Guyana Times Daily

Hindu leaders, Ally discuss cohesion in Guyana P7

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2840

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, April 28, 2016

PRICE

Gold Board Forensic Audit

Robert Persaud acted outside powers

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Schools across Guyana to be closed for Independence Anniversary P11 week

Page 3

– report cites unilateral appointments, ordering payment of phantom employees

1 missing, 1 in custody after 2-boat collision Page 12

$80 vat included

Thief shot in face during attempted robbery

Minister P9 Harmon stresses importance of admin professionals …“they are indispensable in the public service”

Page 9

NGSA students display optimism after first set of exams Page 11

Kwame McCoy on $275,000 bail for larceny, assault of Benschop P8

Dynamic P13 Airways brands aircraft with 50th Independence Anniversary logo Jubilant students breathe a sigh of relief after completing their first set of exams in the National Grade Six Assessment on Wednesday

Corentyne businessman robbed by bandits Page 12

Govt to investigate Global Fund multimilliondollar fraud findings Page 2

…fearful organisation will threaten to withhold grants

Giftland owner questions BaiShanLin, Movie Towne investments

– calls for level playing field

Page 10

Drug trafficker jailed

P8

Health Dept P17 shuts down 2 NA restaurants

2 news Govt to investigate Global Fund multimillion-dollar fraud findings thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 | guyana-times.com

… fearful organisation will threaten to withhold grants

BY DEVINA SAMAROO

G

overnment will soon launch an investigation into findings of a multimillion-dollar fraud in its malaria programme, which is funded by the Global Fund International Organisation.

Following complaints of mass irregularities in the Global Fund malaria grant in Guyana, the international organisation commenced an investigation into the matter, covering the period January 1, 2013 to June 30, 2015.

According to the findings of the investigation, there were complaints of fabricated data in relation to the distribution of bed nets, malaria surveillance activities and associated fraudulent expenditures, including ‘per diems’ and fuel for program-

matic work that allegedly did not take place.

Reports indicate that these irregularities affected expenditures totalling US$72,973 which the organisation will likely seek to recover.

The irregularities were facilitated by the inadequate management of the Global Fund malaria programme by the Vector Control Services (VCS) of the Public Health Ministry, which included poor record-keeping and a failure to respond to Global Fund Secretariat Management Actions.

During the period under investigation, Dr Reyaud Rahman was the Director of the VCS. He resigned in December 2015.

Taking action

With an allegation of corruption and fraud of such

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

magnitude being levied against the Government, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton said an investigation will be launched as soon as possible in order to determine the best course of action to be taken.

Since the possibility is high Government that will

be required to pay back the recoverable monies, Dr Norton said an independent investigation into the findings in the Global Fund report is necessary to confirm the validity of the information.

“The Global Fund is probably asking for a repay-

ment or a refunding, and we would not go about doing so without investigating and see what measures we need to take… We will take whatever measures and the corrective actions will be taken,” he explained.

He noted too that the investigations will determine whether or not any actions should be taken against culpable individuals.

Asked if the international organisation has threatened to withhold untouched funds or prohibit further funding until the matter is resolved, the Health Minister responded in the negative; however, he noted that nothing is preventing them from taking such a route.

“While I hope this is not the case, it certainly stands to reason that such actions might very well be taken,” he stated.

Moreover, Dr Norton said he plans to arrange a

of irregularities.

The report said the investigation found evidence that VCS employees inflated the number of long-lasting insecticide impregnated mosquito nets (bed nets) reported as distributed and had fabricated underlying bed net distribution documents to support the inflated figures.

Additionally, the report said VCS employees also fabricated documentation for another surveillance activity relating to the operation of malaria committees.

The report further stated that two VCS malaria supervisors responsible for distributing bed nets in the regions confessed that they had inflated bed net distribution figures in the Semester Reports and that they had fabricated underlying documentation to support the figures.

The two individuals claimed that an administra-

meeting with the local representatives of the organisation to further discuss the matter.

tive employee had instructed them to inflate the figures.

However, when interviewed, the VCS administrative employee denied passing instructions for the figures to be inflated.

The report also stated that the former VCS Director claimed he never gave instructions to inflate the figures or fabricate the documents.

The report noted that there was an analysis of over 46,000 individual names and signatures on the bed net distribution activity sheets to assess if the activity sheets contained indicators that bed nets had not been distributed to beneficiaries, and upon completion of this exercise, it found that it could not obtain reasonable assurance that 20,981 bed nets, which represents 45.2 per cent of the total reviewed, had been delivered to beneficiaries on the basis of anomalies found in the bed net distribution activity sheets.

This figure did not include bed nets where it appeared that a single individual, such as a community health worker, mining camp leader or a family member, had signed legitimately on behalf of a group of individuals.

The investigation also found that the average incidence of signature anomalies across the regions and periods under review was similar, indicating that the fabrication of underlying bed net distribution documentation was systematic.

Burden

Dr Norton posited that it will be awfully burdensome if Government is mandated to reimburse Global Fund of the millions of dollars allegedly swindled under the malaria programme.

Even more disadvantageous, he said, is the likelihood of Guyana becoming blacklisted from receiving further funding.

“At this point in time, paying any debt of that nature would certainly not be in the best interest of the economy of the country. We cannot afford to do that. It is unfortunate that this had to happen, we are definitely in need of such funding and we are just hoping that this will not affect us in the future to access such funding,” he expressed.

Nonetheless, the Minister noted that it was quite odd that the Global Fund chose only now to launch the investigation.

“Why would Global Fund wait five years after they started giving us access to funds before they started checking on accountability...” he pondered.

Inflated figures

According to the report, employees of the Global Fund malaria programme, VSC, and the Health Ministry were interviewed in relation to the complaints

news

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thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, April 28 – 08:30h-10:00h and Friday, April 29 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, April 28 – 07:40h-09:10h and Friday, April 29 – 08:45h-10:15h.

WEATHER TODAY Light to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, while heavy rain showers are expected to dominate throughout the afternoon. Thundery showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 3.12 metres per second and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:09h and 20:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.42 metres and 2.28 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:42h and 14:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.89 metre and 0.79 metre respectively.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS 03 04 09 10 15 21 20 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Daily Millions

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LUCKY 3 1

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08 10 11 12

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orensic auditors who examined the books of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) have concluded that former Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud, on several occasions, acted contrary to the powers vested in him.

The Gold Board Act vests in the Minister the power to give directions of a general or special character as to the policy to be followed by the Board and also requires the Minister to approve the appointment of, and the remuneration payable to, the General Manager, Secretary and such other officers and other employees.

However, the 114page report from the audit conducted by Chartered Accounting Firm Ram and McRae said Persaud was guilty of several breaches, including, on many occasions, acting contrary to the Act. Among those breaches, the auditors highlighted, was the appointment of Senior Policy Analyst/ Adviser in the Ministry, Bobby Gossai, as Secretary to the Guyana Gold Board, which is contrary to the powers vested in the Minister.

“In our opinion, the Act does not give the Minister the power to name or nominate the Secretary to the Board and the Minister’s action amounted to a usurpation of the Board’s authority,” the auditors said in the report.

Unjustified expenses

Draw De Line 03

Robert Persaud acted outside powers

– report cites unilateral appointments, ordering payment of phantom employees

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

J

Gold Board Forensic Audit

15 21

DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

The auditors added that included in the expenses paid by the Guyana Gold Board were payments made on behalf of the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry, to-

November 4, 2014, could not be negotiated by the Board.

Gossai, the report said, stated that the Board has to fulfil the mandate of Cabinet.

“He also voiced his disapproval in bringing back the General Manager for a week to “save face” and stated that this suggestion should be turned down,” the audit report stated.

Improper conduct

Former Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud

talling $63.1 million for the period January 1, 2012 to May 31, 2015.

Included in the above amount are mainly payments for salaries, gratuity, leave passage allowances and entertainment expenses.

“The payments are clearly a means of circumventing the Appropriation Act and action should be taken against those responsible for the payments. However, the Directors of the Gold Board cannot escape culpability for the payments which were not proper expenses of the Board. It should be noted that the Guyana Gold Board has not been reimbursed for any payments made on behalf of the Ministry,” the report stated.

It added that the employment contracts of several in-

dividuals engaged to undertake duties at the Ministry were entered in to between the Guyana Gold Board and those persons.

“The Board should terminate all current contracts for employees of the Ministry and have the Ministry issue such contracts directly,” it recommended.

The auditors said that the then Minister and his Ministry may have misinterpreted the Gold Board Act and have, on occasion, given instructions to management on operational issues, including matters relating to contracts.

It singled out one occasion when Persaud advised the Gold Board through Gossai that the termination package of the General Manager, Anantram Balram, who resigned on

The auditors said that there was evidence which showed that Gossai forged the signature of the Board Chairman, Dr Gobind Ganga, which allowed the then General Manager to proceed on his remaining annual leave for 2014.

“Acting on information provided to us, we confirmed that the signature of the Board Chairman was lifted from another document.

This is a gross act of forgery that should be pursued by the appropriate authorities,” it stated.

Meanwhile, this newspaper’s efforts to contact the former Natural Resources and Environment Minister for a comment or response to the allegations proved futile.

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guyana-times.com

thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

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

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

Editorial

Prison reform L

ast Sunday, we dealt with “The Prison Service and Camp St Prison” in the context of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deaths of 17 prisoners at that location. We focused on the problems inherent in herding 1000 prisoners in buildings meant to house less that half of that. But as we cautioned, there has to be a root and branch approach to prison reform. It is quite unfortunate, as we pointed out, that the problems presently erupting are not new and have been addressed in several past inquiries.

We referenced the report by the Disciplined Forces Commission (DFC) which took evidence in 2003, in the midst of widespread violence committed by five prisoners who had escaped from Camp Street Prison on Republic Day 2002. They submitted their report in 2004 to Parliament – which took six years to release it – but the recommendations have never been implemented, especially as it relates to the Prison Service. Even if the previous Government had shelved the report, as the present Government claimed when they were in Opposition, there is no excuse for it to continue gathering dust; especially when President David Granger was a member of the DFC, which sat for several months.

In Guyana, we tend to focus almost solely on insisting that our prisons “lock up” those who break the law so that they are incapacitated. Incapacitation is premised on the removal of criminals from society to prevent them from harming innocent people. But actually, prisons have three other major purposes – retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation. Retribution refers to the “eye for an eye” rule of justice and insists there must be punishment for crimes against society. Depriving criminals of their freedom is one way of supposedly making them pay their debt to society for their crimes. This purpose is very popular with most Guyanese even though it may not be politically correct to express it too vigorously.

“Deterrence” functions for prisons to play a role in the prevention of future crime by providing warnings to people thinking twice about committing crimes. The theory is that the possibility of going to prison will discourage people from breaking the law once they understand the privations that prison life entails. Most Guyanese are also in favour of this function especially since it is supposed to operate optimally when the functions of retribution and incapacitation are emphasised.

Rehabilitation, on the other hand, refers to activities designed to change criminals into law abiding citizens, and seems to have fallen into disfavour as it tends to do in most societies with rising crime rates. However, in the US, with a prison population exceeding two million, even with all their resources, they have concluded that more emphasis must be placed on rehabilitation.

We therefore return to the DFC Report and look at the recommendations made over a decade ago on the function of the Prison Service to “rehabilitate” prisoners. “The Prison Act and Rules made there under do not place emphasis on the training of inmates so that they can become responsible, industrious and useful citizens on their discharge. Instead they place greater focus on security and discipline. However, an idle prisoner is a potentially dangerous one and it is in the furtherance of security and discipline that there should be a constructive regime of activities geared to beneficially occupy prisoners’ time.

“Prisoners should be encouraged to spend their prison time in learning useful skills such as masonry, carpentry, joinery, Agriculture, or in reading books eg, in electronics and mechanics...(Prison) should not be a place where prisoners can meet and learn from one another to become more proficient and versatile in crime. Otherwise judicial orders for compulsory imprisonment would not only fall to achieve their desired objective but would be counterproductive both to prisoners and society.”

In addition to the points made on job training by the DFC, modern prisons also offer counselling with a psychologist or social worker.

Students of the St Margaret’s Primary School saying the afternoon prayer before sitting the second subject of the National Grade Six Assessment which commenced on Wednesday (Marceano Narine photo)

President should forgive the woman who made FB post about him

Dear Editor, I have noted with concern the recent headlines as it relates to a lady being charged for allegedly posting threatening remarks against President David Granger on her Facebook and WhatsApp social media accounts.

Clearly, the keystone cops and medieval justice system that prevail for the most part in Guyana are way out of their league in this specific matter. The charge is being laid under the “Racial Hostility Act” but the alleged crime itself is one that has its origins in cyberspace and there are no existing cybercrime legislation, statutes or precedents in Guyana or the Caribbean Court of Appeal to use as a yardstick.

The big question is, how can Guyana exercise suzerainty over a piece of correspondence that is literally residing in “the cloud” connected to a server located

outside of the sovereign jurisdiction of Guyana. Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial reach could not possibly extend beyond its immediate shores with the exception of properties or assets it owns or exercises control over in another country or territory such as any of its embassies or consulates abroad as enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Immunity (1953 and 1961).

The data servers of Facebook, Google, Microsoft and other global content, OTT and messaging providers are located anywhere else but the terra firma or territorial waters of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and, as such, could be in any number of locations such as the US, Canada, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, UK, Germany, Israel, South Africa, Australia or India.

If the case is to be tried in a proper court of law, then it will have to be accorded ‘lo-

cus standi’ in the territory or country where the actual physical server hosting the correspondence is located.

Not too long ago, there was a similar case involving the current Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago (the then Leader of the Opposition) – Dr Keith Rowley and many high-ranking Cabinet Ministers of the disgraced Kamala PersadBissessar regime. This case has since been referred to as “Emailgate” and it took several months and war of nerves between the then Government of Trinidad & Tobago and the powers that be at Google’s HQ in Silicon Valley to bring clarity to an otherwise murky situation (for the lack of a better word). In the end and millions of dollars later – no good was achieved and the case remains one for the history books or, for that matter, Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

This case that is now engaging the attention of the local judiciary is nothing but a frenzied rush and can be best described as ‘a wild goose chase’ or ‘a fishing expedition’.

In less than a month, we will be celebrating our 50th Anniversary and so let us all let bygones be bygones and I respectfully call upon President Granger to take a page from the exemplary conduct of Gandhiji, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr. He is the President and he can show his compassion and love as a fellow human being by forgiving this fellow sister of the soil for whatever transgressions she is alleged to have committed. We must live up to our creed of One People, One Nation, One Destiny.

Best regards, Mike Singh

BaiShanLin and Movie Towne Malls Dear Editor, Last night, I was at the airport to pick up my wife, I saw facing the arriving guests a very large billboard advertising BaiShanLin International Mall.

As the Chairman of MCG Investments Inc, the owners of the Giftland Mall, I am concerned and I am kindly publicly requesting from the

Finance Ministry and the GRA Commissioner, who I do not hold accountable in any way, the details of these two mentioned investments which were concluded before their control of these two Government departments.

For the record, Giftland Mall received no concessions for anything from the previous Administration in terms

of duty-free and VAT waivers, tax holidays, tax exemptions of any sort, etc. In fairness to our investment and parity between local investment and international enterprises such as these, it is important that a level playing field is had.

