Guyana Times Daily

CSEC results

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 2951

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Guyana’s performance in English spikes, Maths tumbles P12

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Aspiring petroleum engineer tops CSEC with 19 Grade Ones

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Page 13

Kayshav Tewari, Queen’s College – 19 Grade Ones

Kimberly Najab, Sarawati Vidya Nakitan – 15 Ones, 3 Twos

Aadilah Ali, Queen’s College – 18 Ones, 3 Twos and 1 Three

Kevall Lall, Anna Regina Secondary – 15 Ones

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Pharmagate

Fatima Karim, St Rose’s – 19 Ones, 1 Two

Sariah Singh, Queen’s College – 18 Ones

Pritisha Baldeo, Sarawati Vidya Nakitan – 14 Ones, 3 Twos, 3 Threes

P3

Pressure mounting on President to sanction Norton

…“This entre thing is a mess” – Dr Jeffrey

Nandlall calls on GWI boss to come clean about fuel licence P7

Joshua Indarjit, Skeldon Line Path Secondary – 17 Ones

Narindra Persaud, Sarawati Vidya Nakitan – 14 Ones, 2 Twos, 3 Threes

QC dominates CAPE 2016 top spots Page 12

Bandits beaten

by North Ruimveldt P2 residents

SOCU denies P9 leaking confidential info – banking sector registered concerns, investigation to be launched

Deenauth Mohabeer, Queen’s College – 6 Ones, 1 Two

Carissa Kissoon, Bishops’ High – 6 Ones

Ashley Anthony, Queen’s College – 6 Ones

Joash Gobin, Queen’s College – 6 Ones

Larissa Wiltshire, Queen’s College – 6 Ones

Mother, father killed in separate ECD accidents

Pages 2&7

EBD man shot in early morning P7 robbery

2 NEWS Ramayya promises to continue fight for Region 6 T THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

hough he is set to leave office on September 15, embattled Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Six, (East Berbice-Corentyne) Veerasammy Ramayya on Wednesday said that he will continue to fight for the residents of Berbice by being an advocate against injustice.

Speaking to Guyana Times in an exclusive interview, Ramayya said he resigned because he did not want to be at the helm of “a corrupt system which had persons fighting to have him removed.”

“I am a barrier for skullduggery, for skullduggery to continue they have to remove me,” he said.

After being offered the position as REO, he said he thought that it would have been the ideal opportunity to do what he needed to do for Berbicians.

The embattled REO said the position was offered to him and he did not look at the salary but at what he could contribute to the people of the region.

Ramayya said following the 2015 General and Regional Elections, he re-

“I am a barrier for skullduggery, for skullduggery to continue they have to remove me.” fused the Prime Minister’s representative position, since, according to him, it would not have given him the opportunity to do what needed to be done for the people of the region.

“That is one of the main reasons why I took this job, not knowing that our own [the Alliance For Change and A Partnership for National Unity] people were in collaboration with the PPP people at the [Regional Democratic Council] RDC level to have me dismissed from that position.”

Ramayya said back in 2011, he had exposed some financial wrongdoings by

Embattled Region Six REO, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya

members of the AFC at the party level and as a result, there has been a vendetta ever since.

“So to keep me around and they are around in Government positions, they feel that they will be caught.

So they are happy because the things that I want to put in place will not come on stream for a very long time.”

The REO said one of the things which has upset him is work ethics. “Most of the time, they come in late so I introduced a timekeeping clock and it was tampered…

Although the salary is not

what they may want, they took the job so they should commit themselves to it but I have not been seeing that commitment.”

Ramayya said during his brief tenure, he became the enemy to many workers, after he alleged he was able to stamp out the theft of diesel.

The REO said he has been informed by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan that several contractors have accused him of preventing them for obtaining contracts. This, he said, was not true. “The tender has to be approved by

the Tender Board before a contract is awarded,” he noted. “I will not subject myself to any contractor, I know plenty contractors. We have a very good relationship but I will never allow them to influence any decision I make.

I will not sign a contract to anybody I do not have the right to do that as Chairman of the Tender Board.

Ramayya tendered his resignation on August 10 to the Communities Minister, giving notice up to September 15, according to a statement from the Ministry on Tuesday.

Consequent to his resignation, the Ministry acknowledged receipt of the notice and expressed gratitude to Ramayya for his service.

Since his appointment, calls have been mounting for the embattled REO to be removed from his post over his apparent incompetence. In fact, a no-confidence motion was made against the REO last year at the Council’s statutory meeting and was passed in November with a 16:8 majority vote.

Moreover, Ramayya was said to be at loggerheads with several officials within the regional administration. He was accused of poor performance and not attending the RDC meetings.

Additionally, the regional Councillors have complained of not being paid their travelling allowances, while contractors have been waiting on payments for months.

Father of 2 killed in Buxton accident

T

he life of Wade Paul, 55, of Lot 106 Middle Walk, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, was snuffed out after he slammed into a motorcar while riding along the Buxton Public Road on Tuesday.

According to information received, the now dead man was riding an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) bearing registration number CF 8345 at a fast rate when he lost control and collided head on with motorcar PPP 4124, which was proceeding in the opposite direction.

Paul was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he died while receiving medical attention. His sister, Christine Zephyr, told Guyana Times that her brother left home at about 12:00h to purchase groceries at a shop on the Buxton main access road. She noted at about 12:45h, she and other relatives received a telephone call informing them of the accident.

Zephyr explained that her father and another relative rushed to the scene, but Paul was already tak-

en to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The sister, who is on vacation, noted that she later visited the hospital only to be told that he sustained broken ribs, severe head injuries and other lacerations to the body.

The father of two, she added, succumbed to his injured later in the evening.

Zephyr further stated that Paul’s wife, who is overseas, was contacted and is expected to travel home soon. The distressed sister noted that her brother was a loving and caring individual who did not get into problems with anyone.

However, she could not say what occurred on the fateful day since they have been receiving conflicting reports of what transpired.

The now dead carpenter leaves to mourn his wife, two daughters and three siblings, among other relatives and friends. The Police are continuing their investigations. A post-mortem examination is slated for Friday at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary.

Bandits beaten by North Ruimveldt residents

O

ne bandit is listed as serious while a second is stable after they were severely beaten by residents of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, during an attempted robbery.

One of the men has been identified as Patrick Goodluck and the other was unidentified up to press time.

Reports reaching Guyana Times stated that the two men attempted to rob Roger Lovell and his family but were instead confronted by residents and given a sound thrashing. However, the Police were summoned and rescued the men from the angry residents.

Although there were re-

ports that the two men were shot, hospital officials confirmed that there was no evidence of gunshot injuries. The men are presently under Police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Acting Crime Chief Hugh Jessamy, also confirmed that a firearm was also recovered at the scene where the men were arrested.

He further stated that the men were not shot by the Police as was reported by another section of the media but rather, they would have sustained injuries at the hands of the angry residents who apprehended them. The Police however, will continue their investigations.

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, August 18 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, August 19 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, August 18 – 16:35h-18:05h and Friday, August 19 – 17:00h-18:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Pharmagate

Pressure mounting on President to sanction Norton … “This entre thing is a mess” – Dr Jeffrey

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while clear skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North easterly to East North-easterly between 0.89 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 04:21h and 16:45 reaching a maximum height of 2.73 metres and 2.71 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:19h and 22:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.46 metres and 0.48 metres respectively.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2016

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Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

ressure is mounting on President David Granger to sanction and even to fire, embattled Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, who lied to the National Assembly over a comedy of errors involving the sole-sourcing of a pharmaceutical storage bond under construction, under the pretext that there was an urgent need for a storage facility.

Dr Norton was caught misleading the National Assembly last Monday during his bid to defend a $25 million advance from Contingency Fund to pay Linden Holdings Inc for the storage of pharmaceuticals as a result of an “emergency”.

Speaking on the fiasco, former Government Minister and political commentator, Dr Henry Jeffrey declared “this entre thing is a mess,” adding that it is now for President David Granger to take appropriate actions, which can certainly define his presidency.

“There is no question this whole thing appears

to be quite underhand. Mr Granger has to deal with it, how he will deal with it will define what his presidency would be like. He has an option to reshuffle his Cabinet, he can sack the Minister; he has to do something about this,” Dr Jeffrey stated.

He said the issue is a grave one since the Minister seems to have misled both the National Assembly and Cabinet. Jeffrey made it clear the Minister must take responsibility for the fiasco, but added that a proper investigation could reveal if the Minister placed himself in this embarrassing situation or if he was led there by those under his charge who may have provided him with misleading information.

Jeffrey said while instances of emergency allow for sole-sourcing, this was not the case, but rather a situation where the Minister manufactured an emergency.

“It was definitely not an emergency… it is quite clear the situation was not an emergency and not the kind of situation that called

P

Former Government Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey

Economist Ramon Gaskin

for sole souring. It they could have left it in Bobby Ramroop’s Bond (NEW GPC INC) until they find something… He created an emergency by not wanting to pay Bobby Ramroop a lesser price than he is going to pay this other man for a facility of lesser standards,” Dr Jeffrey stated.

Meanwhile, Economist Ramon Gaskin called for the entire contract to be quashed and for there to be an open and public tendering process.

“The deal as badly done.

It was not advertised or ten-

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram

dered or so on and it has to be retendered. They cannot go ahead because the deal is not properly done,” Gaskin said in a brief comment.

Former Vice President of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) and Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, declared from the onset that the Procurement Act must be followed and clearly this was not the case.

With regards to the Minister misleading the National Assembly, Ram said that it always improper and very dangerous for anyone to mislead the august body.

Ram said if the Minister Norton committed a breach, then he must be sanctioned.

“I am generally not in favour of reshuffling, because all you do is transferring the problem, if there is one, somewhere else. If the Minister knows he has broken the law or if he breached the rules, then there should be sanctions,” Ram said.

TURN TO PAGE 12

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guyana-times.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 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

Constitutional change T

he parties now in Government - the Alliance For Change (AFC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) - campaigned heavily on the plank of "constitutional change" and in fact was one of the items high on their Manifesto's agenda. It declared unequivocally: "The APNU/AFC recognises that the Constitution, in its current form, does not serve the best interest of Guyana or its people. Within three months of taking up office, the APNU/AFC will appoint a Commission to amend the Constitution with the full participation of the people.

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

Many persons, who felt there were structural political issues that led to objected-to behaviour by the PPP in their twenty-three years in office, voted for the APNU/AFC because they believed such issues would be dealt with in the promised constitutional changes. However, rather than a "Commission to amend the Constitution" being launched, a "STEERING Committee on Constitutional Reform", under the Chairmanship of Nigel Hughes, was in fact constituted after the elections. It appeared that the government was now going to proceed with the promised changed in a two-step manoeuvre.

The Steering Committee took recommendations from the people, and in April of this year, more than a year after the elections, finally delivered its final report to the Prime Minister, in charge of "governance". They had requested (and received) an extension of their time frame so as to secure the "widest consultations possible". Prominent recommendations included reduction of the powers of the President, further devolution of power from the centre and revamping the electoral system. Upon receipt of the Report, the PM promised that a broad based Constitutional Committee, which should include "the PPP and other stakeholders", would consider the submitted recommendations, and the reforms they would initiate.

Two months later however, it appeared that (under the kindest possible interpretation), there was an evident volte face on this issue had been deemed so pressing. As was discussed in this space then, "President David Granger appeared to throw the entire process into a tailspin when he averred that he did not want a "boardroom constitutional reform". This appears to be a direct refutation of the process whereby the Steering Committee produced its recommendations. This was made very clear when the President concluded: "I want people in their communities to meet and express their views. I don't want a group of people sitting down on a room saying what must be done."

Another two months have passed and it is clear that the worst fears are being realised since there has been no mention of a body constituted to conduct the new requirements of "countrywide consultations". In the meantime, the government has continued launching initiatives that have caused a wide swath of their own supporters to fear a replication of the same "excesses" due to structural political ambiguities they found unacceptable in the PPP's regime.

It is interesting that the Prime Minister, who is from the AFC wing of the coalition, has continued to insist that he believes expeditious constitutional change is absolutely necessary - especially as it relates to reduction of the powers of the Presidency. It is clear that there has been a divergence of position between the partners in the coalition on the issue of constitutional change. This is rather unfortunate. The first series of changes to the "Burnhamite" 1980 Constitution occurred in 2000 only after massive protests by the PNC as part of a menu of measures agreed to by the PPP. The PPP had already initiated the process of change based on their prior criticism of the PNC's pre-1992 actions but political contradictions in the system overtook them by 1997.

Tragedy would be repeating itself as a farce if it would take protests to force constitutional change after all the promises.

Jamaica's Elaine Thompson stormed to victory in the women's Olympic 200 meters final with a time of 21.78 seconds on Wednesday to complete the Games sprint double (Reuters)

APNU/AFC meltdown

Dear Editor, Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is having a political meltdown in the USA, not very different from the APNU/AFC Coalition's precipitous meltdown right here in Guyana.

And the reasons for the two meltdowns are basically the same; a profound ability to not be concerned with any of the outside realities and tell tale signs of failure and dislike by the population.

Neither the Trump campaign nor the APNU led Coalition is seeing the harsh reality confronting each. How could a Government not know the impact of the fall out which resulted from the unjustifiable and significant increase in their salaries and the firing of workers? And how can the coalition not understand that the reason it gave for the increases – which was to make the Ministers “unbribable” – is now proving laughable?

Corruption is alive and well within this new government worse than its predecessor.

The meltdown continues with their support for the still unjustifiable parking meter scheme. The Government continues to pussyfoot about the legality of this illegal issue, while claiming that it is under review. It is as if

the administration is tonedeaf to the cries of their constituents. The leaders of the M&CC, with its Central Government imposed Town Clerk, continues to be an albatross around the necks of the new administration.

Additionally, the melt down is again on the march with the pharmaceutical bond fiasco. Again, like with the parking meter deal, the Granger administration is calling for an investigation and review. It is almost laughable how this Government, while in the opposition, decried the corrupt behaviours of the previous Government, while mimicking exactly the very atrocities.

Could President Granger tell the Guyanese people why he needs to investigate the behaviour of the Health Minister? What is there to investigate? Concerns are also being raised as to the billions of dollars in settlements to the very BK. It is obvious that the Granger Government is in too deep. It seems as if they have neither the capacity nor the requisite competence to successfully manage Guyana.

In just one year, the unconscionable corruption, as displayed by the PPP, is being repeated by these new min-

isters, with just as much frequency and magnitude.

The United Republican Party (URP) is therefore wondering if it is not time for a review of the Cummingsburg Accord, with an aim of restructuring the government.

Or maybe the administration needs to invite credible members of the previous administration to aid in stop-gap measures to reduce the unfolding meltdown.

We, the Guyanese masses, continue in observe in bewilderment the stagnation of our country. The corrupt wealthy are becoming more corrupt and more wealthy, while those who work hard and honestly for what they have or need are feeling the blunt of an inept and neophytic Government.

