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Guyanese teacher stabbed to death in Bahamas

Issue No. 2974

Saturday, September 10, 2016

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3 homeless after Essequibo Coast fire

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Baramita P17 worst affected community for suicide, rape, alcohol …teenage pregnancy out of control – ROC report

Faeces throwing case

Page 15

Page 12

Freddie Kissoon’s sanity in question as trial continues

Private Sector must play critical role in climate change mitigation – Harmon Page 10

Cummings Lodge man shot during botched P7 robbery

Corentyne ‘bad man’ P11 gets 12 years for chopping ex-lover Think outside the box for change – Cathy Hughes P13

Participants along with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at the closing of the Caribbean Climate Change Partnership Capacity Building Training Seminar on Friday

Billions in out-of-court settlements

Page 9

Goes after international investor BaiShanLin for $80M? – Teixeira

World Bank monitoring EDWC P14 adaptation project

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

NEWS

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, September 10 – 11:00h-12:30h and Sunday, September 11 – 13:00h-14:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, September 10 – 10:10h-11:40h and Sunday, September 11 – 11:45h-13:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions in the early morning hours followed by heavy to light rain showers. Clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South south-westerly to North-easterly between 0.89 metre and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 10:36h and 23:03h reaching maximum heights of 2.11 metres and 2.15 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 16:30h reaching a minimum height of 1.14 metres.

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Pharmagate

Sussex Street ‘house bond’ deal stinks to high heaven …as Cabinet now gives seal of approval to corruption, cronyism – PPP/C Chief Whip

T

he Sussex Street ‘house bond’ deal, which sees Larry Singh’s Linden Holding Inc being paid $12.5 million monthly for the storage of drugs and medical supplies, “stinks to high heavens” and demonstrates that the current Administration is incapable of doing the right thing and immediately terminate the contract. This, despite the “platitudes” being offered by Head of State, President David Granger, on the virtues of transparency and accountability by his Administration.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira made that damning pronouncement on Friday when she met with members of the local media corps, and said that the official pronouncements made by the Director of Public Information, Imran Khan, only serve to reinforce the view that Cabinet was essentially now involved in the endorsement of, and cover-up of a corrupt transaction.

The Opposition Chief Whip was at the time speaking to topical issues and reminded that People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) would be exploring all of the parliamentary options available to it.

Further embarrassment

Teixeira said from all appearances, Government now appeared incapable of doing what was the right and honourable thing, and suggested that Singh of Linden Holding Inc should, in fact, step up and rescind the contract entered into with Government to save the Administration from further embarrassment.

She said the masterminds behind the affair had in fact prepared a watertight contract that would have to be resolved, “either by a gentle-

terminate the contract.”

The Opposition Chief Whip said Governments were expected to do what was honourable.

She noted that Singh would always have the option to move to the courts, “but the issue is that this matter stinks to high heavens and, therefore, there is only one recourse”.

Teixeira was adamant that President Granger has a responsibility to terminate the contract with Linden Holding Inc.

Parliamentary options

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira addressing members of the media at Freedom House on Friday

man’s agreement and if the gentleman who has been the beneficiary of such largesse of the Government is willing to not further embarrass the Government he has supported, he should withdraw and let the contract be terminated…if they don’t wish to do that, then they are obviously trying to broker something”.

Teixeira told media operatives that based on the official pronouncement coming out of Cabinet, the entire sordid affair was clearly a repayment ploy for Singh.

She said too that even more worrying signs have been signalled by Cabinet following its review of the Cabinet Sub-Committee recommendations, and pointed to the fact that Cabinet has decided to expedite the process of securing a new bond.

This, she said, will no doubt lead to another rush to sole source another facility and “will be a repeat of the original contract”.

Unacceptable

Cabinet, through the Government’s Director of Public Information, on

Thursday announced that the council of ministers chaired

by President Granger, had completed its review of the entire affair and has agreed to go ahead and look for another facility.

Cabinet had found the deal to be “undesirable”, but nonetheless did not terminate the contract.

Teixeira suggested that throughout her political career, including serving in various ministerial and other capacities, she has never seen such an ironclad arrangement, which has essentially bound Government into a 12year arrangement at an annual cost of in excess of $150 million.

Government not only fronted a security deposit of $25 million for the facility, but agreed to pay a monthly rental of $12.5 million in addition to all utility, security and other charges.

“This is unacceptable,” Teixeira said, and reminded that “justice isn’t always there when you want it, but it comes out and the more this Government refuse to do what is correct and that is to

Meanwhile, asked about the approach of the political Opposition in face of the Cabinet decision on the drug bond brouhaha, Teixeira said her Party was currently still aiming to have Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton placed before the Committee of Privileges.

She pointed, too, to the fact that her Party could very well be open to bringing a motion to debate the entire sordid affair in the full Assembly, in addition to resorting to the use of the various sectoral committees.

Asked about extra-parliamentary options, the Opposition Chief Whip was reluctant to divulge how the Party would approach this, saying “we will see”.

Teixeira used the opportunity to also remind the media operatives present that the Party was still to see an official apology that had been promised by Minister Norton, to be submitted to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland.

She said this was the position of her Party despite the recent appearance by Dr Norton to publicly offer an apology, an activity Teixeira dismissed as “quite hilarious”.

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saturday, september 10, 2016

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Editorial

Re-examine the SARA Bill

O

ver the past few weeks, there have been mounting concerns being raised about the proposed State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) Bill and the dangers it poses to persons’ civil liberties in the context of their fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution of Guyana.

So far, like in many other instances since the coalition Government took office, in spite of public pressure, it seemed unmoved to re-examine the Bill before it goes to the Parliament. This is quite unfortunate as such an important piece of legislation requires much thought considering the huge impact it could have on the daily lives of citizens.

The SARA Bill slated for the National Assembly in October will incorporate the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) into an agency and is expected to make its operations more efficient.

Legal luminaries have explained that it is a civil recovery and civil remedy bill, which means it is non-conviction based.

However, the Bill makes provisions for the Director of SARA to initiate criminal proceedings, if, or when, the need arises.

There are several reasons being proffered as to why the Bill should be re-examined. And we believe there is enough justification for the widespread calls being made for the Government to undertake a complete review.

To begin with, many stakeholders have questioned the necessity of the Bill considering the fact that more than 90 per cent of the offences created by the Bill are already in Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation and other related legislation.

There is proof that the Bill in its present form tramples on rights that have been set out in various pieces of legislation and the Constitution in relation to the protection that citizens enjoy.

Further, what causes most to worry is the fact that the head of the Agency is not accountable to a higher authority and is only required to present an annual report to the National Assembly. Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall had cause to question the provisions of the Bill since in its current construct, its “creates an environment that encourages the violation of individuals’ constitutional rights and undermines the rule of law since it confers powers 10 times greater than those of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on a sole individual – the Director of the Agency”.

It should be noted that just a few days ago, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had also raised some very valid points which the authorities must take into consideration. The PSC argued that the Bill in its present form is not a good signal to investors who will require access to State resources such as land, licences, access rights, etc, as it provides opportunities for legitimate investors to be harassed and politically victimised.

For example, the body drew reference to the fact that the Bill has been drafted from the perspective that the Government of Guyana does not know what it owns or what the State has lost over the years and, as such, it provides allencompassing investigative and surveillance powers to the Director and staff of the Agency to snoop around into private accounts and financial records of citizens to determine what assets of the State were lost and needed to be recovered.

Another concern relates to the manner in which the Agency is to be funded. As it stands, the Bill, through its source of funding, encourages the Unit to pursue and seize properties haphazardly and without any firm basis in order to finance its operations since it is expected that funding will come from the sale of seized property.

It is now well accepted that the proposed SARA Bill poses serious questions as to the objectives, purpose and the manner in which it is to be implemented. As we had stated umpteen times before, in a modern democratic culture, Governments are expected to listen and take note of the desires of citizens so as to ensure that they are well-placed to lead comfortable, secure and happy lives. The manner in which the Administration has approached the SARA Bill is certainly at variance with this democratic ideal.

It is hoped that the Opposition and civil society, including the Private Sector, will continue to lobby for a review of the Bill. They must all spread more public awareness about its dangers, in particular, the dictatorial situation it is bound to create and how it would ultimately negatively impact the socioeconomic landscape of the country.

Urban fishing: Several young men in Georgetown took advantage of the sunshine after inclement weather to satisfy their fishing urge (Marceano Narine photo)

The regime’s full-scale attack on the poor Dear Editor, The APNU/AFC regime has of late taken several actions that are obviously illadvised and have severely impacted the poor class of people in our country.

According to several media reports, the Georgetown M&CC have removed vendors from Robb Street, between Alexander and Bourda Streets.

These vendors have plied their trade in this area for many years and this is their sole source of income for themselves and their families. Many of these vendors are single mothers, hustling hard to put food on the table for their children. Now, without warning and/or consultation they are being removed by the bullish actions of the Town Clerk, Royston King.

Deputy Mayor, Sherod Duncan, who was at the time acting as Mayor in the absence of Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, has issued a public statement saying he is unaware of the directive to remove the vendors.

President David Granger and several ministers are on record as stating that the re-

gime is not responsible for finding jobs for the people.

The President urged them to become entrepreneurs and create their own jobs.

The Bourda Market vendors did not have to be so advised. Most of them have been vending their goods for years. They are self-employed and some even create employment for others.

At a time when the economy is grinding to a halt and unemployment is on the rise, the City Council has taken the malicious initiative to take away the livelihood of these hardworking people.

No employment is being created by the regime.

Indeed, all their measures being implemented thus far target small producers and micro-businesses.

This is the same group the regime talks about promoting. But their actions speak the opposite, discouraging development of this sector.

At the time of going to press, it was reported that the City Council backed down due to the militant protests of the vendors.

The small entrepreneurs

are feeling the brunt of the regime’s heavy-handed policies. A case in point is the dilemma a young farmer at Strathhavon, East Coast Demerara experienced at the heavy hands of the regime.

Hamekarran Narine, like other cash-crop farmers, planted his crops on an unused plot of the government reserve. (Cash crop farming is done with the imperative that if the government wants the land, they can have it after the harvest). For some reason, Narine was singled out and his garden was weeded down.

Some two thousand bearing bora plants were destroyed by a stone hearted administration. The poor man was not even allowed to reap his crop. When he protested this dastardly action, he was allegedly told to ‘go and thief.’ This gentleman has a wife and three children to provide for.

These are not stories in isolation. These actions are a continuation of a regime fixated with order. It is a reflection of the militarisation of the state. Order at all cost!

It does not matter if employment is not available. It does not matter that the government is doing nothing to encourage employment. Those self-employed persons are being destroyed.

The President and his ministers’ words are sounding very hollow when they speak of people creating their own jobs. When this is done, these ‘jobs’ are being taken away in the most vicious manner. These vindictive actions will also exacerbate the serious social problems we are facing.

Every day we read in the press of multiple robberies taking place throughout Guyana. These actions will further fuel the criminal spiral in our country. Guyana is sinking in a sea of incompetence and corruption. The working class is being stifled and entrepreneurship is being destroyed.

The regime is leading us back to a time of grave economic crises and a collapsing social sector.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

The struggles of Indo-Guyanese continue Dear Editor, I want to stand with my Indian brothers and sisters as they are going through many struggles on a daily basis. I had visited the Mahaica area recently - a very calm and relaxed village. But it’s a village that has been left behind: the schools, the roads, just a few to list that need to be taken care of. Is it because the majority of the residents are of Indian decent? This is how the villagers feel: being neglected, their voice cannot be heard, many families are living in poverty just because of their ethnicity.

Many Indo-Guyanese in these rural areas depend mainly on farming, they are

the very pillar of the sugar industry, many doing backbreaking cutting and fetching but with incomes that are embarrassing when compared to wages in the bauxite industry.

It is absolutely necessary that more jobs be created in these areas, so that it can be of some benefits to the residents. It is very hard to look at the children on the roadways, selling vegetables, to earn a living and sacrificing even their education due to the state of the economy.

In Ramayana baba Tulisadji says: “A king or a minister that neglects to perform his duty to his subjects, automatically his kingdom will fall.” And I don’t want this

to happen ever to our country, but peace, love and harmony must always prevail.

By and large, rural IndoGuyanese children have yet always consistently striven to do well with the CXC results we see this for ourselves.

The children have proven to us that they are ready to take on the mantle of been leaders of tomorrow, but they are denied the rights to do so, due to the lack of jobs and opportunities.

And to be very frank, as a pandit I have noticed devout Hindus not being able to perform their Pujas (worship) to their deities as often as they used to because of the poor state of the economy and

heavy crimes especially in the country area. Lord Ram says, “once you’re on the right path prescribed by your culture, fear no one, but always stand for what is correct.”

To my brothers and sisters, let your voices be heard, and try your utmost to fervently remain in your culture, now is time to pray and seek the grace of the almighty.

I’m hoping that something can be done, especially in these rural areas. I close by calling on the authorities to pay attention to the cries of the less fortunate.

Sincerely, Surendranauth Persaud Tiwari

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saturday, september 10, 2016

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

Chaos at GPHC morgue NY Guyanese Hindus Dear Editor, On September 2, 2016 I had to visit the GPHC mortuary to identify the body of a relative whose life left his body earlier that morning. I was horrified at the morgue.

No, it wasn’t the fear of dead bodies or jumbies. I was simply shocked by the chaos!

I was in the company of two other relatives and we gave the attendant the name and description of the deceased upon his request.

We stood at the entrance of the morgue as the attendant went through each refrigerator for about 15 minutes. He wore no gloves.

Thank God Ebola never came to Guyana!

The attendant eventually came to us and said he wasn’t finding the body.

While in conversation another attendant came, along with a statelier dressed gentleman and the body search recommenced. The second attendant wore gloves. The dressed-up guy used a piece of paper as the shield between his fingers and the re-

frigerator handles.

They still could not find the body.

I was becoming a bit agitated because we knew for a fact that the corpse was removed from the male medical ward and sent to the mortuary. We also knew that the doctors had already pronounced our relative ‘dead’ so he couldn’t have gone for a stroll up New Market Street.

The first attendant then went to a refrigerator, which we all thought we saw him check before, and declared that he had found the body.

We were allowed to enter the mortuary and confirmed that it was our relative’s body.

This entire process to identify a corpse by one family took almost 30 minutes.

What boggled my mind were the hygienic practice and the labelling arrangement, or lack of it. Why were all workers of the morgue not properly protecting themselves with the use of latex gloves? Why weren’t the refrigerators labelled accord-

ingly, with the name and DOB of the deceased? Why were some occupied refrigerators labelled while others were left unmarked? Is this the reason why bodies were mistakenly processed by funeral homes in the past?

I had the opportunity to visit two mortuaries overseas before.

I will not make a comparison with the functional order of the one in the USA, because everything is expected to be done properly in the USA. There are standards that have to be complied with.

But, right next door in neighbouring Suriname there is much more order. As a matter of fact, the morgue in Paramaribo is so clean, neatly furnished and organised that it compares to a supermarket. I hate to compare or be condescending towards the services in my native land, but it is what it is – Chaos – and urgently needs fixing!