I would find it abhorrent if it is a case that multibillion-dollar international

companies should be treated with preferential treatment and unfair trading advantages over local companies.

I eagerly await a response from the two mentioned departments.

With regards, Roy Beepat Chairman Giftland Group

guyana-times.com

thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

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

Demtoco is not opposed to I am being persecuted because of tobacco control regulations my journalistic, political activism Dear Editor, There has been in recent times a lot of discussion regarding the Government’s stated intention to institute legislation in the form of a tobacco bill. Let me from the outset state that Demerara Tobacco Company Limited (Demtoco) is not opposed to tobacco control regulations.

I want to specifically address the notion, particularly to all parliamentarians in relation to the erroneous view being advanced by the Public Health Minister that tobacco companies based on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to which Guyana is a signatory, should be excluded from the consultation process.

We would also like to state that contrary to the Minister’s remarks, the FCTC does not advocate in-

dustry exclusion from the regulatory process or from engagement with those authorities tasked with regulating the tobacco industry.

Moreover, such exclusion is contrary to the better regulation principles of the United Nations that recommend the inclusion of all stakeholders in any regulatory process.

Additionally, we need to also make it very clear that the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for the implementation of Article 5.3 are not binding. The truth is, these guidelines do not mandate a complete exclusion of the legitimate tobacco industry.

Demtoco believes that good regulatory practice (and resulting sensible tobacco control policy) is achieved when industry, other key stakeholders, and Government collaborate in

a transparent manner. We therefore support regulation that mandates transparency and accountability of all meetings and interactions between Governments and stakeholders. This process, we believe, will serve to protect all parties from allegations of impropriety, and ensure the integrity of the regulatory process.

We wish to therefore reiterate that the company will continue to vigorously defend our right to freedom of expression, to petition Governments on policy matters, to protection of intellectual property, and to due process. We maintain that the rule of law and the principles of necessity and proportionality serve the public interest and should apply to all industries and Government measures alike. As such, we will continue to engage open-

ly and transparently with the Government on new and upcoming legislation, and seek to inform all relevant stakeholders on our legitimately held views in relation to corporate and regulatory issues.

We are committed to continue to protect the right as a company to engage with key policymakers in ensuring that policy decisions are taken in a balanced way. We also take this opportunity to urge all parliamentarians to properly review the proposed legislation and to ensure that your views are heard in ultimately passing a law that is balanced and fair.

Dear Editor, On Friday, April 8, 2016, as soon as I arrived at the airport in Toronto, my daughter told me that Mr Chetram Singh, a family friend, soul-brother and, above all, a great son of Guyana, died peacefully in his home in Toronto, Canada, with his devoted wife, Jean, by his side and his most prized ‘possessions’ – his sons and other family members around him.

Most compatriots in Guyana and the Diaspora in Canada of the 1950-1960s vintage will recall this unique, iconic professional in the field of hospital administration and his sterling contribution to the development of cricket, especially in Berbice as President of the Berbice Cricket Board as well as his unmatched contribution to religious and community development especially among the Hindus throughout Guyana and

the province of Ontario in Canada.

Born in 1930, in a humble home in difficult circumstances in the Ogle sugar estate, Chetram Singh achieved such great heights by dint of his hard work that would put many of us then and most of us now, who are in much more favourable contexts, to shame or envy.

He excelled academically in primary and secondary school. After a brief stint as a teacher and clerk at the Georgetown Public Hospital, he won a four-year British Commonwealth scholarship to study hospital administration in the UK which he not only completed in record time (about two years), but he also won the prestigious Harding Medal for being the most outstanding graduate in hospital administration in 1957 in the then British Commonwealth.

On his return to Guyana, he rotated among the small-

er hospitals and eventually became the Administrator of the Georgetown Public Hospital. He migrated to Canada in the early 1970s, joined the Ontario Ministry of Health where he distinguished himself as an expert in hospital administration before becoming the Chief Operations Officer of the St Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario.

After retiring from the latter in the early 1990s, he accepted a Consultancy assignment with the Ministry of Health in Guyana which was funded by the IDB and which afforded him the opportunity to indulge, albeit briefly, his nostalgia of working and serving in Guyana.

Among the many legacies left by the late Chetram Singh are his well-accomplished sons who are making their own excellent contributions to society in various fields , especially medi-

cine, in Canada, Trinidad and Guyana; for example, Guyanese and Canadians are well aware of the outstanding work being done in the practice and teaching of medicine by Dr Narendra Singh, BSc, MBBS,FRCP, FAAP,FCCM, Chief of Staff of Humber River Hospital – one of, if not the most, modern hospital in Canada and Clinical Professor of McMaster University. Nar, as he is fondly called, also does yeoman work in hospitals in Guyana, does fundraising for sick children, and teaches in the UG medical programme.

Regards, Maurlaine Argyle Kirton Managing Director Demtoco

Tribute to a late Guyanese icon

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

Dear Editor, After several months of intolerable harassment at the hands of the Guyana Police Force, I am convinced that there is a political agenda to use the criminal justice system to witch-hunt me because of journalistic and political activism.

Over the last few months, I have had to endure several days of imprisonment; I spent numerous hours at police stations; I gave several statements to the Police; I have been asked innumerable questions; attempts have been made to frame me for murder; I have been charged with an assault which allegedly took place over five years ago; although assault is one of the most trivial charges known to criminal law, I have been taken to court in chains.

The latest series of harassment are concocted charges that I assaulted Mark Benschop, damaged his motor vehicle and that I stole from the same. This incident is alleged to have occurred again some five years ago.

I submitted a written statement explaining that I was nowhere in the vicinity at the time this incident is alleged to have taken place.

The Police claimed that they have an eyewitness. Myself and my Attorney-at-Law requested the name of this witness. We also requested to have a confrontation with this witness. Both of these requests were denied.

My Attorney-at-Law submitted statements from three different eyewitnesses who were present at the time the incident was alleged to have occurred. All of these persons confirmed

that I was not at the scene and that I came on the scene some 15 minutes or more after the incident occurred.

These statements were submitted to the Police in a timely manner with a request that they be included in my file which was being reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and/or the Police Legal Adviser (PLA). The Police refused to include those statements in that file or to send them subsequently to the DPP and/or the PLA. I reiterate, that I am in no doubt that I am being persecuted because of my journalistic and political activism; I am in no doubt also that the criminal justice system will continue to be used and misused as a political weapon against me.

I call on the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and on all other human rights organisations in Guyana; I call on the DPP; I call on the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR); I call on the Police Complaints Authority (PCA); I call on those in charge of the administration of justice; I call on our diplomatic community; I call on the Caricom Secretary General and I call on every peace-loving Guyanese and on all political leaders to condemn this political persecution of me.

I will endure this ordeal and I have no doubt that my innocence will be vindicated in the end. I am strong. I worry not for myself but for the other victims that will follow, for I am confident I will not be the last.

Sincerely, Kwame McCoy

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Foundation

“I like Daddy better!”: 5 ways to cope when a child favours a parent – Whether you’re the preferred parent or the rejected 1, these 5 tips can help you get your parent/child dynamic back on track

By Kim Hildenbrand

I

should have seen it coming. For months, my three-year-old son had been asking my husband to do crafts with him, give him baths, read him stories, and play his favourite board game. He waited eagerly each night for my husband to get home from work and asked, “Where’s Daddy?” whenever my husband left the house. As parents go, I was definitely second choice.

When he insisted one night that my husband put him to bed (one of my favourite rituals as a parent), I braced myself and asked, in what I hoped was a casual way, “Why do you want Daddy to put you to bed instead of Mommy?”

He looked up at me from under his long eyelashes and said matter-of-factly, “Because I like Daddy better.”

Ouch. I’ve always been prone to mom guilt, so his guileless confession sent my mind racing. Was it because I’d recently begun working more? Was I focusing too much on his older siblings?

Or was it just another (mostly) harmless curveball tossed by my busy, emotional, and sometimes confusing threeyear-old?

I needed answers stat— so I turned to psychologist and parent educator Dr Erica Reischer, author of the forthcoming book What Great Parents Do. First things first: Is it normal for a young child to favour Mom or Dad? Thankfully, yes.

“This is very normal and very common,” Dr Reischer assures me. “The issue comes up

in a lot of families I see.”

For parents experiencing this favouritism dynamic, Dr Reischer suggests to first assess the situation: Is the favouritism an occasional issue? Or is there a daily struggle with a child who prefers either Mommy or Daddy?

If you’ve ever experienced this dynamic, whether as the preferred parent or the rejected one, consider Dr Reischer’s five tips to deal with the situation to get your relations h i p back o n

Even if you can’t (or choose not to) honour his request, it’s important that he feels heard.

Ensure each parent strikes a balance between work and fun

Perhaps you take your child grocery shopping, make her sandwich, and brush her teeth – then your partner walks in the door and it’s nonstop playtime. For everyone’s sake, it’s important that each parent take on a mix of “fun” and “work.” As Dr Reischer points out, “The child may just want who they perceive is easier – the parent who gives them one more story or dessert.”

Formulate a predictable schedule

track:

I f i t ’ s the latter, Dr Reischer suggests examining your big-picture relationship with your child.

“Everyone in a parenting role needs a warm, supportive relationship with the child,” she says. “This type of favouritism may be mirroring something in the relationship –not spending enough time together, not being hands-on enough in parenting, maybe a good cop/bad cop dynamic among Mom and Dad.” Why do young children express favouritism? They’re simply figuring out how to navigate relationships. “As I always say, they’re little scientists, just watching to see how we work,” Dr Reischer says. “They wonder ‘What happens if I do this?’”

Never respond in a negative way.

“But I want Daddy to put me to bed!” your child shrieks.

You may feel rejected, but resist the urge to snap at her or withdraw emotionally. “Kids are candid – they don’t edit,” Dr Reischer says. Refusing to edit yourself will only make both of you feel worse.

Additionally, don’t dwell on the situation – if she asks you to play a game, the worst thing to say is, “Well, you didn’t want me to play yesterday!”

React with empathy

You may not like what your child is saying, but you should validate it anyway.

“If your child says, ‘I want Daddy!’ you can say calmly, ‘I hear that you want Daddy, and I know that you love Daddy,’” Dr Reischer says.

If a struggle ensues regularly when your child prefers Mom or Dad for certain activities, you can combat it with a regular schedule. Kids thrive on structure, and if you and your partner alternate nightly bathtime duty, your child will get to know the routine.

Rather than “Daddy can’t give me a bath because Mommy is being mean”, the situation becomes “Mommy’s giving me my bath tonight because it’s Monday.”

Above all, focus on love and respect

Feeling like the least favourite parent can sting, but it’s vital to respond with kindness, respect, and love no matter what your child says.

“You want to maintain a loving connection,” Dr Reischer says. “That’s what unconditional love means: I love you no matter what, even if I don’t like your behaviour.” (Parenting. com)

It’s Autism Awareness Month – we’re lighting it up blue. But which aspects of autism most need more attention?

Continued

By Kimberly Stephens

Engagement, not sympathy

Jamie Pacton Blogger for Parents magazine, mother of an autistic son Autism acceptance begins by listening to actual autistic people. Read their blogs and books, follow them on social media, start conversations with them –they are important voices in any discussion of autism, and I’ve learnt so much about how to parent my own autistic son from them. From listening to autistic people, I better understand his challenges (from meltdowns to sensory and communication issues), and I have a much more positive perspective on what’s possible for his future.

Susan Senator Author of Autism Adulthood: Strategies and Insights for a Fulfilling Life, mother of an autistic adult son The most important thing is not to dismiss people who are unusual or challenging. The whole reason I started writing about autism first came from my son and wanting for people to know him and not dismiss him. Then it grew to feeling that way about all people on the spectrum. Now I have a full range of knowledge of all the ways that we can avoid that kind of dismissal and really engage with people who are neurologically different.

Acceptance

Jamie Pacton Blogger for Parents magazine, mother of an autistic son We need to rid ourselves of the rhetoric of “burden” and “cure” when talking about autism.

Our kids are not puzzle pieces.

They are not somehow less. They

are different. Autism represents a different neurology entirely – not a broken one. It brings gifts and challenges. We can’t just constantly be saying things like autistic kids need to be fixed or that they’ve been “stolen away” by autism. Thinking like that is ableist, dangerous, and it ignores the gifts for the challenges.

Mary Bailey Mother of an autistic son I’d be considered neurotypical. But if I’m on the side of the road and my tyre is blown out, I won’t be changing that tire. Consider me disabled in that moment. I’ll have to call somebody. I’ll need help. The autistic require help in different areas, but I can’t do life by myself either. Speech and things like that –I’m not saying those aren’t necessities. With acceptance, you don’t necessarily give up and stop trying. I should probably learn how to change a tyre. But relating back to the areas we need help leaves room for us to show grace to other people.

Melissa Diamond Founder of A Global Voice for Autism Normal is not the answer.

When we ask families to set goals for their children, often one of their first goals is for their child “to be normal”. People, especially in minority communities and communities with limited resources, need to be exposed to more examples of individuals with autism living full and meaningful lives. This doesn’t just mean individuals who are classified as “high functioning” and who can work independently, but individuals with autism with a range of skills and challenges.

Maximising the strengths

Chase Bailey Host of Chase ‘N Yur Face, diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder It’s not entirely bad. The good thing is that you have a creative mind. Your brain is more creative than any other kind, and you like who you are and your family loves you.

Bob Koegel Director of the Koegel Autism Centre, University of California, Santa Barbara I think that people ought to understand more about people with autism’s strengths. People with autism tend to be very honest. The other thing that is important is this attention to detail. They really focus on things and get the little details. Kind of related to that is following the rules. Sometimes it’s very important to follow the rules very closely.

They are humble. They don’t run around bragging and saying, ‘I’m the greatest,’ even if they are.

If everybody didn’t focus so much on the negative and focused on strengths, they’d see that these kids can contribute, and some of them can really contribute. Some of those savant skills are just offthe-top-of-the-charts amazing.

We just have to find a place for it.

(Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Consultation on Juvenile Justice Bill

Ramjattan wants increased age of criminal responsibility – plugs decriminalisation of wandering

By Ahreefa Bacchus

P

ropositions have been made for the age of criminal responsibility to be increased from its current age of 10 years to 12.

This was revealed at the first day of public consultation on the draft Juvenile Justice Bill 2015, which was held on Wednesday morning at the Pegasus Hotel.

The consultation involved stakeholders from child protection agencies and members of the justice system, including Magistrates and Attorneys.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan in delivering remarks at the consultation noted that the draft Bill, which is being revised, is compiled with recommendations made from stakeholders under the People’s Progressive Party Government.

Wednesday’s consulta-

Former Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony along with former parliamentarian Vanessa Kissoon among the gathering during the consultation on Wednesday

tion, he said, is the first of three, with two more to be held in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

He explained the importance of the Bill, adding that it has been long in the making. “This draft that we’re considering today is a comprehensive Bill which I believe will effectively tackle the significant issues related

to juvenile justice in Guyana.

However, we cannot move forward without first considering the important views of stakeholders of this Bill. The journey that brought this Bill here commenced in 2004,” he stated.

