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Moves afoot to switch to electronic payments Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Passengers stranded at JFK, CJIA …as Dynamic Airways cancels flights guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3074

P2

Monday, December 19, 2016

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

No room for collusion, corruption P11 – GRA …says 30% to 40% of taxes not received

Page 12

PPP’s 31st Congress

Central Committee elections results today Page 3

APA accuses officials P9 of bullying Amerindian leaders

…as members discuss amendments to party’s Constitution

Santa’s in town!

40 graduate from Work Readiness P13 Programme … urge to uphold integrity

Good Hope couple’s murder

5th suspect P9 nabbed

Hits and Jams Entertainment on Sunday spread Christmas cheer to the children of Albouystown area during its annual toy drive. Guyana Times collaborated with the entertainers to bring smiles to the faces of the children by donating gifts towards the effort. In photo are Guyana Times Marketing Representative Nicola Balram (left) and HJ’s Felize Robinson along with Santa Claus and residents

Wales Estate closure GuySuCo halts private farmers cane supply Page 7

Campbellville shootout

Suspected bandit shot by Police

According to Police sources, a suspected bandit was on Sunday evening shot in the Campbellville area during a shootout with lawmen who were at the time responding to a 911 call about a robbery.

(See details in Tuesday’s Edition)

Central Bank to build resilience in pension, insurance P7 sectors

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monDAY, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Moves afoot to switch to electronic payments G

uyana’s technological landscape will soon be radically transformed as increased efforts are being employed to ensure the realisation of a society with dominance in electronic payments.

Next year, the Bank of Guyana (BoG) will begin the process of modernising the country’s National Payments System to advance the use of electronic payments which could see Guyana saving up to $266 million annually.

BoG Governor Dr Gobind Ganga told a recent news conference that Central Bank, with assistance from the World Bank, will undertake a comprehensive and strategic transformation of the payment system, to switch from paper-based payment mechanisms to electronic payments.

“The successful implementation of this programme will lead to benefits in several areas; more specifically according to a 2015 payments cost study conducted by the World Bank’s Payment Systems Development Group (PSDG), the Government of Guyana could save up to $266 million or 0.04% of Gross

The Bank of Guyana will begin the process of modernising the country’s National Payments System

Domestic Product (GDP) every year…,” he emphasised.

Over the next four years, BOG will undertake payments system regulatory reform and infrastructure development to achieve a number of objectives of the switch to digital payments.

Dr Ganga said the BoG will aim to establish legal clarity and certainty to cover several areas such as electronic funds transfer, e-money and cheque truncation.

Additionally steps will be made towards enhancing the efficiency of payment processing and the reduction of settlement

times for both retail and large value transactions.

The strengthening of risk management and mitigation across the National Payments Stem and the expansion of the accessibility of electronic payment access networks will also be under focus.

Central Bank will also seek to attract higher rates of electronic payment acceptance by vendors, merchants and other providers of goods and services as well as advance the migration of Government to electronic payments for both the collections and disbursement of funds.

Further, the BoG will drive remittance costs down and enhance the accessibility of remittance services, and strengthen the oversight framework and capacity.

Moreover, Central Bank will build stakeholder engagement and cooperation, and support ecommerce.

Public Telecommunications Minister Catherine Hughes in November said Government will be taking major leaps towards development along technological and digital lines by encouraging, through legislation, the use of cards to transact financial businesses.

“We have to start embracing the use of plastic. We have to stop walking with millions of dollars. It doesn’t make sense.

It doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world and what we don’t realise is that there is a financial cost to operating financial system so heavily dependent on cash,” the Minister had stated.

In fact, she had expressed hopes of presenting legislation to that effect in Parliament next year: “I’d like to say to you that by the end of 2017, the passport application process should be in

a digital format. You should be able to stay at home, apply for your passport and they should get a response from the passport office and they would only have to visit the office to take a photograph and uplift their passport.”

She is also hoping for the same thing for the registry of births and deaths, all other services provided by Government to citizens, “we want to be able to do them online”, she said.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan in May had alluded to the benefits of going plastic, noting that it would reduce the crime rate.

In August 2014, then Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, had sought to discourage his fellow countrymen and women from carrying large and bulky amounts of cash.

Among the policies the former Finance Minister’s Government had introduced was the launch of a $5000 bill which reduced the physical bulk of cash and the move for Government ministries and agencies to pay their employees via bank orders; a practice which has been significantly replicated across the Private Sector. (Devina Samaroo)

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monDAY, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 19 – 09:30h-11:00h and Tuesday, December 20 –10:30h-12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 19 – 08:30h-10:00h and Tuesday, December 20 –09:35h-11:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light to thundery showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening with partly cloudy skies later in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North Easterly to East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 08:16h and 20:35h reaching maximum heights of 2.37 metres and 2.38 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:07h reaching a minimum height of 0.89 metre respectively.

saturday, december 17, 2016

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PPP’s 31st Congress

Central Committee elections results today …as members discuss amendments to Party’s constitution

A

major shakeup in the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is likely when the Central Committee elections results are announced today.

The internal elections were held on Saturday following the opening ceremony of the 31st Congress of the PPP, the first congress since the Party lost the 2015 elections.

Central and Executive Committee Member Bharrat Jagdeo, who is also the country’s Opposition Leader, had noted during his feature address that these circumstances provide the opportunity for the PPP to examine its weaknesses and make changes where necessary to strengthen the Party.

The internal elections govern the selection of members for the Central Committee of the PPP as well as the candidate members (nonvoting) members of the same Committee.

The Central Committee consists of 35 members along with five candidate members.

At the last PPP Congress, those who were elected to the Central Committee are Bharrat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, Frank Anthony, Anil Nandlall, Gail Teixeira, Navin Chandarpal, Roger Luncheon, Indra Chandarpal, Pauline Sukhai, Clement Rohee, Robert Persaud, Ganga Persaud, Bheri Ramsarran, Hydar Ally, Irfaan Ali, Komal Chand, Ali Baksh, Zulfikar Mustapha, Clinton Collymore, Jennifer Westford, Dharamkumar Seeraj, Nigel Dharamlall, Neil Kumar, Shyam Nokta, Vishwa Mahadeo, Desmond Kissoon, Fizal Jafarally, David Armagon, Omar Sharief, Mohammed Hussein, Philomena Sahoye-Shury, Brian Alicock, Kellawan

The internal elections were held on Saturday following the opening ceremony of the 31st Congress of the PPP

Lall, Kwame Mc Coy and Chitreka Dass.

The candidate members elected were Collin Croal, Ronald Harsaywack, Ghurday Shivpersaud, Sandra Baldeo and Vickram Bharat.

However, the PPP announced last year several vacancies in the Central Committee owing to a number of factors.

The seat held by Robert Persaud was declared vacant after he resigned from the Party. Persaud had held senior portfolios in PPP/ Civic Governments, including Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The seats occupied by Navin Chandarpal and Omar Sharief were also declared vacant. Chandarpal had passed away and Sharief retained a senior position at the Ministry of the Presidency under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government and resigned from the Party.

The members who filled those vacancies are: Bibi Safora Shadick, Majeed Hussain and Harrinarine Baldeo.

The Central Committee is then responsible for

electing members of the Executive Committee of the Party, which consists of 15 members.

During the Congress, every delegate is eligible to vote up to 35 times for the candidates of their choice.

Leading up to the PPP Congress, there was much speculation regarding the changes at the helm of the Party.

Analysts believe that Jagdeo, a former President and highly popular personality with the rank and file of the party, will secure the most votes from the delegates to serve. Ali, Anthony, Nandlall, and Teixeira are also likely to secure a large portion of the votes.

The voting process has been completed and the counting has already commenced.

The results are expected to be declared today as the Party closes the curtains on the three-day event, which was hosted at the Cotton Field Secondary School in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), under the theme “Strengthen the Party; Defend Democracy; Onwards to Victory.”

Meanwhile, on the agenda for Day Two of the Congress, delegates considered amendments to the Party’s constitution.

Also on the programme were considerations of and discussion on resolutions and political declarations as well as the consideration of amendments to the Party programme.

The delegates also participated in a workshop on the ‘International Situation’.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, december 19, 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

Make Guyana Beautiful

I

t is quite common during this holiday season most householders will be expecting visitors and will plunge into a frenzy of cleaning and “fixing up” so as to make a good impression. They do this because even though they might have strayed from their ideal, they do in fact have that ideal buried somewhere inside of their minds or psyches. And as for individuals so for the country – which, after all, is the collectivity of all of us.

Over the past year and a half, exhorted and assisted by the central Government – and some unnamed businessmen - Georgetown pulled out all the stops to spruce up our capital just before expat Guyanese and other dignitaries were about to hit our shores to celebrate our Independence Jubilee. Who would deny that the improved surroundings, even in a small way, imparted a spring to our steps and a straightening of our shoulders in the rest of the country? We are all Guyanese and barring some partisan glitches, this was a “Guyanese thing”.

The question has to be asked, as it also can be posed at the individual level, why can’t we keep Guyana beautiful all the time? It is the conviction of this newspaper that it can be done but it will take a reappraisal of how we view ourselves. Take Georgetown, for instance. It was not always the dump it very frankly has reverted into. Not too long ago, at the time of our Independence it was known as the “Garden City” and was widely admired in the Caribbean as one of the prettier capitals.

We’re the same people – well maybe the descendants of some of those people – and if the city and country could have been beautiful then, it certainly can be beautiful now. What has changed is that we are now willing to accept not only mediocrity in those running our city but in them forcing us to live like animals in a sewer and garbage dump. This state of affairs has also spread into the countryside. No idyllic pastoral landscape any longer: garbage by the roadsides and bushes in the clogged drains are now the norm. The rot began during the collapse of the economy during the Burnham regime and gradually, a beaten and broken people perhaps began accepting that they were not deserving of beauty and cleanliness.

As we pointed out the conditions were reversed when the Central Government intervened. But the responsibility for keeping our surroundings pristine and immaculate is the responsibility of the local bodies and ultimately, we the people. And we know we can do better. Who has not visited some foreign country and taken inordinate trouble to dump our candy wrappers into garbage cans yet upon returning home, thrown such garbage onto the streets with impunity. And we rail about how “Third World” we are and pummel the Government.

What we are proposing in that we as a people must start transforming Guyana at the level we are personally responsible for: our homes and our yards. We can then venture outside of our yards and perchance improve our drains and parapets? The next step is to insist that our local authorities take care of their responsibilities – but not before we take care of ours. We have imbibed an awful, antidemocratic habit that we look to Government – at whatever levels – to solve problems that we can handle on our own. Again this was the consequence of the Burnhamite dispensation that proposed that the state was to be the alpha and omega of Guyanese life.

We have to recover the conviction that all of us are deserving of living in dignity amidst beautiful surroundings. We have to recover the conviction also that we have a large role in achieving such a lifestyle.

Why can’t we insist that the best village and best neighbourhood competitions be resuscitated? Let us start at the local level and work upwards. Let us begin to spruce up our once “Oh beautiful Guyana”.

The Birth of Christ A scene Sunday evening's a ‘National Festival of Carols and Lessons’, which was held at the D’urban Park, Georgetown to usher in the Christmas season

City Hall suddenly press shy?

Dear Editor, It was indeed quite disappointing to learn that the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown blocked the media on December 7, 2016, from covering discussions regarding preparation of the $3.7 billion budget to be presented by City Hall for 2017.

In fact it was surprising that these municipal officials who actively and constantly seek the attention of the media for all sorts

of frivolous things seem to have some things to hide from the citizenry to whom they are presenting this budget.

Could it be the fact that they propose to get just a little over $200 million for the year a paltry sum from the notorious parking meter contract whilst the company deploying the system is proposed to get somewhere in the vicinity of a whopping $800 million from the

poor citizens of Georgetown?

Could it be that they do not wish the public to see the enormous wages and salaries bill for 2017, which is due to the payroll being stuffed with about a thousand workers, many of whom are friends and family of senior officials?

Could it be that they wish to hide the gargantuan amounts they pay to contractors, particularly to one individual, a friend of

a senior functionary at City Hall?

Or could it be that they are just mortified by the fact that they are increasing rates and taxes and increasing their revenue from every angle whilst reducing services such as road works?

All in all I would like to know why they are suddenly press shy.

Regards, Riley Matthews

True nature of PNC-led APNU/AFC regime

Dear Editor, Now that the estimates in the Budget are being examined in the Parliament, we are once again seeing the nature of this PNC-led APNU/AFC Regime.

The estimates gave us a good indication of the regime’s priority, what is important for them.

As we have noted before, there are no significant developmental projects on stream. All the projects that they currently have were the ones started by the PPP/C Administration; even the funding was acquired by the PPP/C Administration.

In almost two years, the regime has not been able to put up a single new develop-

ment project of any significance.

Yet the size of the spending has grown greatly. The interesting issue is - what is the money being spent on?

In the first place, there has been a huge increase in the amount for contract workers. This amounts to almost $2 billion more in salaries alone.

This is an added burden on taxpayers, coming so close to the increase in ministers’ salaries by more than 50 per cent, plus hundreds of percentage increase in allowances.

The Ministry of the Presidency will spend a whopping $100 million on eleven contract employees,

who were recently added to the staff.

Moreover, we see a huge amount allocated for nonproductive activities.

Prestige seems to be of utmost importance for this regime.

The Ministry of the Presidency alone will spend a big amount to acquire a fleet of 142 new vehicles, five of which they claim will be for visiting Heads of State!

Of course, we want to treat our guests well but can we afford to mothball five expensive vehicles for visiting Heads of State? After all, just from memory, last year we had only one such visit.

