Guyana Times

Feasibility study for city bus terminals ongoing P14

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

Issue No. 3081

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, December 30, 2016

PRICE

Hydropower project

Norway report vindicates PPP – Jagdeo Page 3

…increases pressure for Govt to restart project

President revokes Red House lease

Page 7

…orders Cheddi Jagan Centre to vacate by tomorrow

Passengers escape with minor injuries after minibus explodes

$80 VAT INCLUDED

WHAT'S INSIDE:

SWF draft P13 framework for January sitting of National Assembly – Petroleum Commission Bill ready to be tabled

Anna Regina vendors P2 aggrieved over garbage pile-up

Brazilian beaten to death at P2 Chinese Creek

Recordbreaking year for gold industry P10 – Trotman – declaration stands at 690,000 ounces ...as role of Gold Board to be adjusted

Several adults and children escaped with minor burns and injuries after the Route 72 minibus in which they were travelling exploded along the Linden-Lethem road on Thursday afternoon (see story in Saturday’s edition)

Elisabeth Harper Rice sector rehired at Foreign declined 12.7% Affairs Ministry by …Govt cannot maintain sugar Page 16

Page 10

…her “unique skills” an asset – Greenidge industry – Agri Minister

Decomposed body found in New P12 Amsterdam house US expels P15 35 Russian diplomats, closes 2 compounds

2 news

friDAY, december 30, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Anna Regina vendors aggrieved Brazilian beaten to death at Chinese Creek over garbage pile-up A

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Garbage at Anna Regina old market

cores of roadside vendors who operate in the vicinity of the Anna Regina old market in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) have expressed disgust over the current garbage pile-up.

When the vendors turned out on Wednesday, they were greeted by a huge stockpile of garbage.

According to vendors, the “unhealthy” environment is not conducive for

them to operate in and they are calling on the Anna Regina Town Council to act promptly in removing the humongous amount of garbage.

During a visit to the site, this publication observed stray animals spreading the garbage further into the market; the festering pile of waste is also giving off an obnoxious odour which is unhealthy for vendors and consumers to operate in.

The garbage pile is located along the main entrance to Lake Mainstay Resort, where tourists and visitors traverse on their way to the popular tourist site.

According to vendors, the garbage is usually cleaned by the Anna Regina Town Council workers.

When this publication contacted the Town Council, an officer assured that the garbage situation will be under control before New Year.

Brazilian who was lured to his mining pit by one of his workers on Wednesday, was beaten to death over a disagreement earlier in the day.

The incident took place at Chinese Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River.

The dead dredge owner has been identified as Francisco Oliveria Da Conceicao, 33.

Based on reports, the now dead man was in his mining camp with his girlfriend when one of the workers breathlessly informed him that his dredge had submerged.

Without hesitation, the Brazilian rushed to the mining pit to check on the dredge but was attacked by the same worker and several others. Guyana Times understands that the man was severely beaten, chopped and stabbed about the body.

The man’s body was later found by his girlfriend with several stab wounds.

She immediately raised an alarm and the other workers ran to assist but it was

too late.

Commander, F Division, Rabindranauth Budhram has confirmed that the murder was committed, while noting that a team of de-

tectives has travelled to the area to investigate the matter.

The man’s body was transported to the Bartica Hospital Mortuary.

news

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friDAY, december 30, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, December 30 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, December 31 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, December 30 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, December 31 – 05:25h-06:55h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers with light cloud cover can be expected throughout the day, while partly cloudy skies and light rain showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly and East South Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tides: 05:03h and 17:15h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.68 metres respectively.

Low Tides: 10:49h and 23:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.67 metre and 0.53 metre respectively.

F

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday declared that the recently independent fact-based assessment on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) vindicates the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C’s) stance and called on the coalition Government to apologise to Norway for misrepresenting the report.

He also urged all Guyanese to read the report for themselves and join with the PPP/C in putting pressure on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance

from the Opposition Leader for such – was conducted by Norconsult; a reputable consultancy firm out of Norway, contracted by the Government of Norway.

In highlighting the truth about Amaila, Jagdeo outlined that the report hails Amaila as the only practical option for an emission free electricity sector.

The report states, “The only realistic path for Guyana towards an emission free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential. The fastest way forward is to maintain AFHP

LOTTERY NUMBERS

For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration to quickly restart the project.

“We are confident that intelligent, independent-minded Guyanese will see that the assessment vindicates the project, and supports re-starting it immediately,” he expressed in a statement to the media on Thursday.

Before its release, Government claimed that the assessment of the Amaila Falls Project justified the APNU/AFC’s years of effort to destroy the Project.

However, the Opposition Leader contends that Government’s claim plunges new depths in its disregard for the truth.

This independent review of Amaila Falls – which came on the heels of calls

Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

Daily Millions

02 09 13 24 25 LUCKY 3 2

… increases pressure for Govt to restart project

An artist’s impression of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

02 09 13 14 17 19 04

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Norway report vindicates PPP – Jagdeo

wednesday, december 28 , 2016

FREE TICKET

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Amaila Falls Hydropower Project

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Afternoon Draw

Draw De Line 02 04 10 12 13

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Evening Draw

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as the first major step for substituting its current oil fired generation. AFHP was prioritised as the first hydropower plant because it was the only project with a full feasibility study completed, it has a higher plant load factor than the alternatives, a smaller reservoir and a levelised unit cost in the same range as the most attractive alternatives.”

The report also proves that wind energy – at least in the capacity in which Government is currently pursuing – will not support Guyana’s commitment to reach 100 per cent renewable by 2025.

“As the power demand is growing, and for reaching the goal of 100 per cent emission free generation

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

by 2025, as assumed by the [Low Carbon Development Strategy] LCDS, a second hydropower plant of capacity comparable with AFHP will have to be commissioned by 2025. In parallel with preparations for AFHP, therefore, prefeasibility studies will have to be carried out for promising candidates for the second hydropower project and a full feasibility study be performed for the selected candidate,” the report surmised.

The report also states “We regard the soundness of AFHP as evident and in order to follow up the intentions of the LCDS as fast as possible, we recommend the preparations for AFHP to be resumed.” However, Government has not given any indications or shown any interest in pursuing Amaila.

The report also states that “the BOOT type public-private partnership model should be maintained for the project implementation.

An internationally well-merited investor and operator in the hydropower industry should be invited to take the majority position.”

TURN TO PAGE 9

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guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, december 30, 2016

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

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

Editorial

Twisting the Norway report

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orconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway, contracted by the Government of Norway, for an “objective and facts-based” assessment of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) on Wednesday released its report on the venture, stating that the only realistic path for Guyana moving towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential.

In its recommendations the independent consultancy firm endorsed that the best way for Guyana to achieve its 2025 green agenda commitment is to maintain the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

But just moments before the report was made public, the Government of Guyana, through Minister David Patterson issued a statement claiming that the Norconsult consultancy has justified Government’s position that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is not financially viable for the country and will be a burden to the people of Guyana. The Government is claiming that the independent report gives credence to its position on the need for an energy mix to increase the country’s share of renewable energy by close to 100 per cent by the year 2025. The Government is claiming that the report also provides supporting evidence that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project would not be optimal in its current model and presents an unbalanced risk to the Government and People of Guyana.

Having read the report and Government’s statement, one is left to wonder if the Administration received the same assessment report as was released to the public.

Why would the Government of Guyana want to deceive the nation on the project? Is it that the top decision makers are so egoistic that they cannot endorse a project that is good for Guyana simply because it was conceived by the People’s Progressive Party?

While in Opposition, both the APNU and AFC criticised the project and having gained the 2015 Elections, sought a review of the project. Now that the review is out and not in its favour, the coalition in its statement said that the Administration proposes to utilise a mix of energy options, starting with less risky options such as solar and wind, as outlined in Budget 2017. This raises eyebrows as the report specifically stated that wind energy will not support Guyana’s commitment to reach 100 per cent renewable by 2025.

Again the public is left to question the motive of the Administration to pursue a project, which according to the assessment, cannot independently help Guyana to achieve its United Nations commitment for 2025.

The pursuit by Government on mix of energy options, including wind farm, comes months after a known financier of the Alliance For Change, has been negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement that was never tendered.

The US$50 million wind farm project has been touted

by Government as its solution to Guyana Power and Light power outage woes.

The decision by Government, to twist the Norconsult consultancy report, is unfortunate as it paints an appalling picture of the magnitude to which ego will direct the future of Guyana. This in turn will have a trickle effect on the development of Guyana and in the interest of Guyanese and the country’s development, personality should be set aside and the nation’s interest be placed on the forefront.

In putting the interest of the nation high on its agenda, the Government should move to revitalise the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project in a restructured financial model.

People walk along a seasonally decorated street with illuminations for Christmas and the New Year installed in Moscow, Russia on December 28, 2016 (Yahoo! News)

No proper planning in implementing parking meters Dear Editor, The concept of planning is important for any city; it becomes that much more critical for a national capital city like Georgetown.

All should be involved; the process thorough.

A recent article, ‘Five ways to plan the cities of the future’ by the UK’s ‘The Guardian’ newspapers makes the point. It states that in 2009, “UN Habitat estimated that 3M people were moving to cities every week.” The publication goes on to state, “we continue to see certain groups and individuals living in our cities that are not able to participate in negotiations. Slum dwellers are one such group. We need to speak to the most marginalised in ways that articulate their everyday realities. Whenever we have taken the time to do this, we find they are the experts of their own condition – they do not make unreasonable demands and they are prepared to make the trade-offs needed to make the city work.”

An entity such as the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) then has an important function. Even where the Constitution given the local authority the jurisdiction under the Municipal and District Council Act, Chapter 28:01, for instance Section 274, Power to construct Council roads and control traffic; in traffic control, under Section 176, (a) “estab-

lish, maintain and control parking lots, (b) erect and maintain parking meters”, the legislation states it is all subject to Town and Country Planning Act, the Road Act and Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act. Planning therefore has a rationalisation. This takes me back to the issues of parking meters. The more I think about the issue, the more I am convinced that we who oppose the methodology of implementation are on the right side of history. What was the planning involved before such a fundamental change in the mobility of citizens is realised?

When our President, David Granger, made his historic visit to City Hall, June 27, 2016, he underscored the "need to plan".

He put it cogently when he said to City Hall, "Any urban plan that you produce of course, will not exist in a vacuum. The plan must not only be based on knowledge of what is required in the city, but it must also aim at collaboration...with the Central Government, [CH&PA] and certainly with the Ministry of Communities, so that we work together because this is a national capital."