Ramjattan reiterated that Government wants to see an Act which reflects a modern philosophy of juvenile justice, which strengthens the justice system for juveniles,

and makes it responsive to them and their situation.

“We want to minimise the harsh punishments meted out to young offenders which then stigmatises them for life. Jails and secure refinements are not the places where a substantial majority of our young people who have committed offences should be. In this day and age, we have to provide a humane alternative to incarceration

for the young lawbreakers.

Another very important principle which this Draft Bill deals with is the age of criminal responsibility.

Should it be increased from its present 10 years to 12 years, or should it go up even further to 16 years?

This consultation exercise will help in letting us policymakers be informed as to how the people think,” the Minister explained. He further opined that preventing offenders should be a priority for all in the justice system.

Meanwhile, the Programme Manager for the Strategic Management Department of the Public Security Ministry, Donna Todd explained the key objectives of the new Bill is to consolidate the law in relation to criminal justice for juveniles; to make provisions for proceedings with respect to juvenile offenders; to provide for

the establishment of facilities for custody, education, and rehabilitation of juvenile offenders; and to repeal the Juvenile Offenders Act and the Training School Act.” She explained that the Juvenile Justice Bill aims to make the justice system responsive to juveniles and their situations and to provide a framework where professionals are in the forefront to support the state to help juveniles. According to Todd, focus has been placed on educating, rehabilitating and reintegrating juvenile offenders into society.

“It is principally intended to reform juveniles and provide them with the critical support to move on and lead a productive life, with that experience documented and sealed, and not used against them. It provides guidelines for the arrest, released, custodial housing, of juvenile offenders,” she stated.

One young female leader indicated that a strategy that should be implemented in schools in Guyana was the teaching of human values, such as peace, love, and righteousness, towards the growth of our youths. ‘’Students are lost in their path to righteousness, not in a religious sense, but more in a personal human value sense.’’

She added that currently the subject of Human and Family Life Education was being taught in schools, but owing to the lack of educators in the field, the time set aside for the subject was considered ‘free time’. She said it would be appreciated if there would be trained

members not only of the Hindu society but the entire religious society going “into schools at least once a month consistently to assist with developing human values in pupils”.

At the meeting, a core group was selected with the members being Sahadeo Harnarine, Chatram Doram, Joyce Nauth, Maneshwar Sawh, Wilfred Simon, Ramdhan, Amy Seedan, Dhanesh Prashad, Navindradatt Liliah, Devina Deodatt, Gaitree Singh, Dolly Singh, Dhanrajie Haimraj, and Parshram Samaroo to determine other ways of moving towards social cohesion.

Hindu leaders, Ally discuss cohesion in Guyana

S

ocial Cohesion Minister Amna Ally on Wednesday met with the leaders of the Hindu community to explore ways in which society’s cohesion could be enhanced in Guyana.

Programme Coordinator Sharon Patterson indicated that the vision of the Social Cohesion Ministry was to discuss ways to create a society of shared values, challenges and equal opportunities for all Guyanese.

At the meeting, Minister Ally indicated that she believed that Guyana’s religious community can play a significant part in fostering social cohesion; hence, the engagement on Wednesday. ‘’I know that underlying all religious principles are concepts of brotherly love, unity, care, charity, compassion and selflessness.’’

Ally said that unity would allow them to mould their destiny and build bridges, while breaking down walls and anything that sought to divide Guyanese. She indicated that it was the Ministry’s duty to allow opportunity for persons to highlight how the Hindu community and the Ministry could collaborate to ensure that there were strong community relations. She asked for persons to indicate what advice they would offer to eliminate biasness, inequality, barriers to unity, and how they think communities could be supported to achieve their full potential. ‘’It is the only way we would progress and move the nation-building process forward. As leaders, you are close to your devotees so tell us what you are feeling; tell us how they can be involved.

We want to assist by finding ways for their inclusion, involvement and participation in social cohesion.’’

According to her, the conversation would be followed by training initiatives as the

A section of the gathering at the consultation on Wednesday

goal was not to just sensitise but to train persons of all ages so that they understand the principles of social cohesion and its value to the development process of modern society. ‘’It is only when persons understand that, they would be empowered to share that information and create change at the level of the family, community, workplace or wherever they find themselves. I want you members of Guyana’s Hindu community to understand because I consider you as a critical part of the process of change in our country.’’

Ally pointed out that the development of their strategic plans would be undertaken by Theo Gittens, and he would be reaching out to members of the Hindu community for suggestions on how they could move forward, in the near future.

The Minister also highlighted that May 11 would be marked as Social Cohesion Day and as such, the Day should be commenced with prayers.

She indicated though national prayers will be held across all 10 Regions in Guyana, there would be a major one held at the Jubilee

Stadium in D’Urban Park from 07:30h.

With the focus being on what can be done to enhance social cohesion, Pandit Deonarine Liliah suggested that there be a building provided to accommodate an Indian museum as it would serve as a proud symbol for Guyana. ‘’An Indian museum is very important to high-

light and recognise the great cultural legacy.’’

He said the lotus flower and bamboo play significant roles in the life of Hindus and he wished that they would be granted national stature by the Government. He added that a dream of his was to have the Government formulate an ‘umbrella body’ with all the major organisations.

8 news Kwame McCoy on $275,000 bail for larceny, assault of Benschop thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 | guyana-times.com

T

alk show host and political commentator, Kwame McCoy, was on Wednesday placed on $275,000 bail after he was slapped with three charges relating to a 2011 altercation he was involved in with former Treason accused turned politician, Mark Benschop.

McCoy appeared in the Providence Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Leron Daly who read the charges – larceny, malicious damage to property and assault.

McCoy plead not guilty to the charges which read that on March 5, 2011, at Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, he stole an Acer laptop valued $120,000; property of Mark Benschop.

He also denied the charges of unlawful assault and malicious damage to property respectively.

McCoy was granted $50,000 bail for the theft charge, $25,000 for unlawfully assaulting Benschop and $200,000 for maliciously damaging Benschop’s vehicle.

McCoy’s Attorney Euclin Gomes told the court that his client is a well known journalist and

requested self bail on the grounds of him being a public figure who does not pose a flight risk.

Police prosecutor Tracy Gittens did not object to bail but asked for it to be in a substantial amount. She reminded that McCoy was charged based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

He will return to court on May 18.

McCoy in a statement on Wednesday morning claimed that he is being persecuted and witchhunted because of his “journalistic and political activism” adding that the criminal justice system will continue to be used and misused as a political weapon against persons.

“Over the last few months, I have had to endure several days of imprisonment; I spent numerous hours at Police stations; I gave several statements to the Police; I have been asked innumerable questions; attempts have been made to frame me for murder; I have been charged with an assault which allegedly took place over five years ago; although assault is one of the most trivial charges known to criminal law, I

Kwame McCoy

have been taken to court in chain,” McCoy said.

The former Press and Publicity Officer at the Office of the President under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration called for condemnation of the actions being taken against him.

“I call on the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and on all other human rights organisations in Guyana; I call on the DPP; I call on the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR); I call on the Police Complaint Authority (PCA); I call on those in charge of the Administration of justice;

I call on our diplomatic community; I call on the Caricom Secretary General and I call on every peaceloving Guyanese and on all political leaders to condemn this political persecution of me.”

McCoy said he will endure and is confident that his innocence will be vindicated in the end.

However, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum rubbished McCoy’s claims, saying that the Police were not attempting to politically persecute citizens.

“It’s not about the Police bringing up old cases involving political persons. Any old case, as long as we get the information, we usually work on that information. So it’s not about political individuals. It is based on the information provided to the Police,” Blanhum was quoted in sections of the media as saying.

Last month, McCoy along with former OP employee Jason Abdullah and self-confessed death squad member Sean Hinds were arraigned and subsequently placed on bail for a 2010 incident in which faeces was thrown onto columnist Freddie Kissoon in Robb Street, Georgetown.

Drug trafficker jailed A

37-year-old unemployed man was found guilty of a drug trafficking charge and was jailed on Wednesday for three years by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Abdul Burnett, of Stone Avenue, Campbellville, Georgetown, had initially

pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 11.

The charge against him read that on December 14, 2015, at Stone Avenue, he had in his possession 672 grams of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

On the day in question around 14:15h, according to court documents, acting

on information received, the Police went to a shop in Stone Avenue and found him with the drugs.

After being questioned by the ranks about the illicit drug, the defendant told the Police, “I does do a lil’ hustle.” He then took them to an empty lot next to a shop where he pointed

out two transparent bags in the bushes.

Checks were made on both bags which contained the prohibited drugs.

On Wednesday, the Court ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Burnette was also fined $3000.

Eyew tness

Life chances...

I

...and primary school

n the hundreds of years we colonials were ruled by Britain, some figured out the connection between schools and success in schools. The Governor and all the “big ones” in Government sent out by the Empire were from the British “Public Schools”. Which in the perverse humour – or reverse snobbery – of the British, were socially and economically the most exclusive “Private Schools” you could imagine!

The overseers sent out to harass the native in the sugar fields, on the other hand, were generally Irish or Scotch. Not much above coloureds back in the British Isles. Not that you would suspect that from the way the overseers carried on over here. But the more perceptive locals would’ve noticed the latter were never invited to the socials at the Georgetown Club, for instance.

So schools and life chances were directly correlated.

If any confirmation was needed for those who didn’t deal directly with the foreigners, Queen's College and Bishops would’ve provided that. These schools were patterned directly on the British public school model and the sons and daughters of the local elite were groomed there to assume the lower rungs of the local ladder of power.

Now you’d think in the “decolonisation” drive of the early leaders – Jagan and Burnham – after independence, some changes would’ve been made since they both declared themselves to be true blue socialists, nuh? But they pretty much left the elite schools alone. One wonders if it was because both of them got a squeeze into Queens.

After them, the British opened up entry requirements for “scholarship” winners of the Common Entrance exam at the “Fourth Standard” in the primary schools.

Maybe the story is apocryphal, but word is Burnham asked the Board of Queens to rename it “President’s College” after he’d assumed that title following his 1980 Constitution. When they refused, the story goes, he went on to establish President’s College, as a BOARDING school on the East Coast to make it closer to the original British public schools.

Be as it may, here we are 50 years after independence and 14,500 students are today vying to get into Queens and Bishops. Life chances locally are still heavily influenced by those who end up there and the four other schools that fall UNDER them. That means a total of about 600 or so kids.

Woe be to the remaining 13,900. Right off the bat they know the system’s decided they aren’t REALLY “top notch”. And in the mode of the self-fulfilling prophesies, most of them never push themselves to determine what they can really do.

They will haul water and hew wood.

...of the business class

Your Eyewitness has seen the new wave of banditry launched against business folks. It’s eerily reminiscent of what happened between 1998 and 1999 when 31 businessmen were killed. All but one being of a particular ethnicity. Yeah! that’s right. At that time it was the same discourse pushed by the People’s National Congress – all the wealth’s going to one section of the society and what’s gonna be done about it?

Looks like it’s Deja vu all over again, doesn’t it? Now the line pushed is the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) poured the wealth to a “cabal” and look how indecent that is! It’s only a step away to some fellas taking matters into their own violent hands and “rectifying” history, nuh? So it doesn’t matter if the PPP’s in power or out of power – it’s open season on folks who have wealth.

Because it doesn’t matter whether the assertion is true or merely self serving – it justifies condign attacks to extract booty.

So what are the life chances of some business folks?

Not so rosy.

...of the coalition

Your Eyewitness isn’t sure it’s legal...but on many street corners, bets are being taken as to how long the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition’s lie gonna last. Big bets! He’s betting it’s gonna last till the next election.

No way for the two Berbicians to go!

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

news

9

thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Minister Harmon Thief shot in face during stresses importance of attempted robbery admin professionals …“they are indispensable in the public service”

By Devina Samaroo

T

he public service has a crucial role to play in transforming Guyana, Minister of State Joseph Harmon charged to a roomful of administrative professionals who were eager to begin their training in public service efficacy on Wednesday morning at the Impeccable Banquet Hall, Brickdam.

The event, which was by Zoywins organised Consultancy, under the theme “Shine like a Diamond”, coincides with worldwide celebrations of Administrative Professionals’ Day in recognition of the valuable contributions of administrative staff to the success of organisations.

Both Private and Public

vice, and as such, he noted that it is most advantageous for organisations to invest in the proper training and development of these individuals.

“Administrative professionals or secretaries are particularly important to this process in a number of ways, specifically, many of you, if not all of you, are the first point of contact between your organisation and the public.

You are the face of you department or agencies or companies in which you work,” he explained, highlighting that as a consequence, administrative professionals contribute significantly to the way in which their employers are perceived.

Harmon even shared a personal experience to sup-

basis; therefore, if you are not courteous and you do not treat the public well, by time they come to me to deal with their problems, I have to unwind them, I have to spend an extra five or 10 minutes telling them that this is not the kind of administration we will have,” Harmon related.

On this note, he charged that administrative professionals ought to be considered the backbones of organisations.

“Your day to day work is the foundation of your organisations’ accomplishment.

You take care of the details and the success achieved with respect to task undertaken… in reality, it cannot be done without you,” he stated.

A

burglar is now under Police guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital, after he was shot in the face during an attempted robbery.

The injured thief has been identified as Leon Overmuller, 45, of Alexander Street, Georgetown.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times, the robbery occurred at A and N Electronic Store located at Croal Street, Georgetown, around 03:30h on Wednesday.

The owner of the store, Nishal Ramnarine, ex-

A and N Electronics Store

plained that he was alerted after the alarm system at

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon delivering remarks at the opening of the Administrative Professionals Workshop at the De Impeccable Banquet Hall

Sector workers from across seven administrative regions gathered to participate in the seminar where they were brief on areas related to the development of cooperative style, strategies to prevent conflict and master cooperation and efficiency; maintenance of healthy lifestyles; among others.

In delivering his opening remarks, Minister Harmon underscored the importance of being involving in training programmes of this nature, noting that the knowledge gained may attribute to career advancements and increased earnings.

Harmon, who has responsibility for the public service, emphasised that administrative staff are an indispensable part of the delivery of public/ customer care ser-

port his assertions.

“When we came into office under the coalition Government, I had the responsibility of organisation work of the Ministry of the Presidency, and from day one up to maybe day 40/50, people were coming to see me on a daily basis and sometimes by the time they get to me, they would have gone through sometimes two layers or three layers of persons and sometimes some of them come in vexed because they say “the people give me a hard time before I get to you”; and so I have been at pains to point out to those members in the public service that they are the faces of that administration, these are the people that interact with the public on a daily

In further underscoring the importance of the public service in transforming the country, Harmon reminded that in delivering quality service, administrative professionals must strive to look beyond political, racial and religious persuasions.

“It does not matter which political party you voted for… public servants should deliver with strict neutrality and integrity,” he noted.

In conclusion, Minister Harmon urged the participants to work assiduously both individually and collectively, not only in striving for self-development but to bring about massive changes in the quality of public service being delivered in Guyana.

“You are the agents of change,” he charged.

The spot where the bandit was shot

his business place was triggered.

He added that he responded to the alarm and went over to the store with his licensed firearm.

According to the businessman, upon entering the store, he noticed the man searching through some items and raised an alarm.

This startled the thief who grabbed a steel bar and fired a lash at the businessman.