Simultaneous to the economic stagnation is the fact that more than 15 months have passed and there are still no plans for growth and job creation. The Government has adopted an auto pilot mode and the country is now being taken for a ride along an uncertain path.

There was a time when a majority of the Guyanese people would have accepted this kind of visionless leadership. That time has passed!

Except for some kind of elec-

toral fraud, the Guyanese voters will hold their leaders to account. Gone are the days when any party got overwhelming support, even while hurting the country.

We saw the shift from blind party allegiance in 2011 and again in 2015. The URP will continue to meet with the electorate across the length and breadth of Guyana. We will continue to cast a vision for a safe and progressive country. And when the time comes, we will ask for consideration to be given to us as elected representatives.

Meanwhile, it is just so sad to have to sit on the sidelines and watch the sickening and unjustifiable meltdown of the current administration that is in a free fall like the Trump campaign. It is sad because even as they continue to meltdown, they are taking the youths’ desires and the economic fortunes of the country with them.

There is no bright future for Trump if he continues with his racist campaign and there won't be a future for APNU (AFC has dissolved into APNU) unless it cleans up its ways.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bandhu Leader, URP

Questions taxpayers need answered Dear Editor, Guyanese need to know if this Sussex Street, Georgetown, drug bond was in the 2016 budget. The Honourable Minister George Norton must explain if it was in the capital profile. Hence, if it was in the budget, was there a request for a change of programme?

Taxpayers need to know if there was an engineer’s estimate and who prepared the engineer’s estimate for the Ministry of Health. Further, we need to see the bid document. We need to know who

the consultant to oversee the project is.

Was there the necessary advertisement? Who was present at the opening of the tenders? And where are the minutes of the tender opening?

Can we see the list of tenders?

Were the NIS and IRD compliances provided and in whose name?

Taxpayers need to know the names of the evaluation team and the coordinator of the evaluation team. We must know who signed off on the evaluation report. The public needs to know where the min-

utes of the evaluation report are. As a consequence we need to know who awarded the contract and to whom the contract was awarded to.

We would like to know if there was a Bid security and the expiry date of the Bid security. Was there a Bid Bond?

And what was the expiry date of the Bid Bond? What was the Mobilisation Advance?

Further, we need to know the amount of money that was allocated for the Advance.

Was there a security for the Mobilisation Advance? We need to know the expiry date

of the Mobilization Advance and how the Advance will be recovered.

Was an award letter issued and signed by the accounting officer? Finally when was the contract signed in accordance with the Bid document?

It is time for the people in this country to stop this level of eye-pass in this country and all those imminent Guyanese who were calling for transparency and accountability must now voice their opinion.

Regards, Neil Kumar

guyana-times.com

THURSDAY AUGUST 18, 2016

5

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

AFC needs to do some introspection Dear Editor, I always preferred the AFC as the party to run the affairs of Guyana. I saw Khemraj, Nigel and Moses as focused, intelligent, patriotic men.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) are national parties with huge followings but they are severely damaged, both of them. I can only support them if I hold my patriotic and objective noses.

In fact I think that had it not been for our entrenched racism and protracted brain drain, both the PNC and the PPP (or at least their leaders) would have been relegated to the dust heap of history.

How any right thinking Guyanese could represent the philosophies and ideologies of those two parties is beyond my imagination.

Those two parties have collectively steered Guyana into a ditch and have almost suffocated us for the last 50 years.

And yet none of the leaders of either party would offer even a modicum of apology to the Guyanese public for the albatross that they have around our necks.

There is this prevailing, pathetic pretence from the supporters of either party

that their leaders did nothing, or are doing anything, wrong. It is as if when you subscribe to a party’s allegiance in Guyana, you become brainwashed and blighted.

Why Guyanese – the poorest and most abused citizens in the Western hemisphere – refuse to hold their political leaders accountable, is fodder for clinical psychologists and social scientists to chew on for years to come.

We saw what 50 years of mismanagement have gotten us. We are the richest natural resource country in the Caribbean, yet our successive governments have abused us and raped our economy.

They have partnered with likeminded cronies, despots and crooks – local and foreign – and have abused our trust. We have the lowest wage income brackets, the lowest GDP, the highest crime rate, the sickest people, the highest migration and deportation rates, the highest suicide rates and the most uneducated population.

All this as we have come to our 50 years of independence. And the fact is that all these negatives were bequeathed to us by only two parties, the PNC and the PPP.

Now we have come to more enlightened days.

Technology and post modernism have gripped the world, yet Guyanese seem to be in a daze. We operate as if the shackles of nonchalance and dispassion have been welded around our collective psyche. In an age of the Obamaeffect and the Arab Spring, Guyanese seem stuck in time.

By a very slim margin, the old guards were removed in 2015. The new guards have come in with obvious, paralleled, desires as the guards we removed.

And the very scary reality is that the old guards are waiting in the wings, to unleash on the Guyanese people the very attitudes for which they were removed. And it seems as if the new guards – like the old guards – want to make sure that when they are removed from power, they never have to work another day in their life.

And to think that these atrocious behaviours, per-

petuated by members of both side of the political spectrum, are being facilitated and endorsed by fellow Guyanese. There is an old familiar spiritual song which has as a part of its refrain in this line, “There’s none so blind as he who wilfully will not see”.

I began this letter by noting my admiration for the Alliance For Change (AFC). I will close by restating it. It is clear that the problems which this government now faces are as a result of wounds inflicted by the PNC arm of the Coalition.

The BaiShanLin fiasco, the increases in ministers’ salaries, the BK steel debacle and billion dollar settlement, the parking meter mess and now the pharmaceutical bond dust-up.

These are all doings that particularly benefited the PNC members of the government.

The AFC continues to be silent and sheepish, but aloft from the systematic

confusion and charges of corruption.

I would want to think that the AFC, if only in the interest of self-preservation, will regroup and rethink its relationship with the Coalition. The AFC needs to do some introspection and consider its legacy.

Does the AFC want to be tied to what appears to be a haemorrhaging, sinking PNC ship? I have always thought that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change marriage was a mistake; the incompatibilities are

too many. The AFC has lost it voice. If the Coalition government is the nation’s parents, then what I am saying is that the AFC is just standing there, watching, while the PNC abuses their children.

This should not be allowed to continue. Either the AFC asserts its rightful place in the marriage or realise that a divorce, on the grounds of abuse and desertion, is legally and ethically permissible.

Sincerely, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

Dealing with cyberbullying — tips for children and parents to prevent and stop cyberbullying

(Conclusion)

Deal with incidents of cyberbullying * Don't reply to any incidents of cyberbullying but do save and document the threats (harassing messages, sexually explicit pictures, or threatening texts, for example) and report them to the police. Seek appropriate legal advice. * Report incidents of cyberbullying to the ISP, the cell phone company, and to any web site used in the cyberbullying. * Block the cyberbully's email address or cellphone number, or change your child's email address or phone number.

If you are able to identify the cyberbully, you could contact his or her parents or notify your child's school if the cyberbully is also a student there. Many schools have established protocols for handling cyberbullying but check with your child first as he or she may prefer to resolve the problem privately.

If your child is a cyberbully It can be difficult for any parent to learn that their child is bullying others but it's important to take steps to end the negative behaviour before it has serious and longterm consequences for your child.

If your child has responded to being cyberbullied by employing their own cyberbullying tactics, you can help your child find better ways to deal with the problem. If your child has trouble managing strong emotions such as anger, hurt, or frustration,

Should your child have a social media account?

(CONTINUED FROM TUESDAY)

— children are focused on photos, fans, and followers – like it or not.

BY MARISA COHEN

talk to a therapist about helping your child learn to cope with these feelings in a healthy way.

Bullying is often a learned behaviour Some cyberbullies can learn aggressive behaviour from their experiences at home, so it’s important to set a good example with your own Internet and messaging habits. As a parent, you may be setting a bad

example for your kids by spanking or otherwise striking them, verbally or physically abusing your spouse, or by dis-

playing bullying behaviour such as: * Sending or forwarding abusive emails or text messages that target co-workers or acquaintances. * Communicating with people online in ways that you wouldn’t do face-to-face. * Abusing your child’s sports coach, umpires and referees, or members of the opposing team. * Swearing at other drivers on the road. * Humiliating a waitress, shop assistant, or cab driver who makes a mistake. * Talking negatively or writing abuse messages about other students, parents, or teachers so that your child thinks it’s acceptable to use verbal abuse or cyberbullying to intimidate others.

Tips for pare n t s dealing with a cyberbullying child * Educate your child about cyberbullying. Your child may not understand how hurtful and damaging their behaviour can be.

Foster empathy and awareness by encouraging your child to look at their actions from the victim’s perspective. Remind your child that cyberbullying can have very serious legal consequences. * Manage stress. Teach your child positive ways to manage stress. Your child’s cyberbullying may be an attempt at relieving stress. Or your own stress, anxiety, or worry may be creating an unstable home environment. Exercise, spending time in nature, or playing with a pet are great ways for both kids and adults to let off steam and relieve stress. * Set limits with technology. Let your child know you’ll be monitoring his or her use of computers, tablets, smartphones, email, and text messaging. If necessary, remove access to technology until behaviour improves. * Establish consistent rules of behaviour. Make sure your child understands your rules and the punishment for breaking them.

Children may not think they need discipline, but a lack of boundaries sends a signal that the child is unworthy of the parents’ time, care, and attention. (www.helpguide.org)

If your child posts on YouTube, you can ask him to make all his videos “unlisted,” meaning they can only be viewed by people who use a link that he sends them. If they’re posted as “public,” remind him that anyone can view and post nasty or inappropriate comments. Another huge safety issue to keep in mind is geotagging (when a photo is stamped with the location where it was taken): Before you let your child post, go to the settings on his phone and turn “location services” off.

Also, be certain that he knows he can talk to you about a n y thing

bad or weird that happ e n s – whether another child starts bullying him or someone h e doesn’t know tries to contact him or ask for personal information. “It’s a conversation you have to begin before you give him the device or let him join the site, and you must keep the discussion going,” says Balkam. Lay down the rules for using technology from the beginning (when and how he’s allowed to use it and specific punishments if he breaks the rules).

And as difficult as it will be for your big child to understand that his actions today can reverberate in the future (such as when he applies for college or a job), stress the “Grandma Rule,” says Dr Rich. “Never post or ‘snap’ anything that you wouldn’t want your grandma to see.”

Help her get a grip on "Likes" As any adult who’s ever posted on soc ial media knows, it’s easy to become preoccupied with how many likes your photo or joke gets, and even the youngest children are not immune to measuring their self worth this way. I’ll confess that my daughter, Molly, is constantly checking how many followers she has on her Instagram fan page for the Broadway musical Hamilton (I allowed her to join at age 11). But the joy she gets from posting videos, trivia, and photos and connecting with fans who share her passion has made it a positive experience.

However, experts caution t h a t most social

media doesn’t r e v o l v e around musical passions and deep thoughts but focuses on photos and videos that put the emphasis on looks. “Constantly viewing images that feature appearance, popularity, and even ‘sexiness’ pushes a dangerous message, especially to young girls,” says Michele Borba, EdD, author of UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Children Succeed in Our All-About-Me World. “They can buy into the view that what I look like is more important than who I am.” To keep your child’s image from sliding too far into the “look how pretty I am” lane, encourage her to post about books she likes, causes she’s interested in, and positive messages that she’d like to share.

Right now, Molly seems content with posting pictures and lyrics from her favourite show (with occasional shots of cute animals on her personal account). But if her social media excursion ever gets in the way of her schoolwork or she starts posting inappropriate pictures, I’ll know. After all, I am one of her biggest followers, online and in real life. (Parents. com)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Mother killed, daughter critical Nandlall calls on GWI boss to in Mahaica accident come clean about fuel licence GWI boss’ fuel licence

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ormer Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, has called on Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Incorporated Ltd (GWI), Dr Richard Van West-Charles, to come clean with the Guyanese public on propriety of a fuel licence issued to Atlantic Fuels Inc. Nandlall made the call on Wednesday after information surfaced that Dr Van West-Charles was handed the fuel licence by the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) in November last year and is valid until 2025.

The licence has been issued in the name of Atlantic Fuels Inc. Nandlall has since sought to query whether Dr Van West-Charles obtained the licence lawfully or “did he get it through the exercise of political clout and influence?”

The former AG who served as legal advisor to Government has since questioned whether the GWI boss disclose to his employers – the Government of Guyana – that he is engaged in the business of importing, wholesaling and storing fuel.

Nandlall has also called on the relevant authorities to say whether the requirements for the granting of such a licence were satisfied.

Nandlall observed that “these requirements are both numerous and onerous.” He pointed to the fact that among the criteria for the grant of such a licence requires the acquisition of suitable premises and facilities; suitable vehicles to transport fuel, including boats; environmental permits; and an Environmental Impact Assessment.

He said too, a certificate from the fire department is also required in addition to the installation “of certain devices and a host of other requirements which are contained in the regulations made under the Guyana Energy Act.” The former Attorney General, in light of the disclosed information, has also called on the GWI CEO to say whether these business

Dr Richard Van West-Charles

operations conflict with his current functions at GWI and whether the particulars of his business been disclosed to the Integrity Commission?

According to Nandlall, “The nation is quickly learning that we seem to have a Government of wheelers and dealers in office.”

But Dr Van West-Charles

“Just relax and don’t talk to me,” was the response of the GWI CEO, when contacted on Wednesday

by Guyana Times has since refused to provide any answers.

“Just relax and don’t talk to me,” was the response of the GWI CEO, when contacted on Wednesday by Guyana Times, to solicit clarification to concerns raised since it has been published that he has been granted a licence to import/wholesale and store fuel.

In fact, Dr Van WestCharles told an enquiring Guyana Times journalist, “you got gall to call me,” and hung up his telephone.

Dr Van West-Charles is a prominent supporter of the coalition A Partnership

for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Administration, and was former Health Minister and son-in-law to the late Forbes Burnham.

Checks with the Deeds Registry Department on Tuesday revealed that Atlantic Fuels Inc was registered as a company in February 2015 and was issued with its fuel import licence in November 2015.

Directors of the company are Dr Richard Alexander Van West-Charles, Lear Solomon Goring, Andron Alphonso and Ronaldo Alphonso.

The company’s Secretary is listed as Andron Alphonso and its address is listed as Lot 16 Sublot ‘A,’ Mudlot, Kingston, Georgetown.

The information has since led to calls for Dr Van WestCharles and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) to clear the air on the issuance of the licence to the prominent supporter of the Administration.

The Atlantic Fuels Inc licence has listed in its articles of incorporation and fuel licence, its address in Kingston, Georgetown, but checks at the listed address however, revealed that there is no storage bond for fuel at that location, neither any signage for Atlantic Fuels Inc. In fact, the Kingston address houses, in addition to an office for Atlantic Fuels Inc, another company, Adamantium Mining.

