after the Government increased about one hundred and forty (140) taxes, some as high as 1,200 per cent. Worst yet is that more are still to come, such as the introduction of parking meters (In Georgetown) and the rumoured increases of rates and taxes, land lease fees and the Demerara Harbour Bridge tolls,” FITUG highlighted.

FITUG has also determined that the Budget is “sorely lacking”, noting that there are “hardly any specif-

ic details or policies” to address the country’s rising rate of unemployment.

“Moreover, the Federation was also dismayed to learn that the Budget did not address, in a positive way, the plight of the sugar workers. For two years now, thousands of workers and their families are being forced to contend with no pay increases.

That aside, the workers are faced with other assaults on their rights and benefits. In the face of such denials, it is damning that large sums are being found to fund super-salaried Government officials and the top echelons of the sugar industry and, possibly, soon a former high office holder,” the statement read.

It was further pointed out that Budget 2017’s “draconian measures” can be seen as an anti-working class Budget. The Federation further noted that this current Budget will “undo many of the positive gains made in the past years” and serve to push many ordinary Guyanese into an “im-

bates got underway earlier this week, Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Irfaan Ali, called on Government to immediately withdraw the Budget. Ali had further suggested that Government would do well to sit with the Opposition

Peoples Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) in order to craft a better Budget. He further expressed that the Budget presented was littered with inaccuracies regarding economic performance and is saturated with an extensive range of new punitive taxes.

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wednesDAY, december 7, 2016

News

Bandits shoot, rob ECD man in Finance Ministry’s compound

…escape with $3M

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29-year-old man is nursing a gunshot wound to his leg after he was shot during a robbery inside of the Finance Ministry’s compound on Tuesday. The incident occurred sometime around 12:55h.

According to reports, the victim, John Brian a supervisor from Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara, was walking on Urquhart Street, North Cummingsburg, heading West with a haversack in his possession, when a white Toyota Premio motor car pulled up alongside him.

bag. However, as the bandits were about to leave, the victim tried retrieving his bag. A struggle ensued and the armed bandit discharged a round at Brian, who was hit to his right thigh. The perpetrators subsequently made good their escape with the bag.

Meanwhile, the victim was rushed to the Police and an ambulance at the scene shortly after the robbery Georgetown Public Two suspects, one of gate. Upon reaching the Hospital in an ambulance whom was armed with a compound, Brian threw the and was taken into surhandgun, exited and ap- haversack which reported- gery. Investigators have proached him. This caused ly contained some $3 mil- since retrieved a spent the man to become afraid, lion cash, on to the ground. shell from the scene howand he ran to the Finance The suspects followed ever no arrests have so far Ministry via the northern him and picked up the been made.

At the scene, a security guard stationed at the Ministry recounted to Guyana Times that she was alone at the gate when the man ran into the yard and was chased by the two bandits. She noted that upon seeing the armed men, she rushed for cover, however, before an alarm couldbe raised, the men had already grabbed the bag and shot the owner.

This is the second robbery in the vicinity of the Finance Ministry in less than a month. On November 16, another East Coast Demerara businessman was robbed of over $2 million by bandits on a motorcycle at the traffic lights at Main and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown.

It was reported that the businessman had just left Republic Bank Limited, Water Street location, along with another person and was on their way home when two men rode up alongside them on a CG motor cycle. The pillion rider jumped off the bike and tried to open the door of the vehicle but it was locked.

This prompted the bandit to whip out a firearm and discharged a single shot, shattering the window. The gunman then grabbed a bag, containing the money before joining his accomplice on the motorcycle and sped away.

Budget food

S

atiricus and his wife were discussing the Budget that everybody – especially Mrs Satiricus – was complaining about. They were in the kitchen where Mrs Satiricus, whose name was actually “Caustic”, was preparing Satiricus’ lunch for him to take to work. He was going to cover the Budget debate in Parliament on behalf of his newspaper.

“I just can’t believe you wouldn’t have the lunch the other reporters get from the people in Parliament,” Caustic said fretfully.

“And I just can’t believe every year I have to tell you the same thing,” complained Satiricus. “When I see those parliamentarians fighting for food, I just lose my appetite!”

“Well I thought with your KFC buddies getting 40 per cent of the Ministries and seats, they would change the food etiquette!” said Mrs Satiricus with a smirk.

“There you go again, with your attacks at the KFC,” grumbled Satiricus. “And don’t think I don’t know you really mean Nagga Man and Rum Jhaat.”

“I have seen those gentlemen eat, you know,” said Caustic. “And I use the term ‘gentlemen’ very loosely!”

“Anyhow, Nagga Man might’ve solved the problem,” said Satiricus. “He raised the Budget for food at every sitting of Parliament from $1.7 million to $2.5 million.”

“Why?” Satiricus’ better half wanted to know. “More food to go around?”

“No. Nagga Man demanded the 50 per cent increase should be for better quality food,” confirmed Satiricus.

“When you have 27 Ministers out of 33 MP’s on the Government benches now getting new million-dollar monthly salaries, you can’t give them the old kind of food.”

“You mean no more baked chicken, macaroni and fried rice?” Caustic demanded with some heat.

“Naah! Lobsters and prawns!” said Satiricus. “With fettuccini alfredo.”

“And you don’t want to eat some of that?” said Caustic incredulously.

“You bet I do!” exclaimed Satiricus. “But can you imagine the fight for food that’s going to take place now?”

“Worse than hogs feeding at the trough!” grinned Caustic. “Here hus…I’m done with your pigeon peas cook up!”

wednesDAY, december 7, 2016

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News

PPP/C rejects misinformation peddled by Govt Ministers … says Opposition salary increase sitting in Parliament’s bank account

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he 32 members of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in the National Assembly have not collected one cent of the salary increase that was foisted on it when the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government unilaterally increased the salaries of its Ministers by as much as 100 per cent along with other Members of Parliament (MPs).

The disclosure was made

by PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who was forced to interrupt the debates for the 2017 National Estimates to offer the clarifications and to reject the misinformation being peddled by the Government Minister.

The insinuation was proffered by Government speaker, Minister with responsibility for the housing sector, Minister Valerie SharpePatterson.

Minister SharpePatterson in her presentation sought to give the impression that the members of the political Opposition had in fact accepted the salary increase, as was the case with members of the Government’s side of the House. Teixeira immediately rose to her feet to challenge the assertion made by Minister Sharpe-Patterson.

PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

After a brief back and forth between Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland and members of the House, Teixeira informed the members that the Minister was erroneous in her assertion.

The PPP/C Chief Whip instead told the House that her party has in fact requested, of the Clerk of the National Assembly, the setting up of a bank account to deposit the increases.

The money is meant to be turned over to a charity to be chosen by the PPP/C. She said the Clerk was written to by the Opposition requesting that the increases in their salaries be deducted and paid into the account.

Teixeira also dismissed the assertion made by the

Minister that the PPP/C had actually said that it would refuse the increases.

She said the PPP/C is on public record saying that the money will be going towards a charity of its choosing and that the money has since been accumulating in the bank account facilitated by the Clerk of the National Assembly.

In an Extraordinary Official Gazette published on September 25, 2016, a mere four months after taking Office, it was noted that the order for the increases of 50 per cent was made on September 23, by Finance Minister Winston Jordan.

According to the order, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will be paid $20,580,000 per annum which works out to just over $1.7 million per month.

Vice Presidents received $11,135,064 per annum or $927,000 per month. Senior Government Ministers are slated for a $10 million annual salary at $869,000 per month, while Junior Ministers will receive close to $700,000 per month.

Parliamentarians were paid $2,402,532 each year.

Increases were also given to the Chief Whips and the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

(Gary Eleazar)

12 news Education in crisis, Govt cannot skimp on spending – Roopnaraine wednesDAY, december 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

E

ducation in Guyana is in crisis and, as such, the Administration cannot skimp in its spending on the sector – which is to receive the largest share of the 2017 $250 billion Budget.

This was the assertion

by Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who in his presentation on the 2017 estimates during the Budget debate on Tuesday, told the House that the allocation of some $49 billion, 17 per cent of the total allocation, is testament to the commitment of the Administration in addressing the challenges in the sector.

According to Dr Roopnaraine, there are things institutionally wrong with the education system that must be fixed, so the investments must be made.

The Education Minister told the House that come

next year the Ministry would continue with its commitment to improve the administration of the education sector.

The Ministry is in fact looking to set the benchmark for the private educational facilities across the country.

He spoke to a threepronged approach on the part of the Ministry to enhance the sector. Dr Roopnaraine reminded that when he had taken office, he had spoken to the need for evidence-based interventions in stemming the dire situation that plagues the sector.

According to Dr Roopnaraine, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the education sector will be wrapping up by the end of the year, with the findings being made public by the end of the first quarter of the upcoming year.

He stressed that education was not an area that

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine during his presentation on Tuesday

should be targeted for politicking and partisanship, and instead encouraged meaningful and constructive interventions, which he said he would be receptive to.

The Minister said if any lessons could be learnt

from the past year, it was the need for greater collaboration with all stakeholders, including parents, in order to craft holistic solutions to address the complex challenges facing the education sector.

Opposition Member

of Parliament, Dr Frank Anthony, in offering a rebuttal to the Education Minister, said while he was happy to see Government continue the tradition of investing in education, there were no concrete plans outlined by the Education Minister.

Dr Anthony recalled that all and sundry have been lectured about the serious problems facing the sector, particularly with Mathematics and science, “and I would have liked to hear a little more about what concrete steps would have been taken to alleviate this problem”.

He said what the House was in fact treated to was generalised statements by the Education Minster but nothing concrete.

“If we don’t get concrete solutions, we won’t solve the problem,” Dr Anthony noted.

The Education Minister’s presentation was, however, not completely devoid of plans for the upcoming year in addition to rehashing some

of the achievements of the sector in the past year.

He told the House the Education Ministry would, in the coming year, expend some $3.5 billion on the rehabilitation of and construction of new schools in addition to improved teaching quarters.

Dr Roopnaraine informed the House too that Government would be looking to create greater access to recreational grounds for schools individually or in a collective.

He added that in 2017, utilising the Yesu Persaud endowment, a facility for the provision of clinical services would be annexed at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The Minister spoke too to the upgrades for the University of Guyana, including the construction of a brand new lecture theatre in addition to improvements in the Bachelor’s Degree programmes being offered at the nation’s premier tertiary education provider. (Gary Eleazar)

news

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wednesDAY, december 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Bartica Massacre trial

2-year-old eye cancer Dennis Williams’ Police Caution victim receives Statement tendered as evidence another donation

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t the resumption of the Bartica massacre trial at the High Court in Georgetown, Superintendent of Police Trevor Reid on Tuesday testified to writing the caution statement of murder accused Dennis Williams who reportedly admitted to being part of the heinous 2008 Bartica massacre.