I keep hearing of a study that was done by the contractors but like the substantive contract it remains a municipal secret. To be fair a proposal for “on street parking” submitted to City Hall in the ’90s makes reference to an “IDB funded

study” and outlines briefly “the main causes of traffic congestion”. This study seems to have been used as the basis for Georgetown’s parking meters.

The current parking meter contractor keeps alluding to a study that was done but I have never seen it nor have I heard a single sentence quoted from it in defence of the need for implementation of parking meters. I am going to hazard a guess that no study was done.

Further, as a typology of 'putting the cart before the horse', the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI) is currently in the process of consultations as part of its Sustainable Urban Transport Study (SUTS) for Georgetown. To my pleasant surprise one of the four major actions of that study is the “Development of a comprehensive Parking Management plan for Central Georgetown.”

“This project component will require the development of a Parking Policy and Management Plan for Central Georgetown – The Plan will include zoning, charges, regulations etc.”

On November 24, 2016 when I met with the MPI’s team at City Hall which included its consultants and M&CC senior staff several requests were made of our organisation for details as to the current Metered Parking System for Georgetown and again I was surprised by the shortage of critical information.

Even the Guyana Police Force's Traffic Department seemed out of the loop recently.

Additionally, I note the Ministry of Finance's Review of the parking meter contract suggested, "A history of the contractor should be provided to City Hall in order to assess the experience and qualification of the contractor”, and noted also, “The contract cedes to [Parking Meter Company] a portion of urban planning, permitting it to shape the direction of transportation management within Georgetown since it says nothing about [City Hall’s] ability to plan."

In the concluding comments it states, "subject to legal implications, there are grounds for (1) the contract to be withdrawn, and (2) the related pecuniary damages assessed and paid subject to [City Hall] producing a feasibility study that gives the national government a clear picture of, inter alia, demand analysis, financial analysis, socio-economic cost benefit analysis, risk analysis, technology alternatives, and production plan, human resources, location plan, implementation."

Notwithstanding the lack of proper planning, the Metered Parking project moves apace.

Sherod Avery Duncan, Deputy Mayor Municipality of Georgetown

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, december 30, 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

Status of Aurora Land Development Project Dear Editor, I penned a letter which was published in another publication on 19 December 2011, in which I was basically finding out the status of the Aurora Land Development Project, and this was after more than five years, since early in 2006, when then President Bharrat Jagdeo accompanied by former Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud and other senior National and Regional Officials held a meeting at the Aurora Primary School, and promised the residents of that community to have more than 5400 acres of arable land developed and distributed to them, the landless, and who would have met the criteria and all of this were to happen, six months from that day.

It is important to note that during my tenure as a Regional Democratic

Councillor, from the Alliance of Change (AFC) List of Candidates.

The question about the progress of this much touted project was asked at many RDC meetings, and also of the Agriculture and Works Committee, a statutory committee of the RDC on which I also served; but on each occasion the answers were not informative, nor encouraging, and at times I got the distinct impression that the persons answering the questions were not honest in their reply or response.

In 2011 on 8 April, Jagdeo returned to the same venue, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud again with him, and other senior agriculture officials, and one new-comer in the person of Donald Ramotar.

Of course this was shortly after he was selected to be the People’s Progressive Party Presidential Nominee.

This time both Jagdeo and Ramoutar repeated the promise that was made to the more than 500 persons more than five years ago.

Both men spoke at length about this much important and long overdue project, their speeches were consistently punctuated by raucous applause and the hope and joy of the people were evident by their facial expression and body language, I included, but after more than ten years there is no evidence to suggest or indicate that positive thing had begun to happen or are happening as regards to this project that would have benefitted thousands of people directly and indirectly.

In another publication on Wednesday 1, July 2015, I again by way of a letter to the editor, enquired about the land promise to the people, by the current Head of

State and it was under the caption “The Project that never was” and my hope was, that a comment by those who made those promises would have been made, but from then to now, the deafening silence continue, and the hope of the people has faded. The question to be asked is: Were these promises real? In light of the old adage ‘promises are made to be broken’. Promises are comforting words but only to fools; a promise is a debt, what are we to believe. This piece of information may help you form an opinion.

In retrospect it is reasonable to conclude that it was indeed a project that never was; I would bet my last penny that come 2020 more or similar types of promises would be made.

The 2017 Budget holds good for the Agriculture Section and there are high hopes for the people that

Push carts a noise nuisance

Dear Editor, I am requesting the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown to take urgent steps to curb the noise menace that is now being posed by the music push carts commonly seen around Georgetown, particularly in the downtown area.

These music cart operators, who sell pirated music and movies, usually push their carts through the streets both in commercial and residential areas blasting music, and with the carts congesting the roadways and delaying traffic.

Daily, citizens are bombarded both at work and at home by the loud playing of what passes now for music from these carts. Indeed the operators seem to have no regard for the peace and tranquillity of residents of neighbourhoods as at

all hours of the night lewd music can be heard blaring from these carts. Often these carts would remain in a fixed location for lengthy periods.

Clearly this is a public nuisance as it occurs in open spaces and constitute a detriment, danger and hazard to the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Georgetown.

Given the ungodly hours that these music carts are on the road, it causes one to wonder whether it is really music CDs that are really being sold or if it is really a cover for other illegal activities.

And to make it much worse, the lyrics of most the so-called songs are so depraved, odious, filled with so much filthy sexual insinuations that are so downright

degrading to women, it is no wonder we saw recently a pastor getting involved in such immoral behaviour.

It is time for City Hall to address this situation before it becomes even more uncontrollable. The City Constabulary should dis-

allow music carts on the streets of Georgetown and if not then regulate the volume and type of music being played. The rights of everyone ought to be respected.

Sincerely, Amber Valentine

are involved in the crops and livestock area. But producing more means getting more persons involved and occupation of land by the landless.

The empoldering of this much needed and touted project becomes more im-

portant and cannot be over emphasised.

Perhaps Minister Noel Holder can say if anything was or is in the pipeline regarding this project.

Sincerely, Archie W Cordis

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friday, december 30, 2016

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Foundation

guyanatimesgy.com

Social media images of children putting them at risk, authorities warn

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arents might think there is no harm in posting an image of their child on Tinder or Facebook, but authorities warn those same images could end up in the galleries of paedophiles.

The rise of social media and dating applications has seen images of children uploaded to the World Wide Web in ever increasing numbers, usually by their parents, and usually without permission or understanding from the child.

Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner (OCEC) senior education adviser Kellie Britnell said it was not uncommon for child pictures posted online, fully clothed or otherwise, to end up in the online hands of paedophiles.

“When our prohibited online content team that deals with child sexual abuse material goes searching for a URL they are give n ,

they know that some of those images have been taken directly from social media sites,” she said.

“The kids don’t necessarily have to be naked,

but put them in a library with a whole lot of other images … they are people that you don’t really want looking at your children’s photos.”

She said location technology connected to smartphones, photos and apps also risked handing over key information to predators about a child’s school, their outside engagements, and even their homes.

“When your child looks cute in a school uniform, that’s fine when it’s on your phone, but once you post it, you’re giving away lot of information, depending on your circle of friends, but also friends of friends, depending on your settings,” Britnell said.

“We can say, only share it with people you know and trust, but we also know with a lot of these sites, people inadvertently can see photos that were never intended for them.”

Britnell said parents usually posted pictures with the best of intentions,

but “the audience is wide and you don’t know who they are”.

“In some ways, this is a new world and people just have not had the time to think about how they could be violating their child’s

graphic category.

“Sadly, it’s not a crime to be stupid,” she said.

“There is little if any time allowed for people to actually get to know others before disclosing vast amount of personal infor-

rights to privacy,” she said.

Single parents are also increasingly using images of their children to advert i s e themselves on the dating app, Tinder.

A d e l a i d e Family Law barrister and Law Society Council member Denise Rienets said the Family Court was likely to “frown very severely” upon parents posting child images on Tinder, although it was not considered a crime unless the images fell into the porno-

mation.

“It’s such risk-taking behaviour these people are engaging in….”

Facebook has provisions for a person who is being cyberbullied to have their images removed from the platform and other accounts blocked from seeing them.

But a spokesperson said the platform would not remove an image on behalf of a child whose parents refused to do it, just because the child considered it embarrassing.

A SAPOL spokesperson said Police would only get involved if there was some sort of offence being committed by the photo.

Parent photos leading to school bullying

In 2008, the Australian Law Reform Commission released a report called Children, Young People and Attitudes to Privacy, which looked at whether the rights of young people were adequately protected.

The report found the public posting of non-sexual photographs of children could have serious implications for them and lead to consequences that included embarrassment, ridicule, bullying and invasion of privacy.

It found that while the publication of photos of a sexually exploitative nature was covered by criminal law, embarrassing childhood photos, even where the child was naked, was unlikely to fall into that category.

Earlier this year an 18-year-old woman in Austria successfully sued her parents for posting embarrassing baby photos of her on Facebook. The woman said she asked her parents to remove them, but they refused.

“Since the 2008 report, there has been an exponential growth in the use and pervasiveness of social media which would not have been foreseen at the time,” Reinets said.

“The ability to control access to information and images published on social media is limited and can have a very serious impact on a child or young person and the person posting the information.”

Parents post images for ‘approval’ from peers

You might think it is cute to snap a photo of your toddler running around in a playground or having a temper tantrum for social media, but did you ever think it might be a mistake, or even illegal?

Rita Princi, a clinical psychologist working with children and families in Adelaide, said parents were becoming “addicted” to posting pictures on the Internet and were heavily influenced by the Internet and social media.

“If someone else has put up a photo of their child, then they think they have to put up a photo as well to keep up,” she said.

She said other parents were at the opposite end where a sense of loneliness or a need to feel like they belonged was driving their behaviour.

“Or that they’re getting approval from others to say they’re doing a good job, or perhaps it’s their own need to get attention,” Princi said.

“But I see teenagers who are battling eating dis-

orders and body image problems because of photos on the internet.

“It might be cute now, however, later on, when they get 11 to 13 and they start to be more aware of how they look, you’re really creating an environment for children to start observing it very early.”

She said parents were actively condoning an early sense of body image in their children that was “scary”.

“I’m talking to a lot of teenagers at the moment about being safe on the Internet, being careful on social media,” Princi said.

“So when parents do this sort of behaviour … it’s reinforcing exactly what we’re trying to help steer teenagers through in this very difficult Internet age.”

Princi said parents needed guidelines or outlines to help them act with “common sense”.