Sincerely, Orette Cutting

Violation of women’s rights Dear Editor, Kindly allow me to share my experiences and views as it relates to the constant violation of the rights of women in our society today.

If we don’t take immediate steps to affect a sharp turnaround, Guyana will become a totally soulless nation.

How can a man claim that he loves his wife, his daughter, his sister, or his mother, while he takes advantage of someone else's wife, someone else's daughter, someone else's sister or someone else's mother - to please his sinful desires? How can he on one hand, respect the female members of his own family and on the other, torment other women with daily physical, mental and emotional abuse?

How can this same man speak highly of a child of his loins, when he brags to his friends about abusing another man's daughter?

How can a man claim to value the feelings, emotions and physical well-being of his own daughter, while he violates those same human privileges of another man's

daughter?

Is it that the men in our society today lack the basic common sense to know that women are the ones who carve and nurture our societies? If you break down the women of our society then you break down the future of our citizenry. If you break down our women then you break their ability to mould – not only our future girls, but our future boys as well.

It is my personal experience that men in our society are afraid of strong women and when they come in contact with one, they purposely attempt to break, torment and abuse her. Their main intent is to break her to the point where she becomes weak and only then will this man be able to conquer her or develop a relationship with her.

Further, men in our society seem to be afraid of being in relationships with strong women simply because of their own inabilities.

Such inabilities are usually the result of being brought up themselves by a broken woman. They will in turn, break their wives who will

in turn, raise boys with those same inabilities - and the circle will continue.

Everyone has a right to be respected, the right to be appreciated and the right to be loved. Let’s educate our boys and enable them to empower and encourage the women in their lives. If we wait to explain this principle to grown men, we’ve waited much too late.

Sincerely, Ann Marie Lyken

observed Ganesh Jayanti

Dear Editor, Guyanese Hindus in the US observed the auspicious festival of Ganesh Jayanti, the appearance of Lord Ganesh, as part of the festival of ten days Chathurthi festival. This celebration was brought by the indentured labourers to the Caribbean some 178 years ago and then transplanted in North America and England by immigrants.

Ganesh murthis are paraded through the streets of Flushing, as they are in Guyana or Trinidad, accompanied by singing and dancing, and then immersed in the ocean or other bodies of water.

Lord Ganesh is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is the first of the Gods or Goddesses to be worshipped in any puja.

Ganesh is the God of wisdom or knowledge. Regardless of any puja, Ganesh is propitiated as mandated by Lord Shiva.

Devotees make offerings of ladoo and a tray of sweets to Ganesha. Guyanese temples were packed during evening services in the US. Ganesh Jayanti is a national holiday in India.

Lord Ganesh is one of the favourite Gods in the Hindu religion. Hindus consider Lord Ganesh as the most important deities because he is the remover of obstacles. It is not surprising to find Ganesha murthis at the entrances of homes, businesses, mandirs and in doorways.

Hence the worship of Ganesh daily and particu-

larly on his birth anniversary and/or before Hindus undertake any project as well as the start of a business day.

The Hindu scriptures glorify the Supreme Almighty who has the sole power to remove all obstacles on the path of the spiritual seeker towards the attainment of Godhead. This seems to be a part of the meaning hidden behind the holy worship of Ganesh also called Ganapati Baba.

Lord Ganesh’s birthday is accompanied by ten days of a massive Ganesh street festival and celebrations all over India. The same is observed in Trinidad, Suriname, and some parts of Guyana, and parts (Flushing, Edison, Dallas, Houston, Orlando) of the US. I witnessed the festival a few times during visits to India where there are huge street processions, and on the final day, beautifully decorated clay murthis are immersed in the rivers or ocean.

It is a sight to behold and experience – a spiritual hair-raising experience.

The tradition is copied in Trinidad and Guyana and Suriname as well.

In NY, Guyanese and Trini devotees made offerings at the Atlantic Ocean.

For Ganesh Jayanthi, mandirs are beautifully decorated and streets swept clean as processions with multi-coloured electronic lights and tassa music make their way to the waterfront, and people dance in celebration. New Yorkers went to

the Rockaways.

In Hinduism, as is the case in other religions, there is only one God or Goddess but He/She takes the names of different deities (such as Lord Krishna, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Goddess Lakshmi, etc) when he (she) makes his (her) appearance on earth. He could appear as a God or as a Goddess (Durga, Latchmie, Parvatie, etc) because Hinduism does not discriminate between the genders.

For each God, there is a corresponding Goddess and each came into the world to perform specific tasks showing people how to live their life. There is a lot of symbolism in the worship of Gods and Goddesses.

Lord Ganesh made his appearance to symbolically offer protection to people. He demonstrated great courage and honesty in standing up against powerful forces and was richly rewarded for his duty. And so people pray to Lord Ganesh to remove obstacles in their path.

With Lord Ganesha being known as the remover of obstacles, Hindus turned out in massive numbers at the temples listening to the pandits’ katha, make offerings, sing bhajan, and partake in aartee and bhojan.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

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Page P

arents have relied on T Berry Brazelton’s parenting advice for decades, for example, his books: Touchpoints Birth-3, Touchpoints 3-6 and Discipline: The Brazelton Way. He is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at Harvard Medical School and founder of The Brazelton Touchpoints Center at Boston Children’s Hospital.

President Obama awarded him a Citizen’s Medal. The Library of Congress named him a Living Legend. (He said, “It’s better than the alternative.”)

He is today’s The Eminents interview. .

(Dr Joshua Sparrow, Director of the Brazelton Touchpoints Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard also contributed to the answers.)

MARTY NEMKO: Most Psychology Today readers know that it’s important to talk to your new-born, to provide lots of nurturing physical contact, and, no matter how frustrated you are, to not to hit a child. Beyond such basics, what should the good parent keep in mind?

BERRY BRAZELTON: Babies can’t get too much attention in the first year.

From Day One, parents should be watching their baby’s response to their parenting. That will show the parent what they’re doing right and wrong for their particular baby. Every baby is different. Keep trying different approaches. Learning to be your child’s parent is about having an experimental, trial-and-error mindset.

That’s why I’m a strong supporter of paid family leave.

guyana-times.com

Foundation

The Experimental Parent Part 1

Parents and children need those first months together to get to know each other.

MN: You say that all kids regress at various predictable points and you call them touchpoints. Flesh out what a touchpoint is.

BB: It’s when a baby has reached the top of his or her capacity and needs to regress to gather steam and begin practising to get to the next developmental step. At that point, he won’t fall asleep; he won’t eat; he’ll cry a lot. These touchpoints are predictable but parents worry that there’s something wrong with their child or with their parenting.

And that’s when they need support—They need to know that all that is normal and will pass.

MN: Your books list many touchpoints. Highlight a few that are particularly important or challenging.

BB: There are six that are particularly stressful for all parents and when an abusive parent is likely to abuse a child. First, there’s unexplained, end-of-day fussing. It begins at around three weeks, usually peaks at eight weeks, and should subside at about 12 weeks. It lasts about three hours a days, three or more days a week. That’s colic. It’s very hard to soothe, driving parents crazy.

MN: Before we get to the rest of the six points, “endof-day fussing” brings up the sleep issue. Many parents have trouble getting their child to sleep and stay asleep.

Any advice?

BB: Start by helping your child realise that s/he can get himself to sleep, for example, by sucking her thumb and using her lovey. Parents shouldn’t force the child, but

rather help the child in stages in which they first sit and talk with the child, sing to the child. After a while, you might say, “Next time, I’m just going to sit here while you get yourself to sleep.” The next time, “I’ll be outside the room but will always be here for you.”

In many other cultures, children don’t sleep alone until the end of the 2nd year or later. We’re expecting a hell of a lot by expecting children to, much earlier, sleep alone in their own room.

MN: Should you ever let a child “cry it out?”

BB: No. When parents ask me about that, I ask, “Isn’t it better to try to understand why the child is crying? Either by watching their behaviour or by talking with them and then perhaps trying soothing, then trying pulling back, soothing more if necessary, seeing how much help the child needs to calm down and how much she is learning to do on her own.”

MN: Okay, back to the six key touchpoints.

JS/BB: The 4 or 5 month touchpoint occurs when kids can focus their eyes much further away than the breast and so may lose interest in feeding. Even though this will turn out to be temporary, it is difficult for parents.

Then the 7 to 9 month touchpoints: The child starts to point and that can make some parents feel bossed around. They can crawl around and put thumbtacks, all sorts of things, in their mouth, requiring babyproofing and watching the baby like a hawk. At nine months, the child starts to read the parent’s nonverbal cues.

That can be trying for parents because that’s when chil-

dren start testing limits, like pointing to an electric socket.

That’s kind of a shock to parents.

Then at age two, there are the temper tantrums, the socalled “Terrible Twos.”

The fifth touchpoint is toilet training. It needn’t be tough but often is a source of struggle between parent and child.

The sixth is at age 3, the “I want to do it myself” problem.

Too often, kids’ drive to do something all by themselves exceeds their ability to do it.

What makes all touchpoints more difficult is that the parents may argue with each other about the right way to respond, which can be made even more difficult when the paediatrician or child-care provider has yet another view.

MN: All this kind of makes a person think twice about the wisdom of having a child, let alone four like you have! If you were a young man again, would you have kids?

BB: Yes, no matter what.

MN: Parenting exists on a continuum between rigid strictness and spoiling. Any rule of thumb you want to offer about that?

BB: Before I gave any advice, I’d share with the parent the stresses that every parent goes through and then ask what they want for their baby.

Nobody learns from being told what to do. They learn from within. And unless they’re ready to learn, you won’t change a damn thing. It’s the hardest thing we teach our students yet it’s crucial – to wait and wait and wait until the parent is ready to learn. (Excerpt from psychologytoday)

How important is teaching literacy in all content areas?

(Continued from Friday)

By Rebecca Alber

Reading

The days of believing that we could hand informational text or a novel to a student and assume he or she makes full meaning of it on their own is a teaching mode of the past. Whether we like it or not, regardless of the content we teach, we are all reading instructors.

Scaffolding the reading by using effective strategies for pre-, during, and after reading, such as previewing text, reading for a purpose, making predictions and connections, think aloud, and using graphic organisers will support all our students, and not just struggling readers and English learners.

Another onus not only on English teachers, but all teachers as reading instructors? We need to inspire both a love for reading, and build reading stamina in our students (this means eyes and mind on the page for more than a minute!)

But, how do we do this? A high-interest classroom library is a great place to start. If you are a Title I school, there should be funds set aside for classroom libraries.

If not, advocate for all classrooms a t

your school site to have a library, even if it’s just a handf u l of books to get you going.

You can make the investment yourself, or have a bookraiser party. Email all your friends a wish list for books that students have requested and those easy sells (Twilight, Guinness Book of World Records...). Ask them to bring one or two of the books to your cocktail/appetiser party.

If you are a physics teacher, do all your books need to be about science? Absolutely not! But you might want to focus primarily on informational, non-fiction books. In fact, with the new national standards for English emphasising more non-fiction text and quite a bit less literature, I say all K-12 teachers need to enhance their libraries with more non-fiction (this can include newspaper and magazine subscriptions as well).

(I’m not going to go into listening as a communication skill, since I think our students do plenty of that already, you can share with your students characteristics of an effective listener and they can practice with each other.)

What role does literacy play in your classroom?

What are some ways you weave instruction in reading, writing, and speaking into the content you teach?

Please share! (Excerpt from w w w . pia.

edutoorg)

NEWS

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Guyanese teacher stabbed Pharmagate No "criminal" liability – Granger to death in Bahamas … rather administrative errors

I

P

The body of the woman is removed from the scene (Photo Shawn Hanna Tribune staff)

olice are investigating the death of a Charles W Saunders School teacher, who was found dead in her home off Soldier Road Friday morning.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Stephen Dean, said the woman was found shortly after 08:00h by residents of an apartment complex on Read Sea Road, suffering from a single wound to the body. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sources told The Tribune that neighbours heard screaming at around 07:00h, which may have led to her discovery. ACP Dean did not disclose the nature of

the wound and said an autopsy would have to be performed to determine the exact cause of death.

Marisha Bowen, a Guyanese, has worked at CW Saunders since 2014.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in a statement released just hours after the discovery by Police, said CW Saunders Principal Shelton Higgs had dismissed school early and that parents were to immediately collect students from the school “due to the untimely death of a teacher”.

“We are following some good leads and we believe this matter is a matter that once we continue along the

trajectory that we are on, we should bring it to resolution very soon,” said ACP Dean.

When asked for more details about the circumstances leading up to the woman’s death and subsequent discovery, ACP Dean said: “We wouldn’t want to go into much more details about that right now because detectives are on the scene and it’s a live matter right now and as the information unfolds, we’ll come back with some more information.”

Friday’s incident came just days after a man died in a hospital of his wounds after reportedly being shot in the Union Village area. (The Tribune)

Cummings Lodge man shot during botched robbery

A

man narrowly escaped death after a man dressed in military apparel attacked him with a gun while he was entering his yard in Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, in the wee hours of Thursday.

Romeo Ramcharran, 36, of 8th Street, Eight Field, Cummings Lodge, was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital nursing a gunshot to his left knee.

Reports are that the man and his two brothers were returning home after imbibing at a shop in the village.

However, as they arrived home, Ramcharran exited the vehicle to urinate as his brothers went into the yard.

As he urinated, the armed man ran towards him and whipped out a gun. He report-

edly put up a fight and it was during this time that the suspect discharged a round hitting him to the left knee.

The man, who was clad in army clothing, escaped while Ramcharran was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he underwent an emergency surgery to have the bullet removed.

It is believed that the

gunman used a .32 revolver.

Ramcharran explained that ranks from Sparendaam and Turkeyen Police stations took statements and promised to investigate.

Ramcharran a miner told Guyana Times that he is happy to be alive after the traumatic ordeal. The Police are continuing their investigations.

n light of mounting calls for the Government to sanction Public Health Minister Dr George Norton over the highly controversial $12.5 million Sussex Street, Georgetown ‘drugbond’ deal, President David Granger has pointed out that the issue is merely an “administrative error” and did not warrant any criminal liability.

Speaking on the weekly television programme – The Public Interest – the Head of State explained that at the time, pharmaceuticals were brought due to the high demands from hospitals across the country. He noted that after unfavourable proposals from the existing facility, the Public Health Minister opted to rent a facility that was in the city so that there can be easy access to the drugs for distribution.

“Those would have been mitigations for the action that was taken… So there was no criminality, it was a question of trying to get the job done and errors were made. But the Minister apologised and we have corrected those errors. As far as I’m concerned, we have now put in place a system which will prevent a reoccurrence,” the President stated.

According to the Head of State Bond, following an investigation Cabinet has considered recommendations made and has determined that henceforth, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will oversee the rental of facilities for its sister-ministries.

President David Granger

“We learnt now that the subject ministry is not necessarily the best judge of the suitably of a particular premise or facility to be rented, and we have now moved that responsibility under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure,” the President declared.

Moreover, it was pointed out to President Granger during the television programme that in its 15 months in office, his administration has experience some incidents that has basically damaged its “brand”.