The senior Police rank, who is currently attached to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), was then a Sergeant of Police at the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in 2008. Reid recalled that on November 8, 2008, at the CID, junior rank Corporal Singh and another Police rank, Sergeant Sarabo, accompanied murder accused Dennis ‘Anaconda’ Williams to Reid’s office where the murder allegations were put to him and he agreed for then Sergeant Reid to write his statement. The 12-member jury heard that Williams was offered a seat and was told of his right to contact a friend, relative or lawyer present.

Reid told the court that the murder accused was told of the Bartica massacre allegations after which Williams reportedly expressed to the Police rank: “Big man, I gon tell yo wah happen.”

Reid told the 12-member jury that after the statement was completed, Williams

Dennis “Anaconda” Williams, Mark Williams, and Roger Simon are the three standing trial for the brutal February 2008 slayings at Bartica

looked at it as if he was reading, said he understood and signed, with Sergeant Sarabo later signing as a witness.

According to the caution statement, it was suggested that Williams and Celbert “ChiChi” Reece were in the boat throughout the duration of brutal slayings and that they heard the gunshots which lasted “for about 20 minutes”.

“Big man, me and Chi-Chi left wid the boat from the back ah the wharf at Kinston,” the statement noted. The caution statement further disclosed that Dennis Williams witnessed five or six men, who were armed with “nuff big guns”, shoot 5 men at the Bartica Stelling and noted that they also came back to the boat with two big canisters. According to the caution statement, Williams also claimed that he never saw the armed men before and

further noted that Chi-Chi was the boat driver and that there was some engine trouble which Chi-Chi had to fix.

Williams was said to have confessed that after the boat was driven up the river side, it was abandoned but the canisters and guns were retained and taken into “the bush”.

“Me spend de night and the next morning, me and Chi-Chi beat out and we come to town. Two days after me go up back deh and me meet ChiChi back at de camp wid them man… me collect me gold and the same day, me beat out to town,” Williams’ signed confession statement further noted. Williams added that he was given 3 ounces of raw gold by Chi-Chi. According to the statement, the murder accused claimed that he sold the gold underneath the clock at “big market” to a man who gave him $200,000 cash. The

jury heard that from this payment, Williams purchased clothes, some of the money was spent on food “and other things”.

“Fine man and them man… ah Chi-Chi people.

This is the truth big man. Me nah kill nobody, me nah had no gun. Them gee me the gold because me see wah happen.

This ah the truth big man. Me vex about the whole itation,” Williams’ caution statement added.

Under cross-examination, Defence Attorney for Denis Williams, Shapheir Husain, suggested that Reid and his junior ranks shocked, kicked and slapped the accused, thereby forcing him to sign the confession statement.

These assertions were however rejected by the Police witness. Dennis “Anaconda” Williams, along with Mark Williams and Roger Simon are the three standing trial for the brutal February 2008 slayings which claimed the lives of twelve persons, including three Policemen and nine civilians. Celbert ‘ChiChi’ Reece, who pled guilty to manslaughter, was last month sentenced to 420 years imprisonment, and co-accused Michael Caesar who also pled guilty, will know his fate December 16.

Meanwhile, the trial of the three accused continues on Friday.

Pandit Sharma and others of his organisation hand over the donation to Omkar Persaud and mother Cassandra Persaud

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he Guyana Pandits' Council and the Radha Krishna Mandir on Thursday last, in keeping with their monthly medical outreaches, made a donation of $315,000 to Cassandra Persaud, mother of Omkar Persaud.

The lad was diagnosed with retinoblastoma (a rare, malignant tumour of the retina) in his right eye, and is in need of urgent treatment in order to keep his eye and sight.

His left eye had been removed via surgery due to the same disease and if left untreated the tumour could ultimately claim his life.

Head of the Guyana Pandits’ Council and the

Radha Krishna Mandir, Pandit Sharma encouraged other religious organisations and the general public to come forward and assist this family in saving the life of their child.

On Saturday last, Director of Roraima Airways, Gerry Gouveia presented the lad with two airline tickets to Cuba where he is scheduled to undergo his surgery.

In handing over the donation, Gouveia said that he is very pleased to contribute to the recovery and improvement of the child’s eyesight and overall good health.

Those who are willing to assist Omkar Persaud can contact his father on telephone number 655-2841.

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wednesday, deceMber 7, 2016

News

US deports 21 3 charged, remanded to prison convicted Guyanese T Fish depot robbery

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ocal law enforcement officials on Tuesday afternoon received some 21 Guyanese-born nationals who were deported from the United States after having served jail time for a range of offences.

Guyana Times understands that the US Government chartered a special flight to transport a group of convicts to Guyana and other Caribbean destinations. The aircraft arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport sometime around 15:30h.

Upon landing at Timehri, the deportees deplaned and were handed over by US Government officials to ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Immigration Department. The group of convicted Guyanese was subsequently escorted to the Police Headquarters Eve Leary under tight security, where they were processed and registered, before being released.

These involuntary migrants had served time for offences ranging from homicide, robberies, possession of illegal firearms, drug trafficking and rape.

The Guyana Police Force is expected to monitor the convicted deportees. In fact, they were informed before being freed that they would have to report to specific Police Stations on a regular basis, as part of the monitoring process.

Caribbean governments have complained bitterly over the years about nationals being deported to their country of birth with-

out much information provided as to their medical and criminal backgrounds and even more importantly, some form of support regarding their smooth integration into their home countries.

In fact, President David Granger last month has expressed some level of concern with regards to Guyana’s ability to handle the influx of Guyanese convicted for serious and violent crimes being deported from the US and other countries.

The President was at the time engaging the local media on his weekly television programme— The Public Interest—and said that Government will be looking to work with its US security counterparts with a view of being notified when such persons are being deported to Guyana.

Granger conceded that there is still some degree of narco-trafficking in Guyana, in addition to execution-type murders and “we don’t want to have people coming back here who contribute to that form of

criminality.”

“We want to be better prepared,” the President said, as he disclosed that the issue is something the Public Security Ministry is aware of.

According to President Granger, “we will have to put measures in place to ensure deportees do not try to perpetrate crimes when they get back here, but it is something we must prepare for.”

Meanwhile, Juncata Juvant, an organisation dedicated to improving the lot of deportees in Guyana, was recently resuscitated here. The organisation intends to establish a shelter facility, either independently or through collaborations with the private sector and/or Government.

At the re-launching ceremony last month, the body’s Vice-President Ruth Howard had promised to deliver a wider range of initiatives to ensure holistic development, support, reintegration and assistance to involuntary re-migrants under a five-year plan.

Corentyne fisherman remanded for killing friend A

Corentyne fisherman who reported to the Police that he and a friend had an altercation during which he “broadsided” him, was on Monday remanded to prison for murder.

Henry Trim, 28, also called ‘Buddy’ of Number 60 Village, Corentyne, Berbice was not required to plea to the indictable charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on November 29, 2016, Trim murdered 25-year-old Ravi Kumar Sharma at Number 60 Village.

Dead: Ravi Kumar Sharma

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Phillip Sherriff told the court that the life-

less body of the Sharma was discovered lying in a pool of blood beneath his home at about 6:00h by his mother on the day in question.

The matter was transferred to the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court and the trial will continue on February 24, 2017.

Trim gave investigators a confession statement claiming that he and Sharma had a fight over a portable DVD player.

Trim also reportedly confided to investigators that he was in a relationship with the dead man’s 57-year-old mother.

he three bandits who allegedly broke into Wild Caught Fresh Fish Depot at Meadow Bank, Greater Georgetown were on Tuesday charged with robbery under-arms.

Marvin Blackman, 25, of Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Neesan Benny, 40, of Bushy Park, Parika, and Jason Brotherson of Garnett Street, Kitty, all appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It was alleged that on December 2, at Meadow Bank, Blackman, Brotherson and Benny, while being armed with a dangerous weapon, robbed Shane Robin of $560,000 in cash and fishing equipment, a total value of $2,560,000.

The trio pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Blackman and Benny were represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson, who made bail applications on their behalf, which were denied as the prosecution objected.

The defendants were remanded to prison and ordered to return to court on January 6, 2017.

On the day in question, one bandit was shot while another was apprehended and a third made good his escape following the robbery.

Accused bandit Marvin Blackman

The injured bandit was shot to both of his legs by Police ranks who responded to the report of a robbery at the fish depot about 00:45h.

The bandit who was apprehended at the site was found hiding in the ceiling by the lawmen.

At the scene last Friday morning, an eyewitness explained that he was about to head to the front of the building when he heard a scream from the supervisor, Shane Robin, and as he looked around, he saw one of the bandits running towards the bushes with a bag he had collected from the two other bandits, who were already in the building. Robin was reportedly gun butted and had to receive medical attention.

He immediately raised

an alarm and the security guard rushed to the scene and without hesitation, contacted the Police.

Within minutes, he noted, two Police Officers arrived.

An employee, who requested anonymity, told Guyana Times in an earlier report, that she was at home when she received a telephone call from the supervisor informing her that the depot had been robbed and the bandits were still in the building.

She explained that when she arrived, the Police had already shot one to the legs and they were trying to get one who was hiding in the ceiling. After some time, the Police managed to get him.

The employee further explained that the men gained entry to the building by climbing through a window. “The window was grilled, but the men loose off the grill and entered…

They then made their way to the office area and broke one of the doors to get into a supply room,” she noted.

She explained that from all indications, they were trying to get the contents of the safe in the boss’s office.

The safe was already out of the office, but they could not open it. “After they realise the Police arrived, they left it in the passageway and went into hiding,” the woman stated.

Teacher freed of sex charge

Royden Rankin with his wife and another relative, moments after he became a free man

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former West Coast Demerara (WCD) teacher, who was before the courts for sexual activity with a child, was found not guilty by majority jury. Thirty-three-year-old Royden Rankin on Tuesday afternoon walked out arm in arm with his wife who was in tears of joy, after he was freed of the crime. The former school teacher thanked the Almighty moments after an 11-1 jury found him not guilty of the offence of sexual activity with a child by abusing a position of trust.

The matter was said to have occurred in a closed room on January 30, 2013; the alleged victim was 15 years old at the time.

Guyana Times understands that during the hours-long deliberation, one male juror held out that the accused should have been found guilty, given the age of the victim.

After the 33-year-old teacher was freed, Presiding Judge Justice Jo-Ann Barlow told him that he did not draw the line between teacher and student and

warned him that in future, he should draw the line as the adult. The Judge further related that 15 year olds cannot be blamed when they fall victim to such activities.