“It’s frightening to think people could be exposed to these children and perhaps want to meet their parents because of that.”(Excerpt from ABC Online)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President revokes Red House lease …orders Cheddi Jagan Centre to vacate by tomorrow

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resident David Granger has ordered that the lease for Red House, which houses the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre Incorporated (CJRCI) on High Street, Kingston, Georgetown, be revoked and gave the occupants up to December 31, 2016 to vacate the property.

This instruction was passed on to Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday, via a letter from the Head of State, a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency revealed.

Based upon advice of Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Basil Williams, President Granger concluded that it would be in the public’s interest for the lease, issued to the CJRCI, to be revoked.

In the same communiqué, he also directed the Minister of State that the building be assigned to house “The National Trust of Guyana, its staff, stores and equipment”. The National Trust, which is currently housed in the Valerie Rodway Building on Carmichael Street, Georgetown, is ordered to be shifted over to the Lots 65, 66, and 67 High Street property with effect from January 1, 2017, where the President felt it would be better able to fulfil its mandate to preserve Guyana’s national patrimony and to promote an appreciation for the nation’s heritage.

Move unconscionable and vindictive

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo has since labelled the President’s decision as “unconscionable and vindictive”.

When contacted for a response on Thursday evening, the Opposition Leader would only say that he has advised the committee that manages Red House to challenge the order passed down by the Head of State.

“I spoke with some of the members of the committee and I indicated to them that we should vigorously challenge this unconscionable, vindictive act of the Granger Administration,” he stated.

Jagdeo noted that the com-

mittee is expected to issue a more detailed response on the matter shortly.

This move comes more than one year after the coalition Government had engaged the CJRCI on the matter of the lease. That engagement included negotiations for the Red House to provide a national service by housing information on all of the Presidents of Guyana.

However, those negotiations proved futile and in an invited comment, Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, said that after discussions broke down, he sought to determine the legality of the lease agreement.

Hence, the Minister released a detailed statement on Wednesday highlighting that his investigations revealed that the lease held by the CJRCI is invalid on several grounds, including the fact that there is no evidence that the President of the day had sanctioned it.

According to Williams, the Commissioner of Lands & Surveys (CL&S) is the custodian of all Government Lands granted to him by the President, thus there must be evidence of the President approving leases under Section 10 of the Lands Department

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Act Chapter 59:01.

“It is submitted that upon a proper perusal of file#413112/11 there is no formal evidence of sanction or approval by the President of the Day and the lease is invalid,” he stated.

The AG went on to explain that after the CJRCI was incorporated in March 2000 as a non-profit entity, a lease was drawn up that year between the Government of Guyana and the National Trust as ‘Lessors’ and CJRCI as ‘Lessees’ however that document was not executed.

He pointed out too that in May 2006, the then General Secretary of the People’s

Progressive Party (PPP), Donald Ramotar, made application to the CL&S on behalf of the CJRCI for a lease of Red House lands. A file was opened and in 2010, the application was resubmitted to the then Office of the President.

Williams added that as of January 2011, that resubmission was also not approved as there is no evidence of any signature of the President on the purported Schedule, only those of the then CL&S, Doorga Persaud, and the Manager, Land Administration, Enrique Monzie, were affixed.

“On 30th day of March 2012 the Red House lease was purportedly executed by the CL&S and Mr Ralph Ramkarran SC for the lessees. Again there was no formal approval by the President of the Day, or the National Trust, rendering the lease invalid, and a nullity in law.

The President can properly revoke it,” the AG outlined.

However, in a statement on Thursday, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall posited that the contention that the lease is invalid because the President did not ‘sanction’ it is an argument that is manifestly wrong.

He pointed out that al-

President David Granger

though the power to lease, sell or grant licenses in relation to lands which fall under State Lands Act and the Regulations made thereunder resides with the President, the legislation provides for the President to delegate such authority to the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys, the Commissioner of Forestry or the Commissioner of Geology and Mines or the Manager of the MMA/ADA. “The practice of delegating these responsibilities to subordinate functionaries is one that started since the tenure of President Arthur Chung, and has continued on to this

day. So, while the President’s name may appear on the face of a lease in relation to State Lands, the President’s signature is not at the end of the lease, instead, some authorised public officer signs for the President,” Nandlall outlined, while adding that the same thing was done in relation to the Red House lease and “the argument, therefore, that the President did not sanction it is hopelessly wrong.”

Williams moreover had further advanced that the lease was invalid since it was not executed before a Court or Judge and filed, as of record, in the Deeds Registry as is required by Section 13 of the Deeds Registry Act. However, the former AG pointed out that there is no such legal requirement since Section 13 of the Deeds Registry Act contains a proviso which states that the Section does not apply to leases for State lands (and Government lands).

Nandlall stated that the amount of time Government is expending in trying to set aside the Red House Lease is indicative of how skewed its priorities are and how politically vindictive it can get.

8 News Brothers charged for chopping man T Fake news…

FRIDAY, december 30, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

wo brothers appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts jointly charged with chopping a man with whom they had an argument.

Mohammed Nazir Aden, 28, and Mohammed Amir Aden, 23, a taxi driver, both of Kitty, Georgetown, appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

It is alleged that on Christmas Day at about 21:00h at Station Street, Kitty, with intent to murder Terrence Alli, they unlawfully and maliciously wounded him. On Thursday, the Prosecutor informed the Court that the accused

and the virtual complainant were involved in a heated argument when one of the brothers went to his car, whipped out a cutlass and dealt the VC several chops about his body. The court was also informed that Alli is still hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital but nonetheless had no objections to bail.

Bail was granted at $175,000 each of the brothers. As a condition to bail, they are required to report to the Ruimveldt Police Station once per week until the trial is completed.

The case will continue on January 20.

Secondary school student slapped with robbery charge

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16-year-old student of 8th of May Secondary School, Essequibo Coast, was on Thursday remanded to the Juvenile Holding Centre until January 9, 2017, after he

pleaded guilty to the charge robbery with violence.

The student appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Leguan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

According to the pros-

ecution’s case, the teen robbed Alvin Singh on Boxing Day (December 26) at about 19:00h at Back Street, Charity, Essequibo Coast.

After pleading guilty to

the charge, Magistrate Bess ordered a probation report to be done.

The sentencing was postponed to January 9, 2017, when the probation report is expected to be submitted.

Misfortune man, another charged with fraud

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wo men, who both attempted to defraud another, were on Thursday granted $300,000 bail each when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Christopher Gardener, 23, a computer technician of Houston, Greater Georgetown, and Kevin Singh, 24, of Lot 54 Misfortune, West Bank Demerara (WBD) both pleaded not guilty to their

respective charges when it was read to them by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Gardener’s charge stated that on December 28, 2016 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $1.2 million from Republic Bank of Guyana Limited under a forged Republic Bank cheque, purporting to be signed by Nypaul Ramadan, property of said Nypaul Ramadan.

On the other hand,

Singh’s charge alleged that on September 21, 2016, at Georgetown and with intent to defraud, he obtained $800,000 from Republic Bank of Guyana Limited under a forged Republic Bank cheque, purporting to be signed by Nypaul Ramadan, property of said Nypaul Ramadan.

According to Gardener’s Attorney, the defendant has a similar matter in Courts Eight and Nine of the Georgetown

Magistrates’ Courts of which he is making timely repayments.

As such, he requested reasonable bail on his client’s behalf. Singh, however, was unrepresented.

Both men were asked to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) twice per week until the conclusion of the matter. The case will continue on January 11, 2017.

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…roiling the west

uring the US elections campaign that ended with Donald Trump winning the presidency, the issue of ‘fake news’ rose to the surface, hasn’t receded, and in fact is now dominating the discourse in Europe and other Western capitals. In the US, statistics now aggregated show concocted news by partisans of either Clinton and Trump and posted on Facebook, got more attention than “regular” news from the old establishment media outlets like the New York Times and the Washington Times.

In fact, some claim Trump only won the election because of “fake news” created by some young hackers from behind the old Iron Curtain. One post had Pope Francis endorsing Trump, another from Winning Democrats claimed Ireland was accepting anti-Trump “refugees” from the US. It received over 810,000 Facebook engagements! But the performance of the “established” media wasn’t any better when it came to fake news.

The Washington Post, now owned by the pro-Clinton Bezos who also owns Amazon for instance ran a sketchy, opinionated story “Trump’s history of corruption is mind boggling, so why is Clinton supposedly the corrupt one?” It received 849,000 hits on Facebook, while the New York Post’s “Melania’s girl-on-girl photos from racy shoot revealed” garnered 531,000 hits. With the German elections looming, claims on social media that Merkel is the daughter of Hitler (!!) took off like wildfire - and so it went in other western capitals.

But all of this has to make conscious folks in the Third World exclaim, “There is a God!” For untold decades, the western media have portrayed the Third World so negatively that their people began believing the news themselves. The New York Times was the bastion of Liberal democratic thinking, surely it wouldn’t “make up news”, would it? It most certainly would and did! Even to poor, tiny and inconsequential Guyana. Even when it reported on the CIA machinations during the sixties, there was so much they didn’t publish – making Jagan appear to be a conspiratorialist loony.

Didn’t the major British papers go along with the cover-up of the mass incarceration of the Kenyan freedom Fighters they dubbed, “Mau Mau”? All of this was exposed during the case brought by some Kenyan survivors - which they won last year. But where was the outrage against the “fake news” then? We’re objects about whom the Western media can publish whatever they want. But now that social media have changed the rules of the game, witness the squeals of outrage!!

The answer, of course, is news ought to be “impartial”.

But as usual it all comes down to who owns the platform for the news, nuh?

In the Third World, we’re still objects.

…on Amaila Falls Hydro power

But we in Guyana know that it’s not just the big, bad western imperialists who are purveyors of fake news, don’t we? We’ve learnt more than just rigging elections from them!! Remember D’aguiar’s Chronicle? And the Muckraker took over that baton rather efficiently during the last PPP Administration, don’t you think?

But what the Chronicle did yesterday on its coverage of the Norway-funded report on the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, takes local fake news to a new low (nadir?).

Now the PNC-led coalition Government – starting when, as the opposition, they scuttled it - was always opposed to AFHEP because it was Jagdeo’s idea. Norway was always for it because it made sense. So they forced the Government to have an impartial study done. The report came out – all in favour of AFHEP but making some technical suggestions.

That the Government seized the suggestions to reject AFHEP once again wasn’t surprising. Hate is powerful!

But the Chronicle only carrying the Government’s release without looking at the actual report!??!

How fake can you get?

…by omission

Fake news operates most powerfully by the act of omission. What this does is to silence and wipe out from history those whose news are never covered.

Like the Chronic’s blanking of the tragedy unfolding at Wales.