The reporters explained that there have been calls on numerous occasions for Cabinet members to be disciplined and/or removed from office, as in the case of Dr Norton.

However, the Head of State posited that there will be no reshuffling of his Cabinet. He stated that the

changes made at the beginning of 2016 are designed to be improve Cabinet’s performance, that is, the creation of the Ministry Public Telecommunications and moving Tourism under the portfolio of the Business Ministry.

Nevertheless, Granger admitted that there have some “errors” made by members of his Cabinet but he was quite to highlight that those were not as a result of criminal acts. He noted that within the 15 months in office, there have been human errors, administrative errors and errors stemming from situations that were inherited from the previous administration.

“Yes we accepted that there have been errors but those errors are not really as a result of criminality, they’ve been administrative errors and they have been corrected. Every government makes errors but we want to make sure that we are free and fair,” he stated.

Furthermore, President Granger noted that whenever something happens involving a Cabinet Member that is damaging to government, then an investigation is launched.

“Whenever necessary, we have asked ministers to explain and give reasons for their conduct and those matters are dealt with at Cabinet level,” he remarked. (Vahnu Manickchand)

8 news

saturDAY, september 10, 2016 | guyana-times.com

IN THE COURTS

NA man busted with 1.6 kilos of ganja – previous sentence pending

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New Amsterdam man was on Thursday busted with a quantity of Cannabis Sativa, along the Corentyne Highway, Region 6 (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Records show that the man, Sheldon Simon, 45, was previously sentenced in his absence to four years imprisonment by Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh, for a similar offence. He did not serve time for the offence.

Reports are that a Lance Corporal and three ranks, while conducting random checks on Thursday, stopped and searched a minibus bearing registration BVV 2700 in which the man of Ferry Street, New Amsterdam, was a passenger.

At the time he was carrying a black

The 1.6kg of marijuana confiscated

haversack which contained a black plastic bag. A further search into the bag revealed parts of the illegal plant.

He was arrested and taken to the Number 51 Police Station.

The substance was weighed and amounted to 1.68kg.

Simon is presently in Police custody pending charges.

Back in December, a Policewoman was on her way to work when she boarded a Number 63 minibus heading up the Corentyne.

A short while after entering the bus, the officer was struck by the scent of marijuana.

Without arousing suspicion she observed that the smell was coming from a male passenger who had a black haversack on his lap.

While the vehicle was approaching the Springlands Police Station she ordered the driver to drive into the station compound, where Simon was arrested.

Alleged motorcycle thief remanded

A

n unemployed teenager who appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse on Wednesday, charged with the offence of simple larceny, has been remanded to prison for alleged-

ly committing the offence.

Ronaldo Chapman, 17, also called “Pakie”, who hails from 73 Half Mile, Wismar, appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charge.

It is alleged that between February 19 and 20, he stole a 110 Jialing motorcycle bearing registration CH219 and valued at $200,000, from its owner Jamain McAlmon, from his Lot 47 (B) Block 22,

Wismar home. The teenager pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded to prison.

He will return to court on December 21.

Eyew tness Cutting its nose...

S

...to spite drugs storage

o we finally have action on the "Bondgate" scam. Or do we? We were told in a carefully parsed release that the bond contract for Albouystown that's still a "work in progress" was "undesirable". That's it? This deal which was more crooked than barbed wire (to coin a phrase!! Ah...those were the days!) and all the Cabinetlevel investigators can say is "undesirable". A Minister lied to Parliament thrice before the cock crowed and this is just "undesirable"?

Twenty five million was advanced to purchase the building without explanation and this is just "undesirable".

Larry Singh has no experience in storing drugs - just in running airlines into the ground: Tropical and Guyana Airways - and this is just "undesirable? The warehouse is rented at more than three times the rate the one from which the government was offered - after getting it for free for over a decade - and this is just "undesirable"??

It's a bloody crime and a crying shame and disgrace is what it is. Someone shoulda been fired. If this was in Japan that someone would've literally fallen on his sword.

And imagine these fellas were given a massive salary increase right after they became Ministers so that they wouldn't dip their grubby little paws into the cookie jar!

Seems the salary increase only whetted their appetite for more moolah!

So we come to the alleged "action". Read the fine print, dear readers. All we got were "recommendations". The lease MIGHT just be shortened. That is, Larry Singh gets to keep the building he bought with the money advanced and also the warehouse for which the government will pay most of the operational expenses. And even if the lease IS shortened ...it's more cock! They know the short attention span of the Guyanese public. Quick now...how much did we spend on the raw-wooden Jubilee Park? Like Freddie Krueger, Larry Singh will be back!!

So there's the SUGGESTION to build a governmentowned bond near the wharf. So someone is still serious about Ruimveldt being too far to store drugs? Too far from where? Georgetown Hospital might be the largest user... but it's only ONE facility in Guyana! It'll be more difficult shipping to the rest of Guyana from a bond near the wharf than from Ruimveldt - which is on the Highway to East, South and West.

The tip-off to the warehouse cock is the fact that there's still no statement as to why the US-funded and built Billion Dollar Diamond Pharma warehouse isn't being used.

Why isn't a warehouse in the hand not worth more than several (expensive) ones in the urban bushes? Cock, that's why!

...to pander for votes

There's this evidently well-meaning fella from the diaspora - a Mike Persaud. Like most Guyanese from "foreign" who still look back homewards, Mike has THE solution to Guyana's political problem. Like Christopher of yore, he also made a discovery.

His being that Guyana's problem was the parties are ethnic. Imagine no one had thought of that before!! But then they say, "out of the mouths of babes, sucklings and drunks....!" Anyhow, a few years ago, his solution to the ethnic conundrum was for the PPP to place an African at its helm and the PNC to place an Indian at its.

He actually once went up to Congress Place and tried to convince Robert Corbin to implement his proposal.

After picking himself up from the dust, he whinged about being given a bum's rush!! He didn't visit the PPP. His new solution is for the two parties to "pander" to their non-traditional supporters.

That right. As in "give in to the target's baser instincts"!! The mind boggles!

...but tanking businesses

While the government might be playing cat and mouse with the GPSU, does the business community realise that 10% will now become the new base line when their bargaining comes around?!!

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

NEWS

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Billions in out-of-court settlements

Goes after international investor BaiShanLin for $80M? – Teixeira

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he Guyana Government has forked out billions of dollars to pay out-of-court settlements, but has moved to seize forestry concessions controlled by BaiShanLin International Forestry Development Inc (BIFDI) over an $80 million debt – a situation that has raised eyebrows in the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Chief Whip Gail Teixeira on Tuesday, weighing in on the unfolding saga involving the Chinese logging company that had been introduced to Guyana during the previous Administration, said that the coalition Government would do well to be cautious in the signals it sends to international investors.

She said this was even more pronounced since in the 16 months that the Administration has been in office, it has managed to

bring in no international investor.

The former Home Affairs Minister was adamant, however, that the rule of law in the land must be adhered to and that she was not in any way, on the part of the Opposition, advising a freefor-all and anarchy with regard to BaiShanLin’s operations in Guyana. “However, Governments have to be careful on how it treats with contracts entered”.

The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) – in terminating the Joint Venture agreements with five local companies and BaiShanLin – had pointed to a breach of the Forestry Act, with regard to the transfer of shares to the Chinese logging company. The GFC also said, in its public statement, that the decision on repossessing the concessions came after BaiShanLin “failed to deliver on agreed actions to introduce inves-

BaiShanLin trucks laden with logs in the interior

tors to the Commission and having been given time to prove that it had an acceptable plan to clear an approximately GY$80 million debt”.

According to Teixeira, where investors are not in compliance, then Government is within its remit to take measures to correct the situation.

She suggested that if

the company was in fact in breach of local laws, then Government must act, but it must also be careful as to the signals being sent.

Teixeira used the opportunity to recall when the PPP/C took office in 1992, it had been faced with a contract that was inked with Omai Gold Mines that had been unfavourable to Government.

She said the then President, Dr Cheddi Jagan, went about soliciting international legal advice on how to deal with the matter and it was found to be best in the end, to leave the contract to run its course, since terminating the agreement would have had significant untoward fallout.

“We were advised that under international law, we would be caught up in conundrum of legal cases we could not afford,” Teixeira reminded.

She said at the time Government determined that it would have been best to let the agreement run its course, but to ensure that Omai Gold Mines adhered strictly to the rules, laws and regulations.

According to Teixeira, “with BaiShanLin, I don’t want to get into the details….I would hope that Government looked at the issue in the broadest sense”.

She did seek to question the rationale of the Government in taking a ‘high-handed’ approach with BaiShanLin, when it was able to work out several out-of-court settlements to the tune of billions, specifically with Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and BK International.

She questioned if this was the approach taken by Government with regard to DDL and BK, why some arrangement could not have been worked out with BaiShanLin. The Opposition Chief Whip was adamant, however, that the current Administration has managed to introduce not one single new investment in this country in the past 16 months and the wisdom of its recent actions would be illustrated in future since “we will see what are repercussions”.

NA property owners to pay heavy fines for unkept premises

T

he New Amsterdam Town Council (NATC) has taken a decision to fine property owners with overgrowth on their premises, as much as $50,000 if the Town Council has to clean it.

The decision was taken at the NATC’s last statutory meeting, where the topic of the Town’s environment took centre stage.

Following the meeting, head of the Environmental Health Department, Municipal Health Inspector, Ackloo Ramsudh, told Guyana Times that those who would be affected are those who have migrated.

“There are a lot of difficulties in locating the own-

ers of those lots and so the Council has taken a decision since we cannot locate these owners or some of them, that we have served written notices to and have failed to comply… so the Council will enter on those lands, have it weeded and cleaned and the cost incurred in that exercise will be determined by the council. Those monies will be fixed onto the taxes of those proprietors, so those persons who are accustomed to paying $1500 and $500 per year, could find that when they come to pay their taxes they have to pay $50,000,” Ramsudh said.

According to the health inspector, the council has received complaints that de-

linquents have been using such places as hideouts. The NATC’s decision is also being welcomed by the Police.

Meanwhile, Ackloo says the department has also been raising concerns over the town’s limited ability to control mosquito borne diseases.

He explained: “We know that there has been an increase in mosquito-borne diseases within the township and within the country as a whole and some of these lands provide a harbour for mosquitoes and the accumulation of water provides breathing grounds for mosquitoes because one cycle of the mosquito’s life takes place in water.”

He said the council is urging errant persons to cooperate with the munici-

pality and have their lots cleared of overgrowth, despite the fact that these fines

will bring much needed revenue to the cash-strapped Municipality.

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NEWS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Private Sector must play critical role in climate change mitigation – Harmon

M

inister of State, Joseph Harmon, called on the private sector to play a more critical role in mitigation efforts as the world continues to grapple with climate change and global warming phenomena.

The minister, who was at the time addressing participants at the closing of the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership Capacity Building Training Seminar of the Development and Implementation of Nationally Appropriate Climate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), which was held at the Marriott Hotel, said on Friday that the private sector must be a strong leader in these efforts, even as it is Government’s responsibility to play a coordinating role.

“This NAMA has come as the Government of Guyana seeks to translate

the President’s vision of a ‘green’ economy into clear, realistic strategies, plans and actions for implementation.” This, he said, will require wide stakeholder participation and engagements beyond government ministries and agencies if Guyana are to successfully achieve the status of a ‘green’ state.

“Your continued involvement and participation throughout the process is demonstrative evidence of this commitment by all of you. Climate mitigation actions require strong leadership of the private sector beyond management of your own climate exposure.

This can be done, of course, through climate proofing private sector investments towards providing solutions through emerging business opportunities and helping others to reduce their climate risks and supporting

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Government‘s mitigation policies,” Minister Harmon said.

The Minister of State noted that seminars and activities such as these also underscore the need for the involvement of all the government ministries, particularly the Ministry of Business which now has to be more integrally involved

in the climate change discourse nationally.

Previously, he added that it was felt that only some government ministries or agencies were involved in this discourse and, therefore, the full responsibility for widening it fell on them, but now it is being broadened: “We are going to ensure that the Ministry

of Business becomes more integrally involved in this process. As you look forward to the next steps in preparing our NAMAs, I challenge you to be ambitious yet realistic. I challenge you to make innovative recommendations that are transformative mitigation actions, that are not restricted to REDD+ initiatives but rather a crosssectoral approach within the context of our national capacity and circumstances.”

He noted that it is the responsibility of every ‘right thinking’ and responsible Guyanese to do what they can to assist in crafting a nation built on sustainable development.

“As the Government, as the private sector, as the facilitators we have to ensure that the NAMAs are embedded in our national development policies and within existing institutional frameworks. This must

not be just words, or a statement, but a firm commitment on the part of all of us to ensure that these policies are embedded.

The development of Guyana is the responsibility of all of us and therefore our attitude to the green economy, our attitude to climate change must reflect that responsibility from all of us,” he said. Head of the Office of Climate Change, Janelle Christian, in an invited comment said that the unit has been playing a central role in these initiatives and the seminar is just the beginning of the work which must be done to formulate the NAMAs. Participants included staff from various ministries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the University of Guyana and representatives from various international organisations.

Annandale Secondary School’s SBA glitch

No definite date for students’ results – Ministry source

A

source within the Education Ministry on Friday disclosed that there was no definite timeline for the resolution of the Annandale Secondary School “technical glitch”, which has caused a delay in several students entering university or Sixth Form.

The students, who were issued with incorrect grades and, in some instance, no grades following their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, were expecting

that the situation would have been corrected on Thursday.

However, Thursday passed and the students were left questioning their fate as many of them are waiting to enter the University of Guyana or Sixth Form.

According to reports, this expectancy had tempered the vexation of many parents who were planning to hold a public demonstration to vent their frustration over the error.

However, the Ministry source revealed that an official met with the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) on Friday and they were in the process of resolving the issue.

Acting Chief Education

Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson had previously disclosed that the teachers at the Annandale School did not err with respect to the submission of the School Based Assessments (SBAs) to CXC. This followed a report that many of the students were unable to obtain passes in certain subjects on account of the school’s alleged nonsubmission of the SBAs, but the Education Ministry had sought to clear up the issue and had contacted CXC. “This is not a situation that the teachers did not do what they had to do, it was a technical glitch,” Hutson had indicated.

Guyana Times had reported that the school’s teach-

ers had received the requisite training in sending the SBA grades online to CXC, but even so did not stick to the deadline.

The exact number of students affected was not disclosed.

Hutson had stated that the Ministry was prepared to do everything in its power to ensure that those children are enrolled in university or Sixth Form.

“We will have it rectified,” he said.

When the CXC results were announced last month, it was revealed that there was an overall pass rate of 64 per cent of students who scored between Grade One and Three across the Caribbean.

NEWS

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

3 homeless after Essequibo fire

T

hree persons from Henrietta Housing Scheme, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are now homeless after a fire completely destroyed the upper flat of their two-storied home at around 14:30h Friday afternoon.

Sahodra Sukhai, 69, who lives with her daughter-inlaw and two grandchildren, ages nine and ten, was home alone at the time of the incident. She however managed to escape unhurt.

Upon seeing the flames, neighbours immediately

The interior of the upper flat that was ravaged by fire

contacted the Anna Regina Fire Station and fire fighters promptly arrived at the scene.