We do not know as yet what would be the total

size of the Government’s fleet of vehicles. However, what is clear is that it will be huge. If the Ministry of the Presidency alone has 142 vehicles, then the Government’s total will not be less than 1000 vehicles.

Millions, if not billions will go to ‘upgrading’ Government officials’ offices. It was announced that Minister Trotman is being allocated almost $180 million to furnish an office!

This whopping amount can build a small hotel!

Another area where a lot of resources would be utilised is in the area of procurement of goods and services. continues on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, december 19, 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

Circus surrounding budget Debates Dear Editor, The circus surrounding the just concluded Budget debates provide another proof of the utter disdain and callous contempt the two major parties have for the people of this country.

Both the PNC/Coalition and PPP/C know fully well that no matter their audacity, they will be supported by their pledged followers.

Rationality, commonsense, fair play or objectivity does not matter. The politicians know that they just have to throw out red-meat or put up their smoke screens and whatsoever they do and say will find support among the divided and confused masses.

The Guyanese public has long been relegated to the status of political guinea pigs. Both the PPP and the PNC take us for granted. Imagine that for some 50 years, every budget that is proposed has always engendered

the ire of the opposition.

Every budget is picked apart and reconstituted by the opposing party, in a one-ups-man attempt to suggest to their party supporters that they really care about the damage and hardships the ensuing budget will cause.

But if that is really the case – if the opposition really thinks that the Government of the day is brutish and uncaring – how is it that no opposition has ever accepted the offer to sit in a pre-budget consultation? How is it that neither the PNC nor the PPP has ever accepted the overture to sit down with the opposing team and craft a budget in the national interest of the Guyanese people? The answer is clear. It is called positioning.

So what we have is 50 years of budgets that are crafted with the sole desires of the ruling governments, where the only ben-

eficiaries are the families, cronies, and friends of the Government.

Does any Guyanese think that our stagnated growth and developmental retardation is accidental? Do you really believe that we Guyanese are the dumbest, laziest and most uneducated in the region?

The answers to both of those questions are “NO!” So why then are we the furthest behind in the region? The debate around the latest budget is a prime example of an answer to that question. For 50 years our politicians have done wrong by us. They have acted and continue to act, with purely selfish motives. They continue to sell out the country to a select few, while the masses are left with virtually nothing to show for the sale.

It is with these realities in mind that the URP is suggesting that there needs to be a counter balance of

True nature of...

In less than two years, we see the regime’s record. Two that stand out are the Bond that is costing our taxpayers some $14 million a month and the D’Urban Park project, whose total cost is still unknown. However, we know that it is in the area of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall has said that procurement of goods and services is being

slowed when suppliers, not favoured by the regime win bids. The regime finds all kinds of excuses to stop the process and retender in an attempt to give the contracts to their friends.

As a result of that, shortages are being created. The most notable is regular supply of drugs for the health sector.

The huge growth in expenditure in a slowing and stagnating economy has

to be paid for somehow.

Resources have to be formed to keep up the high lifestyle of the bureaucrats.

Where is it coming from?

Taxes of course.

The Guyanese people are now among the most taxed in the world.

We have already stated that the VAT is going to garner billions for the regime.

The burden of the top-heavy bureaucracy is being carried by a smaller productive sec-

power in the Parliament.

Whenever these two parties are given full reign, they take advantage. Guyanese will have to support another, independent, party to sit in Parliament who will mitigate on behalf of those who are always left with the dirty end of the stick.

If we do what we have done over the last 50 years, we will get what we have gotten over the last 50 years. It is inevitable that we shift away from party voting and vote with the interest of Guyana at heart.

It might be an experiment in the unknown but the Guyanese populace has no other option than to divide their votes in order to stem the tide of these runaway governments.

Our children and grandchildren will thank us for putting country first.

Yours truly, Dr Vishnu Bandhu URP Leader

FROM PAGE 4

tor. The regime is destroying sugar, rice, forestry and small- and medium-scale mining.

Therefore, to pay for this, they have resorted to taxing the daylights out of our people.

This is a “tax and spending” Government, as the Americans would say.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

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monday, december 19, 2016

Page

Foundation

By Marty Nemko, PhD

A short-short story with a lesson for parents

D

ear Santa,

Sure I’d like a baseball glove but what I’d really like – and I don’t think that even you can get it for me – is for my class to be run by the kids.

You see, the kids wouldn’t make me sit still all day.

The kids wouldn’t make me do long division when I can use a calculator.

The kids wouldn’t take away our phones – They’d let us use our phones to learn with educational computer games.

I know that’s a lot to ask but if you could get that for me, I’d believe in you forever and ever.

Your friend, Matt Matt showed the letter to his mother. She pursed her lips, “That’s a tall order.” Matt lowered his head and padded out. Now he was sure there really is no Santa Claus.

But his mom had an idea.

She’d mail his letter to the principal. You see, Matt’s mom herself was concerned that his class was poorly suited to him. In fact, Matt’s teacher thought he should go on Ritalin. Maybe the letter would encourage the principal to ask the teacher to make her teaching more boy-friendly.

Christmas came and went with just the usual presents. But when Matt ar-

guyanatimesgy.com

rived to class on the first day of school in January, a substitute teacher was there.

“I’m Mrs Klowse. We’re going to try an experiment today.” Matt’s eyes widened.

“We’re going to let you run the class. But first, let’s discuss how you’ll do it.

Raise your hand: Who has the first suggestion?”

Matt couldn’t restrain himself and blurted out, “We’ll use our phones to play educational games – Each kid can pick his own and go at their own pace!”

A few children objected, “But I don’t have a smart phone.”

Another student said, “I’m sure the school would buy them for you.”

Matt replied, “Why don’t the few kids who don’t have phones share with someone they’d enjoy sharing with?”

Everyone nodded in agreement but another student asked, “What if you get stuck?”

Matt blurted again, “Then we’ll ask Mrs Klowse for help.”

And so it went: an hour of suggestions, objections, and solutions. Then Ms Klowse said, “Ready to try it?” There was unanimous assent.

The day went wonder-

fully and in the middle, the principal came in, watched carefully, and took notes.

It was the first time Matt could remember that he was sad when the school day was over.

But the next day, his regular teacher returned.

She stood before the class and stared into the dejected kids’ faces. And holding the principal’s notes in her hand, she smiled for the first time ever and said, “Boys and girls…

Y o u can continue running the class.”

The class cheered and Matt couldn’t resist blurting out, “There is a Santa Claus.” And from the distance, an echoey voice, “And a Mrs Claus, I should say, Mrs Klowse.”

The takeaway If your child is unhappy at school, would a talk with the teacher or principal be a good present? (psychologytoday.com)

By Erin Leyba, PhD

C

hildren like to feel needed and useful (just like the rest of

us).

I will never forget the holiday when I took my fouryear-old son on the Polar Express train ride, to visit Santa at his local hangout, to the tree lighting ceremony, and to the Christmas story time at the library.

His dad and I chose the perfect workbench present for his construction-loving phase and stuffed his stocking with play dough, Spiderman toothbrushes, and glow sticks.

We let him open each chocolate door of the Advent calendar, listen to Christmas music, read Christmas stories, and make a ton of ornaments out of pinecones, egg cartons, and glitter.

However, when I asked him what his favourite part of the holiday was, he answered, “Helping Grandma set the table for Christmas dinner.”

Just like the rest of us, young children love to feel useful. They want to feel needed and they treasure the chance to be of service or make a meaningful contribution. They also love bonding with adults while helping out in the “grownup world.”

When I look back at the season, I c a n see that my son lit up

the most not on Santa’s lap, but when he helped Daddy shovel snow. His eyes twinkled the brightest not when he was tearing open a new Lego set, but when he was carefully cutting paper or ripping tape to help me wrap presents. Though he liked the fishing game Grandpa set up for him on Christmas, he seemed to enjoy drying the dinner dishes more.

Some of his other favourite moments seemed to be when we let him put stamps on holiday cards, bake cookies, water the Christmas tree, or hang lights on the bushes.

Remember when you proudly got to be the doorholder or the paper-passer in kindergarten? Kids light up and rise to the occasion when they have a special role. (Behaviour challenges also tend to fade away when they’re doing something important). Marty Rossman from the University of Mississippi also found that children who had done chores since the age of three or four were more likely to be well-adjusted, have better relationships with friends and family, and be more successful in their careers.

I learned that instead of running past a young child to get them the hottest toy or bake them the coolest-looking sugar cookie, I needed to slow down and let them help me out. (psychologttoday.

com)

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monDAY, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Central Bank to build resilience GuySuCo halts private in pension, insurance sectors Wales Estate closure

farmers cane supply

Final days of Wales – GuySuCo to make final decision on the factory's closing date today

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

s the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) prepares to cease operations at the Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara (WBD), last Saturday was the final day the corporation accepted canes from private planters.

Guyana Times was told on Sunday that much of the farmers’ canes were left in the backlands, which has amounted to wasted produce. Information reaching this newspaper also indicated that GuySuCo deserted the majority of the sugar cane it had in its control.

However, the final cane supply has already been accepted at Wales Estate and is currently being processed. This newspaper was told this would occur over a three-day period and after that operations will be halted.

Following the repeated mechanical disruptions that occurred late into Saturday night - the same day the final canes were accepted - the Police were reportedly alerted to be on patrol to monitor activities

at the estate.

Meanwhile, today GuySuCo’s senior management is likely to make the final decision on the entity’s closure. This follows reports received by this publication that instructions have already been issued to Wales Factory managers that the boiler must be shut off today.

A d d i t i o n a l l y , Agriculture Minister Noel Holder in an interview with Guyana Times last week reaffirmed that sugar operations at Wales would not extend beyond the December 31, 2016, that Government had already announced for the entity’s closure.

“No worker in the factory will be continuing service at Wales; the crop has to finish at Wales by December 31, 2016,” the Minister stated.

Holder had further told this newspaper that lands controlled by GuySuCo were being prepared for rice cultivation. In September, the sugar corporation had disclosed that it intended to convert some 485 acres at Wales Estate into rice cultivation. Holder had also informed Guyana Times that

plans are in the pipeline for remaining lands to be converted for planting “other crops” when lands for sugarcane cultivation are no longer operable. In February, the Minister had told the National Assembly that the sugar factory would be converted into a business establishment that will see the rearing of poultry and other livestock.

With the expected final days to the closure of the estate, the future and livelihood of over 1000 workers and the sustenance of their families remain uncertain.

GAWU maintains that over the last 11 months, it has been in the dark over the Wales conversion plans, noting that GuySuCo has offered little explanation on the future of many of the workers. The closure of the over a century estate by yearend has affected some 1700 workers directly and thousands of persons in the Wales and surrounding communities indirectly.

The decision to close the entity was confirmed

by Government in January 2016 after Guyana Times broke the news earlier that month.

T

o further strengthen the financial stability of the pension and insurance sectors in the country, continued supervision will be employed to ensure resilience in order to withstand any adverse shocks.

This was detailed by Governor of the Bank of Guyana (BoG) Dr Gobind Ganga who was outlining the Bank’s projections for 2017 regarding those two critical sectors.

Insurance and pensions protect the poor against vulnerability and livelihood risks, allowing for an increase income and consumption and an accumulation of assets. Proposed insurance and pension laws will increase the solvency, governance, and depth of both sectors.

Dr Ganga said there will be continued dialogue with participants of both sectors to ensure they are aware of the requirements of the new regulatory regime.

Currently, discussions are ongoing with stakeholders on the drafting of a new Pensions Act and consultations were held with trade unions in this regard.

Dr Ganga said the engagement with stakeholders will continue next year with the hope of its passage of the Pensions Act coming to fruition before the end of 2017.

He explained that the pension sector remained

Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga

solvent in 2016, with an average solvency ratio of 132.32 per cent.

Regarding insurance, Dr Ganga said the sector consisted of 16 insurance companies at the end of September 2016.

These companies include six life insurers offering general life, health, annuities and pension’s products, and 11 non-life insurers providing coverage for accidents and liabilities; auto, marine and aviation; and fire.

The Governor disclosed that the insurance sector accounted for approximately six per cent of the total financial assets and 25 per cent of nonbank assets as at September 2016.

“The sector was adequately capitalised as both the long-term and gener-

al insurance sector’s assets exceeded their respective solvency requirements in keeping with the Insurance Act 1998.” The insurance sector’s assets accounted for 8.3 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Dr Ganga also noted that the drafting of the attendant regulations to the new Insurance Act is presently in its final stages of preparation.

The Insurance Act 2016, which was passed in Parliament on June 30 and later assented to by President David Granger, fortifies a regulatory role for the Bank of Guyana.

For the first time, BoG can impose fines and penalties for failure to comply with directives and for other offences.

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monDAY, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Race…

A

…in America

merica insists it’s the “land of the free and the home of the brave”. But is it the land of the “non-racist”?

The question has been placed centre square on the agenda of a lot of non-white Americans after the election of Donald Trump as president of the Republic. Some thought the question had been settled with their Civil War back in 1865 but then that was only to FREE the African slaves…wasn’t it? It certainly didn’t change how they were seen by their ‘fellow Americans’ who happened to be white. A hundred years later Blacks were waging pitched battles to sit on the same buses as whites!

This was made clear by the unsavoury – but revealing incident – that followed the elections over in Clay County, West Virginia. One Pamela Ramsey Taylor, who just happened to be white and worked at a governmentfunded organisation posted on her Facebook page, “It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a (sic) ape in heels.” The Mayor of Clay immediately responded to the post saying, “Just made my day Pam.” Well!!! Following a petition for the two persons to be fired, the Mayor claimed, “My comment was not intended to be racist at all. I was referring to my day being made for change in the White House!” Imagine that! Your Eyewitness wonders which part of the Facebook post she parsed to hone in on just “change”! Anyhow, folks felt “justice” was done when the Mayor resigned and Taylor was “removed from her position”.