According to a copy of the licence seen by Guyana Times, the document is valid for 10 years and was inked on November 5, 2015 by GEA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mahender Sharma.

The licence #: IL/0055 of 2015 grants to Atlantic Fuels Inc permission for the importing/wholesaling of diesel in Guyana during the period November 5, 2015 to November 4, 2025 – a total of 10 years.

Permission was also granted to Atlantic Fuels Inc subject to the conditions of its licence, for the storage of diesel for the purpose of import/wholesale at 16 Sublot ‘A,’ Mudlot, Kingston, Georgetown.

Dead: Bibi O’Donovan

The wrecked car in which O’Donovan and her daughter were travelling

British citizen was on Wednesday morning killed, while her daughter is in a critical condition, following an accident along Chelsea Public Road, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

Dead is Bibi Aneeroon O’Donovan, 58, formerly of Lot 15 Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice (WCB); while Shaneeza Lewis, 23, is presently a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Reports are that the mother and daughter were heading to the Eugene F Correia International Airport for a flight to Barbados then to London when the driver of the car reportedly lost control and slammed into a parked truck.

Guyana Times was told that the car bearing registration number HC 6753 was speeding along the East Coast Public Road. Both the now dead woman and her daugh-

ter were transported to the Mahaicony Hospital where the mother was pronounced dead on arrival.

Her daughter, however, was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was, up to press time, in a stable condition.

When contacted, Azeemoon McLean, the now dead woman’s sister told Guyana Times that she received the dreaded news at about 06:00h. She said that after receiving the message, she immediately went to her sister’s house in Cotton Tree, WCB. She noted that her sons travelled to the crash site after which they called to confirm that her sister was dead. The aggrieved woman noted that her sister travelled to Guyana about six weeks ago to spend some time with the family and was heading to the airport to board her flight back to the

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United Kingdom.

She added that her sister left home at about 04:00h in a taxi driven by a relative.

While she could not confirm what might have caused the accident, the devastated sister noted that it was impossible to speak with the driver since he was being questioned by Police at the Mahaicony Police outpost.

She also recalled that it was only three months ago that the family buried a brother and it is now heart-rending to lose a sister.

The woman noted that her sister’s three other children and husband are in the United Kingdom and have been informed of the fatal accident.

With respect to her niece’s condition, she explained that she is in a stable condition but her face was seriously damaged.

The Police have launched an investigation into the accident.

EBD man shot in early morning robbery

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n East Bank Demerara man is now nursing a gunshot injury to his left leg after he was shot by one of three men during a robbery at the corner of Cemetery Road and D’Urban Street, Georgetown in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The injured man has been identified as Mark English, 31,

of Lot 992 Providence, East Bank Demerara. He is reportedly in a stable condition following emergency surgery.

Based on reports received, at about 02:30h, English stopped at a shop to make a purchase and was confronted by the three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

The armed perpetrator re-

lieved him of $30,000.

During the confrontation, English put up a fight and was shot to the left leg by the bandit who was carrying the firearm. The injured man managed to drive to a city hospital where he was admitted and the matter reported. No one has been arrested as Police continue their investigations.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

IN THE COURTS Wakenaam farmer Lindener remanded for fined, jailed for stealing car

narco trafficking

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farmer of Maria's Pleasure of Wakenaam Island, Essequibo River, was jailed for three years and fined $30,000 after he appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Vinod Sancharia, 32, admitted in court on Wednesday that on August 15, he had in his possession 222.4 grams of cannabis sativa.

The prosecution’s case stated that ranks from the San Souci Police Station received information that the farmer was travelling from Parika with narcotics. As such, ranks went to the Wakenaam Ferry Stelling and subsequently apprehended him.

A search was conducted and in his bag he had seeds, stem and leaves which was later proven to be cannabis.

He was arrested and charged.

Vinod Sancharia

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Lindener who allegedly stole a car was remanded to prison by Magistrate Clive Nurse on Wednesday, following an appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court. Denzil Bentick of Lot 394 One Mile, Wismar, Linden, is accused of stealing a Toyota AT 192 motorcar bearing licence plate number PLL 9006 on August 14 at Potaro road, Mackenzie, Linden. The motorcar, which is valued $1 million, is the property of Uroy Major.

The prosecution’s case stated that on the day in questioned, the Virtual Complainant (VC) parked the car at his girlfriend's home around 01:30h but when he checked for the vehicle at about 05:07h, he realised it was missing. The matter was then reported to the Mackenzie Police Station and an investigation was launched. Based on investigations, the Police went in pursuit of the 24-year-old in whose possession the car was found.

He was then arrested and charged for the offence.

However, the defendant disagreed with the facts presented to the court, stating that he returned to Linden from Georgetown at approximately 11:45h on the day in questioned and saw someone else with the stolen motorcar while passing at a location but did not revealed how he came into possession of the stolen car. He was remanded to prison.

The case will continue on August 31.

Eyew tness

Dumping

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...the Amerindian past

hey say the rich keeps getting richer, while the poor will inherit the earth in the hereafter. What they didn't say was in the meantime, while they're still around on planet earth, the poor will keep getting dumped on. In Guyana, while the various ethnic groups on the coastland will always be arguing as to who's poorer (NEVER who's richer!) they have to concede that on that particular metric - the Indigenous peoples have them beat hands down.

They were spared from the genocide that wiped out their cohorts in the Caribbean Islands because the Amerindians retreated into the hinterlands and remained cut off from the rest of the country. So while the coast "developed" to give Guyana the dubious distinction of being the country in the Western Hemisphere that's just above Haiti by every measure, used to measure development and human welfare, the Indigenous Peoples are waaaay below Haiti by those same measures.

At the Independence conference of 1965, the British inserted in the agreement with the PNC/UF government that Amerindian land rights be given effect through demarcation and titling of their "traditional lands". While the PNC agreed and in 1976 amended the Amerindian Act of 1951, not even half of the land had been demarcated by 1991. Post 1992 the PPP sped up the process after they amended the 1976 Act in 2006.

But the titling is still incomplete.

What the whole exercise proved, however, is that land - which some are now muttering is "too much" for Amerindians - without funding and implementation, changes nothing. The PPP tried to factor this in their LCDS but conditions in the Indigenous People's communities are still dire and they are still the poorest of the poor in Guyana. And will become more so since the APNU/AFC government has pulled the plug on the LCDS. And that's why it was so disheartening to hear about the government now deciding to transfer the contents of the Walter Roth Anthropological Museum to make way for additional "presidential office space". Have we developed the arrogance the Europeans had to "discover" Guyana by assuming the people living here aren't humans? So, in addition to begrudging them their land, we are now going to move their museum without even consulting them?

When a memorial was going to be built to HONOUR the folks involved 1823 rebellion there was a great protest - which is still extant - as to the lack of "consultation", which this government supports. But yet it's OK for them to destroy the precious birthright of the Indigenous Peoples through a unilateral proclamation?

How much more must these most "poor and powerless" Guyanese be dumped on?

...on the rule of law

All that stands between civilisation and the jungle is the "rule of law" which basically boils down into "every man - from King to commoner - must be treated equally before the law”. There can't be one law for a transgression by a "big one" and another one on the same transgression made by a "small fish". And we come now to the release of confidential banking records of the former Office of the Presidency PS, Omar Sharief.

Now the rule of law says confidential information obtained by those in charge of upholding the law - such as SOCU - has to remain confidential until the accused is placed on trial. To let out such info into the public realm is to conduct the trial of a person - who is only under SUSPICION - right now by the press. Worse when the info is directly leaked to the press.

This development is a fatal indictment of SOCU. The leak must be investigated and the leaker punished.

...on Ramayya

The REO of Region 6, Ramayya, has had a chequered career in politics. But your Eyewitness wouldn't wish what happened to him on his worst enemy. Nominated by the AFC, he didn't expect PPP support. But to be abandoned by the AFC and APNU? Jeez...that's cold!

So "cornered from three sides", he was forced to exit from the fourth.

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

SOCU denies leaking confidential info … banking sector registered concerns, investigation to be launched He lamented that the information which had been passed on to SOCU was obtained through a judicial warrant and had since made its way into the public domain.

According to the Central

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SOCU head, Dr Clive Thomas

he Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force has denied that it was responsible for the leakage of confidential information to sections of the local media, even as more banking institutions have come forward to express their concerns over the developments.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan – under whose purview SOCU falls – in an invited comment on Wednesday, told Guyana Times that since the revelation that private banking information had been made public, he has been in contact with the officials of the department (SOCU) and they have denied culpability.

Nonetheless, Ramjattan said an investigation will have to be launched since that information could very well have been leaked from sources other than SOCU. Over the weekend, sections of the media had published the bank account numbers of embattled Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, Omar Shariff.

Included in that publication of Shariff’s banking information, are the bank account numbers for 14 accounts, along with a summary of its balances and withdrawals. The published information also pointed to several asset holdings for

Bank of Guyana Governor, Dr Gobin Ganga

Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan

Shariff, including shares in a number of local organisations, including shares owned in two local banks and Banks DIH Limited.

ly expressed their concerns over the leaked information, Ramjattan said, “We will have to address this.”

He was quick to urge restraint on the part of those throwing accusations, reminding them that the denigration of SOCU cannot in anyway serve to assist in the fight against corruption and the types of crimes that the outfit has been mandated to address.

The Bank of Guyana (BoG) Governor on Tuesday said the entity is extremely concerned over revelations this past weekend that confidential banking information had been leaked to the press and was widely published.

Dr Ganga said as Central Bank Governor, he is “very worried” since the divulged information can only serve to bring the entire banking sector into disrepute.

He was at the time reiterating earlier concerns articulated by sections of the banking community with respect to the sharing of its information with State agencies, such as SOCU. This past week, Shariff, in breaking his silence in relation to the allegations that he had somehow laundered, embezzled or stole public monies for personal gain, accused SOCU of leaking confidential information to the media.

More banking concerns

According to Ramjattan, some bankers have gotten in touch with him to express their concern over the revelations this past weekend.

He told Guyana Times that the banking sector will have to understand that notwithstanding the “derailment” with the leakage of confidential information, they are still obligated under the laws of Guyana to turn over requested information.

The Public Security Minister did lament the situation, pointing to the fact that tarnishing or denigrating of SOCU can only in the long-run serve to undermine its investigations.

The Public Security Minister is adamant that those in the employ of SOCU are senior ranks that understand the consequences of the leakage of confidential information.

He said, those in the employ of SOCU are quite aware that the divulgence of confidential information is in fact a violation of its protocols.

Speaking directly to those in the banking sector that have publicly or private-

Bank Governor, when it is that sensitive, banking information, which is supposed to be kept confidential, leaked into the public domain and more so, published in widely circulated news outlets, can only serve to hurt the integ-

rity of the local system.

The matter of leaked confidential information has generated heated public debate in the past and again came to the fore with the publication of the scores of accounts owned by Shariff.

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guyana-times.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

News

Crime on the rise in Berbice – Commander P

olice in B Division (Berbice) have reported an increase in serious crimes between January and August 2016 when compared with the same period for 2015.

Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, said while the murder rate has shown a slight decrease – that is, 50 reported cases compared with 53 for the corresponding period – there were 31 reported cases of robbery under arms for the period outlined above

By: Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal

Forgiveness: Which is more important – what it means or what it does?

H Commander Ian Amsterdam

in 2016, an increase of 10 cases from the same period in 2015.

Break and entry and larceny recorded 34 cases, doubling the amount recorded for the same period last year.

This equates to a 100 per cent increase from 2015 to 2016.

Amsterdam noted, however, that the Division still has much to boast about when it comes to crime fighting. He said “we had the piracy where five persons were charged; we have the West Coast [Berbice] arson and murder, they were charged; we had Springlands; then we had the famous British teen murder – those are all work that was done to date.”

So far for 2016, 66 rounds of ammunition were seized by Berbice Police as against to 14 rounds for the corresponding period in 2015.

According to the Divisional Commander, during the year ranks have been able to seize 96,858 kg of marijuana. “It just tells you how much marijuana is in this area or passes through this area.” With respect to cocaine, Amsterdam posited “already we have seized 1143 kg of cocaine thus far for the year as against 49 kg in 2015.”

ow hard do you find it to forgive? I am sure the answer will rely heavily upon the circumstances and the person who has wronged you or your loved ones. The difficulty to forgive those who hurt or damage us deeply can mean that we carry around a host of negative emotions that, in reality, only serve to continue to hurt us. The sad fact is that many people who have been mistreated are regularly hurt twice – once by the deed, and then again by living with vengeance and anger working away inside them for prolonged periods of time.

Carrying around these feelings can be of great detriment to a person. Not only can it cloud judgement, but it can also cast a shadow over so many other aspects of a person’s life that sometimes the spill over can have far reaching negative effects on those close to you.

If we consider that forgiveness allows a person to let go of the harmful feelings and thoughts they carry around, finding a way to forgive would seem to be the healthiest way to move forward. However, how do you find it in your heart or your head to forgive someone who has committed a terrible crime against you or your family? Without faith or religious beliefs, or even with them, it can be almost impossible to come to terms with forgiving in these circumstances.

For most of us, our understanding of forgiving someone is to intentionally and willingly let go of feelings of blame and hate towards a person and giving them a pardon for the things that they have done. It can be seen as saying that we are ok with what they did and that we want the best for the perpetrator despite their actions. In cases where the wrongs can be overcome between family and friends it may be possible to reach this point, but in cases of a more serious nature, this way of viewing forgiveness leaves many of us unable to offer it and unwilling to even try. It can make us feel even more infuriated at the mere thought of wishing someone well and offering something to one who has caused untold amounts of pain. Why do they deserve to receive anything positive?

The truth is forgiveness is not of any great benefit to the wrongdoer. The person to gain the most is the one who is able to release themselves of the burden, the dark feelings and wasted time and emotions. Yet no matter how much we can see the sense in letting go, in many cases it is easier said than done.

But what if we change our perception of what forgiveness is? What if we are able to let go in the same way forgiveness relieves you? Can you imagine if in our minds we are able to substitute the word forgiveness with nothingness? In the statements that might run through our heads if we could think in terms of feeling nothing for the person that hurt us and we can begin to think about the futility of hating someone who is very rarely affected by that hate, we can begin to step back from destructive feelings.

It is unlikely that those who commit terrible crimes choose to be the monsters that they are. If they could have been born with different mind-sets, feelings and thought processes it is doubtful they would have chosen an evil path. The bottom line is these people are ill and your hate will do little to alter that.

Just as it will do little to alter what has happened.

Forgiveness does not have to mean you think someone should go unpunished for what they have done. It does not mean that you have to feel sympathy or empathy for that person. It doesn’t even mean you have to understand why they did what they did. It simply needs to mean you are able to let go. Take back control of your life by freeing yourself from continued torture holding on causes. Reach a place in which you can acknowledge the wrong that has been done, understand the person’s behaviour belongs to the type of human being we need to be thankful we are not, accept going back is not an option and know the only way forward is to cease feelings for the person. Work towards finding the strength to separate a preconceived idea of what forgiveness means, giving it a meaning that allows you to feel comfortable with your feelings and concentrate on using your energies and emotions for a more positive, healthier life.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

guyana-times.com

11

News

Knifepoint robber Knife touting husband fined jailed for 3 months

He told Magistrate Azore that he apologised to Greenidge on numerous occasions for his attitude; however, the VC said she never received an apology.