According to the widow, she was downstairs when she heard neighbours shouting, notifying her of the fire and calling for her to leave her house. Sukhai said she immediately exited to save her life.

She was unable to put an estimate to the damages, however, she explained that everything in the upper flat have been completely destroyed. At the time, a private contractor was doing grille work on the building.

Eyewitnesses who spoke with this newspaper related that they saw huge flames coming from the upper widow. They immediately began screaming for her to vacate and subsequently made a report.

“I saw huge flames, it was spreading very fast we were worried about Sukhai so we immediately started to call, shout and scream

The Henrietta home that was destroyed by a fire after a welding operation

for her to run out, then we made a report”, an eyewitness related.

According to information, five fire fighters successfully extinguished the fire which had also spread to the lower flat.

Head of the Fire Station, Clive Mc Donald, confirmed that fire tenders were immediately dispatched to the

Region 9 water taxi operators benefit from training

T

he Maritime Administration D e p a r t m e n t (MARAD) recently collaborated with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and Conservation International to conduct a training programme for water taxi captains and certification programme for boat operators at Caiman House, Yupukari Village, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

Twenty-eight water taxi operators were awarded a Certificate of Competency to operate as river Captains under the Licensing of Ships Regulation 2001, and are now appropriately equipped to operate safely on the rivers within the region.

Participants were drawn from, Yupukari, Massara, Toka, Karanambu Ecolodge, and the Protected Areas Commission in

Some of the boat captains who participated in the training

Central Rupununi.

The training is one of the initiatives undertaken

by MARAD with support partners to expand the outreach where maritime services are needed, but very difficult to access financially and logistically.

The GTA continues to lend support to MARAD

as their standard operating procedure is to improve the safety and professional standard of river tours offered by various operators, based on Guyana’s growing nature-based tourism products, also to ensure operators are licenced to operate on the rivers.

Training in this aspect

was conducted previously in July 2014, in Annai where 21 river taxi operators benefitted similarly.

scene and they brought the fire under control.

While investigations are still ongoing, it is believed the fire originated from a ‘welding spark’ from the co

ntractor’s equipment.

Statements were taken from the contractor who was welding at the time of the incident.

Corentyne ‘bad man’ gets 12 years for chopping ex-lover

A

Corentyne man on Friday received a 12-year sentence for wounding his ex-wife.

Robert Rollings, also called ‘Dagga Juju’ of Kingston, Corriverton, Region 6 (East BerbiceCorentyne), was found guilty by a mixed Berbice jury for wounding Sharmila Singh with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, or to maim or disfigure on July 3, 2014.

Justice Jo-Ann Barlow sentenced him for the offence.

Rollings was also on trial for wounding Sharmila Singh in an attempt to commit murder. The jury found him not guilty on that charge.

The State’s case was presented by Prosecutor Stacy Goodings, and showed that Singh, who had severed the relationship with Rollings two years prior to the incident, went to her previous

ex-husband’s home where she was attacked.

In her evidence, Singh said she received chops to the back, head, right and left hands, fingers, wrist, forearm and shoulder. She had gone to the home of her exhusband’s wake. He had died in the USA a few days prior.

Dr Chandrawattie Lalbachan told the court that one of the chops to Singh’s right hand resulted in the loss of function to three fingers.

Rollings, who was unrepresented, had earlier requested time to get legal representation and was given 24-hours by the court to do so.

He returned to court without legal representation on Tuesday when the trial commenced.

The state called three witnesses during the trial.

12 NEWS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Faeces throwing case

Regent Street accident

Policeman granted bail Freddie Kissoon’s sanity in question as trial continues

T

imothy Horatio, the off-duty Policeman who drove minibus BPP 7944 and reportedly caused the death of Dillon Linton, 21, was on Friday granted bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

His Attorney, Darren Wade, made a successful bail application at his client’s second appearance before Magistrate Leron Daly.

The lawyer explained that since the accident, the other occupants of the minibus are recovering and, as such, bail should be granted to his client.

The Prosecution had no objections to bail and ex-

Timothy Horatio

plained to the court that the defendant has assisted the family of the deceased

with funeral expenses.

Bail was granted at $300,000 and the defendant will make his next court appearance on September 30, 2016.

On the day of the accident, Horatio was reportedly drag-racing another minibus when he lost control and slammed into a power pole before crashing into Linton’s motorcycle.

Linton sustained injuries and succumbed the following morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

At the time of the accident, the minibus had several passengers all of whom sustained minor injuries.

Policing Group Chairman charged with assaulting children

T

he chairman of Sunflower, South Ruimveldt Policing Group on Friday appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh charged with assault and causing grievous bodily harm.

Eon Thorn pleaded not guilty to the offence, when it was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge alleged that on September 3, 2016 at

Sunflower Drive, he assaulted a ten-year-old boy.

Additionally, he was charged for causing grievous bodily harm to the lad’s sister.

The Prosecutor contended that on the day in questioned, the child and his friend were playing football when the ball went into the defendant’s yard. In a bid to get the ball, the 10-yearold jumped over the fence but was detained and hand-

cuffed.

The sister of the boy saw what occurred and protested Thorn’s action but was assaulted.

The community policing chairman was placed on $15,000 bail for assaulting the child while he was granted $30,000 bail for causing grievous bodily harm to the girl.

He will return to court on October 5, 2016.

C

olumnist Freddie Kissoon failed to demonstrate comprehension of basic questions posited to him by defence attorney Glen Hanoman, during the trial of the three men accused of throwing faeces on him. The trial continued on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

In a packed Courtroom, the three defendants, Sean Hinds, Kwame McCoy and Jason Abdulla appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Hanoman continued his cross-examination but Kissoon had to be caution several times

by Magistrate Latchman after he kept ranting at every question posited to him by the attorney. Kissoon went on to ask the Magistrate if he was required to answer certain questions that were put to him by the attorney, of which the magistrate replied in the affirmative.

Hanoman experienced great difficulties securing direct answers from Kissoon, who opted to respond to every question with a philosophical answer. His responses seemed to entertain the courtroom that chuckled every time he answered. More than once Kissoon sought to overpower the attorney and instead began to question him. Kissoon further pleaded with the magistrate to answer a particular question that the Magistrate ruled she would not be allowing in her courtroom.

Hanoman requested that

Freddie Kissoon

the evidence given by Kissoon to be withdrawn since he has proven on several occasions that he is incompetent to stand trial. He added that several criteria are met by Kissoon that can deem him to be incompetent which are, memory lapse, understanding the questions and unable to give simple and direct answers.

The defence council told the court that Kissoon was unaware he had to tell the whole truth to the court since he told the court that he is only there to tell the truth which has dimensions. A frustrated Hanoman blurted that “too much education is a bad thing.”

At the previous hearing when the question was posited to Kissoon about whether or not he could have identified the person/persons who threw the substance on him he replied in the negative.

Kissoon claimed that he did not recognise anyone of

the accused as the person who threw the “nasty-smelly” substance on him when questioned

by Police Prosecutor, Kerry Bostwick. In fact Kissoon told the court that the image of the person that threw the substance is engraved in his mind as much as the first time he kissed his wife.

He added that he can describe the ‘culprit’s’ facial features and height since at the time the substance was thrown at him, he was wearing his glasses and it did not affect his ability to see. In his evidence, he told the court that prior to the incident he had never seen the individual.

Kissoon further explained that he saw the person who threw the substance on him for 90 seconds, who later ran east to west of North Road.

He was cross-examined by attorney Latchmie Rahamat at the first hearing, who is representing McCoy, while Abdula’s attorney, Glen Hanoman, concluded his cross-examination on Friday.

Attorney George Thomas, who is representing Hinds, will be cross-examining Kissoon at the next court hearing on September 16. It is alleged that on May 24, 2010, in Georgetown, McCoy, Abdulla and Hinds assaulted Kissoon.

The trio allegedly walked up to Kissoon and instigated the throwing of faeces in Kissoon’s face after he had emerged from Nigel’s Supermarket, Robb Street, Georgetown.

NEWS

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saturday, september 10, 2016 | guyana-times.com

World Suicide Prevention Day Think outside of the box for change – Cathy Hughes Connect, Communicate, Care

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elecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes says that there is so much that Guyana can achieve in the information technology sector, if only there is some level of open-mindedness and thinking outside the box.

Hughes, who recently returned from a Telecommunications Summit in China, said at a press conference on Friday that Guyana is on the verge of seeing major changes within the sector.

Government is seeking to get out with the old and introduce new and innovative ways of improving the lives of every citizen as much as technology itself improves: “It is absolutely clear that as a country we need to think outside the box, and I am excited because it is absolutely clear also that technology and with the proper education and training, we can really push the development of our country for-

ward.”

Hughes said there is really no room for the use of the word “potential”, as the ministry is committed to making fundamental changes.

Speaking to the telecoms industry, Hughes admitted that there have been some major challenges…it was in such a poor state that it took new legislations to open up that environment. For now, Government is working on improving the quality of internet access from as far as Moleson Creek in Berbice to as far as hinterland communities and other far to reach areas across Guyana: “I just want to say to you that we have started to create an environment where competition can come in and once there is competition you know there is better service and of course at a better price.”

She spoke of the E-Government unit, which she described as a fundamental part of the telecommunications department, that has already began working on ensuring that the fibre link be re-established for the provision of internet access to far flung areas. During her recent trip to China, she was able to meet with the company Huawei, which built and installed the link and is now speaking

Telecommunications Cathy Hughes

Minister

with the company about expansion into the hinterland and other unserved areas.

“That is the fundamental of the platform of the many things we think this Ministry can do,” she said.

The minister spoke of the setting up of some 32 hubs

to facilitate what she said are “telemedicine”. The hubs would be in strategic areas, providing free internet service to the community. She said her ministry is also seeking to renovate some offices within some post offices to have the service installed.

Her ministry has already budgeted for these hubs: “Once we can bring the internet services to at least some community centres and some schools, I think it will give us the opportunity to deal with several of the problems that exist today” she said.

The idea is not only to assist in the health sector, but also in the education sector for students in far flung areas. Minister Hughes said that a subject teacher in a school on the Coastland, could, through the initiative, assist in teaching a class of students who do not have a teacher for that subject.

“What we’re trying to say, that it is absolutely clear, that once there is increased interconnectivity, once there is increased access to the internet, to information, to learning, then all the worldwide statistics show that there is a corresponding increase in the level of developments in countries.”

Hughes went on to speak about the possibilities of

improvement within the Ministry of Citizenship, particularly the access to passport services to other interior and other locations. She said through the technology, other services would be farmed out.

“Imagine we’re working towards the day where persons who are seeking to have their driver licences renewed, don’t necessarily have to come all the way to Georgetown, not only would you have to download a passport form from the internet, but that you would be able to fill it in and send it back to the passport office. And just like you make an appointment to get your visa, then you can make an appointment to go the passport office to get the final stages of getting your passport in place”.

That, the minister said, is among her and her ministry’s vision for the Information and Communication Sector (ICT) in Guyana.

T

he Indian Action Committee (IAC) joins the rest of the global community in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day under the theme, “Connect, Communicate, Care”.

In a statement, the IAC noted that the organisation believed that while the declaration has not been realised, it was still profoundly useful.

The IAC supports the efforts of the Government of Guyana; the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs); religious bodies; trade unions and civil society to mitigate this societal evil which has devastating effect.

IAC commended all those who continue to work to reduce instances of suicide and expressed the hope that much-needed national interventions would be forthcoming.

In 2003, the IAC established its focus on suicide prevention as part of its

social work programmes, predominantly in IndoGuyanese communities.

In light of the spiralling number of suicides and related deaths over the past two years, the IAC made a national call for suicide to be declared a national priority. It is the belief of the IAC that this call will bring the necessary focus and resources to help realise a decline in suicide through education and other related interventions.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) esti-

mates that over 800,000 people die by suicide each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. Up to 25 times as many again attempt suicide. The tragic ripple effect means that there are many, many more people who have been bereaved by suicide or have been close to someone who has tried to take his or her own life. And this is happening in spite of the fact that suicide is preventable.

This year’s theme, “Connect, Communicate, Care” are at the heart of suicide prevention.

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guyana-times.com

saturday, september 10, 2016

News

Police crime-solving strategy NCN saga improved −Ramjattan President says running

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inister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, has announced that there has been a major improvement in the crime solving strategy of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), despite rumours that the crime rate remains high in Guyana.

Ramjattan, speaking to journalists on Friday, said that Police Force statistics show an almost 16 per cent reduction in crime when compared to 2015.

However, the general consensus is that crime is spiralling out of control.

The Public Security Minister explained: “But what has been visible, is an improved crime solving capacity of the Police Force, in all serious crimes and those regarded as non-serious crimes too. That does not mean, however, that there has been sporadic spikes in some weeks, particularly of armed robberies and the Police Force is in and about doing work to see a reduction.”

Meanwhile, Ramjattan opined that it would take more than just the Police Force to put a tap on criminal activities, rather it would take a lot of other social programmes to help curb the situation.

Despite the daily occurrence of criminal activity, the GPF is reporting an 18 per cent reduction in all categories of serious crimes recorded at the end of August 2016.

Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

Minister

In its monthly statistics released on Thursday, the GPF said that murder has been reduced by 10 per cent, compared to the same period last year. A similar pattern is seen in robberies.

Gun-related robberies declined by seven per cent, while a 17 per cent decrease was recorded in armed robberies where other instruments were used and a nine per cent reduction in robberies where no instruments were used.

Additionally, it was reported that there was a 19 per cent decrease in robberies with violence along with a 38 per cent decrease in larceny.

Furthermore, the Police recorded a 20 per cent decrease in rape and a combined 40 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny, and burglary.

This statistical analysis comes two weeks after acting Police Commissioner, David Ramnarine, reported a 15 per cent decline in serious crimes

recorded from January 1 to August 23, compared to the same period last year.

Some 91 murders were recorded for this year, reflecting an 11 per cent decrease from 101 cases recorded in 2015.

However, gun-related robberies recorded over the two comparative periods saw a levelling off with 473 cases in both years.

Moreover, there were 32 cases of simple robberies last year compared to 28 as of August 23, and armed robberies with other instruments saw 232 cases last year, compared to 206 this year, also representing an 11 per cent decrease.

In addition, break and enter and larceny recorded a 21 per cent decrease with 1029 cases in the corresponding period last year and only 814 this year.

A total of 46 firearms were seized from January to August 20: 23 pistols, 13 revolvers and 10 shotguns. The highest number of seizures was recorded in A Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) with 20 seizures, while F Division (Interior Locations) followed with 12.

In terms of juvenile offenders, to date the Force has dealt with some 321 such cases countrywide, including 189 males and 132 females, who have been spared the ignominy of the Criminal Justice System, due to intervention between the Complainants/ Reporter, Victims and Police.

World Bank monitoring EDWC adaptation project

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two-member World Bank team is in Guyana to monitor the progress of the East Demerara Water Conservancy’s (EDWC) adaptation project.

Team leader Armando Guzman, and Hydrologist, Isabella Bovolo, told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that they are here as a follow-up to phase one of the project.