So had America now entered the “post-racial” age, for which the election of Barack Obama – contrary to all the hosannas - had obviously proven to be a very, very false alarm? From the latest news emanating from Clay County in good, ole West Virginia it doesn’t seem so. We’re now told when Pamela Taylor was “removed” from her government-funded job, she’d really been “sent on leave”.

So she’d only temporarily been “removed”!! Imagine that! So, will we soon be hearing that the good Mayor has “unresigned” and is back at the helm of Clay? Stay tuned!!

The sad truth, folks, is American racism’s literally part and parcel of the very constitution of the American Republic when African Americans were defined as being only “three quarters” of a white person. And that, we know from their subsequent history, was a very generous assessment! All that the election of Trump has done is to bring the racism that’s always been there to the surface.

Who’s Trump kidding when he “disassociates” himself from the support the Ku Klux Klan threw his way?

…for PPP leadership

There’s a race of a totally different colour taking place over in Essequibo at the PPP Congress but at the time of this writing, only the first lap had been run. Yes, dear reader, your peripatetic Eyewitness wasn’t invited for an up close and personal view of the proceedings so he just has to interpret the tea leaves like your run of the mill soothsayers! So what’s the scoop gleaned from the dailies?

Well, as your Eyewitness predicted, this is Bharat Jagdeo’s Congress. Every report gave prominence and pride of place to his address. And even the rags had to admit he galvanised his massive audience – and it wasn’t all due to charisma. In substance, he was candid to concede that the party erred on several fronts over the last couple decades – corruption and arrogance were only two of the sins identified.

This was healthy. The rank and file know from their own bitter experience, about these two cancers that ate away at some of the core base of the party.

There’s no percentage in denying that.

…to the bottom

Meanwhile, back on the national front, the Government’s keeping on course in guiding Guyana to the bottom of the international barrel.

GPL’s blackouts are ensuring our manufacturing costs skyrocket.

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

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monDAY, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

APA accuses officials of bullying Amerindian leaders A

n Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) report has disclosed that Government officials sometimes pressure indigenous community leaders to give up their request for a land title or a title extension, accentuating that rules are sometimes bent to deny allocation of the titles.

The report launched on Friday at the Cara Lodge Hotel in Georgetown, stated that village testimonies pointed to Local Government authorities pressuring some Community Development Councils (CDC) chairpersons to drop plans to apply for a communal title (for example: Barabina, where GLSC pushed for individual land titles) and to withdraw their title applications in Canal Bank, Citrus Grove and Oronoque.

According to the report authorities sometimes use biased rules and strange criteria to deny or limit land title to communities, highlighting that the former Ministry of Amerindian Affairs told some untitled communities that they cannot get a title under the 2006 Amerindian Act because their population is “too small”. One of these communities is Fathers Beach.

It stated that long delays in obtaining land titles may be linked to opposition by miners, loggers or other outsiders.

“Villages suspect that long delays in official processing of their titles and strange behaviour in the handing over of title documents, may often be due to interference by miners or loggers that hold permits or are making claims on lands owned or claimed by a Village,” the report revealed, stating that: “In some cases the former MoAA has admitted that changes to title boundaries and delays in granting titles were due to competing mining claims and interests (eg Kariako).”

There were reports that there are no legal safeguards to protect community land and resource rights outside title areas from being sold or given to third

The APA Report

parties. The report stated that villages may wait years and even decades—in the case of the village Kariako— to have their land title or title extension applications processed.

In the interim, their customary untitled lands can be occupied and damaged by mining and logging businesses, leaving villagers feeling that they have no effective legal protections under current national laws to stop this.

Additionally, many of the villages complained to the authors of the report that individual village titles are undermining their way of life. Many villagers feel that the existing system of titling and demarcating individual Villages is harmful to the Amerindian way of life, the report said.

“By breaking up indigenous peoples’ territories, individual titles have undermined customary tenure systems and traditions of sharing more distant forests, hunting and fishing grounds among several neighbouring Villages. Many feel that hard boundaries and demarcation lines have caused unnecessary conflicts especially where they don’t follow agreed customary boundaries between villages.

For this reason, villages are calling more and more strongly for a collective intervillage approach to land titles, title extensions and demarcation,” it added.

It has been reported that one/third of communities in Regions One and Two

have no secure legal tenure at all. The report disclosed that 13 of the 42 communities surveyed (31 per cent) have no collective land title of any sort while 29 (69 per cent) of the communities has title.

The report explained that other than Big Creek, all of the untitled communities are registered as Community Development Councils (CDCs). Six communities (Father’s Beach, Barabina, Citrus Grove, Blackwater Savannah, Powaikoru, and Canal Bank) have applied for communal land title as an Amerindian village, but have received no positive response from Local Government authorities.

It also stated that a former minister dismissed the CDCs’ efforts to secure title while the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) officials had advised residents to apply and pay for individual title or leaseholds (eg Barabina), it stated.

However, it noted that several untitled communities do not know how to apply for communal title or what their options are to obtain secure tenure rights, including Almond Beach, Big Creek, Imbotero, Koberimo, Arakaka.

Currently, only two former CDC communities (Eclipse Falls and Four Miles) are included in the UNDP’s Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) work programme.

Almost all the surveyed villages considered that their land title is inadequate and limits their ownership of community land and customary resources: “All but one of the 29 titled Villages surveyed are not satisfied with their land title area because their existing legal boundaries do not cover vital customary lands, settlements, spiritually important sites and traditional resource areas.” It added that of the 29 titled Villages visited, 19 have families living in settlements, household clusters or homesteads outside their existing legal title boundary.

Good Hope couple’s murder

5th suspect nabbed, neighbour also in custody

Mohammed and Bibi Munir were murdered in April after a foiled robbery at their Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo home

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ne day after ranks attached to the Major Crimes Unit made a major breakthrough in nabbing, interrogating and garnering confessions from four suspects in connection with the murder of the two Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) rice farmers, a fifth suspect has now been captured.

Mohammed and Bibi Munir were killed after bandits set their home ablaze on April 17, 2016.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that on Sunday, a man known as “Plang”, who was a neighbour of the deceased elderly couple, was taken into Police custody.

Guyana Times understands that “Plang” was the alleged mastermind, who had a conversation with fellow suspect and neighbour,

Samsudeen Mohamed, and informed him that the rice farmers had some $20 million stashed away in their Lot 16 Good Hope, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home. Police are working on the theory that the alleged presence of this lump sum of money is what propelled the men to plan their attack.

Mohamed; Jason Howard of East La Penitence, Georgetown; Gavin Shepherd, called “Pepsi”, and Joel Blair, were all implicated in the elderly couple’s murder.

The major breakthrough in the case came after the 21-year-old Howard was nabbed following a highspeed chase by Police after a brazen daylight attack was carried out on Baldeo Seegobin, an accountant attached to Tower Hotel last Wednesday. turn to page 11

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, december 19, 2016

News

Govt promises HEYS participants payment by yearend

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articipants of the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS) programme were assured they will receive outstanding payments owed by the end of December.

Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie GarridoLowe, made the promise as she apologised to the HEYS participants who have not been paid since the end of September.

“Before the month is up, you will get your payment.

This goes for facilitators, as well as youths. Everything that we owe to you will be given before the month is over,” Minister GarridoLowe said during a meeting

From left: Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry Valerie Garrido-Lowe

with residents in Moruca, Region One (Barima Waini).

During the consideration of the Budget estimates in Parliament last week, the Junior Minister conceded that there were many problems plaguing the programme and while she gave assurances that the issues will be addressed, she did

not outline any concrete plans for remedying the situation.

The beneficiaries are entitled to a monthly stipend of $30,000, but the payment plan stipulates that only $20,000 would be paid and at the end of the yearly programme, recipients would receive the remainder in

bulk – $120,000.

Exceptional graduates will also receive cash grants of $50,000 to be used as start-up capital for a business of their choice.

The problematic HEYS programme, executed under the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, was given the go head to utilise almost

$1 billion to fund its programme for 2017.

Launched in 2015 by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change, the programme currently trains in excess of 1800 students using the services of some 373 facilitators across 112 Amerindian villages.

Meanwhile, Natural Resources Minister Raphael

Trotman who was in Moruca to officially hand over street lights to Santa Rosa residents, along with Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, gave their assurances on behalf of the Government that the HEYS participants will be paid and that the issues affecting the programme will be sorted out by next year.

Khalifa tells Guyana’s Jalsa Salana to spread true message of Islam

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t was quite an auspicious weekend as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Guyana hosted their 35th Jalsa Salana marked by prayers, singing, scripture readings and an important message from the Khalifa.

His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the world leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community also known as the Khalifa, sent a message to the convention which was relayed by the Head of the Guyanese arm of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Aftadudin Nassir.

In his letter, the Khalifa reminded that the main reasons for the Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) is to achieve closeness to Allah, to advance religious knowl-

Georgetown and Rosignol.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is a dynamic, fast growing international revival movement within Islam. Founded in 1889, it spans over 209 countries with membership exceeding tens of millions. Its current headquarters is in the United Kingdom.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is the only Islamic organisation to believe that the long-awaited Messiah has come in the person of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (18351908) of Qadian. Hadrat Ahmad claimed to be the metaphorical second coming of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine guide, whose advent was foretold by the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad.

A section of the gathering at the Jalsa Salana, which was hosted at the Cyril Potter College of Education over the weekend

edge and understanding, bring about positive changes in one’s life, enhance the relationship of love and brotherhood, and make a pledge to spread the message of Islam to all corners of the earth.

The Khalifa also underscored the importance of staying close to the Creator and of ensuring peace prevails.

The Missionary in Charge of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Guyana, Ahsan Ullah Mangat, in his address, reminded attendees of the life of Prophet Mohamed, noting that his mercy was not limited to his friends and followers, but was extended to his enemies.

During an interview with Guyana Times on the sidelines of the event, Mangat explained that the purpose of this annual gathering is to continue to propagate the message of Islam which teaches to coexist peacefully with everyone.

Mangat also disclosed that the size of the Ahmadiyya community in Guyana is growing, with new members joining from

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community believes that God sent Ahmad, like Jesus, to end religious wars, condemn bloodshed and reinstitute morality, justice and peace. Hadrat Ahmad’s advent has brought about an unprecedented era of Islamic revival.

Ahmadiyya Muslims in Guyana were established in the late 1950s in Sisters Village, Berbice. Its first and oldest mosque is located in that community. There are other places of worship across the country and the local organisation is hoping to commission a brand new mosque in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The faith was introduced to Guyana through a missionary who was posted in Trinidad and Tobago to spread the message of Islam.

He soon became the first missionary in Guyana and thereafter, more missionaries were posted to continue to spread the message of peace which is the undertone of the community’s motto, “Love for all, hatred for none”.

monDAY, december 19, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

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News No room for collusion, corruption – GRA …says 30% to 40% of taxes not received

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uyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner General Godfrey Statia said the entity has taken a zerotolerance stance against corruption in any form at the revenue body, noting that should each eligible person pay their taxes, the country would most certainly be a better place.

The Commissioner General, who took the helm of the revenue body some five months ago, was at the time speaking to Journalists, at his very first press briefing.

He was also at the time addressing the issue of alcohol and cigarettes smuggling, relaying that the Agency has lost close to $2 billion in taxes per year as a result. He said many of these things happen because of erring taxpayers and unscrupulous employees within the system.

“We intend to minimise that collusion. I have said it before, I will say it again: I will not tolerate collusion, because if everyone pay their share of taxes – which as far as I am aware – is close to 30-40 per cent of our taxes that are not paid – if

everyone pay their rightful taxes, certainly the tax rates will go down,” Statia told the boardroom of journalists and heads of department.

He said the entity has to change its approach, and seek out those persons who are bent on evading the system.

“We will be minimising our efforts on the people that we know that usually pay their taxes and concentrate our efforts on those we know that do not pay their taxes. People that are the employees, versus the businesses that accumulate wealth and pay their taxes.

So come 2017, our resources will be challenged in the area of compliance, enforcement review and audit,” he said.

With regard to the issue of alcohol and cigarette smuggling, Statia said the GRA would soon have stamps on these imports so as to minimise smuggling.

He said there has also been intense smuggling of fuel. The GRA chief revealed that a team was sent into the border town of Eteringbang, and based on previous information, found that the GRA

5th suspect nabbed...

from page 9

Howard and another male initially made off with some $2.9 million from the accountant who returned to his job after a bank transaction on Water Street, Georgetown. Under intense interrogation, Howard allegedly admitted to the crime and implicated the other suspects.

Blanhum told Guyana Times on Sunday that Police were still actively pursuing Gavin Shepherd as well as the driver of a car, which was used for the bandits to travel to and from the crime scene.

On that fateful night in April, Bibi Munir, 70, and her husband Mohammed,

77, were killed in a fire following a foiled robbery.

After the couple had barricaded themselves inside their bedroom, the one of the bandits reportedly set the couple’s premises alight.

Eyewitnesses had said that late that evening, gunshots were heard and sometimes after, it had been discovered that the house of the couple was on fire. At that time, neighbours of the victims ran out of their homes to render assistance to the couple who were screaming for help. A postmortem examination had confirmed that the Munirs were burnt to death.

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

has lost millions of dollars owing to fuel smuggling. He noted that the Agency would

be increasing its presence in Eteringbang and Morowana, to minimise the smuggling.

“We all know that if everybody pays their fair share of taxation, once you widen the tax base, tax rates will reduce.”

According to him, many persons have also been “falling through the cracks” because of the issues with the entity’s Information Technology programme.

The GRA has also been seeing a lot of businesses operating without licences; this would have to be addressed through stringent measures, the GRA Commissioner General promised.