The defendant was fined $10,000 or a default of three weeks in prison.

– tells Magistrate he was in a “tight squeeze”

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Confessed robber Kennard Persaud

man was on Wednesday jailed for three months by City Magistrate Fabayo Azore after he pleaded guilty to a robbery under arms charge.

Kennard Persaud, 29, of Lot 25 Regent Street, Georgetown, confessed that on August 16, at Georgetown, and while be-

ing armed with a knife, he robbed Ronald Ishmatine of one Apple iPhone valued $85,000.

The prosecution contended that on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant (VC) was standing in the vicinity of Footsteps Store when he was held at knifepoint and robbed by the defendant.

After the robbery, Persaud attempted to escape but was apprehended by the Police after the VC raised an alarm. He was searched and the item was found on his person after which he was arrested and charged.

However, the defendant admitted to the offence but explained that he was not armed when he carried out the act.

He further told the Magistrate that the act was not premeditated, but was done out of frustration, since he was in a “tight squeeze” and went on to explain that he has three children to feed but could not find work after he was just released from prison.

Persaud was previously sentenced to 18 months in prison on a narcotics possession charge. He pleaded for leniency, promising to stay out of trouble.

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father of five was on Wednesday fined when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with using threatening behaviour towards his reputed wife, Stacy Greenidge.

Leon Nelson, 35, of 316 Middle Street, C u m m i n g s b u r g , Georgetown, pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Leron Daly.

It is alleged that on August 16, at North Cummingsburg, he used threatening behaviour towards the Virtual Complainant (VC).

The prosecution contended that on the day in question, the defendant and Greenidge had an argu-

ment over a phone and the defendant picked up a knife threatening to kill her.

However, the defendant told the court a very different story. He explained that on the day in question, he saw a text message on the VC’s phone and decided to call the sender of the message, which was answered by a male voice, that said “I could do with something tonight”.

The defendant explained that in anger, he threw the phone away and confronted the woman, adding that he only picked up the knife to scare her but did not intend to hurt her.

The defendant told the Magistrate that he is a hard worker and it upset him to see his reputed wife acting in such a manner.

12 NEWS QC dominates 2016 CAPE top spots

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Deenauth Mohabeer, Queen’s College – 6 Ones, 1 Two

Carissa Kissoon, Bishops’ High – 6 Ones

Ashley Anthony, Queen’s College – 6 Ones

Joash Gobin, Queen’s College – 6 Ones

Larissa Wiltshire, Queen’s College – 6 Ones

Shannon Woodroffe, Queen’s College – 6 Ones

By VahnuManickchand

candidates; 478 of them secured Grade Ones, 746 Grade Twos, 860 Grade Threes, 689 Grade Fours, and 535 obtained Grade Fives.

It was noted that the candidates obtained a 100 per cent pass rate in only 20 of the units, while the pass rate of candidates was 75 per cent or higher in 30 units.

Among the top performers at this year’s CAPE exams were five Queen’s College students and one from the Bishops’ High School. With the exception of one, they secured Grade Ones in six units.

The exception being Deenauth Mohabeer, a second year student of QC, who wrote seven subjects, obtaining six Grade Ones and one Grade Two. Speaking with Guyana Times, the ecstatic young man expressed that he felt accomplished, elaborating that this feeling was due to how hard he worked to prepare for his examina-

tions and the discipline he showed.

The aspiring computer engineer praised the foundation he received from his five years at Central High School, noting that this allowed him to excel. “My accomplishment for this year is only half done,” he remarked, while adding that

lot of effort.

Her advice to students now preparing to write the CAPE exams is to prepare well. “There is no one right way to study and it is important for you to figure out what works for you,” said the young woman who will be returning to QC for CAPE second year, after which she

in preparing for the exams, he experienced some of his “longest days” yet.

In addition, his fellow schoolmate, Larissa Wiltshire, another second year CAPE student at QC, expressed how happy she was to receive her results.

She said she owes her success to studying and her unwavering focus.

“To future students, I advise that they do subjects that they love so that it is not a burden and that they remain focused but still keep their composure and try to have some fun some times,” said the young woman who will be heading to the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus) to study dentistry come September.

Another QC topper Shannon Woodroffe described her CAPE journey as “an onerous but rewarding one.” She noted that her results did come as a surprise to her as she was expecting all grade ones.

“I would like to express

my profoundest gratitude to God, my parents, my elder sister and my teachers who allowed me to reach this success,” related Woodroffe who will be continuing her studies at QC to attain an Associate’s Degree in Natural Sciences as she pursues a career in the STEM (Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering) fields.

A very proud ‘Bishopian’, Carissa Kissoon, related that she was initially “astounded” by the fruits of her labour, noting that she “couldn’t predict” it. She credited her success to her family, teachers and friends, who supported her.

The aspiring CardioThoracic surgeon said she has always been inspired by this Mark Twain quote, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it is time to pause and reflect."

She went on to say that she would advise future cape students to strive for greatness and stressed the importance of belief in one’s self.

Q

ueen’s College dominated the top spots at the 2016 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), with a second year student securing the top spot.

This year’s results were revealed on Wednesday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Building in Kingston, Georgetown.

According to the results analysis, the overall pass rate in the 2016 CAPE was 86.74 per cent which is a marginal decrease from the 87.54 per cent recorded last year. However, there was an increase in the number of candidates securing Grade One and Two passes.

A total of 898 candidates sat the CAPE examinations this year, writing a total of 57 units in 29 subject areas.

The gender distribution of the overall pass rate is 33.4 per cent males and 66.6 per cent females.

Of the total number of

The gender distribution of the overall pass rate is 33.4 per cent males and 66.6 per cent females he is hoping to secure a scholarship to pursue artificial intelligence studies.

Meanwhile, first year QC topper Ashley Anthony was elated with her results, crediting her teachers, family and friends for supporting her. She explained that CAPE was much more intense and demanding than the CSEC examinations; as such, excelling required a

will continue to university to “possibly” study biophysics.

Joash Gobin, also a QC first year student, could not be reached for an interview; however, in a post on his social media – facebook – account he thanked the Almighty, his parents and friends, as well as teachers, whom he said were his support pillars. He noted that

CSEC results

Guyana’s performance in English spikes, Maths tumbles

By Vahnu Manickchand

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n analysis of the 2016 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination (CSEC) results revealed a marginal increase in the overall pass rate but at the same time, student performance continues to fluctuate in the two compulsory subjects – Mathematics and English Language (A).

Speaking at the press conference on Wednesday at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD) Building in Kingston, Georgetown, Chief Executive Officer – Nursery, Ingrid Trotman, disclosed that the Grade One to Three passes in English A recorded a significant improvement from last year’s performance; where the pass rate of 49.36 per cent was moved to 59.3 per cent in 2016.

As it relates to performance in Mathematics, she noted that there was a decline this year with a pass rate of 38.37 per cent when compared to the pass rate of 45.07 per cent recorded last year. While 2015 saw an increase in both subject areas,

more than 50 per cent of the candidates who wrote the two subjects in 2014 failed.

To this end, the Education Ministry under the leadership of former Minister Priya Manickchand had announced a strategic plan in 2014 to improve student performance, “specifically targeting secondary Mathematics in a major way”. The plan was expected to monitor performances from the entrance to secondary school, right through to CSEC. However when probed about this initiative at Wednesday’s press conference, Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd pointed out that while the Education Ministry is not satisfied with the performance in Mathematics, there is an overall decline in the subject across the Caribbean.

Nevertheless, the Permanent Secretary explained that the Ministry is yet to launch the pilot project, noting that it is awaiting the completion of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Education Sector to determine the way forward.

Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, Delma Nedd at the press conference on Wednesday

Nedd outlined that the pilot will be launched sometime next year following the conclusion of the CoI. “We haven’t actively progressed on that pilot but we are awaiting the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry…

That inquiry is expected to conclude in December of this year and we are hoping that coming out of that inquiry, we will have recommendations going forward,”

she stated.

This year’s CSEC saw an increase in the number of candidates who wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination. A total of 12,809 candidates wrote the examination, of which 35 per cent wrote the exams privately.

The gender ratio shows that of the total, some 4677 candidates were males.

The overall pass rate in the General and Technical

proficiencies for Grades One to Three this year was 63.39 per cent compared to 62.72 per cent in 2015.

Meanwhile, a total of 35 subjects were written

by Guyanese candidates.

Of these, the analysis results indicated excellent performances in 15 subjects where the Grades One to Three passes exceeded 75 per cent; while satisfactory performances were recorded in 18 subjects where the Grades One to Three passes exceeded 50 per cent.

However, the overall performance in Chemistry was unsatisfactory with a pass rate of 41.13 per cent. But excellent performances were recorded in Agriculture Science (SA), Agriculture Science (DA) and Biology. Significant improvement was noted in Biology and Physics performances, while Integrated Science declined. Human and Social Biology, on the other hand, showed improvement as well.

In the Business Education subjects, the performance in most of these subjects was satisfactory but excellent performances were recorded in both

Information Technology (General) and Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM).

Additionally, improved performances were recorded in Caribbean History and Geography. As it relates to Home Economics subjects, an increase was recorded in Food and Nutrition while satisfactory performance was recorded in Clothing and Textile and Home Economic Management.

In the industrial technology subjects, improved performance was noted in all subjects except Building Technology (Const) where the performance remained relatively constant. In the modern languages subjects, French recorded an excellent performance while Spanish recorded satisfactory performance.

Moreover, Music gained 100 per cent Grade One to Three pass in 2016, while Theatre Arts and Physical Education and Sport both recorded over 95 per cent Grade One to Three passes.

Religious Education’s performance this year showed improvements but satisfactory performance was recorded in Visual Arts.

NEWS

13

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Aspiring petroleum engineer tops CSEC with 19 Grade Ones

Fatima Karim, St Rose’s – 19 Ones, 1 Two

BY VAHNU MANICKCHAND

H

ard work, dedication and sacrifices were among the efforts made by the students who copped the country’s top spots at this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

Of the 12,809 candidates who wrote the examination this year, some 157 students secured Grade One passes in eight or more subjects. However, only 46 candidates obtained 11 or more Grade Ones.

Securing the top spot this year is St Rose’s High School student, 16-year-old Fatima Karim, who wrote 20 subjects and obtained 19 Grade Ones and one Grade Two. Speaking with Guyana Times, the young woman expressed her excitement and relief with her results, noting that she is proud of her achievement.

“I was pleasantly surprised with the grades… I was expecting to do well but I didn’t know that I would top the country. I found out about my grades like two hours before the press conference and was really excited but I still didn’t know I topped the country, and I was watching the press conference with my family and when they called out my name, the house went wild and the phone began to ring and it was crazy after that,” she recalled.

The next move for the young woman will be to further her studies at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) level, after which she is hoping to attend the University of Texas in the United States, where she plans to pursue petroleum engineering, following in the footsteps of her uncles and grandfather.

“My uncles, grandfather and one of my cousins are in the engineering field and they pushed me towards it but I wasn’t sure what area I would be getting into until the oil find last year. So I decided that I will get into petroleum engineering so that I can be able to help

my country to develop,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, Kayshav Tewari of Queen’s College copped the second spot with 19 Grade Ones. The young man said that he knew he would have done well and is pleased with his performance.

“I had no doubts in my mind that I would achieve good results, I always knew I could do it… The exams were easy for me but it was preparation that was most difficult and challenging.

Many times I would go to bed at four in the morning and get up back at six, so it was a lot of hard work but in the end, it paid off,” he explained.

Tewari told Guyana Times that he will be furthering his studies at Nations University after which he wants to study engineering. However, he noted that his main goal is to get into entrepreneurship; as such, he will definitely be pursuing an MBA. Another QC student, Aadilah Ali, came in the third spot with 18 Grade Ones, three Grade Twos and one Grade Three, while her fellow schoolmate, Sariah Singh copped the fifth position with 18 Grade Ones.

Ali, who is currently on vacation overseas, told Guyana Times that she did not expect to do so well. “I was surprised at my achievements, owing to the fact that some of the exams were a bit difficult for me but I thank God for all that I’ve accomplished and by mercy I did well,” the young woman said.

She plans to continue her studies at the Sixth Form level after which she will pursue medicine in hopes of becoming a paediatrician.

On the other hand, the outlining regions have forced their way into this year’s top line-up, dominating most of the top spots. The Sarawati Vidya Niketan (SVN) school in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) copped three spots in the

Kayshav Tewari, Queen’s College – 19 Grade Ones

Aadilah Ali, Queen’s College – 18 Ones, 3 Twos and 1 Three

Sariah Singh, Queen’s College – 18 Ones

Joshua Indarjit, Skeldon Line Path Secondary – 17 Ones

top 10.

Ramkumarie Ramdass secured 18 Grade Ones and one Grade Two to cop the fourth position; Kimberly Najab in seventh with 15 Grade Ones and three Grade Twos; Pritisha Baldeo in the ninth spot with 14 Grade Ones, three Grade Twos and three Grade Threes, and at the 10th spot is Narindra Persaud with 14 Ones, three Grade Twos and three Grade Threes.

An aspiring entrepreneur, Najab said she was expecting to do a little better but is nevertheless satisfied with her performance. Her advice to next year’s hopefuls is to, “work hard for what you want to achieve in your life and find an inspiration. Motivation is very important in achieving greatness.”

For Baldeo, her success was not without hard work, with the many hours that went into studying. “So when I saw my results, I was overjoyed and relieved because I met my own expectations,” said the young woman who aspires to become a paediatrician.

Moreover, Persaud said that while he expected to do well, he was overwhelmed with his success and relieved that his hard work had paid off. He related that the exams were a bit challenging but he found that his study strategy helped. “If I felt I was deficient in any way in a particularly area, I would focus on that subject until I felt comfortable,” he explained.

Additionally, Kevall Lall of Anna Regina Secondary came in the eighth spot with 15 Grade Ones. The 17-year-old lad is an aspiring civil engineer and said he could not have made this accomplishment without the support of his mother, uncles and siblings. He will be furthering his studies at Nations University.

Meanwhile, 17-yearold Joshua Indarjit of Line Path Secondary copped the sixth spot with 17 Grade Ones. Speaking with this newscast, the aspiring en-

gineering was elated with his performance.

“I’m very excited about my results and ecstatic about my performance,” Indarjit told this newspaper when contacted. Like

the other top performers, the young man explained that he found it challenging when he was doing the SBA’s since it would take up a lot of his time thus preventing him from study-

ing more.

Nevertheless, the young man, who has his eyes set on becoming an engineer or physicist, thanked his teacher and family for supporting and encouraging him.