Guzman, in explaining the visit stated: “Our presence here is precisely to identify how the bank can help the country to continue implementing the project. We expect to have actual works being executed later this year, we have the normal challenges we would have in implementation everywhere else.”

Meanwhile Bovolo said that they are satisfied that the main recommendations to fix the EDWC are being executed.

“The main recommendations are being carried out so the rehabilitation of certain sections of the dam which were deemed to be the most at risk of failure have been rehabilitated, and those are the pump stations alongside to that to increase the drainage, the East Coast drainage,”

Bovolo explained.

The EDWC adaptation project is funded by the International Development Association (IDA) of the Word Bank and is being implemented in two phases. Guzman explained that studies and analyses were carried out prior to the design and acceptance of the project which is intended to prevent flooding similar to that of 2005.

“For the EDWC, we have a US$12 million loan from the IDA envelope that we have for the country, and for the Cunha Canal we have a US$3.5 million from the Guyana Redd Investment Fund (GRIF).

That’s the financial contribution, but I think that the bank and many others have contributed to this because we have carried out the service and engineering analysis required for this, so it’s not only giving the money for implementing the works, but also doing the analysis,” Guzman explained The official added: “We invested a little more than three million to do all the base line studies and analysis to recommend the optimal solution for the flooding in the area.”

Bovolo, who participated in phase one of the EDWC ad-

aptation project, explained: “This is the implementation phase of the studies so we are looking at actually installing infrastructure whereas the previous conservancy adaptation project did a lot of modelling, a lot of studies to understand how the conservancy worked and hydraulically looking at the safety of the dam and those on the East Coast drainage systems.”

The Flood Risk Management Project, a component of the EDWC adaptation project, seeks to upgrade critical sections of the conservancy’s dams and canals; significantly improve the drainage capacity in priority areas along the East Coast; and increase the institutional capacity by the implementation of dam-safety measures and practices, including the installation of instruments to monitor hydrometerological data. The project also caters for acquisition of heavy equipment to facilitate the upgrading and increased pumping capacity of the critical drainage areas, and will see more than 300,000 citizens in floodprone regions on the East Coast Demerara benefiting tremendously from reduced flooding and climate risk.

of State entities is not “power play”

President David Granger

I

n light of the recent suspension of a Sport Editor and the removal of a journalist from anchoring duties because of her pregnancy at the National Communications Network (NCN), President David Granger is reminding that the administration of Staterun entities is not a power play: “We are running an administration for the benefit of all Guyanese people, it mustn’t become a platform for one person to exercise absolute power. There must be rules,” the Head of State told reporters on the weekly televised programme – The Public Interest – which aired on Friday.

The President was at the time speaking on the recent one-month suspension of NCN’s Sport Editor, Jocelle Archibald-Hawke, and the removal of journalist Natasha Smith, from anchoring because of her pregnancy. He criticised the actions of the state broadcasting network, calling the recent decisions, which have caused much public outrage, inhumane.

Even though Smith has since been apologised to by Human Resources Manager, Tishika Da Costa, and told that she can return to the TV set, President Granger noted that he is concerned about the treatment of pregnant women in the workplace.

His concerns come one year after three City Constables were dismissed by Chief Constabulary Officer Andrew Foo after they were found to be pregnant before the end of their two-year probation. According to President Granger, following that incident in August last year, his administration proposed to the City Council to apply the same policy that the Guyana Defence Force and Guyana Police Force

Natasha Smith

Chairman of the NCN Board, Bish Panday

employ. He added that in light of this recent case at NCN, it was since recommended that there be a generalised government policy on pregnant women within the public sector: “We did promulgate a policy but it was mainly for persons in uniform; but now, apparently it’s for everybody in public employ.

That is the direction we are moving in… We didn’t think it would have come to this because, as far as I’m concerned, NCN was quite out of place, out of order to have the person removed from the job that she was doing (because of her pregnancy).”

The Head of State went on to underline that there should be no obstruction to women being allowed to perform their duties because of their pregnancy: “That is the State policy, that there should be no obstacle, no obstruction and certainly people should not be punished by being removed from their jobs.”

Meanwhile as it relates to Archibald-Hawke, the Sport Editor who was suspended one-month without pay for making a facebook comment about another staff who a few weeks ago asked the President about popular reality game – Pokémon Go – on the same Public Interest programme, despite NCN management

NCN CEO Lennox Cornette

maintaining that their decision against the single mother of two was justified, President Granger felt it was unreasonable: “I think it is inhumane to deprive an employee of her salary without due process. She hasn’t committed a crime, it’s not as though she is a murderer. I think that it was inhumane to take away her salary or to suspend her from her job. I don’t know she has committed a crime at all,” the Head of State posited.

In light of the recent issues at NCN, calls have been mounting for the removal of Chief Executive Officer, Lennox Cornette.

However, when asked whether any actions will be taken against the CEO, the Head of State declined to say, noting that such a decision falls under the portfolio of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is in charge of the State media: “I can’t say that something is going to happen to him but I hoped that he or the persons responsible for those two incidents would operate in a more prudent and compassionate manner.”

Nevertheless, President Granger posited that going forward, he hopes there is a more compassionate and reasonable form of administration at the state-broadcasting network.

These issues have caused much public outrage, especially within the media fraternity and particularly the Guyana Press Association (GPA), which had a meeting with NCN management on Tuesday last.

However, later that day Prime Minister Nagamootoo issued a statement condemning the act against the pregnant Smith. He also ordered that an apology be issued to her and her anchoring duties be reinstated.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016

guyana-times.com

News

North Korea’s 5th nuclear test prompts calls for more sanctions

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orth Korea conducted its fifth and biggest nuclear test on Friday and said it had mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile, ratcheting up a threat that rivals and the United Nations have been powerless to contain.

The blast, on the 68th anniversary of North Korea’s founding, drew a fresh wave of global condemnation. The United States said it would work with partners to impose new sanctions, and called on China to use its influence as North Korea’s main ally to pressure Pyongyang to end its nuclear program.

Under 32-year-old thirdgeneration leader Kim Jong Un, North Korea has sped up development of its nuclear and missile programmes, despite UN sanctions that were tightened in March and have further isolated the impoverished country.

15

North Korean State-run television showed a gathering in Pyongyang marking the 68th anniversary of the founding of the nation on September 9 [KRT]

The United Nations Security Council was set to discuss the latest test and whether the 15-member body should punish North Korea with more sanctions at a meeting on Friday, diplomats said. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged the 15-member group to remain united and take action that would “urgently break this accelerating spiral of escalation”.

US President Barack Obama said after speaking by telephone with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that they had agreed to work with the Security Council and other powers to vigorously enforce existing measures against North Korea and to take “additional significant steps, including new sanctions.”

Kashmir: Government tweet sparks new row

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he agency managing an Indian Government Twitter account has been asked to explain after it tweeted an inflammatory poem about Kashmir.

The poem, which appears to ask soldiers to shoot protesters in the Indian-ruled territory, went viral after being tweeted by the Digital India account.

It was later deleted but not before being retweeted

by several people, including an Opposition politician.

A Twitter user, Sarthak Garg, owned up to the “mistake” and apologised.

His message was retweeted by Digital India itself: “I inadvertently posted an inappropriate tweet from @_DigitalIndia in place of my a/c. I take responsibility & apologize for d mistake made.”

The agency has been warned it may lose its con-

tract, a government official told the BBC. He added that they had apologised for the incident.

The Hindi-language poem made headlines in India, with many expressing shock.

Kashmir is claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan and has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years, sparking two wars between the countries. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Dozens of countries poised to drive out malaria by 2020

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Robot operates inside eye in world first A Sri Lankan worker fumigates buildings to control mosquitoes in Colombo (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

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The Preceyes robot has a thin needle which enters the eye and is moved using the motorised joystick on left of frame

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urgeons have used a robot to operate inside the eye and restore sight – in a world first.

A team at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital used the device, controlled via a joystick, to remove a membrane one hundredth of a millimetre thick.

Patient Bill Beaver, 70, a curate in Oxford, said it was “a fairytale”.

Surgeons hope the procedure will pave the way for more complex eye surgery than is currently possible with the human hand.

The BBC had exclusive access to the procedure.

Reverend Beaver said: “It’s almost the world of fairy tales but it’s true. I’m just fortunate that I’m the first to have it.”

Robot assisted surgery is commonplace, but until now had never been used inside the eye. Professor Robert MacLaren from University of Oxford, who led the procedure, told me: “Operating at the back of the eye needs great precision, and the challenge has been to get a robot system to do that through a

tiny hole in the wall of the eye without causing damage as it moves around.

“Most robots in theatre are big, with big engineering whereas this is tiny – everything had to be shrunk down.”

The Preceyes surgical robot was developed by a Dutch company, a spin-out of Eindhoven University of Technology.

The surgeon uses a joystick and touch-screen to guide a thin needle into the eye, while monitoring its progress through a microscope. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US and Russia agree Syria deal – Kerry

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S Secretary of State John Kerry says US and Russia agree steps to reduce Syria violence.

After talks in Geneva,

he announced a plan for the Syrian Government to end combat missions in specified Opposition areas.

Russia and the United States will also work togeth-

er to defeat so-called Islamic State and al-Nusra fighters.

The plan would need both the regime and Opposition “to meet their obligations”.

(BBC News)

opes of eliminating malaria from more than 30 countries with a total population of two billion have risen following the successful removal of the disease from Sri Lanka.

Public health officials said 13 countries, including Argentina and Turkey, had reported no cases for at least a year and may well follow the success of Sri Lanka, which this week declared itself malaria-free after meeting the criterion

of going three years without an infection.

By the end of the decade, another 21 countries, including China, Malaysia and Iran, could be free of the disease, which kills 400,000 people, mostly babies and pregnant women, every year.

Public health officials believe that in years to come the elimination from Sri Lanka, highly symbolic because the island came within a hair’s breadth of defeating malaria more

than 50 years ago, may be regarded as the beginning of the end for the disease.

The Millennium Development Goals, set by the United Nations in 2000, focused minds and attracted money. The number of new malaria cases worldwide fell by 37 per cent between 2000 and 2015 while death rates dropped by 60 per cent overall and by 65 per cent among children under the age of five. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Egypt ‘investigated’ murdered Italian student E

gyptian Police investigated Italian student Giulio Regeni days before his abduction, torture and murder, but dropped the probe after assessing he posed no threat, Egyptian and Italian prosecutors said on Friday.

Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge University PhD student, disappeared on January 25 in central Cairo.

His body was later found by the side of a road bearing signs of brutal torture.

Egypt has denied that

its security forces were involved, but Italy recalled its Ambassador to Cairo in April in protest at what it said was a lack of progress in the investigation.

The State Prosecutor met his counterpart in Rome this week to further the investigation.

In a joint statement, the two prosecutors said Regeni, who was researching Egyptian street vendor trade unions, had been under investigation for three days by Egyptian Police in January.

“Police probed his activities for three days that concluded that his activities were of no concern to national security, and based on that dropped the investigation.”

This is the first official Egyptian acknowledgement that Regeni had been on the radar of security services.

Trade unions are an especially sensitive political issue in Egypt, with Governments fearing strikes and labour unrest.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16 News

saturDay, september 10, 2016 | guyana-times.com

RDC fraud report sent Internet service, refurbished guest house for Kwebanna to President’s office – Region 10 Council awaits advice

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ome eight months after allegations of fraud surfaced within the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), the administration is still awaiting word on the way forward, to determine the fate of a number of its employees.

According to Regional Chairman Renis Morian, a report has been sent to the Ministry of the Presidency and the Council is presently awaiting a way forward.

Ever since investigations were launched in January this year, the employees have remained off the job to facilitate the move. While some Regional councillors have expressed dissatisfaction over the move to have the employees suspended pending a decision, they have not been allowed to perform their duties until a decision is made.

"We would have sent the report to the Ministry of Presidency and that went to the Public Service Ministry and we're waiting. I know the Public Service Ministry takes

a long time...We're awaiting the necessary response.

Once the results come it has to leave at the RDC. I'm waiting on the results first to be advised on the way forward," Morian recently stated.

The revelations of alleged fraudulent activities involving employees of the RDC as well as contract employees were made public by Regional Executive Officer (REO) Gavin Clarke in January, when he outlined several discrepancies involving Council money during a statutory meeting of the RDC. Clarke had declared emotionally that he will not lose his integrity over the discrepancies which he had unearthed.

Auditors were then summoned to investigate the offences which had also engaged the Police. Officers of the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), State Audit Department as well as the Ministry of Presidency were summoned to conduct investigations and had interviewed a number of internal and exter-

nal RDC staff. Three employees were initially charged and released on station bail in relation to the allegations.

Morian had related that as the investigations continued, a number of employees had been questioned in relation to the issue and that the employees were sent on leave so that officials could properly investigate. While the investigations were expected to wrap-up in January, in February Morian related that more disturbing discrepancies were still being unearthed.

‘E’ Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander Calvin Brutus had also confirmed that an investigation was being conducted through Police Headquarters, Georgetown.

He had indicated that areas where monies were missing and impropriety in terms of records had been identified, where there were false payment vouchers prepared and monies paid. He added that it was discovered that monies were about to be paid as well.

(Utamu Belle)

2 months community service for Supenaam man

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elwin Green, 27, aka Bongo, of Supenaam, Essequibo Coast, will do two months of community service at the Aurora Police Station for having in his possession two grams of cannabis.

Green made his first appearance before magistrate

Sunil Scarce on Thursday at the Suddie Magistrate's Court. He pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of narcotic and was fined $5000 and sentenced to two months of community service.

The facts of the matter state that on September, 6,

2016 during a police raid, the cannabis was found in his home.

The narcotic was found in a transparent bag under some clothes. He admitted to the offence and was arrested. He was unemployed at the time of his arrest.

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he Kwebanna Village in Moruca sub-district, Region One (BarimaWaini), is expected to provide an internet hub and refurbish its guest house upon receipt of the jubilee grant provided by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

Kwebanna’s Toshao, Paul Pierre, told the Government Information Agency (GINA): “We do have the jubilee grant still out. We are hoping that we can extend our village guest house and I was told recently that we can also maybe use some of the money to establish an internet system in the community.”

These two additions will contribute to the development of the village that has undergone major infrastructural works. Toshao Pierre pointed to a number of capital projects completed for 2016: “For the year so far we have been able to complete three projects which were funded by the government; a wood-working centre, a stelling at the waterfront and a benab - so I think for the year, we are doing quite well so far.

We still have another project or two in the pipeline,” Pierre explained.

Kwebanna had also ben-

Kwebanna Village Toshao Paul Pierre

efitted from interventions in the form of outboard engines and assistance towards expansion of the health centre.

Pierre further stated: “As we can see, the health centre is also presently under extension and that is a plus for us. We are hoping that the road can be maintained because that is our only link to Moruca other than the river.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the minister, both Ministers of Indigenous Peoples and Health for committing outboard engines which will really help us in transportation for our community.”

Earlier in the year, the

Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministerial Advisor, Mervyn Williams said that the indigenous communities are to present specific proposals based on what the village councils and residents determine to be important to their village economies and individual enhancement.