“Coupled with that, we have close to 32,000 businesses that are non-registered that are actively out there…because we have

The Guyana Revenue Authority headquarters, Georgetown

been stymied registering businesses. In the new budget, we have decided that all of those unregistered businesses, we will give them what is called a provision-

al registration, so we have them in the tax net and then we give them a number of years in which they will actually legally register under the law.” (Alexis Rodney)

12 news Passengers stranded at JFK, CJIA MONDAY, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

…as Dynamic Airways cancels flights

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he holiday travel plans for hundreds of passengers in Guyana and New York, United States have seen major disruptions as air carrier Dynamic Airways over the weekend cancelled at least two flights – one out of Guyana and the other

gers camped out, many fast asleep at JFK while at Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), passengers and their worried families were seen haplessly standing outside the departure entrance in the afternoon hours.

More than 200 passen-

ever since. According to reports, passengers in New York have been stranded at JFK since Friday evening and were anxiously awaiting word from the airline.

Meanwhile, on local shores, Dynamic Airways representative in Guyana, Captain Gerry Gouveia at-

Hundreds of passengers stranded at the CJIA

from the John F Kennedy Airport. On Sunday, images surfaced of passen-

gers at the CJIA had turned up to travel Saturday morning, but have been waiting

tempted to pacify passengers late Sunday afternoon.

“I am extremely con-

cerned and sensitive about the feelings and emotions of the Dynamic passengers that are experiencing delays and cancelled flights in both JFK and GEO at this time,” he disclosed via his social media account.

Captain Gouveia also explained that two of Dynamic’s 767 Boeing flights were grounded after a ground handling truck at the New York airport “accidentally hit the left engine” .

“The engineers are working around the clock to return that aircraft to serviceability,” Gouveia stressed.

He noted that the second aircraft was used and was flown twice. However, the back-up aircraft also developed issues.

“On the return flight to JFK, the aircraft developed a maintenance issue, which is currently being rectified by the maintenance teams working around the clock to fix,” the Gouveia claimed.

“I am really sorry these events occurred at this time, but would like to reassure the passengers that every effort is being made to resolve this delay as soon as possible,” the airline’s local

Hundreds of passengers were camped out at JFK waiting for their Christmas-bound Dynamic Airways flight to Guyana

representative stressed.

Meanwhile, according to reports coming out of New York City, Dynamic representatives at JFK are reluctant to provide detailed information that the Guyana-bound passengers requested. Guyana Times understands that representatives gave to passengers

a telephone number, which provided flight information.

However, passengers were greeted by automated recorded messages and were unable to garner any key information on when their flights would leave the airport. Passengers at both airports are still awaiting their flights.

Springlands Magistrate’s Court still bat-infested

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our months after Attorneys-at-Law walked out of the Springlands Magistrates’ Court in protest over the condition of the building, which was infested with bats, no work has been done to remedy the situation.

In September, lawyers walked out of the court leaving the presiding Magistrate sitting on the bench after their calls for remedial ac-

The ceiling inside the Springlands Magistrates’ Court (pictured left)

tion had gone unheard.

During proceedings, bat droppings would fall on persons in court.

The ceiling was also in need of repair. On August 15, the ceiling just above where Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh sits had collapsed, causing him to adjourn court for the day.

In September, Attorneys Mirza Sahadat, Ryan Crawford, Chandra Sohan and Adrian Anamayah said

enough was enough and walked out of the courtroom.

The former Regional Democratic Council Sub-Office, located in Springlands, is currently being used to house the courtroom. Sohan, a former Magistrate, has since said that they were told that the court building would have been repaired within two months. “We have already moved over two months, the building where we are

in is inconvenient; the security is very poor and it doesn’t seem as though the Chancellor is making any effort to get the work done and even the building where we are right now there are holes in the roof and bat droppings are coming through there as well; it is only time before that may come down as well.”

This publication understands that lawyers are reluctant to work in that environment, which they consider a major threat to their health.

According to Sohan, both defence lawyers and prosecutors are being inconve-

nienced with no remedy forthcoming. He noted that while they were not willing to accept any more, they all have clients who do attend court.

“With or without the lawyers, the Magistrate may still go ahead with his court but again the Magistrate doesn’t seem to be in a position where he can do much, because if the Magistrate chooses not to work tomorrow, the Chancellor might fire him. So he has to work and put up with it despite how unhealthy the situation is,” the former Magistrate added.

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monDAY, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

40 graduate from Work Night Shelter gets “I Care Kits” Readiness Programme from Rotaract Club of Georgetown …urged to uphold integrity

Some volunteers pose for a photo during the distribution of the “I Care Kits” to residents of the Night Shelter

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F

The graduating batch from the Work Readiness Programme in Linden

orty young persons from across Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) on Saturday graduated from a Work Readiness Programme, organised by Regional Chairman Renis Morian, through the Christian Development Foundation.

Following six months of training, the graduates are now equipped with the necessary skills for the world of work. Already, few have been offered employment through the agencies at which they were attached.

The graduation ceremony for the first batch was conducted at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre at Mackenzie, Linden. Speaking at the event, Morian said the programme was fuelled by the high level of unemployment in the Region, coupled with the fact that employers are always seeking persons with work experience as well as the recognition that a lot of young people are not prepared for the world of work.

Morian said the programme, which was funded

by Ministry of Presidency, not only aims to equip attendees with the experience that employers often times seek but entails training persons for life. Persons

were drawn from areas including Linden, Ituni and Kwakwani.

“We recognised that a lot of young persons aren’t really ready for the area of work...the whole attitude towards work punctuality...the right attitude, those were and still are missing...

The overriding thing in our minds was unemployment in Region 10 and often times when an employer is looking for someone, he’s asking for some amount of experience.

The trouble is, just out of school, where are you going to find that experience? This programme not only prepares you for the work environment. This programme also gives you the experience of the work environment...to bring your mind in tune with what is required to work,” Morian stated.

He reminisced on how the programme started with 38 persons, however due to some amount of shifting some secured placement at the University of Guyana and a work agency.

In his feature address, Regional Executive Officer, Gavin Clarke, noted that there are many initiatives that graduates can pursue in order to make themselves marketable, adding that all they need to pos-

sess is the will to work.

Quoting from Headmaster Cleveland Thomas, Clarke told graduates that, “If the dream is big enough, the facts don’t matter,” and continued, “it means, irrespective of the challenges or what might seem to be limitations, if your dream is big enough, you will pursue it...Irrespective of what you might achieve, the level of education that you might attain, there is a simple word but it means a lot. That word is called ‘integrity’.”

Clarke also warned graduates against the existing term “hussle” and encouraged the graduating batch to leave a good mark wherever they work. He said others should respect them for their integrity and honesty.

Clarke said opportunities are very limited to young people in today’s society but encouraged the graduates not to be consumed by greed.

Speaking to this newspaper following the graduation, Israel LaRose who is attached to the Vivian Parris Health Centre at Mackenzie said that he has learnt a lot from being part of the programme, while noting that he has received hands-on training in the medical field.

(Utamu Belle)

he Rotaract Club of Georgetown (RCG) under its Community Service Arm handed over 200 personal care packages in addition to clothes, biscuits and juices to the administration and residents of the Night Shelter as part of its “I Care Kit” project.

“I Care Kit” is the Club’s culmination of its recently executed “Christmas Cheer” project which catered to 124 children from seven orphanages in and around Georgetown, Linden and East Coast Demerara (ECD), along with children from its Sophia Literacy Programme (SLP).

This project in particular sought to share the spirit of peace, joy, goodwill and giving of the Christmas season to the residents of the Night Shelter; and older group who often find themselves in less fortunate positions around this time of year.

The project was sponsored by Food for the Poor, Massy Distribution, the Interact Club of School of the Nations, Broadway Fashion, Antartic Maintenance & Repairs, and Rotaractors and Guests of the RCG. The shelter’s administrator Sheila Veerasammy proffered thanks for the do-

nation.

The RCG is a not for profit, non-governmental organisation for individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 with a mandate to provide service to the community through volunteer initiatives.

Rotaract is a Rotary Club Partner designed to foster leadership, responsible citizenship, high ethical standards in business; and ultimately a better life for youths and those around their influence circles.

The Rotaract Club of Georgetown has been serving the community for over 30 years.

F Division Commander hosts Christmas party for Bartica kids

Moruca residents get street lights

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esidents of Moruca, Region One (Barima/Waini) received 37 street lights from the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman along with Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson met with residents for the handing over ceremony.

Minister Trotman told the residents that a collaborative effort was done to get the lights, some of which were installed in the Kumaka community.

Minister Patterson in brief remarks told the residents it was his “pleasure to lend my ministry’s

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Commander Ravindranauth Budhram interacting with the children during the party

One of the lights that were installed in Santa Rosa

support in a very small way” towards meeting the needs of the people.

The lights were installed and have been serving the communi-

ty for approximately two weeks.

Toshao of Santa Rosa, Sherwin Abrams, said he was pleased by the fulfilment of the commitment.

s the season of sharing and spreading goodwill beckons, Commander of ‘F’ Division (Bartica/Interior Locations) Ravindranauth Budhram hosted a grand Christmas party for the children of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni).

The party was held for the members of the Agatash Youth Group and kept at the Agatash Community Centre. The attendees amounted to some 85 youths with ages rang-

ing between five and 16.

During the party, the children were gifted with presents and involved in several activities such as singing Christmas carols.

The event was supported by parents, residents and the business community in Bartica. The Christmas party is part of the ‘F’ Division Christmas plans for youths in the community.

According to Divisional Commander Budhram, this initiative was undertaken

as part of efforts to engage youths within the Division in constructive activities.

This is in recognition of the fact that youths are the future and special attention needs to be paid to them to ensure they are kept on the right path growing up.

“We have to engage them at an early stage in their life to aid in a safe and healthy environment,” he stated, and added that it was heartwarming to see the excitement and pure joy on the faces of the children.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Monday, deceMber 19, 2016

Regional

Venezuela delays 100-bolivar banknote withdrawal after protests

Footballer survived Colombia crash by moving seats

enezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has delayed the withdrawal of the 100-bolivar banknote until January 2.

The sudden change of policy comes after days of economic chaos.

In a national broadcast, Maduro claimed his country had been the victim of international sabotage, which had prevented new 500-bolivar currency notes arriving in time.

Many Venezuelans have spent several days in long queues trying to hand in or swap the old notes.

Thousands of shops have closed because of a cash shortage, and the public have been forced to rely on credit cards or bank transfers. Many were left unable

Brazilian footballer who survived the crash that killed most of his team in Colombia last month changed seats at the last minute after a teammate encouraged him to sit beside him.

The Chapecoense player, Alan Ruschel, told reporters he had been sitting near the back of the plane, but moved forward.

Ruschel is recovering from a back injury but says he hopes to play football again.

He says he doesn’t recall the accident.

He has pledged to visit the families of the players who died. Only six people survived the crash in mountains near the city of Medellin, with the other 71

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The Government had said the scrapping of the 100-bolivar note was necessary to prevent smuggling

to buy food.

Anger over the move led to skirmishes in six cities on Friday, the Associated Press reported. It said 32 people were taken into custody and one person was injured.

In Caracas, people waved their 100-bolivar bills in the air and chanted “they’re use-

less!” – then turned and ran as Police in riot gear fired tear gas.

The Government had said the scrapping of the 100-bolivar note was necessary to prevent smuggling.

The President said the aim was to tackle gangs which hoard Venezuelan

currency abroad, a move he has previously described as part of the “economic war” being waged against his Government.

Maduro has said the gangs hold more than 300 billion bolivares worth of currency, most of it in 100-bolivar notes.

He said there were “entire warehouses full of 100-bolivar notes in [the Colombian cities of] Cucuta, Cartagena, Maicao and Bucaramanga”.

The President said one reason for withdrawing the banknotes was to block any of the 100-bolivar notes from being taken back into Venezuela so the gangs would be unable to exchange their hoarded bills, making them worthless. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

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on board killed.

The goalkeeper, Jackson Follman, who asked Ruschel to sit next to him in the plane, also survived.

Ruschel said that at first he was unwilling to change seats to allow a group of journalists to sit together at the back of the plane.

“I didn’t want to, but then I saw Follman and he insisted that I sit beside him,” he said.

“Only God can explain why I survived the accident.

He grabbed me and gave me a second chance.”

The pilot of the charter flight has been accused of trying to fly too far without refuelling the plane, after no fuel was found in the crash wreckage. (BBC News)

Rubis faces legal T&T suspended prison officers claim: action in Antigua Those involved in jailbreak are still on duty

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he three prison officers currently on suspension following last year’s deadly jailbreak claim they are being used as “scapegoats”.

The men said the prison officer/s actually responsible for getting guns and a grenade into the jail and in the hands of the prisoners are still on active duty and that is frightening.

One of the suspended officers, who spoke with the Sunday Guardian under condition of strict anonymity, said this situation should be of serious concern to ev-

O

ne gas station operator in Antigua has opted to take legal action against French energy company, Rubis, hoping to renegotiate a better contract.

With just about two weeks left until the New Year, one of Rubis’ seven gas station operators, has told Observer media, his service station is seeking an “injunction in the court” against the French company.

The businessman, who opted to remain anonymous, said the application has already been filed and his legal counsel is pursuing the matter.

This development comes after Rubis issued a notice to the service operator, whose contract was up for renewal, indicating that he would have to vacate the premises by January 1, 2017.

The station operator was also asked to pay several increases that, he said, Rubis incorporated when it came time to renegotiate the contract.

The operator said in addition to the renegotiation of the contract, he wants Rubis to rescind the letter of notice it issued.