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

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friDAY, december 30, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Greenidge hints at nonrenewal of Dr Shamir Ally's contract

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espite revelations of a fraud conviction in the United States, the Government of Guyana has decided to allow Guyanese Diplomat, Dr Shamir Ally to serve out his one year contract as Ambassador to Kuwait.

This is according to Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge at the Ministry’s end of year press briefing on Thursday.

In September, it was revealed that Dr Ally, who was initially appointed Guyana’s Ambassador to Switzerland but later seconded to Kuwait instead, was convicted in the US sometime ago for disseminating false financial information.

According to Greenidge, while Government felt it should have been informed

about the conviction, the Ambassador will nevertheless serve out his contract.

“We have looked at that matter and we have concluded that Dr Ally should have drawn to our attention the matter that was raised in the press. It is, we believe, inappropriate for him not to have done so…(but) as it stands right now, the contract that he has will stand,” the Minister stated.

He went on to say that the Guyana Government has since taken “necessary actions” against Ambassador Ally. “Let me say the appropriate action in the light of all the circumstances had to do with (Government) writing Dr Ally and drawing to his attention concerns and our wish to ensure that no similar over-

Guyana’s Ambassador Kuwait, Dr Shamir Ally

to

sight will be uncovered in the future,” Greenidge disclosed.

The Foreign Affairs Minister noted that Government is looking forward to the service of Dr Ally

during the tenure of his contract and further opted not to say where the Guyanese Diplomat’s contract will be renewed for another term.

“I would not want to pronounce on (the prospects for a contract renewal) at this stage. There is always a prospect, whether it’s good or not so good is another matter,” he remarked. In 2002, Dr Ally was investigated for dissemination of false financial information through a US registered company, Acrodyne Communications Inc. He had copped a plea bargain agreement with the United States Government for a lesser penalty of a US$10,000 fine.

According to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Acrodyne’s former Finance

Comptroller, Dr Ally and others “were aware of numerous and significant problems with Acrodyne’s accounting controls, but failed to assure that Acrodyne’s financial transactions were accurately recorded”. However, in a subsequent statement, Dr Ally vehemently denied culpability in the charges brought by the SEC to the company he was employed with. He pointed out that he was employed with the company for a short period (February 1999 to July 2000). He started off as the Cost Accounting Manager and from May 1999, he served in the capacity of Controller.

He claimed that he was terminated in 2000 when the Technical Director Ostroff became the new President. The company was at the time in

the midst of a power struggle, falling revenue/income and a depleting labour force, he stated. The statement further detailed that in May 2002, charges were brought

by SEC against former President A Robert Mancuso and former Chief Financial Officer Ronald R Lanchoney, along with Controller Shamir Ally, accusing them of disseminating false financial information in press releases and Commission filings in 1998, 1999 and 2000. Dr Ally was first employed at Acrodyne in 1999.

Instead of proceeding with a long and costly trial, the three professionals were strongly advised by that company’s lawyer to make a deal with the SEC to pay fines without admission of guilt.

Norway report vindicates...

FROM PAGE 3

Jagdeo pointed out that the report reaffirms that the BOOT type public-private partnership model – which the then APNU/AFC Opposition destroyed in August 2013 – is the right financial structure for AFHP. “Up until yesterday (Wednesday), APNU/AFC, first in Opposition and then in Government, claimed that their concerns with the project related to the financing costs which are associated with this BOOT type of partnership. They made wild claims about the cost of the project and the resulting cost of electricity, and repeated the ridiculous claim that the project would saddle Guyanese with decades of debt. However, in yesterday’s (Wednesday) statement, they did not mention these concerns at all – because they have been thoroughly debunked by Norconsult,” Jagdeo asserted.

The report explained that constructing Amaila Falls would cut electricity costs by more than 50 per cent for the energy produced by AFHP, or US$3.3 billion over 20 years.

But Jagdeo noted that in its statement on the matter, APNU/AFC hid how they are no longer making claims about the financial model by instead claiming that there were mission-critical engineering issues to be solved.

“This is not true – the Norconsult report sets out some design areas for consideration as the project progresses, but also notes that these areas were already being looked at,” Jagdeo contended.

Norconsult clearly states “Although certain design aspects of AFHP should be reviewed and revised, we regard the soundness of AFHP as evident and in order to follow up the intentions of the

LCDS as fast as possible, we recommend the preparation for AFHP be resumed.”

Jagdeo argued that instead of focusing on these engineering issues, APNU/AFC should have looked at areas where the project’s financing can be improved.

“The Norconsult assessment sets out several sensible recommendations which deserve further discussion and analysis. The PPP does not agree with all of these recommendations, but will support any efforts to get costs down further if possible,” the Opposition Leader said.

Nonetheless, to try and repair the damage, Norconsult sets out how AFHP can be operational in six and a half years’ time – mainly because the original tenders date from 2008 and now need to be retendered.

But Jagdeo said this is six years too late because AFHP

should have been providing affordable, reliable, clean energy to Guyanese within the next few months.

“However, given that the wasted time cannot be regained, we must focus on the future,” he lamented.

The Opposition Leader expressed that the PPP/C wishes to see AFHP restart immediately, and is willing to engage in discussions on all the recommendations set out in the Norconsult assessment.

“With that in mind, the PPP calls on all Guyanese to

join with us in ensuring that the APNU/AFC Government acts in the interest of the people of Guyana, apologises for their repeated lies about the project and instead works to make AFHP a success,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Second Vice President Carl Greenidge told media operatives on Thursday that the Government of Guyana never took a definitive decision on Amaila Falls.

He noted too that the Norway report was yet to be submitted to Cabinet. He held out that

the report vindicated APNU/ AFC’s position that the AFHP was flawed. Greenidge said the report has suggestions for modifications and indicated that this was what the Government would most likely be willing to do.

“If you want to go forward on energy, you have to take account to what is being said in this report and see whether any reconfiguration can satisfy our means,” he said.

(Devina Samaroo)

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friDAY, december 30, 2016

News

Elisabeth Harper rehired at Foreign Affairs Ministry …her “unique skills” an asset – Greenidge

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he coalition Government has rehired former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Prime Ministerial Candidate, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper to assist the Foreign Affairs Ministry with her “unique skills”.

Ambassador Harper, a career diplomat, was the Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry before stepping down last year to run alongside PPP/C Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar for the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge at the Ministry’s year-end press briefing on Thursday, Ambassador Harper was retained by the Ministry to work in the areas of documentation and border issues, which he said she has “unique skills” in.

The Minister noted that as Director General and a staffer within the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Harper had worked very closely on the matters pertaining to sovereignty, a fact they have already begun capitalising on.

“Mrs Harper has been retained by the Ministry latterly to work with us in a couple of areas in which she has rather unique skills and… because of the delicacy of (sovereignty), we have been utilising the skills of Mrs Harper to assist us in that area and that is ongoing; it will continue,” the

Elisabeth Harper

Minister stated.

Moreover, Greenidge went on to say that given the high staff turnover at the Ministry, coupled with difficulties in execution of duties, the Ministry is looking to retain the institutional knowledge of past employees such as the former Director General.

“In this Ministry, I’ll be able to point to you many rooms that have documents and few people in here, if any, can tell you what the documents are. On that side, we try to utilise the knowledge of those who have worked here in the past,” he explained. Since the defeat of the PPP/C at last year’s elections, Ambassador Harper had vanished from the limelight and was rarely, if at all, seen at any of the now Opposition’s events.

Ambassador Harper had held the post of Director General at the Foreign Affairs Ministry since 2001.

She was also an Ambassador

to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) at her time of retirement.

Harper, who is a recipient of the Golden Achievement Award, began her career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1976 as a Registry Clerk and worked her way up to hold the title of Director General.

She had previously served as Director of the Department of the Americas and Asia at the Foreign Affairs Ministry from 1996 to 2001; a consular officer at the Guyana High Commission in London from 1991 to 1995, and Head of the Frontier Division from 1990 to 1991.

Described as a distinguished public servant, Harper has been a member of Guyana’s delegation to various meetings of Caricom, the Latin American Economic System, the Association of Caribbean States, United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), among others.

Harper had also served in several other positions, including Ambassador to Caricom (2003 to 2015); Nonresident High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago (2003-2015); Non-resident High Commissioner to Barbados (2004-2015); Nonresident High Commissioner to Grenada (2006-2015) and Non-resident High Commissioner to St Kitts and Nevis.

Record-breaking year for gold industry – Trotman ...declaration stands at 690,000 ounces ...as role of Gold Board to be adjusted

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ith just a day left for 2016, Guyana has made a record breaking declaration in gold, standing as of Thursday 29 December at 690,000 ounces.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said the declaration is the highest figure in any calendar year in the history of Guyana.

For 2016, the Finance Ministry had projected a gold declaration target of 550,000 ounces, an increase of 21.8 per cent of the previous year’s target.

“As announced in the National Assembly recently, we surpassed that target. Today, I am ecstatic to announce that declarations stand at an unprecedented and whopping 690,000 – the highest gold declaration figure in any calendar year in the history of gold mining in Guyana”, Trotman told Journalists at his yearend press conference.

He recognised the contribution to small- and medium-scale miners, who declared the majority of the gold along with the two large companies Guyana Goldfields and Troy Resources.

He said Troy Resources has demonstrated good stewardship of the resources and 70 per cent of the gold declared.

“The Government looks forward to all miners producing and declaring high numbers in 2017 and pledg-

es to continue to support the industry as we aim for a total declaration of 700,000 ounces in 2017. I take this opportunity to personally congratulate the miners, the two large companies and the dealers for their good performances.”

Changes needed

Meanwhile, Trotman, while giving thumbs up for the performances, said Government has recognised that some changes are needed in the regulation and management of the gold industry. He related that in 2015, upon assuming office, it was recognised that the Guyana Gold Board had over a number of years, amassed a deficit of more than $9 billion.

According to him, this was an “untenable” situation which cannot be allowed to continue.

“This demanded a comprehensive review of the 35-year-old organisation, which upon completion, informs us that the Board has

to transition into the role of Regulator and diminish its role as a purchaser of gold.

In a few weeks we will be meeting with miners, miners associations, and gold dealers to define the way forward.”

He said his Ministry has fought tirelessly for the continued existence of the Guyana Gold Board as it believes that there is merit in having the organisation function as a regulator to monitor gold dealers and notes the raised voices of many miners for an increased presence of the Gold Board within gold mining districts.

He said Government will continue to look at best practices both regionally and further afield, with a view of making the Guyana Gold Board a more vibrant, effective and viable entity vital for national development.

“Early 2017 will see some significant changes in the way the Board does business”, he informed.