These proposals are then approved, and funding eventually disbursed for projects to begin.

Communities are also benefiting from training in management, transparency and accountability to ensure their projects are properly managed and executed.

The distribution of jubilee grants as part of activities for our 50th Independence celebrations, replaces the presidential grant for this year.

By the end of 2016, more than 212 indigenous villages are to receive jubilee grants for a variety of projects: expansion of village farms, aquaculture, cattle and poultry rearing, construction of eco-lodges, guest houses, village offices, shops, markets, landmark benabs, recreational parks, installation of internet service, and purchasing transportation for agricultural and other purposes.

Prosecutor’s lateness

8 court cases dismissed

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Police Prosecutor who was late for an afternoon session at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court has caused the dismissal of eight cases.

Lance Corporal David Goodridge, who is the current prosecutor, arrived about 15 minutes late to the courtroom on Thursday. Presiding Magistrate Zamina SeepaulAlly commenced the session

in his absence.

Though the gravity of each offence was not read out in court, Ally dismissed the cases on the grounds of absence of the Prosecution.

The defendants, whose cases were dismissed, were not present at the time. Those freed included Jagdesh Narine, Quason Bobb, Ravindra Sugdeo, Mario Profit and Denzil

Astrage.

Additionally, Jamal Bourne, who was said to be a prisoner en route to court also had his case dismissed, owing to Prosecutor Goodridge’s absence.

The Saprendaam Magistrate’s Court is currently being housed at the Better Hope Community Centre due to reconstruction works that are on-going.

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news

saturday, september 10, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Baramita worst affected community for suicide, rape, alcohol …teenage pregnancy out of control – ROC report

By Jeanna Pearson

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he Indigenous Village of Baramita, Region One (Barima-Waini) was high on the watchlist for having the highest incidences of suicide, alcoholism and violence in the Hinterland regions, a recently concluded Right of the Child (ROC) Report disclosed.

The ROC, an arm of the Guyana Human Rights Association, report showed videos of young girls and boys telling stories of their peers being raped, joining the sex trade, and becoming pregnant as early as 13.

The Rights of the Child conducted research in three hinterland regions - One, Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) - all of which are predominantly populated by Indigenous peoples. The aim of the study was to garner understanding on how mining and life in a mining community influences sexual harassment and violence.

However, coupled with the soaring rates of sexual harassment and violence, the researchers discovered that there were escalating incidences of alcoholism and teenage pregnancy.

“Baramita Region One is the worst affected… escalating levels of sexual violence, high levels of suicide, spiral use of alcohol and drugs, all contribute to this crisis,” an ROC representative said, stressing that other communities are not as badly affectedly, but will become so if mining is not urgently addressed.

The representative opined that all of these social issues revolve around the ever growing trend of mining in indigenous communities. Nevertheless, the representative stated that while mining has its perks, the “social chaos” it causes is

Mining in the village of Baramita

more than the economic benefits.

Suicide and alcohol

One of the commentators in the report indicated that alcohol is so common, parents would just hand their children over to “mature persons just to get a bottle of high wine.” The woman stated that the men would drink until they were highly intoxicated and then there would be fights.

“They have a weakness for alcohol and they seem not to have selfcontrol when they begin to drink,” another ROC representative stated.

The ROC report revealed that children ages 10 and 11 would drink until they become drunk because there is no supervision by their parents. There is a report that a 10-year-old boy drank himself to death.

“It is one of the leading causes of suicide in the village,” the representative said, noting that “High Wine” is the most common liquor used by the Indigenous peoples. So the prevalence of alcohol combined with an

absence of recreational facilities and jobs create a sense of hopeless in the community, causing teenagers to give into suicide or prostitution.

Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) staff in Guyana, Priti Singh, had stated at the Caribbean Public Health Research Conference, that on average, Guyanese have consumed more than eight litres of pure alcohol in 2010 compared to the global figure of 6.2 litres - indicating consumption to be 8.1 litres per person age 15 or older.

“Young people who begin to drink in early teens are more likely to become dependent on alcohol within 10 years, as compared to those who begin to drink in late teens and early 20s,” she stated, highlighting that intentional injuries resulting from violence are another public health hitch that accounts for high loss of life and disability among young people in the region, with a great proportion from effects of drinking.

Currently, Guyana has no written policy adopted or revised to fight

Noel Foundation gives back to children

alcoholism. Singh noted that there are “no legally binding regulations on alcohol advertising and product placement, as well as no legal regulations on alcohol sponsorship sales.

A national legal minimum age limit for purchase of alcohol exists, however it is not enforced.”

Researchers in the Region have continuously questioned why Guyana always appears on the extreme end of the continuum when discussions of social issues come up.

Junior Minister, Dr Karen Cummings, told Guyana Times that the ministry has adopted a firm approach to tackling the blight of alcoholism and suicide in Baramita. She stated that the ministry has established a mental health unit in the region and they are training people there and counselling them.

“This is the top community we are targeting,” she said, highlighting that the ministry, along with a team from PAHO, had visited the village and identified the underlying issues causing suicide and alcoholism and that “it is on the forefront of our mandate”.

She added that the ministry is presently focused on getting the tobacco legislation passed in Parliament before it begins to bombard the problem of alcoholism.

Violence and teenage pregnancy

In the report, a young boy recalled that one of his close relatives was raped by an uncle in Matthew’s Ridge. He stated that the girl, who was just seven years old, bled so much that she was air dashed from the regional hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital for medical attention.

There was another case where an eight-year-old girl was dragged

World Suicide Prevention Day

GHDS to host countrywide candlelight vigils

T Fashion designer Sonia Noel poses with beneficiaries of her 6/50 project

S

onia Noel, through her newly formed 6/50 Project, distributed a quantity of school supplies to children on Friday.

The 6/50 Project was launched as Guyana celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary.

Founder of the project and renowned fashion designer Sonia Noel, explained that the project was launched with the aim of investing in the country’s human resources. As the name suggests, 50 children in Guyana will receive US$60 to assist them with school supplies, etc.

“I grew up in a single parent home and this is the time that my mother had the most headaches and I can never really recall all of us going to school together like on the same day,” she related.

She said too that giving back is part of her DNA and is something she does from the heart.

Noel explained that her foundation seeks to assist in whatever way they can to ease the strain on some families and to equip the children with the motivation to pursue their dreams.

“It is important for us to instil in our children, the importance of leadership, and the importance of you believing in yourself and believing that you can achieve anything. I myself am a dreamer and I live by faith a lot of times, so you just can’t tell yourself that this is too big for me because no career is too big for any of the children in here,” she explained.

This Sunday, Sonia Noel will also be hosting a special event titled “Style Mission”.

The event will feature a fashion extravaganza to assist the less fortunate and the underprivileged.

Proceeds will also go towards popular actor/comedian Henry Rodney, and former lead hairstylist and makeup artist for GFW, Corin Gibson, who are both in need of assistance to offset medical expenses.

Rodney’s daughter Tamara Rodney thanked Noel for her support.

“On behalf of my family, I want to say a huge thank you for the support that all of the country has been giving and I want to say thank you again to Sonia Noel because it’s quite moving that you took the time out to just do this for my father.”

The event will be held at the Pegasus Hotel and will be treated as a VIP event.

into a clump of bushes, raped and left there bleeding. No proper investigation was carried out.

Most of these young girls, the representative from ROC said, would find themselves in the prostitution trade after being raped; of which most of them would be school drop outs.

One teenaged girl recalled that there were three cases of underage pregnancy in her school - all three of the girls being younger than 13 years.

The report revealed that 70 per cent of people in the village have marks of violence on their skin— marks placed there by someone under the influence of alcohol.

CARPHA representative, Dr Sara Crooks stated that Guyana is one of the countries which exceed the average injury-death rate, along with Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Dr Crooks revealed that intentional injuries, including violence and self-inflicted injuries are significant contributors to injury-related deaths for many countries in the region, with deaths resulting from self-inflicted injuries accounting for over 25 per cent of injury-related deaths in Guyana. Crooks had gathered her data using the CARPHA regional mortality database for the period of 2007-2013.

The ROC recommended that recreational facilities should be established in the community and teachers should adopt a more pro-active approach is spotting cases of sexual harassment and violence in schools.

“The ROC hopes that with establishment of its clubs in these schools would identify and address the issues of sexual violence in each region… students would become more empowered and come up with solutions,” the ROC representative said.

he Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha will join other organisations, including Caribbean Voices, in hosting candlelight vigils across the country in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day—observed today.

The religious body is urging the public to join in these activities, as well as to attend all activities in observance of this day.

The aim of the exercise is to join hands to give courage to those who are coping with

mental health disorders, including depression, and to those who have lost loved ones to suicide, to those who are survivors of suicide and to raise awareness of this terrible epidemic.

Candlelight vigils are planned for several locations and will feature poetry, singing and more.

The locations for the vigils are Central Dharmic Naujawan – Shri Krishna Mandir at 18:30h; Ocean View Mandir, WCD at 17:30h; Golden Om Dharmic Youth

Group at 18:00h; Bush Lot Vishnu Mandir, Corentyne at 19:00h; Strathavon Mandir, ECD at 18:30h; Bath Mandir and Woodley Park Mandirs, WCB at 18:00h; Coverden Mandir, Soesdyke Vishnu Mandir, Durga Devi Mandir, Kundalini Mandir and Shakti Mandir, EBD at 18:00h and Anna Regina Car Park at 18:30h.

On Sunday, September 11, Parika Dharmic Mandir, EBE will host theirs at 18:00h with a special Dharmic Satsang.

First-ever "Reggae on the River" concert at Hurakabra River Resort

H

urakabra River Resort will be hosting the first ever ‘Reggae on the River’ concert featuring the popular and internationally recognised Guyanese reggae group ‘First Born’.

The event will be held on Saturday, September 17 and coincide with the arrival of the Yachts from the Annual Nereid’s Rally.

Fifteen yachts are currently in the Essequibo River off Hurakabra, having left

Trinidad a few days ago. The boats will remain in Guyana until September 19 before they leave for Suriname and French Guyana.

The concert and fun day is being staged to encourage Guyanese participation in the Rally; participants will be able to mingle and interact with the cruisers.

Tickets for the event cost $15,000 and are available at Nigel’s Supermarket, Vinu’s Shoebox, and White Castle Fish Shop. Interested per-

sons can call 226-0240/2253557 for more information.

Ticket holders will board the bus at the National Cultural Centre, Homestretch Avenue, on September 17 at 09:00h.

For Bartica residents, tickets for lunch and concert will cost $6,000 (in advance) from Neighbourhood Pharmacy and Williams Grocery. Barticians will have to arrange their own transportation to the Resort.

18

guyana-times.com

saturday, september 10, 2016

ARCHIE

Don't let an emotional situation stand in the way of get(March 21- ting things done. Being intent April 19) on finishing what you start will increase your reputation of honesty and integrity.

ARIES

Set

dilbert

the

record

straight.

TAURUS Share your thoughts, feelings (April 20- and plans. A trip or networking May 20) function will give you a platform to show your true potential.

You'll be torn between GEMINI what you want to do and what (May 21you should be doing. If you are June 20) organised, you will be able to fit both into your schedule.

Romance will help you rejuvenate.

Problems will escalate if CANCER you indulge or let your mood(June 21- iness take control. You are July 22) best off working on a creative project independently to avoid an unwanted conflict.

Peanuts

A last-minute trip, or a LEO decision to engage in a chal(July 23lenge or bring about a change Aug. 22) that will make a difference to you and your loved ones looks promising. Romance is highlighted.

A move will do you good.

VIRGO Refuse to let your emotions (Aug. 23Sept. 22) surface and stop you from adapting to new possibilities.

Looking forward instead of back will make a difference.

Calvin and Hobbes

Speak up and promote LIBRA what you have accomplished.

(Sept. 23Travel, communication and Oct. 23) progressive education will pay off. Romance will improve your life. Don't be afraid to show emotion.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

If you are straightforward, SCORPIO you will convince others to (Oct. 24see things your way. Don't Nov. 22) be afraid to take a leadership position or offer unique solutions. Be your own master You'll be taking on more SAGITTARIUS than you can handle if you (Nov. 23- get into a debate with someDec. 21) one. You must accept that everyone is entitled to an opinion and move on.

THURSDAY'S WORD - REDACT

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You are the one in charge CAPRICORN of your progress. Do things (Dec. 22- for yourself in order to avoid Jan. 19) being disappointed by what others try to do for you. Only you know how you feel.

How you present yourself AQUARIUS will be important. Discipline (Jan. 20and hard work will pay off Feb. 19) and lead to a change in the way you feel and how you are treated.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Use your imagination (Feb. 20- when you want to get things March 20) done. People observing your actions will marvel at your intelligence and foresight.

Apply for something that excites you.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016

19

US Open 2016…

Kerber celebrates no 1 spot by reaching final — Serena bows out at semis

F

or the second straight year Serena Williams saw her bid for a seventh U.S. Open title halted in the semi-finals with a 6-2 7-6(5) loss to Karolina Pliskova on Thursday that also ended her long reign as world number one.

A year ago Williams went into the semi-finals on the cusp of a rare calendaryear grand slam but was the victim of one of the biggest upsets in tennis history when Roberta Vinci, a 300to-1 longshot, prevailed.

This year it was Czech 10th seed Pliskova, who until this week had never played beyond the third round of a grand slam, delivering the upset as she swept Williams off an Arthur Ashe Stadium court she claims as her own in one hour, 26 minutes.

There was no calendaryear grand slam up for grabs this year but history continued to beckon Williams, who would have stood alone as the greatest grand slam champion in the professional era if she had claimed a 23rd title and moved past Steffi Graf.

And while there was no title to win on this day Williams stepped onto the court with something to lose.

seeded Venus, in the fourth round.

Angelique Kerber emulates Steffi Graf

Kerber is through to her third Grand Slam final in 2016

After 186 consecutive weeks as the world's topranked player, Williams, who needed to reach the final to have any chance of retaining top spot, will relinquish the ranking to Angelique Kerber.

Pliskova will now take on Kerber in Saturday's final after the second seeded German beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3.

After a punishing threeset quarter-final against Simona Halep on the same court 24 hours early, Williams appeared sluggish against the towering Czech.

But a clearly annoyed Williams refused to use fatigue as an excuse for her

loss and instead blamed her sluggishness more on left knee problems that limited her mobility.

"I have been having some serious left knee problems. I wasn't tired. Fatigue had absolutely nothing to do with it.

"I wasn't able to move the way I wanted to move."

With the two biggest hitters in women's tennis standing across from each other the match was expected to be an explosive affair filled with booming serves.

With the victory Pliskova completed a Williams family double having also beaten Serena's older sister, sixth-

Reaching top of the world seems to agree with Angelique Kerber, who celebrated her ascension to the number one ranking with a 6-4 6-3 win over Caroline Wozniacki on Thursday to advance to Saturday's U.S. Open final.

The German left-hander was assured of becoming number one when the new rankings come out on Monday after top-seeded American Serena Williams was defeated by Czech 10th seed Karolina Pliskova 6-2 7-6(5) in the earlier semi-final.