In April 2013, Rankin was charged for the offence and had spent time incarcerated as he awaited trial. He was represented by Defence Attorneys Lyndon Amsterdam and Latoya Roberts, while the State Prosecutors were Shawnette Austin and Siand Dhurjon.

wednesday, december 7, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Hundreds of thousands bid teary adieu to Egypt arrests Jayalalithaa; buried with full state honours organ trafficking ring

H

undreds of thousands of grieving Amma supporters Tuesday thronged Marina Beach, the final resting place of ‘Puratchi Thalaivi Selvi J Jayalalithaa’ to catch one last glimpse of their beloved leader. Her body was shifted from Rajaji Hall, where it was kept for the public to pay their last respects, to an Army truck decked with over two tonne of flowers, and made its way to the MGR Memorial.

AIADMK workers, supporters, Chennai residents lined up along the route to the burial ground as her funeral procession slowly inched towards her final resting place.

There was heavy Police presence in the area, with he-

licopters circling overhead.

Draped in her favourite green saree, Jayalalithaa’s body was moved to a casket made of sandalwood, engraved with the words Puratchi Thalaivi Selvi (Revolutionary Leader) in Tamil. The last rites were performed by her long-time confidant and aide Sasikala.

Her body was lowered into the ground, next to where MGR was buried, after receiving full state honours.

Chennai was under lockdown overnight as police and the administration made arrangements at Rajaji Hall for the body to be kept there for public view before taking it to the Marina Beach. It was at this hall in December 1987 when Jayalalithaa stood for over 12 hours next

E

Prime Minister Narendra Modi consoles Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam while paying his last respects to former AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa at Rajaji Hall (Hindustantimes)

to the body of MGR. Over 15,000 Police personnel were deployed across the city and state transport buses were ordered off the roads, fearing that they would be targeted by mourn-

ers. But the weeping multitude that surged towards Rajaji Hall at the crack of dawn had time only for a last glimpse of their leader who enjoyed cult status as Amma. (Excerpt from The Indian Express)

China urges US to block transit by Taiwan President

C

hina called on US officials on Tuesday not to let Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen pass through the United States en route to Guatemala next month, days after Presidentelect Donald Trump irked Beijing by speaking to Tsai in a break with decades of precedent.

China is deeply suspicious

of Tsai, whom it thinks wants to push for the formal independence of Taiwan, a selfgoverning island that Beijing regards as a renegade province.

Her call with Trump on Friday was the first between a U.S. president-elect or president and a Taiwanese leader since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recogni-

tion to China from Taiwan in 1979.

Tsai is due to visit Guatemala, one of its small band of diplomatic allies, on January 11-12, 2017, its Foreign Minister, Carlos Raul Morales, told Reuters.

Taiwan’s Liberty Times, considered close to Tsai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, reported on Monday

that she was planning to go through New York early next month on her way to Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Taiwan has not formally confirmed Tsai’s trip but visits to its allies in the region are normally combined with transit stops in the United States and meetings with Taiwanfriendly officials. (Excerpt from Reuters)

gyptian authorities have arrested doctors, nurses and professors suspected of being involved in an international organ trafficking ring. The arrests of at least 25 people on Tuesday also included organ buyers and middlemen, the country’s Administrative Control Authority said.

Authorities also found “millions of dollars and gold bullion”. It is illegal to purchase organs in Egypt, but poverty drives some to sell their body parts.

The Administrative Control Authority, a powerful anti-corruption body, claimed the network targeted on Tuesday was “made up of Egyptians and Arabs taking advantage of some of the citizens’ difficult economic conditions so that they buy their human organs and sell [them] for large sums of money”.

It is said the investiga-

tion, which also involved the Health Ministry, focused on a group of private hospitals and health centres, both licensed and unlicensed, where transplants and organ-harvesting took place, according to the Reuters news agency.

Authorities have also seized computers and documents from the 10 centres.

The arrests follow years of concern over the illegal organ trade in Egypt.

In 2010, it was named as one of the top five countries for illegal organ trade by the World Health Organisation’s coordinator at the time, Luc Noel.

Egypt passed laws to try to curb the trade, but according to the United Nations, hundreds of poor Egyptians still sell kidneys and livers each year to be able to buy food or pay off debts. (Excerpt from BBC News)

New Boeing Air Force One too costly, cancel Merkel launches re-election campaign order −Donald Trump with firm stance on immigration

G

erman Chancellor Angela Merkel launched her reelection bid on Tuesday by lashing out at populists trying to exploit fears over the recent influx of refugees, while also taking a tough stance on integration, including a ban on full-face veils.

Merkel outlined her strategy at an annual gathering of her centreright Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, which later voted to re-elect her party chairwoman with 89.5 per cent of delegate votes.

Faced with a similar rise in populism that has consumed key allies abroad, Merkel vowed there would not be a repeat of last year’s

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses delegates during her conservative Christian Democratic Union party’s congress in Essen, western Germany, on December 6, 2016

record refugee influx.

She also stressed it was legitimate for Germany to expect newcomers to integrate, and this included re-

jection of of the niqab fullface veil.

Next year’s polls will “not be a walk in the park” as Germany is deeply po-

larised, noted the German leader, but urged the population to remain “sceptical about easy answers”.

Merkel, who has led Germany for 11 years, last month confirmed she would run for a fourth term but acknowledged that the election would be “more difficult” than any other she has contested.

There have also been questions about whether the 62-year-old has fresh ideas to offer in a world upended by Brexit, the surprise election of Donald Trump and the departure of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi following a crushing referendum defeat championed by populists.

(Excerpt from France24)

15 Saudi Shias sentenced to death for ‘spying for Iran’

A

court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced 15 people to death for spying for Iran and handed 15 others prison terms ranging from six months to 25 years.

They were among 32 men - comprising 30 members of the kingdom’s Shia Muslim minority, an Iranian national and an Afghan - put on trial in February.

Prosecutors accused them of treason, setting up a spy ring, and passing on sensitive data on military zones.

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have escalated in the past year.

Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia broke off diplomatic relations with Shia-led Iran in January following the storming of its embassy in Tehran by pro-

testers angered by the execution of the prominent Saudi Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr alNimr.

Saudi officials insisted Nimr was guilty of terrorism offences, but Iran’s supreme leader said he had been executed solely for his criticism of the Sunni monarchy.

The regional powers also back opposing sides in the

wars in Syria and Yemen.

Amnesty International said the trial of the 32 men was “grossly unfair”.

Taha al-Hajji, a lawyer who represented most of the defendants, told the human rights group that his clients were detained between 2013 and 2014 without an arrest warrant and held for almost three months in secret. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

President-elect Donald Trump called Tuesday for the cancellation of a multi billion-dollar Boeing contract to build the next Air Force One, calling the ballooning costs “ridiculous”

U

S President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday costs for a new Air Force One – one of the most prominent symbols of the US presidency – were out of control, and urged the Government to cancel a contract with Boeing Co for the jet.

Trump, who takes office on January 20, 2017, griped during his unconventional election campaign about the cost of President Barack Obama’s use of the presidential aircraft to campaign for his rival, Hillary Clinton. It was not immediately clear what prompted his complaint about Boeing and the presidential plane, but his transition team said that he aimed to send a clear message he intends to save taxpayers’ money.

The budgeted costs for the Air Force One replacement programme are $2.87

billion for the fiscal years 2015 through 2021, according to budget documents.

A wealthy real estate developer, Trump used his own Boeing 757 to campaign around the country, pledging to shake up Washington. The US Air Force, which operates the presidential planes, first announced in January 2015 that Boeing’s 747-8 would be used to replace the two current planes that transport the US President.

The Air Force awarded Boeing an initial contract worth $25.8 million in January this year. This was to conduct studies on the costs of building the plane with the requirements desired by the White House, including making it possible for the plane to communicate even during a nuclear war, while also looking at lowering costs.

(Excerpt from The Indian Express)

16 news

wednesDay, december 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

LHC staff, GPSU petition Ministry Ramsammy’s Ruminations against CEO replacement The 2017 Budget eschews

M

ore than one hundred employees of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) have reportedly signed a petition against a proposal to have its present Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Farouk Riyasat removed from the post and replaced by a "junior" medical practitioner.

The petition is also supported by Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Representative in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), Maurice Butters, who is presently appealing to the Public Health Ministry to look into the situation.

According to Butters, the proposed decision to have the CEO, who is presently on annual leave, replaced is based on a recommendation by LHC Board Chairman Mortimer Mingo and Vice Chairman Valerie Patterson.

Butters explained that he was reliably informed of the decision during a recent visit to the Ministry, where he was told that a letter was with the Permanent Secretary (PS), Trevor Thomas proposing the appointment of Dr Quincy Jones, who recently returned from training in Cuba.

According to the GPSU representative, he was also informed that the information which reached the PS stated that this was a recommendation of the LHC Board; however, he has refuted that claim, saying that there was no such discussion by the Board.

Injustice

GPSU Region Representative Maurice Butters

10

Butters has so far maintained that the decision was a unilateral one by the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board.

He explained, "Based on my knowledge, and I was there at the last meeting, this matter was never discussed at the Board. This is not the first time we find decisions being made, approaches made to the Ministry and the Board is not properly or officially informed.”

The GPSU representative opined that, before such a decision is made, the CEO should be given at least a month's notice in addition to the position being advertised. He said too that the Board was informed during a previous visit by Health Minister, Dr George Norton that it has no legal standing; therefore, it could not make policy decisions.

Butters added that LHC staff were not comfortable with the decision to appoint a junior staffer as CEO, noting that Dr Riyasat was one of the most senior and experienced practitioners at the hospital and to replace him now would be an injustice to the people of Linden.

"It was during Dr Riyasat's tenure as CEO that we would have had the best period of stable, industrial relations within the hospital...Many times, there are emergencies and he is called out and he does not make a fuss in reporting to resolve whatever medical issues.

He is there day and night...

Where would we find someone with that kind of commitment to an institution?” Butters questioned.

Alluding to the role of the current CEO, Butters said that through Dr Riyasat, there have also been improved relations between management and the Union. As a matter of fact, the GPSU representative said had it not been for the CEO, there would be no monthly statutory meetings between the two bodies. In a letter addressed to the Public Health Minister, which is dated November 8, 2016, employees appealed to Dr Norton not to support the recommendation to have the CEO replaced. The letter which was seen by this publication asserted to the CEO's commitment to the position.