“He picked up a steel bar that was in my store and was approaching me ready to hit me with it, but I took out my gun and fired shots at him,” the distraught man related.

Ramnarine told this publication that he fired four shots, but only one struck the man to his face.

After being shot, the man escaped and sought treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was apprehended.

Investigations into the matter are continuing.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, april 28, 2016

News

Giftland’s owner questions BiShanLin, Movie Towne investments

— calls for level playing field

B

usinessman and Chairman of MCG Investments (Giftland Mall), Roy Beepat, is calling on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change

at the arrival lounge of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

According to Beepat, Government needs to be fair to local investment companies, whose revenues

tibillion international companies should be treated with preferential treatment and unfair trading advantages over local companies,” Beepat said in a letter to the editor.

and GRA Commissioner, who I do not hold accountable in any way, the details of these two mentioned investments which were concluded before their control of these two Government departments.”

According to Beepat, the Giftland Mall did not benefit from any concessions from the previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration in terms of duty-fee, Value Added Tax (VAT) waivers, tax holidays, tax exemptions of any sorted.

The Chinese logging company, which is cur-

Roy Beepat

rently under review by the Government State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), has been at the centre of contro-

versies over the years it has been operating in Guyana.

It had come under tremendous fire for what has been deemed is illegal logging operations in the country and has been accused of enjoying billions of dollars in concessions.

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has over the last few months been clamping down on tax including BaiShanLin. The Chinese logging company allegedly has over $50 million outstanding in duties, which it failed to pay within the stipulated time frame.

Several areas in Linden under water as rainy season commences

S

(APNU/AFC) Government to provide a level playing field for investors in Guyana.

Beepat has made the call, even as Chinese logging company BaiShanLin is advertising the advent of an international mall. The advertisement can be seen

are being pumped into the country’s economy.

“In fairness to our investment and parity between local investment and international enterprises such as these, it is important that a level playing field, I would find it abhorrent if it is a case that mul-

He is therefore seeking responses from both the Guyana Revenue Authority and the Finance Ministry.

“As the Chairman of MCG Investments Inc, the owners of the Giftland Mall, I am concerned and I am kindly publicly requesting from the Finance Ministry

everal areas in Linden were under water on Wednesday, as inclement weather continued throughout most of the afternoon.

Areas more prone to intense flooding such as Kara

ing through the floodwaters.

A gentleman complained of not being able to access his car, which was parked along Greenheart Street, noting that he feared coming into contact with floodwaters.

Even some schoolchildren,

Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Renis Morian visited the Kara Kara area on Wednesday and spoke to residents there regarding the flood situation. Over the years, the communi-

evidently stranded, could be seen making their way through floodwaters as the persistent rains came to a halt shortly after 14:00h.

However, it was raining again shortly after. Despite several attempts by the

ty has been faced with severe flooding due to what residents have claimed was the “negligence” of privately owned Chinese mining company Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) in having sedi-

Central Mackenzie under water

Kara and Central Mackenzie (including Republic Avenue and Greenheart Street), as well as Rainbow City, appeared to be among some of the worse affected. Scores of people were stranded and several stalls at Republic

Flooding at Greenheart Street, Linden

Avenue and Greenheart Street were under water. The parking area at Republic Bank and Pine Street were flooded; some people could be seen wad-

Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) over the years to construct drains in a fashion to prevent severe flooding, the situation has remained the same.

ments cleared from the drains situated there.

Residents are calling on the Government to intervene to remedy the situation.

thursDay, APRIL 28, 2016

guyana-times.com

11

News

NGSA students display Schools across Guyana to optimism after first be closed for Independence set of exams Anniversary week

J

ubilant reactions were displayed by primary school students in the city after their first set of exams in the National Grade Six Assessment.

On Wednesday students from West Ruimveldt Primary, St Angela’s Primary and St Margaret’s Primary were in joyful spirits as they spoke to Guyana Times about the day’s examinations. They indicated that they were optimistic about their performances thus far.

Delon Parks for St

A student of West Ruimveldt Primary

Angela’s Primary said that though the structure of the paper was a little complicated, he is certain that he did well. He highlighted that the easiest subject for him at his first sitting was Science and his aim is to perform well enough to earn a spot at Queen’s College.

Treon Thomas, another student of St Angela’s Primary voiced that he too faced difficulties with the structure of the paper but remained hopeful about his performance. This student

Treon Thomas of St Angela’s Primary

indicated that in preparation for his NGSA, he “studied hard at nights and did not put pressure’’ on himself.

Speaking with a student of West Ruimveldt Primary, the young lady indicated that her examination went well and she was sure of achieving a position at Queen’s College.

She added that the easiest subject for the day was Science and was excited for Mathematics, since it is her favourite subject.

Joel Perreira, another

student of West Ruimveldt, noted that he considered the exam “very easy” and was confident in his spot at St Stanislaus College. He was yet another student to indicate that Science was the easiest paper thus far.

At St Margaret’s Primary School, Tishana Simon exclaimed that she considered the exam very easy. Simon added that she was glad that her nights of studying paid off and hoped to attain a seat at Queens College.

Another St Margaret’s Primary student, Jose Benjamin, said that he was positive that he attained high marks on the first day of the NGSA and looks forward to a spot in one of the top five secondary schools, preferably Queen’s College.

The first day of the National Grade Six Assessment 2016 has had a great start according to several students from primary schools around Georgetown.

Today, they will make their appearance at school once again to sit Mathematics and Social Studies.

Students preparing to go into the exam

A

s a result of the extensive celebrations that have been planned for the observation of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee anniversary, the Education Ministry has announced that schools across Guyana will be closed from May 23 to 27 to facilitate the activities.

However, Fifth and Sixth Form students will still write the Caribbean S e c o n d a r y E d u c a t i o n Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean A d v a n c e d Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) on the said dates. For the week, CAPE candidates will be sitting Literature, Physics, Applied Maths, Biology, Management of Business, Environmental Science, Law, Electrical and Electronic Technology, Physical Education and Sport, Pure Maths, Agricultural Science, Food and Nutrition, Digital Media, and Building and Mechanical Engineering Drawing.

Meanwhile, CSEC candidates will be sitting Biology, Building Technology Construction, Social Studies, Principles of Business, Geography, Physical Education and Sport, and Office Administration.

This decision comes in

light of the Government’s plans to ensure that all Guyanese bear witness to the celebration of the country’s 50th year as a thriving nation that is geared towards further advancement.

A number of activities had been rolled out to mark the anniversary during the one-week period when school will be suspended.

These include the largest May 26 float parade that is the embodiment of the Republic Day parade that was postponed given the anniversary.

Also set for that day is the GTT Mega Concert slated for the National Stadium after the float parade.

Another of the grand events set for the period is the National Flag-raising ceremony at D’Urban Park as well as the Independence Jouvert, both scheduled for

May 25.

From the 22nd to the 24th, other activities consisting of symposiums, book launchings, pageants and a long list of additional events have been planned.

Being one of the most anticipated and monumental events in Guyana’s history, the Government has gone all out in ensuring that this indeed leaves an imprint on the minds of those who are lucky enough to be part of the celebrations.

Over the past few weeks, activities, promotions and special packages leading up to the anniversary have been launched.

Corporate support for these activities has been flowing in, since the beginning of the year, from both local and international sponsors.

The country is expected to be transformed into a business paradise fostering economic growth and placing the country on the international map.

A large turnout is expected from the Diaspora, as persons from across the world have been indicating their interest in celebrating the Golden Jubilee through “Reflection, Celebration and Inspiration”.

12 news

thursDay, APRIL 28, 2016 | guyana-times.com

missing, 1 in custody Corentyne businessman 1after 2-boat collision robbed by bandits A 58-year-old man is feared dead following a two-boat collision in the Pomeroon River, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

The missing man has been identified as Abdool Shameer, also called Mohamed Shameer, of Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon.

Reports are that the incident occurred about 02:00h on Monday when Shameer was crossing the Pomeroon River in his boat and another boat, which was powered by an outboard engine, collided with him.

After the collision, Police said that Shameer could not be located.

The 33-year-old captain of the other boat, who hails from Sirki, Pomeroon River, was unharmed. He is now

Johnny’s Grocery at JC Chandisingh Street, Rose Hall

A

s bandits continue their rampage in Berbice, Region Six, another Corentyne businessman fell victim to robbery.

This time, bandits pounced upon businessman Lomenza Johnny, also called “Sham”, at his JC Chandisingh Street, Rose Hall, Region Six business place.

According to reports, at about 12:00h, two armed men walked into the grocery store and held Johnny at gunpoint, demanding cash.

Guyana Times was told that the businessman handed over $300,000 to the gunmen who then quickly exited the premises and made good their escape.

Speaking with this publication, Johnny said that by the time he managed to raise an alarm, the men were long gone.

According to the businessman, Police responded in a timely manner and immediately went into the community in search of the gunmen.

Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam said no one has been arrested but from all indications, the robbery was committed by a known gang operating out of Rose Hall.

He noted that the Police are currently looking for some of the gang members to assist with investigations into other matters that they are in-

vestigating.

On Monday, a Corentyne, Berbice, family was left traumatised after a group of heavily armed bandits invaded their home and carted off $2.5 million in cash and a quantity of jewellery.

Over the past few weeks there have been a series of robberies along the lower Corentyne, with the most daring being the invasion of a house situated opposite the Albion Police Station on March 13.

On April 10, a man was killed when bandits invaded his home at Topu. There have also been other home invasions at Belvedere, Port Mourant, Ankerville, Hampshire and Rose Hall.

Missing: Abdool Shameer also called Mohamed Shameer

in Police custody assisting with investigations.

According to the missing man’s brother, Fizal, he last saw Shameer Monday morning at 10:30h in the

Jacklow area. He said he left to visit a friend at Jacklow and upon returning, the accident occurred.

Family members related to Guyana Times that they were most disturbed at the manner in which the entire accident was dealt with. They are, therefore, calling on the Police to apprehend the two passengers who were travelling in the arrested captain’s boat at the time.

As investigations continue, Police were informed that the now missing man and the surviving captain had “old grievances”.

A search party has been sent out to comb the area where the accident occurred and its environs with the hope of finding the missing man.

Closure of Wales Estate

Another vigil held by sugar workers

Wales workers and residents united against the estate’s closure

S

ugar workers and their families will not allow their voices to go unheard as 25 persons at Wales, West Bank Demerara, joined a vigil held on Tuesday evening to stand in solidarity against the closure of the sugar estate.

Accompanied with candlelight, workers reiterated that the decision of closure must be reversed. They solidified their calls with the “Save Wales Estate” banner which they stood behind in unity.

This vigil forms part of a series of measures that are being undertaken to protest the decision taken by Government to close the entity. At the last vigil on April 7, Abdul Rahaman, a labourer who has worked with Estate for over 26 years, told <<<Guyana Times>>> that not only his immediate family members depend on him but his sister as well.

Rahaman who is the sole breadwinner for his family had explained that his sister is a pensioner and as such, will have no other source of income if he is unemployed.

One young man, Christopher Rattam, who was also standing in soli-

darity with his family, had told this publication that he finished school last year and attained nine CXC subjects. He explained that he is currently without employment and depends on his father for upkeep. Rattam surmised that the lives of his entire family will be in jeopardy when the estate closes.

It was only Saturday that the Progressive Youth Organisation, the youth arm of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), organised a march in solidarity with Wales sugar workers.

They marched from Canal Number One Road all the way to the Wales Sugar Estate to highlight the economic hardships that await the community.

Former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had argued that sugar has always had a positive impact on the village economy. Jagdeo also opined that there are numerous avenues which can be explored in order to maintain operations which will ultimately save the jobs of the 1700 sugar workers who face being placed on the breadline.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union

(GAWU) has maintained that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has not outlined a plan of action for the future of Wales.

Many cane farmers and sugar workers have long been calling on Agriculture Minister Noel Holder to meet with them to disclose the Government’s follow-up plans for the entity. <<<Guyana Times>>> was told that the method of using punts to transport canes is not applicable since the Boerasirie conservancy does not have a direct link between the two estates (Wales and Uitvlugt). Many farmers in La Retraite and Canal Number One told this publication that transporting canes via tractor/trailer sto the Uitvlugt factory on the West Coast of Demerara is “near impossible” and as such, they will have no other choice than to turn to other crops to maintain their livelihoods.

The Wales Sugar Estate is one of the oldest in the country still functional but is operating at a huge loss, and as such, it was decided by Government through GuySuCo, that entity must be shut down.

News

13

thursDay, APRIL 28, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Dynamic Airways brands aircraft with 50th Independence Anniversary logo

I

n less than a month, Guyana will be celebrating 50 years as an independent nation and Dynamic International Airways, as part of its way of promoting the event, has branded its flights to Guyana with the 50thanniversary logo.

At a simple ceremony at the John F Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday, the logo was unveiled by Chief Operations Officer of the airline, Karen Kraus and United Nations Ambassador George Talbot at Terminal One at the intentional airport.

In his brief remarks, Ambassador Talbot told the gathering that Guyana has indeed come a long way in forging bilateral relations with countries from around the

world, while congratulating its people on the occasion of the it’s 50th independence anniversary.

He said that not only Guyana will celebrate 50 years as an independent state but also 50 years as a member of the international community.

He noted that as Guyana’s representative to the United Nations, he can attest to the very active engagement of Guyana with other countries in the world.

The Ambassador also noted that the engagement of Guyana is more obviously matched with the engagement with Guyanese people through their tributes and initiatives in many parts of the world.

On this note, he disclosed that there are more than

The logo branding of the 50th Independence Anniversary was unveiled by Chief Operations Officer of the airline, Karen Kraus; United Nations Ambassador George Talbot; and local representative of Dynamic Airlines, Captain Gerry Gouveia at Terminal One at the international airport

Restaurant Week 2016 launched

– creativity, skills to be showcased

A

s part of the jubilee celebrations, Restaurant Week was officially launched at the Herdmanston Lodge on Wednesday under the theme “Explore, eat and repeat.” The event which will be hosted by the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Public Telecommunications Ministry will be staged from April 29 to May 8.

Restaurant Week 2016, according to Indranauth Haralsingh, indicated that the event will showcase the creativity and skills that Guyanese chiefs possess.

Among the 20 restaurants that will be participating in the event include Aagman Indian Restaurant, New Thriving, OMG, Palm Court, Xie Xie, Gravity, Cara Lodge, Java Coffee Bean, Publix, Roraima Duke Lodge and the Guyana Marriott Terra Mare Restaurant.

At these restaurants, the lunch menu is priced at $2000 while the dinner menu is set at a range of $4000-$5000.

GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh and THAG representative Shaun McGrath at the launching

Also speaking at the event, Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) representative Shaun McGrath pointed out that Restaurant Week will be a monumental occasion for not only Guyanese but for tourists as well. He noted that training of staff at local restaurants on the complexity of wines and “what wines go well with particular meals” the range of wines included Italian, Australian and South American wines was also done.

“We need to get above and beyond the days where you would walk in and get

just chicken and rice. I think Restaurant Week has challenged other restaurants to take it to another level, and to bring chicken and rice but at another level,” he noted.

McGrath pointed out that several competitions will be held throughout the duration of the week.

