Guyana Times Daily

Solar-powered bus sheds for Agricola, 5 other locations P2

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

Issue No. 3087

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Govt railroads Opposition to hike licensing fees, penalties, fines Page 3

PPP to elect new GS, Executive Committee today

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

US company buys 320 P2 acres local land for gold exploration Driver found P8 guilty of causing death of rugby player

Page 10

Region 2 flooding

Flood relief efforts underway Pages 12&16

Page 7

No decision yet on future of sugar P10 industry – Govt

128 persons killed on Guyana’s roadways P7 in 2016

… serious crime down by 16% – Police

January 12 decleared Chinese P17 Arrival Day

…as rice lands remain under threat in Region 5

Bartica massacre trial

Drug procurement findings

Caribbean Medical Supplies should face criminal charges – report Page 9

Gang member continues P17 testimony

2 news

saturDAY, january 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

US company buys Solar-powered bus sheds for Agricola, 5 other locations 320 acres local I land for gold exploration

Ensurge has completed the purchase of a 320 acre island property near the mouth of the Cuyuni River

U

nited States mining company Ensurge has completed the purchase of a 320 acre island property near the mouth of the Cuyuni River, in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The property is located within a gold producing area. Multiple water dredges have operated adjacent to this property for several years.

As part of the Oko mining formation, the property has soil composed of white sand and dark coloured gravel.

The company has also received a prospective permit from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for this project.

Ensurge CEO Clint Mishleau is quoted by mining-technology.com as saying, “Throughout most of 2016, we had concentrated our efforts on acquiring gold, diamond, and rare earth element properties for our portfolio. In 2017, we are focusing on further develop-

ment and exploitation of the properties that we have acquired.”

“We have contracted a geologist to begin the initial testing phase and look forward to developing an execution plan on this prospect,” he noted.

“This island gold property shows promising attributes, and is very close in proximity to the mining town of Bartica, which minimises logistic costs...”

Recently, Ensurge has paid for multiple 43-101 reports on properties that it owns and operates.

The company also claimed that it has made progress on its audit and plans to file its SEC Form (Securities and Exchange Commission) within the first quarter of this year.

With more than 20 years’ experience in mining, Ensurge plans to expand its operations in Guyana. It is also exploring different opportunities in precious metals, diamonds and gems.

n an effort to “green” the economy, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) will be injecting its $1 billion budgetary allocation into a series of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in 2017.

One such project is the construction of solar-powered bus sheds at specific locations across the country.

According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GEA, Mahender Sharma, six such structures will be constructed and equipped with Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lights, as well as charging ports for mobile devices.

In fact, he disclosed that one of the bus sheds will be installed shortly at Agricola, Greater Georgetown, so that lights on the Independence Arch there can be powered by solar energy.

“We are going to do some enhanced lighting (on the Agricola Independence Arch) and the power for that will come from solar; so we incorporated a bus shed to house the panels and also provide a social good,” he explained.

Moving forward under the “green initiative”, Sharma outlined that among the energy efficiency programmes the GEA will be embarking on in the New Year is the replacement of inefficient lights and the installation of 10,427 LED lamps and 3766 occupancy sensors in Government buildings, as well as 360 energy efficient outdoor/street lights.

He pointed out that this intervention will result not only in an annual cost savings of about $54 million, but also environmental benefits such as an annual energy savings of 0.93GWh or 600 barrels of oil equivalent and the avoided carbon dioxide emissions of 558 tonnes per year.

On the other hand, the GEA Head noted that the Agency will be partnering with the Public

Infrastructure Ministry to replace some 5000 street lamps with LED versions.

This, he noted ,will reap a $158 million savings with a simple payback of less than two years.

According to Sharma, efforts will continue to deploy energy efficient lighting technologies with the installation of 20 solar-powered street lights at Agatash, Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and 100 energy efficient LED street lights at Timehri base road, East Bank Demerara. He added too that some 600 photo sensors will be procured to replace defective units on existing street lights.

“These sensors, when they get damaged they leave

An artist's impression of the solar-powered bus shed that will power the Agricola Independence Arch

od of 1.07 years. Additionally eight solar-powered street lights were also installed to determine applicability on a national scale.

Furthermore, the GEA Head disclosed that with additional funds secured in October 2016 under the renewable energy and ener-

GEA workers installing energy efficient LED street lamps last year

the street lights on during the day. Every street lights that are left on for that additional 12 hours costs us about $60,000 annually per light,” he noted.

Meanwhile, looking back over the past year, Sharma outlined that GEA has replaced some 65 inefficient street lamps (rated at 250 watts each) with energy efficient LED lamps, rated at 100 watts, and with an estimated lifespan of 15 years.

This, he noted, will reduce the annual energy consumption by about 42MWh thus saving $2.8 million per year with a simple payback peri-

gy efficiency programmes, the Agency has commenced the installation of 98.5kW of grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems at schools and public buildings.

Such an investment is expected to save about 136 MWh of energy, as well as about $9 million in electricity charges and avoid about 82 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

He went on to say that the GEA has completed Energy Consumption Assessments of 22 buildings and effected energy efficient lighting change-outs and installation

of occupancy sensors at six schools.

This installation of 782 lights and 317 occupancy sensors in the schools is expected to save over 35MWh of energy and over $2.44 million annually, along with a simple payback of 1.3 years, he outlined.

Moreover, Sharma said the Agency partnered with the Education Ministry to rehabilitate some 4150 watts of photovoltaic systems to facilitate resumption of the IRI programmes and lighting at several hinterland schools including Moraikobai Primary, 58-Miles Primary, Dredge Creek Primary, Martindale Primary, Kartabo Point Primary, Hackney Primary and Abrams Creek Primary.

Also, he noted that the GEA’s engineers repaired and re-operationalised biodigesters at Kwakwani Secondary School and a farm in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

With funding from Canadian International Development Agency and Latin American Energy Organisation , the GEA Head pointed out that the villages of Powaikoru, Region One (Barima-Waini); Moraikobai, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); and Shulinab, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) received solar powered freezers, solar PV panels, solar dryers, solar water heaters and energy efficient cook stoves to enhance and accelerate the productivity of livelihood activities.

news

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saturDAY, january 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Saturday, January 7 – 12:00h-13:30h and Sunday, January 8 – a night retraction at 01:30h and 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, January 7 – 11:20h-12:50h and Sunday, January 8 – 12:30h-14:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thunder storms with light rain showers can be expected in the morning, heavy to light rainfall can be expected in the afternoon. Partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures are ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to Easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 11:54h reaching a maximum height of 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 05:20h and 18:00h reaching a minimum height of 0.86 metre and 0.80 metre respectively.

Govt railroads Opposition to hike licensing fees, penalties, fines

G

overnment on Friday again used its majority in the National Assembly to railroad the political Opposition which obstinately objected to the several thousand-fold increase in a range of taxes, penalties and fees.

Successfully piloted by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, the Miscellaneous Licences (Amendment) Bill, which was first presented to the House at the end of last year and gives effect to several of the Budget measures that were announced.

It will, however, according to the political Opposition, lead to the further impoverishing of Guyanese people, serve as an incentive for corruption and have a deleterious effect on small businesses and entrepreneurs.

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PPP MP Yvonne Pearson

1958 – last hike

Minister Jordan, in presenting his rebuttal arguments in the debate, told the House that the fees were in fact last hiked in 1958 and at the time a $75 fine was in fact prohibitive.

Jordan told the House that 60 years ago the fine was not only prohibitive but also served to act as a deterrent since if a person was caught breaching any of the provisions−such as the requirement for a dray cart licence −“you get punished”.

Jordan conceded that the hikes in the various fees, licences and penalties could be deemed humongous by some, but it was just a play on statistics.

The Finance Minister was of the view “you could make magic with statistics” even as he argued that the new fines despite their thousand-fold increase were still within the realm and the ex-

PPP MP Collin Croal

isting fees “mean nothing”.

He was at the time responding to members of the political Opposition which had objected to the Bill in its current form on the basis of the draconian increases that were proposed−the lowest increase being in the vicinity of 3000 per cent.

Jordan in defence of the steep increases in fees said that the next time around the Government would listen to the Opposition and incrementally increase the fees, but given the extended hiatus of some 60 years since the last time they were raised, the precipitous increases were warranted at this time.

He used the occasion of his rebuttal to also take an unveiled swipe at the political Opposition’s arguments, calling them “unbelievable”, since there appeared to be “great sympathy for tax cheats, tax dodgers, unlawful behaviour and so on”.

This, he said, was evident in the presentations of the Opposition speakers.

Draconian

Wrapping up the Opposition’s arguments against the proposed increases, former Permanent Secretary of the then Local Government Ministry, Collin Croal, told the House that his Party was in no

way opposed to an increase in fees, but rather the steep draconian levels to which the fees are being raised.

He appealed to no avail to have Government reconsider the proposal. His Party also failed to sway Government members when it called for a division of votes but lost, given the majority held in the House by the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration.

Croal was adamant that any right-thinking Guyanese would be opposed to such a steep increase in fees, calling the amendments nothing but a case of extracting wealth from poor Guyanese and putting it into the hands of the Government.

Government, he said, intends to tax and penalise Guyanese into poverty, adding that the draconian increases make little economic or financial sense and would “only accomplish the draining [of] the blood of the poor Guyanese and putting them further in destitution”.

He used the occasion to query too what was Government’s plan to educate the nation on the range of increases since many could find themselves in breach owing to ignorance of the many changes.

Croal posited too that while there has been much said by the Finance Minister with regard to the lengthy delay since the last increase was effected, the hiatus was in fact testimony to the prudent management of the economy under the past Administration.

He said this was the case, since even without the increase in fees, penalties and fines, the Guyana econ-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

omy was in fact performing positively.

“The fact that under the PPP Government you would not have had to touch increases here and the economy was doing so well shows the prudent management under the PPP,” said Croal, as he reiterated the objections to the level of increases being foisted on the nation by Government and not necessarily the need for an increase.

Disposable income

He told the House that there could be an argument had to increase the fees from their current level, but any such increase must be done gradually, noting that the APNU/AFC Administration has introduced some 47 additional taxation measures in the 2017 Budget.

The PPP Member of Parliament added that the debate sought to make the point that ever since taking office the APNU/AFC Administration has been consistently eroding the disposable income available to the average Guyanese and businesses alike.

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Saturday, January 7, 2017

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

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

Editorial

Does GCB lack structure?

L

ike 2014 and 2015, last year was a remarkable one for Guyana’s cricket at both the senior and junior levels regionally.

Led by West Indies player Leon Johnson, Guyana Jaguars won the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/Professional Cricket League (PCL) 2015/2016 title for the second successive year while they were knocked out of the Super 50 tournament in the semifinal.

The juniors won the under-19 50 over titles for a third successive time. The U-15s and 17s finished second in their competitions.

However, the under-17 did not lose a match but was affected by rain and was short by .3 fast bowling points.

The women’s T20 and 50 over tournament which was held in Guyana was hampered by rain and the host finished fifth in the latter version.

Nevertheless, Guyana was once again outstanding in WICB tournaments as they have been since 2014.

Guyana seniors won the inaugural PCL in 2014/2015 while they finished as runners up to Trinidad and Tobago in 2015 Super 50 tournament. They won the 2015 U-15 and 19 tournaments and finished in the top three for U-17.

With the given results, one would think that Guyana cricket is currently approaching the summit or it is already there and the GCB should be praised for good administrative works which are providing these outcomes.

Yes they should be praised for the performances at the Regional level but can we honestly say Guyana is producing quality players?

Although winning is important, we are doing the former but failing at the latter. Guyana’s cricket is not feeding West Indies teams.

Since 2014/2015 Guyana has finished atop senior tournaments but has only produced one Test player (Rajendra Chandrika) while two others (Leon Johnson and Devendra Bishoo) have managed to regain selection. None of them have dominated at the international level.

At the junior level it is the same, Guyana would dominate tournaments but feed the junior West Indies team with (the most) three players, like was evident in the victorious West Indies U-19 team that played in the International Cricket Council (Youth World Cup).

Although it is important to win, Guyana’s cricket needs to produce players, who will be dominant on the international stage at the senior and junior levels.

There need to be a proper structure for cricket here, where players’ talent can be nurtured so they will be a force to reckon with regionally and internationally. For example if you look at the other Regional teams – Jamaica in recent times has produced Jermaine Blackwood for Test and Rovman Powell T20, Trinidad and Tobago – Evin Lewis for One Day Internationals while Barbados have Kraigg Braithwaite, Jason Holder, Carlos Braithwaite, Miguel Cummins and to a lesser extent Shai Hope. Those players have already shown great potential and are constantly on the lips of cricket pundits. The system in those territories is well-structured and it starts at school.

Unlike our counterparts approach, ours differ and our youth cricketers are seen by selectors mostly if not only during intercounty competitions. The Guyana under-15 team that won the WICB tournament in 2014 is a very talented unit and several players from that team once their talents are nurtured should elevate to the highest level. However, this seems far from reality as some of them already looks distant from their true ability, two years after.

The GCB National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) lacks structure. It is in its second year and there are no pre-tournament programmes at the schools, it is a knockout tournament thus there is no scope for development of players, unless the authorities remedy it. Because of its structure, if the event continues for another five years, it will be dominated by Chase Academic Foundation, the winners of the inaugural event and the team destined to win the title when the tournament ends later this year.

In the past, cricket associations or the Board used to host academies or remedial camps to keep their cricketers intact, it is no longer the case. Particularly due to court orders against most of the boards. In 2008 under the Chetram Singh administration, a Guyana under-19 remedial camp was held for approximately one month to identify talent for the July-August 2009 regional U-19 tournament.

That camp included Roger Harper and Michael Hyles.

There is a great need for such camp to earmark future talent and keep cricketers abreast with the necessary training to make them professionals.

Last year the GCB implemented the Jaguars League which to most is a good idea but that too was questioned by cricket stakeholders because of its structure and it was deemed as a watered-down version of a league.

Guyana is winning regional competitions, the Board is implementing leagues and there are other positives ongoing within the GCB but they are not producing top brand players because it could be a case of good initiatives but poor structure.

Five-month-old baby elephant Fah Jam swims during a hydrotherapy treatment as part of a lengthy rehabilitation process to heal her injured front left foot at a rehabilitation center in Pattaya, Thailand. The baby elephant was injured at three months old when she got stuck in an animal snare put up by villagers to prevent elephant intrusions in Chanthaburi province (Reuters)

APNU/AFC regime: Same old PNC paramountcy in party Dear Editor, After the massive rigging of the 1973 elections, the PNC regime in 1974, announced the position of ‘Paramountcy of the Party’, which was contained in the Declaration of Sophia.

That policy meant that to obtain a job in the public service, one had to have a PNC card. Business persons had to also join the PNC in order to conduct transactions at government offices, including Customs and Excise, etc.

As the economic situation worsened, a PNC card became an ‘important’ document in order to procure food items.

The regime controlled the executive and by rigging the elections to take two-thirds of the seats in the National Assembly, they controlled the Parliament and made it into a rubber stamp.

They also controlled the Judiciary. Judges and Magistrates fell in line and took orders from the PNC. Those that stood up to the PNC diktat were hounded out of the system.

To demonstrate their total control, the PNC had the

party’s flag flying above the Guyana flag in the Court of Appeal compound.

Today, in somewhat changed conditions, we see the PNC-led APNU/AFC regime reinstating paramountcy.

The massive dismissal of persons from the public service immediately after assuming power in May 2015 is one such more. That action smacks clearly of racial and political discrimination.

The employment of persons by the regime followed the same pattern.

Indo-Guyanese make up a tiny minority of persons employed. Clearly, PNC/ APNU’s loyalty appears to be the main criteria for employment.

The regime is also on a witch-hunt of PPP/C and suspected PPP/C supporters. Lands are being taken away from farmers, more notably on the West Berbice area.