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12 news Decomposed body found in New Amsterdam house T FRIDAY, december 30, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

he badly decomposed body of a man was discovered in a house at Lot 40 Paul Stewart Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The man has been identified as Robert Hercules.

The 65-year-old man lived alone and was last seen on Christmas Eve at his New Amsterdam home.

According to the man’s neighbours, there was a faint stench coming from the building but they did not make much of it. The body was discovered at about 10:30h on Thursday.

The discovery was made by the man’s son, Steven Hercules. According to the younger Hercules, he called for his father but received no reply. He explained that he last saw his father on Christmas Eve and had promised to visit again on Boxing Day. However, because of flooding due to rainfall, he could not make

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The house at Paul Stewart Housing Scheme where the body was discovered

the promised visit. He said too that the door was locked from the inside.The

man was found lying on a bed. His body is currently at the New Amsterdam

Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Why the same old state?

s our economic crisis intensifies with the closure of Wales, we should be reminded that economics and politics are joined at the hip, so to speak, and the present dominance of the economic is purely a consequence of the political world-view of the neoliberal order that has been in ascendance since the eighties. Their mantra (expounded in Guyana Ravi Dev and practised as the “Washington Consensus”) that the state must simply be a “night-watchman”, practicing “politics as management”, inevitable produced the corollary of the primacy of the economic. The latter was equated, of course, with the market. That this depoliticization of the state led to many social groups losing both “corn and husk” – economic as well as political enfranchisement – could be papered over as a non-issue – and the social consequences dealt with by building more jails.

Many have forgotten that we have merely been swinging from one failed model of development pushed by the World Bank, et al, after 1945 to another. The “big push” led by “big government”, as exemplified by the PNC regime of 1968-1988 - to the present one which has failed just as ignominiously were all foisted by them on us. The solution to their own failure was to insist that not only should the state withdraw from the management of the economy (privatisation) but should regulate the market that was going to solve all allocation decisions with the “lightest of touch”. The focus was to be on stabilising the “macroeconomic fundamentals”.

Further emphasis was to be placed on liberalising the financial sector as well as the trade regime and these “innovations” were supposed to automatically guarantee investment and growth in the manufacturing and other sectors of the real economy. We know to our cost (and hopefully, to the chagrin of the political directorate) that this has not happened here. Or anywhere else when the dogma was applied in wholesale fashion.

The success of China and India in the last few decades is touted by many as a proof of the success of the neo-liberal prescriptions. But the fact of the matter is that in neither of these countries, nor in the other successful “Eastern Tigers” before them, did the state roll over and play dead as far as intervening in the economy, as dictated by the neo-liberal script. Nor did they follow the move away from prudential rules in the financial sector nor in executing clearly articulated industrial policies.

Just as the fall of the communist bloc by 1990 led to a reevaluation of the role of politics in the economy, we believe that the fall of the neo-liberal market-fundamentalism model demands a new re-evaluation of our political arrangements, as well as our economic ones, in Guyana. We have argued for two decades for the need for a “Catalytic Entrepreneurial Development State” that plays a more dirigeste role so we will not repeat arguments for, say, a more export directed strategy here. We simply want to highlight a very important political implication.

The reason for the failure of the massive state intervention during the 70s and 80s in Guyana was not necessarily state ownership of productive enterprises – note China’s performative refutation of that argument. Rather it lay in as much a failure to secure acceptance by the overwhelming mass of the population to accept that the inevitable belt tightening (“deferred gratification”) while working at full throttle necessary to generate the public savings that could be ploughed back into new endeavours. What we have suggested in the past, and do so once again, is that rather than sacrificing our democratic gains, as some of the Far Eastern Tigers did in their early stages, we ought to instead broaden it to garner the greatest possible legitimacy. The latter, after all, can only come when a state or government has the declared support of as many of its citizens as it can garner. We are talking about the need for shared governance that includes the government and the opposition in the near- and medium-term, until we climb to a more secure economic footing. This, if the experience of others is any guide, should also facilitate political stability.

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friDAY, december 30, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

SWF draft framework for January sitting of National Assembly – Petroleum Commission Bill ready to be tabled

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he establishment of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is moving closer to realisation, as a draft framework is set to be tabled in the National Assembly when Parliamentarians resume sitting in early January.

Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Raphael Trotman made the announcement on Thursday at the ministry’s yearend press briefing.

Trotman said in an effort to ensure that the benefits from the Natural Resources Sector reach every Guyanese, Government is developing, with the assistance of the legal department of the Commonwealth Secretariat, a framework for the SWF in the new year. He said the framework is being finalised, and its draft is being delivered.

The fund will help Government protect the economy from the volatile nature of natural resources revenue, help grow and modernise sustainable non-attractive sectors of the economy and further enhance capacity of the people. He said the draft framework for the fund will be presented to the National Assembly in January.

The SWF, defined as pools of money derived from a country’s reserves, is set aside for investment purposes that will benefit the country’s economy and citizens.

Funding for the SWF comes from Central Bank reserves

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Raphael Trotman at the yearend press conference

that accumulate as a result of budget and trade surpluses, and from revenue generated from the exports of natural resources.

Reacting to the United States oil company’s first announcement last year that there was oil in Guyana’s waters, President Granger had said he was elated and vowed that the disposal of any natural resource will go towards benefitting the people of Guyana.

At his Press Conference on Thursday, Trotman related that the oil and gas company has already presented its development plan for 2017.

Just two weeks ago, the oil company signed an agreement with a Dutch consortium for the construction of a floating and offloading facility, signalling that all parts are coming together for the commencement of produc-

tion, slated to begin in 2020.

Trotman noted that the Ministry also recently received the development plan from the Esso exploration limited that outlines their every step to oil production.

He said the technically complex and critical document will be reviewed for approval by international experts approved by Government.

Meanwhile, the minister said much emphasis will be placed on the capacity building as well as the creation of a Petroleum Regulatory Commission. The Petroleum Commission bill has been drafted and is ready to be tabled in the National Assembly, he informed.

He said it has been shared with a wide range of stakeholders and civil society along with the parliamentary opposition.

He said Guyana is being proactive in its approach to

the emerging sector to ensure that all mechanisms necessary for the effective management and the best outcomes for its people are in place before the first barrel of oil is produced.

According to Trotman, the Government with support from partners seeks to build the capacity of policy makers, officers, technicians, private sector professionals and all stakeholders on the issues and challenges surrounding this emerging sector.

He said that Government recognises the need for a highly skilled workforce in this sector and as such, will be investing in building the capacity of professionals and technicians.

Some of the external partners involved in the capacity building efforts are the oil companies, the Mexican Embassy, which is providing scholarship opportunities, the US Government, the Commonwealth and Chatham House.

He said the ministry is also building its capacity as technical officers are given the opportunity to attend capacity building workshops, seminars, mentoring exchanges and conferences in Kenya, Uganda, Trinidad & Tobago, and the US.

Serious health challenges in 2016 – PAHO

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he Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has described 2016 as a year of “serious challenges” for health in the Caribbean and other places in the Americas. These range from the Zika epidemic and the birth of thousands of babies with congenital malformations to increasing incidence of diabetes.

The Washington-based

Venezuela.

In April, PAHO said one in 12 inhabitants — some 62 million people — live with diabetes in the Americas, including the Caribbean. It said the number has tripled since 1980, declaring that diabetes is currently the fourth-leading cause of death in the hemisphere, following heart attacks, strokes and dementia.

If current trends continue,

health organisation said that it worked with the countries of the Region to address emergencies and disasters, including Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, while continuing to support country efforts to reduce, control and even eliminate myriad diseases.

In 2016, PAHO declared 48 countries had the Zika Virus, including Brazil, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, St Lucia, St Vincent, and the Grenadines, St Martin, St Kitts-Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States, and

PAHO said experts warned that nearly 110 million people in the Region will have diabetes by 2040.

In September, the health organisation said the Region of the Americas was the first in the world to have eliminated measles, a viral disease that can cause severe health problems, including pneumonia, brain swelling and even death.

This achievement culminates a 22-year effort involving mass vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella throughout the Americas, PAHO said. turn to page 16

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FRIday, deceMber 30, 2016

News

Public urged to snap photos, video clips of errant road users

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he Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) is encouraging members of the public to take photos or video clips of motor vehicle operators who practise unsafe driving.

This is according to GNRSC Chairman Dennis Pompey, who noted that distractions in any mode of transportation could contribute to road accidents, which often result in death.

In this light, he appealed to citizens to take photos especially of public transportation operators who may be speeding, playing loud music and contributing to dangerous driving: “…you see some sort of distraction, speeding or what have you, you have your cellphone, just take a photograph and send it to the Traffic Department so they could see what is happening and they could deal with it.”

Pompey explained that photographic evidence was admissible in court, and thus can be used to assist in the

Traffic Chief Deon Moore

prosecution of law breakers.

He noted that in Guyana, it is considered against the law for public transportation to bear markings, play loud music, or carry overload as well as contribute to any other factor that may serve as a distraction.

Against this backdrop, Traffic Chief Deon Moore highlighted that during the early part of November 2016, an exercise was imple-

mented to clamp down on minibuses with unnecessary markings.

“The road service licences which are issued to owners and drivers of minibuses clearly spell out that there should be no marking other than the colour code, the seating capacity, the identification number to be placed on these buses,” the Traffic Chief explained.

Earlier this year, Moore had told media operatives that while playing music is allowed in public transportation, a passenger has the right to object to excessive noise or to request that a song be changed if the content is viewed as unsuitable.

Moore added that the driver was obligated to comply with the request.

Additionally, he had made it clear that external speakers and tweeters which persons install in vehicles are forbidden, since only the internal speakers which “come with the vehicle” are allowed.

Corentyne man murdered, dumped in trench

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he body of a Corentyne man was on Thursday afternoon found in a trench at Topu, a village in close proximity to Albion.

The dead man has been identified as Mohan Ball, 49, of Lot 74 Hampshire South, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

This publication understands that several villagers witnessed the alleged murder.

The dead man’s sister, Raywattie Fraser, explained that a little boy claimed to have seen what happened: "The lil bai come and say a ‘Rocky’ and ‘Andy’ kill Uncle Ball and throw him in the trench.” She further explained that she rushed to the scene with her husband after receiving the information.

"When we go the street was full with people, me husband go across at the trench and check he, and say he dead and come back".

The body bore several marks of violence on it.

Fraser described the marks as being large ‘black and blue’ spots, and there were also spots of what appeared to be blood. The sister claimed he could not swim.

A piece of wood was also seen a short distance from the body.

Villagers say the man was seen earlier in the day drinking with two villagers and that the three were later seen fighting.