"Dr Riyasat is the only se-

nior and experienced medical officer at the institution...he is on call twenty- four hours per day seven days per week whether it is weekend, holidays or vacation...Reports are that the service of Dr Riyasat is no longer required and one of these junior inexperienced doctors is assigned to replace him as CEO. This matter was not discussed by the Board. As a reminder, the retirement age of employees of the Complex is 60 years and D. Riyasat has not attained that age. History would show that senior managers would have been retained beyond 60 though they offered no expertise as in the case of Dr Riyasat. The question is why is the Board getting rid of the most is prized needs of our community (?)...We call on you Sir to review the decision to terminate the contract of Dr Riyasat and have him reinstated at the end of his vacation. We also take this opportunity to call on you and your management team to visit and hear our concerns as early as possible ", the letter stated.

The letter also went on to state that Dr Riyasat as CEO has improved the relationship between staff and management which employees claim has led to improved services for the people of Linden and Region 10. It added that the hospital's record of zero maternal deaths was owed to him.

The GPSU representative has also contended that it has been months since the branch of the Union within the Hospital has been writing to the Minister and the Ministry's PS, asking them or their representatives to visit the medical institution to meet with staff regarding numerous burning issues affecting them, but, to date, there has been no positive response, only promises.

Suddie man hangs self

F

orty-seven-yearold Ivor Richards of Suddie Housing Scheme, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) was discovered in his home, motionless, hanging from a rope around his neck.

According to information, the man may have committed suicide. Richard’s body was discovered around 08:00h on Tuesday morning by relatives who later informed the Police. It is unclear why the Suddie resident may have wanted to end his life.

After the report was made, the Police visited the scene and Richard’s body was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead by a doctor.

His body is presently at the Suddie mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Only recently a 21-yearold from Affiance also hung himself. He was an electrical engineer student.

policy and embraces gimmicks and trickery

A

PNU/AFC rules Guyana with shocking arrogance and disrespect, even considering their political DNA, now surpassing Burnham's and the People's National Congress (PNC) contempt for the people of Guyana. Clearly, policy is a nuisance for them. They prefer gimmicks, disrespect, arrogance and intolerance as their governance blueprint.

APNU/AFC eschews policyDr Leslie Ramsammy driven governance, preferring gimmick-based trickery.

Take APNU/AFC's response to Cuba and Fidel Castro. No kerfuffling, Guyana owes Fidel Castro and Cuba profound gratitude. No country and no single person have been more generous to Guyana than Cuba and Fidel Castro. That Cuba and Fidel were mortal enemies of America has no diminishing effect on the friendship and generosity Fidel bestowed on Guyana. Their solidarity with the Guyanese people was unflinching and they asked nothing in return.

I know had Donald Ramotar, Bharrat Jagdeo, Sam Hinds, Janet Jagan, Cheddi Jagan, Desmond Hoyte or Forbes Burnham been President at the time of Fidel's death, they would have personally attended the funeral of Fidel. What America thinks would not have dictated their presence in Havana to say "Guyana thanks you, Fidel". Granger, however, had a more important obligation - attend the 50th Independence Anniversary of Barbados. No quarrel there, but it is disgraceful, disrespectful and simply ungrateful that he chose not to attend the funeral of Fidel.

The 2017 Budget has been widely condemned as an antipeople budget, christened with names like "sufferation" and "gimmick" budget, reminiscent of PNC-era budgets. Even groups loyal to APNU/AFC have expressed utter consternation. Heavy tax burdens will impoverish many Guyanese and the many antibusiness measures will strangulate businesses and the economy and suffocate investment. Responding to a crescendo of dissent, Minister Trotman, APNU/AFC's chief Goebbels, chastised the private sector to stop complaining and whining. APNU/AFC exposes its intolerance for voices of dissent, no matter how genuine the concerns, obfuscating issues with arrogance, disrespect and intolerance. Meanwhile, Jordon calls public servants lethargic and not dedicated.

Sugar workers who have been denied any wage increase for 2015 and 2016 will now also be denied any Annual Production Incentive (API). Since 1940 when Bookers agreed to an annual production bonus, sugar workers have earned an annual incentive payment up to 2015. Sugar workers received this API every year, even after nationalisation in 1976. APNU/AFC eroded this benefit in 2015 when the expected 7.5 days API payment was reduced to about 2 days, among the lowest API payment since 1940. Now API for 2016 is zero. No negotiation, brushing aside workers' voices while Nagamootoo scurrilously dismissed the sugar workers as ungrateful.

APNU/AFC promised during the 2015 election that they will reduce VAT, income and corporate taxes. Having failed in 2015 and 2016, APNU/AFC resorted to gimmicks in the 2017 Budget to trick people they are reducing VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent.

But far from reducing VAT burden, they actually increased it by expanding the list of VAT-able items to include water, electricity, medicines, vitamins, educational items like books, computers, the Internet and dozens of items that were previously exempted and zero-rated. One economist estimates that the effective VAT is equivalent to 18 to 20 per cent based on the 2015 VAT-items. It is not a reduction; it is a trick, a gimmick, nothing less. A poor family who might have spent $25,000 per month on VAT-items in 2016 would have actually paid a total of $48,000 in VAT for the year at 16 per cent VAT. In 2017, that same family is likely to spend almost $70,000 to $100,000 because in addition to those 2016 VAT-items, they will also pay 14 per cent VAT on water, electricity and other items. This does not include the increase prices passed on to them by businesses. The 2017 environmental tax on imported and locally manufactured beverages exposes their disrespect and arrogance. The PPP had introduced an environmental tax on imported beverages in the 1990s. RUDISA of Suriname claimed it was a discriminatory tax and the CCJ ordered Guyana to pay RUDISA $US12 million. The case would have fizzled when the PPP sought to expand the tax to include both locally manufactured and imported beverages. APNU/AFC used their one-seat advantage to block the PPP's effort to remove the discrimination. This was a politically motivated injury to Guyana. Today, APNU/AFC is desperate to raise more money for their squandermania using an environmental tax they blocked in Parliament, calling it then antibusiness.

Poor people and the middle class are being double taxed. Not only are they directly taxed, businesses are now going to pass on their increase tax burden on the Guyanese people. Granger, Nagamootoo, Jordon and their colleagues are busy kerfuffling people that the 2017 Budget is based on a policy of tax reduction.

They genuinely think they can fool all the Guyanese people all the time or they can dismiss people with arrogance, disrespect and intolerance. Truth is the Guyanese people know the 2017 budget is nothing but gimmicks and trickery.

(Send comments to doc_ram@hotmail.com)

17 Mixed views as Linden North Rupununi students prepares for mayoral elections visit National Assembly news

wednesday, december 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

A

s the time winds down for Mayoral elections within the Municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), Councillors have expressed mixed views about the process and their intentions come Thursday, December 8.

So far, Mayor Carwyn Holland remains unopposed, and while some Councillors have expressed interest in having him reelected, others have clearly stated their intentions to not vote in his favour.

Councillor Devin Sears, who also serves as Head of the Communications Committee, told Guyana Times that with regards to the Mayoral elections, there are mixed views as it relates to Holland being re-elected. He noted that in every leadership role there must be criticism and opposition; however, he maintained that whatever decision is made on Thursday, it will be in the best interest of the town.

While he noted that there is still a lot of room for development, he said over the last eight months, the Council has been working tirelessly to regain the trust of the people of Linden.

"Heading into the [December] 8th, we have been working very hard as a Council and administrative staff to ensure that we have a smooth flow and of course, that democracy prevails through it all…

Like in any governing system there are always challenges. We've had external challenges, we've had international conflicts, but nevertheless we've overcome it and we're at this point where we want to move Linden forward. It

T

hirty-five students and five teachers from the Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre of Annai, North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Tuesday attended the second day of Budget debates as part of an ongoing United Nations (UN), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) project on Gender and Development,

Mayor Carwyn Holland

Councillor Derron John

will not be an easy task even if the Mayor is to change," he said.

Meanwhile, Councillor Derron John said the Mayor should be given another opportunity to continue the works which he has initiated, and assured of his willingness to work in the interest of the town, regardless of the outcome.

John explained, "I believe Carwyn Holland should be given a fair chance since he was not given a chance to serve a full year and should complete what was started.I will be willing to work with whoever the majority votes for. But let it be known, I'm not aware of any other contender for either post.

What I know, whoever it is, the job is full time according to (Chapter) 28:09.”

However, Councillor Lennox Gasper who has been at loggerheads with the Mayor for some time now has made it clear that Holland would not get his vote; he pointed to Councillor Rawle Friday, who serves as Acting Mayor in Holland's absence, as his preference. According to Gasper, Friday's leadership is much more cohesive and productive than

Holland's.

He said, "Councillors now have to choose who they will put as Mayor to continue for 2017… I've already decided that I'm not voting for Mayor Holland and I'm not promoting myself for Mayor, no, but there are enough competent Councillors. And I'm saying let the process be fair, let the process be democratic, let the process be transparent. Don't try to manipulate Councillors to vote in favour of. Let the Mayor come and show what he has done. In my recollection, 2016, from the 18th of March to date, the Council of Linden did not produce anything.”

Councillor Neola Rogers said the election presents a wonderful opportunity for Councillors, noting that the "young" Council would have been involved in the process of learning over the past eight months.

"I think Mayor Carwyn is an excellent leader and I look forward to working with him more. So I'm definitely voting for our current Mayor. I think he has a bright future ahead of him and so I look forward very much to working with him," she stated.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister explained to the National Assembly that the institute was birthed out of the need to fill the void created by the absence within the education system to provide for the technically inclined and for those who would not be able to benefit from a secondary education.

“There was an emergence of a spirit of volunteerism, fuelled by the pas-

recognised that support is flowing from both sides of the political divide of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Bina Hill students in a letter to the National Assembly said that they are Indigenous youth from many different regions and communities in their second and final year in the institute.

The students are studying Gender Governance and Leadership as one of

sion, by the desire to see the full potential of the Indigenous young people.

The result was that in 2001 the institute came into being,” the Minister said.

Minister Allicock continued that the young people that were present in the Chamber of Parliament Building understood and appreciated the commitment and sacrifices of the institute’s pioneers, while they are equally aware of the significant support that the National Assembly has offered to the institution and its beneficiaries over the years. The Minister said that the students also

the courses, and the visit to Parliament was a practical component of the course which is supported by the FAO of the UN, and by the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry.

The course includes Sustainable Forestry, Organic Agriculture, E n v i r o n m e n t a l Management, Basic Business and Eco-Tourism, Traditional Skills, Craft and Music. The students also manage their own farms. Additionally, the students sang to the Members of Parliament in appreciation for hosting them.

The visiting students

Good Governance and Leadership.

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, addressing the National Assembly in relation to the students and teachers’ visit, said that the students were there to experience the process of decision-making which would touch their lives and those of all.