Core homes and house lots awarded to IndoGuyanese are being repossessed by the regime. Daily, innocent people are being harassed.

Even though their own forensic audits have not shown any evidence of corruption committed by the PPP/C Government, they and their sympathetic media continue to talk about corruption.

They have even set up some bodies to investigate and prosecute ‘wrongdoers.’

This is clearly a witch-hunting operation. The APNU/ AFC is using the State apparatus to harass political opponents.

The recent action in trying to forcefully take Red House from the Management Committee of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre (CJRC) is another attempt at paramountcy of the PNC/APNU. They have carried out this blatant act, which is against the law since the CJRC has a valid lease.

The Ministry of the Presidency is now being repainted in green.

Clearly, this is a message to the people of Guyana that paramountcy is back.

The consequences are dire.

It will lead to more politi-

cal discrimination and eventually to repression. Once the people begin to protest, the regime will move to using the State’s resources to deal with them.

That is bound to happen for this regime is piling on enormous pressure on the Guyanese people. They have no long-term plans for job creation. Indeed, the country is losing jobs.

People will protest.

The regime will also move to defend its own interests. Already, indications are that many persons in the regime are piling up huge wealth. This ‘Cadillac’ lifestyle on a declining economy will lead to more and more corruption and ill-gotten wealth.

This the PNC will defend stoutly.

Our own recent history when the PNC was in power is pointing where we are going.

‘Paramountcy of the Party’ will ultimately lead to disaster.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

Is Ogunsege qualified to fill the position?

Dear Editor, I have followed the lively debate between Mr Sasenarine Singh and Mr Tacuma Ogunsege. It all started when Ogunsege implied that Sase is using similar tactics used by the PPP, implying that Sase is an operative of the PPP. Sase Singh did not take it lightly and the rest is history.

To add a new perspective to the conversation, Mr Nigel Westmaas tried to defend Ogunsege, but in the process muddied the water further.

In one of Mr Singh’s letter he asked that Mr

Ogunsege presents his qualifications to be appointed in his current job of asset recovery. Now, we are told from Mr Westmaas that Ogunsege was a well-known market vendor. Don’t get me wrong, I have known a lot of our citizens who are qualified in a particular field and could not get a job, ending up as a market vendor.

Is Westmaas telling us that Ogunsege is one such person?

Now my concern is that it appears that Ogunsege may not be qualified to fill a position that pays millions

annually. One must understand that qualification in a particular field does not mean that we can function effectively in the field without gaining the requisite skills to do the work. Ask any medical doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, or any professional how competent they were to work in their filed when they receive their diploma. We have heard stories of new professionals making serious mistakes when they start their career.

With the knowledge they acquired in their studies, observing and working along

with seasoned professionals, making decisions and then taking corrective action when necessary, along with other techniques, these professionals then gradually acquire the skill and competence to excel in their field.

Can Ogunsege give the Guyanese people a chronology of his academic and professional experience to function in his current post? A market vendor can be a good sales person and can get their customer to purchase the products they sell, but a

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saturDAY, january 7, 2017

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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

Reconciliation not possible when being subjugated by bullyism Dear Editor, National reconciliation cannot be easily expected when those in power have their jackboots on the heads of Dr Walter Rodney’s oppressed yearning to breathe free.

Editor, my letter is in response to Dr David Hinds’ letter on January 4, 2017.

Dr Hinds’ letter defines

“wrong and strong as what you have must be shared with him and if you refuse to share then you are wrong and strong.” Never mind that national patrimony is not plural entitlement in cases yet undefined or otherwise. If it were so, then the Presidency, which is a national patrimony, ought to be perpetually shared be-

cause it is Guyanese. Is my daughter not Guyanese?

Share her with whom?

Dr Hinds’ kith and kin are not likely to explain why they always demand shared Government when they are not in power, but once they occupy that same seat you never hear about shared Governance. Why no offering to share power ei-

Is the legal profession still noble in Guyana and the Region?

Dear Editor, The legal profession in Guyana has been in the news for the past week after President David Granger announced the names of nine persons, including a sitting High Court Judge and three women, to be members of the inner bar.

This is the first time in two decades that the Government has decided to award “silk” to lawyers.

There have been letters to the press, social media and discussions in clubs, bars and the like, about the method of appointment and who should or should not be elevated… whether the appointees were connected to the Administration, if they deserved it and most importantly persons who were not chosen. In the United States all lawyers are attorneys and have the same status - there is no inner bar and in 2003 an English Minister, Lord Irvine tried unsuccessfully to scrap the Queen’s Counsel system in the United Kingdom.

Guyana abolished the term “Queens Counsel” and replaced it with Senior Counsel in February 1970 when the country gained republican status and since then the elevation process to the inner bar was not too consistent and there have been complaints that persons who do not deserve “silk” were elevated and a few deserved cases were side-stepped, but we

should always remember that we do not live in a perfect world.

The Council of Legal Education (CLE) was established in 1971 following an agreement signed by the governments of Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Guyana (UG).

The first Director of the CLE was Guyanese Aubrey Frazer, who was named principal of the Norman Manley Law School, and Dr Fenton Ramsahoye as his deputy who headed the Hugh Wooding Law School.

The establishment of the law schools in the Region attracted hundreds who no longer had to journey thousands of miles to London in the bitter cold to read law and because of this, the Caribbean is now flooded with lawyers - mainly females. I will like to note that in the late 1970s and in 1980s the English trained lawyers did not recognise Caribbean trained lawyers. They snuffed at us - calling us Caricom lawyers. Now more than 90 per cent of the senior judges and top lawyers in the Region are products of the CLE. There are only two of the nine persons named in the last list as SCs that were UK trained. I refer to Claudette Singh and Vidyanand “Vish” Persaud.

The first West Indian

trained lawyer to receive “silk” was Tapley Seaton of St Kitts and Nevis, and that was in 1988, 28 years ago, who was incidentally the first Caribbean trained to be Attorney General.

Now Sir Tapley is the Governor General of the twin island state.

He is now only 66 years of age.

The legal profession was known to be a noble profession, but over the years some lawyers have been receiving battering - accused of ripping-off people, betraying clients, acting irresponsibly and object of suspicion rather giving counsel.

Perhaps I should add that the Inns of Court in London have certain ethics whereby lawyers cannot advertise their profession as their counterpart in the United States. However a West Indian trained lawyer, Israel Khan of Trinidad and Tobago, dared the authorities and carried an ad in the Trinidad Express, where in 1980 Efforts to discipline him failed, Khan argued that the CLE does not have written restriction against advertisement by lawyers. He is now a Senior Counsel and the leading criminal attorney in the twin island republic.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

ther by Federalism or joint Presidency or whatever?

What prevents the PNC-led coalition to set up their own research library for their Presidents of yesteryear?

Why this entitlement to piggyback on others?

Any expectations for national reconciliation with whom is Dr Hinds talking about, needs to be defined.

He actually means between the WPA and the PPP. Dr Hinds does not speak for the APNU/AFC coalition and had admitted so. The WPA in fact, has no power in the Coalition and we all know it. Come 2020 when the next election comes around, the WPA and all smaller parties are “dead meat”. The WPA would be unalterably and completely irrelevant. They have never held a party congress since Dr Rodney died. Now this talk about national reconciliation is spat into the air and falls to earth one knows not where. How can national reconciliation ever be tenable when 1700 sugar workers are fired unilaterally by GuySuCo’s head Dr Clive Thomas, who is also a member of the WPA? Is it just

continued fron page 4

vendor does not have to document these procedures and the results achieved. In the case of asset recovery, it is much more complex where some deals are structured in much intertwined cobwebs.

Following the trail is not always simple and easy. Are the qualification, skill and competence of Ogunsege geared towards preparing the paperwork to unravel these perceived complex transactions?

If Ogunsege cannot pro-

because he has the power to dismantle the livelihood of hundreds of Guyanese?

Let’s do national reconciliation first with our farmers and working class and reconciliation could be considered. Talk that Skeldon Sugar factory is to be sold makes no sense when the GuySuCo people have not proffered the same option for Wales and LBI. Why not? Dr Thomas is no business genius to even make a profit selling either conkey or fried plantain on the street corner. Yet like the PNC which destroyed the railway system in Guyana they are now dismantling the sugar industry with its overwhelming Indian workforce. Same mistake, same party, same thing all over again. Isn’t this revenge for not getting the Prime Ministerial post when it was offered to Dr Thomas and he declined? Sour grapes syndrome is ruling our dear land of Guyana.

“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about

To find ourselves dishonourable graves.”

(Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar) That we are underlings is because the PPP/C government screwed up the sugar industry for support to Linden and now we pay the price of our partisan negligence. Who is to be blamed? “The fault, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings. (Also Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar).

Guyana is 83,000 square miles and Buxton has lots of land aback which it can donate. What’s the fuss with Red House to house infidel propaganda? Dr Hinds calls it “wrong and strong”. He means “what you have belong to me and what I do or do not have also belongs to me because I am entitled to it… forever.” No can do sir.

National reconciliation can be expected when those in power have removed their jackboot on those who are being subjugated to be their new indentured servants.

vide to the Guyanese people his qualification and competence for this job that pays him millions annually, then this smacks as a square peg in a round hole. Not only is this fraud, but it brings into question whether Ogunsege is doing exactly what he campaigned against where incompetent persons were put in places beyond their competence.

I am confident that the newspapers will be prepared

to publish his résumé for free so that we can all see who Ogunsege really is. If the newspapers would not want to do it, then I now volunteer to pay for the space in the newspapers.

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

Happy New Year to Sase, Tacuma, Nigel and the people of Guyana.

Sincerely, Charles Sugrim

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BY MARK GREGSTON (Continued from Friday)

Apply boundaries and consequences

W

hen I was a teen, consequences for my “rebellion” usually took the form of my dad taking off his belt and whacking me. I’m not suggesting that for your teen (or for any teen). In fact, there is no need to use corporal punishment on a teenager who has the ability to reason and control their own behaviour without the sting of physical pain. However, there needs to be some “hurt” when they cross the important lines.

For instance, turn off their computer, unplug the television, take away their car keys, or ground them for a week. If you have a good relationship and you’ve clearly identified the boundaries, they’ll be expecting some form of punishment.

After all, they made the conscious decision to step over the line. Grounding them for a week can actually be a time where you can build your relationship; you can use the time to do things together. Express value to them and sorrow that they have to suffer the consequences, even as they are in the midst of experiencing it.

I sometimes say it this way, “You’re 16. I’d like to treat you that way, but if you insist on being treated like you’re 12, I will! But you won’t like it because you’ll only have the privileges of a 12-year-old.” To that end, perhaps the biggest tool in a parent’s arsenal of consequences today is taking away a cellphone. (I had a parent say, “My child doesn’t have a cell phone,” to which I replied, “Give them one so you

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

can take it away.”) That’s an amazing way to change their behaviour.

Don’t over-react or get upset.

Children change because of relationship, not due to your shaming them or your anger. Anger just shifts the attention away from their behaviour, causing them to reflect anger right back at you. Shaming them just makes them feel like there is no

The important thing to do is to differentiate between normal and abnormal. If it’s normal stuff, strengthen your boundaries and apply consequences. If your teen’s behaviour has become dark, secretive, explosive, or otherwise abnormal, it’s time that you get them in to see a counsellor. Consequences may have no effect on such a teen. As I’ve pointed out, deep rebellion usually has deep causes, and it can take a lot of digging by a trained counsellor to get to the root of it.

Restore your teen

hope o f ever pleasing you.

Instead, demonstrate y o u r love by keeping your cool and keeping to the plan for applying appropriate consequences. And never cave in or lessen the consequences. That just backfires in the end, causing you to have to apply even more severe consequences later.

I’ve worked with thousands of teenagers who have fallen short in life, but I truly believe I have never met a bad child. Most have broken just about every rule in the book.

As a result, many of them think they have messed up so bad that no one – not even their parents or God – loves them anymore.

They’ve developed a “what’s the use of trying” attitude, which has gotten them into even more trouble. That thinking needs to be turned around before they will turn around. Where could they have gotten such an idea that they are “bad” beyond repair? Could it be how you or others have responded to them?

It’s crucial that we never make our Children think they are damaged goods or black sheep. Rather we must love them unconditionally, even through the disappointments and struggles.

Think of it this way . . . instead of yelling at them for falling in a hole, it’s much more productive to lower a ladder, climb into the hole and show them the steps to get out. (cbn.com)

BY REBECCA HAMILTON, AMNA KIRMANI and DEBORA THOMPSON

W

hen you are first getting to know someone, are cues about their competence or their morality more important? Extensive research in psychology shows that when we evaluate other people or groups, we care more about morality than we do about competence. For example, psychologist Bogdan Wojciszke’s work shows that given a choice between interacting with someone who is a “sinful success” or a “virtuous failure,” most of us prefer the virtuous failure who has good intentions but is less successful. This makes sense when evaluating someone as a potential friend, romantic partner or even a co-worker.

Yet, when hiring a service provider, such as an accountant, real estate agent, or mechanic, we need this service provider to help us accomplish goals such as submitting tax forms, buying a house, or getting a car repaired. Having these goals in mind increases the importance of competence.

In new research to be published in the Journal of Marketing, we find that selfinterest drives consumers to choose more competent service providers who have engaged in immoral behaviour (such as cheating on an expense account) even though they don’t like these service providers as much as highly moral but less competent providers. This was a disappointing conclusion until we found a way to reverse the effect: consumers were more likely to choose the moral service provider when they felt empathy for them, such as when the accountant or real estate agent was described as an underdog: passionate and determined but with limited resources.

Clearly, both competence and morality are important to consumers. When we analysed Yelp.com reviews of five different types of service providers (doctors, hair stylists, house cleaners, mechanics, and masseuses), we discovered that reviewers mentioned the competence of the provider in 88 per cent of the reviews and morality in 18 per cent. Reviews

were also rated by other consumers as more useful when they mentioned competence or morality than when they mentioned other traits such as the provider’s friendliness.

How can service providers who are not as well known for their competence – perhaps because they are small companies or startups, or because they are not-for-profits – increase the likelihood that consumers choose them? One way to increase market share is to highlight their underdog status.

But, playing the underdog card does not help all companies and service providers equally. Although describing themselves as an underdog helps moral service providers overcome deficits in perceived competence, we find that it does not help more competent service providers overcome deficits in morality. In one study, modelled after the TV show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” participants earned 50 cents for each trivia question they answered correctly. They were offered two lifelines to help them: a competent lifeline with a higher success rate who had engaged in immoral behaviour – and a moral lifeline who was morally upstanding but had a lower success rate. Most participants (64 per cent) chose the competent lifeline when neither lifeline was described as an underdog. However, when the moral lifeline was an underdog “from a poor family” who has “a true passion for learning,” participants were more likely to choose the moral lifeline (73 per cent) than the competent lifeline. Using the same words to describe the competent lifeline as an underdog did not make participants more likely to choose him.

Thus, for marketers looking for consumer psychology tactics, underdog positioning is likely to be particularly effective for brands known for being moral (ie, honest, socially conscious, organic, or green). Indeed, in the marketplace we see that brands that emphasise their underdog roots, such as Nantucket Nectars, Ben and Jerry’s, Burt’s Bees and Chipotle, often seem to also play up their health, social consciousness or environmental consciousness, a successful positioning strategy for new businesses and nonprofits to consider to stand out from their larger competition. (psychologytoday.com)

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saturDAY, january 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

128 persons killed on Guyana’s 2 months after installation PPC still not ready to award roadways in 2016

… serious crime down by 16% ― Police

A

lthough crimes are being perpetuated on Guyanese on a daily basis, the Guyana Police Force in a recent issued statement revealed that serious crimes has seen a 16 per cent reduction for 2016 when compared to 2015.

The released stated that for 2016, a total of 140 murders were committed compared to 149 in 2015−a six per cent decrease. Of the 140 murders, 89 cases were solved while the remainder is still being investigated.