He said, “In the last year, Rubis had written to the service stations putting some very high operating costs on all of us, which meant that we could not have existed any longer”.

According to the service station operator, these additional costs would include a franchise fee, an increase in the rental for the C-store [superrette], the use of the equipment and the price at which the station would have to purchase gas.

“After the matter was settled last year, there was no indication that they were persisting with this request. It was only this year, when we were negotiating our contract which came up for renewal, that they then indicated to us at the end of our negotiations that they were not going to renew the contract, although we had agreed to some of the increases they had requested.” (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Allan “Scanny” Martin, one of the escaped prisoners who was later killed

eryone.

It has been 16 months since three prisoners – Allan “Scanny” Martin, Hassan

Atwell and Christopher “Monster” Selby escaped from the Port-of-Spain prison on July 24 last year.

Police Officer Sherman Maynard was shot dead during the incident while prison officer Leon Rouse was shot and wounded. Martin was killed during a shoot-out with law enforcement, and Atwell was murdered after hiding out in Port-of-Spain.

Selby eventually surrendered himself to officers at the Barataria Police Station.

The prison break occurred six months after the executive of the Prison

Service were informed of a possible escape from the prison during one of its meetings at the Prison’s Administration Building, Phillip Street, Port-of-Spain.

On August 2, acting Superintendent of Prison Wilber Lovell, along with two prison officer IIs, Lancelot Duntin and Mervyn Pierre, were suspended for the jailbreak.

The suspended officer who spoke to the Sunday Guardian claimed he had nothing to do with the prison escape. (Excerpt from Trinidad

Guardian)

UWI degrees now accepted in China Obama signature coming to secure better Caribbean-US relations

L

University of the West Indies (UWI) at Cavehill

C

hinese students studying at any of the University of the West Indies (UWI) campuses, now have the assurance that their degrees will be accepted by future Chinese employers.

UWI recently announced the official recognition of its degrees in China.

In a correspondence to UWI Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles, dated December 15, 2016, His Excellency Ambassador Niu Qingbao, of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of

China in Jamaica, affirmed The UWI’s status as an approved university by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China.

This landmark development signals that UWI degrees are now accepted by China’s highest education authorities.

Vice Chancellor Beckles has described it as a tangible result of over one year of diligent work by the Office of the Vice Chancellor, with support from regional governments.(Antigua Observer)

egislation to enhance the United States’ engagement with the Caribbean is now heading to President Obama’s desk for signature, after it was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Eliot Engel and former Chairman of the Committee Ileana RosLehtinen made the announcement last week on Capitol Hill, pointing out that the Act calls for a new, long-term strategy to strengthen ties between the United States and its Caribbean neighbours.

The United StatesCaribbean Strategic Engagement Act (HR 4939) will strengthen relations with the Caribbean by requiring the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to submit to Congress a multi-year strategy focused on enhancing

engagement with the countries of the Caribbean. The legislation puts particular emphasis on energy security, countering violence, expanding diplomacy and providing educational exchange opportunities for citizens of the Caribbean.

In reacting to the Bill’s passage, Congressman Eliot Engel, one of the authors of the legislation, said “at a time when our friends in the Caribbean need us more than ever, this bill will prioritise our partnership with the sub-region for many years to come. It is long past time to have a multi-year strategy that will allow us to increase engagement with the Caribbean, especially when it comes to energy and security”.

Congressman Engel pointed out that “the countries of the Caribbean are profoundly important to the United States, and particularly to the many Caribbean-American citizens in our country”. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

monday, december 19, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Gunmen burn buses, stalling Aleppo evacuation deal

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rmed men burned five buses that were supposed to be used for an evacuation near Idlib in Syria on Sunday, stalling a deal to allow thousands to depart the last rebel pocket in Aleppo, where evacuees crammed into buses for hours, waiting to move.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britainbased war monitor, said the evacuation of the villages had been postponed as a result, and that meant the evacuation of east Aleppo was also likely to be postponed.

In return for the evacuation of fighters, their families and other civilians from Aleppo, the mostly Sunni insurgents had agreed that people in the villages of alFoua and Kefraya, Shi’ite villages that they have be-

A man on a motorcycle drives past burning buses while en route to evacuate ill and injured people from the besieged Syrian villages of al-Foua and Kefraya, Syria, December 18, 2016

sieged near Idlib, should also be allowed to leave.

Videos posted on social media showed bearded men with guns cheering and shouting “God is great” after torching the green buses be-

fore they were able to reach the villages.

State media said “armed terrorists”, a term it uses for all groups fighting President Bashar al-Assad, had carried out the attack. Pro-

Damascus Mayadeen television blamed the rebel group formerly known as the Nusra Front.

Rebel officials said an angry crowd of people, possibly alongside pro-government “operatives”, was responsible.

Hours after the incident, as the Aleppo evacuees waited on their buses, it was still unclear what impact the bus burning would have on the wider agreement.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Assad’s main foreign backer, and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the rebels’ main supporter, agreed by telephone on Sunday that the disruptions must be quickly overcome, sources in Erdogan’s office said. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Ships off UN blacklist as China said to halt use of North Korean crews

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he United Nations Security Council lifted North Korean sanctions on five ships after China secured assurances that the vessels would no longer use North Korean crews, a council diplomat said on Sunday.

The ships were among 31 vessels sanctioned by the 15-member council on March 2 because they were linked to Ocean Maritime Management (OMM), a North Korean shipping firm

15

known to transport arms and other illicit goods for the secretive state.

The Security Council sanctions committee for North Korea removed the five ships from the blacklist on Saturday because they “are not economic resources controlled or operated by Ocean Maritime Management Company, Limited and therefore not subject to the asset freeze”.

A UN Security Council

diplomat elaborated further on Sunday, saying that China had secured assurances that the vessels would no longer use North Korean crews and that was why the ships were removed from the blacklist.

The Chinese mission to the United Nations was not immediately available to comment.

The Council listed the vessels as part of sanctions adopted in March, following North Korea’s fourth nucle-

ar test in January. Just a few weeks later, the Council removed four ships at China’s request after Beijing also secured assurances they would not use North Korean crews.

The Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea last month that aim to cut the Asian state’s annual export revenue by more than a quarter in response to Pyongyang’s fifth and largest nuclear test in September.

Jordan attack: Canadian among 10 dead in Karak shooting

G

un attacks in and near the Jordanian city of Karak have left 10 people dead, including a Canadian tourist and at least four Police Officers.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on two Police patrols before fleeing to an ancient hilltop castle and attacking a Police Station there, officials say.

Several tourists trapped in the castle were later freed and Police were in a standoff with gunmen as night fell.

No group has admitted carrying out the attacks.

At least 27 people have been wounded, some seriously.

“Police and security forces have surrounded the castle and its vicinity and launched an operation to hunt down the gunmen,” a statement by Jordan’s public security directorate said.

Witnesses said shots could still be heard late into

the night and security forces fired tear gas to try to flush out the gunmen.

Jordanian officials said events began earlier in the day with a shoot-out between Police and armed men at a house near Karak. The gunmen then fled by car into the city.

The security directorate said gunmen had also shot at a security patrol before they reached the castle.

Once inside they opened fire on a Police Station, a statement said.

It is not clear if all the fatalities took place at the castle.

It is also not clear how many tourists were trapped inside Karak’s Crusader-era castle.

Footage on social media purportedly from the scene show armed Police moving into the sprawling castle complex and helping tourists when shots ring out and they are forced to retreat.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Refugee arrivals fall in 2016 as deaths hit record

(Reuters)

Indonesia air force plane crashes, killing all 13 on board

The plane came down in mountainous terrain

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n Indonesian air force Hercules C-130 aeroplane has crashed in remote Papua province in the east of the country, killing ev-

eryone on board.

Three pilots and 10 other military personnel died, officials say.

Air force chief of staff Agus

Supriatna told MetroTV that bad weather was suspected to have caused the crash.

The Hercules was carrying food supplies from Timika to Wamena when it came down in mountainous terrain near to its destination early on Sunday.

The wreckage has been located and the bodies of the dead are being brought to Wamena, Ivan Ahmad Riski Titus, operational director of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, told Reuters.

The flight had left Timika at 05:35 (20:35 GMT Saturday) and was expected to land in Wamena at 06:13.

“The tower in Wamena

has spotted the plane, but it was not certain that the plane saw the runway,” said deputy air force chief of staff Hadiyan Sumintaatmadja.

Personnel from the air force base in Jayapura, the regional capital, were on standby to assist the team at the crash site.

Indonesia has a poor air safety record.

In June 2015, the same type of plane belonging to the country’s air force crashed near a residential neighbourhood shortly after taking off from Medan.

All 12 crew and 109 passengers on board were killed, along with 22 people on the ground. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Relief for cinema-goers as Pakistan ends ban on Bollywood films

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ajor cinemas in Pakistan have agreed to end a ban on Indian films imposed when relations between the two countries deteriorated in September.

The decision to ban the films came amid a rise in military tensions over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

The boycott was imposed after some Indian film-makers had banned Pakistani actors from working in Bollywood films.

Bollywood is popular in Pakistan, and the self-imposed ban is reported to have led to a dramatic loss of revenue.

The move followed a surge in violence in Indianadministered Kashmir.

Film distributors and cinema owners in Pakistan said they would resume screening the films on Monday.

Pakistan first imposed a ban on Indian films following the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965. The ban was even-

tually lifted in 2008.

MuslimDisputed majority Kashmir has been a flashpoint for decades and has sparked two wars between India and Pakistan, which both control parts of the territory. Today it remains one of the most militarised zones in the world.

In September, an attack on an army base in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir claimed the lives of 18 soldiers. It was the deadliest of its kind for years.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone. Bollywood films are said to be popular with Pakistani audiences

According to the IOM, 2124 people have been rescued from the Mediterranean so far this year [EPA/Italian Red Cross Handout]

A

bout 350,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in the European Union so far this year, a sharp decline from 2015 when more than one million people arrived, according to the EU border control agency.

Fabrice Leggeri, executive director of the Frontex border agency, was quoted on Saturday as saying about 180,000 people arrived via Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, while 170,000 reached the continent across the central Mediterranean route from Libya and Egypt.

Leggeri told German daily Ruhr-Nachrichten a deal between the EU and Turkey reduced the number of refugees and migrants coming from the east, but migration from northern Africa rose 30 per cent.

Earlier, the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) said that 4812 peo-

ple have died on the Mediterranean this year so far – a record number.

That is about 1200 more than last year between January to the end of November.

According to the IOM, 7189 migrants and asylum seekers have died so far this year around the world, notably in Central America.

That is an average of 20 deaths each day, with the IOM predicting that another 200 to 300 will die en route to safer lands before the year is over.

IOM spokesman Leonard Doyle told Al Jazeera that the casualty numbers are “undoubtedly an underestimate”.

“This is the numbers we have of people who are reported to have died, but there are many more who have died lonely deaths, by themselves, in the deserts and in the oceans,” said Doyle. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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monDAY, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

Molly Bisnauth – Essequibo Coast

“I plan to spread some cheers in the Lima Sands area by giving the kids there some confectioneries. I will visit that family that lost that little girl to the accident also. I intend to spend this season with my family and cousins – they come first. Will also enjoy the masquerade parade that especially greets the people in the community.”

What the people say about

I SAY...

Merle Bourne – Linden

“My plan for the Christmas season is to work hard at my job and also work hard at home, to give my children a very merry Christmas.

Also, not forgetting the reason for the season, which is Christ. I will try to get all the little things together, to bring the ends and fit them together and just be happy, remembering Christmas is about love and sharing.”

Yevindra Samaroo – Essequibo Coast

“I will be doing the usual thing for Christmas: go shopping, lime with family and friends and also take some time off for myself. The season of goodwill is here and I hope everyone enjoy.”

Indra Ibata – Rose Hall Town

Coretta Brathawaite – Linden

“The most I will do is cook and sit back and be treated by the children. The children will cook something strange for the holidays.

They will treat me with something special. I’m taking a trip out the day before New Year’s Day, so I’ll get to visit my aging aunt and uncle – hoping to see my family. I usually don’t shop during Christmas time; I’ve already finished my shopping.”

Jeffrey Fraser – Georgetown

“My plan for Christmas is that I’ll be helping out my mom and dad in decorating the house for the holiday season. I also plan to do some shopping, to get the stuff that we need to make the day memorable.

On Christmas Eve night, I plan to go to church with my family and then after that I’ll probably just go to Georgetown to hang out with some friends. I plan to have an easy but enjoyable Christmas.

“I have many things to attain this coming Christmas for I want to celebrate it with great preparation for it is very significant for me, not only for me but for all who believe that Jesus is truly God. I will make my Christmas resolution as what I do every year; make more sacrifices, charity works, prayers and do fasting which I observed every year. I want to complete the “Misa de Gallo” to receive more blessings from God and for my family, relatives and friends as well. These are what I offer to God during these times.”

Tiffany Hyman – Georgetown

“Well, this is the first Christmas that I will be spending with my son, so I plan to make it family-oriented. I want him to enjoy a traditional Christmas with all of the trimmings. I remember when I was a little girl, Christmas was very special to me and I want it to be the same for him. I’ll be going full out this year with all the cooking and decorating and gift exchange and so forth. I just hope that his first Christmas will be joyous.”

Laurena April – Corentyne

“God is good and Jesus is the reason for the season. I will be spending time in gratitude and prayer. Spend time with our family on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day and reflect on how to take better care of myself as I’ve let the stress of life really take a toll. I’m going to kick back and relax.”

Tenesha McKenzie – Georgetown

“Plans for Christmas are coming along; my house finish preparing long now due to guests.”

“My plan is to spend quality time with the family, but my other plans are coming along great.

I recently went shopping for gifts as our cleaning was done since November month-end.”