“It is my hope that (they) will leave here with a positive impression of us here in the National Assembly… at this, the highest decision-making forum in the land,” Minister Allicock said.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESday, december 7, 2016

ARCHIE

A business trip or learning experience will bring you (March 21- that much closer to making April 19) an important decision. Don’t be misled by what others do.

Emotional manipulation is apparent.

ARIES

Speak up and get to the TAURUS bottom of any setback that (April 20- arises. A misunderstanding May 20) can cause financial problems if you aren’t up-front about hidden costs.

dilbert

Turn on the charm and GEMINI spread joy to those you en(May 21June 20) counter. Stick to your goals and aim to finish what you start. Keep your promises and plan something special with a loved one.

Your imagination will kick in, helping you come up with (June 21- solutions to all your problems.

July 22) Listen to your intuition and move forward with confidence.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

It’s time to get out and get serious. Mingle with people in a position to help you advance. Discussing your vision and considering certain partnerships will pay off.

Romance is encouraged.

Think matters through beVIRGO fore taking action. You can (Aug. 23Sept. 22) bring about positive change, as long as you do so using a comprehensive plan. Cut overhead at home and avoid unwanted debt.

Calvin and Hobbes

Don’t give in to someone LIBRA just because you cannot make (Sept. 23up your mind. Take a stance Oct. 23) and put your plans in motion.

A physical challenge will help you bring about positive personal change.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Look for a new and excitSCORPIO ing hobby. Exploring new ave(Oct. 24nues will open doors to friendNov. 22) ships and the acquisition of life skills that will help you advance.

It’s a good day to stick SAGITTARIUS close to home. You’ll face de(Nov. 23- lays if traveling and probDec. 21) lems getting your point across if you discuss your personal concerns. Physical action will have a bigger impact.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You may be missing some CAPRICORN vital information. Before you (Dec. 22decide to make a move, revisJan. 19) it all the pros and cons and get your facts in order. Trust your intuition.

Harness what you have to AQUARIUS offer and make a point to fin(Jan. 20ish what you start. It’s what Feb. 19) you master and complete that will make a difference at the end of the day.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Refuse to let someone lead (Feb. 20- you astray. Remain intent on March 20) turning your ideas into a finished project. When someone tugs at your emotions, press on and ignore such manipulation with dignity.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, DECember 7, 2016

19

Australia reclaim Chappell-Hadlee Federer’s Trophy after Warner assault return further

delayed

Roger Federer has dropped to 16th in the world rankings

R Australian players celebrate after winning the match and clinching the Chappell-Hadlee series

F

ourteen years and one month after Nasser Hussain infamously offered Australia first use of a Gabba pitch that proved brimful of Ashes runs, Kane Williamson gambled similarly and was left with an equally bitter taste of defeat, surrendering the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in the process.

Now, as then, there were mitigating circumstances: the pitch looked to have something in it after rain, and humid, overcast weather suggested apt conditions for swing.

But after a couple of useful early deliveries things cleared for Australia’s batsmen; so much so that they

so many runs to defend, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc all put in strong stints, while Head’s part-time off spin was frugal.

After the toss was delayed by more than half an hour due to light drizzle in Canberra, the hosts were given an ideal start by Warner and a noticeably tighter Aaron Finch, getting through an early period of new ball movement to ease the pathway for the rest.

Warner’s hundred combined judicious shot selection with plenty of hustle between the wickets and power off the bat, his sixth in ODIs this year. Most notable were his muscular, punched drives down the ground that gave New Zealand’s seamers very little margin for error.

Smith, following up from his ground record 164 at the SCG on Sunday, produced another innings of substance and style in Warner’s wake, as the pair combined for a stand worth 145 at better than a run a ball. Head was promoted above

Kane Williamson played a lone hand for his side

SCOREBOARD Australia innings (50 overs maximum) DA Warner c Williamson b de Grandhomme 119 AJ Finch b Santner 19 SPD Smith* c Santner b Southee 72 TM Head c Munro b Southee 57 MR Marsh not out 76 MS Wade† b Boult 11 GJ Bailey not out 0 Extras (lb-11, w-10, nb-3) 24 Total (5 wickets; 50 overs) 378 Did not bat:PJ Cummins, MA Starc, JP Faulkner, JR Hazlewood Fall of wickets 1-68 (Finch, 12.2 ov), 2-213 (Warner, 36.1 ov), 3-248 (Smith, 39.1 ov), 4-319 (Head, 45.6 ov), 5-357 (Wade, 48.5 ov) Bowling : MJ Henry 10-0-91-0 (nb-2, w-2), TA Boult 10-0-801 (w-3), MJ Santner 10-0-471 (w-1), TG Southee 10-0-632 (w-2), C de Grandhomme 9-0-74-1 (nb-1, w-1), 1-0-12-0 JDS Neesham New Zealand innings (target: 379 runs from 50 overs) MJ Guptill c †Wade b Cummins 45

David Warner goes hard through the covers

Marsh when Warner exited, and vindicated the decision by clattering 57 from 32 balls, before Marsh himself followed up with a bullying 76 from 39 the swap appeared to suit both players.

Needing to win to keep the series alive, New Zealand dropped Lockie Ferguson after TWM Latham c & b Hazlewood 4 his Sydney debut for KS Williamson* c Warner b the more experienced Cummins 81 swing bowler Tim JDS Neesham c Starc b Southee.

Australia Hazlewood 74 dropped Adam C Munro c Marsh b Faulkner 11 Zampa from the side C de Grandhomme c †Wade that won handsomely b Starc 12 at the SCG, replacing him with the allround MJ Santner b Starc 2 skills of James BJ Watling† c Warner b Faulkner 17 Faulkner.

TG Southee c Bailey b Cummins 2 Having gambled MJ Henry c Faulkner b Cummins 7 on overcast skies and TA Boult not out 2 the potential for a Extras (lb-1, w-4) 5 slightly tacky pitch, Total (all out; 47.2 overs) 262 Williamson needed Fall of wickets 1-40 (Latham, early wickets but did 5.4 ov), 2-52 (Guptill, 8.3 himself no favours ov), 3-177 (Neesham, 30.6 when placing only two ov), 4-191 (Munro, 33.3 ov), slips for Warner. In his 5-229 (de Grandhomme, first over, Trent Boult 38.4 ov), 6-232 (Williamson, found enough swing 39.1 ov), 7-236 (Santner, 40.5 and bounce to draw ov), 8-243 (Southee, 41.5 an edge from Warner, ov), 9-254 (Henry, 45.1 ov), but it flew past 10-262 (Watling, 47.2 ov) Jimmy Neesham’s Bowling: MA Starc 10-0outstretched left 52-2 (w-2), JR Hazlewood hand at slip rather 9-1-42-2 (w-1), PJ Cummins than straight into the 10-0-41-4 (w-1), TM Head 7-0-31-0, JP Faulkner 8.2-0lap of where third slip 69-2, MR Marsh 3-0-26-0 might have been.

Finch, meanwhile,

accelerated to the team’s second highest total on home soil.

David Warner and Steven Smith set a platform that a supercharged Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh took full advantage of, leaving Williamson’s visitors to chase in hope rather than expectation. Granted

showed he had worked on his first ball dismissal at the SCG, getting forward and across to cover the moving ball, and ensured that Williamson resorted to the spin of Mitchell Santner in only the 11th over of the innings. By the time Finch was bowled behind his pads trying to sweep Santner, there were 68 runs on the board and a platform had been laid.

Smith wasted little time picking up the thread left by his Sydney innings, while Warner played shots all round the ground without ever losing control of his tempo.

Through strong running and the occasional boundary, he pushed on to three figures, doing so with near enough to 20 overs of the innings still remaining.

It took a fine low catch from Williamson at cover to account for Warner, before Smith skied an attempt to loft over cover and so missed out on consecutive hundreds. Head was rapidly into stride, pinging boundaries with relish, in contrast with a more halting effort from Marsh.

These two had traded places in the batting order, and it was not hard to imagine Head keeping his new-found place at No. 5 in

the future, even if M a r s h gradually found his rhythm to strike the ball with the sort of power associated with his best batting days. He put an exclamation point on the innings with a trio of straight sixes in the final over from a humbled Matt Henry.

Of the New Zealand bowlers, o n l y Santner avoided considerable punishment; a trio of no-balls and the resultant free hits did not help either. They commenced their pursuit with a brazen Martin Guptill, following up from his SCG hundred. But Guptill was robbed of his opening partner Tom Latham via a return catch from Josh Hazlewood, before the ball of the night from Pat Cummins found his outside edge.

From there the visitors were always facing a dreadfully difficult task. Williamson put together a typically organised innings, and had staunch support from Neesham - even after he was struck a stinging blow to the right arm by Mitchell Starc. But their efforts did little to prevent the asking rate blowing out, and the consequent pressure delivered a steady stream of skied catches to Smith’s infielders.

After a horrid start to summer, the Australians have found a little of their former strut - Hazlewood and Starc can expect to be given a breather from the third match at the MCG on Friday. Williamson’s men, meanwhile, have some thinking to do, starting with the coin toss. (ESPNcricinfo)

oger Federer will not return from a knee injury until the new year, having pulled out of the International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) because of “uncertainties” surrounding the event.

Roger Federer delays comeback from injury as he pulls out of IPTL The 35-year-old Swiss has not played since a Wimbledon semi-final defeat by Milos Raonic in late July.

World number two Serena Williams has also withdrawn from the IPTL. This year’s tournament features one fewer team than last year, and has been undermined by financial difficulties.

Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, is expected to be fit for January’s Australian Open.

“We have had challenges this year, and we were hoping to get past them,” said IPTL founder Mahesh Bhupathi.

“With the current economic climate in India and

the uncertainty of spending money, I reached out to both Roger and Serena to explain the situation.”

What is the IPTL? Now in its third year, the IPTL is a team competition featuring four city franchises - Indian Aces, Japan Warriors, Singapore Slammers and UAE Royals.

Teams face each other in fixtures in Tokyo, Singapore and Hyderabad from 2-11 December.

There are seven players in each team, with each fixture played over five sets comprised of a men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles match before a ‘past champions’ singles, featuring iconic players.

Kei Nishikori, Tomas Berdych and Nick Kyrgios are the only top-20 singles players involved this year, while ‘past champions’ include Mark Philippoussis and Goran Ivanisevic.

World number one Andy Murray played in the 2014 and 2015 tournaments.

(BBC)

Mercedes considers pairing Hamilton with Alonso – Wolff

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso had a turbulent relationship at McLaren in 2007

M

ercedes are thinking about signing McLaren driver Fernando Alonso to replace Nico Rosberg, team boss Toto Wolff says.