‘A’ Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara); ‘B’ Division (Berbice) and ‘F’ Division (Bartica-Interior Locations) recorded 29 murders each followed by 27 being committed in ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara), 21 in ‘D’ Division and 3 in ‘E’ Division (Linden/ Kwakwani).

Two murders were committed in ‘G’ Division (Essequibo).

Again, disorderly murders top the list with a whopping 54 while there

Traffic Chief Dion Moore

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum

of 224 cases of rape were recorded with a 21 per cent decrease when compared to 2015.

Finally, the Police stated that a 15 per cent decrease in burglary was recorded followed by a 19 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny. There was a 23 per cent overall clear-up in serious crimes in 2016.

The Police have also con-

19 drivers, 16 pedal cyclists, 10 passengers in minibuses, 14 occupants of motorcars and three were occupants in vans and lorries. Of the 128 fatalities, ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Divisions topped the list with 40, 30 and 31 respectively.

Speeding was the main contributor for most of the fatal accidents with 67 cases followed by inattentiveness with 26 cases and 17 cases of driving under the influence of alcohol. The month of May was deemed the most deadly on Guyana’s roadway with 18 persons having lost their lives.

However, the police also revealed that serious and minor accidents have seen a 9 and 3 percent decrease, respectively.

Finally, with respect to Police statistics, a total of 70,609 cases were made out against errant drivers.

Again topping the list was speeding with 26,266 cases.

3317 cases were made for driving under the influence of alcohol; 4665 for breach of condition of road service License/music; 4111 cases of overloaded minibuses and 3301 for failing to confirm to signs.

Other offences include using cell phone while driving, breach of traffic light, tinted motor vehicles, unlicensed driving, failing to wear seat belts, dangerous driving and others.

The Police, however, are continuing their countrywide campaign with emphasis on driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, music/ breach of Condition of Road Service License, overloaded minibuses and use of cellular photos.

One of the cars involved in the recent fatal accident on the Linden Highway

were 12 execution style murders. The Police also stated that a seven per cent decrease in gun related robberies was recorded in 2016 with 771 cases while there has been a 19 per cent decrease in armed robberies where other instruments were used with 310 cases recorded. In addition, there was a 19 per cent decrease in robberies where violence was used followed by a 7 per cent decrease in robbery with aggravation and a 9 per cent decrease in robberies where no guns or other instruments were used.

With respect to larceny from the person, the police say there was a 27 per cent reduction. Further, the Police reported that a total

firmed that a total of 109 illegal firearms seized in 2016 when compared to 115 in 2015. These include 49 pistols, 32 revolvers, 26 shotguns, 2 rifles and one Sub Machine gun. Most of the weapons were seized in ‘A’ Division and ‘F’ Division with 46 and 34 respectively.

Road deaths

Meanwhile, the traffic department has recorded 128 road deaths for 2016 with an increase of 10.3 per cent when compared to 2015 which saw 126 people being killed on Guyana’s roadway.

The 128 deaths were recorded from a total of 117 accidents.

Pedestrians topped the list with a whopping 38 followed by 23 motorcyclists,

contracts – Harmon

D

efending Cabinet’s continued role in the awarding of contracts, Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Friday said the recently established Public Procurement Commission (PPC) is not yet ready to carry out such tasks.

Last October, President David Granger installed a five-member Commission, which he, at that time, had said was to take the brunt of work off the shoulders of Government Ministers.

However, although the Commission had settled itself in, Government continues the awarding of contracts. Asked about this on Friday, Harmon said the group has indicated that it is not in the position to begin its work.

“The Public Procurement Commission indicated that sometime in January they will be ready to execute their mandate. Right now they are not ready because there are still some critical appointments to be made in the Commission and therefore the role of granting no objections of contracts remains with Cabinet,” he told the media.

President David Granger had said the PPC is an establishment mandated by Guyana’s Constitution, which seeks to ensure the fair, equitable and transparent execution and works, and procurement of goods and services, according to law.

Guyana’s Constitution stipulates that the Commission shall consist of five members who shall have expertise and experience in procurement, legal, finance and administrative matters, and that the President

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

shall appoint the members of the Commission; after such, members have been nominated by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and approved by not less than twothirds of the elected members of the National Assembly.

Among the PPC’s key functions are, according to the Procurement Act, to “Monitor and review the functioning of all procurement systems to ensure that they are in accordance with law and such policy guide-

lines as may be determined by the National Assembly; promote awareness of the rules, procedures and special requirements of the procurement process, among suppliers, constructors and public bodies; safeguard the national interest in public procurement matters, having due regard to any international obligations; monitor the performance of procurement bodes with respect to adherence to regulations and efficiency in procuring goods and services and execution of works; approve procedures for public procurement, disseminate rules and procedures for public procurement; and recommend modifications thereto to the public procurement entities.”

President Granger installed the five-member Commission after calling for it for years while sitting in the Opposition. The members are Emily Dodson, Carla Corbin, Ivor English, Nandkishore Gopaul and Sukrishnalall Pasha.

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News

saturDAY, january 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Driver found guilty of causing death of rugby player

G

rey Stewart, 40, of Lot 707 Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and a driver at a local gas company, was on Friday found guilty of causing the death of Dustin Crawford, a teenage rugby player.

Magistrate Annette Singh, who conducted the trial, informed Stewart that the evidence presented by the prosecution was found to be sufficient; and as such, he was found guilty as charged. He was remanded to prison and will return on January 24

Grey Stewart

Dead: Dustin Crawford

for sentencing.

Reports are on the day of the accident, Stewart

was driving at a fast rate and as he turned into Flour Mill Public Road, Eccles,

EBD, the vehicle trailer hit Crawford, who was thrown into the air and subsequently fell on the roadway.

After Crawford was struck, Stewart continued to drive the vehicle and one of its wheels ran over Crawford’s head. Following the accident, the court was told that Stewart fled the scene, but was later apprehended by Police who gave chase.

Crawford was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Policemen robbery suspect remanded

R

omel Bollers, the man accused of robbing two Policemen, appeared before city Magistrate Annette Singh charged for two counts of robbery.

He appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied the

charges when they were read to him.

The first charge alleged that the defendant on December 9, 2016, at East La Penitence Market, robbed Ian George of one car key and alarm valued $25,000.

The second charge al-

leged that on the same day and at the same location, and while being armed with a gun, he robbed Elvis Parkinson of one cellphone valued $165,000, one wallet valued $5000 and $20,000 in cash.

Additionally, he was charged for robbing Gray

Jordon of a cellphone valued $110,000, one wallet valued $5000 and $11,000 in cash.

According to the prosecution, the defendant was armed when he carried out the robberies.

He was remanded to prison and will be made to return on January 10.

Prisoner disrupts Linden Court proceedings

M

agistrate Clive Nurse was forced to call a recess at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, following an outburst from a prisoner who was remanded to prison.

The prisoner, Mark Langevine, is presently before the court on a charge of

breaking and entering and larceny. Prior to his outburst, the man appeared before Magistrate Nurse who indicated that he would return to court on January 24, where it would be determined whether he will be required to lead his defence or not. Clearly dissatisfied with the decision, Langevine re-

sponded that something appeared to be wrong with the proceedings and explained that he felt “victimised” by being constantly remanded. Magistrate Nurse then sought to clarify and pointed out to the defendant that he had in fact been granted bail on December 21, 2016, in relation to the matter

and that the court will now have to take a look at the evidence.

As he was being escorted to the prisoners holding cell, the man shouted loud expletives which disrupted the court’s proceedings. Such outbursts are fairly common at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

Lindener fined $27,500 for multiple traffic violations

A

Lindener, who was found guilty of three traffic offences by Magistrate Clive Nurse was on Wednesday fined a total of $27,500.

Twenty-nine-year-old Quincy Gilkes, a mechanic, appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court where the guilty verdict was handed down. He was initial-

ly charged with breach of a one way, failure to provide a driver’s licence and failure to wear a safety belt. Gilkes, who had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, apologised to the court for his actions.

Failure to pay the fine will result in an alternative sentence of two weeks imprisonment.

Modern ways…

W

…in school discipline

ith our little darlings about to return to school (and out of our hair) our Education Ministers (there’s two of them) huddled with “stakeholders” in a parley designed to improve the “deliverables” with the largest chunk of spending in the budget − $43 billion! The kids and their parents weren’t invited to the discussions so one can assume they’re either not “stakeholders” or this was above their pay grade.

Anyhow, your Eyewitness was particularly interested in the Senior Minister – Dr Roopnaraine – explaining that the new focus in the schools will be on extracurricular activities – sports, physical education and music − and “discipline”.

Evidently the Welfare Department will be strengthened to impart “modern means of carrying out discipline in schools”.

Even though he thought our challenge were “Maths and English”, your Eyewitness will pass over the extracurricular activities for now. He must confess he experiences a certain frisson whenever he sees the word “discipline” and “children” in the same sentence.

Your Eyewitness, you see dear reader, is a product of the fag end of the “spare the rod and spoil the child” philosophy in pedagogy. And he can assure you that the rod – the “wild cane, in his instance – was scarcely spared! He suspects the Senior Education Minister (SEM) – who appears to be QUITE senior – must’ve come through the education system when it wasn’t too far removed from the penal system. Both were intended to literally whip the inmates into (an obedient) state! No “education as socialisation” namby-pamby for the SEM! So we’re rather intrigued by his proposed “modern means” of instilling discipline. Maybe he has the US experience – of which he has a first-hand immersion - in mind? But he would know - after the permissive seventies when the Americans encouraged their little darlings to “be themselves”, they were discovered to actually be little devils!! Metal detectors for knives and dogs for drugs became standard school paraphernalia.

So the Americans are now gravitating to the “zero tolerance” approach: strict rules of behaviour are made very clear and after three strikes, the miscreant kid’s out like Flash! But the SEM doesn’t have to go all the way to the States to see Zero Tolerance in operation. He should just mosey over to the Swami school over on the West Coast – the one’s that’s been giving Queens College a run for its money.

But the SEM should know the key to “Zero Tolerance” on discipline is the kids must practically be guaranteed success at their exams. This way, most parents line up to enrol their little darlings and ensure they stick to the straight and narrow.

So, we’re back to the teachers, no?

…on returns

Most folks today wouldn’t remember, but there was a time when all Guyanese “recycled”: not just their soda (“sweet drinks”?) bottles, but also rum bottles - which at that time outnumbered the former! The recycling drive didn’t come from any government pushing “environmentalism”, but from the mundane fact that it was cheaper for the “beverage industry” to pay folks to return the glass bottles than buying new ones!

With the advent of plastic bottles, these cost so little, it wasn’t worth the while for manufacturers to purchase empties. And pretty soon, this practice resulted in the nonbiodegradable plastic bottles polluting the environment as it presently does – including clogging canals! But in the US, they solved the problem by mandating a 5 cents consumer deposit on beverages bottles that can be redeemed when the bottle is redeemed.

With the slogan “Don’t trash ‘em – cash ‘em!” their environmental problem is solved. But not ours where a tax was just introduced as a revenue raising measure on the manufacturer.

Expect the same pollution and the tax to be passed on to the customer!

…of thieving

In the past, fellas would resort to “choke and rob” when they were short of dough.

The latest (electric contract) scandal with the Public Infrastructure Ministry is just the modern version of “choke and rob”.

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

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saturDAY, january 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Drug procurement findings

Caribbean Medical Supplies should face criminal charges – Report

F

ollowing recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry (BoI) that was set up to probe allegations of mismanagement and malpractices within the procurement process of pharmaceuticals at the Public Health Ministry, Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Friday asserted that Government will take actions on the matter.

Speaking at the first post-Cabinet press briefing for the year, the Minister said, “The Board has made some findings and some recommendations (and) it is up to the Government, once these recommendations are laid before it, to decide on how it will proceed… (But) I want to assure you, in fact, that Government will take actions on some of these things but it is a matter

In the same breath, however, Harmon criticised the media for publishing the contents of the report before it is dealt with at the hands of Government. Local media entities got wind of the report on Thursday, which recommended among other things, that several senior officials at the Public Health Ministry be removed or fired, and ran articles on its findings the following day.

The Minister of State noted that it is unfortunate that the characters of those persons mentioned in the report are already assassinated, noting that Government will now have to have a “careful and measured response” to the recommendations made in the report.

Meanwhile, newly ap-

ing with,” she said, when asked whether she is consulting with former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton.

The BoI, led by retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Winston Cosbert, from its three weeks probe made some 21 recommendations, which it said aims “to increase transparency and improve efficiency and effectiveness in the procurement of pharmaceuticals,” at the Public Health Ministry.

The probe was triggered by allegations of staffers of the Public Health Ministry passing inside information to bidders seeking lucrative drug procurement contracts. Cosbert was tasked with looking into the allegations of unauthorised disclosure of information, mismanagement and mal-

President of Western Scientific Company Edwin Mackoon (second from right) signing a contract in Guyana (GINA photo)

which has to be first of all deliberated at the Cabinet and then decisions will be made.”

According to the Minister of State, Cabinet is scheduled to deliberate on the report submitted by the BoI at its next meeting on Tuesday.

pointed Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence told Guyana Times that she is currently looking at the report ahead of Cabinet’s next meeting.

“I have read it first and then I’ll be able to have my questions and decide who I should be speak-

practices in the procurement of pharmaceuticals at the Ministry.

Recommendations

The Bol accused a senior official of being “wilfully evasive and deceptive” during his testimony.

According to the BoI re-

Govt railroads Opposition...

Croal, like his fellow PPP/C parliamentarians, argued that the measures contained in the Miscellaneous Licences (Amendment) Bill would, in fact, be affecting the poor and small-scale entrepreneurs such as dray cart operators, butcher shop owners, hucksters and the like.

He was adamant that Government was embarking on the biggest transfer of wealth from the people to the Administration itself while creating a perverse incentive for corruption and further impoverishment.

Croal’s arguments were presented on the heels of his colleague parliamentarian Yvonne Pearson, who sought to impress on the Finance Minister and other Government representatives the impracticality of several of the provisions.

Impractical

She singled out as an example the need for a person looking to slaughter an animal for sale to first seek permission from the Police or face an exorbitant fine.

According to Pearson, in the vast hinterland regions of Guyana, this measure could very well be very impractical while placing further hardships on persons.

She spoke too to the requirements that would now obligate persons to register their canoes and carts with which they would transport goods from their farms to market, in some instances – all of which she contends will add to the hardships of the poor.

Calling the increases exorbitant and overbearing, the PPP Member of Parliament posited that under the current regime, in a matter of two years’

FROM PAGE 3

time, “who ain’t dead badly wounded and it looks like none will escape”.

The increases, she said, will be burdensome and will have negative effects on the ordinary people, and small business operators.

Vickram Bharrat, another of the PPP Members of Parliament to vehemently oppose the proposals questioned the need for such drastic increases for what some could consider trivial misdemeanours such as the requirement for dray cart and other cart operators to have their registration and visible markings or face retribution.

He argued that the Guyanese nation was already heavily overtaxed and the Government seemed to have an innate lust to simply raise revenues on the backs of the poor.

The Hydronie, Parika, East Bank Essequibo address of Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc

port, a senior official was approached by an accountant attached to the Ministry’s Materials Management Unit with proof that another employee was giving insider information to a bidder, but he failed to act on it. The BoI did not find sufficient, his explanation as to why there was no investigation into the matter or informed the subject Minister.

Moreover, the BoI recommended that Permanent

Secretaries should not be on the evaluating committee for their respective Ministries.

On the other hand, it was also recommended that Deputy Permanent Secretary Colette Adams be censured and disciplined for “breach/neglect in the performance of her duties”.

Recommendations were also made for the Finance Manager’s contract not to be renewed, as well as

the immediate firing of a staff member who leaked insider information to a Trinidadian company.