One of the two suspects was allegedly seen in wet clothes in the vicinity of where the body was found.

The suspect was riding a bicycle at the time.

Some villagers referred to the deceased as a ’junkie’. His sister did not have a photograph of him and could not locate one.

"All he get is he clothes, he never deh to take pictures. He lives here and there, he does stay with people in the village, who he a work with," his sister said.

He was considered a funny person. “He always like make joke, he na like fight and suh, he never deh in problem,” the grieving sister said.

Police are investigating and up to press time, no arrest had been made.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Body found in burnt-out car in Rio “believed to be Greek Ambassador”

Feasibility study for city B bus terminals ongoing

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aking efforts to tackle the increase of accidents and traffic congestion in the city, the Public Infrastructure Ministry has announced that it is in the planning phase to have bus terminals set up throughout the city.

This information was disclosed by the City Engineer, Colvern Venture, on Thursday at the final Traffic Department press conference for the year.

The project is a collaborative effort with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

“There is currently a study that is being ongoing to do a study in Georgetown, which is the hub at the moment, to look at transportation in terms of creating bus terminals in various sections of the city,” he said.

Venture noted that this study is being funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The City Engineer who is also attached to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure asserted that the implementation of the bus terminals will further assist the controversial parking meter project in easing congestion within the city.

According to Venture, the study is expected to conclude in March 2017, after which, there will be “some amount of implementation”.

“There is some that will have to be taken to the level of Cabinet to deal with implementation of some major

An overhead view of the Diamond intersection, East Bank Demerara

recommendations that will be coming out from those studies,” he stated.

The City Engineer however could not disclose the implementation cost, as he reiterated that the “study is still ongoing”.

He nevertheless disclosed that the Traffic Department’s subvention for 2017 will increase from $3.5 million to $5 million.

During May this year, Town Clerk Royston King had disclosed that plans were afoot to implement mechanisms to ease traffic congestion in the City via a “shuttle system.”

At that time, a huge campaign was ongoing to have the city cleaned and buses were being removed from their regular parking places around the Stabroek Market Square.

He had indicated then that in the midst of reorganising the transport system, there was hope for the existence of terminals at the outer parts of the city.

King had disclosed at the time, that a permanent solution towards the congestion in the city was being thought out, however he could not specify when and where the terminals would be situated as the idea was then being discussed.

He had also highlighted that there was no intention to increase transportation expenses for individuals through this ‘shuttle system’ enforcement.

King pointed out that this project was not only seen as a better means of transportation but as the opening of many job opportunities for individuals.

razilian Police suspect a body discovered inside a charred vehicle in Rio de Janeiro is Greece’s ambassador to Brazil who went missing three days ago, it has been reported.

A Police spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment on the report by TV channel Globo.

Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was last seen on Monday evening leaving the home of friends of his Brazilian wife in a suburb of Rio’s metropolitan area, Police had said earlier on Thursday. A state Police official said the ambassador’s wife reported him as missing on Wednesday.

Globo showed images of the burnt-out white car in the Nova Iguaçu neighbourhood where the ambassador went missing. The station reported that the licence plates on the car matched those of Amiridis’s rental

Kyriakos Amiridis was reported missing on Wednesday

vehicle.

An official at the Greek embassy in Brasília would not confirm the ambassador was missing, saying only that he was on vacation in Rio and expected to return to the capital on 9 January.

Rio Police Inspector Evaristo Pontes had earlier told the Folha de São Paulo newspaper that he did not believe the ambassador was kidnapped. “We’re follow-

ing some leads, but not that one,” he said. “If it had been [a kidnapping], those who took him would have made contact by now.”

Amiridis previously served as Greece’s consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004. More recently he was Greece’s ambassador to Libya from 2012 until he took the top Brazil post at the beginning of 2016. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Barbados’ economy expected to grow this year T

here is broad consensus that economic growth in Barbados will pick up this year and continue into next year.

This has been pointed out in the Caribbean Regional Quarterly Bulletin published this month by the Washington, DCbased Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In their survey on Barbados, a team of IDB officials said that the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) projects growth of 1.4 per cent for 2016. However, they

said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is suggesting a growth rate of 2.1 per cent this year and 2.3 per cent for 2017.

Over the medium term, the IDB forecasts suggest output will grow by an average of 1.8 per cent. In a separate projection, which is not part of the IDB report, the Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance (CCMF) believes the economy can grow by at least 1.7 per cent this year.

The authors of the IDB report said that a favour-

able external environment in 2017 would continue to support recovery. According to the IDB report, “international oil prices would remain low at around US$55 a barrel, which is beneficial for a net importer like Barbados”.

The Bank further noted that the tourism sector would be dynamic, acknowledging “that an estimated 11 per cent increase in airlift capacity from the main tourism markets is expected over the current winter (tourism) season”. (Excerpt from Barbados Advocate)

friday, december 30, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

US expels 35 Russian diplomats, closes 2 compounds T

he United States has expelled 35 Russian diplomats as punishment for alleged interference into last month's presidential elections, giving them 72 hours to leave the country.

It will also close two compounds used for Russian intelligence-gathering.

President Barack Obama had vowed action against Russia amid US accusations it directed hacks against the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Russia has denied any involvement and called the decision "ungrounded".

The US State Department declared the 35 Russian diplomats from the Washington DC embassy and the consulate in San Francisco "persona non grata", and gave them and their families 72 hours to leave the US.

The move follows calls from senior US Senators to sanction Russian officials who are believed to have played a role in the hacking, which some lawmakers referred to as America's "political Pearl Harbor".

Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who led the calls for sanctions, said they "intend to lead the effort in the new Congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia".

A Kremlin spokesman told journalists in Moscow that President Vladimir Putin would consider retaliatory measures.

Dmitry Peskov said the actions were "a manifestation of unpredictable and aggressive foreign policy", and called them "ungrounded and not legal".

And the Russian Embassy in the UK tweet-

The decision marks a low point in the relationship between Presidents Vladmir Putin and Barack Obama

ed a visual gag calling the Obama presidency a lame duck.

President-elect Donald Trump, who will take over from President Obama next month, has dismissed the hacking claims as "ridiculous" and said Americans should "get on with our

lives" when asked about the possibility of sanctions before the announcement on Wednesday.

Sanctions have also been announced against nine entities and individuals, including Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB.

Russian intelligence compounds in New York and Maryland will be closed.

In a statement, President Obama called the moves a "necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests" and said "all Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions".

Obama also announced the US would declassify technical information related to Russian cyber activity to "help network defenders in the United States and abroad identify, detect, and disrupt Russia's global campaign of malicious cyber activities".

According to Reuters, should Trump seek to overturn Obama's measures, he would likely encounter wide bipartisan Congressional opposition.

US House of Representatives Speaker

Paul Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, said Russia "has consistently sought to undermine" US interests and the sanctions were overdue.

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, who is from Maryland, called for Congress to take action separately from the White House, and plans to introduce legislation to establish a committee "to further examine the attack and Russian's efforts to interfere in our election".

In a joint statement by the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the Director of National Security, and the FBI, US officials appeal to companies to "look back within their network traffic" and report any signs of "malicious cyber activity" to law enforcement. (Excerpted from

BBC News and Reuters)

Finland jails Police Chief for drug-smuggling Syria conflict: RussiaTurkey brokered truce A comes into force Finnish court has sentenced the former head of Helsinki's anti-drugs Police to 10 years in prison for drug-smuggling and other offences.

Jari Aarnio was found to have helped a gang to import nearly 800kg (1764lb) of hashish from the Netherlands and sell it in Finland in 2011-2012.

Aarnio, 59, was found guilty of five drug crimes and 17 other offences.

These included trying to frame an innocent man for being in charge of the drug ring.

An accomplice of the former senior Policeman, de-

Jari Aarnio in court: Such crimes are rare among Finland's top public servants

scribed as a top local criminal, was also sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Aarnio spent 30 years in

the anti-drugs force and was arrested in 2013.

He denied all the charges against him, claiming his ac-

tions were all legal and undertaken in a policing capacity.

His legal team said Aarnio plans to appeal the district court's sentence in the Helsinki Court of Appeal.

In a separate case in September, Aarnio was sentenced to three years in jail for fraud.

Crime rates are relatively low in Finland compared with most other European countries.

It ranks as the second least-corrupt country, after Denmark, in the global index compiled by Transparency International. (BBC News)

If China shields Masood Azhar, India will paint it as terror abettor

B

y this weekend, China will have to make up its mind on the fate of terror leader Maulana Masood Azhar when its "technical hold" on a ban against the Jaish-eMohammed chief expires in the UN Security Council. In anticipation, India too has readied its own subsequent actions. China put a technical "hold" on sanctions against Azhar on March 31 this year, blocking India's move to put a ban on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leader and Pathankot terror attack mastermind under the 1267 sanctions committee. China was the only member in the 15-nation UN body to put a hold.

Azhar's name on the list would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.

China has two options.

India, said sources, has lined up other actions to undertake following China's decision

It could let the "hold" lapse, in other words, do nothing.

The ban would then automatically apply to Masood Azhar as the sanctions under UNSC resolution 1267 would kick in. Of course, China's official reason for

the technical hold is that it "will allow more time for the committee to deliberate on the matter and for relevant parties (read India and Pakistan) to have further consultations".

India has rejected the

idea. On the other hand, China could convert the "hold" into a "block". That is a more formal status to stop Masood Azhar from coming under sanctions. (Excerpt from Times of India)

A

nationwide ceasefire between Syrian Government forces and rebel groups has come into effect.

The truce, brokered by Russia and Turkey, which will act as guarantors, began at midnight (22:00 GMT).

The deal includes many rebel groups but not jihadists such as the socalled Islamic State, or the Kurdish YPG. The ceasefire appeared to be holding in most areas early on Wednesday, if it continues, peace talks are due to be held in Kazakhstan within a month.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UKbased group monitoring the conflict, said most of the country was calm in the first few hours of the truce. However, it reported a clash between rebels and Government forces in Hama province.

At least 300,000 people are believed to have been killed in fighting that followed the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.

A further four million have sought refuge in neighbouring states or Europe.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Pakistan to hang “butcher of Swat�

A military court in Pakistan has sentenced a top Pakistani Taliban leader from the Swat region to death.

Muslim Khan, a former spokesman for the militants, was convicted of killing 31 people, including civilians and security personnel, the military said.

He is among eight "terrorists" whose death penalty was confirmed by army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The military courts were set up in the aftermath of the 2014 Peshawar school massacre. Their term expires next week.