Ingrid LaRose – Linden

Oscar LaCruse – Berbice River

“My plans for the Christmas holidays are to buy clothes, also spend time with my family because I am very far from them. I’m going with my grandmother to spend the December 24. I’m going to enjoy my holiday to the fullest as I think I need a lot. I will miss my friends because I will not see them when I go home.”

Christiana Puran – West Bank Demerara

Ravon Mc Garrell – West Bank Demerara

“I plan to spend Christmas with my family as usual and enjoy a big feast. We are decorating until Thursday because we are painting right now.”

Talesh Bharrat – Essequibo Coast

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – everywhere dress up, late shopping and so, but I think I will just do a little shopping and have a quiet Christmas with my family: it’s a time for the bonding to continue in the families; also I plan to enjoy my mother’s favourite foods.”

“Christmas to me is more about family, even though right through the year is about family. It’s a time where we celebrate Christ, a time where we share gifts, do extra cooking. Christmas is a day to say ‘thank you’, give God thanks for everything that he’s doing. It’s a time where we get the family and everybody to share that love. You share it whole year, but you know, it’s something extra special about that day. It’s just an excitement with the children and the lights and the goodies, the place how it lights up. There’s something about Christmas time, mostly for children.

To me, when you reach a certain age, the excitement is not there, but you know where Christ has brought you from. I take the time to give thanks to God for family, my children, friends, neighbours, the church and the support that they give.”

Kester Whyte – Georgetown

“I have no plans for Christmas, but I want to spend more time with family and friends, since my job can time-consuming. I have found that so far I’ve been getting a lot time for them both which allows for more activities and possibilities and I even got to do some charity work too, which turned out to be good.”

17

news

monday, december 19, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

President urges seniors to Guyanese among guide younger generation group ‘iced’ in New Jersey

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resident David Granger attended a Christmas party for senior citizens held at the Mackenzie High School, and distributed bicycles as part of his Buses, Boats, Bicycles, Books and Breakfast (Five Bs) programme at the New Silver City Secondary School in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Delivering brief remarks at the senior citizens’ party, President Granger said that the Government was committed to doing all that was necessary to ensure that senior citizens in Guyana enjoy a good life. The Head of State also urged senior citizens to use the knowledge, experience and expertise that they have gained during their working years to guide and assist the younger generation to develop their Region.

“This is a large region with a tremendous amount of resources… We have not exhausted the resources of this Region. Do not feel that this Region is at an economic cul-de-sac. We have to think

A

Removal Operations (ERO) across the state of New Jersey

President David Granger serving lunch to senior citizens at the Mackenzie High School in Region 10

long-term; beyond 2016 and 2017,” the President urged.

After the senior citizens’ party, the Head of State proceeded to the New Silver City Secondary School, where children from Amelia’s Ward, Wisroc, Mackenzie and Christianburg gathered to receive Christmas gifts and goodies. Additionally, 20 bicycles were also distributed to children in need as part of the Five Bs pro-

gramme. The bicycles were donated by the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown.

President Granger told the children that Region 10, being the gateway to the hinterland, was a very strategic Region and urged them to stay in school so that they can benefit from a sound education, which will help them to further develop their Region. He also spoke of the level of importance

which his Administration attached to children and their welfare, particularly at this time of year. “We feel that we should respect and honour children, because Christ came into the world as a child in the most humble circumstances and was able to bring a message of joy, peace and goodwill and it is our duty to continue spreading this message,” the President said.

Hollywood legend Zsa Zsa Gabor dies at 99

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he actress Zsa Zsa Gabor has died after suffering a heart attack, aged 99, her husband has confirmed.

On the point of tears, Frederic von Anhalt told the AFP news agency his wife had passed away at home, surrounded by her friends and family.

“Everybody was there.

She didn’t die alone,” he said.

Born in Hungary, she emigrated to the United States during World War Two and made her Hollywood debut in 1952.

She was married nine times.

She appeared in more than 70 films, but was more famous for her celebrity lifestyle.

She first married at the age of 20 and for the last (and longest) time when she was nearly 70 to the man who outlived her.

By her own reckoning she was only married eightand-a-half times – she said she didn’t really count a Spanish duke in 1982.

Born Sari Gabor in Budapest on February 6, 1917, the future starlet was immediately nicknamed Zsa Zsa by her family.

Though she had initially wanted to be a vet, her mother had other ideas – and her beauty soon saw show business beckon.

Gabor was crowned Miss Hungary in 1936, but was later disqualified for lying about her age to enter the pageant.

Her credits include a long list of roles in such

Zsa Zsa Gabor pictured in Beverly Hills in 1989

hit films as “Moulin Rouge” (1952); “Lili” (1953) and “Queen of Outer Space” (1958). More recently, she featured in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” series and in the “Naked Gun” spoofs.

In her heyday, Gabor embodied Hollywood’s platinum blonde ideal and was famous for wearing lame gowns.

Her only child was Constance Francesca Hilton, her daughter with hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, who was born in 1947.

Gabor was arguably among the first women to be “famous for being famous” – a quality often attributed to her famous great-granddaughter by marriage, Paris Hilton.

She was affectionately mocked for her strong Hungarian accent, in which she called everybody “darling” – or “dahlink” as she pronounced it.

“I call everyone ‘dahlink’ because I can’t remember their names,” the socialite once said.

Her mother had reportedly told her: “You don’t have to marry every man you sleep with.”

Gabor said she did it because she “never stopped being a Catholic at heart”.

In her 1993 autobiography “One Lifetime is Not Enough”, she claimed to have lost her virginity to Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, when she was 15.

The tell-all account also referred to romances with screen legends Sean Connery and Frank Sinatra, quite apart from her roster of husbands.

She claimed to have turned down John F Kennedy and Elvis Presley.

Though she spent her life delivering others’ lines, Gabor could turn a memorable phrase herself.

Pondering her good relations with her many exhusbands, she said: “I never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.”

She also commented: “I am a marvellous housekeeper: Every time I leave a man I keep his house.”

Gabor was plagued by ill-health in her later years, and was left wheelchairbound after a 2002 car accident in Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles.

She survived strokes in 2005 and 2007, and was left heavily dependent on her husband.

In 2011, she suffered an infection that saw her right

leg amputated above the knee to save her life.

Figures from the entertainment world paid tribute to Gabor as news of her death emerged.

US chat show host Larry King said: “There will only be one Zsa Zsa Gabor. And I liked her a lot. Rest In Peace, my dear.”

Actress Barbara Eden, who starred in “I Dream of Jeannie”, tweeted: “Rest in peace Zsa Zsa Gabor. She and her sisters were lovely ladies who were always fun and delightful to be around.”

“Game of Thrones” star Gwendoline Christie called the socialite “fabulous” and “unmistakable”.

British director Michael Winner, who worked with Gabor on the 1976 film “Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood”, said her greatest role was playing herself.

Speaking before his death in 2013, he remarked: “She played Zsa Zsa Gabor the actress in real life.

“I thought she had great wit and charm. She was a perfectly reasonable actress. Not a great actress – but she was perfect in those early comedies.

“She played a glamorous Hungarian. She wouldn’t have been able to play Juliet, or be in Hamlet, but was perfect for those films.

“Her private life is the equal to those characters in soap operas today – but they do not hold a candle to her. Compared to Zsa Zsa Gabor they are just empty shells.” (BBC News)

t least four Caribbean nationals were among 82 criminal immigrants recently iced by agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) across the state of New Jersey.

They include nationals of the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Cuba and Jamaica.

The Jamaican national nabbed was a criminal convicted of terroristic threats, stalking, possession of a weapon, distribution of narcotics and resisting arrest.

The Guyanese citizen was convicted of aggravated assault with a weapon while the Dominican Republic national was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual contact against a child and endangering the welfare of a child.

The Cuban citizen was convicted of robbery, possession of narcotics, and distribution of narcotics.

Other immigrants were also nabbed from Latin American nations including

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Peru.

All of the immigrants ranged from age 18 to 66 and were all previously convicted of a variety of offenses.

“The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ERO Newark. “As part of this operation, we specifically focused on the arrest of individuals who are in violation priority one of DHS Civil Immigration Enforcement Priorities. Because of the tireless efforts and teamwork of ERO officers and our law enforcement partners, there are 82 fewer criminals in our neighborhoods,” he added.

In fiscal year 2015, the US ICE conducted 235,413 removals nationwide.

Ninety-one percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.

(Newsamericasnow.com)

NATO seeks to allay concerns at meeting with Russia

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ATO will seek to reassure Russia today that its troop deployments to the Baltics and Poland next year are purely defensive, in a rare meeting of the alliance’s envoys with those of the Kremlin that is unlikely to resolve longstanding grievances.

The NATO-Russia Council, the forum bringing together North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ambassadors and Russia’s top diplomat dealing with the US-led alliance, will convene for only the third time this year with the crisis in Ukraine still the top concern for Brussels and Washington.

Russia says it is concerned about a NATO military build-up near its borders. “We count on having a frank discussion about the security situation in Europe ... including ... the consequences of NATO reinforcements on the eastern flank,” Russia’s Ambassador to NATO, Alexander Grushko, said on Friday.

With relations already at a low ebb, Russia’s devastating bombing campaign in Aleppo, which is not expected

to be formally discussed, has provided a dark backdrop for the meeting, diplomats said.

However, NATO allies, particularly Germany, have been pushing for a meeting with Grushko to explain why they are sending four multinational battalions of up to 4000 troops to the former Soviet states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland from early 2017.

NATO Governments say the measures are modest compared with the 330,000 troops the alliance believes Russia has amassed on its western flank near Moscow since May. Allies say the four battalions, backed by additional US forces on rotation, are justified by Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Crimea that alarmed the Baltics that they might be next.

“The whole idea with reinforcements is to prevent the conflict,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier this month following a meeting with Estonia’s President. “It’s to send a clear message of deterrence.” (Excerpt from Russia)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, december 19, 2016

ARCHIE

Get together with old friends or offer to help out (March 21- with festive events or charitaApril 19) ble causes in your community. The more you reach out to others, the more you will get back in return.

ARIES

You’ll find interesting items

dilbert

TAURUS if you go shopping. Making trav(April 20- el arrangements and discussing May 20) upcoming family events will relieve your uncertainty regarding your responsibilities and what’s expected of you.

Do your best to look your GEMINI best.

The way you present (May 21June 20) who you are and what you can do will make a difference to your progress. A surprise is apparent.

An unexpected cancellation or delay will set you back.

(June 21- Make sure your travel plans July 22) are in order and that you’ve accounted for hidden costs.

Stick to your budget and avoid indulgence.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Consider what you’ve accomplished and how you want to move forward. A commitment or promise to a loved one will improve your life.

Romance is in the stars.

Say what’s on your mind.

VIRGO Engage in events that in(Aug. 23- clude children or good friends.

Sept. 22) Express your gratitude and offer something in return. Don’t fret over unexpected changes.

Calvin and Hobbes

Arrange some surprise LIBRA events to celebrate the end of (Sept. 23the year.

Someone you love Oct. 23) will make your life better.

Romance is encouraged.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

If you change things up at SCORPIO home, you will make a differ(Oct. 24ence to someone who has been Nov. 22) feeling low. How your gesture is received will help you make a personal decision.

Don’t let depression take SAGITTARIUS control when change is what’s (Nov. 23- needed. Stand tall and do Dec. 21) whatever needs to be done in order to create the type of environment that helps you thrive.

SATURDAY'S

solution for Last Published Puzzle

A contract or settlement CAPRICORN will turn in your favour if you (Dec. 22make your point clear. If you Jan. 19) are a forceful self-advocate, you will not be disappointed.

Trust your instincts.

Consider the changes you AQUARIUS would like to make or see hap(Jan. 20pen and do something about Feb. 19) them. Whether it’s carrying out a personal makeover or helping the underdog, your actions will bring good re-

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 You can resolve concerns (Feb. 20- if you speak up and discuss March 20) the best way to put such matters behind you. A partnership will develop that will encourage forward motion.

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monday, DECember 19, 2016

19

Claude Elise Under-15 football tournament...

Guyana open campaign against Martinque today T

he Guyana National Under-15 team will play their first game in the Claude Elise Under-15 football Tournament today against Martinque in French Guiana at 20:00hrs.

Guyana’s second game is scheduled for Tuesday against Gaudeloupe at 18:30hrs.

This is the first international encounter of 2016 for the squad and it is being served as preparation for the August 2017 CONCACAF U-15 tournament.

Technical Director,

Ian Greenwood, said: “Ultimately, what we need to stress (is) it is a development tournament; we’re not trying to win the tournament. We’re going there to try to develop these boys and make them ready for next year’s competition.

We’ve got a lot of individual talent. We still need to do a lot of work on how we play as a team, how we defend as a team and how we attack as a team and the idea of this tournament is to give the boys exposure away from home, exposure to tourna-

National U-15 Squad following one of their training sessions in French Guiana

ment football and, most importantly, exposure to playing better opposition to what they’ve been exposed to before so we’re confident in terms of the developmental process and looking forward to next year.”

Prior to departure on Thursday, Head Coach, Bryan Joseph, noted that critical thinking was one of the skills imparted in the squad. “We’ve created a positive learning environment in the camp for the kids by encouraging them to be themselves first. We’ve adopted an approach where we basically question them in such a way that they can think and come up with the appropriate answers so they’ve

Bacchus working towards recall to national duty S ince 2014 Robin Bacchus has failed to impress the selectors thus he has been left out of the national squad.

Selected for the first time two years ago, the exciting left handed batsman was offered one game against Jamaica, where he scored just six runs in his lone innings to date in the Regional 50 over tournament.

Subsequently his performance has fluctuated but he is currently an academy player contracted by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).