A move would reunite Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, who had a stormy partnership at McLaren in 2007.

Rosberg, 31, retired five days after winning the Formula 1 world title.

“You have to consider Fernando,” Wolff told Sky Sports. “He is a driver I respect a lot. He combines talent, speed and experience. It’s all there.”

However, the cost of buying out Alonso’s contract and the Spaniard’s turbulent relationship with Hamilton could yet prove to be stumbling blocks. Alonso and Hamilton had one troubled season together at McLaren, leading to the Spaniard leaving the

team after agreeing an early release from his contract.

Two-time champion Alonso is entering the final year of his contract, which may force Mercedes to look elsewhere.

With testing due to begin in February, the constructors’ champions will have to move quickly to find a replacement.

Former Mercedes test driver Pascal Wehrlein, 22, remains the most realistic target to join British threetime champion Hamilton, who recently said he “doesn’t care” who Mercedes pick.

Wolff added: “He [Alonso] is in a contract with McLarenHonda at the moment and we just need to weigh all the other options up.

“Both drivers will have equal status and equal opportunity to the best of our abilities. We owe it to the fans. You can’t have a pecking order.”

(BBC)

20 D

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesday, DECember 7, 2016

Russell leads Dhaka to BPL final, Sammy’s blitz eliminates Chittagong

haka Dynamites qualified for the BPL final by crushing Khulna Titans by 54 runs in the first qualifier in Mirpur.

They will play the winner of Wednesday’s second qualifier between Rajshahi Kings and Khulna, who will get a second chance for a place in the final.

Andre Russell turned in a fine all-round performance, making 46 to help Dhaka recover from a poor start to finish with 140 for 8. He then took three wickets to help bowl Khulna out for 86 runs in 16.2 overs.

Dhaka’s defense turned feisty in the first over when pace bowler Abu Jayed charged towards umpire Khalid Mahmood after he had denied a lbw appeal against Andre Fletcher. Shakib Al Hasan released Dhaka’s anger by having Fletcher

stumped in the sixth over.

Allrounder Shakib Al Hasan was fined 20% of his match fees after he was found

Andre Russell bludgeoned 46 and returned figures of 3 for 16

guilty of breaching the BCB Code of Conduct during the first qualifier in Mirpur. Two

SCOREBOARD Dhaka Dynamites innings (20 overs maximum) Mehedi Maruf c †Pooran b Junaid Khan 7 E Lewis c †Pooran b Junaid Khan 11 KC Sangakkara† c sub (Naeem Islam jnr) b Junaid Khan 9 Nasir Hossain c Shuvagata Hom b Fletcher 13 Shakib Al Hasan* c & b Fletcher 18 Mosaddek Hossain run out (Mahmudullah) 8 AD Russell c Mahmudullah b Howell 46 Alauddin Babu b Junaid Khan 0 Sunzamul Islam not out 0 5 Extras (lb-1, w-4) Total 20 (8 wickets; overs; 100 mins) 140 Did not bat: Abu Jayed Fall of wickets 1-11 (Mehedi Maruf, 1.1 ov), 2-27 (Sangakkara, 3.1 ov), 3-28 (Lewis, 3.4 ov), 4-56 (Nasir Hossain, 8.2 ov), 5-65 (Shakib Al Hasan, 10.4 ov), 6-89 (Mosaddek Hossain, 13.4 ov), 7-138 (Russell, 18.6 ov), 8-139 (Alauddin Babu, 19.5 ov) Bowling: Mahmudullah 3-0-26-0 (w-1), Junaid Khan 4-0-24-4 (w-1),Shuvagata Hom 1-0-8-0, BAC Howell 4-0-35-1, Mosharraf Hossain 4-0-18-0, ADS Fletcher 3-0-22-2 (w-1), Shafiul Islam 1-0-6-0 (w-1)

Khulna Titans innings (target: 141 runs from 20 overs) ADS Fletcher st †Sangakkara b Shakib Al Hasan 28 Hasanuzzaman lbw b Russell 5 Mahmudullah* c Abu Jayed b Russell 5 BAC Howell lbw b Sunzamul Islam 4 Abdul Mazid c & b Mosaddek Hossain 7 N Pooran† c Bravo b Abu Jayed 9 Ariful Haque c & b Russell 14 Shuvagata Hom b Bravo 8 Mosharraf Hossain c Sunzamul Islam b Bravo 1 Junaid Khan c Lewis b Bravo 1 Shafiul Islam not out 0 Extras (w-4) 4 Total (all out; 16.2 overs; 92 mins) 86 Fall of wickets 1-34 (Fletcher, 5.1 ov), 2-39 (Mahmudullah, 6.1 ov), 3-40 (Hasanuzzaman, 6.5 ov), 4-46 (Howell, 7.6 ov), 5-53 (Abdul Mazid, 9.3 ov), 6-68 (Pooran, 12.3 ov), 7-81 (Shuvagata Hom, 14.2 ov), 8-84 (Mosharraf Hossain, 14.6 ov), 9-84 (Ariful Haque, 15.1 ov), 10-86 (Junaid Khan, 16.2 ov) Bowling: Abu Jayed 3-020-1, AD Russell 4-0-16-3 (w-1), Shakib Al Hasan 3-022-1 (w-1), Sunzamul Islam 2-0-9-1, Nasir Hossain 1-0-60, Mosaddek Hossain 1-0-31, DJ Bravo 2.2-0-10-3 (w-2)

SCOREBOARD Chittagong Vikings innings (20 overs maximum) Tamim Iqbal* c Patel b Williams 51 DR Smith c Sammy b Williams 0 CH Gayle c Farhad Reza b Franklin 44 Shoaib Malik c Mehedi Hasan Miraz b Farhad Reza 14 Anamul Haque† c Mehedi Hasan Miraz b Farhad Reza 11 Mohammad Nabi run out (Sabbir Rahman) 5 Jahurul Islam not out 11 Abdur Razzak c Mehedi Hasan Miraz b Williams 0 Taskin Ahmed lbw b Williams 0 Saqlain Sajib not out 1 Extras (w-5) 5 Total (8 wickets; 20 overs; 106 mins) 142 Did not bat: Subashis Roy Fall of wickets 1-8 (Smith, 2.2 ov), 2-82 (Gayle, 10.4 ov), 3-112 (Shoaib Malik, 14.6 ov), 4-117 (Tamim Iqbal, 16.2 ov), 5-127 (Anamul Haque, 17.3 ov), 6-131 (Mohammad Nabi, 18.2 ov), 7-131 (Abdur Razzak, 18.4 ov), 8-132 (Taskin Ahmed, 18.6 ov) Bowling: KOK Williams 4-011-4 (w-1), Mehedi Hasan Miraz 4-0-36-0, Afif Hossain 2-0-25-0 (w-4), DJG Sammy 3-0-20-0, Farhad Reza 4-026-2, JEC Franklin 1-0-81, Nazmul Islam 2-0-16-0

demerit points were also added to Shakib’s disciplinary record for his reaction to an lbw appeal that was turned down.

Rajshahi Kings innings (target: 143 runs from 20 overs) Nurul Hasan† c Jahurul Islam b Saqlain Sajib 34 Mominul Haque c Abdur Razzak b Subashis Roy 4 Afif Hossain c Subashis Roy b Abdur Razzak 0 Sabbir Rahman c Mohammad Nabi b Subashis Roy 11 SR Patel b Mohammad Nabi 5 JEC Franklin b Saqlain Sajib 2 DJG Sammy* not out 55 Mehedi Hasan Miraz run out (Taskin Ahmed) 10 Farhad Reza not out 19 Extras (w-3) 3 Total (7 wickets; 18.3 overs; 101 mins) 143 Did not bat: Nazmul Islam, KOK Williams Fall of wickets 1-6 (Mominul Haque, 1.5 ov), 2-8 (Afif Hossain, 2.1 ov), 3-39 (Sabbir Rahman, 5.5 ov), 4-53 (Patel, 9.2 ov), 5-55 (Nurul Hasan, 10.1 ov), 6-57 (Franklin, 10.6 ov), 7-94 (Mehedi Hasan Miraz, 14.2 ov) Bowling:Abdur Razzak 4-117-1, Subashis Roy 3-0-282, DR Smith 1-0-13-0, Taskin Ahmed 3.3-0-31-0 (w-1), Saqlain Sajib 4-0-24-2 (w-1), Mohammad Nabi 3-0-30-1

Shakib was found to violate Article 2.1.4, which relates to “using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during a Match”.

Russell then removed Mahmudullah and Hasanuzzaman, who was given out lbw by umpire Mahmood but replays showed the full toss was missing the leg stump. Shakib sent Hasanuzzaman with a few words. Benny Howell was also the recipient of a poor umpiring decision. He was given out lbw after getting a thick inside edge onto his front pad, but umpire Nadir Shah didn’t budge. Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam was the beneficiary. Abdul Mazid and Nicholas Pooran popped easy catches to the bowler and long-off in the 10th and 13th overs respectively.

Bravo removed Shuvagata Hom and Mosharraf Hossain in the 15th over, which left Khulna tottering at 84 for 8.

Bravo finished the game with his third wicket.

Junaid Khan had earlier rocked Dhaka’s top order, removing Mehedi Maruf, Kumar Sangakkara and Evin Lewis withing the first four overs. Nasir Hossain and Shakib Al Hasan recover the innings briefly but fell to Fletcher’s legspin after making 13 and 18 respectively as Dhaka slipped to 65 for 5.

Russell counter-attacked with three sixes and four boundaries in his 25-ball 46, and also added 49 runs for the seventh wicket with Dwayne Bravo who struck one six in his 22-ball 23.

Junaid finished with his second four-wicket haul of the tournament by dismissing Alauddin Babu in the final over.

Rajshahi Kings vs.

Chittagong Vikings Darren Sammy blitzed a 27-ball 55 to lead Rajshahi Kings to the second qualifier after they beat Chittagong Vikings by three wickets in Mirpur. Rajshahi recovered from 57 for 6 to chase down 143 in 18.3 overs after Sammy put on 37 and 49 with Mehedi Hasan and Farhad Reza respectively. Chittagong were knocked out of the competition.

Sammy cracked Mohammad Nabi for three

fours in the 12th over to get the chase rolling again.

Mehedi’s needless run-out in the 15th over dented their progress, but Sammy smashed three fours past point in the next over, bowled

by Subhasis Roy. Sammy reached his second fifty of the tournament with a straight six off Nabi, before Farhad struck two fours to seal the chase. Sammy was unbeaten on 55 with seven fours and two sixes, while Farhad struck three fours in his 11-ball 19. As soon as he struck the winning runs, the Rajshahi players celebrated in their unique style of pretending to take group photos and selfies. Chittagong, though, lost their way towards the end of their innings where they lost 30 runs in the last 5.1 overs. The top order had set a strong platform and a strengthened batting lineup was unable to capitalise.