“It is very simple, just snap a picture of the meal at one of our participating restaurants and upload it to facebook or twitter using our hashtag and you’re automatically entered.”

Prizes include a free dinner and a grand prize of a trip, compliments of Fly Jamaica.

140,000 Guyanese living in the New York area making Guyana the home of one of the most internationally mobile population in the world but more importantly having one of the largest Diaspora internationally.

“Mobility has been a fact of life for Guyanese internationally but also domestically... as you know at the international level many of the important economic assets of Guyana, its natural resources are located away from major population centres.”

Against this backdrop, he empathised the importance of aviation to Guyana not only in serving the international movements of Guyanese between home and many parts of the world but also domestically, hence his recognition of the important role Dynamic Airways is playing.

Further, he wished the airline the best while urging that it continues to build partnership with Guyana in the years to come.

The Chief Operations Officer in her response said that her company is grateful for the partnership with Guyana, iterating it’s not just a partnership but a long lasting friendship.

“We are committed to the long-term support to the people of Guyana... we are committed in providing affordable flights to being people back and forth between new York and Guyana... we will continue to provide dozens of jobs to locals”.

Kraus also noted that it was a privileged to have the logo of Guyana 50th independence celebrations on the aircraft.

However, local represen-

tative of Dynamic Airlines, Captain Gerry Gouveia applauded the initiative taken

by Dynamic to have the logo on its aircraft while recalling that as soon as he pitched the idea to Kraus, she immediately came on board.

He noted that they had to make a choice either to put the logo from Guyana on the aircraft or do we acknowledge the significant contributions that Guyanese in New Work are making, as well to nation building in Guyana and to the viability of Dynamic Airways.

“When we had to make that choice, Karen said let’s put both logos on the plane.

By doing this, Dynamic International Airways is making a tangible commitment to Guyana.”

In addition, Janice Hall, Sponsorship Manager of the jubilee celebration in New York stated that when the aircraft leave the US on Thursday evening, it will carry the hopes and aspirations of a memorable 50th Anniversary celebrations.

She noted that the committee responsible for the celebrations is extremely honoured to have the logo on the Dynamic International Airways while noting that the executives of the company will in turn be proud of the committee members as they kick off the jubilee celebrations in the United States.

She also extended an invitation to all present to be a part of the jubilee celebrations which get underway in June in New York.

14

guyana-times.com

thursDay, april 28, 2016

News

Health Department shuts down 2 NA restaurants T

wo Chinese restaurants in New Amsterdam, Berbice, were on Wednesday ordered temporarily closed by the Environmental Health Department of the Municipality.

The move comes as the department embarks on a campaign to ensure that businesses operate under proper health and environmentally acceptable standards.

The two restaurants – Lucky House located at Main and Lad Lane Streets, and Jen Yeu Restaurant, located at Lot 15 Main Street – were ordered to close their operations by Environmental Health Officer Akloo Ramsudh after it was found that they were preparing foods under unsanitary conditions.

Ramsudh said the restaurants were offering food that was not fit to be consumed by humans because of the conditions under which they were being prepared.

According to the Health Officer, Lucky House

Jen Yen Restaurant

was ordered close to carry out a massive clean-up campaign. “Improving on the overall appearance; washing of walls and painting. The other restaurant was asked to do general improvements of the kitchen. They had some very unsanitary practices going on and both of them were asked to remedy those situations,” Ramsudh said.

He noted that the newly elected Councillors are supporting the campaign of seeing improved eating facili-

Lucky House Restaurant

ties within the township. To work towards this, a Health and Sanitation Committee was recently formed to look at the overall improvement of the town.

On Tuesday, New Amsterdam Mayor Curt Wynter led a team of environmental officers to several eating houses in the town.

Apart from the eating houses, residential properties will also be visited.

Meanwhile, Jen Yen Restaurant was ordered closed last year after it was

found that management was allowing sewage to pass through the kitchen and the area where customers dine.

That situation was rectified and they were given to green light to reopen.

On Wednesday, Lucky House commenced working on the recommendations that were given to them.

Chinese nationals and locals were seen washing walls and painting a section of the interior of the building.

Ramsudh said the two restaurants will be re-in-

spected to ensure that they are of a standard to prepare food for human consumption.

According to the sanitary inspector, the fact that only two restaurants were ordered closed, in no way indicates that all other eating houses in the town are above board. “There were a few other premises that were checked and there were given warnings and ordered to have minor corrective work done and those will be reinspected shortly to ensure

that they comply with the request from the department.”

The exercise on Tuesday stemmed from a complaint which was not dealt with in a satisfactory manner and a report was made to the department.

Ramsudh noted that persons with overgrowing vegetation in their yards will be given notices. “Also, those that have any accumulation of waste on their property will be dealt with.” This, he explained, will fall under the vector control department.

Antigua: MP steps aside amid allegations of inappropriate conduct with minor

A

month and a half after quitting as Minister of Public Works amid allegations that he had inappropriate conduct with an underage girl, Ian Pinard has now also given up his seat in Parliament.

He announced Tuesday evening that he has stepped down as the Member of

Parliament for the constituency of Soufriere.

On March 2, he tendered his resignation as Minister to “more appropriately” address the allegations against him and “focus on other very important personal matters”.

In a prepared statement which he read at a

meeting of the Dominica Labour Party Constituency Association in Soufriere Tuesday, he said the allegations were also getting in the way of his work as a parliamentary representative, and affecting him physically, psychologically and emotionally.

An emotional Pinard

said the entire matter has had an enormous impact on him emotionally, psychologically and physically and has prevented him from functioning to the best of his ability as an MP. “The pace of our constituency improvement was slowed considerably a few weeks ago when, unfortunately, my name was mentioned and I became impli-

cated in a series of rumours that have now developed into a scandal of national attention and interest,” he said.

“Furthermore, I have been advised that I ought not to underestimate the impact this entire episode is having on my mental and physical health and wellbeing. I have been advised that I need to pay atten-

tion to my health and to the demands of this case during the coming weeks and months.”

Pinard has continued to maintain his innocence, even as he faces charges in the court.

“I am confident that due process will establish my innocence and in the long run, I will be vindicated,” he said. (Caribbean360)

Olympic torch handed Venezuela introduces two-day over to Brazilians week to deal with energy crisis

V

Joy at the handover ceremony – but little enthusiasm for the Games in Brazil itself

W

ith 100 days to go before the Olympic Games begin in Rio de Janeiro, the Olympic flame has been handed over in Athens to the Brazilian authorities.

The torch will arrive in Brazil next week and then will travel around the country ahead of the games in August.

Rio mayor Eduardo Paes says the Olympic park is almost ready, but there are concerns about delays to some projects.

A BBC correspondent

says at present there is little excitement in Brazil where the President faces impeachment.

The proceedings against Dilma Rousseff mean there is uncertainty as to who will be in power during the Games.

Unemployment has also risen to about 10 per cent as the economy has contracted for the second year in a row.

Rights group Amnesty has also criticised the number of killings by Police in the city’s shantytowns, known as favelas, where

residents were “living in terror”.

Officers have killed 11 people in the favelas so far this month, Amnesty said, and were behind 307 such deaths last year.

Nevertheless, the head of Rio’s organising committee Carlos Nuzman said the city was “ready to make history” as the flame was handed over to the Brazilians.

The torch will arrive on May 3 in the capital Brasilia after a short stopover in Switzerland.(BBC News)

e n e z u e l a ’ s Government has imposed a two-day working week for Public Sector workers as a temporary measure to help it overcome a serious energy crisis.

Vice President Aristobulo Isturiz announced that civil servants should turn up for work only on Mondays and Tuesdays until the crisis was over.

Venezuela is facing a major drought, which has dramatically reduced water levels at its main hydroelectric dam.

But the Opposition has accused the Government of mismanaging the crisis.

The measures announced on national television by Isturiz affect two million Public Sector workers.

“There will be no work in the Public Sector on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, except for fundamental and necessary tasks,” he said.

President Nicolás

Shops have been operating without electricity for several hours a day because of power cuts introduced this year

Maduro had already given most of Venezuela’s 2.8 million State employees Fridays off during April and May, to cut down on electricity consumption.

He said Venezuela had been badly hit by the El Niño weather phenomenon and would return to normal when it started raining again.

“We are requesting international help, technical and financial aid to help revert the situation,” he said.

“We are managing the sit-

uation in the best possible way while we wait for the rains to return.”

“Several countries in the region have been affected by the drought, caused by El Niño. But Venezuela has the highest domestic consumption of energy.”

The government has already adopted a number of other measures to try to deal with the crisis. In February, shopping centres were told to reduce their opening hours and generate their own energy. (Excerpt from BBC News)

thursDAY, april 28, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the world

Syria peace talks: Opposition Surinamese woman caught in Barbados trying to smuggle renews boycott threat

S

yria's main Opposition group, the High N e g o t i a t i o n s Committee (HNC), has threatened to boycott the next round of peace talks unless the Government stops its bombing campaign and the situation on the ground improves.

George Sabra, a member of the Syrian Opposition delegation, the HNC, said on Wednesday that "while real steps aren't taken on the ground in Syria, the participation of the delegation of the HNC will remain suspended."

The HNC left formal negotiations last week after at least 40,000 Syrians fled

fighting near Aleppo after

UN Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, has called the talks a "moment of truth" for Syria

Government forces continued an offensive against Opposition fighters there.

At least 35 people, in-

cluding eight children were killed in Aleppo on Tuesday in attacks carried out by the government, a monitoring group said.

Following a lull in fighting after the ceasefire took effect on February 27, violence has intensified in recent days, with at least 100 civilians killed in air strikes, shelling and rocket fire since Friday.

When asked on Wednesday whether a new date had been set, Sabra said it was up to the UN to say when peace talks would resume, pointing out that the Opposition would not take part until its demands were met. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

India orders panic button on mobile phones amid women's safety fears All mobile phones sold in India from January 2017 must have a panic button enabling the user to call for help, the government has said, amid concern for women's safety after a series of violent crimes in recent years.

From January 2018, mobile phones must also have a built-in global positioning system (GPS), the ministry of communications and technology said in a statement.

"Technology is solely meant to make human life

better and what better (use) than... for the security of women," said the statement, released late on Monday.

Keeping a finger pressed on number five or nine on the new mobile phones should trigger an emergency call, the ministry said. With smartphones, an emergency call must be triggered when the power button is pressed three times in quick succession, it said. It did not give further details.

Concern about women's safety has risen since the fa-

tal gang rape of a 23-yearold student on a bus in Delhi in 2012. In another highprofile case, an Uber taxi driver was found guilty of raping a female passenger in Delhi.

The 2012 incident sparked nationwide protests and stricter rape legislation.

Still, India reported 337,922 crimes against women in 2014, including more than 36,000 rapes, a nine per cent increase from the previous year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

drugs hidden in private parts

A

3 2 - y e a r - o l d Surinamese woman is facing the court in Barbados after being caught trying to smuggle cannabis and cocaine into the island – some of which she hid in her private parts.

Nadhira Gautamie Echteld has been slapped with eight charges – possession of two kilos of cannabis, possession of one kilo of co-

caine, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, trafficking cannabis, trafficking cocaine, importation of cannabis and importation of cocaine.

She arrived at the Grantley Adamas International Airport on Sunday, and when her luggage was searched by

Customs officers, two packages of cannabis were found.

Echteld was taken to the hospital where a package of cocaine was retrieved from her vagina. She subsequently excreted 22 pellets of cocaine she had ingested.

The Surinamese woman appeared in court on Tuesday and was remanded to prison. (Caribbean360)

Migrant crisis: Austria passes controversial new asylum law

A

ustria has passed a controversial new law that restricts the right of asylum and allows most claimants to be rejected directly at the border.

Rights groups say the law undermines the principle of protection from war and persecution. It comes days after Austria's far-right came top in the first round of a presidential election.

Austrian officials say they are also considering building a fence at the main border crossing with Italy.

Why is EU struggling with migrants and asylum?

The new asylum law lets the government declare a "state of emergency" over the migrant crisis and reject most asylum-seekers, including those from war-torn countries such as Syria.

It also limits any suc-

Austrian MPs have passed a new asylum law despite protests

cessful asylum claim to three years. "These amendments are a glaring attempt to keep people out of Austria and its asylum system," said Amnesty Europe director Gauri van Gulik.

But Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said Austria had no other choice as long as "so many other

EU members fail to do their part" to limit the influx of migrants and refugees.

"We cannot shoulder the whole world's burden," he said. Meanwhile, the Police Chief in Tyrol said Austria was proposing building a 400m fence at the Brenner crossing in the province.

Haiti elections could be pushed back as far as October; UN concerned 2-year-old child fatally shoots mother in US

W

ith the April 24 target for the second round of presidential elections in Haiti missed, interim President Jocelerme Privert says the electorate will probably have to wait until October to cast their votes.

He made the disclosure to reporters on Sunday – the day elections should have been held under a political agreement reached in February, just before Michel Martelly left office without a new President in place.

Privert said the second round of elections which has already been postponed three times, will likely be staged the same time as the Senate elections on October 30.

But the delay has triggered protests by supporters of the front-runner in the presidential elections, Jovenel Moise. He is set to go up against Jude Celestin when the vote is eventually held.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Kimoon says he is deeply concerned that the agreed election date was not met and that no alternate electoral

calendar was announced.

A statement issued by his spokesperson, yesterday, said: “The Secretary General reiterates his strong support for the completion, with-

prolonged transitional governance while facing major socio-economic and humanitarian challenges.”

Noting the intended establishment of a commission

A

two-year-old boy has fatally shot his mother from the backseat of the car as she drove along a motorway, Police officials in the city of Milwaukee said.

Tuesday shooting comes less than two months after a mother was shot and wounded in similar circumstances in the state of Florida.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Department said 26-year-old Patrice Price, died at the scene of Tuesday

morning's shooting.

The child, who was sitting in the back seat, picked up a gun that slid out from under the driver's seat and fired it through the front seat, striking Price, the department said in a statement, citing witness accounts.

A gun was recovered from the floor of the back seat behind the driver, along with a security officer's gun belt belonging to the victim's boyfriend, sheriff's officials said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Price's father, Andre, told The Associated Press that the car belongs to his daughter's boyfriend. Also in the car were Patrice Price's mother and one-year-old son, both in the front passenger seat. Officials said the two-year-old boy was not riding in a car seat in the back.

Price's 28-year-old brother, Antonio Price, told AP that no one else was injured in the incident. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

Female suicide bomber wounds 13 in Turkish city of Bursa

A

Haitians voted in the second round of the senatorial and parliamentary elections and the first round for their new President in October 2015

out further delay, of the 2015 elections and calls on all Haitian actors to ensure the prompt return to constitutional order, as the country can ill afford a period of

to evaluate and verify the elections held in 2015, Ban in his statement stressed the need to conclude the process with urgency. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

female suicide bomber wounded at least 13 people when she blew herself up near the main mosque in the northwestern Turkish city of Bursa on Wednesday, officials said, the fifth suicide bombing in a major urban center this year.

Photographs from the scene showed the severed torso of what appeared to be the bomber lying at the side of the mosque. Police ushered dazed passers-by out

of surrounding streets as ambulances and forensics teams arrived.

The local governor's office said the woman was thought to have detonated a device she was wearing at 17:26h (09:26 a.m.