Australian Open champion Kerber, who leads the WTA for most main draw match wins this season at 53-14, clinched victory with a backhand that actually landed just beyond the baseline but went unchallenged by former number one Wozniacki of Denmark.

Kerber will become the second German to top the women's rankings, following Steffi Graf.

"For me, it’s just amazing to be after Steffi the next number one player in

Serena Williams is also being displaced after spending a record 186 weeks at number 1

Germany," said Kerber, who at 28 will become the oldest player to reach number one.

Wozniacki, who has slipped to 74th in the rankings coming back from injuries, saluted Kerber.

"Obviously, she's had a great year," the Dane said.

"She gets a lot of balls back.

She knows how to change

the pace. She gets good angles. "She's playing really well."

Kerber had downplayed talk about becoming number one but admitted it felt "just great".

"To be now the number one in the world, that was always a dream for me," she added. (Reuters)

Senator Pacquiao makes retirement U-turn

W

hile Manny Pacquiao's political career became a priority after he announced his "retirement" from the ring in April, he says the lure of continuing his journey in boxing ultimately led to his comeback.

Seven months after defeating American Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas in his much trumpeted farewell to the sport, the Filipino southpaw will return to the same city in November to challenge World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas.

Though Pacquiao is an eight-division world champion and one of the greatest boxers ever, the whole experience of preparing for that Nov. 5 fight feels strange as he will be competing for the first time as an elected senator in his homeland.

"This is very different,"

Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring on November 5 against Jessie Vargas

a smartly dressed Pacquiao, 37, told Reuters after holding a joint news conference with American Vargas in the chic surrounds of The Beverly Hills Hotel.

"This is my first fight since I was elected as a senator and it's a big challenge for me to try to get the belt and become a champion again, to win the fight as a

senator.

"It's also a big challenge for me to get back in the ring again and to prove that I can still manage serving the people and also be a successful

boxer."

Pacquiao (58-6-2) was elected to the Philippines' senate in May. Asked what had prompted his decision to come out of retirement, Pacquiao smiled: "The main reason is because when I hung up my gloves, I realized that the sport that I loved, I was no longer active with that.

"And then I realized that boxing still liked me and I liked boxing so why am I not continuing my journey in boxing? So I changed my mind and decided to continue my journey.

"I want to fight more fights after November. I am already satisfied and happy with what I have done in boxing. Now I want to continue and give honor to my country."

For Pacquiao's experienced trainer, Freddie Roach, the Filipino's abrupt

U-turn on his retirement decision was always likely.

"Manny still knows what he does best, and that's boxing so him making a comeback this quickly wasn't a big surprise to me," the bespectacled Roach told Reuters.

"I know he still loves boxing, he still has a lot of fight left in him. In his last fight, he showed a lot of the old Manny. I liked that a lot and I hope it carries over to this fight."

Pacquiao's unanimous decision win over Bradley in April was his first fight in nearly a year after his loss to Floyd Mayweather.

The 27-year-old Vargas (27-1) beat fellow American Sadam Ali in March to claim the WBO welterweight crown and has won 10 of his bouts via a knockout or stoppage, with his only defeat coming via a points loss to Bradley in June 2015. (Reuters)

20

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016

Maxwell reigns in Dilshan’s farewell — Australia sweep series

S

ri Lanka had been changing their side every match and Australia had already sent several men home, but like a well-heeled theatre troupe, the players that remained delivered the same performance they seemed to have given many times over this series.

Sri Lanka won the toss again, batted again, did well for a little while, but mainly collapsed to a modest 128 for 9. Australia were disciplined with the ball, and athletic in the field, bruising at the top of their innings, a little shakier in the middle against spin, but got home with some comfort. The margin of this particular victory was four wickets, and they had 13 balls to spare - Glenn Maxwell providing the game's best innings again. If

you have been following this series closely, though, this report may feel familiar.

One point of difference was that this was Tillakaratne Dilshan's final international. What didn't change, really, was his limited impact with the bat.

He was out for one, edging an attempted cut off John Hastings to slip, before the stadium had even properly filled. Kusal Perera dazzled briefly before sending a top edge off James Faulkner to a running, diving David Warner, to be dismissed inside the Powerplay, for 22.

That wicket brought two more in quick succession.

Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis were both out in single figures, seven runs apart.

Steering clear of trouble at the other end, was a se-

rene Dhananjaya de Silva, who had leant into a flowing cover drive off Mitchell Starc's fourth ball, and set about gracefully collecting runs into the outfield after that. He was light on his feet to spin, and was wise to the seamers' pace variations, hitting five fours in his 62 off 50 balls. One of the more memorable of his strokes was a delightfully late dab to third man, off Maxwell.

At the other end, teammates played out a series of forgettable innings. Only de Silva and Kusal Perera made double figure scores.

Chamara Kapugedara and Thisara Perera were both out slogging Adam Zampa, and Seekkuge Prasanna holed out at long on, to Faulkner, and it was these two bowlers who each collected three wickets this

Tillakaratne Dilshan walks off to a rousing ovation after being dismissed for one in his final international innings

Sachith Pathirana.

The fifth and sixth overs, bowled by Senanayake and Thisara Perera, were Australia's most productive, yielding 20 and 19 respectively. Eighteen of those runs against Thisara came off four consecutive balls Maxwell clubbing him over the deep square leg first up, then slapping three nonchalant fours.

The Powerplay brought 75 runs, and the openers had virtually made the game safe by the ninth over, when Sri Lanka removed Maxwell for the first time in two games. He played on to a full delivery, and the bowler, Seekkuge Prasanna Glenn Maxwell bulldozed his way to the fastest fifty by an Australian in T20 Internationals

time around. They were economical as well as penetrative - neither conceding 20 runs off their four overs.

John Hastings was also effective taking two for 23, while Mitchell Starc ensured he would not go wicketless in a single innings of the tour, when he had de Silva caught at mid off in the final over of the innings.

The first over of Australia's response produced just two, but the remainder of the Powerplay was full of Maxwell and David Warner's pyrotechnics. They struck their first boundaries in Sachithra Senanayake's first over Warner unleashing a particularly vicious reversesweep. Suranga Lakmal was carted for 13 in the next over, and Maxwell's reverseslap for six made an appearance soon after, when he hit the game's first six off

delivered a graceless sendoff, which left the departed Maxwell fuming.

That wicket, though, introduced a significant wobble to the innings. Pathirana claimed two wickets in the next over, and Faulkner was run out soon after. Australia needed fewer than 20 runs when Dilshan claimed his first wicket, and fewer than 10 when he took his second, but both breakthroughs prompted joy from the retiring star, and gave an adoring crowd a reason to chant his name. Travis Head finished the match with a slogswept six that burst through the hands of Senanayake, at cow corner. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka innings MDKJ Perera† c Warner b Faulkner 22 TM Dilshan c Warner b Hastings 1 DM de Silva c Faulkner b Starc 62 LD Chandimal* c & b Faulkner 4 BKG Mendis lbw b Zampa 5 CK Kapugedera c Warner b Zampa 7 NLTC Perera c Head b Zampa 0 SS Pathirana c & b Hastings 6 S Prasanna c Khawaja b Faulkner 7 SMSM Senanayake not out 7 RAS Lakmal not out 0 Extras (lb-1, wd-5, nb-1) 7 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 128 Fall of wickets 1-9 (Dilshan, 1.2 ov), 2-44 (MDKJ Perera, 5.4 ov), 3-51 (Chandimal, 7.1 ov), 4-58 (Mendis, 8.5 ov), 5-76 (Kapugedera, 12.3 ov), 6-76 (NLTC Perera, 12.5 ov), 7-86 (Pathirana, 14.1 ov), 8-114 (Prasanna, 17.6 ov), 9-125 (de Silva, 19.4 ov) Bowling: MA Starc 4-0-321 (1-wd), JW Hastings 4-0-23-2 (1-nb, 1-wd), GJ Maxwell 1-0-16-0, JP Faulkner 4-0-19-3, A Zampa 4-0-16-3,

MC Henriques 3-0-21-0 (1-wd) Australia innings (target: 129 runs) DA Warner* c NLTC Perera b Pathirana 25 GJ Maxwell b Prasanna 66 MC Henriques st †MDKJ Perera b Pathirana 1 JP Faulkner run out (Chandimal/†MDKJ Perera) 1 MS Wade c Chandimal b Dilshan

14 UT Khawaja lbw b Dilshan 6 TM Head not out 9 PM Nevill† not out 3 Extras (lb-1, 4-wd) 5 Total (6 wickets; 17.5 overs) 130 Did not bat: MA Starc, A Zampa, JW Hastings Fall of wickets 1-93 (Maxwell, 8.3 ov), 2-97 (Henriques, 9.1 ov), 3-98 (Warner, 9.3 ov), 4-99 (Faulkner, 10.4 ov), 5-113 (Khawaja, 14.6 ov), 6-120 (Wade, 16.6 ov) Bowling: RAS Lakmal 2-0-150 (wd-1), SMSM Senanayake 4-0-36-0, SS Pathirana 2.5-0-23-2, NLTC Perera 1-019-0, S Prasanna 4-1-161 (2-wd), DM de Silva 2-012-0, TM Dilshan 2-0-8-2

Dassanayake appointed USA national coach F ormer Sri Lanka and Canada wicketkeeper-batsman Pubudu Dassanayake has been appointed USA's coach by ICC Americas. The ICC regional body also appointed Eric Parthen as the new Project Manager to oversee the strategic plan to grow cricket in the USA. "I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to coach USA, especially at what is an exciting time for USA cricket," Dassanayake said. "I believe there is a great deal of talent here; it will just require hard work from everyone involved to get the best out of these players and hopefully see US cricket progress to higher honours.

"Our initial focus is on preparing the senior team for the WCL Division 4 event in LA next month. That is the first step on what I hope will be a successful journey."

Dassanayake played 11 Tests and 16 ODIs for Sri Lanka in 1993 and 1994. He

moved to Canada in 2001 and represented the Canada national team in 2005 and 2006, captaining them in the Intercontinental Cup. After retiring, he served as Canada's national coach from 2007 to 2011, and Nepal's national coach from 2011 to 2015. Along with captain Paras Khadka, Dassanayake has been credited with lifting Nepal's fortunes in their rise from WCL Division Four to the top flight of Associate cricket in the WCL Championship.

Nepal also qualified for their first major ICC tournament during Dassanayake's tenure, reaching the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh where they recorded wins over Hong Kong and Afghanistan. He stepped down from the Nepal role in October 2015, citing personal reasons. He moved back to his home base in Canada but briefly returned to Nepal in a consultancy coaching role for the team's WCL Championship

wins over Namibia in April and their tour of England in July ahead of WCL Championship fixtures in the Netherlands in August.

Dassanayake was shortlisted as a finalist for the USA coaching job in July and confirmed his interest in the role to ESPNcricinfo during a USA 30-man national squad camp in Florida, where he attended in a guest coaching capacity during a series of training sessions as well as two 50-over intrasquad matches to familiarize himself even more with the team ahead of his anticipated appointment. "Nepal, they were from Division Four to Division One and played a World Cup and I want to do the same for USA," he said.

Dassanayake also traveled to St Vincent in August where he coached an ICC Americas combined U-19 squad in the WICB Regional U-19 tournament. He is expected to be in New York this weekend where a New

Pubudu Dassanayake

York invitational XI, which includes ten USA national squad players, will be playing two 50-over match-

es against a Marylebone Cricket Club touring side on September 10-11. He will also be in place to lead USA's

five-day national team camp in Indianapolis from September 17-21, which includes two 50-over matches against the same MCC tourists as well as three days of intrasquad training and trial games.

Parthen, who has previously served as Executive Director of USA Boxing and Chief Executive of USA Taekwondo, will be tasked with overseeing the implementation of plans to expand cricket in the USA. Since July 2013, Parthen served as the executive director of the El Pomar Youth Sports Park in Colorado Springs, where the ICC Americas office recently shifted from its prior location in Toronto.

"I am thrilled to be joining ICC Americas at such a pivotal point in its history," Parthen said. "My focus will be on working with the whole cricket family here in the US and creating a sustainable structure to allow cricket to flourish at all levels." (ESPN Cricinfo)

YELLOW PAGES SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 | WWW.GUYANA-TIMES.COM

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Send applications to: 35 North Road, Georgetown. Telephone: 225-8831

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Security In-store; Day Duty. Tel: 6803863

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GCA/NBS 2nd Division…

21

SPORTS

9 matches slated for this weekend

— reigning champs DCC host Third Class & Sophia

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ction in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ New Building Society 40 over competition is set to continue this weekend at various venues in the city.

A total of nine matches will be played between Saturday and Sunday.

Today there will be five matches with zone B encounter between last year’s runners up Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) expected to be the day’s key fixture. A tussle is expected at the MSC ground at Thomas Land for this encounter and like all other games in the tournament it is scheduled to start at 11:00h.

GCC will play the game without its captain Devon Lord and talented player Renaldo Ali Mohamed, who are currently representing Georgetown in the Jaguars Franchise League. However, the Regent Road side is still expected to field a competitive unit which comprises the likes of Martin Pestano

Renaldo Ali Mohamed

Belle and Stephan Wilson among other traditional players.

Meanwhile, the MSC team that has so far been strong in the Noble House Seafoods two-day tournament is also expected to field a strong team with the likes of Kareem Naughton, Ncosie Barker and Shaquille Moseley.

The last time these two teams met it was advantage GCC thanks to Ali-

Mohamed’s all round special at the GNIC ground. So the Thomas Land side will be looking to avenge their loss in that clash as they aim to come out on top.

Meanwhile, the other four matches slated for Saturday involve reigning champions Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) playing at home against minnows Third Class and Police versus GDF in Zone A. While in Zone B Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) versus University of Guyana (UG) at GYO and Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC) tackles Transport Sports Club (TSC).

On Sunday August 11, Zone A will see clashes with DCC against Sophia at DCC, Police clash with Diplomats at Police, MSC take on TSC at MSC and GNIC play UG at GNIC. Last Week’s Round Up DCC defeated Everest Cricket Club, GCC top TSC and UG thump Ace Warriors.

Rockaway Group of Companies supports St Cuthbert’s Mission sport development

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usinessman and sports enthusiast, Hafeez Ali will be making a tangible donation to the Amerindian village of St. Cuthbert’s Mission to assist the residents with sports development.

The New York businessman who recently supported the resuscitated Belle Vue Sports Club with uniforms for their tour to Trinidad and Tobago will be donating sporting gears, clothing items, school supplies and toys today to the village that

is accessible via the Mahaica River or through the Linden Highway.

The sporting goods include footballs, volleyballs, cricket equipment and uniforms for the respective male and female teams.

A humble Guyanese, Ali has organized a friendly T20 match between Belle Vue Sports Club and St. Cuthbert’s Mission from 11:00h with free food for all spectators.

St. Cuthbert’s Mission has a strong sporting base

and annually will be represented at the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs Heritage Sports in cricket and volleyball where they have won a few titles.

Ali manages the well-established Rockaway Group of Companies which comprise Rockaway Auto Sales, Rockaway Transportation Service and Rockaway Roti Shop in New York and has always been a great supporter of sport and sport development in Guyana and North America.