14

guyana-times.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

News

PNCR assures safety for upcoming Congress … Granger remains unchallenged as leader

A

s the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) prepares to hold its 19th Biennial Congress, Executive Member and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams assured that security measures will be put in place to prevent a reoccurrence of a shooting incident that occurred in July 2014.

At a press conference at the party’s headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, the party announced that it will be holding its Congress from August 26-28, with focus on developing a green Guyana.

The first day of the Congress will be open to the public, but sessions during the following days will be open only to party members who will deliberate on a number of issues, including its next leaders. General Secretary Oscar Clarke told media operatives on Wednesday that President Granger has been nominated as Leader of the party; while Basil Williams, Robert Corbin, Volda Lawrence and Lurlene Nestor were all nominated for the post of

been less active since the coalition has been formed.

He claimed that the party would lend itself to being disharmonious if it projects itself over the smaller groups within the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition.

“The PNC is quite active, all over the country, being in a coalition, it would be incongruous for us to assert our self in contradistinction to

ers next week, workmen were seen outside pressing forward with drainage works, a landscape overhaul on the grounds and laying steel for a spanking new concrete bridge.

This prompted media personnel to question if any State resources were expended for the rehabilitation works at Congress Place. Williams however posited that such a question

requires “no answer” as the party has always held its congresses on a large scale.

However, the party’s General Secretary while admitting to have signed off on the works, could not at the time specify how much the works cost but stressed that these works were long in the pipeline and that the party was waiting on favourable weather to move ahead.

PNC Executive Member and Attorney General Basil Williams addressing the press conference

Chairmanship.

Williams noted that the party has over 500 delegates and several hundred observers from Guyana’s 10 administrative regions, North America and the United Kingdom. Responding to concerns that the party is not commenting on issues of national concern, the Attorney General (AG) brushed off claims that the PNC has

Rehabilitation works at Congress Place, Sophia

GPL fraud

Duncan’s defence team makes closing arguments

Aeshwar Deonarine

Former GPL Director Carvil Duncan

Defence Attorney Charles Ramson Jr

he defence team for former Director of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) Carvil Duncan, on Wednesday made its closing arguments when the case was called before Magistrate Leron Daly.

Duncan was charged along with Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of GPL, Aeshwar Deonarine, with fraud and larceny.

It is alleged that on March 31, 2015, Duncan stole $984,900, property of GPL. It was also alleged that on the same day, he conspired with Aeshwar Deonarine to commit simple larceny to steal $984,900 from GPL. In his closing arguments, defence Attorney Charles

Ramson Jr, explained that the charge of simple larceny against the defendant is bogus.

According to the Attorney, the money that Duncan was alleged to have stolen was not even GPL’s money, but rather that company’s bankers. Ramson Jr submitted that the charge of simple larceny brought against Duncan is contrary to section 164 of the Criminal Law (offences) Act Chapter 8:01.

He told the court that the defendant has been charged with simple larceny and conspiracy to commit a felony.

These offences are committed by the common law but the penalties are outlined in the Criminal Law (offences) Act 8:01. This is contradic-

tory to larceny of a valuable security which is a statutory offence and not a common law offence, which Duncan was charged under.

He stated that at this stage, any attempt made to amend the charge, when both the prosecution and defence have closed their case, would be undoubtedly and manifestly unfair and prejudicial.

With that, he closed the defence’s submissions, asking that the charges laid out against the defendant be dismissed.

However, the prosecution team asked that time be granted to them to prepare a rebuttal. That submission was granted and the case will continue on August 19.

T

the coalition,” the AG pointed out.

Williams then rejected the assertion that his party is fading.

“We are a party doing our business, we’re servicing our members and we don’t have any member, as far as we know, that believes that the party doesn’t exist,” he posited.

Even as party members will choose their new lead-

La Grange Fire Station gets new fire tender

The newly deployed fire tender at the La Grange Fire Station

F

irefighting capabilities on the West Bank of Demerara are slated to see improvement as the long-delayed fire station at La Grange has been equipped with a fire tender.

Guyana Times was told that the truck was deployed to the new station on Saturday last.

Over $18.6 million was allocated for the construction of the building; however, the cost of the fire tender has not yet been disclosed.

Residents on the West Bank of Demerara had long been complaining of the extensive amount of time the fire service took to re-

spond to fires in the area.

Normally, a small fire truck attached to the Wales Sugar Estate would be first to arrive on the scene of fires but this would prove to be inadequate. Residents would have to wait on response from the central fire station in Georgetown and from the Leonora Fire Station, located many miles away on the West Coast of Demerara.

This publication was informed that the Leonora station’s tender had reportedly taken one hour to respond to an early morning fire at Goedverwagting, Patentia, earlier this year.

It was since May, that

Deputy Fire Chief Compton Sparman stated that the new fire station at La Grange would have been commissioned “shortly”.

Prior to his declaration, Fire Chief Marlon Gentle had announced that the station would have begun operations before the 50th Independence celebrations but this never materialised.

This newspaper highlighted the concerns of residents of La Grange and surrounding areas who were bothered over the fact that the area, which is highly populated and surrounded by housing schemes, was not equipped with a fire station.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

News

Brazil nabs Olympic official California wildfires: Ferocious for 'illegal' ticket sales fires evict thousands

A

senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) official has stepped down temporarily following his arrest over alleged involvement in illegal Olympic ticket sales at the Rio Games.

Patrick Hickey has been replaced by William O'Brien as President of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), the OCI said on Wednesday just hour after Hickey's arrest.

Brazilian Police have recommended charging Hickey and three executives of a Dublin-based ticket reseller for the Games, with illegal resale of tickets, criminal association and fraudulent marketing.

Al Jazeera's Joanna Gasiorowska, reporting

Patrick Hickey has been replaced by William O'Brien as President of the Olympic Council of Ireland

from Rio de Janeiro, said the "most serious" charge against Hickey is "forming a

cartel" to sell the tickets.

Prosecutors have estimated the profits from the black market tickets sales at US$3 million. Aside from being a president of his country's Olympic committee, Hickey has been an executive board member of IOC since 2012. He also serves as the European Olympic Comittees (EOC).

The Rio Times reported that Hickey tried to sell tickets stamped as "being given to the OCI". The IOC said it was "still in the process of establishing the facts".

According to Brazilian media reports, Hickey tried to escape when Police arrived to arrest him in his hotel room in the Barra district of Rio. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Glass-coated kite string kills 3 people on Independence Day in Delhi

T

wo children and a man have died in Delhi after their throats were slit by glass-coated strings used for flying kites on Indian Independence Day. Sanchi Goyal, three, and a four-year-old identified only as Harry, both suffered fatal injuries while looking out of the sunroof of their cars in different parts of the Indian capital on Monday.

Zafar Khan, 22, died after his neck became entangled in a string while he was on his motorbike.

Kite-flyers use glass-

coated strings to bring down rivals’ kites but they frequently inflict injuries. Birds are also affected – 500 have been admitted to the city’s Charity Birds facility with injuries from kite strings in the past three days.

Kite-flying is very popular in India, particularly during festivals and celebrations.

Goyal was standing on her mother’s lap when she was struck, according to the Hindustan Times. It quoted a senior police officer as saying: “The manja [kite string]

had cut through her neck, including the windpipe. The cut was so deep she died instantly.” She was declared dead on arrival at hospital.

Harry was on a long drive to celebrate independence day with his parents when he too had his windpipe slit, the website reported.

Dependra Pathak, a Police official, told the Indian Express that Khan suffered severe head injuries and died due to excessive bleeding after a kite string lodged in his neck, causing him to fall from his motorbike. (Excerpt

from The Guardian)

Pressure mounting on...

But People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee was stern on his call for the Public Health Minister to be fired, describing the entire episode as “disgraceful”.

“I think he should be sent packing. This thing is so disgraceful. I sat in the Parliament and listened to a number of lies told to the Parliament,” Rohee said, adding that he was shocked at the “mirth and the laughter” on the Government benches when the Minister was asked about the location of the bond.

“Mr Norton, as we have said publicly, must face the full brunt of the Privileges Committee when Parliament is reconvened. This slap on the wrist of a public apology is unacceptable,” Rohee declared.

Meanwhile, asked about calls for his sacking during a news conference on Wednesday, Dr Norton said he was unmoved, but singled out Rohee’s calls for his removal, declaring, “Fortunately, I wasn’t

hired by the PPP.” The Government in 2015 terminated the prequalification system for procurement of pharmaceuticals for the Public Health Ministry (MoH) and the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC). NEW GPC had provided free storage at its PAHO/WHO approved warehouse for the drugs it supplied on the bids it won. The MoH then requested the NEW GPC to quote for its warehouse of 70,000 square feet. The NEW GPC quoted at the equivalent of $237 per square foot, yet the MoH forked over the $25 million deposit to Linden Holding Inc – a company whose majority shareholder is listed as Larry Singh – for rental of the building in Sussex Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, to be used as a storage bond for drugs and medical supplies for the Public Health Ministry and the Georgetown Public Hospital at a rate that works out to $1250 per square foot.

Dr Norton, in defence of the course of action taken

by Government, has sug-

FROM PAGE 3

gested that the rental fee asked by NEW GPC was exorbitant and that the new facility was required on an emergency basis.

He said too that the facility now rented by the Public Health Ministry and the Georgetown Public Hospital is in fact certified as meeting PAHO/ WHO standards by relevant Ministry departments, including the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Administration Department.

But, investigations by Guyana Times, however, indicate that Minister Norton was being more than disingenuous in his pronouncements on the matter regarding public funds.

Dr Norton was also found to be misleading when he told the National Assembly that NEW GPC was asking an exorbitant fee.

It was later revealed that the NEW GPC has never received any rent from the Government of Guyana for use of its stateof-the-art storage facility for over a decade.

F

irefighters are continuing to tackle a huge blaze in southern California, with several of them describing it as the most ferocious they have ever seen.

An evacuation order has been issued for an area home to more than 82,000 people, just east of Los Angeles.

The Blue Cut fire, as it has been named, has destroyed homes and disrupted transport links between California and Nevada.

Some people have been running for their lives just ahead of the flames.

The blaze first ignited on Tuesday in a droughtravaged mountain pass and a day later it had spread across nearly 47 square miles (12,200 hectares).

The flames have advanced, out of control, despite the efforts of 1300 firefighters.

Commander Mike

bhcourier.com The extent of the destruction is still unknown

Wakoski said he had never seen such extreme conditions in 40 years of service.

There are no known fatalities but dogs are searching the ruins for bodies.

Authorities have been unable to say how many homes have been destroyed, but some fear it will be in the

hundreds.

Wrightwood, a tourist resort surrounded by pine trees in the San Gabriel Mountains, feels like it is besieged by fire. Huge flames whipped by a strong breeze are advancing down a mountain ridge and along a forested valley towards the town.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Duterte slams "stupid" UN criticism on his war on drugs

P

hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte has hit out at "very stupid" United Nations criticism of his controversial war against illegal drugs that has claimed an estimated 1000 lives, warning the global body not to interfere.

"Here comes the UN, easily swayed, and coming with a very stupid proposition," Duterte said in a speech on Wednesday at an event for police officers also attended by foreign diplomats.

"Why would the United

Nations be so easily swayed into interfering in the affairs of this republic?" Duterte said that while the UN was quick to criticise his administration, the world body "is keeping silent" on the violence in the Middle East.

Referring to conflicts in the region, Duterte said he had not yet heard any public outcry targeted at "countries who are bombing villages and communities, killing everybody there, including the goats and the cows and the dogs".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime had earlier condemned Duterte's "apparent endorsement of extrajudicial killings" in his fight against illegal drugs and crime.

According to Police figures, more than 600 suspected drug users, pushers and traffickers have been killed since July 1 – although some local media have put the death toll at 1000. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Bolivia opens "anti-imperialist" school to counter US

B

President Morales said the academy would teach an "anti-imperialist" doctrine

olivian President Evo Morales has opened a new military defence academy, which he says will offer courses to counter the influence of the United States in the developing world.

Morales said its aim included the study of imperialism and its consequences.

He said it would counteract the Army School of the Americas in Georgia which trained US allies during the Cold War. Some of its graduates committed serious human

rights abuses in the region.

The new academy is based in the city of Santa Cruz in eastern Bolivia and will initially take 100 recruits.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Bolivia's Defence Minister Reymi Ferreira said: "The School of AntiImperialism is a school that seeks to preserve life, unlike the School of the Americas, which brainwashed military officers into believing that the enemy was our people."

He said the training centre would seek to help sol-

diers identify key threats to the country's national sovereignty. Since his inauguration in 2005, President Morales has had a relationship with the US which has been at times very tense.

In 2008 he expelled the US ambassador and counter-narcotics agent and more recently he has accused accusing Washington of encouraging "congressional coups" such as the impending impeachment trial of suspended President Dilma Rousseff in Brazil.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Ruth Johnson: “Bringing dreams to life”

“S

uccess to me is when I can see one of the persons who work with me going off on their own and even doing it better.”

Ruth Johnson, the charming owner of Simple Solutions Wedding and Events Planning, is testament to the power of bringing clients’ dreams to life and the power of passing it on. “I started with my business cards. I started to work with what I had and built,” she said in recalling her journey from passing out those cards to now employing 12 persons.

Johnson, who was raised in Berbice and Plaisance, has always had a passion for event planning, and received her training in Trinidad where she spent seven years. She is fervent about her calling, stressing that event planners have to have passion for their work. “It looks like lots of glitz and glamour….you have to have passion and drive. This is not just about making money….yes, we all want to make money, but it’s not about that.

It’s not your ordinary nine to five. This is about wanting to bring satisfaction to clients.

Make the sacrifices. Do the studies. Educate yourself: every day there is something new – trends are changing every day. You have to be innovative and come up with new things.”

And she has done just that: introducing two signature events: the recentlylaunched Bridal Blueprint, to help clients visualise the possibilities that come with hiring an event planner, and Planners Launch, a workshop to introduce those interested in being event planners to the rigours of the profession which is set to premiere on September 11, 2016 at the Pegasus.

Johnson explained that she

was challenged by Melanie, her dream mentor event planner from Canada to come up with the events. Among her support system are a group of women entrepreneurs who she says are her biggest influences and special friends that she likes to go shopping with – Evie Kanhai, Shelly Nohar, Dianna Astwood, Romaine Benn and Nickesha Hussain.

“Could you put their names?” she asks jovially. “I don’t want to forget anybody.”

Johnson counts support – from the community and otherwise, along with easier access to financing, particularly when starting out as vital for entrepreneurs. She divulged that she liked giving as well as receiving advice.

The businesswoman, who says “bringing dreams to life – putting smiles on my clients’ faces and giving them satisfaction out of the event” is her

ing one too many events where things were not as they should be as she put it, intent on sharing her skills and passion... on helping Guyanese have that “uniqueness”.