ET) near the western gate of Bursa's Grand Mosque.

Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu said 13 people were injured, none critically.

Turkey has been hit by a series of suicide bombings

this year, including two in its largest city Istanbul blamed on Islamic State, and two in the capital Ankara which were claimed by a Kurdish militant group. It has also faced attacks from far leftist groups, mostly on Police and security forces.

The Bursa attack happened a day after the United States warned American citizens in Turkey about credible terrorist threats to tourist areas. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16

thursday, april 28, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Dianna Astwood: Relieving stress, restoring balance

“I

can't envisage myself doing nothing else but what I'm doing. I simply love massaging; oh, the joy of a touch – the caring... it's a whole new level of wellness, the ability to bring relief to muscles that were in pain or stressed out.

There's nothing that can be more fulfilling for me.”

Massage, particularly therapeutic massage, is serious business – a calling even – for Dianna Astwood, certified massage therapist and owner of Divinity Spa and Health Centre, a

popular rejuvenation centre at 245 Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

Relieving stress and fatigue and restoring balance and harmony within the body is the focus of the Spa that – beyond the traditional beautification services – offers at least seven kinds of massage including Swedish, trigger point, Chinese and seated massages, and other services that promote general health and bring a sense of overall wellbeing to the public.

Among the benefits of massage are improved skin tone, circulation and posture; reduced anxiety and increased mental alertness and

Business News

Exxon ups dividend 3% day after ratings downgrade

E

xxonMobil Corp raised its quarterly dividend by three per cent on Wednesday, a day after Standard & Poor's downgraded the US oil and gas company citing its generous payouts to shareholders.

It was the smallest increase since at least the first quarter of 2006, when the dividend rose 10 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The downgrade of the oil giant was the first by S&P in more than 70 years. It was flagged by the ratings agency last week and did not come as a surprise Wednesday morning as Exxon's Board met to approve the dividend

increase and review quarterly results, which are set to be released on Friday.

The Board had halted a massive share repurchase programme on February 2, the same day S&P warned publicly a downgrade was possible. The repurchase programme had dwarfed the dividend payout for years, and its cancellation was the first sign by Exxon's Board of less-generous remuneration to shareholders.

Exxon has raised its dividend each of the past 34 years. The increase this year came as the company and its peers are fighting the perception they spend too much on shareholders and not enough strengthening its

balancing sheet and building oil reserves.

Filings with US regulators show that at a combined US$325 billion in dividends and repurchases, Exxon's spending on shareholders in the last 11 years has exceeded by nearly 20 per cent its outlays of US$271.7 billion for new property, plant and equipment over the same period.

S&P on Tuesday cut Exxon's top-tier credit rating by one notch to "AA+" from "AAA", saying it was concerned the world's largest publicly traded oil company would rather enrich shareholders than cull debt.

(Reuters)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Selling

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

USD

$1244.75

$165.47

Gross

$240,355

$205.98

$208.44

Net

$223,530

$232.66

$235.64

GBP

$300.53

$304.32

CAN

$163.58

USD EURO

Indicators as on April 27, 2016 Indicators Crude Oil

US$ per barrel

$42.64

Price

Change %

-2.56

USD

Change %

Rough Rice

$238.37/ton

London Sugar

$461.45/ton

0.00 -0.57

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Once

Bid/Ask

$1245.40

$1246.00

Low/High

$1239.80

$1254.00

Change

-0.40

-0.03%

Business Concept – Differentiation Result of efforts to make a product or brand stand out as a provider of unique value to customers in comparison with its competitors. (Business Dictionary)

peace of mind.

Astwood’s journey to business ownership started after she completed her studies in massage at the St Joseph Mercy Hospital.

“I started working at my friend's salon doing massages, and as the clientele increased, I decided to take the plunge into the world of business and that's how Divinity Spa was birthed.”

Along the way, the former North Ruimveldt Multilateral Secondary student has learnt not to be afraid to start small – “whatever you have in your hands...use”, as hard work will take your business to another level. She also advised that persons should learn from past mistakes.

“I believe to be effective in the future, you have to learn from your past. [Also] give respect and love to others... to every person, no matter race, religion or class.”

The married mother of two, who was raised in East La Penitence, Georgetown, now lives with her family in Diamond, East Bank Demerara. “Being a wife, mother and businesswoman can be challenging at times no doubt. Sometimes you wish there were more of you to go around, but thank God my family is extremely supportive, so when I'm busy at work they step in and take care of home.”

While good friend Ulanie Grandison, her family and God have been her inspiration and the “backbone behind her success”, her dream mentor is TD Jakes and all her principles for life and work she has garnered

from his teachings.

“Starting a business is not a sprint race, it's more of a marathon, it takes commitment, hard work, dedication and time…you must have a dream and vision. Believe in yourself!” Astwood declared.

She said the single most important trait for entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs was determination, “but that cannot stand alone, it goes along with humility. Whatever success you would have acquired along the way, you must remain humble.”

Astwood, who has embodied those sentiments, said over the next year, she would love to see expansion and growth of the Spa with continued profitability and focus on the customer. “When setting goals you must have a clear vision where you want your business to go.” She plans to increase networking, predominantly with the hotel industry, to achieve those objectives.

“Being in the massage industry I can testify that it is not a very easy market to

break into and I guess mainly it's because of the lack of knowledge on the importance of having regular massages. Today, you find people are becoming more health conscious, eating right, exercising, but wellness is a total package –it's body, soul and spirit. Studies have shown that high levels of stress hormones impair the immune system; I would love to see the massage industry explode in Guyana, where there would be an integration between massage therapists and the business and private sectors.”

She believes that having more information on getting started in business available from governmental sources and the Private Sector, as well as more workshops and seminars would help entrepreneurs, especially when they begin pursuing their dreams of business ownership.

"Success is liking who you are, liking what you do, and liking how you do it," she noted, quoting Maya Angelou.

Contact: 661-6694 I facebook.com//Divinity-Spa

Investors’ Guide

Wall Street ticks up as hawkish Fed fears ebb; Apple weighs

U

S stocks ended slightly higher on Wednesday after fears eased that the Federal Reserve would strongly signal it would raise interest rates in June, though a slump in Apple shares weighed on the Nasdaq index.

Stocks in the telecom and utilities sectors, seen as proxies for fixed income returns when Treasury yields are expected to remain low, rose sharply after the Fed's announcement. That indicates market participants expect US Government yields to remain subdued.

"The big takeaway here is they (the Fed) continued to be positive on the domestic economy," said John Bailer, senior portfolio manager at The Boston Company Asset Management. "They have taken out some of the risk on the global economy."

"It is slightly hawkish in my mind but not enough to get the market worried

about it."

Economists polled by Reuters expect two rate increases this year, but futures prices show traders do not expect a hike until at least September, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool.

The Fed next meets on June 14-15. While the labour market continues to gain strength, inflation remains below the central bank's two per cent target and mixed economic data could cloud the path to future rate hikes.

The technology sector remained the largest weight on the market after Apple slumped more than six per cent following its first revenue decline in over a decade.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 51.23 points, or 0.28 per cent, to 18,041.55, the S&P 500 gained 3.45 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 2095.15 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 25.14 points, or 0.51 per cent, to

4863.14.

Nasdaq 100 e-mini futures pared losses after the closing bell as Facebook's shares jumped more than eight per cent after the company beat estimates on both earnings and revenue.

During the regular session, Exxon Mobil shares hit their highest level since May 2015 after the energy company raised its quarterly dividend to 75 cents from 73 cents. The dividend hike came a day after Standard & Poor's cut Exxon's credit rating, in part for being too generous with shareholders.

Its shares closed up 0.9 per cent at US$88.46.

Advancing issues outnumbered declining ones on the NYSE by a 2.4-to-1 ratio and on the Nasdaq a 1.14to-1 ratio favoured advancers.

The S&P 500 posted 25 new 52-week highs and 2 new lows; the Nasdaq recorded 67 new highs and 16 new lows. (Reuters)

17

news

thursDAY, april 28, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Deadly prison riot

Female warden lost consciousness after tear gas was sprayed – CoI hears ...prisoners became more aggressive – Superintendent of Prisons

Wednesday that since the March 3 riot at Camp Street, female officers have been

only remaining female who works in the prison compound. She posited that in-

mates once respected female wardens, but they now “have no respect for anyone”.

Earlier in her testimony, the prison officer informed Commissioners that she was standing some 30 feet away when the “ringleaders” of gangs were being extracted from the Capital A division. She noted that inmate “Allicock” was subdued and escorted out. When questioned if the prisoner was beaten by prison officers as suggested by inmates, Lewis-Charles stated that this was not so as he was the one who had “put up a resistance”.

Lewis-Charles recalled that the fire on March 3 started around 11:00h as she saw “white smoke” emanating through the doors. In a matter of 90 seconds, the white smoke turned black and she then saw raging flames coming through the window spaces. When asked

by Attorney representing the Joint Services, Eusi Anderson if officers could have done anything differently on March 3, the wit-

itizenship Minister Winston Felix has announced that there is no increase in fees for the application and processing of passports have not been increased, refuting claims that costs have moved from $4000 to $15,000.

Felix said on Wednesday that no decision has been taken either by the Government or by the Legislative Assembly to increase the fees and asserted that information circulating to the contrary is false and aimed at creating mischief.

“Parliament has not ap-

proved the increase in the fees for the application for passports and there should be no need to rush to the passport offices in order to secure your passports in anticipation of the increase.

No such increase will occur. Parliament has not approved of such increases.

The information available is false and the public, who has now been sensitised, should now return to the normal process,” Minister Felix said.

The Minister noted that after the false reports were published persons had

turned up in large numbers at the Central Immigration and Passport Office on Camp Street, Georgetown, in an effort to avoid paying the alleged increased fees.

However, he gave assurances that no such increases have been planned and advises the public to go about their normal business.

“We, the public officials, cannot unilaterally increase the cost of a passport. It will remain at $4000. Whatever the cost was, it remains the same. Any increase is false and ought to be ignored,” Minister Felix said.

By Shemuel Fanfair

T

he Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly Camp Street Prison riot was told that female wardens should not be stationed in the Georgetown prison yard as their lives would be at risk.

These sentiments were expressed by Principal Officer One June Lewis-Charles who told Commissioners on

fearful to perform their duties, as inmates have continued to throw remarks and hurl serious threats.

She explained that one of the teargas canisters riot forces used on March 3 was thrown back towards Joint Services ranks, which caused her to briefly lose consciousness. LewisCharles, who has 15 years’ experience at Camp Street, also told the CoI that apart from the nurses, she is the

Principal Officer One, June Lewis-Charles

No increase in passport fees — Felix C

Woman slapped with 34 counts of fraud, embezzlement - accused of stealing $25M

A

former clerk was on Wednesday slapped with 34 counts of fraud when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Fifty-two-year-old Loraine Lamaison pleaded not guilty to the charges,

which allege that between June 2014 and April 2015, she fraudulently embezzled $25 million while being employed as a Clerk at Genequip General Store.

The woman was represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes. She was placed on $900,000 on the condition that she reports to the

fraud unit, Eve Leary fortnightly.

In 2013, Lamaison was charged along with her two sons, for having in their possession 500 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Her current case was adjourned to May 23.

ness said “no”, noting that all efforts were employed to get the door opened.

Lewis-Charles’s recollection of 11:00h corroborates the account of prison officer Esther Charles who testified on Tuesday that the Fire Service was called at 11:04h and not 11:18h as the Fire Service had claimed.

Firemen had arrived on the scene at 11:26h.

Superintendent of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, who also testified, related that some inmates would use mobile phones to threaten civilians, demanding that they put credit in their contraband devices.

Commissioners also heard that new inmates were often bullied into calling their family members to fund credit for their fellow inmates’ phones. Elliot, who has served for 12 years, stated that wardens involved in such practices were last disciplined when current Deputy Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels served as Officer in Charge almost two years ago.

When questioned as to what threats he heard from inmates, the Superintendent of Prisons recounted that prisoners professed that they would “kill” officers. He also explained that he heard inmates demanding to see the President or Minister and many thought that they were being wrongfully imprisoned. Elliot further testified that after the search, inmates shouted that they wanted their cellphones and

Superintendent of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot

“narcotics” to be returned to them.

In a departure from the timeline of the fire as posited by other witnesses, the Superintendent said he first saw the thick black smoke “around 09:30h”.

Under examination

by Commission Counsel Excellence Dazzle, Elliot revealed that at one point during the rioting, visibility was hindered as prisoners tampered with the lights. He further revealed that after tear gas was used the day after the March 3 fire, the inmates became more aggressive towards Joint Services ranks, but order was later restored. However, earlier this week, the Commissioners were told that Joint Services ranks had to “literally run” out of the prison because of “advancing” inmates.

Under cross-examination

by Attorney Melvin Duke, the witness was asked if any officer was trained in crisis management and negotiation.

“I am not too certain who

engaged them,” Elliot responded, pointing out that at the time the inmates were behaving “unruly”, he was stationed in the Admin building. When questioned about the broken partition wall at Capital B, Elliot said the wall was broken about six months ago and was repaired. He noted that the size of the most recent hole inmates had carved out was eight inches by two feet. When he was further grilled, the Superintendent of Prisons also conceded that all of the inmates could not have been aggressive towards prison wardens.

Chairman of the Commission, Retired Justice James Patterson sought to ascertain the well-being of the witness. Elliot testified that he was stationed continuously at the prison from March 2 to April 15 and currently, senior officers are still on duty and would only go home for a change of clothing. The hearings continue this morning.

18

guyana-timesgy.com

thursday, April 28, 2016

ARCHIE

Professional concerns will stir up emotions. It’s time to (March 21- invest in your skills, knowlApril 19) edge and expertise, as well as to put your finances in order.

Money is heading your way.

ARIES

You’ve got the edge. Your TAURUS ability to foresee trends and (April 20- make quick, sound decisions May 20) will make you the go-to person. Interviews and meetings look promising.

dilbert

Don’t let anyone entice you GEMINI (May 21- down a path that leads to bad June 20) habits, unhealthy pastimes or unsavoury influences. Discipline and activities that lead to greater self-awareness will help you overcome temptation.

CANCER

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

If you look at the bright side of any situation, you will find it much easier to convince others to join in. Use your knowledge and expertise to bring about positive change.

Take the initiative to make LEO things happen.

Personal (July 23changes will enhance your Aug. 22) appearance and give you the strength and courage to improve your life and important relationships.

Participation will be in VIRGO your best interest. Attending (Aug. 23functions that allow you to Sept. 22) show off your intelligence and skills will put you in a good position and draw interesting proposals.

Calvin and Hobbes

Emotional issues are best LIBRA (Sept. 23- thought through before you Oct. 23) make a move. Concentrate on how you can benefit. You can’t change others, but you can change yourself.

SUDOKU TODAY’S WORD – DENTIST

Personal change will lead SAGITTARIUS to good fortune. Consider the (Nov. 23- people you have dealt with in Dec. 21) the past and revise your list of friends. Cut out the middleman and do your own thing.

(DENTIST: DEN-tist: A person trained and licensed to treat problems of the teeth and gums.)