He is set to participate in the 50 over segment of the Jaguars League set to start on December 22 and in this event he plans to score big since he believe he is well prepared.

“You know one day cricket is mostly my thing so I’m mostly looking forward to it….preparation

for this League has been going well, we have about seven games to play and I am looking to score more than 500 runs in the tournament.”, the cricketer stated.

Over the years the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) player is known for wasting good starts, with rash shots, a major cause for his demise, however, he thinks he is now a more mature player.

He expressed that “Definitely I think I have mature as a player. I’ve been working on my main aspect of development, like being a bit more patient…the things that could really carry you through and assist in the long run.”

The former St. Joseph High School student, now 27, will play for Georgetown when the Franchise league tournament commences next week.

Robin Bacchus

been challenged throughout the duration of the camp. In terms of our on-field preparation, the same was carried over there. The coaching sessions were structured in such a way that the players had to think about the decisions that they’re making.

Obviously, we provided the guide, we provided the challenges and I think that they have done very well to step up to those challenges.”

Commenting on the fitness of the team, Joseph noted: “The fitness is not where we would have liked it to be.

Obviously, a lot of the players would have played in the NAMILCO U-17 tournament … So, we did a lot of work in the initial days of

the camp, trying to get the players up to a proper fitness level, we think we have achieved that so I think right now, the players are at a level where they can compete in the short-term.”

Guyana Under-15 squad reads: Goal Keepers: Shwan Adonis (Golden Grove FC), Oswin Fedricks (Buxton United).

Defenders: Joshua Braithwaite (Fruta Conquerors FC ), Wayne Da Silva (Saints Sports Club), Cyrus Nicholson (Corriverton Lynks), Jermaine Padmore (Georgetown Football Club), Rickford Emmanuel (Buxton Stars).

Mid-fielders: Okifi Patoir

(Rosignal United), Shannon Samnauth (Soesdyke Falcons), Orville Daniels (Paimak Warriors), Tryrel Khan ( Soesdyke Falcons), Derron Niles (Santos FC).

Forwards: Omari Glasgow (Beterverwagting United), Ken Salvador (Saints Sports Club), Troni Semple (Buxton United) and Jermaine Garrett ( Fruta Conquerors FC).

Head Coach: Bryan Joseph, Assistant Coach – Challus McKinnon, Goal Keeping coach- Eon De Vieira, Team Manager – Keith Ojeer and Technical Director – Ian Greenwood.

Keevin Allicock eyes Olympics 2020 R

eturning with a gold medal from the recently concluded Caribbean Development Boxing Tournament, young Keevin Allicock has his eyes set on the 2020 Olympics where he believes he will be the second person to bring home an Olympic medal and the first to bring home gold at the games.

The talented 17 year old boxer out of the forgotten Youth Foundation boxing gym located in Albouystown was high in confidence, relating to Guyana Times Sport that he is “going to be a part of the next Olympics, you know, I will be making Guyana proud and definitely bringing home gold to Guyana.”

But not only does the pugilist talk the talk, he walks the walk too. For the 2016 season, Allicock has competed in the Lennox Blackmoore Intermediate Boxing Tournament where he earned the title best boxer of his category (Bantamweight youth) after some aggressive punches lead to the victory where the referee intervening and ending the match against Albert Thomas in just two

Keevin Allicock has the potential to represent Guyana at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

minutes. Allicock then toured to Suriname in November where he won via technical knockout. The 17 year-old wonder kid grew a passion for the sport as did majority of his 18 brothers, as he hails from the popular Allicock family in Albouystown. However, the prospect of this young man is not surprisingly bright as he has harnessed his skills to a level safely better than his brothers. While some of his brothers have had their share of troubles with the law, this role model for a lot of the community is admirable with the fact that he does not endeavor into illegal acts, drinking nor

smoking but rather spends his spare time in the gym preparing himself for an imminent glory. Allicock said that all he has accomplished so far is thanks to the Almighty and he continues to serve him wholeheartedly as he guides him to his destiny. The skills of the young man have attracted the attention of both President of the Guyana Boxing Association Steve Ninvalle and Coach Sebert Blake. Ninvalle said “Keevin is one of our best prospects, he is disciplined, has ring craft and is an Olympic hopeful” while Blake is working tirelessly with the young man.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monday, DECember 19, 2016

India v England, 5th Test, Chennai, 3rd day…

Rahul's 199 leads strong India reply

KL Rahul sinks to his knees after missing a double-century

I

pressed as he and Rahul combined to forge India’s first cen- tury-plus opening stand in 32 innings.

Drafted into the side after the second test to replace the injured Wriddhiman Saha, Patel kept wicket for over 157 overs and then returned to partner Rahul after regular opener Vijay sustained the injury.

England claimed two big wickets after lunch w i t h Cheteshwar Pujara edging Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad dismissing the in-form Virat Kohli with a slow leg-cutter which the India captain drove straight to short cover.

Kohli made 15 and it was the first time in the series that the Indian run-machine was dismissed for a sub-40 score.

Rahul hit Adil Rashid for his third six to race to 193 and colKarun Nair made his lected his 16th boundary maiden half-century ©AFP off the same leg-spinner to reach 199.

Rashid followed it with a tossed up innocuous delivery way outside the off-stump and Rahul offered a reckless shot, lobbing the ball to Jos Buttler Total (4 wickets; 108 overs) 391 Stumps - Day 3 at cover point.

To bat: R Ashwin, RA Jadeja, A England 1st innings 477 “I will always have to live Mishra, I Sharma, UT Yadav India 1st innings (60/0 with it,” Rahul said of the shot.

Fall of wickets 1-152 (Patel, overnight score) “I didn’t get a double hunKL Rahul c Buttler b Rashid 199 41.5 ov), 2-181 (Pujara, 50.5 ov), 3-211 (Kohli, 60.4 ov), dred, I played a horrible shot.

P Patel† c Buttler b Ali 71 4-372 (Rahul, 102.3 ov) C Pujara c Cook b Stokes 16 It will take some time to sink Bowling: Broad 18-4-46V Kohli* c Jennings b Broad 15 1, Ball 15-1-50-0, M Ali in. I thought I would get a douK Nair not out 71 24-1-96-1,Stokes 9-1-37-1, ble hundred with ease. I just M Vijay not out 17 Rashid 17-0-76-1, Dawson have to come back stronger,” 23-3-72-0, Root 2-0-12-0 Extras (lb-2) 2 he added. (Reuters)

ndia opener Lokesh Rahul fell agonizingly short of his maiden test double century as he helped his team to 391 for four in a robust reply to England’s first innings total of 477 in the fifth and final test in Chennai on Sunday.

The elegant right-hander made 199 before throwing his wicket away and squatting at the crease, head-in-hands, after the anticlimactic end to a stellar 311-ball knock.

India, who have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, finished day three at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, on course for a first-innings lead.

Karun Nair was batting on 71, his maiden test fifty, at stumps with Murali Vijay, who dropped down the order following a shoulder injury, on 17 at the other end.

Rahul featured in century-plus stands with stop-gap opener Parthiv Patel and number five Nair to provide the bedrock of India’s reply.

Resuming on 60 for no loss, the hosts got off to a solid start with their make-shift opening pair of Rahul and Patel adding 152 runs.

Rahul was particularly harsh on debutant Liam Dawson, twice stepping out against the left-arm spinner to hit him for sixes in the morning session.

Patel made a career-best 71 before falling to Moeen Ali, having im-

SCOREBOARD

Australia v Pakistan, 1st Test, Brisbane, 4th day

Australia 2 wickets from victory over brave Pakistan A ustralia were two wickets from victory at the end of day four of the first day-night test against Pakistan on Sunday, but the tourists were buoyed by a feisty fourth innings chase and a brilliant unbeaten century from Asad Shafiq.

Pakistan were 382 for eight at stumps, 108 runs short of their victory target, but having won admiration with the highest fourth innings total at the Gabba.

Shafiq was 100 not out, after anchoring three stubborn partnerships, while Yasir Shah was on four at the end of a rain-interrupted day. Shafiq will be key to Pakistan’s faint hope of stealing a famous victory, the tourists having been set an improbable chase of 490.

Australia captain Steve Smith was berating himself

Asad Shafiq pulls in front of square, Australia ©Getty Images

Mitchell Starc bowled Sarfraz Ahmed with a peach of a delivery ©Cricket Australia/Getty Images

SCOREBOARD Australia 1st innings 429 Pakistan 1st innings 142 Australia 2nd innings 202/5 dec Pakistan 2nd innings (target: 490 runs) Sami Aslam c Renshaw b Starc 15 Azhar Ali c †Wade b Starc 71 Babar Azam c Smith b Lyon 14 Younis Khan c Smith b Lyon 65 Misbah-ul-Haq*c †Wade b Bird 5 Asad Shafiq not out 100 Sarfraz Ahmed† b Starc 24

Mohammad Amir c †Wade b Bird 48 Wahab Riaz c Smith b Bird 30 Yasir Shah not out 4 Extras (lb 4, w 2) 6 Total (8 wickets; 123 overs) 382 To bat: Rahat Ali Fall of wickets 1-31, 2-54, 3-145, 4-165, 5-173, 6-220, 7-312, 8-378 Bowling: Starc 30-8-97-3, Hazlewood 35-11-780, Bird 29-6-94-3, Lyon 26-3100-2, Maddinson 3-0-9-0

for grassing two catches in the slips in the final session.

The second, off Mitchell Starc’s bowling, would have dismissed Shafiq for 72 and left the tail-enders to fend for themselves.

Smith demanded an extra eight overs to push for the win and was finally rewarded when the eighth wicket fell in the final over.

He pouched a much harder chance in the slips when paceman Jackson Bird had Wahab Riaz nick behind after a swashbuckling 30 that featured two slog-swept sixes over the midwicket fence off spinner Nathan Lyon.

Shafiq was majestic in his 140-ball knock, cleaving boundaries to all corners of the ground and rotating the strike to defy Australia’s fatiguing attack.

He shared in a doughty seventh wicket stand with Mohammad Amir before Bird broke the 92-run partnership when Amir nicked behind for 48.

Left-arm seamer Starc, who ended a 91-run stand between Azhar Ali and Younus Khan, also halted a 47-run effort between Shafiq and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for the sixth wicket.

The rangy Starc fired in a gem of a delivery to bowl Sarfraz through the gate for 24. Shafiq was dropped on 58 after smashing square to a diving Usman Khawaja and later slashed three runs to point off Bird to complete his stellar hundred.

Bringing a dreadful run of scores, Younus batted himself back into form with a fighting half-century but he fell with an appalling dismissal for 65 when attempting a flamboyant reverse sweep that gave up an easy catch to Smith behind the wicket. The odds are stacked against Pakistan -- no team has ever successfully chased more than 418 for victory -but the tourists head into the fifth day with pride restored after their batsmen were routed for 142 in the first innings. (Reuters)

21

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2

0-year –old Lindener, Shaquel Agard, who closed of the 2016 cycling season comfortably his best, is one to look out for when the 2017 season opens.

The youngster who rides for Linden Bauxite Flyers Cycling Club, began his career at the age of 13 when he developed a liking for the sport, which is not as young as most cyclists but nevertheless, he is one of the most feared wheelsman seven years on.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Agard said “I first entered a cycling race here in Linden and after the first race I ended up liking the sport and wanted to take it serious so I started to train with the cyclist in linden and they were all from the same club ‘linden bauxite flyers cycling club’ so I

ended up joining the club.”

Agard remembers one of his earliest out of home riding where the club took him to Berbice and he started developing into a challenging competitor.

By 2013, Agard had emerged as one of the top three junior cyclists in the country, where he placed 3rd in time trials of the National Cycling Championships, second in the road race and from there never looked back. The talented teen then earned a spot on the National team that represented Guyana at the Caribbean Championships in 2013.

Two years later, he became a senior rider where he took a number of races before being able to keep up with some of the other top riders at that time but eventually nurtured his skills to

be a dominant force in 2016.

Agard was short listed on the national team to go Caribbean Championships 2016 but “due to certain circumstances”, a national team did not attend the event.

In the local arena Agard broke into the top 10 senior cyclists after a string of consistent performances. Agard immediately rose to fame winning the National Three Stage and then winning the Team Alanis race which saw him move up from 5th position on the cycling rankings, to 3rd, his highest he had ever achieved. He was also able to earn the most improved cyclist of the year.

While the season is closed, Agard still puts in the hours to keep fit and when the 2017 season returns, he is one definitely to keep an eye on.

GFC hammer Tavelle’s Academy I

t was not a day to remember by any stretch of the imagination for Tavelle’s Academy as they were comprehensively beaten 12-1 by a rampant Georgetown Football Club (GFC) in the Turbo Energy Drink-sponsored Fruta Conquerors U19 Academy League.

Led the by Ralph Paris, who netted five goals to his name, the city side left their imprint on the league by inflicting the largest margin of victory to date.

Paris netted in the 10th, 28th, 34th, 48th and 62nd minute while Curtez

Kellman netted twice in the 18th and 46th minute while Dwayne Rogueiro, Daniel Ross, Marvin Carter, Joel Humphrey and Shamar Joseph scored solo goals in the 15th, 21st, 25th, 58th and 60th minute each.

The lone goal scorer for the losing side was Jamal Waddell who netted his side’s consolation goal in the 46th minute.

In another high scoring game Buxton United crushed Eastveldt 8-0 with Kurt Adams netting a hat-trick in the 11th, 38th and 56th minute while Cleveland Barnwell, eighth

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and 19th minute and Paul Kingston, 61st and 69th minute netted twice.

Dillon Wright scored the final goal in the 79th minute The tournament continues today at the same venue where Buxton United play Santos FC from 19:00 hrs. The semi-finals and final will be held on Tuesday and Thursday respectively.