The BoI further outlined that a MOPH employee,a female employee who is the alleged insider, had admitted during her testimony that she had infact spoken to a bidder from Trinidadian pharmaceutical company, Western Scientific, which was soliciting the leaked information.

To this end, “During her testimony at the Board of Inquiry she admitted under oath that she did have a conversation with (Mr Edwin McKoon of Western Scientific), a supplier of pharmaceuticals… It is evident from the evidence that Ms Aaron was conspiring with Mr McKoon to gain insider information that obviously would have been used to his advantage over his competitors,” the report revealed.

TURN TO PAGE 13

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saturDAY, january 7, 2017

News

PPP to elect new GS, No decision yet on future Executive Committee of sugar industry – Govt today

T

he recently elected Central Committee of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will today meet at Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown, to vote for the Executive Committee.

This Committee will be the highest decisionmaking forum within the Party.

At today’s meeting, the 35-member Central Committee will vote for the Party’s new General Secretary; the Executive body, comprising of 15 members and three candidate members. These candidate members will have all rights except voting powers. Also, today the members will elect the Party’s secretaries who will form its secretariat.

The Central Committee was elected at the Party’s recently concluded 31st Congress held at Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast in December.

While the Party seeks to elect its highest deci-

sion-making body today, local observers have pointed out that this will also be an opportunity for members to discuss the youths within the Party and the new movement demanding sweeping changes, as well as the modernisation of the Party’s approach to politics.

The most important aspect of this meeting today will be the fact that those elected on the Executive Committee will wield authority in the PPP until it is successful at winning future elections.

Those elected to the 35-seat Central Committee are: Bharrat Jagdeo with 718 votes; Dr Frank Anthony with 620 votes; Gail Teixeira with 583 votes; Donald Ramotar with 570; Anil Nandlall with 548; Clement Rohee with 522; Ganga Persaud with 512; Irfaan Ali with 511 votes; Zulfikar Mustapha, with 496 votes; Shyam

Nokta with 495; Indra Chandarpal with 490; Dr Roger Luncheon with 488; Pauline Sukhai with 460; Nigel Dharamlall with 453 votes; Dr Vindiya Persaud with 439 votes; Hydar Ally with 422; and Vickram Bharrat with 408.

Also making the Central Committee cut are Dharankumar Seeraj with 393; Komal Chand with 378; Collin Croal with 360; Alister Charlie with 356; Brian Allicock with 326; Neil Kumar with 321 votes; David Armogan with 317 votes; Jennifer Westford with 304 votes; Vishwa Mahadeo with 289; Clinton Collymore with 287; Kwame McCoy with 281 votes; Dr Bheri Ramsaran with 278; Faizal Jaffaraly with 277; Majeed Hussain with 267 votes; Rickey Ramdat with 260 votes; Claire Singh with 255; Anand Persaud with 242; and Mitra Devi Ally with 230 votes.

W

hile Government has held consultative talks with the relevant agencies and stakeholders, no decision has yet been made on the future of the ailing sugar industry.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on Friday said Government was seeking to give all stakeholders and relevant agencies a fair opportunity to peruse details of documents put forward regarding the future of the industry.

The meeting, held on December 31, 2016, saw representatives from the parliamentary Opposition, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE). Also present were representatives of various estates across the country.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

that through these negotiations and consultations, we would arrive at a decision that is in the best interest of everyone”.

Harmon said the sugar industry has been in existence for over a century and many families depend on it. He said those were all factors that could not be taken lightly.

Harmon; Agriculture Minister Noel Holder; Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence; Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; Business Minister Dominic Gaskin and Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma.

The end-of-year consultations were held on the very day that sugar operations at Wales ceased.

GuySuCo’s Finance Director, Paul Bhim had explained that some 100 of 1000 workers were identified for the conversion plans and noted that ploughing of land and husbandry practices – weeding and cleaning of canals were being done. Bhim had also shut down claims of weed overgrowth at lands prepared by the Sugar Corporation, but Komal Chand acting on reports he received, noted that only 35 out of 480 acres, were levelled off.

A team from the Government, the parliamentary Opposition, GuySuCo, GAWU and NAACIE met as consultations begin to determine a way forward for the sugar industry

The meeting, according to Harmon, came out of a Cabinet decision, after they would have considered some options and found that it was in the best interest that all stakeholders be part of a meaningful process of consultation. He said Government’s side provided information relating to the state of the industry and the possible options regarding the future of GuySuCo. The information was shared with the stakeholders and it was agreed that they be given an opportunity to peruse the documents and that another meeting would be held.

“I wanted to make it clear that Government has not arrived at a decision on the matter and we expect

“So it was important that all the relevant documents be shared with the stakeholders,” he said.

The Opposition team was led by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee and included Irfaan Ali, Dharamkumar Seeraj and Juan Edghill. GAWU and NAACIE were represented by their heads, Komal Chand and Kenneth Joseph, respectively.

Representatives from the various sugar estates including Wales, Albion, Skeldon, Enmore and Uitvlugt were also present.

The Government team was led by Vice President and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan and included Minister of State, Joseph

The Wales Sugar Estate is the oldest of the country’s estates and the shutting down of sugar operations were only confirmed after the story broke in a Guyana Times report last year January.

The closure has affected over 1000 workers directly and thousands more in the Wales area and surrounding communities.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo met with the workers and their families on Wednesday last.

At that meeting, the workers expressed frustration about the uncertainly of how their future will unfold, while calling for subsidies for water and electricity to ease their burden as a result of the closure of the factory.

saturDAY, january 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Decision still to be made on GECOM Chairman – Harmon

P

resident David Granger is still to make a decision on the selection of a new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Minister of State Joseph Harmon has said.

Last week, the Head of State received the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the six persons recommended by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo; however, the nation still awaits word from the President regarding his decision.

Harmon said the process of selecting a Chairman

Surujbally that he would be resigning. Harmon insisted that a particular process must be followed in the selection process.

“If he is not satisfied that the conditions as set out in the Constitution has not been met, then the President can ask the Leader of the Opposition to come back with a fresh list. If that is done and the President is still not satisfied, he can call the Opposition Leader for more consultation. If that still does not work, then

nees proposed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

President Granger said he requested of the Opposition Leader that the CV for the six persons he has nominated to fill the post of GECOM Chairman be provided to him so he can determine their suitability in accordance to the requirements outlined in the Constitution of Guyana.

appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such Judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of the Opposition after mean-

Ramesh Dookhoo, former PSC Chairman and Army Chief Norman Mc Lean, Chartered Accountant

Rhyaan Shah

Lawrence Latchmansingh

Professor James Rose

Norman Mc Lean

Christopher Ram Ramesh Dookhoo

which is required under the Constitution, commenced following word from the current Chairman, Dr Steve

the President can select a person he deems fit for the post.”

President Granger last month had said he needed to review the qualifications and skill sets of the nomi-

Article 161 (2) states that “… the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or who has held office as a Judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in

Moruca man charged for fracturing relative’s skull A Santa Cruz, Moruca, Region One (Barima-Waini) man was granted bail when he made his appear-

Linton Daniels is accused of inflicted grievous bodily harm on his relative

ance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with unlawful wounding.

Linton Daniels, 44, of Big Canoe Bali Creek, Santa Cruz, was charged with wounding his relative Vanancio Daniels when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann

McLennan.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on November 30, 2016, he unlawfully and maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm on Vanancio Daniels.

According to the prosecution’s case, the two were both consuming alcohol when a fight ensued, during which the defen-

dant armed himself with a piece of wood and dealt the Virtual Complainant (VC) several lashes to his head.

The man sustained a fractured skull as a result of the blows. However, the prosecution revealed that he was discharged from hospital and as such the defendant was granted $75,000 bail. The case will continue on April 4.

ingful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.

Provided that if the Leader of the Opposition fails to submit a list as provided for, the President shall appoint a person who holds or has held office as a judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge.”

Those nominated by the Opposition Leader are Executive Member of the Private Sector Commission

Christopher Ram, writer Rhyaan Shah, Professor James Rose and human rights and conflict resolution consultant Lawrence Latchmansingh.

Mc Lean served as a member of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration. He was also Commissioner of Police and Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) during the Forbes Burnham Administration.

Ram has worked for many years with the local Elections Observer Bureau and is a critic of both the past and present Governments. He was hired as a forensic auditor by the current Government.

Shah was the co-founder of the now defunct Guyana Indian Heritage

Association, which the then People’s Progressive Party Government had neutralised by creating the Indian Arrival Committee, now renamed the Indian Action Committee.

12

news

saturDAY, january 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 5 flooding Inter-agency task force to address Georgetown drainage Rice lands remain under threat ― as floodwaters in residential locations recede

Sections of Georgetown under water as a resut of heavy rainfall, coupled with clogged drains, broken pumps and silted outfalls

C

ommunities Minister Ronald Bulkhan will lead a task force with the aim of improving and managing the drainage of the city of Georgetown.

The establishment of the task force was made during Cabinet’s meeting this week, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said at a post-Cabinet press briefing held on Friday.

“The task force will also be expected to prepare a plan for the long-term development of these works which they are going to do.

Cabinet will be expecting to be laid before it, a long-term strategy for the drainage of the city of Georgetown,” Harmon told the media.

The task force comprises of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Infrastructure, and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

It is expected that the task force will utilise the recommendations presented by the team of Dutch engineers

in finding effective drainage solutions for Georgetown.

“There are some very serious options. There is going to have to be some radical change in the way we do

the Public Infrastructure Minister.

Earlier this week, Georgetown and other parts of the country were inundated by heavy rainfall. The

ued despite Government having earlier boasted about no flooding in the usually inundated capital city during the rainy season. However, on December 23, Central

things and the overall strategy will have to take into account those mandates,” Minister Harmon said.

Last July, the Dutch Risk Reduction team presented a report for the modelling of an effective and efficient drainage system for the city of Georgetown to

city; Linden, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and low lying parts of communities along the coastline were affected by minor flooding due to the heavy rains.

The intermittent flooding that occurred over the past few weeks has contin-

-more than 10 initiatives planned

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P

eriods of brief sunshine on Friday brought some relief to several residential areas across Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), but farmers’ fears linger as their rice lands remain threatened by floodwaters.Guyana Times was informed that the sense of relief was brought on by the dry weather conditions that persisted throughout Friday, coupled with several working excavators that had been deployed by the Mahaica/Mahaicony/AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) and the National Drainage and

and Mahaicony reported losses, while others have been safeguarding their crops by ensuring that excess water is pumped off of their lands.

Up to Wednesday, farmers were still seen draining excess water from their lands. Guyana Times however, understands that many farmers have complained that continued pumping of water is adding to their expenses. These farmers have expressed hope that Central Government would provide assistance in the acquisition of fuel to continue this practice.

Parade Ground, Middle Street forms a pool together with the road

Georgetown saw business owners running to their premises to assess their losses from the floodwaters.

The flooding of the city days before the Christmas weekend was as a result of heavy rains coupled with clogged drains, broken pumps and silted outfalls.

Region 10 releases Mashramani 2017 calendar of activities he Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has released its 2017 Mashramani calendar of activities, most of which are expected to take place within the Linden community. The preliminary list of activities, 11 in total, is expected to commence on January 29, with a steel pan concert in front of the American Store, Republic Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden.

The activities will culminate

Esau and Jacobs, Mahaicony earlier this week

on March 5, with the Linden Mashramani Road parade, starting at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground, Block 22, Wismar.

Other activities on the proposed list are the Adult Semi-final Calypso competition at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground on February 11; daily Mashramani exhibitions at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre from February 15 to March 3; a concert for the elderly at

the Linden Concert Hall and School (LICHAS) on February 19; and the annual republic flag raising ceremony, slated to take place in front of the RDC main office on February 22.

Additionally, the region plans to participate in the National Costume and Float parade in Georgetown on February 23. Other activities include a Mash Bash at Co-op Crescent Square, Mackenzie on February 25; a Day of Cricket competition

at the Bamia Community Centre Ground on February 26; and Mashramani Village and Day of Sport at the Bayroc Community Centre Ground on March 4 and 5 respectively.

The proposed Calendar of activities has been submitted for approval by the Region’s Deputy Regional Executive Officer Maylene Stephen and Chairman of the Region’s Commemoration Committee, Charles Sampson.

Sandbags were placed to protect against rising floodwaters on Wednesday

Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

These excavators were transported to the communities of Fairfield, De Hoop, Catherine and Bath Settlement at the beginning of the current rainy season.

According to reports received, much of the farmlands, mainly rice lands, remain inundated. The affected areas include Burma, Mahaicony and Mahaica, while farmlands in the West Berbice villages of Foulis and Belladrum are also threatened by floodwaters.

Guyana Times was told that operatives of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and other Councillors in the region have been meeting with residents and farmers in the affected areas, while the relevant authorities, such as NDIA and MMA-ADA have been officially engaged and are onboard in efforts to alleviate the situation.

Earlier this week, this publication had received reports of rising floodwaters affecting theMahaica and Mahaicony areas, Burma and villages in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) of UnionNaarstigheid, Profit-Rising Sun and Seafield-Tiempe.

Many rice farmers, especially in Burma, Mahaica

In an Agriculture Ministry press conference late last month, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had noted several relief measures for 2017 to address the ongoing the flood situation. He disclosed that the MMA-ADA plans to commence the construction of a $300 million sluice at De Edward to replace the 50-year-old existing structure.

“This will enhance drainage of all residential areas and agricultural land between the Abary and Berbice rivers. Additionally, we will commence Phase Two of the Abary/Mahaicony conservancy with the construction of a 4.5 mile main canal and 10 mile dam. This proposed dam will extend the current Abary/Berbice conservancy to service agricultural lands between the Abary and Mahaicony rivers,” the Agriculture Minister announced on December 29, 2016.

After a four-day period (December 23-27) of torrential downpours across Region Five, residents were forced to battle the rising water levels.Farmers along villages in the Mahaicony had explained that their rice crops would be destroyed if the rain continued.

news

13

saturDAY, january 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fly AllWays Suriname St Cuthbert’s Secondary powered by solar energy to cease operations F on January 15

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Fly AllWays on its inaugural flight to Guyana in August 2016

uriname airline Fly AllWays will cease operations on January 15 of this year, reliable sources have confirmed.

Fly AllWays officially started operations about a year ago on January 10, 2016, with the launch of its inaugural domestic flight.

Its first commercial flight took place on January 22, 2016, to Barbados and later in February 2016, flights followed to Curacao and St Maarten.

Following years of setbacks towards certification to fly, with creditors awaiting payments, poor payloads and one of its two Fokker 70 aircraft being used as a source of spare parts to keep the other plane flying, Fly AllWays has been facing an

alarming financial future.

The airline’s financial situation did not reportedly allow the carrier to keep its second aircraft flying.

“Fly AllWays’ request for an extension of maintenance time on major components of its aircraft, such as the overhaul of the landing gear was not approved by the aviation authority of Suriname,” said a source.

“This has led to the grounding of one aircraft, which is now being used as a source for parts of their sole flying Fokker 70.”

The closest place in the Caribbean where the Fokker can be serviced is Curacao; however, there were unconfirmed reports that neither of the two Fokkers went to Curacao for maintenance.

“After two years of sitting in Suriname, the two Fokkers haven’t been to a maintenance hangar. Fly AllWays still does not have an approved maintenance base,” the source said.

“The load factor between Suriname, Guyana and Barbados is below 30 per cent. Between Barbados and Guyana an average of 20 seats are occupied. Plans to commence service to Haiti have been cancelled,” confirmed a second source.

Just last month, Fly AllWays was granted a permit to operate scheduled flights between Guyana, Barbados and Suriname to Antigua, where it customarily stops for refuelling on its way to Haiti. (Caribbean News Now) from page 9

Caribbean Medical Supplies should face...

Furthermore, the BoI noted that the Trinidadian company was hostile to the BoI and failed to appear before it; thus, a recommendation was made that McKoon be barred from any future bidding here.