Average mark 20 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 27 or more words in DENTIST? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD – GARISHLY gaily garish gash girl glair glairy glary grail gray grisly

gyral airy argil aril ashy rail rash rashly sail sari

shag sigh slag slay hail hair hairy lair lash liar lira

You can gather valuable SCORPIO information by attending a (Oct. 24function that addresses some Nov. 22) of your concerns. If you make creative suggestions, you will have an opportunity to team up with someone interesting.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You’ve got everything goCAPRICORN ing for you, so don’t let some(Dec. 22- one ruin your plans. Walk Jan. 19) away from anyone who shows signs of procrastination or unpredictability. Speak up and take action.

If you look over personAQUARIUS al papers and investments, (Jan. 20you will find that you have Feb. 19) more assets than you realise.

Invest in your skills and ideas in order to set your long-term plans in motion.

Refuse to let anyone take PISCES (Feb. 20- you for granted or limit what March 20) you can do. Get involved in groups or events that you believe make a difference. Make your time and effort count.

thursDAY, aPRIL 28, 2016

19

Delhi Daredevils v Gujarat Lions, IPL 2016, Delhi…

Gujarat Lions survive Morris’ 82* in manic game I

t was IPL in a nutshell.

A big name - Brendon McCullum - bossed the start, so much that Gujarat Lions recorded the fastest hundred of the season. A helpless collapse then killed the prospect of a one-sided game and Delhi Daredevils would have fancied chasing 173 with dew gathering at Feroz Shah Kotla. However, the home fans despaired when they slipped to 16 for 3. The game, of course, was not done playing with their emotions.

Out walked the million dollar man Chris Morris with 116 needed off 56, and walloped the third fastest fifty in the IPL, off 17 balls. When the match ended, he was unbeaten on 82 off 32 balls, but there was no smile on his face. Those were on Praveen Kumar and Dwayne Bravo, who gave away only 16 off the final two overs to pull off a onerun win for Lions.

Morris had come in at No. 6 and launched his second ball into the second tier of the stands behind longoff. Very few of his eight sixes and four fours were mistimed, but a lot of them came as a result of his being able to get under the ball.

Praveen prevented that in the penultimate over of the chase, conceding only four to leave Daredevils needing

14 off six balls. Bravo, bowling from around the stumps, then hit the blockhole repeatedly to deny Morris’ sublime innings the status of match-winning.

Suresh Raina gave his frontline spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Pravin Tambe - only one over each and they cost a combined 31 runs. Bowling with the wet ball, they stood very little chance against Morris now armed with a crowd that was bellowing his name. His reach helped, his balance at the crease pristine and his clarity of thought handling the required rate that was above 12 was downright chilling.

Morris’ first two sixes dragged the equation down from 101 off 48 to 85 off 42.

Two against Tambe in the 15th over brought it to 57 off 30. A hat-trick of them in the 17th over bowled by Dwayne Smith sealed his fifty and left Daredevils needing 29 off 18. But JP Duminy, who had begun Daredevils’ revival, was undone by a Bravo slower ball for 48 which provided just enough of an opening for Lions to sneak through.

Their victory had almost seemed a formality when McCullum smashed Lions’ fastest fifty, and Smith usurped him a few minutes later. Along the way Lions

and flippers that surprised the batsmen. Where his slow-bowling partners Amit Mishra and Shahbaz Nadeem bowled flat in the hopes of containing the batsmen, Tahir backed his skill to confound them. He had Smith lbw with a ball that skidded through off the pitch and removed Ishan Kishan and Dinesh Karthik off successive balls in the 17th over.

Much like Tahir, Dhawal Kulkarni relied on his strength - swing - to topple Sanju Samson, an inform Quinton de Kock and Karun Nair to lift Lions in the chase but his 3 for 19 wouldn’t have mattered much until his new-ball partner Praveen bowled an excellent final over to strangle Morris and finish with 4-0-13-0. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Chris Morris’ 82 not out off 32 balls included eight sixes, but his effort was in vain

had reached 100 for 0 in a mere nine overs.

This batting line-up had beaten perhaps the best one in the IPL on Sunday, when a Virat Kohli century had not been enough. Daredevils were looking at a target of 220, as a best-case scenario.

But Morris did what Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowlers couldn’t; he had set plans and executed them very well. He dismissed McCullum and Raina in the 12th over; Lions were shortcircuited and could only manage 55 runs in the re-

maining 48 balls.

Morris knew McCullum thrived on fast bowling, so he produced an offcutter that dipped under the bat swing and broke the stumps.

He targeted Raina’s body and had leg gully in place to take the catch. That gave the Daredevils spinners some freedom.

Imran Tahir added to his reputation of being one of the best bowlers in T20 cricket with a spell of 3 for 24, the hallmark of which was his ability to vary the pace and time the googlies

Gujarat Lions innings (20 overs maximum) DR Smith lbw b Imran Tahir 53 BB McCullum b Morris 60 SK Raina* c Nair b Morris 2 KD Karthik† c Duminy b Imran Tahir 19 RA Jadeja c †de Kock b Duminy 4 Ishan Kishan c Duminy b Imran Tahir 2 DJ Bravo not out 7 JP Faulkner not out 22 3 Extras: (lb-2, w-1) Total: (6 wickets; 20 overs) 172 Fall of wickets: 1-112 (Smith, 10.4 ov), 2-116 (McCullum, 11.2 ov), 3-117 (Raina, 11.6 ov), 4-130 (Jadeja, 14.3 ov), 5-142 (Ishan Kishan, 16.4 ov), 6-142 (Karthik, 16.5 ov) Bowling: Z Khan 4-0-48-0, S Nadeem 4-0-32-0, CH Morris 4-0-35-2 (1-w), A Mishra 3-0-27-0, Imran Tahir 4-024-3, JP Duminy 1-0-4-1

Delhi Daredevils innings (target: 173 runs from 20 overs) Q de Kock† c Raina b Kulkarni 5 SV Samson c Faulkner b Kulkarni 1 KK Nair c Tambe b Kulkarni 9 JP Duminy c & b Bravo 48 RR Pant c Kumar b Faulkner 20 CH Morris not out 82 P Negi not out 3 3 Extras: (lb-2, w-1) Total: (5 wickets; 20 overs) 171 Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Samson, 1.3 ov), 2-12 (de Kock, 3.4 ov), 3-16 (Nair, 3.6 ov), 4-57 (Pant, 10.4 ov), 5-144 (Duminy, 17.1 ov) Bowling: Kumar 4-0-13-0, DS Kulkarni 4-1-19-3, DJ Bravo 4-0-40-1 (1-w), SK Raina 2-017-0, DR Smith 2-0-26-0, JP Faulkner 2-0-23-1, RA Jadeja 1-0-14-0, PV Tambe 1-0-17-0

Hosting CBC vital for basketball Floodlights, Upper Corentyne development, says Hinds square off Saturday night

P

resident of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, strongly believes that hosting the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Under-16 Male and Female championships in July will be a significant boosts for Guyana’s basketball.

Speaking to media on Saturday after to the final of the Road to Mecca III championships at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Hinds said, “We look forward to the CBC championship in July and the match is before cabinet for a final pronouncement, as we already received a provisional approval and that is something that will be a major fillip or boost for basketball.”

He added, “It’s really the most important event we

Nigel Hinds

would have had in the last 10-15 years in Guyana because now we will be penetrating into the source of what is the catalyst for basketball development in Guyana by getting to the youths and students in the schools, so it is very important we have the CBC cham-

pionship.”

Back in March, Guyana won the bid to host the championships, which are slated for July 2-9. The budget for hosting the event is pitted at G$60 million.

The CBC is a sub-zone of FIBA (The International Basketball Federation) and Hinds explained that the President of that body is scheduled to arrive soon in Guyana and is hoping for the final approval.

“We have the CBC President coming on the 27th of April along with CBC executive to do a site inspection, so we need a pronouncement as soon as possible,” Hinds said.

The CBC U-16 championships will qualify three teams to the 2017 Cento Basketball Under-17 Men and Women’s championships.

G

uyana Softball Cup 4, New York Independence Cup 2015, and Florida Cup 2016 Masters Softball champions, Floodlights, will take on a strong Upper Corentyne team on Saturday evening at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground in Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown.

The 20/20 match will be a hardball affair and will start at 18:30h. Admission is free and there will be live entertainment, and lots to eat and drink at the ground. Trophies are sponsored by Ramesh Sunich, Managing Director of the Trophy Stall at the Bourda Market and City Mall.

Floodlights squad reads: Ricky Deonarain (Captain), Anil Beharry, Reyaz Hussein, Khalid Baksh, Wayne Jones, Lalta Gainda, Surendra Nauth, Rakesh

Ricky Deonarain

Anil Beharry

Arjune, Patrick Khan, Lloyd Rooplall, Romeo Deonarain, Richard Persaud, Rahaman Khan, Ramo Malone and Steve Naraine. The Manager is Jailall Deodass.

The Upper Corentyne squad reads: Omesh Khemraj (Captain), Naeem Yacoob, Lakeram

Latchman, Permashwar Chatterpaul, Totaram Persaud, Rayan Yacoob, Naresh Deo, Chris Bollers, Tameshwar Ramoutar, Thameshwar Kumar, Abdulla Ajib and Davanand Chatterpaul. The Manager is Niran Yacob.

20

guyana-times.com

thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

GCB/Hand-In-Hand, U-19, Inter-County 50-Over…

Paul’s ton rockets Essequibo to win W

est Indies Under-19 all-rounder Keemo Paul smashed an unbeaten 156 from 120 balls to pilot Essequibo to a comfortable 56-run win over the Select Under-17s in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) sponsored Hand-inHand Insurance Company Under-19, one-day cricket tournament on Wednesday at the Everest Cricket Club ground.

Paul featured in an eighth wicket stand of 157 with Leslie Adams, a partnership which last just 15.2 overs.

Such was Paul’s dominance that he accounted for a whopping 140 runs in the partnership, which was the backbone of Essequibo’s 2318 in 44 overs.

In response, the Under17s reached 175 all out at the end of 42 overs, as Joshua Persaud with yet another classy innings of 58 and Sachin Singh (39) topped the scores.

Off-spinner Looknauth Chinkoo, with 3-19 from nine miserly overs, led the bowling for Essequibo, while Akini Adams (2-23) and Reaz Khan (2-30) were the other successful bowlers.

The boys from the Cinderella County won the

Keemo Paul receives his Man-of-the-Match award from Match Referee Reon King

toss, but the decision to bat first backfired, as they were reduced to 74-8.

However, the right-handed Paul played a lone destructive hand, hitting 15 sixes and eight fours in his innings.

Paul was dropped on 82, but later reached his hundred with three consecutive sixes; the landmark coming off 105 balls.

The 18-year-old stepped up the run rate further and soon completed his 150 off 119 deliveries.

Tameshwar Motieram with 3-21 and left-arm spinner Ashmead Nedd (2-15)

Boland replaces injured Hastings for West Indies tri-series A ustralia’s emerging fast bowler Scott Boland has replaced fellow injured all-rounder John Hastings in the oneday squad for the upcoming West Indies tri-series, which also features South Africa.

Hastings was ruled out of the series with an ankle injury sustained in the Indian Premier League earlier this month.

Reflecting on the injury, Cricket Australia’s sports medicine manager Alex Kountouris said that Hastings underwent arthroscopic surgery and that he now requires a period of rest to resolve the bone stress and recover from surgery before he will resume bowling, news.com.au reported.

Boland, who made his debut last summer against India in Perth, has played six one-day internationals till now.

Hastings had dislocated his left shoulder three times

were the wicket takers for the Under-17s.

The tournament will continue on Friday with Demerara playing the Under17s at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Berbice tackling Essequibo at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC).

Iraq blasts 21-ball century in Tobago

A

n amazing batting feat was achieved last weekend, as Tobago batsman Iraq Thomas slammed a century of just 21 balls in the Tobago Cricket Association’s (TCA) T20 tournament at Louis D’or.

The 23-year old Thomas turned out on Sunday to play two matches for his club Scarborough/Mason Hall in the top flight of the TCA competition. In the first match he slammed 97 of 53 balls against Charlotteville, but the action was really in the second encounter of the afternoon, when he slammed what is surely a record in domestic cricket.

Batting first, Speyside made 151-7 off 20 overs.

This looked a good score until Thomas and F. Tyson took to the crease to chase the target. After eight overs, the fans were leaving the venue, as the match was over.

In an amazing display of power-hitting, Thomas reached his century of just 21 balls and ended with an unbeaten 131 of 31 balls with 15 sixes and five fours.

Iraq Thomas goes through the off-side during his destructive innings

Speaking about the feat, the former T&T U-13 player, said, “I was just very happy to reach my first T20 century. I have played cricket for a while and to get this century in the

shortest format left me very happy. I played for Queen’s Park in Trinidad, so coming into this tournament I had some good experience having played at that level in Trinidad.” (www.windiescricket.com)

‘I’m not accepted in Britain because I’m a Gypsy’ T

Tyson Fury: “I’m going to where millionaires are welcome. And I’m a millionaire now.”

yson Fury says he will move to the United States after his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, because he believes he is not accepted in Britain.

Heavyweight world champion Fury fights Klitschko again on July 9, having beaten the Ukrainian in November.

“I’m not accepted in Britain because I’m a Gypsy and that will never change,” said Fury, 27.

The WBA and WBO title-holder added: “The Klitschko fight will be my last in Britain - get past him and I’m away.”

Manchester fighter Fury has previously spoken about the online abuse he receives for being part of the Traveller community.

“This country has been waiting for me for 120 years but when I finally arrived, people called me a bum,” he said. “So I’m moving to America, where

champions are appreciated.

“I made the decision last week to move to Los Angeles, where they admire success and big talking. I was made for America.

“I’m going to where millionaires are welcome. And I’m a millionaire now.

“Every Brit that wants to make it in life has to go to America. If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.”

Fury, who is undefeated in 25 professional fights, stunned the boxing world by outpointing Klitschko, who had not been beaten for 11 years, in Dusseldorf.

But his comments on homosexuality, paedophilia and women saw more than 100,000 people sign an online petition in an attempt to get him removed from the BBC’s 2015 Sports Personality of the Year shortlist.

Fury apologised at the award ceremony last December. (BBC Sport)

Gayle back in India after birth of daughter Blush

V Scott Boland

prior to Christmas, all in a freak training mishaps, but opted not to undergo surgery to continue playing and push on for the World Twenty20 and IPL. He flew home from the IPL earlier this month after sustaining the injury to his left ankle while warming up for a match for Kolkata Knight Riders. (www.newsx.com)

irat Kohli, who is leading Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing IPL, has maintained to be in great form on and off the field.

The Bangalore skipper was seen shaking a leg on the dance floor with his teammates last night in a Party.

Kolhi was in full party mood and the person who accompanied him was none other than Chris Gayle, who recently became father to a baby girl Blush.

(www.indianexpress.com)

Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle taking a jig

21

sports

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W

est Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor has been drafted to replace the injured Lasith Malinga for Indian Premier League (IPL) team Mumbai Indians.

The move follows reports last week that Malinga would be sidelined for the rest of the tournament after aggravating a bone bruise in his left knee.

The 31-year-old Taylor was recently a part of an ICC World T20 triumph for the West Indies, but only featured in the first match against England.