Others whose convictions were confirmed by the army chief on Wednesday include

four gunmen sentenced for involvement in a 2015 bus massacre of Ismaili Shias in Karachi, and the assassination of social activist Sabeen Mahmud, also in Karachi the same year.

Muslim Khan, 62, started out as a student activist of a left-wing secular party in the 1960s, but underwent an ideological transformation in the early 1990s when a pre-Taliban Islamist movement briefly emerged in his native Swat region.

In 2007, he became the chief spokesman of the Swat Taliban, and was the movement's public face during its stranglehold over the region which continued until the winter of 2009. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

friDAY, december 30, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rice sector declined by 12.7% ...Govt cannot maintain sugar industry − Agri Minister

T

he financial challenges in the rice industry have continued as Agriculture Minister Noel Holder has announced a projected near 13 per cent decline in earnings for the sector in 2016. The collapse of the Petro-Caribe (ricefor-oil) Venezuela rice deal coupled with the dry weather patterns earlier this year were major challenges that gripped the industry last year. He further explained that prices on the world market are also seeing decreases.

“In 2016 rice production is expected to decline by 12.7 per cent to 600,000 metric tonnes. This reduction is due to the El Niño weather condition and some farmers exiting the industry which was lost by the high priced Venezuela market,” the Agriculture Minister stated.

These comments were disclosed at a press conference at the Ministry of Agriculture on Thursday.

Holder explained that due to the El Niño condition, only 84 per cent of rice produced was sold, which translates to 76,717 hectares out of the 91,072 hectares target for the first crop.

He said that 3311 hectares were lost.

“In 2017, rice is expected to further decline by 1.6 per cent. On the other hand, we’ve managed to secure markets in 35 countries [which] has led to increases in exports by 1 per cent over 2015 at the end of October 2016. However, due to the reduction in world market prices, the value of exports will decline. Prices per tonne at the end of October were US$370 per tonne compared with US$394 in 2015,” Holder disclosed.

He added that for 2017, exports are projected to be around 531,000 tonnes valued over US$180 million and that to increase pro-

duction, the Guyana Rice

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Development Board will be offering farmers incentives who left the industry to return to rice cultivation.

“This renewed focus will see the Board, advancing its efforts at introducing new high yielding varieties of rice as part of its efforts at decentralising seed production.

Government has been diligently employing various technologies in an effort to reduce the impact of severe weather on farmers and in 2017, this will continue with the increased emphasis on specialty rice varieties, with increased emphasis on the development of value-added production such as rice/ wheat flour blend, rice noodles, pasta and precooked rice products,” the Minister disclosed.

He also noted that the world market price of Aromatic rice varieties ranged from US$700 to US$1200 per tonne. The lucrative PetroCaribe deal was cancelled months before its November 2015 expiration date by the Venezuelan Government and this has resulted in farmers receiving $1,500 to $2,200” per bag of paddy.

Guyana Times carried a series of reports during

this year highlighting the plight of rice farmers who were also owed millions by millers who processed their paddy. These millers had claimed that they were finding it difficult in finding markets to sell the rice after the Venezuela deal had ended.

Meanwhile, at Thursday’s press conference, the Minister also put emphasis on the sugar sector where he stressed that Government cannot afford to continue awarding subsides to the sugar industry in its current state.

“The Government is concerned with the future wellbeing of the sugar workers and their families.

The Government is also deeply concerned about the other sectors of the economy and the critical need for investment in those sectors. It would be irresponsible of this Government to not sensibly address these challenges in a sustainable manner,” the Agriculture Minister posited.

Wales Conversion Plans

Speaking on the conversion plans for the Wales Sugar Estate, Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Finance Director, Paul Bhim, explained that some 100 of 1000 workers, not 1700 as previously reported, were identified for the conversion plans, including husbandry practices.

“The ploughing of the land has started. The 100 workers will be doing husbandry practices – weeding, cleaning the canals,” Bhim stated.

He also refuted claims of weed overgrowth at lands prepared by the sugar corporation. This was in response to reports this publication received that even though land was prepared, in many instances, no rice was planted and that weeds

Serious health challenges...

from page 13

With new diseases emerging every year, severe weather events on the rise, and large numbers of people living in disaster-prone areas, PAHO said the countries of the Americas now more than ever needed to be prepared to respond to health emergencies.

PAHO said it developed the new “Resilient Health Systems” framework to provide an “integrated approach” for its technical cooperation with countries in the areas of disaster preparedness, risk reduction and response; disease surveillance and outbreak management; and health system strengthening and universal health, including in the ar-

eas of health sector governance and regulation.

The framework calls for actions and investments in all these areas and within a broader sustainable development framework that fosters human development, social participation, and economic and social stability.

“Take the Challenge: End AIDS” was PAHO’s campaign slogan for World AIDS Day on December 1, which urged Governments and society to intensify nine measures to end the epidemic of AIDS by 2030.

“HIV remains a threat to global health and requires a strategic global and regional response,” Dr Etienne said.

“We must intensify efforts

in combined prevention, early detection and access to treatment, which are the keys to halting transmission of the virus in the coming years.”

PAHO said nearly two million people were living with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean, adding that each year 100,000 people acquire the Virus and 50,000 die from AIDSrelated causes.

Between 2000 and 2015, PAHO said new HIV infections were reduced by 25 per cent and deaths by 23 per cent. However, in the last five years, there has been a slight increase in cases (0.7 per cent), particularly among men.

had reportedly taken over some of the plots. At the ministry’s press conference, Bhim explained that “people are on ground” using chemicals to control the weed situation.

It was last week Friday that the Agriculture Minister claimed that the first crop of rice at the Wales Estate was expected by March 2017 but on Thursday, he clarified that

only seedlings were set and that rice will be planted until next year.

Meanwhile, Holder further disclosed that he along with some Government ministers, including Minister of State Joseph Harmon, the main Opposition, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, and agriculture and trade union bodies will meet, this Saturday, to discuss future plans for the sugar indus-

try. The unions include the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees, and the Guyana Labour Union.

The final date for closure of the Wales Sugar Estate factory is tomorrow (December 31). Shemuel Fanfai

Funding for Specialty Hospital in limbo

F

oreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge has disclosed that the Guyana Government is unsure of what will become of the monies committed for the Specialty Hospital Project, which has been mired in controversy since its initial stage.

The Minister told reporters on Thursday that back in September, he had met with India’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and a commitment was given to engage Guyana on the matter.

“What I had asked was that consideration be given to facilitating the funding to enable us to conclude that hospital… The question of what exactly happens to the money that has been committed to

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

this particular Project is still the subject of discussions between us,” the Foreign Affairs Minister explained.

This comes in light of the fact that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration is uncertain whether it will move ahead with the Project using a new contractor or have it scrapped entirely, given all the troubles it has faced.

Back in June, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had disclosed that the Indian Government, who is funding the Project via a US$18 million Line of Credit, had indicated that it was ceasing worldwide business with Fedders Lloyd Corporation Limited, which was handpicked by the coalition

An artist's impression of the Specialty Hospital

Government, after the company was blacklisted by the World Bank until 2020 over fraud and corruption practices.

The donor country had also expressed preference for a fresh tendering process to be conducted to select a new India-based contractor to execute the Project. However, at the time, the Guyana Government said that it wanted to make certain enquiries of the Indian Government before a definitive course of action was adopted on the Specialty Hospital Project, located at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton subsequently told this newspaper that the Project has been “shelved”. He had previously explained that the Foreign Affairs Minister was supposed to make contact with India on the enquiries.

But according to Minister Greenidge on Thursday, he “can’t give an answer”, as he had raised it with the Indian Junior Minister within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and he promised to look at it”.

Moreover, the Foreign Affairs Minister took the opportunity to address claims that scrapping the Project would result in a loss to Guyana. He stated that the Hospital was not a facility to provide service to Guyana, but to attract “health tourism”.

This facility, he said, will be run by Indian doctors and nurses to provide services to Americans and others who have health insurance and whose health insurance providers would prefer a lower cost of service than what exists in their nation.

“It was not a hospital con-

structed to deliver services to Guyana… Therefore, to suggest it was a loss of service to Guyana is nonsense. If there is any loss, it’s a potential maybe income loss, but I’ve never seen a document that shows how profits from such an enterprise would be shared between the Government of Guyana and the sponsors,” Greenidge remarked.

In 2012, the contract for the Specialty Hospital was awarded to India-based company Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited; however, citing instances of alleged fraud and delays, the Donald Ramotar Administration in 2014 announced that it had terminated the contract of the company and subsequently filed a lawsuit against it for failing to honour its obligations. Guyana is yet to recover close to $1 billion from the company. While in Opposition, both APNU and the AFC had strongly opposed the US$18 million Specialty Hospital Project and upon assumption to office last year, decided to scrap the Project, which had already expended some US$4 million on certain preliminary works. The new Government had said that the remaining $13.8 million would be better served if it was used to improve the country’s primary healthcare service by upgrading three hospitals across the country.

However, the Indian Government subsequently indicated that Guyana should go ahead with the Specialty Hospital and it would provide a separate loan for the primary healthcare project.

The process is currently ongoing for Government to acquire the second loan, Greenidge disclosed on Thursday.

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

Glen Washington

J

amaican Reggar sensation, Glen Washington will be the feature performer at the Towel Suites Ball Drop on Old Year’s Night to usher in the New Year. The sophisticated event will be held at the Tower Poolside and is expected to be epic.

The renowned artiste is known for his long list of hits and without a doubt, he will definitely draw fans looking to have a great evening.

Washington began his musical career in the early seventies as the lead singer for the group “Names and Faces.” He later became the lead singer in a band called “35 Incorporated” and learned to play the drums under the guidance of, then drummer, Joseph Hill. When Hill left the band, Washington filled the slot, and became a singing drummer.

Washington made his first hit record “Rockers Not Crackers” in 1978 for the Joe Gibbs Record la-

bel; but he did not grace the charts again until the release of the hit “Kindness For Weakness” in 1998.

Other albums released by Washington are “Can’t You See” produced by Jah Life Records; “Think About It”; “Number One Girl”; “Solitary Red Rose”; “Can’t Keep A Good Man Down”; “Wondering Stranger”; “Reggae Max”; “Free Up The Vibes” and “Your Love”.

However, the Jamaica artiste will be accompanied by rising star Da’Ville also out of Jamaica. In addition, music for the event will be provided by OC Dread out of New York; Guyana’s own Deejay Energy, Gully RAS and Selector Diamond out of Boom FM; as well as Selector Face and Seen Up. Regular tickets for the event cost $5000 while the VIP experience will cost $20,000 and the VVIP All Inclusive ticket will cost $30,000.