Fly-by-night company

Meanwhile, the BoI also recommended criminal and legal proceedings against two other companies following its probe. One of the companies against which criminal investigations was recommended is the Parikabased Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc (CSMI), which had come under criticisms for being a “fly by night” company, was awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts from the Public Health Ministry.

CMSI, which was given the sole sourcing contract, is allegedly a financier of one of the political parties in the coalition Government.

In November 2015, the company, which just has an address at Parika with no sign of employees or business activity, won its first sole sourced contract to supply $35.1 million of HIV rapid test kits for the Public Health Ministry.

The HIV tests kits were simply bought over the Internet and shipped into the country. When Guyana Times had reported on the

issue, the company defended itself by accusing this newspaper of biasness.

Meanwhile, the report also states, “It is the view of the Board of Inquiry that a criminal investigation be launched to determine the authenticity of the letter produced by Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc with a view of instituting criminal charges.”

The other company, Meditron Inc, was also fingered for not honouring its contractual obligations for a tender that it was awarded.

“It is recommended that the contract signed between the Ministry of Public Health and Meditron Inc… be brought to the attention of the honourable Minister of Legal Affairs, with a view of instituting legal proceedings since it was revealed that Meditron Inc failed to honour their contractual obligation under the terms of this contract,” the report outlined.

Back in November, former Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton had recommended to Cabinet for an inquiry to be established into the country’s procurement system. He had expressed his concerns during an interview with the Guyana Times at the time.

With regards to the former Public Health Minister,

the BoI noted that he “should be reminded of his functions enshrined in the laws of Guyana. Ministry of Public Health Act Chapter 32:01 Section (4) (a) – (w),” which outlines the 23 functions of a Health Minister.

Blacklisted

Trinidadian companies, Scientific and Medical Products Limited (SciMed) and Western Scientific Company Limited operating in Guyana, were debarred by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for fraud and collusion practices on local projects funded by the Bank. SciMed was debarred from March 31, 2016 to October 15, 2020, for fraudulent practices.

The company is a distributor of laboratory and process equipment, and exclusively represents a number of leading manufacturers in the UK. Additionally, another four-year sanction over the same period was meted out to Western Scientific Company Limited also over fraudulent practices. This Trinidadian company is a marketing, sales and distribution firm, specialising in the areas of scientific, clinical/medical, furniture, audio-visual, education, technical service and consultancy.

or the first time since the St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School was established, its students will be able to make full use of electricity following the installation of a 6.2kW solar system by the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc (HECI).

The 24 solar panels were installed just before the school closed in December 2016 for the Christmas holidays and the upcoming school term will see the 126 enrolled students fully reaping the benefits of the new system. The new system was installed at the cost of some $8.7 million.

Current Headmaster of St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary, Orlando Shuman, shared his excitement over the potential the new system held. He explained that the school is now able to tap into facilities that were previously inaccessible. While electricity is present in the community, it typically becomes available from 06:00h to 22:00h daily, outside of school hours.

“From an administrative standpoint, this (electricity) helps me to be more efficient,” Shuman said, while adding that “generally, there has been a big difference. People are now looking at the school as going somewhere.”

He further added that with electricity, the school will finally be able to have an electronic filing system and the ability to better manage its student records.

He said too that teachers now have improved morale.

The 24 solar panels installed on the roof of the St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary School

“Some have even suggested we get a percolator…

It’s made our environment comfortable and more enthusiastic,” he asserted.

Moreover, Shuman foresees big benefits for the upcoming Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) students.

He indicated that, previously, the CSEC students had encountered difficulties in completing their School Based Assessments (SBAs), since most had no access to computers and Internet.

Now, an enthused Shuman said the students will finally be able to make use of the school’s computer laboratory, which housed 18 unused computer systems since their acquisition more than two years ago. He added that with the use of computers, the classes at the school would become much more interactive.

Thanking the HECI for its intervention, Shuman

said, “It’s amazing to see something like this come to fruition so quickly. I feel it’s a step in the right direction.”

Meanwhile, HECI also extended the community’s electricity network to better service its residents.

While some residents would have had power systems already installed, the electricity provided was often of low voltage. Therefore, HECI installed additional transformers and overall, upgraded the network.

This upgrade has seen six new households being added to the network.

Additionally, the 1200 homes in the community already on the network will benefit from better electricity.

The Indigenous community was identified by HECI due to its rapid growth in recent years and the need for an improved supply of electricity.

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guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, january 7, 2017

Regional

First Cuban exports to US in more than Drugs gang ‘kills half a century to mark new era of trade 33 inmates’ in Brazilian jail R eneo Consulting LLC announced on Thursday that its subsidiary company Coabana Trading LLC has finalised an agreement with Cuba Export to import into the United States marabu (sickle bush) charcoal produced in Cuba.

This marks the first time in more than half a century that a Cuban-produced product will be exported from Cuba and sold in the United States.

“This is truly a momentous occasion,” said Scott Gilbert, chairman of Reneo.

“Marabu charcoal is widely viewed as the best artisanal charcoal in the world. Now

Marabu charcoal

US consumers will be able to purchase this product, as have Europeans and others for many years.”

“More importantly,” Gilbert emphasised, “this marks the beginning of a

new era of trade between the United States and Cuba. This is a perfect example of a winwin for both our countries.

The marabu plant is an invasive weed that clogs otherwise fertile organic fields

in Cuba – now it can be used to produce this fantastic artisanal charcoal, thereby clearing the fields and making them available for agricultural growth.”

“Marabu charcoal is cut and produced by private Cuban cooperatives, providing them with a growing market less than 100 miles away. This is but the first step in what should be a blossoming trade relationship involving many different products,” said Gilbert.

Cuban marabu charcoal should be available in the United States in early 2017.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Venezuela helicopter crash survivors rescued after 6 days

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eports from Venezuela say search teams have found survivors in a military helicopter six days after it crashed in the country’s Amazon region.

Thirteen people, including civilians, were on board the Mi-17V-5 helicopter, which had disappeared last Thursday. Venezuela’s El Nacional paper says that the military crew members were alive and will be transferred to the capital of Amazonas state, Puerto Ayacucho.

It is not clear whether the civilian passengers have survived the accident.

The governor of Amazonas state, Liborio Guarulla, tweeted that the helicopter was discovered by members of the Yecuana indigenous tribe.

The helicopter was discovered on the slopes of the Cerro Duida, a table-top mountain in the south of Venezuela, he added.

Guarulla, a fierce opponent of President Nicolás Maduro, had criticised the lack of government support.

Only one military helicopter was taking part in the search, he said.

President Maduro and his Defence Minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez,

Helicopters are often used in Venezuela to patrol remote Amazon areas (file picture)

had earlier said they had boosted resources for the operation.

“We are carrying on with the search. Several

groups of soldiers and indigenous people have gone deep inside the Amazon jungle,” said Mr Maduro on Wednesday. (BBC News)

A

t least 33 prisoners have been killed in a prison in northern Brazil, just days after 56 died during a jail riot in a neighbouring state.

Thirty of the bodies were found decapitated, officials said. The local Secretary of Justice, Uziel Castro, told the BBC he blamed the deaths in the prison in the state of Roraima on a drug gang.

But the situation at the overcrowded Monte Cristo Rural Penitentiary is now under control, he added. The authorities say the gruesome violence was part of an attempt by the gang to stamp their authority inside the jail and intimidate rival criminal factions.

Brazil’s Justice Minister, Alexandre Moraes, has at-

tributed the violence to a gang known as the PCC (which stands for First Command in the Capital).

“All the victims were from the PCC. It was a settlement of scores inside the organisation,” said Moraes.

“Some of the victims were killed because they were rapists; others because the PCC considered them traitors.”

Special forces have now regained control of the prison, which is outside the state capital, Boa Vista. A 2012 Government report said the gang was the largest in Brazil, earning US$32 million (£25.9 million) a year in drug sales, with almost half its 13,000 members in jail in Sao Paulo State, where the gang originated. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Climate change will lead to annual coral bleaching in the Caribbean – study

Caricom congratulates Haiti’s President-elect

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ecretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has congratulated Haiti’s President-elect Jovenel Moïse, who was this week declared winner of the country’s November 20, 2016, presidential elections.

“The Community looks forward to the inauguration of the president-elect on February 7, which would signal the return to constitutional governance and the continuation of the strengthening of Haitian democracy,” said LaRocque in a release on Thursday.

Moïse, 48, a banana exporter, won 55.6 per cent of the votes in the first round of the elections.

His major challengers, Jude Celestin, Jean-Charles Moïse and Maryse Narcisse contested the count but after a verification process, the Haitian Provisional

Electoral Council declared Jovenel Moïse the outright winner on Tuesday.

He will replace interimPresident Jocelerme Privert, who led the country after former President Michel Martelly left office without a successor in February last year. (Jamaica Observer)

Megaresort VAT exemption stirs controversy in The Bahamas

The Baha Mar resort

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n email leaked to the press on Wednesday revealed that the Christie administration in The Bahamas has exempted China Construction America (CCA) Bahamas Limited, the lead construction firm on the multibillion-dollar Baha Mar megaresort project, from paying Value

Added Tax (VAT).

On Wednesday night, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, who was contacted by The Nassau Guardian, said the benefits that will flow as a result of a completed and operational Baha Mar project far outweigh the concessions the government

has agreed to.

The email revealing the VAT exemption – dated January 4 – directs all subcontractors of CCA to present invoices for payment that are devoid of VAT charges.

“Dear sirs, it’s agreed with the government that the subcontractors and suppliers of CCA Bahamas Ltd shall be entitled to have the benefit of a full exemption from the payment of all value-added tax for works carried out on the Baha Mar project,” the email said.

“Therefore, you are required not to charge the Value Added Tax on your invoices for goods and/or services to CCA...”

The leaked email obscures the receiver or receivers of the correspondence.

Guardian Business attempted to contact CCA through the address shown in the email; however, there was no reply up to press time. Guardian Business also called the number in the email and spoke to a person who said they had no knowledge of the email.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

A

new study has predicted that if current trends continue and the world fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nearly all of the world’s coral reefs, including many in the Caribbean, will suffer severe bleaching – the gravest threat to one of the Earth’s most important ecosystems – on annual basis.

The finding is part of a study funded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners, which reviewed new climate change projections to predict which corals, will be affected first and at what rate.

The report is published in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. Researchers found that the reefs in Taiwan and the Turks and Caicos archipelago will be among the first to experience annual bleaching, followed by reefs off the coast of Bahrain, in Chile and in French Polynesia.

Calling the predictions “a treasure trove” for environmentalists, the head of the UN agency, Erik Solheim, said the projects allow conservationists and governments to prioritise reef protection.

On average, the reefs started undergoing annual bleaching from 2014, according to the study. Without the required minimum of five years to regenerate, the annual occurrences will have a deadly effect on the corals and disrupt the ecosystems which they support, UNEP said.

However, it said that if governments act on emission reduction pledges made in the Paris Agreement, which calls on countries to combat climate change and limit global temperature rise to below two degrees Celsius, the corals would have another 11 years to adapt to the warming seas.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

saturDAY, january 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Japan recalls envoy after South Korea puts ‘comfort woman’ 5 people shot dead by Florida gunman, 8 injured statue outside consulate Fort Lauderdale airport shooting

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apan has recalled its ambassador to South Korea in protest at the placing of a statue symbolising victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery outside its consulate.

Chief Government spokesman Yoshihide Suga announced the temporary move at a media conference along with additional measures that include postponing high-level economic discussions. “The Japanese

F

ive people have been shot dead by a gunman at Fort Lauderdale airport in Florida, say officials. It happened at the baggage claim area in Terminal 2, just before 1300 local time (1800 GMT), the airport confirmed.

Five people were killed, eight injured and one person was unharmed in custody, said Police and local officials. Hundreds of people were standing on the tarmac outside the terminal as dozens of police cars and ambulances rushed to the scene.

Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca wrote on Facebook that the gunman had arrived on a flight from Canada with a gun checked into his luggage.

“He claimed his bag and

Government finds this situation extremely regrettable,” he said.

Besides the recall of ambassador Yasumasa Nagamine, Suga also said Japan was ordering home its consul-general in Busan – the city featuring the offending statue – and suspending discussions on a Japan-South Korea currency swap.

“The Japanese government will continue to

A shooting victim arrives at the Broward Health Trauma Centre

took the gun from baggage and went into the bathroom to load it. Came out shooting people in baggage claim”, LaMarca wrote.

Florida Senator Bill Nelson told US media that the gunman has been identified as Esteban Santiago, but that has not been confirmed by law enforcement.

A man in handcuffs was seen being escorted away

from the airport by police nearly two hours after the shooting was first reported.

Mobile phone footage from the scene showed police officers frisking passengers and uniformed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers.

The gunman was arrested without any shots fired, said Sheriff Scott Israel.

strongly urge the South Korean government as well as municipalities concerned to quickly remove the statue of the girl,” Suga said.

The statue was initially removed after being set up

by South Korean activists in the southern port city. But local authorities changed track and allowed it after Japan’s hawkish defence minister offered prayers at a controversial war shrine in Tokyo last week. (Excerpt from

The Guardian)

French authorities gas thousands of ducks after bird flu outbreaks

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US intel report identifies Russians who gave emails to WikiLeaks – officials

T

he CIA has identified Russian officials who fed material hacked from the Democratic National Committee and party leaders to WikiLeaks at the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin through third parties, according to a new US intelligence report, senior U.S. officials said on Thursday.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Central Intelligence Agency and others have concluded that the Russian government escalated its efforts from discrediting

the US election process to assisting President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign.

The intelligence assessment was presented to President Barack Obama on Thursday and will be briefed to Trump on Friday. Trump has rejected the broad intelligence community’s assessment that Russia staged cyber attacks during the election campaign to undermine Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Russia has rejected the hacking allegations.

In some cases, one official said, the material fol-

lowed what was called “a circuitous route” from the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, to WikiLeaks in an apparent attempt to make the origins of the material harder to trace, a common practice used by all intelligence agencies, including U.S. ones.

These handoffs, the officials said, enabled WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to say the Russian government or state agencies were not the source of the material published on his website. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Om Puri: Veteran Indian actor dies at the age of 66

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eteran Indian actor Om Puri, star of British hit East is East, has died aged 66. The actor suffered a heart attack at his residence in Mumbai early on Friday, reports say.

Om Puri, who acted in both mainstream and art films, was known for his gritty performances in a number of landmark Indian films in the 1980s.

He also appeared in a number of British films, including a cameo in Richard Attenborough’s epic on Mahatma Gandhi.

A versatile actor, Puri was known for his roles in Indian, Pakistani, British and Hollywood films. He was awarded an honorary OBE for his contribution to the British film industry in 2004.

Puri, who was born in

Om Puri acted in both mainstream and art films in Bollywood

1950 in the North Indian state of Haryana, made his film debut in the 1976 film Ghashiram Kotwal. He be-

came a well-known figure in the Indian film industry in the 1980s before he found international fame in the following decade.

His roles in American and British films included the 1999 British comedy East is East about a Pakistani immigrant adjusting to life in the north of England.

Puri also appeared in City of Joy, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Charlie Wilson’s War and most recently starred in The Hundred-Foot Journey alongside Dame Helen Mirren.

Puri was one of India’s truly successful crossover actors, doing films with stars such as Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks, the BBC’s Soutik Biswas said.(Excerpt from

BBC News)

Workers carry ducks before placing them in a bin filled with carbon dioxide at a poultry farm in Latrille, South-West France

W

orkers wearing masks and protective clothes have gassed thousands of ducks in South-West France, in a massive cull that was ordered in an attempt to prevent a spread of the H5N8 bird flu virus.

At one farm in the village of Latrille, in the heartland of duck and geese rearing country, 8000 ducks were taken by hand and put in coloured metal containers where carbon dioxide was piped in to kill them, nor-

mally within seconds.