Although most of her clients are corporate, the Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara resident says locals are moving away from the idea they must do everything themselves when they have an event and are receptive to hiring event planners.

The former St John’s College student, who credits her “Bible” – an itemised appointments book and her very understanding husband for making work-life balance an easy task to accomplish, could not overstate the importance of planning and organising to her business. Soberly noting the unpredictable nature of event planning, Johnson said her company would continue

Business News Oil up 5th day on US stock draws; Saudi output threatens rally

O

il's rally extended for a fifth day on Wednesday, helped by a weaker dollar and an unexpected drawdown in US crude and gasoline, but traders said the run-up may not last, pointing to galloping Saudi output and technical factors.

Crude futures have gained as much as 13 per cent since last Thursday after Saudi Arabia, the kingpin in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting

Countries, stoked speculation that OPEC was ready for an output freeze deal with producers outside the group.

On Wednesday, Brent crude settled up 62 cents, or 1.3 per cent, at US$49.85 a barrel after touching fiveweek highs of US$49.93.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 21 cents, or 0.5 per cent, to US$46.79.

Some traders and investors cautioned that crude

futures, which slipped into bear market territory in early August after falling 20 per cent from this year's highs in June, were looking overbought.

"We've gained too much in too little a time, at least technically, and I think this rally has to stop," said Donald Morton, who runs an energy-trading desk for Herbert J Sims & Co, an investment banking house in Fairfield, Connecticut. (Reuters)

Expert shortage hampers Japanese financials in blockchain race

J

apanese financial firms risk falling behind on the world stage as efforts to adopt blockchain technology that promises to save billions of dollars in backroom processing and revolutionise the finance industry are hamstrung by a dearth of specialists.

Banks, brokerages and insurers in global financial centres are investing in the computer code that under-

lies the bitcoin virtual currency. They hope to draw on its ability to share vast amounts of sensitive data securely and in real-time, and eliminate stages of transactions like third-party verification.

But blockchain is so new that financial institutions are often forced to seek engineers and developers, not from the tech giants with which they have long collab-

orated, but among startup companies – the traditional incubators of embryonic technology.

In Japan, however, there are relatively few startups in a country that often ranks low for entrepreneurship. Consequently, blockchain talent is scarce, and finance houses risk being left behind as global peers pass blockchain savings on to clients. (Reuters)

Plans advanced for use of drones to combat praedial larceny in Jamaica

M biggest inspiration, is hoping to expand Simple Solutions Wedding and Events Planning all across the country, with Essequibo, Berbice and Bartica as her priority locations for the immediate future. She is even contemplating having apprentices in these areas.

Johnson set up the registered business in 2014, after remigrating and attend-

to grow given the nature of her clients.

She advised that being honest and a people’s person were the most important traits for an entrepreneur. “I like people and helping people...”

Contact: 551 10th Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara; 693-3475/2223339; simplesolutions964@ gmail.com

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Selling

GBP

$ 267.94

$271.34

CAN

$159.97

$161.83

USD

$205.98

$208.44

EURO

$ 232.04

$235.01

Calculated at 94% purity, August 17, 2016

USD

$1342.754

Gross

$259,278

Net

$241,129

Indicators as on August 17, 2016 Indicators Crude Oil

Price

US$ per barrel $49.85

USD

Change % +1.24

Change %

Rough Rice

$224.84/ton

-0.005

London Sugar

$544.50/ton

+0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1352.40

$1353.40

Low/High

$1336.00

$1355.80

Change

Business Concept – Franchise

+4.00

+0.30%

1. A right conferred or established by a government, such as the right to vote (exercise one's franchise) in a local or national election.

2. Commerce: (1) A privilege granted to make or market a good or service under a patented process or trademarked name. (2) A business operating under such privilege.

3. Law: A government-conferred right to exist as a legal business entity within a particular jurisdiction and to exercise corporate powers. (Business Dictionary)

inister of State in the Jamaican Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, JC Hutchinson, says plans are well advanced for the use of drones to combat the problem of praedial larceny.

Addressing farmers and other stakeholders at a drone demonstration session in Lowe River, Trelawny, Tuesday, Hutchinson in-

formed that the unmanned aerial vehicles will be equipped with technology to locate stolen animals.

He noted that the use of the drones is expected to provide relief for farmers, who have been facing significant losses as a result of farm theft.

It is estimated that some US$5 billion worth of crops and livestock are lost annually due to the scourge.

“Praedial larceny is one of those problems that have been plaguing farmers and have been threatening the growth of the sector for decades,” Hutchinson pointed out.

“We are not saying the drones will be the end all, but we see where they can be an effective fighting tool against this scourge....” he said. (Jamaica Observer)

Investors’ Guide Wall St ends up slightly as Fed minutes show split over rate timing

U

S stocks ended slightly higher on Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's last policy meeting showed voting members divided over whether to raise interest rates soon.

While policymakers agree that more economic data is needed before raising rates, some expect a hike will be needed soon, according to the minutes from the US central bank's July 26-27 policy meeting.

On Tuesday, stocks slipped after New York Fed President William Dudley said a rate hike as soon as September was possible given evidence of wage gains.

Shares of utilities, which tend to outperform in lowerrate environment, added to gains following the minutes.

The S&P utility index ended up 1.5 per cent in its largest daily percentage gain since the end of June.

Losses in retailers including Target and Lowe's Companies following disappointing forecasts limited the day's gains,

along with Cisco.

Wall Street has been trading at record highs in the past few weeks, partly supported by expectations the Fed will continue to keep rates low.

"Despite their willingness and desire to raise rates, they haven't gotten cooperation from the economy yet," said Bucky Hellwig, Senior Vice President at BB&T Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama.

"The fear of the market is that they may raise at the wrong time."

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 21.92 points, or 0.12 per cent, to 18,573.94, the S&P 500 had gained 4.07 points, or 0.19 per cent, to 2182.22 and the Nasdaq Composite had added 1.55 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 5228.66.

The Fed left rates unchanged at its last meeting in July, but said near-term risks to the economy had diminished, leaving the door open for a possible rate hike this year.

Investors expect more insight on the rate outlook at

an annual meeting of central bankers from around the world in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, next week.

Shares of Target were down 6.4 per cent while Lowe's was down 5.6 per cent after they cut full-year earnings forecasts.

Cisco fell 1.3 per cent to US$30.72 after technology news site CRN reported the company is laying off employees.

After the bell, Cisco edged even lower following its results and its announcement to lay off 5500 employees, or nearly seven per cent of its work force.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 1.10-to-1 ratio; on Nasdaq, a 1.43-to-1 ratio favoured decliners.

The S&P 500 posted eight new 52-week highs and one new low; the Nasdaq Composite recorded 56 new highs and 23 new lows.

About 6.4 billion shares changed hands on US exchanges, in line with the 6.4 billion daily average for the past 20 trading days, according to Thomson Reuters data. (Reuters)

17

NEWS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

NBTS officers to attend Argentine blood bank training

T

hree medical personnel from the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) will be heading to Argentina on August 23 to partake in capacity building exercises focused on quality management and control in the area of blood banking.

The training for the blood bank staff forms part of the second stage of a three-year agreement between the Governments of Guyana and Argentina, and which falls within the framework of the South-South Cooperation Agreement between the two South American nations.

The third phase will entail a visit by the Argentine team to Guyana in December of this year, followed by the continuation of training for the three NBTS medical personnel in 2017.

Acting Director of the NBTS, Dr Pedro Lewis, along with Quality Manager Davina Singh and Donor Organiser, Tonza Bamfield, will be heading to Argentina on August 23.

Argentine Ambassador Luis Martino said the overall aim of the programme is to improve the blood safety levels in Guyana by building and strengthening human capacity, knowledge and technology.

Ambassador Martino said if all goes well with the three-year programme, they are ready and willing to broaden the scope of the South-South Cooperation in health beyond blood transfusion to other areas, such as medicine.

Guyana to establish air traffic services school

Argentine Ambassador Luis Martino (left) and Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton at a joint press conference on Wednesday

Martino said that upon the completion of the first phase, the experts shared with him that they detected many strengths at the NBTS. According to him, the upcoming phase will now allow the participants to have a first-hand view of the procedures and standards at the Garahang Hospital.

This will, in his view, help in the development of a plan for ongoing capacity building in all the regions with a blood banking presence.

Meanwhile, Acting Director of the NBTS, Dr Pedro Lewis, explained that the NBTS has already been able to improve its services due to the visits by the consultants during the first phase of the programme.

Areas which have been improved include blood management and the collection of statistics.

Dr Lewis thanked Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton, as well as Ambassador Martino for the capacity building oppor-

tunities presented to him and his colleagues.

The other two staff members, Davina Singh and Tonzam Bamfield, also expressed gratitude for the opportunity and both stressed the importance of the work that they do at the NBTS. They spoke of the importance of the capacity building exercises and assured that they will grasp all of the knowledge and experience that they can in Argentina so that they can share such with their colleagues in the other regions.

In addition to the NBTS in the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) compound, Guyana also has a blood banking presence at the Suddie Public Hospital, the West Demerara Regional Hospital, New Amsterdam Regional Hospital and the Linden Hospital Complex.

Dr George Norton stressed that the Public Health Ministry is working assiduously to improve health care services.

Some of the selected Air Traffic Controllers trainee

A

s Guyana moves to build capacity in civil aviation, an air traffic services school to provide training for Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs), will be established in the country within six months, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has announced.

Newly-appointed Director General of the GCAA, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret’d) Egbert Field, on Wednesday said the process for approval for the school is expected to be lengthy, and as such, the region-

al body – Thee Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS) – will be playing a vital role.

He noted that because of the demand for air traffic controllers, through the arrivals of more flights at Guyana’s main airports, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and the Eugene F Correia International Airport, coupled with the rapid growth of the aviation sector; an agreement was signed with eight trainee ATCs who will be undergoing a 14-week training programme in Jamaica and

upon their return, will be subjected to training with senior instructors.

The school will be staffed by senior ATCs and will provide training in several other areas in the aviation industry.

Meanwhile, Field said that $4.1 million, through an underwritten agreement, is being paid by the GCAA for each student to be trained in Jamaica, adding that this investment was made through the vision of the Government to “enhance and empower the youths of this country.”

18

guyana-times.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

ARCHIE

Saving and investing wisely will give you leverage when (March 21- an opportunity arises. Show April 19) what you are capable of doing and don’t be afraid to take the reins.

ARIES

Traveling and socializing TAURUS with like-minded people will (April 20- be enlightening. The connecMay 20) tions you make and the information you gather will help you reach your goals.

DILBERT

Avoid organizations or peoGEMINI ple trying to take advantage of (May 21you.

Making donations or ofJune 20) fering your time and services will not bring you what you expect in return. Cut your losses.

Charity begins at home.

Short trips will yield exCANCER periences that will give you (June 21- food for thought and different July 22) ideas about how to live your life. Romance is on the rise.

PEANUTS

Check out your options LEO and work hard to ensure that (July 23you have time to enjoy someAug. 22) one or something that makes you happy. Learn from the past and build a brighter future.

Put your life and relationVIRGO ships in perspective. A last(Aug. 23Sept. 22) minute change will be to your advantage, so don’t make a fuss. Self-improvement will be more rewarding than trying to change others.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Helping others will make a LIBRA (Sept. 23- difference to the way you live.

Oct. 23) A partnership will bring you closer to reaching your goals and the satisfaction you strive to achieve.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Putting in too many hours SCORPIO at work will cause problems (Oct. 24in your personal life. Make Nov. 22) plans to do something special with children or a loved one to make up for your hectic schedule.

Emotional matters will SAGITTARIUS escalate quickly. Stick to the (Nov. 23- truth and refuse to let indulDec. 21) gence or overspending lead to loss or regret. Arguments will erupt if you aren’t willing to compromise.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

An emotional matter is CAPRICORN best dealt with rationally. If (Dec. 22Jan. 19) anger erupts, you are best off backing away and doing your own thing. Joint ventures will be riddled with problems and disagre If you let others do as they AQUARIUS please, you will be given the (Jan. 20same in return. You will acFeb. 19) complish the most if you work at your own speed using your own methods.

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 Emotions will surface if (Feb. 20- someone disagrees with your March 20) plans or interferes in your progress. Don’t give in to bullying or selfish demands.

Spend time with people who appreciate and love you.

thursDAY, august 18, 2016

Rio 2016…

19

Bolt on track for ‘triple-triple’ after 200m stroll

Thompson claims sprint double U J

amaica’s Elaine Thompson won the Olympic women’s 200m gold in 21.78 seconds, with Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith fifth.

Thompson, 24, added the 200m title to the gold she won in the 100m final on Sunday, beating Netherlands’ world champion Dafne Schippers by 0.13secs.

USA’s Tori Bowie took bronze in 22.15, while Asher-Smith, 20, ran 20.31.

“It is a very special and welcoming feel for me, I think my light has shined,” Thompson told BBC Sport.

“Watching Veronica Campbell Brown, ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and then putting my name there is an amazing feeling.”

Asher-Smith ran from lane two in her first Olympic

Elaine Thompson

final - posting her best time of the year but 0.24secs under her personal best.

“I am really happy, I think I still could have done a bit better but I can’t be

disappointed with that,” she said.

“It is a learning curve and hopefully I’ll have more world championships and Olympics to get it right.” (BBC)

US Swimmers ordered to stay in Brazil

A

judge in Brazil has issued an order preventing US swimmers Ryan Lochte and James Feigen from leaving the country after police queried their evidence in a robbery case.

Lochte, Feigen and two other members of the US swimming team said they had been robbed at gunpoint in a taxi in Rio. But police say their account of when they arrived at the Olympic village does not square with CCTV recordings.

Lochte’s lawyer told the BBC he got back to the US two days ago.

“He arrived back before the judge issued anything,” said Jeffrey Ostrow.

“He was never asked to remain for further investigation or for any other purpose after he met with Brazilian authorities after he gave a statement.”

The swimmer’s Twitter account shows footage of him arriving back in the United States on Monday.

Lochte is one of the most successful swimmers in history, with 12 Olympic medals and he once had his own reality television show in the US. In Rio, he swam in two events, winning gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Feigen, who told the San Antonio Express he is still in Brazil, won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Accounts of what happened to the swimmers have been confusing from the be-

Ryan Lochte

James Feigen

ginning.

Lochte first told US TV network NBC about it but International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said reports of the robbery were “absolutely not true”.

The US Olympic Committee (USOC) later confirmed the swimmers’ accounts Lochte himself told police that he and team mates Feigen, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger had all attended a party in the French Olympic team’s hospitality house on Saturday evening.

He said that during

their return drive to the Olympic village, their cab was stopped by men posing as police officers.

One of the men held a gun to his head, Lochte said, and robbed him of his money and personal belongings.

But police investigating the case say they have found no evidence of the robbery.

They also point to “inconsistencies” in the swimmers’ accounts.

Lochte and Feigen told police they and their fellow swimmers had returned to the Olympic village at 04:00 local time (08:00 GMT).