Chittagong included Dwayne Smith as an opener, pushing Chris Gayle to No. 3, just the sixth time he has not opened

a T20 innings.

After fast bowler Kesrick Williams had Smith caught at slip in the third over, Gayle launched five sixes, four over the straight boundary. However, Gayle chipped a full toss off James Franklin to long-on, which began Rajshahi’s comeback.

His 44 came off 30 balls. Shoaib Malik and Tamim Iqbal, who made a

record equalling sixth fifty in the BPL, lofted catches into the cover region before Mohammad Nabi was brilliantly run out by a Sabbir Rahman throw from the deep midwicket boundary in the penultimate over.

In the same over, Williams removed Abdur Razzak and Taskin Ahmed to complete his second fourwicket haul in T20s. (Cricinfo)

Darren Sammy hammered an unbeaten 55 to complete Rajshahi’s come-from-behind win

WI U-19 selectees, Persaud, Yadram ready for new chapter

By Delvon McEwan

I

n 2014 Joshua Persaud and Bhaskar Yadram, then two talented 14 year olds started a journey together, one which was skippered by the latter.

That expedition was a success under coach Julian Moore, who led Guyana to their third Regional under-15 title and first in over a decade.

Ever since the pair of Persaud and Yadram have featured in most if not all of the youth teams that left this land to participate in Regional tournaments and on Friday they will start yet another journey together.

This time a bigger reality, they will be part of a 20 member West Indies U-19 training squad, who will be encamped in Grenada for close to two weeks starting on Friday December 9 and lasting until December 22.

The feat is important to the two 16 year old Guyanese players, Persaud a wicket keeper batsman and Yadram a batting all-rounder, who have done themselves justice with their performance during Guyana’s successful campaign in the Regional U-19 tournament which was held in St. Vincent in July-August this year.

According to Persaud, who last year represented the West Indies at the Under-16 level, it is the greatest feeling for a youngster who is aspiring to make a career out of the sport. While his colleague Yadram, who is enjoying an outstanding 2016 in local and Regional cricket, will be fulfilling a chapter of his life he worked tirelessly towards.

In the Regional U-19 tournament neither Persaud nor

Bhaskar Yadram (left) and Joshua Persaud featured in Guyana Jaguars practice session on Tuesday at Providence

Yadram reached their goal they set out prior to the tournament and they were shifted from their usual positions as openers to bat in the middle and lower order. Fortunately for them it somewhat worked in their favour because they are now in the mix at the pinnacle stage of their youth career.

In relation to the shift in batting position, Yadram clearly stated it work for him because he was prepared for the change due to his knowledge on the game-where you have to always be ready to bat in various position or circumstances based on the team’s composition- and due to that he was able to score runs in the middle.

Persaud on the other hand said he missed out on getting sufficient runs but since he returned home has done the necessary to improve his game,

with both bat and gloves. He believes his stint with the West Indies U-16 team in the United Kingdom also contributed to his development and he will continue to execute what he has learnt to ensure he progress in his game.

Meanwhile, Yadram’s objective is to make the final squad to participate in the Regional 50 over tournament which gets underway in January in Barbados and Antigua.

Yadram hails from the East Coast village of Enterprise where he also plays most of his cricket at the community development centre ground in the area or otherwise at the Everest Cricket Club in Georgetown and Rose Hall Town in Berbice.

Persaud lives in the city and represents Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC).

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Hero CPL injects US$102M into host territories

Tourists flock the territories during CPL

T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) continued its upward trajectory in 2016 with the world’s fastest growing T20 tournament contributing a significant economic boost of over US $102,670,565 across each of the seven host territories; Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago and Lauderhill, Florida. The economic impact to the region has shown a staggering rise in recent years from $43,710,638 (in 2014) to $76,255,962 (2015) and now to US$102.6million.

The Hero CPL commissioned SMG Insight/YouGov for the third successive year to conduct an Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) of the Hero CPLT20 Tournament which took place between June 29 and August 7, 2016.

The EIA was to assess the Total Economic Impact for the Caribbean economy of staging such a high profile and successful event across each of the six Caribbean host countries, as well as Florida, as a direct consequence of hosting the event.

Independent research analysis was carried out at each of the venues with 15,399 attendees participating covering a range of topics based on the value of their

visitor spend and length of stay in each specific country.

This year marked the fourth edition for the biggest party in sport, and the figures released on Tuesday, 6 December made for positive viewing and wrapped up a fine year as the Hero CPL has firmly established itself as the number one sporting event in the Caribbean.

The EIA is measured by multiples of three key areas; spend by the organisers and tournament suppliers, visitor spend on transport and accommodation and media value during TV and digital media Broadcasts. *Each of the host countries benefited to a sizable financial windfall which is broken down as follows; Barbados ($15,878,628), Guyana ($15,447,309), Jamaica ($11,151,017), St Kitts and Nevis ($22,722,350), St Lucia ($10,853,052), Trinidad and Tobago ($14,034,964) and Lauderhill, Florida ($12,583,246). For a full breakdown by country please see below.

The economy of finals host St. Kitts and Nevis was the most notable winner overall and the combined total included the organizer spend plus the visitor spend multiplied by the media spend to make the total economic impact figure.

This helped the Federation generate an economic value of over $22,722,350 over the course of the four home St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ pool matches in Warner Park, Basseterre, as well as the finals week itself, highlighting a significant windfall for countries who host the finals.

With the addition of Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida, the staging of the final round of pool matches, which were held between July 28 and 31, helped generate a $12,583,246 boost into the wider Fort Lauderdale economy. The Florida swing of matches marked professional cricket’s first official entry into the United States of America, and saw in the region of 30,000 fans descend on Lauderhill which indicates that playing a select number of games outside the Caribbean has proven to be a success. Tourists who attended these matches also spent $4,751,872 in the local economy.

The fourth edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League ended with Jamaica Tallawahs beating the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the second time in a championship match to claim their second title.

(Sportsmax)

Double-wicket-cricket returns to ECD F

VACANCY

21

sports

223-7230-1 (Ext: 35) NOW!

ormer West Indies youth players Chandrapaul Hemraj and Amir Khan will spearhead more than a dozen top East Coast Demerara players in action on Sunday as the Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club host a double wicket tournament.

The event is sponsored by several businesses based in the village of Enmore and it is expected to be nothing short of excitement.

Some of the other players that should grace the event include; Vishwanauth Ramlakhan, Gavin Boodwah, Imran Hassan, Kamesh Yadram and Harif Habib.

Cash and trophies are up for grabs for the winners, runners-up and outstanding individual perfor-

Amir Khan

Chandrapaul Hemraj

mances.

All proceeds from the event will go to the development of the Enmore Community Development Centre Cricket Club.

Action is scheduled to

get underway at 10:00h and entry in to the venue is free.

For more information contactAnil Persaud-624-6098, Tahal-646-2040 or Bhemraj 676-5681.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesday, december 7, 2016

Digicel Regional 4-Day return fixtures finalised

Barbados Pride will be boosted by the return of internationals and five consecutive matches at home in 2017

T

he West Indies Cricket Board confirmed the schedule of matches for the return leg of the Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament to be played between March and April next year.

Matches in the return leg will follow the Regional Super50 Tournament which will be staged during a month-long period between late January and early February at venues in the islands of Antigua and Barbados.

The return leg of Digicel R4Day matches will feature two day/night fixtures – Jamaica Scorpions vs Leeward

Islands Hurricanes at Sabina Park in the seventh round from Friday, March 17 to Monday, March 20, and Barbados Pride vs Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in the ninth and penultimate round from Friday, April 7 to Monday, April 10.

The Pride will also be looking forward to the return leg of their matches, all of which are scheduled to be contested on home soil, due to the unavailability of the World-famous Kensington Oval during the first leg of matches currently taking place.

RESULTS OF MATCHES Round 1 – November 11 to 14 Jaguars beat Scorpions by 181 runs – Guyana National Stadium, Guyana Hurricanes drew with Pride – Warner Park, St. Kitts Red Force beat Volcanoes by 9 wickets – Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad Round 2 – November 18 to 21 Scorpions beat Volcanoes by 41 runs – Sabina Park, Jamaica Red Force lost to Pride by 292 runs – Queen’s Park Oval Hurricanes beat Jaguars by 4 wickets – Warner Park Round 3 – November 25 to 28 Red Force drew with Hurricanes – Queen’s Park Oval Scorpions drew with Pride – Sabina Park Round 3 – November 26 to 29 Volcanoes drew with Jaguars – Daren Sammy National Cricket Ground, St. Lucia

REMAINING MATCHES

(Scheduled daily, local start times in brackets) Round 4 – December 8 to 11 Scorpions vs Red Force – Sabina Park (10:00h) Round 4 – December 9 to 12 Volcanoes vs Hurricanes – Windsor Park, Dominica (10:00h) Jaguars vs Pride – Guyana National Stadium (15:00h) Round 5 – December 15 to 18 Hurricanes vs Scorpions – Warner Park (15:00h) Round 5 – December 16 to 19 Jaguars vs Red Force – Guyana National Stadium (09:30h) Pride vs Volcanoes – Windsor Park (10:00h)

BREAK FOR CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR’S/REGIONAL SUPER50 Round 6 – March 10 to 13 Volcanoes vs Red Force – National Cricket Stadium, Grenada (10:00h) Scorpions vs Jaguars – Sabina Park (10:00h) Round 6 – March 11 to 14 Pride vs Hurricanes – Kensington Oval, Barbados (10:00h) Round 7 – March 17 to 20 Pride vs Volcanoes – Kensington Oval (10:00h) Red Force vs Jaguars – Queen’s Park Oval (10:00h) Scorpions vs Hurricanes – Sabina Park (15:00h) Round 8 – March 24 to 27 Hurricanes vs Volcanoes – Warner Park (10:00h) Pride vs Jaguars – Kensington Oval (10:00h) Red Force vs Scorpions – Queen’s Park Oval (10:00h)

LATE SEASON BREAK Round 9 – April 7 to 10 Volcanoes vs Scorpions – Arnos Vale Sports Complex, St. Vincent (10:00h) Jaguars vs Hurricanes – Guyana National Stadium (10:00h) Pride vs Red Force – Kensington Oval (15:00h) Round 10 – April 15 to 18 Jaguars vs Volcanoes – Guyana National Stadium (10:00h) Hurricanes vs Red Force – Warner Park (10:00h) Pride vs Scorpions – Kensington Oval (10:00h)

A

Kenisha Phillips

s the 56th National Schools’ Championship came to an end some student athletes were selected to be part of the National Elite Camp.