Spartons crowned Pieces domino champs

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ith 80 wins to their name Spartons claimed the final of the Pieces dominoes tournament on Thursday night at Dynasty Sports bar.

In the runners up spot was C7 with 78 games while Providence placed third on 66. In the spotlight for the winners were Denzil Thomas and Navin Singh, who were outstanding for their team with 16 and 14 games respectively while Reuben Chato and Andrew Marks got 16 each for C7.

The MVP Shawn Davis won 17 games and Junior Smith

15 for Providence.

Meanwhile, action in the Champion of Champions tournament will commence

on Sunday at 1223 Gaulding Place, South Ruimveldt.

Entrance fee is $12,000 and the winning team will take home a trophy and $175,000, runner up $60,000 and third place $20,000. The player of the final will receive $5,000.

Double six time is 15:00h.

The competition will conclude on Monday at Dynasty.

Teams can contact Mark Wiltshire on 665-5855 for more information. The competition is being sponsored

by Strikers Sports bar, Faye Joseph, Big Boss Trucking Service and Dynasty Sports bar.

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GUYANA-TIMES.COM

saturday, september 10, 2016

Jaguars Franchise League…

West Berbice cleaned up inside 2 days — Suknanan grabs 7 at Bourda

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est Demerara continued their winning ways with a demolition of West Berbice by a mammoth margin of an innings and 225 inside two days as action in the third round of the Jaguars Premier League continued on Friday.

Played at the Young Warriors Ground at Cumberland, West Demerara resuming on their overnight score of 276/5 reached 369/9 before declaring with a healthy lead of 338. Travis Persaud made 39, Kemol Savory 28 and Rishi Looknauth finished on 22 not out. On day one, lefthanded Barbadian Raymon Reifer had struck 119, skipper Akshaya Persaud made 73 and Safraz Esau 54.

Bowling for West Berbice, Brandon Bess returning to cricket after a lengthy layoff took 2/33, Javed Karim claimed 2/46 while Kevin Jawahir had 2/104.

West Berbice began their second innings facing a deficit of 339 and feared better than in their first innings with a disappointing 114 all out. Kevin Jawahir scored

Gajanan Suknanan

45 as Askhaya Persaud picked up 4/30 while Rishi Looknauth had 3/45.

Also in Berbice at Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne took a vital first innings lead over table toppers Lower Corentyne. Upper Corentyne resumed day two on 133/5 replying to 162 made by Lower Corentyne and were eventually bundled out for 220. Rajiv Ivan made 62 on day one.

Lower Corentyne then fell for 205 all out in their second innings with Surujnarine Kandasammy top scoring for the second

time in the match with 86 while Jonathan Foo made 40 and David Latchaya struck 49. Eon Hooper was the chief destroyer again with his second five wicket haul of the match, claiming 5/48, Omesh Mathura had 3/23 while Clinton Pestano took 2/20. Hooper finished with 10/66 in the match.

In the city, some irresponsible shot selections due to the lack of patience saw 11 wickets falling to spinners in the match between Georgetown and East Coast on Friday at the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground, Bourda. Under some four and a half hours a total of 13 wickets fell after play was afforded for the first time in the match at 13:00 hours on the second day.

East Coast won the toss and opted to bat in humid condition, losing Bhaskar Yadram for two caught by wicket keeper Dexter Solomon off the bowling of Christopher Barnwell with the score also on two.

Discarded national player Chanderpaul Hemraj walked in at three and he along with the talented Gavin Boodwah

pushed the score to 70 in a partnership worth 68 runs.

Boodwah was the second wicket to fall trapped leg before wicket to Gajanand Suknanan for 40 after facing 70 deliveries. Boodwah’s demise open the gates for Suknanan who ripped through East Coast’s innings to finish with outstanding figures of 7-37 from 12.3 economical and accurate overs.

The visitors were bowled out for 148.

Whenever the right hand off spinner bowls again he will be in line to pick up a hat trick as he removed Gavin Moriah and Jermaine Martin in successive deliveries to close East Coast’s innings. The East Coast side which comprises several current and former national youth players as well as two first class players was no match for Suknanan, who delivered with great control and spin as he mesmerized all the batsmen that came into his path.

Besides Boodwah’s top score knock for East Coast, Ramnarine Chatura (30), Chanderpaul Hemraj (24) and Amir Khan determine

Vivian Albert

knock of 14 not out chipped in. While Barnwell, left arm spinner Devon Lord and Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed collected a wicket each for Georgetown.

In reply the host raced to 34 without loss as Robin Bacchus and Andrew Lyght Jr. took the attack to the opponent’s bowlers. However, the introduction of spin immediately brought a wicket as Lyght was given out LBW to part time spinner Hemraj off of his first ball in his spell. His cameo of 25 lasted 20 balls and included three fours and a six.

Shortly after Lyght’s dismissal, Ovid Richardson, who batted at number three was bowled by another occasional spinner Vivian Albert for four. With the close approaching, Albert struck again as Robin Bacchus flicked a catch to Steven Sankar, who held on at midwicket.

Night watchmen Lord (14 not out) and Suknanan (two not out) fought hard to survive five overs to see their team to the close. Suknanan was dropped twice, once by the wicket keeper and the other at first slip.

On day three, the action will resume at 9:00h to make up for time lost. At the moment, Georgetown trail by 85 runs with seven first innings wickets in hand.

At Everest Cricket Club Ground, the entire second day was lost due to wet out field caused by rain on Thursday. On the first day Essequibo began their innings and at 8-1 rain forced a premature end to proceedings.

Weather permitting, the action will also begin at 09:00h at Everest.

Test Championship playoff, ODI league on the cards — Bilateral cricket is not the responsibility of the ICC

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Haroon Lorgat

Test Championship playoff along with ODI and Twenty20 league structures may be adopted by member countries at the next ICC Board meeting in October, after the two-tier Test system was abandoned this week.

Alternate plans to keep afloat bilateral cricket were the main focus for the chief executives of member countries, who met in Dubai earlier this week for a two-day workshop where support for the two-tier model collapsed under BCCI pressure.

Changes to be considered

• Tests - Present FTP arrangements to be maintained but a Test Championship playoff between the top two teams to be played every two years, most likely hosted at a neutral venue - Playoff added to calendar as early as 2019 - Teams to retain individual responsibility to negotiate for Test series with

other nations • ODIs and T20s - ODI league structure to be implemented in time to feature qualifying for 2023 World Cup - League to be played out over three years with 13 countries to play each other in at least one series in that time - Final year of cycle to feature World Cup qualification playoffs for teams that do not automatically qualify - Similar T20 league structure to be introduced - Limited-overs series lengths to be standardised as three ODIs and three T20s According to Haroon Lorgat, CEO of Cricket South Africa and former ICC CEO, all boards are trying to develop context for international cricket, with the best solution being a Test Championship. "That was the belief of many bearing in mind that everyone supports the primacy of international cricket," Lorgat told ESPNcricinfo.

Lorgat said discussions will continue with the next round of ICC meetings when the Chief Executives Committee (CEC) and the Board would formally meet in Cape Town in the second week of October. "What is clear is that a few members do not support the two-tier system, so we will need to find another way to develop a Test champion using the existing rankings table."

Lorgat also said it was the members, and not the ICC, that had taken responsibility to ensure bilateral

cricket was in good health.

"Media have got it wrong.

Bilateral cricket is not the responsibility of the ICC. They are facilitating a process to assist the member countries to sustain fan interest by developing context."

During his ICC tenure, Lorgat was a firm supporter of a World Test Championship to create context, and he believes it is needed to ensure that fans' interest in bilateral cricket is sustained. "The best we might be able to do now is to build a championship model using the existing Test-rankings table to play a final between the top two teams, say every two years.

Although not a perfect outcome, it could find support among all members. Doing nothing is not an option."

A longer cycle, in which all teams played each other over four years, has been deemed too hard to follow.

"Overall it is now a pretty compelling model for all countries. There is very strong alignment on the structure and context for the three formats, and the need for change and improvement," a representative from an influential board said.

For the two-tier model to be implemented, it was necessary that at least seven out of the 10 members back the proposal. Despite six member boards (Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and West Indies) being in its favour, the two-tier model was shelved. Although no formal voting process took

place, four members - India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe - were against it.

"You need seven to support any change, to make it more sensible," a CEO who was present at the Dubai workshop, said. "You don't have India. You don't have Bangladesh. You don't have Sri Lanka. That is three strong playing cricket countries. Zimbabwe was fourth.

West Indies in principle were supportive of it. So two-tier won't work."

But it is difficult to understand why the smaller countries would not support the two-tier structure considering it would allow them guaranteed matches and more exposure. In the end, emotion, history and culture, and the status hit that comes with losing a position in the top tier, rather than logic, were the reasons behind the proposed twotier concept in Test cricket failing to take off, a CEO said. "Some of the countries who don't want to end up in the second division, if that is how they see it, they don't support it. It is very simple: it is because of the stature of not being in the top tier [of seven nations]. It is the fear of being in the second division [bottom five]. That is all it is about.

"Even if you are not guaranteed fixtures in the current system, they are happy to be in one division. So they rather not play cricket than being in a two-tier structure where you will be guaranteed cricket. There is no logic in that. In this compromised version that seems to be finding favour, all the 10

Bilateral cricket will continue with teams at different ends of the rankings playing each other

members will be in one division."

ESPNcricinfo understands Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in particular declined the chance of playing more Test cricket in order to avoid being tarred with second-division status.

A representative present in Dubai during the workshop pointed out that not even "a bucket of money" could divert the stance of the smaller countries as they remained against the two-tier model.

According to Lorgat, the boards in favour of the twotier structure tried to impress the advantage of such a model. "We tried to motivate why a two-tier league would be the best way to sustain and generate fan interest. It did not find favour with some members."

But Lorgat pointed out all 10 members are working hard to find a road map that would benefit bilateral cricket for every board. "It

is not about who supports or who doesn't. Everybody accepts that bilateral cricket needs attention. Some do not support a two-tier Test Championship that would allow for promotion and relegation and also include Associates members. But if that doesn't find favour, then we need to find another model that works."

One possible positive to emerge out of the two-tier fallout, another CEO said, could be the weaker countries could once again partake off the financial gains which would have been channelled mainly to the Big Three. "It is very encouraging to hear the BCCI talking about supporting the smaller members. If a twotier system affects smaller countries and the BCCI does not want this, then it is a signal that the funding that was channelled to the Big Three at the expense of the smaller countries would also come back." (ESPN Cricinfo)

guyana-times.com

SATURDAY, september 10, 2016

Promising athletes awarded scholarships A s the National Sports Commission (NSC) continue to encourage athletes to improve their overall game, the NSC also prompted athletes to garner a good education and on Monday last, NSC awarded grants for two athletes to further their studies at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, Jamaica.

Speaking at the press briefing on the awardees at the NSC, Homestretch Avenue on Friday, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones indicated that the two young men were selected and awarded the grant which costs some $1.4 million per year for each athlete and will run for four years.

Archibald, who was pursuing a degree in Agriculture

Owen Adonis

will now be pursuing a degree in Sociology. The young man will also look to develop his skills as one of the best triple and long jumper in the country.

Archibald, was spotted at the University of the West Indies’ Invitational Track and Field hosted in Jamaica where he broke the seven meter barrier in the long jump while copping gold in the triple jump at the same event. The 22 year old is also a National Basketball player.

Household Plus, Regent Household Electronics team up for golf tourney today

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The greens were fast when golf returned to Lusignan Golf Course

Emmanuel Archibald

Adonis, on the other hand will be pursuing a degree in Management having already achieved a diploma from the University of Guyana. The 23 year old is a former student of St. Joseph High has been dominating the 200m over the past five years and was spotted at the same event as Archibald.

It was revealed that the initial plan was to have the grant be for the 2017 year but the opportunity presented itself this year.

Additionally, the Director of Sport indicated that currently, discussions are ongoing on the basis of awarding two teachers the chance to study for a Bachelors degree in Physical Education and Sport at a cost of $2,037,000 while the other candidate will study for a Masters in Sport and Health Science at a price of $5 million for the 20 month programme.

According to NSC counsellor, Lavern Fraser the invitation extended by the Jamaicans was an indication of their dedication to the development of education and sports in the Caribbean, demonstrating a sense of ‘big brotherhood,’ whereby the Caribbean could help each other rather than extending to North America.

The young athletes flew out of Guyana on Monday for Jamaica.

Ali, “The River Conqueror”, strikes again — the final act

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sraff Ali who successfully swam across the Essequibo River on Monday, two days after swimming the Berbice for a fourth time, plans to swim the Demerara River on Monday September 19.

This time he intends to make the swim solo without any life boats.

“God willing, I will swim the Demerara River back and forth without a safety boat alongside on Monday (September 19). A good circus trapeze acrobat does his final act with a net. My final swim will be without a net (boat). I am aiming to complete the Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara Rivers within a period of two weeks,” he told this publication.

Ali believes that people are fearfully and wonderfully made and we come with

23

Asraff Ali

a manual - the Bible. “The Almighty would like us to use our bodies for His glory.”

According to the 70-yearold Ali, he has a healthy mind in a healthy body thus little physical exercise is needed.

“Bodily exercise profiteth little but Godliness with contentment is great gain,” the religious minded man said.

elated businessmen Nasser Hamid and Shaheed Hamid have once again extended their courtesy to the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) with golf being played at the course for a second consecutive weekend following a prolonged absence due to rain and an impassable road leading to the country’s premier 18-hole venue.

Managers Nasser Hamid and Shaheed Hamid of Household Plus and Regent Household Electronics re-

spectively expressed their appreciation in jointly sponsoring today’s tournament for the second time and look forward to the usual exciting competitive play the golfers bring. The open tournament tees-off at 13:00h.

With the motto ‘Providing Goods and Services Beyond,’ Nasser Hamid of Household Plus would be delighted to see golfers provide scores beyond their normal and so set good standards for future tournaments.

Meanwhile, Shaheed

Hamid is looking forward to a high quality of play and novel performances.

President of the LGC Oncar Ramroop expressed his sincere appreciation for the Businessmen’s ready involvement in supporting the Golf Club by means of sponsoring the tournament, and assures the businessmen that their contribution would go a far way in enhancing the sport in Guyana.

The prizes that are up for grabs are first to fourth,

best net, nearest to the pin, and best gross, meanwhile the LGC Executive is considering other enhancements to the prizes.

Last weekend it was Fizal Hanif, Imran Khan, Carlos Abrams and Patanjalee ‘Pur’ Persaud, in that order who dominated the proceedings at the Massy United Insurance Golf Tournament. Now the big question is, who will walk away with the top accolades this weekend?

saturday, september 10, 2016

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

Jaguars Franchise League…

West Berbice cleaned up inside 2 days

Pg 22

— Suknanan grabs 7 at Bourda

Catch it! East Coast batsman Gavin Moriah became Gajanan Suknanan’s 6th victim after holding out at midwicket

Maxwell reigns in Dilshan’s farewell — Australia sweep series

Tillakaratne Dilshan is given a guard of honour by team-mates ahead of his last international innings

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyana-times.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.

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