But CCTV recordings appear to show the swimmers returning to the Olympic village at 07:00 local time.

Police say they have not been able to track down the driver who the swimmers said drove them back to the village.

They also said that Feigen and Lochte gave different accounts of how many men robbed them.

Investigators have requested a search warrant for the rooms the swimmers stayed in with a view to examining Feigen’s mobile phone.

The US Olympic Committee (USOC) confirmed that Brazilian police had sought the passports and further testimony from Lochte and Feigen.

In a statement the committee said: “The swim team moved out of the village after their competition ended, so we were not able to make the athletes available.” (BBC)

sain Bolt’s bid for “immortality” is edging ever closer after he strolled into the final of the 200 metres.

Usain Bolt’s bid for a ‘triple-triple’ is a step closer after he breezed into Thursday’s 200 metre final.

Just three days after defending his 100m title in scintillating fashion Bolt had time to smile for the cameras as he dominated the field - the Jamaican sprint king was at it again inside the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.

He won the second semifinal in 19.78 seconds, ahead of Canadian Andre De Grasse (19.80secs).

Bolt’s previous best this year was a time of 19.89 at the London Anniversary Games.

Usain Bolt

The 200m world record holder was laughing as he crossed the line just two hundredths of a second ahead of Canada’s Andre de Grasse.

The two shared a joke as they crossed the line, with Bolt quipping to BBC Sport: “He was supposed to

slow down, but he didn’t!”

“I was a little bit lazy,” he added. “I don’t know why, but I’m happy.”

American Justin Gatlin, who won silver behind Bolt in the 100m final, only finished third in his semi-final and will not be in the final tonight.

Neymar scores fastest Olympic goal – Brazil advances to final

W

ith the fastest goal in Olympic history, Neymar led Brazil back to the gold-medal match.

The Barcelona striker scored 15 seconds into the game and converted a penalty kick in second-half injury time Wednesday to lead Brazil over Honduras 6-0 in the semi-finals of the men’s tournament in Rio. The host country will play Germany in Saturday’s final. Germany defeated Nigeria 2-0 in Wednesday’s other semi-final on the strength of goals

by Lukas Klostermann and Nils Petersen.

Gabriel Jesus got two more and Marquinhos and Luan added one each as Brazil swept past an overwhelmed Honduras.

The home side, playing in front of a packed Maracana Stadium and desperately seeking the only international title they have yet to win, got off to the perfect start.

Honduras knocked the ball back from the kick-off, but Neymar caught Johnny Palacios in possession on the edge of the box and bravely challenged the keeper to bundle the ball into the net.

The goal got the famously fickle Brazil fans behind the home side and Gabriel Jesus doubled the score in 26 minutes.

Neymar

Luan freed the new Manchester City signing from the offside trap, and his assured finish went under the advancing keeper from 18 yards.

The same player made it three eight minutes later, when he ran onto a superb 30-yard pass from Neymar to lift the ball over the keeper and into the roof of the net.

Marquinhos got a fourth in 51 minutes, which he hammered home from three yards at the second attempt when the ball fell kindly to him at a corner.

Luan got the goal his hard work deserved 12 minutes from time, side-footing the ball home from close in after nice set-up work from Gabriel Barbosa and substitute Felipe Anderson.

Neymar made it six when he calmly slotted home a

penalty in the final minute after Luan was upended.

Brazil has never won the Olympic title, and lost in the final at the 2012 London Games.

Brazilian fans are hoping for a different result this time against Germany, whose senior team embarrassed Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals of the World Cup two years ago.

“Hey Germany, just wait, your turn is coming up,” the fans chanted at the Maracana.

Only the gold will be enough, with Brazil playing at home and being considered the main title-favourite in a tournament played mostly with under-23 squads and very few stars.

The Olympic gold medal is the only major trophy the five-time World Cup champions haven’t won in soccer.

20

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

THURSDAY, august 18, 2016

Sri Lanka vs

Herath bowls Sri Lanka to historic whitewash

H

The Sri Lanka team celebrate their historic victory ©AFP

istory was against this Sri Lanka team, so they created their own. Before this series, Sri Lanka had beaten Australia just once - one single Test in 33 years of cricket between the nations. Kumar Sangakkara, perhaps the finest batsman Sri Lanka has ever produced, played 134 Tests and never tasted victory against Australia.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Lakshan Sandankan, uncapped a month ago, have now played in three.

So too has Rangana Herath, whose grey-tinged hair and cuddly build can trick you into thinking he was born 38 years old. But he was young once. At 21, he sat in the rooms in Kandy and watched his squadmates beat Australia in 1999, the only previous occasion on which they had managed the feat. Herath had to wait until the next Test in the series to make his debut. Seventeen years later, he has been part of whitewashing Australia.

A significant part, in fact, for Herath finished the

series as the leading wicket taker, with 28 at 12.75. And never was he more devastating than the final day of the final Test, when he collected 7 for 64 to bowl Sri Lanka to their triumph. Set 324 for victory, Australia briefly dreamed of a consolation win while David Warner was moving briskly to 68. But once he departed the capitulation came quickly, Australia bowled out for 160, defeated by 163 runs.

Make no mistake: this series was a complete humiliation for Australia.

They arrived in Sri Lanka as the No.1 team in the world, confident of overcoming No.7. Apart from the first day of the series, when they skittled Sri Lanka for 117, Australia were rarely in with a chance. The No.1 ranking is not only gone, but Australia have slipped to third, behind India and Pakistan, while Sri Lanka have moved up to sixth.

Australia’s loss in Colombo was their ninth consecutive Test defeat in Asia, a record that augurs exceptionally poorly for their four-

Test tour of India early next year.

Mitchell Starc was brilliant, finishing with 24 wickets and the best strikerate of any bowler ever to take 20 wickets in a Test series in Asia. But the batting was deplorable. Only twice in the past hundred years have Australia’s batsmen collectively averaged so few runs in a series of three or more Tests as the 19.86 they averaged in this series.

There were good excuses on the other occasions: in 197879 Australia were ravaged

by World Series Cricket, and in England in 1956, Jim Laker was unplayable on uncovered pitches prepared to suit him.

Here there were no such excuses. The pitches turned but were perfectly decent.

Sri Lanka’s batting was inconsistent and they gave Australia’s bowlers openings, but always there was someone to step up and rescue the innings: Kusal Mendis in Pallekele and Galle, Dinesh Chandimal and de Silva in the first innings in Colombo and

Kushal Silva in the second. Sri Lanka’s spinners used the conditions well, Australia’s batsmen were often incompetent.

But that is for Australia’s management to assess in their post-mortems. Now is the time to celebrate Sri Lanka’s achievement.

Only three times previously had they whitewashed any team in a three-match series - Zimbabwe once, Bangladesh once and West Indies once. Surely none of those triumphs can match the feat not only of crushing the No.1 team, but doing so with a developing squad, so soon after the retirements of champions such as Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

That is why it was so satisfying for Sri Lanka that contributions came from newer faces. De Silva, who debuted in Pallekele, led the series run tally with 325 at 65.00. Mendis, with only one first-class century before this campaign, played the innings that effectively determined the course of the series. Sandakan, though rarely needed because the finger-spinners bowled so well, took nine wickets at 23.00.

He wasn’t even needed on the final day, such was the annihilation brought on

by Herath, with assistance from Dilruwan Perera.

When the Test finished with half an hour still to play until tea, it was remarkable to think that Sri Lanka were still batting when the morning began. Angelo Mathews allowed his men nearly five overs to bump the target up to 324, which required Australia to make their highest ever fourth-innings total in Asia.

Briefly they had hoped, as Warner played his naturally attacking game and compiled a 77-run opening

stand with Shaun Marsh.

But once that partnership was broken on the brink of lunch, when Marsh was brilliantly caught at short leg by Mendis off Perera, the last nine wickets tumbled for less than a hundred runs. In fact, from the moment Steven Smith was bowled trying to cut Herath, Australia lost nine for 60 in 18 overs.

It was a complete capitulation. Herath straightened one just enough to trap Adam Voges lbw for 1.

Warner was bowled around his legs offering no shot to Perera for 68. Moises Henriques, brought in for this match at the expense of Usman Khawaja, added 4 more to the 4 he scored in the first innings, never

looking comfortable against the spinners. He was run out when he advanced to Perera, the ball flew off his pad to Mathews at slip, and the captain threw down the stumps.

After that it was all Herath. Mitchell Marsh was caught behind off a beautiful turning delivery. Peter Nevill top-edged a sweep and was taken at slip. Starc too skied an attempted slog sweep and the keeper Kusal Perera took a fine running catch. Then Josh Hazlewood was lured just out of his crease and stumped, and Nathan Lyon was lbw sweeping to end the match.

Herath was mobbed by his team-mates. Australia were history, and Sri Lanka had created it. (Cricnfo)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka 1st Innings 355 Australia 1st innings 379 Sri Lanka 2nd innings MDK Perera lbw b Starc 8 F Karunaratne st†Nevill b Lyon

22 Jk Silva c Smith b Holland 115 M Perera c †Nevill b Holland 24 BKG Mendis lbw b Starc 18 A Mathews* c Smith b Lyon 26 L Chandimal† lbw b Lyon 43 D de Silva not out 65 H Herath c Smith b Lyon 5 R Lakmal not out 4 Extras (b 8, lb 3, w 1, nb 5) 17 Total (8 wickets dec; 99.3 overs) 347 Did not bat: PADLR Sandakan Fall of wickets 1-8 (MDK Perera, 0.4 ov), 2-44 (Karunaratne, 13.3 ov), 3-69 (MDKJ Perera, 20.5 ov), 4-98 (Mendis, 27.2 ov), 5-156 (Mathews, 45.5 ov), 6-246 (Chandimal, 79.3 ov), 7-276 (Silva, 86.5 ov), 8-297 (Herath, 91.1 ov) Bowling: Starc 19.3-4-72-2, Lyon 37-7-123-4, Holland 204-72-2, Hazlewood 14-2-33-0, Smith 2-0-13-0, Marsh 3-1-3-0, Henriques 2-09-0, Voges 2-0-11-0

Australia 2nd innings (target: 324 runs) S Marsh c Mendis b MDK Perera 23 D Warner b MDK Perera 68 S Smith* b Herath

8 A Voges lbw b Herath 1 M Henriques run out (Mathe ws) 4 M Marsh c †MDKJ Perera b Herath 9 M Starc c †MDKJ Perera b Herath 23 12 N Lyon lbw b Herath J Hazlewood st †MDKJ Perera b Herath 0 J Holland not out 0 Extras (b 4, lb 6) 10 Total (all out; 44.1 overs) 160 Fall of wickets: 1-77 (SE Marsh, 21.4 ov), 2-100 (Smith, 26.1 ov), 3-102 (Voges, 26.6 ov), 4-114 (Warner, 29.6 ov), 5-115 (Henriques, 31.6 ov), 6-123 (MR Marsh, 32.3 ov), 7-140 (Nevill, 38.3 ov), 8-157 (Starc, 40.6 ov), 9-159 (Hazlewood, 42.6 ov), 10-160 (Lyon, 44.1 ov) Bowling: Herath 18.13-64-7, Perera 22-3-712, de Silva 4-0-15-0 1

Sunny Basdeo, “Reds” Perreira recognised in the Big Apple

BY JOHN RAMSINGH

T

he Indo Caribbean Federation (ICF) and Atlantis Cricket Club of New York are celebrating milestones this year and have invited special guests to be honourees.

Guyanese veteran Sports Broadcaster Joseph “Reds” Perreira was the guest of Honour on Friday night when the Atlantis Cricket Club held a dinner to celebrate their 50th anniversary while Sunny Basdeo was the guest of honour when the ICF held the 26th annual cricket match in New York on Saturday at the Baisley Pond Park.

Additionally, at the cricket match “Reds” also received a plaque for his long and dedicated service as a commentator and journalist to the game. The presentation was made by the former Guyanese

Former British Guiana Player Sunny Basdeo (centre) receiving award from ICF President Ralph Tamesh also in picture is Dr Dhanpaul Narine

Players who were at the ground and included Victor Benjamin, Paul Persaud, Sew Shivnarine, Derrick Kallicharran, Tyrone Etwaroo, Ray Joseph, Amarnauth Ramcharitar, Sunny Basdeo and numerous former Under-19 players.

Former British Guiana player Sunny Basdeo who

recently turned 83 years old was this year’s recipient of the Indo-Caribbean Federation (ICF) honorary award for outstanding services to cricket in the land of his birth. Basdeo who lived at Leonora West Coast Demerara represented the Leonora Sugar Estate in the Inter-Estates Cricket matches in the

Joseph “Reds” Perreira (second from right) accepting award from Former Guyana national players, from left Ray Joseph, Sew Shivnarine and Tyronne Etwaroo

1950’s. Basdeo, who was especially remembered for his outstanding performances against Port Mourant in the 1950’s was selected to play a tour match for British Guiana against India in 1958 but made just five runs. However, his interestate exploits for Leonora were remarkable.

Basdeo and “Reds” re-

ceived their awards during the half time show of the ICF annual cricket match between a Guyana Select Xi and a Caribbean Invitational XI. The half time show also included dance items and an address by Guyana’s Council General in New York Barbara Atherly who noted the significance of crick-

et as a means of fostering unity. Atherly congratulated Atlantis Cricket Club and the Indo-Caribbean Federation on their milestones and whished them many more years of dedicated service and success.

The Caribbean Invitational XI beat the Guyana Select XI for the second year in a row. This year the defending champions scrapped home off the last ball with two balls to spare thanks mainly to Rafeek Nazeer with an unbeaten 101, Troy Mars 79 runs and Naeem Arif with 2 wickets for 13 runs from eight tight and testing overs of off breaks. Scores; Caribbean Invitational XI 264/8 (40 overs) beat Guyana Select XI 263/8 (40 Overs) by 2 wickets off the last ball of the match.

Both events were well organized and well supported.

YELLOW PAGES THURSDAY, August 18, 2016 | www.guyana-times.com

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21

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Guyana Badminton team (L-R) Narayan Ramdhani, Jonathan Mangra, Gokarn Ramdhani, Ambika Ramraj and Priyanna Ramdhani

T

he Guyana Badminton Association’s FourMember Junior Team is expected to open their campaign today at the Caribbean Juniors Championships (CAREBACO) in Aruba.

The event, which is scheduled from August 18 to the 25, is divided into three tournaments, namely CAREBACO Under-19 International (Open for all International Players) which runs from August 18-21.

CAREBACO Under-19 Team Championships (Open only to CAREBACO Members) running from August 22-24.

And CAREBACO Under-15 & Under-19 Championships

(Open only to CAREBACO Members) slated for August 24-25.

SUNBURST and Junior Sportsman of the Year, Narayan Ramdhani, is among the Guyanese contingents in the Under-19 International Events playing in Singles and seeded No 1. He will collaborate for the doubles with Jonathan Mangra where they both seeded No 2 and Mix Doubles with Priyanna Ramdhani. Priyanna and Jonathan will also play in the Singles events.