22

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monday, december 19, 2016

WICB/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

New Era Entertainment Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal Tournament…

Good Fellas, Empire Red Force through to semis fight back on rain-hit day T

Isaiah Raja sweeps late on day three at Providence

S

unday turned out to be everything other than sunny when the third day of the Guyana Jaguars versus Trinidad & Tobago Red Force clash turned out to be badly affected by rain at Providence in the West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament. After the start of day three was delayed by an hour and 30 minutes the Jaguars eventually resumed on 357/6 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul on 141 and Anthony Bramble on 18 the Jaguars were bundled out for 378 after 5.2 overs early on the rain affected day.

Leg spinner, Imran Khan was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets while Pierre had three.

Shiv was first to go when he edged Imran Khan to Ottley at first slip in the third over of the day after adding two in overcast conditions. Veerasammy Permaul didn’t last long as was fellow left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie who was last out for two.

Anthony Bramble was looking to go for quick runs perhaps to get an additional batting bonus point before the 110th over but eventually hit high to long off where Kyle Hope took a regulation catch. The Jaguars took a

lead of 216 runs and when the Red Force began their second innings the rain came again.

In all, 3 hours and 25 minutes were lost to rain but the Red Force fought back beautifully to end the day on 95/2 still trailing by 121 runs. Imran Khan seemed unlucky to be given out on three to Keon Joseph who was in a hostile opening spell. Khan’s dismissal brought Isaiah Rajah to the crease and he immediately took the attack to the home team. Rajah outscored opener Kyle Hope in getting to 63 from 114 balls with eight fours and a six before he was brilliantly taken by Bramble in the final over of the day.

Hope survived 124 deliveries for 20 while night watchman Khary Pierre faced five deliveries from Permaul to end the day with the Red Force 95/2 from 41 overs. In all, Jaguars Captain, Leon Johnson used six bowlers looking for wickets but it was Permaul and Joseph who were successful.

When play resume at 09:00h today, weather permitting, the Red Force will be looking to eat away at the deficit while the Jaguars will be hunting more wickets to press for an outright victory.

he 3rd Annual New Era Entertainment Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal tournament began with over 20 of the best 5-a-side players in the country and now, the opportunity to taste glory is at the doorstep of four teams as Good Fellas and Hard Knocks Empire entered the semi finals after winning on Saturday.

They join defending champions Magic Stars and Hustlers in the penultimate round of the competition.

At the McKenzie Sports Club hard court tarmac, the inclement weather did not stop the futsal fanatics from coming out in their numbers, getting behind their favourite teams with every goal sending the gyrating crowd into celebration and dismay in some cases.

In the first of three matches on the cold night, Lindeners got behind their home side Good Fellas who played a touring Customs United out of Georgetown. Utter silence transcended throughout the crowd as Customs stunned Good Fellas when Daniel Wilson gave Customs the early lead four minutes into the match. A string of good ball passing between Customs resulted in them accumulating more ball handing points and a few shots at the Good Fellas’ goalkeeper but he held his nerve to stop the carnage as Good Fellas looked as if they were playing on ice, sliding and slipping constantly.

However, last year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and leader of Good Fellas, Clarence ‘Shark’ huggins capitalized on a lazy pass by the Customs men, allowing Shark to turn and blast the equalizer in the 16th to much relief of the crowd. With a number of fouls both teams were able to avoid the penalty and closed the first half with the score deadlocked 1-1.

Meanwhile in the second half, Deshawn Joseph found his foot and worked past the Customs defence to ease in the ball to the back of the net in the 22th but in the 35th Wilson equalized the game.

One minute later, Joseph

Clarence "Shark" Huggins (red shirt) tries to break through the defence of Customs

scored his second of the night which proved to be enough to send Customs packing out of the tournament.

Many fans will be at odds as Good Fellas will now play Hustlers in the first semi finals on Friday Both teams have earned a large fan base throughout the tournament and it will be exciting to see if the crowds will take a side of just be supportive of a good match.

On the other hand, in the second match of the night, a 10-minute lash out between the ladies of the Demerara Queens team who entertained with their skills as they prepare for a full entry into the tournament next year.

In the final match of the night, Hard Knocks Empire continued their impressive run as they defeated the challenge of Silvertown Hustlers 7-3.

Both teams have been unpredictable in the tournament with Empire having had a 13-year-old star the show to Silvertown scoring four goals in 60 seconds but on the night that determined the progression into the semi final, Trenton Lashley marked his name on the scoreboard in the 10’ while Calvin Drakes scored two minutes later to have Empire leading strong. Lashley secured his second goal in four minutes be-

SCOREBOARD Stumps Day 3 Red Force 1st Innings 162 Jaguars 1st Innings (Overnight 357/6) R Chandrika c wkpr Katwaroo b Richards 12 S Hetmyer c Cariah b Jagessar 31 L Johnson c Primus b Mohammed 69 V Singh LBW b Khan 26 S Chanderpaul c Ottley b Khan 143 3 C Barnwell LBW b Pierre R Reifer LBW b Khan 38 A Bramble c Hope b Khan 33 V Permaul c Ottley b Pierre 2 G Motie stp wkpr Katwaroo b Pierre 2 K Joseph not out 0 Extras (w-1, nb-7, lb-3, b-8) 19 Total (All out, 106.2 Overs) 378

FOW: 1-13, 2-45, 3-94, 4-235, 5-243, 6-332, 7-369, 8-374, 9-378, 10-378 Bowling: M Richards 13-2-53-1 (w-1), R Primus 9-0-43-0 (nb7), J Jagessar 28-7-99-1, I Khan 24-1-78-4, J Mohammed 152-44-1, K Pierre 19.2-2-50-3 Red Force 2nd Innings K Hope Not Out 20 I Khan LBW b Joseph 3 I Rajah c wkpr Bramble b Permaul 63 K Pierre Not Out 0 Extras (w-1, nb-3, b-4, lb-1) 9 Total (For 2 wickets, 41 Overs) 95 FOW: 1-3, 2-95 Bowling: K Joseph 7-3-201 (nb-3), R Reifer 3-0-8-0, G Motie 15-5-40-0, C Barnwell 5-1-6-0 (w-1), V Permaul 9-66-1, L Johnson 2-0-10-0

The ladies of Demerara Queens with Collin Aaron (centre)

fore the end of the first half but Allan Reece soon replied to keep Silvertown alive, closing the first half with the score 3-1.

In the second half, a wayward pass allowed Reece to make good of a blunder by the goalkeeper and tapped in the faintest of goals for the tournament just two minutes into the second half.

Drakes however, opened the tank and set three bombs rocketing at the back of the Silvertown net all within four minutes to have the score stand at 6-2 by the 34’.

Marlon Bishop found little glory in a consolation goal in the 37’ but was of little significance as Kevin Beaton scored the seventh goal for Empire in the 39’ to see his team through to the semi-final.

It will not be smooth sailing for Empire as they will now come up against defending champions, Magic Stars in the second semi-final on Friday.

The action returns to the same venue with the four teams trying to win the first prize of $400,000 along with trophies and replicas, as well as second place $150,000 and trophy, third $75,000 and trophy and fourth, a trophy.

Other prizes are on offer for the MVP, Best goalkeeper and Best young player.

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, december 19, 2016

23

Trophy Stall Tennis Doubles…

Campbell/Gentle, Downes/ Andrews are champions

A

n anticipated nail biting match between the mother daughter combination, Nicola and Shelly Ramdyhan taking on the currently topped ladies in the doubles division, Afruica Gentle and Cristy Campbell ended in favour of the latter, who won the Trophy Stall Tennis Doubles, Ladies Doubles title.

They played neck and neck in the most intense ladies doubles of the year.

Campbell with her calm demeanor and consistent strokes were back by Gentle’s furious forehands.

The first set had a dash of drama, ups and downs for both pairs. Campbell/Gentle saw an opportunity while serving 6/5 in the first set but the Ramdyhans were not going to let the match slip out Cristy Campbell serves during the ladies doubles final featuring Campbell/ Afruica Gentle and Shell Ramdyhan/ Nicola Ramdyhan of their reach. They battled to break Campbell serve With a quick race to a 4/2 success of a 5/4 lead. easy steal. always feels good whether and throw the set into sudlead, It was clear that the The Ramdyhans’ serElation flooded Gentle/ it’s a big win or not. We’ve den death. While in the tiemomentum was on Gentle/ vice game now held the last Campbell’s faces as they had a jittery start due to breaker, Campbell/Gentle Campbell’s side. However, line of defence in the team’s now stand undefeated for lack of communication, nevstormed through with a 7-1 the Ramdyhans etched their chance to stay in the match. the season and claim the ertheless my partner and I win. First set in hand, left way to tie the set at four But, the prospect of a win spot on the pinnacle of got momentum going and spectators shocked and at games apiece. In a grueling came as Gentle/Campbell women’s doubles. A proud maintained composure at the edge of their seats. game that racked up three earned two match points. mother and father watched crucial points; thankfulSecond set provided more deuces and two game points One match point saved. Gentle celebrated the mo- ly we came out on the winrewarding tennis. An under to the Ramdyhans, the set Next point, an acute cross ment of joy as she now re- ning side. Altogether it was the weather Campbell and a was either teams to grab. court angle generated by settles in form. a grueling match. visibly pained Shelly threw Focus and tenacity herald Campbell pushed Nicola off In an invited comment, The men’s double was a caution to the wind in an efGentle/Campbell with the court to set Gentle up for an Campbell stated “Winning one sided affair in the first fort to secure the title.

set. Anthony Downes and Jason Andrews served, volleyed and pushed the young juniors HeimrajResaul and Jordan Beaton to the breaking point. Downes/Andrews held a five love lead and a shaky pair. A bagel was fast approaching the juniors when a slight open was made. Resaul/Beaton flat forehands penetrated the net play of the agile seniors, rewarding them with two games. The seniors cleaned their games and took the first set 6/2.

“I think we settled in and we were able to play better. We started to apply more pressure and started our offensive strategy and stopped playing defense,” Resaul expressed.

This was evident in second set where Resaul/ Beaton, found their rhythm and challenged the seniors.

It proved fruitful with the game neck and neck at 5/5.

Downes was able to dig the team out with focused serves and took a 6/5 lead. Resaul was forced to serve to take the match into a tie breaker, after they saved two match points but was unable to deliver.

Downes/Andrews clenched the Trophy Stall Doubles with their 6/2, 7/5 win.

GFC successfully host memorial match in honour of Chapecoense

By Delvon McEwan

U

sually when footballers reach on a pitch it is always fierce rivalry, it matters not the nature of the event and on Saturday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground, it was no different in the memorial match for the Chapecoense players and others who lost their lives on November 28 when a Bolivian plane crashed in Colombia, killing 71 of the passengers on board the chartered airline.

The match was fierce-

ly competed but the event was a sad occasion that saw tears flow from the eyes of some of the spectators that were present. The memorial match had the presence of scores of persons which included dignitaries such as the Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana HE Lineu Pupo de Paula and the Argentine Ambassador to Guyana HE Luis Alberto Martino.

The proceedings got underway with GFC, a Brazilian select squad and the ambassadors, marching unto the field to the Fifa anthem followed by Brazil’s Part of the intense action between the Brazilian select squad (yellow) and Georgetown Football Club on Saturday

From left to right-Argentine Ambassador to Guyana Luis Alberto Martino, GFC General Manager Faisul Khan and Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana Lineu Pupo de Paula walk on to the field before the Chapecoense memorial match commenced

then Guyana’s national anthem. Subsequently, Corporal Orphea Williams of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) played the Reveille from his trumpet, then there was a minute of silence followed by a minute of applause, before Cpl Williams played the Last Post.

It was at the playing of the Reveille and Last Post when tears were seen flowing from the eyes of the spectators (most of them in green the colour of the Chapecoense team), who were present to show there

regards for such a tragedy.

The Reveille and Last Post is used at military funerals for ceremonial purpose.

When the main attraction got underway, it took 20 minutes for Joel Humphrey to find the back of the net for GFC, who donned their regular blue and white kit.

The intensity of the match lifted after that goal as the Brazilian unit, playing in the Chapecoense colour with Forca Chape printed at the front, began to dribble the ball a lot more as there was an increase in

speed and tactical plays.

However, GFC maintained the lead until the second half where an own goal followed by a Tenato Martins strike sealed the win for the Brazilian team.

Ever since the crash, the global football fraternity has plunged into mourning thus top clubs, players and football associations and federations have shown their respect to the situation in various ways. Some by moments of silence, some by tweets, and some by lighting stadiums in the team’s tra-

ditional colour, green.

M o r e than two week has past and there continues to be grief among football lovers globally. It remains a shock and is still fresh in the minds of many. Like the authorities here at the GFC who decided to host the memorial match to celebrate the life and achievement of the players, officials and everyone who succumbed when what was supposed to be a celebration turned into a tragedy. Seven persons were pulled out from the crashed plane alive but one died subsequently, leaving two of the nine crew members, three players and one journalist as the only survivors.

The Brazilian side was last week awarded the Copa Sudamericana, the South American equivalent of the Europa League, by regional football confederation Conmebol.

Colombian opponents Atletico Nacional, who asked for Chapecoense to be awarded the trophy, have been given a Fair Play award.

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

WICB/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

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Red Force fight back on rain-hit day

Isaiah Rajah was dismissed in the last over on day three after an aggressive innings

Trophy Stall Tennis Doubles…

Campbell/Gentle, Downes/ Andrews are champions

Heimraj Resaul serves in the men’s final featuring himself and Jordan Beaton (runners up) vs Anthony Downes and Jason Andrews

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