The player also has previous IPL experience having played for the Kings XI

Jerome Taylor had two previous stints in the IPL

Punjab and now-defunct Pune Warriors India.

Rohit SharmaThe led Mumbai are current-

ly fifth in the points table with three wins from seven games they have played so far. (Digicel Sportsmax)

“Publish my drug test results” – Nadal W

orld number five Rafael Nadal has invited the International Tennis Federation to publish the results of all of his drugs tests.

The Spaniard is suing former French government minister Roselyne Bachelot, who accused him of doping.

In a letter to the ITF, he said people should not “speak without evidence”.

The 29-year-old added: “Please make all my information public, my biological passport and my complete history of anti-doping tests.”

On receipt of the letter, the ITF said the 14-time Grand Slam champion has never failed a drugs test and is free to make public his anti-doping records, to which he has full access.

Nadal also asked the ITF to communicate all future occasions on which he is tested and the results, as soon as they are ready.

Earlier this year, wom-

Rafael Nadal has won 14 Grand Slam titles

en’s world number nine Maria Sharapova admitted to testing positive for meldonium at this year’s Australian Open.

The Russian is serving a provisional suspension and faces a lengthy ban.

British number one Andy Murray told the Mail on Sunday this month he had been suspicious of some opponents who “don’t seem to be getting tired”.

The issue of full disclo-

sure of athletes’ anti-doping results has proved controversial in other sports.

British Athletics warned past and present athletes against allowing their blood data to be revealed, warning results could be “misinterpreted”.

However, several athletes - including distance runners Mo Farah and Jo Pavey - have said results should be made public. (BBC

Sport)

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aul Niguez’s sublime solo goal put Atletico Madrid in control of their Champions League semifinal against German giants Bayern Munich.

Niguez jinked past a clutch of Bayern defenders before curling into the corner, giving the home side a narrow first-leg lead to take to Germany.

Bayern dominated the second half, David Alaba hitting the bar from 35 yards and Arturo Vidal’s strike forcing a save.

Fernando Torres poked against the post in a rare counter as Atletico held on.

The teams will meet at Bayern’s Allianz Arena on Tuesday to decide who will meet Manchester

Niguez has scored nine goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Atletico midfielder

City or Real Madrid in the final on May 28.

However, both teams continue the pursuit of their domestic league titles this weekend.

Second-placed Atletico, who are level on points with lead-

ers Barcelona, host lowly Rayo Vallecano as they bid for a second La Liga title in three seasons.

Bundesliga champions-elect Bayern also play on Saturday when they host fifth-placed Borussia Monchengladbach. (BBC Sport)

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

GFF/Stag Elite League…

18-member Guyana relay team Conquerors storm back off to Penn Relay beat Monedderlust championships R

– decries lack of support from Government

A

18-member relay squad from Guyana, comprising athletes from the Fort Wellington Secondary School, arrived in the United States on Wednesday to participate in the annual Penn Relay championships, scheduled for this weekend.

Although the team originates from Guyana, it has reportedly received no support from the government of Guyana, but rather a Jamaica alumni association from the United States, through former Guyanese runner, Tanya Barry.

This was revealed by manager of the team, Keisha Burnette, who travelled with the team.

Upon arriving at the JFK International Airport on Wednesday, Burnette unequivocally expressed gratitude to Fly Jamaica and the Jamaica alumni in the U.S., who made it possible for the team’s participation in the championships.

She noted that after a recent visit by Barry and her colleague, Mark Webster, to Guyana, they would have seen the potential of the runners and thought that they stand a chance in the competition.

Ever since, they have been in contact with the sport department within the Education Ministry, but to no avail. She explained that they took a budget to the tune of just over $4 million for the team members to travel to the U.S., but at the last minute the department informed them that they could not help.

Nevertheless, after the team was selected she said that the ministry promised to assist the children in get-

ting their visas to travel to the U.S.; this again never came through.

“They said they were going to help with the visas first and after we did the application forms for the visas and the 6th was the due date for the payment for the visas.

They called us the 5th and say they can’t help us because we received a private letter from Pennslyvania and they say the letter was supposed to be addressed directly to the department of sports, but it came to us from Ms Tanya,” Burnette explained.

This she added was devastating news, but they did not give up. They managed to raise the money to pay for the visa applications, but were also promised by the ministry that after they secured the visas, it will assist with airfares.

“When we get it they say we not registered with the AAG (Athletics Association of Guyana), hence we went there. We got a letter and took it [to] Christopher Jones, but he told us that they can only buy tickets for two athletes out of 18,” Burnette revealed.

After being told that, they approached Fly Jamaica on Tuesday and met with Roxanne Reece, who immediately assisted.

Although the team is in the U.S., it still needs help with transportation from New York to Philadelphia and some additional miscellaneous expenses.

Upon hearing the plight of the team, Roraima Airways Chairman, Gerry Gouveia, as well as Dynamic International Airways extended their support.

ishawn Saniford and Jahall Greaves both scored for Fruta Conquerors to wipe out an early second half onegoal deficit and lead Fruta Conquerors to a 2-1 triumph over Monedderlust in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Stag Elite League on Tuesday evening at the GDF ground.

Fruta Conquerors dominated possession early in the game, creating a lot of chances, but failed to find a way past the Monedderlust keeper, who had an exceptional first half, producing a number of saves to keep the score at 0-0 heading into the half.

Monedderlust slowly started working their way into the game after maintaining a good spell of possession early in the second period, which eventually led to Kevin Cottoy finding the back of the net in the 51st minute. With the Conquerors keeper off his line, Cottoy netted a cheeky chip-shot over his head.

As the second half went on Conquerors started to press forward, looking for an equaliser.

The atmosphere of the game would completely change in the 72nd minute

Jahall Greaves (left) and Rishawn Sandiford were on target for Fruta Conquerors

when the linesman awarded a controversial goal to Conquerors.

Conquerors players appealed to the linesman that the Monedderlust keeper had caught the ball after it had already crossed the goal line following a shot from Jahall Greaves. The assistant referee, who seemed to have a clear view of the keeper’s position, awarded the goal to make it 1-1.

A Monedderlust side, who appeared to be distraught since the equaliser, started pressing forward seeking a winner, but con-

tinued to carelessly give up possession in the final third, leaving gaps in the defense, which Conquerors would capitalise on during their counter attack.

A free-kick was awarded to Conquerors in the 76th minute, after a Monedderlust defender made a clumsy challenge on the Conquerors attacker.

Saniford stepped up to take the free-kick, and after lining up his shot, he struck a Beckham-like free-kick over the defensive wall past the Monedderlust keeper to give his side a 2-1 lead with

to

less than quarter of an hour to play.

Fruta Conquerors would close out the second half holding a strong defensive line to protect their advantage and seal a 2-1 comeback victory. The Conquerors are currently second in the table with 28 points and trail Slingers FC by only three points in the closing stages of the league. Monedderlust sit on six points and are seventh in the standings.

In the second game of the double-header, Slingers FC were held to a 1-1 draw against Alpha United. It was the first result other than a win for Slingerz FC in their last 10 games. Despite the draw, they remain on top of the table with 31 points, while Alpha United, on 21 points, remain in third spot.

Goals from the encounter came from Andrew Murray in the 48th for Alpha United and Tishard Joseph for Slingers FC in the 57th.

Acton will continue on Friday at the GDF ground, with another double-header, which will see Alpha United battling GDF at 18:30h, followed by a clash of the top two teams on the table, Slingerz FC and Fruta Conquerors.

STAG/EBFA Senior League…

Mocha Champs trounce Agricola Red Triangle

M

ocha Champs upset Agricola Red Triangle 5-2 when the two teams collided on Sunday afternoon last at the Grove Playfield as the STAG sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Senior League continued.

The opening match did not come off as Diamond United gifted a walkover to Soesdyke Falcons, who moved into the third place on nine points with a third win, trailing leaders Grove Hi Tech (12) and Herstelling Raiders (10), all completing five matches in the seven-team/one round league.

By the end of the first half, the Mocha lads were well on their way to upsetting Agricola with three goals already in the back of the nets. Tyshawn Forris, after the first half hour saw neck and neck exchanges, broke the deadlock in the 35th minute.

This was the exact opening that the Mocha boys were waiting for as one minute after taking the lead; it was doubled- Forris again doing the honours of rocking the nets to complete his double. Before the break, Andell Anthony gave Agricola an indication of what was to come when he scored Mocha’s third goal in the 40th minute.

Picking up from where they left off in the first half, Mocha were back into goal scoring stride in the 52nd minute when Anthony found the back of the nets for his second strike to

Andell Anthony (left) and Tyshawn Forris of Mocha Champs

make it 4-0 in favour of Mocha.

Ten minutes later the score read Mocha 5 Agricola 0, Anthony completing his hat-trick. The Agricola lads, who lost their previous match to Herstelling looked a shadow of themselves and not fully recovered from the Hestelling loss.

However, they were able to pull back a couple of goals during a late surge and even missed a penalty

which could have further reduced the deficit. Brian Prince in the 66th and Egbert Nedd one minute later were the only players to score for Agricola as Mocha walked away with full points with a 5-2 win.

Matches will continue this Sunday at the same venue when Diamond open up against Kuru Kururu Warriors at 13:30h. The second game will pit Agricola against Soesdyke Falcons.

guyana-times.com

thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

DDL on board with weekend boxing tournament

23

Woodpecker Women’s Hockey League...

Pizza Hut GCC demolish Old Fort Shooting Stars 6-0

T

he Pizza Hut GCC Ladies continued their onslaught of the opposition in the inaugural Woodpecker Women’s Hockey League with their fixture against the Old Fort Shooting Stars on Monday at the GCC ground, Bourda.

The match began in almost identical fashion as that of the previous afternoon when GCC faced the Hikers, as GCC’s striker Kerensa Fernandes produced a bullet of a shot to give her team a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute.

Outstanding goalkeeping

from young Sarafina Phillips in the goal for Old Fort managed to keep the GCC army at bay, despite several shots on goal.

Old Fort’s Shonnette Freeman defended relentlessly and Minsodia Culpepper provided the occasional offensive spark, but GCC tightened their grip of the game when Sonia Jardine scored in the 21st minute and Sandy Roopnarine three minutes later.

A brace of goals from veteran midfielder Tricia Fiedtkou and a single from

striker Gabriella Xavier rounded out GCC’s six unanswered goals for the match.

The 6-0 victory catapults Pizza Hut GCC further ahead of the field in the league with 15 points. The Hikers remain in second place with six points. The Under-21s are currently third with three points, while the Old Fort Shooting Stars are yet to secure points.

Matches will continue this weekend at the St Stanislaus College ground with the National Under-21s opposing the Hikers at 16:00h.

BCB/NYBG 2-day U-19 cricket…

Kempadoo’s century leads Port Mourant to innings win over Whim GBA President Steve Ninvalle (second left) receives DDL’s support package from Pepsi Brand Manager, Larry Wills, in the presence of local coaches Sebert Blake (left) and Terrence Poole (Paul Vanvield photo)

D

emerara Distillers Limited (DDL), through its Pepsi soft drink and Gatorade brands, has endorsed the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), who will host this weekend’s International/Caribbean Schoolboys, Junior, Youth and Female boxing tournament at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Pepsi Brand Manager, Larry Wills, said DDL is proud to partner with the GBA for the upcoming tour-

nament. Wills stated that he is pleased with the level of professionalism displayed by the country’s young boxers and sees this tournament as a great stepping stone.

“It should be noted that this tournament will give great exposure to the local boxers who will be competing against regional opponents. At DDL, we are very happy to be associated with a tournament like this which provides gainful en-

gagement for our young people who are the core of the Pepsi fan base,” Wills highlighted.

Wills further stated that Gatorade and Diamond Mineral Water will be readily available to keep all of the boxers hydrated throughout the tournament, which will feature boxers from Guyana, Jamaica and St Lucia.

Action will get underway at 18:00h on both days, with over two dozen bouts guaranteed.

GLTA to elect office bearers today – McCalman to demit office after two-term limit

N

ominations have been received for the executive posts of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) in preparation for the body to host its rescheduled Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections of office bearers today at 17:30h at the Georgetown Cricket Club.

Incumbent President Grace McCalman will be ineligible to run for another term, given the organisation’s two-term constitutional limitations. McCalman has embraced this position in a bid to continue to harness new professionals to create opportunities for new ideas as she urges local tennis veterans who can provide guidance to come forth and support the executive of the day.

In this regard, she has extended greatest appreciation to Samuel Barakat, Ramesh Seebarran, Harry Panday, Dr Steve Surujbally, Rudy Grant, John Tracey and overseas-based Brian Fung, Dr Arthur Hazelwood and Bill Adams for their unwavering support during her tenure and hopes for this interest to continue.

Grace McCalman

“With the change in administration, we have made progress in certain critical areas as we aim to provide the best environment to attract sponsors and for players to reach their fullest potential.” she said.

McCalman added, “We have always had great local talent and within my tenure I have enjoyed a period of great improvement among the younger juniors through extra practice time granted at the GBTI tennis courts and now they have come out of the woodworks and are

challenging our top players”. She gave high praises to the active members of her current executive, whom she describes as having been patient in their quest for better facilities to provide more on court practice and off court exercises in mental fortitude.

These will form the foundation for players to make a greater impact regionally, she indicated. More significantly, she congratulated the active tennis clubs who have limited shared playtime at the public facilities, but continue to attract new players and develop their trainnig programmes.

Meanwhile, nominations were drawn from the five active tennis clubs- Le Ressouvenir, Sheltez, Rebel, Roraima and Non-Pariel for the executive positions of President(1), 1st VicePresident (1), 2nd VicePresident (1), Treasurer (1), Secretary (1), and Committee Member (4).

Other positions that require volunteers are Assistant Secretary Treasurer (1), Public Relations Officer (1), and Assistant Public Relations Officer (1).

A

classy century from Ezekiel Kempadoo helped his team Port Mourant Cricket Club to a massive innings and 205run victory over neighbours Whim in the New York Business Group (NYGB) two-innings Under-19 cricket competition, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and sponsored through Albion Cricket Club.

Batting first after winning the toss at the Whim ground, Port Mourant amassed 270-7 wickets de-

Ezekiel Kempadoo

clared with Kempadoo scoring an unbeaten 102. He got

support from Veramootoo Senwasane with 44, Jamar Lancaster 31 and Vivekanand Jagjit 29.

Bowling for Whim, M Charran took 3-122. In reply, the host was bundled out for an embarrassing 65 with Charran and N Deonarine offering any resistance with 25 and 23 respectively.

Bowling for Port Mourant, Kevin Latiff took 3-14 and Emanuel Seecharran 2-24.

Forced to follow on, Whim failed to begin their second innings, thus forfeiting the game.

thursDAY, APRIL 28, 2016

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

Roraima Airways Chairman, Gerry Gouveia (right), with members of the Guyana team

18-member Guyana relay team off to Penn Relay championships – decries lack of support from Government GFF/Stag Elite League…

Conquerors storm back to beat Monedderlust Pg 22

A Slingerz FC player controls possession with two Alpha United players seeking to gain same

Pg 22

Woodpecker Women’s Hockey League...

Pizza Hut GCC demolish Old Fort Shooting Stars 6-0 Pg 23

Part of the action between GCC (white tops) and Old Fort

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