The two week-long camp should begin in January following finalization with stakeholders.

While 32 were selected from taking part in

Nationals, five did not as the camp looks to have athletes prepared for the 2017 CARIFTA Games.

These athletes were identified by Commissioner on the National Sports Commission Edison Jefford who noted that the list will be sent to the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) for concurrence.

He informed that following a collaborative effort between hosts of the Schools’ Championships: Ministry of Education and Guyana Teachers’ Union and AAG to introduce The Fully Automatic Timing System (FATS) at Nationals, authentic times were produced for the athletes.

The Commissioner stated that he played a major role in facilitating the AAG that operated FATS at Nationals for the first time this year where discussions were held with AAG President, Aubrey Hutson about identifying potential athletes for national selection.

“It is hoped that the AAG, National Sports Commission and Government partner in a substantial way to facilitate the training and development of these athletes since they will form

Compton Caesar

the core of a national team for the CARIFTA Games,” Jefford indicated. Jefford said that all senior Coaches should be invited to assist in training the athletes; he named Wanda Richmond, Johnny Gravesande, Julian Edmonds, Mark Scott and Rawle Griffith among the possible candidates for the Coaches Panel.

MALES NAME

AGE CATEGORY

DISTRICT

EVENT (S)

Orvil Daniels

Under-14

Rupununi

High Jump

Joel Williams

Under-14

East Coast

800m, 1500m

Tyrese Wharton

Under-14

Corentyne

800m, 1500m

Loneil Marks

Under-16

WestCoast Berbice 100m, 200m

Nicholas Daw

Under-16

East Coast

Jermaine King

Under-16

New Amsterdam 200m, 400m

Joshua Williams

Under-16

North West

1500m 1500m

Murphy Nash

800m, 1500m

Under-16

Linden

Godwin Humphrey

Under-16

WestCoast Berbice 400m

Samuel Jordon

Under-18

Corentyne

Long, Triple, High Jump

Daniel Williams

Under-18

Linden

100m, 200m, 400m, High Jump

Samuel Lynch

Under-18

Georgetown

400m,800m, 1500m

Compton Caesar

Under-20

Linden

100m, 200m

Tyrell Peters

Under-20

Berbice

100m, 200m

Delroy Leitch

Under-20

Corentyne

800m, 5000m

1500m,

FEMALES NAME

AGE CATEGORY

DISTRICT

EVENT (S)

Iyonte Phoenix

Under-14

Rupununi

High Jump

Princess Browne

Under-14

Georgetown

100m, 200m

Yesinia Andrews

Under-14

Georgetown

100m, 200m

Kenisha Phillips

Under-16

Georgetown

100m, 200m, 400m

DeshanyaSkeete

Under-16

Linden

100m, 200m, 400m

Kissanna Glen

Under-16

East Coast

800m, 1500m

Chantoba Bright

Under-18

Linden

Long, Triple Jump

Cassie Small

Under-18

Georgetown

100m, 200m

ClaudriceMcKoy

Under-18

Georgetown

800m, 1500m, 3000m

Joanna Archer

Under-18

West Demerara

1500m, 3000m

Toyan Raymond

Under-18

East Coast

200m

Denita Jackson

Under-20

West Coast Berbice

100m, 200m, 400m

Maria Urquhart

Under-20

Georgetown

800m, 1500m

Kezra Murray

Under-20

West Demerara

200m, 400m, 800m

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, december 7, 2016

New Era Entertainment/Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal Tournament 3...

23

UDFA/GT Beer Christmas football championship

4-goal final minute dents Trendsetters

Eagles face Net Rockers, Ward Panthers oppose Hi Stars at MSC

― 13-year-old sinks Mile Spot

Hustlers (black) played intelligent futsal to ‘dull’ Axe’s advance on Monday

By Romario Samaroo

T

he hype of the 3rd annual New Era Entertainment Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal tournament continues to grow as the largest turnout for the tournament to date witnessed some shocking twists in the five games at the McKenzie Sports Club Hard Court, Linden on Monday night.

After being pushed back for two consecutive days, the best was saved for last as the Silvertown All Stars went up against a much younger Trendsetters side.

If the age old debate of youth versus experience was to be settled, it was this match that laid the debate to rest with Silvertown’s experience getting the better of Trendsetters in the 7-6 final match.

The match though by the score looked like a close contest but was far from it as the first half saw Trendsetters racing past Silvertown 2-0. The speed and skill of Kevin Gittens were too much for the older men to counter and Gittens pierced the All Star’s goalkeeper in the 6th and 11th minute (6’ and 11’).

Silvertown seemed to be down and out in the second half but kept on believing that they could make a comeback into the match even as Kwesi Johnson and Delon Luke sent two more goals whistling past their goalkeeper in the 26’ and 27’ respectively to have the score 4-0 way into the second half.

Marlon Bishop provided some amount of hope as he capitalized on a blunder by the Trendsetter goalkeeper to score twice inside three minutes (29’ and 31’) and Allan Rene (33’) to reduce the 4-0 deficit down to 4-3 but Leo Ross showed that Trendsetters could do no wrong as he scored in the 35’ to have the score 5-3 and Bentak Jamal seemed to have sealed his team’s quarter final berth in the knock out competition when he scored in the 39’ leaving Silvertown stranded on 6-3.

However, all was not lost. Rene came to the rescue of Silvertown as he had did in last year’s competition where he blasted a massive nine goals in one match, to score four goals within the last minute. Rene quickly caught a tired Trendsetter goal-

keeper limping and sunk two goals to the back of the net inside 10 seconds to bring life back into the game and returned to stop the crowd in their tracks as he equalised the match before a time out was called leaving 15 seconds on the clock and one goal needed to win against a clearly stunned Trendsetters.

Rene quickly gathered and within the blink of an eye fans saw one of the most hard fought games of the tournament truly adding credence to the old saying “it is not over until the fat lady sings.”

On the other hand, Team Empire was led surprisingly by the likes of a 13 year old talent, Jermain Masson who produced four goals against a skilled Mile Spot to see his team conquer the match 10-3.

The match had barely started and Empire was already one up in the 1’ and quickly added another in the 2’ thanks to Curt Johnson and Kevin Beaton respectively. Kalvin Batson showed that Mile Spot were not going to be a walk over and replied with the first goal for his side in the 14’ but Masson scored in the 19’ and 20’ to send a mes-

Allan Rene scored four crucial goals in the closing minute of the game

sage over to Mile Spot that they were not intimidated.

In the second half, Batson once more found the back of the net in the 22’ leading to a barrage of goals in the final minute of play beginning with Batson’s hat trick in the 30’. Devon Tuder scored Mile Spot’s second goal in the 30’ to have the score stand 6-3. Batson then replied one minute later while Trenton Lashley sent one blasting past Mile Spot’s defence with the score now 7-3. Masson and Lashey score once more (32’ and 34’ respectively) prior to 13 year old form two student’s helmet trick in the 38’ to send his team into the next round.

In the other matches, Axe was not sharp enough to match with Hustlers suffering a 2-9 defeat.

Three goals from Donavon Francis (4’, 19’ and 30’), doubles from Jermain Scotland (10’and11’) and Devin London (39’ and 40’) as well as one a piece foe Deon Charton (18’) and Sean Brawlay (35’) got the job done for Hustlers.

Plantain and Cheese served up a convincing 7-2 beating to East Side Jammers as Al Chester scored four times (29’, 35’, 36’, 39’) to knock the Jammers out. Meanwhile Town Cars raced into a world of trouble when they face Coomacka United losing 3-7. The Daw brothers, Lorrick (9’and 10’) and Kevin (16’, 27’and 29’) were the architects of the defeat.

The action continues on the same hard court on Friday and Saturday as the contest head into the next round. The first prize is $400,000 along with trophies and replicas, up by $100,000 from last year.

The second placed team will claim $150,000 and trophy, third $75,000 and trophy and fourth place will collect a trophy. Other prizes are on offer for the MVP, Best goalkeeper and

Defending three-time Champions Federal Connections will face stiff competition this year

Winners

I

ntense rivalry is expected tonight when the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) organized GT Beer Christmas football championship continues with two more matches at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.

Following the opening night’s double header Net Rockers are out to open their campaign with a win when they face Eagles United as both teams play their first group game from 18.00h and the second will see Hi Stars of West Watooka take on Amelia’s Ward Panthers from 20.00h.

Net Rockers will fancy themselves getting out of their group but will have to start on a positive note against this upcoming Eagles side. The Rockers themselves have a group of youngsters from which they will choose their best team tonight including Orande Wills, former standout school boy player Shane Luckie and a seasoned Denzil Pryce on the forward line.

But the Eagles will call on the exciting young Christianburg Wismar Secondary ‘Multi’ School striker Omar Brewley who is destined to be one of the best players in the region and he will combine his talent with Tashiki Whitehead to bring his Christianburg side victory tonight.

The other game is also up for grabs as both teams are hoping to begin their quest on a positive note as Ray Bobbsemple should be key in this Panthers opening game; but equally important is the young talented Keshawn Dey playing defense and Omally Castello.

However, their opponents Hi Stars must rely on the free scoring ability that Tony ‘Spirit ‘ Adams brings to this side, in addition to the efforts of Jemrain McBean and Marley Major.

On Thursday, another set of matches are set for the MSC ground where there are ten teams in two groups hoping to make it to the last eight, and challenge the defending champions Federal Winners Connection for this championship they have won for the past three years.

The grand prize at stake is $1M compliments of beverage giants Banks DIH through their GT Beer brand along with several other incentives.

BCCI considers Test switch after J Jayalalitha’s death

India is mourning the death of politician J Jayalalitha

I

ndia’s cricket board is considering whether to switch the final Test match against England from Chennai following the death of a local politician.

J Jayalalitha, chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu - of which Chennai is the capital, died aged 68 on Monday.

The fifth Test is due to be held in the city from 16-20 December.

“We are keeping a close watch, and taking input from the local association about sentiments of the people,” said board secretary Ajay Shirke.

India lead the five-match series 2-0 before the fourth Test in Mumbai, which starts on Thursday. (BBC)

wednesday, december 7, 2016

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero CPL injects US$102M into host territories Pg 21

Thousands of fans flocked the territories during the “Biggest Party in Sport”

New Era Entertainment/Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal Tournament 3...

Pg 23

4-goal final minute dents Trendsetters −13-year-old sinks Mile Spot

Thirteen-year-old Jermain Masson (green shorts) was in ripping form on Monday at the MSC

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