In the Team and Individual Under-19 Championships are Narayan Ramdhani, Jonathan

Mangra, Priyanna Ramdhani and Ambika Ramraj will all play in the Singles, Doubles and Mix Doubles Events.

Priyanna Ramdhani will also play in the Under-15 Championships.

The Team is expected to do well and aims to return with medals for the 6th year.

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

The tournament starts tomorrow and we are looking forward to some great matches.

GHB/Lucozade Indoor Hockey Tournament…

Burke’s 6 send Knockers packing —Bounty GCC beat Vintage

A

s the Guyana Hockey Board/Lucozade Indoor Hockey Tournament continues, the National Gymnasium saw two high quality matches between four of the top teams in the competition on Tuesday night.

In the first contest, Pitbulls were lead by the superb leadership of Ian Burke, who scored six out of the eight goals in their 8:4 decimation of Old Fort Knockers.

The competition looked to be close in the first half of play, as both teams showed the passion to win. Burke was the first to find the net, blasting past Knockers’ goalkeeper just three minutes into play. Knockers would then level the score when John Abrams managed to capitalise and score a penalty goal in the sixth minute.

Two minutes later, Meshach Sargeant found the goal to put Pitbulls in the lead and Burke’s penalty goal in the 10th minute secured a comfortable 3:1 lead.

However, Robert Brumell was not going to let his team fall far behind, scoring his first goal for the night in the 11th minute.

Mark Sargeant found it easy to get through the defence of the Knockers in the 13th minute before Brumell returned for his second goal two minutes later, leaving the score 4:3.

Burke would then score his hat-trick in the 16th minute of play with the score remaining at 5:3 at the halfway mark.

The second half was the Burke show scoring three

Action in the GHB/Locozade Indoor Tournament (file Photo)

more goals while Knockers only could manage one.

Burke opened the second half with a lovely penalty goal, while scoring a perfectly timed field goal in the 27th minute. Burke would then score the eight goal for Pitbulls in the 33rd minute and Abrams’ 38th minute goal would leave the score standing at 8:4 by the end of the match in favour of Pitbulls.

Bounty GCC played the Vintage men in the second and final match of the night where they established themselves as the superior team handing Vintage an 8:3 defeat.

Vintage looked to make light work of the GCC team thanks to a quick fire double

by Devin Hooper, who scored in the second and 10th minute with the score standing at 0:2. GCC would then respond with two goals of their own, coming off the stick of Kevin Spencer in the 12th and Peter De Groot in the

18th minute. The scores remained levelled at 2:2 by the end of the first half.

The second half completely belonged to the GCC men, due to doubles from Daniel Hooper and Spencer the team scored six goals, while Vintage could only muster one.

The 26th minute saw Hooper score his first while Spencer matched him with a magnificent goal in the 30th minute. One minute later, Steven Xavier scored his first for the night and the fifth goal for GCC via a penalty goal.

Hooper then scored in the 36th minute and Kareem McKenzie in the 37th, before Eric Hing managed a consolation goal in the 38th minute of play.

Spencer ended the night’s proceedings with his hat trick in the 39th minute, leaving Vintage well battered at 8:3.

The excitement continues on Friday at the same venue.

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

thursDAY, august 18, 2016

Digicel partners with Boyce and Jefford Classic for 7th edition

By Akeem Greene

F

or the seventh year running, telecommunications giants Digicel have kept faith with the one Guyana’s most prestigious athletics meet, the Boyce and Jeffford Classic.

On Wednesday at the company’s headquarters in Kingston, Senior Events and Sponsorship Manager, Louanna Abrams and Communications Manager, Vidya Bijlall-Sanichara in the presence of the meet’s Chairman Colin Boyce and Co-Chairman Edison Jefford made confirmation of the their support for the event which is slated for August 27 – 28 at the MacKenzie Sports Club.

Abrams in her address said that “Digicel is pleased

to be associated with the event over the years and more so the fact that they are the sole telecommunication sponsor. The Events Sponsorship manager further echoed that these events are central to the company’s mandate of community development since it allows young people a chance to express their talents through the area of sports.

Despite the exact amount of the sponsorship was not disclosed, Boyce was ultimately grateful to the company and revealed that this year, they have seen a record number of 179 athletes registering for the tournament, nine of which are international.

The growth was not only limited to athletes, as the or-

Winston George

Brenessa Thompson

ganisers disclosed that from an initial prize of $800,000, it has now reached $2.9M in cash prizes, of which $1M will be awarded to the top club.

The participating clubs

are: Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Police Sports Club (PSC), Super Upcoming Runners, Mercury Fast Lanners and Linden Combine.

The international events

Jaguars League to replace inter-county three day

carries a purse of US$500, divided among the top three athletes in the events, with US$250 for first place, US$150 for second, and US$100 for third. Those events are the women’s 200m, 1500m, and triple jump, along with the men’s 200m, 800m, long jump, along with the men’s and women’s javelin throw.

Athletes from from Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad, Antigua, and the United States of America will be in attendance.

Jefford disclosed that Guyana’s RIO 2016 Olympic athletes Winston George, Brenessa Thompson and Aliyah Abrams, should be in attendance, with the two

latter athletes needing confirmation from their respective schools; that confirmation will made in the coming days since the organisers are adamant that they wish to have entries early to promote a well-organised event.

Furthermore, Jefford made an appeal to patrons to attend both days of the event since several of the high profile races such as both men’s and female’s 200M finals along with the 4x100M relay final is billed for Saturday.

Other sponsors for the event include K&B Mining, Sports Maxx, E-Networks, Ansa McAl, under their Smalta brand. Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines are the official airline carriers for the event.

Belle Vue Sports Club successful in Trinidad

A

s the third edition of the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) approaches, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) will host for the first time, the Jaguars three-day League tournament.

The event is scheduled to commence on August 26 with four matches, as all eight teams are expected to play on the opening day. The launch of the tournament will be held at the GCB’s board room, (top flat of the GCB’s office) on Regent Street, Bourda today, from 11:00h.

According to a source close to the GCB the tournament follows a similar approach to the method used to select the limited overs squad. In that tournament

the academy players were dispersed into the various teams to give them balance and the best performers were selected to represent the national team.

The tournament comes approximately two months prior to the third edition of the PCL and replaces the GCB’s inter-county tournament, which was the event use to select previous national teams. Guyana has

been at the helm of regional four-day cricket for the past two years and will be on the hunt for a third title when the tournament commences later this year.

The eight teams in the competition are West Berbice, Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, Essequibo, East Bank Demerara, Georgetown, East Coast Demerara and West Demerara.

Members of the BVSC team

B

ringing its first ever tour to an end, Belle Vue Sports Club (BVSC) closed with back to back victories in two T20 encounters over the weekend before returning home from Trinidad.

BVSC was victorious against Rushton Parray selected XI on Saturday, August 13. After their earlier games were washed out, BVSC made good in achieving victory in a closely contested match played at the Tiger Sports Club Ground, Rio Claro.

Rushton Parray selected XI won the toss and elected to field. BVSC taking first strike amassed a challenging total of 129-8 off their allotted 25 overs on a pitch that was difficult for batting.

Sheldon Ramharack top scored with 33 (1x4, 1x6), Raj Persaud 17 (1x6) and Mustafaa Azimullah 15 (2x4) were among the main contributors. Bowling for Rushton Parray Selected XI,

cient proved to be more than enough as the BVSC bowlers were equal to the task.

Ramharack returned with the ball to take 2-12 off four overs and Krishna Singh 2-15 from four overs, were the pick of the bowlers.

The Rushton Parray selected XI were bowled out for 101 in the 20th over.

In BVSC’s final game, they once again show class in their performance by defeating a Combined Churches XI. The Combined Churches XI, after winning the toss, elected to bat and was bundled out for 113 in 19 overs.

Leon King was the main run-scorer, hitting three massive sixes in his knock of 34. An excellent bowling performance with the ball by the BVSC bowlers once again proved to be their success. Once again in the mix, Ramharack captured 2-14 off 4 overs while Singh picked up 3-20 off 4 overs.

Needing to get 114 for victory, BVSC reached their

Singh right receiving his man of the series prize

Charles Singh picked up 3-34 off four overs and Rockey Beharry collected 2-19 off three overs.

When the Rushton Parray Selected XI took to the cease, a total that seems insuffi-

required target in 19 overs with the loss of three wickets.

Singh top scored with an unbeaten 36, while he received good support from Malcolm Martin, who scored an unbeaten 26, hitting two mas-

sive sixes.

Bowling for Combine Churches XI, Anand Sookram grabbed 3-30 off 4 overs.

Krishna Singh of the Belle Vue Sports Club was adjudged man of the series for his performance throughout the series.

Ramharack was instrumental in BVSC wins

The tour has been a success for BVSC as they strive to provide opportunities for its members. BVSC has been on the move since its resuscitation less than a year ago and looks forward to continue to reach greater heights.

The President and executive of BVSC extended congratulatory remarks to the team for its success and looks forward to making this an annual event, which will be dubbed as the “Goodwill Tour”.

The Executive and Members of the club also would like to extend its profound gratitude to the host party, Hon Rev Mervyn Rodriguez of the Rio Claro Pentecostal Church, Trinidad, for their gestures and hospitality in making their stay a well appreciated one.

guyana-times.com

thursdAY, august 18, 2016

Seagram’s Royal Stag Cup Test Series...

23

India seek to consolidate top spot against inconsistent Windies T he adage “good things come to those who wait” has a connotation that impatience can jeopardise the chances of the arrival of good things, but it is highly unlikely impatience will hurt India’s chances of becoming No. 1 in Test cricket. Given their dominance at home over the last few years, India are almost certain to become the top-ranked Test team at some point during the 13-Test home season, but Virat Kohli’s men do not want to wait that long, as they take on the West Indies in the final Test today at the Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago.

They have a great opportunity here, they have West Indies on the mat, they have finished two Tests inside four days, and if they win the last Test they will retain their momentary No.1 Test ranking that came their way when Australia lost 3-0 to Sri Lanka. If they do manage to win at Queen’s Park Oval, it will be only the second time that they will have won three Tests in an away series.

It has not just been about India’s content. West Indies have been accom-

modating hosts apart for brief spells when they have shown the discipline to push India. There was a time when they had made India bowlers wait 528 balls for a wicket, but lost their last 17 wickets in 63.5 overs to lose the third despite a day’s relief handed to them by rain.

There was a time when they had reduced India to 126 for 5 in 49.3 overs but not only did they concede 227 in the rest of that innings, they went at 4.5 an over in the second when they needed to delay India’s declaration.

India have been tested but not for long enough.

Coming to the only ground where they have won more than they have lost in the last 10 years, West Indies will hope they can put up creditable resistance.

Kohli has made it clear he will be batting at No. 3 to accommodate Rohit Sharma at No. 5. Except that the last Test, when he moved up to No.3, exposing himself to a newish ball, he registered his lowest Test aggregate. Kohli, though, wants to lead by example; if he feels playing Rohit is the right thing to, he will be the first one to make a sacrifice if required. A middling

Cyclist to meet in Non-Alcohol Malts Race Programme

O

Cycling returns to the National Park

n Saturday, cyclists are asked to report to the National Park’s inner circle for the fourth Non-Alcohol Malts 11 Race Programme which is slated to get underway at 09:30h. The event is a fusion between Banks DIH and the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF).

Some 11 exciting races are expected to feature Guyana’s emerging and experienced riders who will look to dominate the track for the fourth edition of the event. Michael Anthony, Rawle Leal and Marlon Williams, are just a few of the big names expected to participate in the senior races.

Last time the event was hosted in 2014 there were fierce battles in the 35 laps school boys event which was won by

Hamsa Eastman, 10 laps junior juveniles where Stephano Husband finished at the helm, five laps veteran under-50 which went to Ralph Williams, five laps Mountain Bikes which ended in favour of Keon Thomas and the 1214 three laps boys and girls which was topped by Amica Gomes. Except for Eastman, who is not within the jurisdiction, all of the 2014 champions are expected to defend their titles.

After the races Banks DIH representatives, Mortimer Stewart, Outdoor Event Manager and Clayton McKenzie will be present to distribute the winning prizes.

All interested riders can turn up at the National Park to register before race time on Saturday morning.

Virat Kohli

Jason Holder

attack is not a bad place to test himself at No. 3 either.

First there was Darren Sammy, now there is Jason Holder: pliant Test captains whose spirit cannot be doubted but whose numbers do not justify a settled place in Test XIs. Anybody who has followed this series knows Holder has toiled his socks off but he still remains a No. 8 who averages 48.09 with the ball. He has only one wicket to show for 86.2 overs of tireless bowling with a proud seam in this series.

Joel Garner, the former fast-bowling great who

is now West Indies’ team manager, feels players from the region have promise but don’t work hard enough.

“We’ve always had promising players, we’ve always had attractive players, the problems we have is that, most of the players are identified, I don’t think they work hard enough, and they fall away,” Garner said, in a media interaction on Tuesday. “I think that if the players are prepared to work as hard as they need to work, they can get to the top of world cricket as well.”

When asked which areas the players might need

to work harder on, he pointed to the lack of long innings and sizeable partnerships, which has been a problem for West Indies right through their ongoing Test series against India, apart from the final day of the drawn second Test in Jamaica.

“I think that the longer they spend in the middle, the easier the batting becomes,” he said. “And I think that is one area that I’d like to see improve, where you’d like to see the fellows batting long, not only batting long but batting effectively.

Leon Johnson, who replaced the failing opener Rajendra Chandrika in the third Test, has not set the world alight but has shown promise. West Indies are likely to give him another Test. Queen’s Park Oval has traditionally been a spinner-friendly surface so if West Indies bring back Devendra Bishoo, it will have to be at the expense of one of the three specialist

quicks, none of whom had a horrible Test in St Lucia.

A dry pitch awaits at the Oval, but there were intermittent rains in the lead up to the match so interruptions during the match would be likely.

Match time is 10:00 hrs West Indies-Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite (vc), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph and Marlon Samuels.

India- Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Aswin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, Lokesh Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha, Rohit Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav and Inshant Sharma.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2016

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

Thompson claims sprint double

Pg 19

Elaine Thompson becomes just the third woman to win both the 100m and 200m at the same Olympics, after Florence Griffith-Joyner and Marion Jones

Seagram’s Royal Stag Cup Test Series…

Pg 23

Digicel partners India with Boyce and seek to Jefford Classic consolidate for 7th edition top spot against inconsistent Windies Pg 22

Having already won the series, the tourists main aim will now be to inflict and another trashing on the home side to consolidate their No.1 Test spot ©AFP

From left: Digicel’s Senior Events and Sponsorship Manager, Louanna Abrams, Chairman Colin Boyce, Digicel’s Communications Manager, Vidya BijlallSanichara and Co-Chairman Edison Jefford

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