Workers in head-to-toe protective suits, face shields and gas masks, finished the slaughter in a few hours.

France, which has the largest poultry flock in the EU, has reported 95 outbreaks of the virus.

Most of the cull is taking place in and around the Gers area of south-west France, where geese and ducks are reared in vast numbers to make foie gras.

About 800,000 birds out of a population of about 18 mil-

lion in the South-West are due to be killed in the coming week.

Authorities in the Czech Republic also ordered a cull of thousands of chickens and ducks, as reports of bird flu came in from across Europe.

The Czech veterinary authority said its order would affect several thousand birds from small flocks and 6000 ducks at a larger farm, all within two miles of Ivan?ice and Moravský Krumlov. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Soldiers launch mutinies in 3 Ivory Coast cities

D

emobilised soldiers in the Ivory Coast have launched mutinies in three cities, bringing the threat of unrest back to Africa’s fastestgrowing economy.

While the ex-soldiers have not yet stated their specific demands, the West African nation’s Defence Minister, Alain-Richard Donwahi, said on Friday they were demanding salary increases and the payment of bonuses.

The unrest began in Bouake, the country’s second-largest city and onetime

rebel stronghold, where heavy weapons fire was heard in the streets before spreading to two other major urban centres of Daloa and Korhogo.

Gunfire also reportedly erupted at a military camp in the western town of Daloa on Friday.

Al Jazeera’s Nicolas Haque, reporting from Dakar in Senegal, said regular soldiers have now joined the ranks of rebel soldiers to take control of Bouake, after they seized weapons from police stations on Thursday night and took up positions

at entry points into the city.

“These are former soldiers that were part of an ECOWAS force trying to maintain peace in Liberia ...

Then they returned back to Ivory Coast where there was also a civil war and played a role to maintain peace and order in the country,” he said.

“Now they are saying they weren’t paid for their services.” The city was the seat of a rebellion that controlled the northern half of the country from 2002 until Ivory Coast was reunited following a civil war in 2011.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16 news

SATURDAY, january 7, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Outgoing SG briefs President Granger on Chairmanship role

Region 2 flooding

Flood relief efforts underway

Caricom’s delegation (from left): Executive Director, Human Resource Management at the Caricom Secretariat, Charmaine Atkinson-Jordan; Caricom Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque; and Advisor to the Secretary General Neville Bissember. On the right is the Head of the Caricom Unit in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Charlene Phoenix; President David Granger and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

C

aribbean Community (Caricom) Secretary General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque on Friday met with incoming Caricom Chairman, President David Granger to brief him on his tenure as Chair for the next six months and preparations for the Inter-Sessional Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government in February, over which he will preside.

Also present at the briefing were Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge; Sharlene Phoenix of the Foreign Affairs Ministry; Neville Bissember, Advisor; and Charmaine AtkinsonJordan, Chef-de-Cabinet, in the Office of the Secretary General.

President Granger assumed the Chairmanship on January 1, 2017, as per the Rotation Schedule for The Chairmanship of

the Conference of Heads of Government. As such, Guyana will host the 28th Inter-sessional Meeting of Caricom Heads of Government, which is slated for February 16-17.

In his New Year’s address, President Granger had called for deepened regional integration, noting that the new year holds great promise for Caribbean countries to advance “our integration process which can only be possible through the involvement and participation of all”.

“Let us resolve to play our part in strengthening our Caribbean Community and to making regional unity a living, breathing experience,” Granger said in a message ahead of taking over from Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit from January 1.

Granger said 2016

marked the mid-point of the five-year strategic plan, which he described as “a foundational element in the Community’s reform process”.

“That process is geared towards ensuring that our people feel the impact of the integration movement in their daily lives. Integration is not merely about systems and institutions. It is mostly about people.

It is in the interest of developing our people that we are taking steps to ensure that they are fully equipped to address the requirements of the 21st Century economy and society. Our Commission on Human Resource Development is developing a regional education and human resource strategy with special attention to ICT in education and human resource development.”

Residents chatting with Region Two Regional Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt

W

orkers attached to the drainage and irrigation department of the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) administration were dispatched to several areas along the Essequibo Coast to bring much needed relief to affected residents.

Regional Vice Chairperson Nandranie Coonjah explained that despite the on-going works, several areas still remain under water. There were

vate contractors were also hired to execute emergency works. Additionally, contractors have been dispatched to GoldenFleece where there were reports of severe flooding and the imminent threat to approximately 3000 acres of young rice plants.

Drainage and irrigation workers were also sent to the Unu Creek area, where they are conducting widening works in an effort to open the outfall so that wa-

nals.

Many areas are still inundated as the region continues to experience excessive rainfall.

These areas include Windsor Castle, Devonshire Castle, Hampton Court, Lima, Queenstown, Golden Fleece, Airy Hall, Riverstown, Capoey, Anna Regina Charity, Perseverance, and Cullen. The floodwaters have not receded despite eight pumps being operational.

Injured murder accused petitions High Court for bail

Murder accused Gibran Ali in the New Amsterdam Prison

A

petition has been filed in the Berbice High Court for bail

to be granted to murder accused Gibran Ali of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam,

Berbice, who is presently incapacitated. The accused was charged on April 20, 2016, for the murder of Patrick Boodie.

According to the petition which was filed by his brother Devindra Malhotra, the accused was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital in an unconsciousness state and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

The matter was called on several occasions at the Reliance Magistrate’s Court and Ali is being represented by Attorney Charrandass Persaud.

“We spoke to officers at the prison who were not sure how he received his injuries and could not give us any definitive account,” the man’s brother explained.

Officials at the New Amsterdam Prison indicated that from the state and physical appearance of the accused when he entered the

Workers widening the Unu Creek outfall

several reports of overtopping at Golden Fleece, Cullen, Coffee Grove, Dawa, and Onderneeming.

The Vice Chairperson pointed out that prompt actions were taken to address these instances; pri-

ter can flow speedily.

Residents as well as rice farmers in the Annanadle/ Riverstown Neighbourhood Democratic Council are facing excessive losses due to the overtopping from the main conservancy and ca-

Rice farmers are currently calling on Central Government to assist them with the purchase of fuel or any other form of assistance that can save their crop.

prison, he had to have received the injuries after being incarcerated.

Since then, Ali has been in and out of hospital. The accused is paralysed from the waist down and is unable to move by himself and without the aid of someone putting him in a wheel chair.

The petitioner is of the view that had the accused been kept longer in the hospital, he would have received better care, as a family member would be able to assist him. He is questioning why

Ali was released from the hospital.

The petition also outlined that Ali has to be taken to the hospital every day for treatment for bed sores, since such treatment is unavailable at the prison. He has to be fed, showered and washed as he is unable to perform these functions for himself.

Relatives are requesting bail for the accused as they would like to be given the chance to provide him with adequate care, proper food

and the necessary facilities to make him comfortable.

Dead: Patrick Boodie

17

news

saturday, january 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

January 12 decleared Chinese Arrival Day 5th suspect nabbed in Lodge Laing Avenue fatal shooting

− also designates Rose Hall Martyrs’ Day

A

s per an Executive Notice issued on Friday by President David Granger, January 12 has been designated Chinese Arrival Day. In a second Executive Notice, also issued also on Friday, March 13 has been named Rose Hall Martyrs’ Day. According to the first notice, the President stated “Since January 12, 1853, when they first arrived, Chinese have made significant contributions to the growth and development of Guyana. Many of them Christians fleeing, persecution in their motherland, the Chinese integrated quickly into the prevailing Guyanese society and by the start of the 20th century had come to be regarded as earnest, law-abiding, industrious citizens. Their imprint could readily be seen in Guyanese cuisine and in their involvement in commerce as shopkeepers and

President David Granger

businessmen. It is hoped that Chinese Arrival Day will foster a greater appreciation for their history and contributions and further enrich the cosmopolitan nature of Guyana’s citizenry.”

In the notice designating March 13, Rose Hall Martyrs’ Day, the President

stated “The Colonial Police killed 15 sugar workers on March 13, 1913, at Plantation Rose Hall in Berbice. The workers had formed a group to protest against working on days that were awarded to them for a good sugarcane grinding season. These martyrs whose ages ranged from 21 to 75 were Badri, Bholay, Durga, Gafur, Jugai, Juggoo, Hulas, Lalji, Motey Khan, Nibur, Roopan, Sadulla, Sarjoo, Sohan and the only female, Gobindei. Sugar workers participated in the development of the economy, the pillar of which was sugar. The slaying of the workers brought international attention to the system of indentureship and its cruelty. Indentureship ended in 1917. On Rose Hall Martyrs’ Day it is hoped that the martyrs’ supreme sacrifice would remain an inspiration to Guyanese.”

S

ix months after the shooting to death of Orin David, also called “Malik”, at Laing Avenue, Georgetown; a fifth suspect in the murder was arrested on Thursday evening in the vicinity of Victor and Norton Streets, Lodge, Georgetown.

Reports are the man was arrested after Police acting on information went to Lodge, where the suspect was seen throwing a bag into a nearby trench.

The Police immediately went after the bag and upon retrieving it, a search was conducted during which five live rounds of 9mm ammunition were unearthed. Three others who were fingered in the execution of David were arrested in December after they reportedly returned from Suriname. It is believed that after the shooting incident, the suspects fled to Suriname, but returned home for the Christmas

Dead: Orin David

holidays.

It was reported that on August 1, 2016, 33-yearold David and an Agricola, Greater Georgetown resident were involved in a heated argument over money owed to him. It is believed that David paid $150,000 in bail for the suspect and despite being released from prison, the money was not repaid.

Ever since, there have been confrontations between the

two men.

However, the man left Laing Avenue and later returned with four other persons in two vehicles and committed the heinous crime, which was witnessed by the David’s reputed wife and mother. Moments after the execution, the identities of the five suspects were handed over to the Police.

Meanwhile, David was no stranger to the Police and the court. He was freed after spending five years in prison for the 2010 murder of Mahaica farmer, Lakhram Bishundial.

Bishundial was shot during a robbery at Hope Turn, East Coast Demerara as he was on his way to a nearby Ashram to make preparations for his younger brother’s wedding. Also, in July 12, 2015, David, was charged for the unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition. At the time of his death, he was on bail pending investigations.

Bartica massacre trial

Gang member continues testimony … details acquaintance with transported “Fineman” gang

I

ncarcerated and self-confessed gang member of the 2008 Bartica massacre, Celbert Reece, took the stand at the Demerara High Court once again where he continued his testimony and was crossed-examined by defence Attorney, Roger Yearwood.

Reece continued his testimony one day after he began, where he told the 12-member jury that he and fellow accused, Dennis Williams knew each other for a number of years and would often “go out and sport”. He also told the court that he met another accused, Mark Royden Williams for the first time when he came to the boat.

The witness, who was the boat driver that transported the “Fineman” gang, further explained that he picked up Williams and several other gang members from an area at Ann’s Grove, days before the February 17, 2008 attack. Reece recalled that between Friday (February 15, 2008), Saturday and Sunday (the day of the massacre), he was in the company of Mark Williams.

Reece also told the court that the boat was light blue and white and carried a “75 Yamaha Engine”. The witness who claimed that he was familiar with boats and engines “all his life” described the boat as 25-feet in length and about eight to10-feet in width.

Reece clarified that at Parika, East Bank Essequibo; he met with two persons, one “rasta person” and an “Indian person” but claimed that he was only familiar with the “rasta” individual by seeing

State witness and gang member Clebert Reece leaving the High Court in Georgetown on Thursday afternoon, escorted by Police

him at Parika. According to the State Witness’ account, he went to the Tiger Bay wharf where he met a woman known to him. It was at this point that he went to Ann’s Grove where seven gang members were picked up.

Reece noted that these persons were “Sadman”, Micheal Ceasar, “Mud-up”, “Chung Boy”, “Magic”, “Kussom” and “Small Man”. He also noted that they had haversacks on their backs.

Defence Counsels Yearwood, Saphier Hussian and Peter Hugh representing Michael Caesar, Mark Royden Williams and Dennis Williams, all took turns and raised objections to the prosecution’s line of questioning, by way of suggesting answers to solicit a particular answer/response. Hussain accused State Prosecutor, Diana Kaulesar of “cross-examining the witness”.

However Justice Roxanne George, SC, ruled that the questions were not leading, noting that clarifying questions can be asked. George further pointed out the questions were not in violation of

Section 76 of the Evidence Act. As the State Prosecutor continued questioning the witness, Reece revealed that he pulled the boat alongside the boathouse at the Bartica Stelling and at this point, “Small Man” was dressed in long camouflage pants, a long sleeved camouflage top, a black tope, and carried an AK47 gun and belt around his waist. Reece said that he was dressed in blue three-quarter pants and a blue shirt, but was not armed.

Reece recalled that “Mudup” wore camouflage clothing, while “Small Frame”, who wore “ordinary clothes”, was not armed. Reece further claimed that on the night of the attack, “Small Man” and Dennis Williams were two feet away from each other. When asked by Prosecutor Kaulesar why he wanted to escape from Fineman’s gang, the witness explained that he wanted to see if his family was safe.

Cross-examination

Under cross-examination by Attorney Yearwood, Reece revealed that before the Bartica incident, he was im-

prisoned on two gun-related robbery charges. The State witness denied that he ever knew Fineman before the Bartica incident, but agreed that knew “a lot about guns”.

When questioned as to why he didn’t go to the Police on his stops to Georgetown during the days surrounding the attack, Reece noted that he was not alone and was afraid of “Fineman” and his gang. He noted that “seven times” he thought about escaping.

Reece also rejected the suggestion that he was the one who financed the entire operation, which was in reference to the $500,000 he re-

portedly gave to “Shem” who was sent by “Fineman” to purchase food supplies. He also told Yearwood that he didn’t know that Dennis Williams was part of the gang.

Reece stated further that when he had finally escaped, he still feared “Fineman” and his gang. He noted too that when the Police arrested him, he was held for 13 days without being charged and that he was placed on “7 ID parades” before finally learning about his charges at Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Reece was sentenced to 420 years total imprisonment while

his cousin, Michael Caesar, was handed a 1080-year cumulative sentence. The men along with co-accused Mark Royden Williams, Dennis Williams and Roger Simon were allegedly part of the Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins gang which attacked the town and fatally shot 12 persons, namely Police Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne. Additionally, Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas and Baldeo Singh were the civilians killed.

2nd suspect in Corentyne murder caught

T

he second suspect wanted for the death of a Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice man, whose body was discovered on December 29, 2016, partially submerged in a canal at Williamsburg, with marks of violence was nabbed on Friday.

Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam on Thursday told the media that officers were able to arrest the first suspect in the murder of Mohan Ball.

A post-mortem examination conducted on the body of the 49-year-old man was inconclusive.

Autopsy reports indicate that Ball’s body bore marks of violence but none were lifethreatening. The report also indicated that water was seen in the deceased’s lungs. The man also had problems with

Dead: Mohan Ball

his heart, the autopsy found.

Villagers say Ball was seen earlier in the day drinking with the two men. The three were later seen embroiled in a fight, with the dead man being pounced upon by the other two. Reports say Ball was held by the feet and dragged along the street.

One of the two suspects was allegedly seen wearing wet clothes and in the vicinity of where the body was later found. The suspect was riding a bicycle at the time.

Some villagers referred to the deceased as a “junkie” of Lot 74 Hampshire South, Corentyne.

Police had been on the hunt for the two men since last week and had gone to many homes in the Albion area. Divisional Commander Amsterdam noted that ranks had also gone into the backdam in search of the two men, but had come up empty-handed.

On Thursday, the first suspect was found at a house in Albion. Following leads,Police were able to make a second arrest the following day. investigations are continuing.

(Andrew Carmichael)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, january 7, 2017

ARCHIE

A change of scenery will do you good. Plan a day trip or (March 21- sign up for a retreat that will April 19) help you gain perspective on a tricky situation.

ARIES

Emotions will rise to the TAURUS surface, putting you on edge if (April 20- there is something you need to May 20) complete. Give yourself time to socialize with the ones you love.

dilbert

Watch how others respond GEMINI to you and react according(May 21June 20) ly. A change in the way you spend your money or how you get along with your peers will determine what you decide to do next.

Making travel plans or having a discussion that will (June 21- bring you up to date or give July 22) you knowledge that can help you advance looks promising. Personal and physical improvements will pay off.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Deal with emotional issues carefully. If it will affect your income or how you get along with your peers, you are best off considering how you can appease your opponents.

Taking a short trip or makVIRGO ing time to discover something (Aug. 23Sept. 22) new will be enlightening. How you do things will be dependent on what you learn and the skills you master.

Calvin and Hobbes

The changes you want to LIBRA make will be met with opposi(Sept. 23tion.

Plan carefully and leave Oct. 23) no room for error or criticism.

Use your knowledge and experience to gain approval.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

If you share your thoughts SCORPIO and feelings, you’ll be offered (Oct. 24suggestions that will fit into Nov. 22) your current situation. Take the initiative and make things happen. Trust in love and improve your personal life.

Problems with a friend, SAGITTARIUS relative or someone using per(Nov. 23suasive tactics on you will Dec. 21) arise. Base your next move on what’s best for you and your immediate family.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Share your feelings and CAPRICORN plans with someone you feel an (Dec. 22emotional connection to. Your Jan. 19) intuitive intelligence will help you make good choices that will have a long-lasting effect on your personal life.

Keep your thoughts to AQUARIUS yourself. You’ll be taken ad(Jan. 20vantage of if you are too acFeb. 19) commodating. Follow your gut in order to avoid making a mistake.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Get in touch with people PISCES (Feb. 20- or organizations that can ofMarch 20) fer you support, insight or a chance to help a cause or your community. How you handle responsibility will affect your reputation.

guyanatimesgy.com

Australia v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Sydney, 4th day…

S t e v e n Smith also played an aggressive innings

R

a i n cleared in Sydney for the second time in as many days to allow further progression of the SCG Test but Pakistan will require a world record cloudburst of strokes to prevent Australia advancing to a third victory from as many matches in the series on Saturday.

A firecracker of an innings by David Warner and handsome hands from Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja helped the hosts set Pakistan a distant 465 to win after Younis Khan’s excellent rearguard dissuaded the hosts from enforcing the follow-on. The wicket of an aggressive Sharjeel Khan gave Smith an opening before the close.

Australia hit 241 at 7.53 in bid for sweep The entirety of the first session was lost for the second time in as many days, but Smith’s team made up for lost time by rattling off 241 in a mere 32 overs.

Warner was certainly not in the mood to linger, hammer-

had been wiped off the deficit and Younis had gone well past 150. Australia will be without Matt Renshaw, ruled out of the match due to the symptoms of concussion after being struck twice in the helmet in the first three days.

Khawaja duly walked out with Warner, and was

Nathan Lyon broke Pakistan’s opening stand

SCOREBOARD Australia 1st innings 538/8 declared Pakistan 1st innings (271/8 Overnight score) Azhar Ali run out (Starc/ Handscomb) 71 Sharjeel Khan c Renshaw 4 b Hazlewood Babar Azam lbw b Hazlewood 0 Younis Khan not out 175 Misbah-ul-Haq* c sub (JM Bird) b Lyon 18 Asad Shafiq c Smith b O'Keefe 4 Sarfraz Ahmed† c sub (JM Bird) b Starc 18 Mohammad Amir c Warner b Lyon 4 Wahab Riaz b Lyon 8 Yasir Shah c Smith b Hazlewood 10 Imran Khan b Hazlewood 0 Extras:(b-3)

3 Total: (all out; 110.3 overs) 315 Fall of wickets 1-6 (Sharjeel Khan, 3.1 ov), 2-6 (Babar Azam, 3.5 ov), 3-152 (Azhar Ali, 53.2 ov), 4-178 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 65.6 ov), 5-197 (Asad Shafiq, 72.4 ov), 6-239 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 82.3 ov), 7-244 (Mohammad Amir, 85.5 ov), 8-264 (Wahab Riaz, 93.1 ov), 9-315 (Yasir Shah, 110.1 ov), 10-315 (Imran Khan, 110.3 ov) Bowling:MA Starc 26-777-1, JR Hazlewood 27.37-55-4, SNJ O'Keefe 20-350-1, NM Lyon 33-3-115-3,

ing 55 from 27 balls to put Pakistan immediately on the back foot. He took particular toll on Yasir Shah, taking one over for 22.

Smith and Khawaja followed up with plenty of telling blows of their own to stretch the lead, with the captain ultimately closing the innings with 16 overs

HWR Cartwright 4-0-15-0 Australia 2nd innings DA Warner b Wahab Riaz 55 79 UT Khawaja not out SPD Smith* c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 59 PSP Handscomb not out 40 Extras:(b-3, lb-3, w-1, nb-1) 8 Total: (2 wickets dec; 32 overs) 241 Did not bat: MT Renshaw, HWR Cartwright, MS Wade†, MA Starc, SNJ O'Keefe, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon Fall of wickets 1-71 (Warner, 8.4 ov), 2-174 (Smith, 24.6 ov) Bowling: Imran Khan 6-2-43-0, Yasir Shah 14-0-124-1, Wahab Riaz 7-0-28-1 (nb-1, w-1), Azhar Ali 5-0-40-0 Pakistan 2nd innings (target: 465 runs) Azhar Ali not out 11 Sharjeel Khan c Warner b Lyon 40 Yasir Shah not out 3 Extras: (nb-1) 1 Total: (1 wicket; 16 overs) 55 To bat: Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed†, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Imran Khan Fall of wickets 1-51 (Sharjeel Khan, 11.6 ov) Bowling: MA Starc 4-018-0 (nb-1), JR Hazlewood 5-1-8-0, NM Lyon 5-0-271, SNJ O'Keefe 2-1-2-0

left in the day and another 98 on day five. Sharjeel’s attacking instincts were given brief vent but his time in the middle on debut was ended when he flicked without due care and attention to Warner, lurking at midwicket.

Earlier, Yasir had lasted more than an hour in the company of Younis to ensure Smith needed to call upon Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood more than he would have preferred if he were to send Pakistan back in. Hazlewood finished an exemplary display with four wickets, the last of which a sharp reverse swinger to bowl Imran Khan for a duck.

Australia had one glimmer of hope to end Pakistan’s innings quickly when play got under way, as Starc coaxed an outside edge from Younis’ bat.

However, Matthew Wade, back on the field having missed most of day three due to illness, was unable to hold onto the edge as he dived to his right.

By the time Hazlewood found Yasir’s edge, 44 runs

in a great spot for a spectator as Australia’s vice-captain fired shots to all parts and briefly threatened the world record for fastest Test hundred as a follow-up to his century before lunch on day one of this match.

In the end Warner got a fraction ahead of himself, bowled when aiming an ugly smear at Wahab Riaz, but he earned a second standing ovation of the Test and allowed Khawaja and Smith to carry on comfortably in his wake - the captain ended the session with a thumping six into the SCG Members.

The runs continued to flow after tea, Smith moving along at a scarcely slower pace than Warner had set, and he was surprised to be given out when the third umpire Ian Gould detected the merest touch on the glove down the leg side when he tried to sweep Yasir. There was time for some flourish from Peter Handscomb before the declaration arrived, leaving Australia with plenty of time to chase a clean sweep of the series. (Cricinfo)

SATURDAY, january 7, 2017

19

L Balaji appointed KKR bowling coach

L Balaji picked up 44 wickets in 42 matches for Kolkata Knight Riders

K

olkata Knight Riders have named former Indian seamer L Balaji as their new bowling coach for the 2017 IPL. He replaces Wasim Akram, who said “professional commitments and time constraints” had prevented him from being with the team this year.

Balaji, who represented Knight Riders between 2011 and 2013, is currently in his first season as a fulltime bowling coach with his former state side, Tamil Nadu. “I had thoroughly

enjoyed my stint as a player for KKR,” he said, “And I am delighted to be back to the franchise that I have admired.”

Knight Riders chief Venky Mysore was pleased to have one of his old team members back. “It is great to welcome Bala back to the KKR family.

He was an integral part of our team and played a key role in helping us win the championship in 2012.”

The 2017 IPL is set to begin on April 5 with the final scheduled for May 21.

(Cricinfo)

WICB security team to visit Pakistan A

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) delegation is expected to tour Pakistan later this month as the body continues to consider the prospect of playing a couple of T20 matches in Lahore later this year.

Pakistan has been blacklisted as a touring venue for major teams following an attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in 2009. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are, however, in the process of trying to convince the West Indies to play T20 matches in Lahore before Pakistan tour the Caribbean. Ahead of considering the proposal the regional board will send a number of officials to hold talks and assess security conditions in the city.

“We have invited the West Indies to play two or three T20 matches before we go and play a similar number of matches against them in Florida in March-April before the full Test series in the Caribbean,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) senior official Najam Sethi said.

“We have requested them to consider touring Pakistan before the Florida matches for couple of T20 games and we have also sent our comprehensive security plan to them for deliberation,” he added.

The West Indies delegation’s visit will coincide with arrival of the Pakistan Task Team chairman Giles Clarke in Lahore on January 27. (Sportsmax)

20

saturDAY, january 7, 2017

Yuvraj recalled, Kohli named ODI and T20I captain

Y

uvraj Singh has been recalled to both the ODI and T20I squads for India's upcoming series against England in January. Virat Kohli was named the captain in both limited-overs formats after MS Dhoni stepped down on Wednesday.

While Dhoni retained his place in both

ways about it. But, you still need to have a back-up ready, no? You have to prepare a succession chart, that is what is happening.

Mahi is one guy who doesn't keep knowledge within himself; he is always there to share. So what else do you want?"

In the absence of the injured Rohit

Yuvraj Singh last played an ODI in 2013

squads, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was named in the T20I squad. This was the 19-year-old Pant's first international call-up. It followed a prolific Ranji Trophy, in which he scored 972 runs at an average of 81, including a triple-century at a strike rate of 94.

A BCCI official told ESPNcricinfo that they hope to find a successor for Dhoni, though he remains the first-choice behind the stumps. "As far as MS is concerned, he is fit and fine and there is no two

Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane kept his spot in the ODIs, but the selectors opted for youth in the T20Is, going for Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman Mandeep Singh ahead of Rahane. Shikhar Dhawan, who had been kept out of the Test squad despite recovering from his hand injury, walked back into the ODI squad.

Suresh Raina made a return too, but only to the T20I squad. He was originally selected for the ODI series against New Zealand, but illness ruled him out of the initial stag-

W

es and he was later released. Considering he has only played five first-class matches since the end of the IPL in May 2016, the BCCI official said the selectors preferred to ease Raina back into international cricket.

"See, that is the reason why we put him in T20. We will see how his progresses and we will take a call in [ODIs]" R Ashwin, whose workload has been managed carefully because India are playing 13 Tests in their home season, was back in both the squads after he missed the closing stages of Tamil Nadu's Ranji campaign with a sports hernia. Ravindra Jadeja, too, made a comeback to both the limitedovers squads after resting during the New Zealand ODIs. Royal Challengers Bangalore legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal took the place of Amit Mishra in the T20I squad while veteran Amit Mishra retained his spot in the ODIs. Ashish Nehra, who missed the tours of Zimbabwe and the USA, came back to the T20I side, with the selectors going for experience in the bowling attack.

The return of the 35-year-old Yuvraj, though, remained the biggest talking point.

Yuvraj last played for India in the World T20 in March 2016 and has not played ODIs since December 2013. He averaged 18.53 in his last 19 matches in the format going back to the start of 2012. The selectors, however, recalled him based on his form in the 201617 Ranji Trophy, where he scored 672 runs in five matches for Punjab, at an average of 84.00, making two hundreds including a 260 against Baroda.

"We should appreciate the way Yuvraj Singh has played in domestic cricket," chairman of selectors MSK Prasad said.

"All these days we thought he hasn't played long innings. But he has scored a doublehundred. He scored 180 [sic] on the Lahli wicket."

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was yet to regain fitness after missing the last two Tests against England with a right knee injury. Some of the players coming back from injury were set to prove their fitness in the two warm-up matches against the England side in Mumbai. Dhawan and Rahane were set to play in the side games.

Nehra, who has recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the IPL and the domestic season, will get to prove his fitness in the first of the tour games.

The selection meeting was delayed on Friday because of a lack of clarity over protocol in the wake of the Supreme Court order on January 2, which left the BCCI without most of its office-bearers. The meeting was supposed to begin at 12.30pm IST but it only began at 3.15pm after clarification was received from the Lodha Committee.

It was eventually convened by the board's CEO Rahul Johri. (Cricinfo) ODI squad: KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (capt), MS Dhoni, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav T20I squad: KL Rahul, Mandeep Singh, Virat Kohli (capt), MS Dhoni (wk), Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Manish Pandey, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra

Scorpions unveil Sewell ahead of Super50

Badree facing battle O to be fit for final Brisbane Heat games

est Indian spinner Samuel Badree is facing a battle to be fit in time for the closing weeks of the Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash League season.

Scans confirmed that Badree suffered a grade one hamstring tear on Tuesday night in the team’s three-wicket loss to the Sydney Sixers.

The injury will put the spinner out of contention for the next couple of weeks, which will see him miss two important top-of-the-table clashes with Perth Scorchers. The player will fight to be fit for the team’s final two matches against Melbourne Stars and Renegades on January 17th and 20th respectively.

"It's at the lesser end of the scale so we will work now on getting Samuel strong and ready to play again in the back end of the tournament," Heat physiotherapist Martin Love said on Thursday.

In the meantime the club has signed England T20 International left-arm paceman Tymal Mills to replace the injured West Indian. Badree is the latest in a string of injuries for West Indian players at the Australia tournament, which has already seen Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo and women’s player Deandra Dottin ruled out of contention.

Badree has taken four wickets at an economy rate of 6.12 in the tournament. (Sportsmax)

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

ff-spinning all-rounder Damani Sewell is the only new face added to the Nikita Miller-led Jamaica Scorpions squad set to take part in the Regional Super50 cricket tournament slated to begin later this month.The 22-yearold Sewell, who plays for St Ann CA in local club cricket, is a former national Under-15 representative.

During the senior team trial matches, the right-hand late-order batsman has been dismissed only once in five innings, while top-scoring with 37 not out. With his off-spin bowling he has taken 13 wickets, and up to yesterday he was second on the wicket-takers’ list behind left-arm pacer Gavon Brown.

“I’m feeling elated because I came to the trials with the expectation that it would be difficult. But over the course of the trials I put out the work and the work has paid off,” Sewell, the former York Castle High student, said yesterday.

Also included in the 14-man set-up is United States-based top-order batsman Steven Taylor. The 23-year-old left-hander represented the ICC Americas outfit in last season’s Super50 and has also played for Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League.

The rest of the squad includes batsmen John Campbell, Jermaine Blackwood, Andre McCarthy, Brandon King, Rovman Powell, and the pair of wicketkeeper/batsmen Chadwick Walton and Antiguan Devon Thomas.

Miller, the left-arm finger spin ace, plus Damion Jacobs, the wrist spinner, and Sewell are the slow bowlers team Scorpions are expected to rely on.

The veteran fast bowler Jerome Taylor, who recently retired from Test cricket, has also been selected.

He is expected to guide the young pace-bowling pair of Reynard Leveridge and Brown.

Christopher Gayle, who remains an in-demand star on the Twenty20 circuit, had expressed an interest in representing the Scorpions in this season’s Super50, but national chairman of selectors Junior Bennett said the left-hander was ruled out due to injury.

Another international star, Marlon Samuels, is said to have signed with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes.

Squad: Nikita Miller (capt), John Campbell, Steven Taylor, Jermaine Blackwood, Brandon King, Andre McCarthy, Rovman Powell, Chadwick Walton, Devon Thomas, Damion Jacobs, Jerome Taylor, Reynard Leveridge, Gavon Brown, Nikita Miller will remain captain of the Damani Sewell. (WIndiescricket) Scorpions

21

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he Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) had a very successful year in 2016 and has all intentions of having another successful year in 2017. The BVA, which is touted as one of the most active associations in Guyana over the years, will serve off his platter of events today.

The BVA 2017 season will get into action today with the play-offs of a one-day open competition at the Blairmount Ground, West Berbice, beginning at 10:00h. Teams are asked to turn up with their uniforms and balls if possible and get registered.

Prizes, trophies and other memorabilia are up for grabs and will be presented to the winning and runner-up teams, as well as the most outstanding individual players, including the best setter, best spiker, most disciplined team and the team in the best uniform.

A number of top teams have so far registered for the competition, including the Port Mourant Training Centre One, Two, and Three, Port Mourant Jaguars, Strikers, Albion United, Tain Humanitarian, Corriverton Jets, No 52 Survival, Defenders, Rollers and Port Mourant Jaguars among others.

Female teams including Black Birds, Port Mourant and Corriverton females, and teams from the riverine communities of Orealla and Siparuta are also expected to participate.

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F

Three-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome

roome rejected a therapeutic use exemption to treat a medical condition during his 2015 win on moral grounds.

The Briton, who rides for Team Sky, was granted TUEs twice previously, in May 2013 and April 2014, to treat asthma.

Froome was told he had a condition that required a TUE during the 2015 Tour.

However, he said: "I didn't feel having a TUE in the last week of the Tour was something I was prepared to do. It did not sit well morally with me."

In 2013 Froome's TUE allowed him to use prednisolone for his asthma for a week before winning the Criterium du Dauphine - a week-long race in June which is usually a good indicator of form leading into July's Tour de France - while in 2014 he took it for a week during the Tour de Romandie, as he defended his title.

Britain's most decorated Olympian Sir Bradley Wiggins, who retired in December, and Team Sky have come under scrutiny for Wiggins' use of TUEs and the contents of a medical package he received in 2011, after his confidential medical information was leaked by hackers 'Fancy Bears'.

TUEs allow the use of otherwise banned substances if athletes have a genuine medical need, and Wiggins, an asthma sufferer, said he sought them to "put himself back on a level playing field".

Froome told BBC Sport it was "healthy" to be asking questions about why Wiggins was granted a TUE to take anti-inflammatory drug triamcinolone before the 2011 Tour de France, his 2012 Tour win and the 2013 Giro d'Italia.

There is no suggestion that either Froome, Wiggins, British Cycling or Team Sky have broken any rules.

British Cycling has been unable to provide paperwork to prove the contents of a medical package delivered to Sir Bradley Wiggins in France in 2011, according to MP Damian Collins.

Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford told MPs earlier in December the package used by Wiggins contained a decongestant but did not have supporting documentary evidence.

Froome, who says he is aiming to win a fourth Tour de France title this year, added: "The fact that we're having that debate about authenticity means there's a problem with the system.

"I think Wada [the World Anti-Doping Agency] need to tighten their regulations around TUEs, so they're not something that we question, their legitimacy.

"It's not good for sport in general," he added. "The fact that we're discussing the validity of results that brings it back to the authorities, it is something they need to tighten up on so that there aren't questions being asked anymore." (BBC)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, january 7, 2017

Jones wants education, health and financial aid for athletes

A

s this year of sporting activities kicks into motion, the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, is pushing to have health, education and financial aid for national athletes taken under the control of the Government.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, Jones related that this is something that he has always envisioned since assuming office in 2015 and is a part of the roadmap he sets for the National Sports Commission (NSC).

director related.

In 2016, the NSC revealed that it would be keeping its promise to have a national athletes’ database constructed and based on the records of this database, athletes will be selected from the various disciplines and weighed on their achievements.

The Director of Sport added that not only does he want to see athletes on the database being educated, but “we want these student athletes we have in our

will be administered.”

Also, one of the visions for the upward movement of sports in the country is the financial aid afforded to athletes to travel and compete abroad.

“If a requirement is needed for them to travel abroad, it comes under the responsibility of the Government of Guyana,” Jones said he hopes to one day become a reality.

The reason, he argued, is that “this in itself give parents peace of mind that they

(front row from left) Director of Sports Christopher Jones, Commissioner to the National Sports Commission, Lavern Fraser and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Ivan Persaud. (back row from left) Emmanuel Archibald, Alque Stanley, Natrina Hooper and Owen Adonis.

“We want to see this [scholarships] being adopted by the Ministry of Education, where once a student athlete reaches the age of 17, the Government will provide a scholarship for that athlete to attend the University of Guyana,” the

database have preferential treatment at our health facilities,” going on to explain the scenario that “while during practices or whatever the case be he or she obtain injuries, they can go to any of the government medical institution where treatment

know for sure that if their son or daughter is participating in sports at the end of the road or in the future, he or she can attend the University of Guyana, therefore they have to continue in sports and they have to have their academics up kept. As

well as if they obtain injuries by virtue of being in this programme, the Government of Guyana takes this responsibility, all of this is part and parcel of setting up this database in 2016 and now the district structure in 2017 of course all of this is tied to and keeping with the setting up of facilities across the country.”

The NSC created history in 2016 by affording athletes for the first time, scholarships to study abroad.

The athletes were awarded scholarships to study at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus and GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport in Jamaica to the tune of $4 million each, for four years.

The recipients include three athletes and one Physical Education teacher from the St Rose’s High School.

Twenty-year-old Owen Adonis, who specialises in the 100 and 200-metres races, is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Studies.

Emmanuel Archibald 22, who is a 100-metre race athlete, is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, while 25-year old Natrina Hooper specialises in a number of disciplines which include triple jump, long jump, and the 100 and 400-metre races.

She is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and Gender Development studies. However, Alque Stanley, the Physical Education Teacher, is the first ever Guyanese to be awarded a scholarship in the capacity of teacher.

US names camp roster ahead of Jamaica friendlies

U

nited States head coach Bruce Arena has extended invitations to 32 players for a training camp that opens on January 10 at the National Training Center in Carson, California.

It will be the first training camp under Arena’s guidance since he replaced Jurgen Klinsmann last November.

The entire roster is comprised of players from Major League Soccer clubs. In the group are nine World Cup veterans, including Toronto FC teammates Michael Bradley (126 caps/15 goals) and Jozy Altidore (99/37).

As part of the preparations for March’s resumption of the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Americans will also host friendlies against Serbia and Jamaica on January 29 and February 3, respectively. "With games at the end of the month and the World Cup Qualifiers in March, this is going to be a critical time for us," said Arena, who is in his second spell in charge. "It's important that we come in and quickly establish an understanding of what we are about and how we go about building our team. As for the players, we are coming into this with an open mind, so it's a huge opportunity for them." (Sportsmax) ROSTER: GOALKEEPERS: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders FC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls) DEFENDERS: DaMarcus Beasley (no club), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Greg Garza (Atlanta United FC), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Taylor Kemp (D.C. United), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) MIDFIELDERS: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas),Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Jermaine Jones (Unattached), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Kekuta Manneh (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC) FORWARDS: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)

Pepsi Hikers to play Ventures HC Indoor Tournament

A

fter winning their 7th title in the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival in Guyana, the Pepsi Hikers will now seek to take the title of the 12th annual Ventures Hockey Club Indoor Hockey Tournament in Trinidad and Tobago.

The tournament is expected to run from today until January 10, and will be played at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, Hamilton Holder Street, Port of Spain from 09:00h daily.

Pepsi Hikers have remained undefeated in the 2016 season, walking away with the Lucozade Indoor Hockey Championships and the GTT indoor tournament as well.

Hikers snatched a 5-3 win over Toronto Lions during the DMW Festival to cap off their excellent 2016 season.

The team boasts a host of talented players who have all excelled in the recent tournaments, including rising star Aroydy Branford who was named male Most Valuable Player (MVP) on two separate occasions, as well as finished the leading goal scorer for 2016.

The team will be looking for the experience of stalwart Robert France to guide them and lead from the front as he is no amateur with the stick, while their defence will be spearheaded by one of the best goalkeepers on the local scene, Jason Hoyte, who impressed fans during the DMW festival.

The contingent includes: Robert France(Captain), Aroydy Branford (DMW 2016 Men's Category MVP), Jason Hoyte (DMW 2016 Men's Category Best Goal Keeper), Jamraj Assanah, Andrew Stewart, Randy Hope, Rayon Branford, Paramanand Dindial and Devin Munroe.

The club would like to thank all of their sponsors for making this trip possible including Global Technology Inc, Woodpecker Products, R Bassoo & Sons Construction Company, and other donors that prefer to remain anonymous.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, january 7, 2017

Outdoor Hockey LABA club meeting could be having set for today its own facility T

GHB President Philip Fernandes

F

or years there has been the cry of the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) to have its own facility, and with the indoor hockey facility housed at the National Gymnasium, discussions between the relevant parties hint to have the land located next to the Gymnasium become the home of outdoor hockey.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, President of the Guyana Hockey Board, Philip Fernandes has indicated that discussions over the prospects of this facility has indeed been ongoing for years, however, it is now beginning to take shape.

The Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, has stated that “When I got into office in 2015 I recognised that there is a land space available, in fact it is the property of the National Sports Commission (NSC) which is located on Mandela Avenue, it’s just next door to the National Gymnasium.”

Meanwhile Fernandes related that “At our last dis-

cussion with the Director of Sport we had a very interesting discussion relating to the issue of the land immediately to the south of the current gymnasium.”

He noted that “It is a great area and it would be good there is some structure on it in terms of a wall and when we last discussed it there were some uncertainties as to how to manoeuver around that obstacle. The Hockey Board would require the removal of that wall which comes at a cost and of course the cost of the wall had a cost to build.”

However, the land has its share of issues as it relates to ownership which has hindered the progression of the facility.

“Currently there is a situation between the sports commission and the municipality of Georgetown because some documentation they have showed that the land is property of the municipality where as in terms of the National Sports Commission that proper-

ty is part of our act of 1993 and when we look in terms of documentation that goes further back the sports commission act is further back in terms of years of ownership. Once that issue is sorted out, that is the land the sports commission is looking at to make available to the hockey federation with a view of their international body putting down an artificial turf for hockey,” Jones related.

But looking to the future, the Hockey Board President reflected the opinion that he is hopeful there can be a finalisation as to whether the sport will have the green light or prospect another location.

“We are establishing a meeting hopefully sometime this month with the Director of Sport and that is one of the things we would like to discuss with him. So we hope we can get out of that meeting the finalisation of the use of that space,” he stated.

Hong Kong 7s squad named

23

he Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA) will be having a special General Meeting this afternoon at 18:00h at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Pavilion for its affiliate club representatives. These clubs are Victory Valley Royals, Retrieve Raiders, Block 2 Flames, Half Mile Bulls, Amelia's Ward Jets, Bankers Trust Falcons and Kwakwani.

Either two executives, Secretary/President and club captains are invited to attend. Discussions will surround this year's Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections, and immediate tournaments for the first-quarter of this year.

Secretary of the LABA, Joseph Chapman, informed that the meetings are to be chaired by President of the association Lawrence Simon.

Among the immediate tournaments to be looked at are the postponed Open Christmas championship, and another 104.3 Power FM Open.

Actually, the LABA Executive will meet at 16:00H before the Special General Meeting at 17:00h at the MSC pavilion.

Clubs are advised that these meetings will not exceed two hours and representatives are reminded punctuality is most important.

GAPLF AGM billed for January 14 T

he National Resource Centre will once again be the venue to host the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation’s (GAPF) Annual General Meeting (AGM), along with the electing of new office bearers.

Though initially scheduled for this weekend, the Federation shifted the date to January 14 and will begin promptly at 09:00h. The current executive committee of the GAPF consists of: Ed Caesar (President), Anis-Ade Thomas (Vice President), Melissa Tucker (Secretary), Tai Eusibo (Public Relations Officer), Andrew Austin (Treasurer), Martin Webster (Committee Member), Erwyn The agenda for the AGM is as follows: Smith (Committee Member), Andrea 1. Renewal of Affiliation 2. Minutes of 2016 AGM Smith (Committee 3. President’s Report 4. General Secretary’s Report 5. Treasurer’s Report 6. Election of 2017 Office Bearers Member).

7. Any Other Business

W

ith Guyana winning the Rugby Americas North sevens title and earning qualification for the Hong Kong sevens tournament, the Guyana Rugby Football Union has named the squad for the competition later this year.

The ‘Green Machine’ squad is expected to begin training for the tournament which will be played in April of this year.

Guyana qualified for this year’s Series following their win over Trinidad and Tobago in the Rugby Americas North final. The Hong Kong Sevens Series is slated for April 7-9, and this is the third time that Guyana has won a spot in the Series having debuted in 2012.

As is the case with the majority of the sports in the country, funding has placed the country’s plans to go on the trip on pause, pending the financial support; however the stakeholders are confident that Guyana will participate in the competition, as it is one of the more highly competitive tournaments worldwide.

There have been tremendous strides in

the sport over the past few years, catching the attention of the administration who has since signalled their intention to take control of the rugby Field in the National Park to do infrastructural works in order to have the team be able to train better.

Leading up to Hong Kong, the team will train in the National Park on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 16:30h and on Saturdays from 15:30h. On Sundays, the outfit will train from 09:00h.

The Hong Kong Sevens will attract 28 teams from across the world battling for top honours.

Robin Roberts has been named the Manager, while Shane Grant has been named Coach and Barrington Browne the physiotherapist. The Guyana squad reads: Avery Corbin, Blaise Bayley, Claudius Butts, Dwayne Schroeder, Godfrey Brooms, Jamal Angus, Kevin McKenzie, Lancelot Adonis, Osaie McKenzie, Patrick King, Peabo Hamilton, Richard Staglon, Rickford Cummings, Ronald Mayers, Rupert Giles, Ryan Gonsalves, Rondell McArthur and Vallon Adams.

T

Red Force Super 50 squad selected

he Trinidad and Tobago Cricket board has named a strong 14-member squad for the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board Super50 limited overs tournament.

The defending cham-

p i ons Red

Opening batsman Nicholas Alexis

Force team have been placed in Group “A” along with invitees Kent Spitfires, Leeward Islands Hurricanes, West Indies Under-19s, and the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

Group “B” comprises Barbados Pride, Guyana Jaguars, CCC Marooners, Jamaica Scorpions, and the ICC Americas.

Chief Executive Officer of the TTCB said,”In furtherance to the team for the Super 50 do note that Darren Bravo’s availability is dependent on the outcome of his pending meeting w i t h

the

WICB. Additionally, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons and Samuel Badree are all unavailable.”

The newcomers to the team are opening batsman Nicholas Alexis, leftarm spinner Khary Pierre, all-rounder Roshon Primus and fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell. Returning to the Super50 team are Ravi Rampaul, Shannon Gabriel and Dinesh Ramdin.

T&T Regional Super 50 Squad: Dinesh Ramdin, Kyle Hope, Evin Lewis, Kjorn Ottley, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Alexis, Roshon Primus, Ravi Rampaul, Shannon Gabriel, Khary Pierre, Jon Russ Jaggesar, Imran Khan, Sheldon Cottrell, Rayad Emrit, Roland Sampath – Manager, Augustine Logie – Coach, Kelvin Williams – Assistant Coach, Adarayll John – Trainer, Ruel Rigby – Physio (TTCB)

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Hong Kong 7s squad named Guyana will make their third appearance in the Hong Kong Sevens

Outdoor Hockey could be having its own facility Pg 23

The prospective site for the outdoor facility

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