T

he 26-year-old Guyanese beauty who stands five feet, 10 inches tall is equipped with the necessary experience and training to compete in the international pageant slated for January 29, 2017, in the Philippines.

The delegates will commence preliminary competition on January 12.

Soyini Fraser hails from the “Garden City” of Georgetown, the Capital of Guyana. This stunning beauty is a media personality, an Executive Producer of her television series and a professionally trained dancer and actress.

She is an aspiring Christian Child Psychologist, and has been closely working with the elderly and children, who are less fortunate, by

Da Ville

empowering them through mentorship. The beauty is recognised as a special ambassador by the Guyana Tourism Authority and plans to share the warmth of her Guyanese people with her sisters at Miss Universe.

However, on the path to the most prestigious titles in pageantry, Fraser has completed training with local pageant trainer, AT Dunn in the US. In addition to making sure she is in tip top physical shape, she also practiced her interview skills.

"What makes the perfect interview is making the judges remember you out of 95 girls. Like you are the only country that they remember even though they spoke to about 100 people that day," said Fraser. "That's the goal."

Fraser will also be wearing a competition gown donated by a store in the US. She is optimistic of being named in the top 16.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

C

omedy lovers who intend to get a good laugh before they ring in the New Year are expected to flock the GiftLand Mall this evening for one of the most “uncensored” shows ever. All plans are moving apace and the performers are making sure that this show will be the best to close the year.

Patrons can expect to laugh till they drop with the best there is in stand-up comedy.

“Uncensored 8” has definitely earned a high place as the foremost event in stand-up comedy with overwhelming box office pull.

Uncensored has solidified and has become a class act for stand-up comedy. The show is an attempt at removing certain limitations, allowing comedians the liberty of expressing themselves and making the kind of jokes they would not otherwise be allowed to make anywhere else. Thus, the show will be adults only.

For one night only, the actors will compete for over $1

million in cash and prizes.

The line-up of comedians includes Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones, Michael Ignatius, Leza “Radika” Singh, Kirwyn Mars, Mark Luke Edwards, Mark Kazim, Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine, Odessa Primus, Kirt “Chubby” Williams, Kwasi “Ace” Edmondson, Jermaine Grimmond and many more.

VIP tickets for the event cost $4000 and regular tickets $2000, and are available at Massy Supermarket, Providence, East Bank Demerara; GiftLand Mall, Pattensen, Greater Georgetown; Payless, Wellington Street; Elegance Jewellery, D’Urban Street; Nigel’s Supermarket, Robb and Light Streets; Gizmos and Gadgets, Wellington Street; and Sir Mars.

The show is billed to start at precisely 20:00h.

D

A

s the world prepares to usher in the New Year, Guyanese partyholics are expected to have a blast either at home or at their favourite entertainment spot. However, the best place to be is definitely 704 Lounge for “Moulin Rogue”, the ultimate Old Year’s party.

Shirtless bow tie bartenders, aerial dancers, seductive servers and most of all, Tr i n i d a d ’s most versatile

deejay, Marcus Williams, will be there to make sure that the New Year is well received.

Apart from all the excitement, Gregory from Karma Band will be in the house to add that special touch to the evening’s proceedings. In addition, there will be Krystal Kayne and P Star Perry, Doctor Dominic and others to add that saucy touch that will

defiantly send the crowd wild.

Patrons will also receive free sprinkles and goodies upon entry.

VIP tickets for “Moulin Rouge” cost $15,000 while regular tickets will cost $5000 and are available at 704; Gismoz/ Glamour; That Look Boutique and Pulse Online Shopping, South Road, Georgetown. The event is promoted by Pulse Entertainment and 704 Lounge.

ue to the inclement weather over the past week, Fire Fest Production was forced to reschedule its Fan Appreciation Concert and International Show which was billed for the Tuschen Community Centre ground, East Bank Essequibo on Boxing Day. Chutney lovers can now come out to party on New Year’s night.

Tickets purchased for the show remain valid and there have been a few additions to the line-up. Promoters are making sure the ground is ready for the revellers and more so, that the artistes arrive in time to give patrons their money’s worth.

The event will be epic with several high-class performances from renowned singers. The concert is a way of giving back to fans that have supported Fire Fest Production over the year whether at Clash of the Titans, Guyana Night concerts or any other production put on by the entertainment company The line-up for Sunday night’s show include former International Chutney Monarch, Rikki Jai; Guyanese Baboo, Terry Gajraj; Mahendra Ramkellawan; Asha G; Chiney Man; Granny Ivelaw; Cool Boyz; Steven Ramphall and others.

The event will also feature the Dax New Generation Band, Fire Fest Dancers, the Fire Fest Band and others.

The official emcee for the event is WR Reaz. Tickets for the event c o s t $1500 and those who have n o t purchased tickets as yet can do so at the gate on the night of the show.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

O

ne of the young minds behind the most impressive graphic designs on motor vehicles is no other than 17-year-old Kishan Kumar Rameshwar of Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara (WCD). This talented young man is the second of three children born to Dharamdeo and Lorraine Rameshwar.

He was born at the Georgetown Public Hospital and grew up with his two siblings at Ruimzeight, WCD. In an interview with Guyana Times Entertainment, he described his childhood as “amazing”. He was born and raised in an extended Hindu family. His father, a rice farmer, and his mother, a homemaker, made sure he and his siblings attended school regularly without any complaints. He enjoyed attending school and loved interacting with friends.

He attended the Winsor Forest Primary School where he wrote the National Grade Six Assessment and secured a place at Zeeburg Seconday School – an educational institution he dreamt of attending.

After school, he worked as a graphic designer at Epiq Arts Signs and Supplies but he is presently at KD Designs. The talented 17-year-old got his interest piqued in graphic designing back in 2011 while at home, when he played around with CorelDRAW X4. At that time, he had limited computer knowledge.

However, as time went by, he became determined to learn the trade and began learning various techniques one step at a time. He then started to create logos, flyers and banners and it was from this point that he became the creator of some of the most impressive designs.

In June 2012, he created a Facebook page – KD Designs – where he

posted his designs and gradually moved from several versions of CorelDRAW to Adobe Photoshop CS3.

In 2014, his interest was drawn to the vehicle graphics/wrapping industry.

At first, he was amazed at the graphics done on vehicles particularly cars and minibuses and it was this that inspired him to get involved. Ever since, designing has been in his blood.

His started with small projects – designing vehicle visors and stickers but quickly elevated himself to vehicle graphics within a short space of time.

Rameshwar sees himself becoming a successful, professional graphic designer in Guyana with an established company of his own. He also envisions having state-of-the-art machinery and skilled staff. He intends also to create jobs for young minds willing to learn the trade.

As a young man with lots in store in the future, he advises his peers to never give up on their dreams, saying “Do what you love and love what you do”. He also encouraged them to stay positive, determined and “go after your goals”.

On a lighter note, he described himself as a humble young man who enjoys interacting with people and spending time with his loved ones. He spends most of his spare time by practising his designing skills.

He does not give up easily and goes after his dreams no matter the stumbling blocks he encounters. “I live up to one thing…

What’s for me is for me”.

T

W

ith carnival in February, Pulse Entertainment is the first to start the excitement as the entertainment group wraps up its year with a bang.

This evening, Pulse Entertainment is making sure that partyholics have that one last crazy party before ringing in the New Year with sophistication, glitz and glamour. The colours, the water, paint, and the best soca music will leave patron begging for more but fortunately, that craziness will continue in February.

This evening, it’s time to dress down with shorts and tanks, damaged jeans and plain white T-shirts and party the night away in the “Merry J’Ouvert” party. Candy cane colours and powder will be provided for a fete of a lifetime and it is one you do not want to miss.

Be drenched in water as Deejay Ryan, Shizzle and Selector Carl bounce the right music to keep you on the dance floor all night long.

This is going to be the event of the season and the perfect way to end the year, so patrons are encouraged to forget about the make-up and fancy clothes and prepare to get dirty.

Admission to the event cost $2000 before 22:00h and more after. It’s “Merry J’Ouvert” tonight at Palm Court.

19

he Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) is hosting its first Old Year’s Night party dubbed “Mardi Gras: The Masquerade Ball” on Saturday, December 31, at Triumph Lounge, Lot 8 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

Partygoers are encouraged to come out early and indulge one last time for 2016! The festivities start at 21:00h with free cocktails for partygoers who arrive before midnight, free party favours and free finger foods.

Mix Master Tony will keep the celebrations energised with the best hits in all genres of music as we bid farewell t o 2016 and usher in 2017.

Revellers a r e

encouraged to wear their best “Carnivalesque” party attire and take full advantage of all the offerings at “Mardi Gras: The Masquerade Ball”.

Limited pre-sold tickets cost $2000 and can be purchased from Oasis Cafe, 125 Carmichael Street; Triumph Lounge, 8 Barrack Street; Vintage Wine Bar and Lounge, 218 Lamaha Street; and SASOD’s office, 169 Charlotte Street.

Patrons will pay more at the door.

All proceeds from this fundraiser go to SASOD’s LGBT Emergency Shelter Fund to provide emergency shelter for LGBT victims of violence in Guyana.

20 Smith hits ton, Australia take lead, rain comes down

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friday, DECember 30, 2016

Australia’s captain Steven Smith beat encroaching bad weather by a matter of minutes to post his 17th Test hundred before a monsoonal downpour all but ensured a drawn Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Moments after Smith reached his 100, the umpires suspended play, a decision followed soon after by a deluge that was more tropical Brisbane than Melbourne’s more typical southerly climate. It would take a pair of highly imaginative declarations from here to manufacture a result, with the hosts likely to be happy to sit on their 1-0 series lead.

Smith’s ease at the crease contrasted with two more low scores for Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade, neither of whom can be sure of their places in the XI, and made life difficult for the visitors who were also inconvenienced

when Azhar Ali was helped from the field after suffering a stunning blow to the helmet when fielding at short leg.

Usman Khawaja fell three runs short of a century for the second time this summer but the emerging No. 5 Peter Handscomb also made a useful contribution in Smith’s company before the monsoonal rain arrived. Whether either side is inclined to creativity to set-up a final-day run chase from here is a matter for conjecture.

As he had done in the Perth Test against South Africa, Khawaja made it to 97 before being dismissed, this time trying to cover drive Wahab Riaz and edging through to Sarfraz Ahmed. He had shelved the stroke when making an excellent century against South Africa under lights in Adelaide.

That wicket brought the Victorian Handscomb to the

SCOREBOARD Stumps - Day 4 Pakistan 1st innings 443/9 Declared Australia 1st innings (Overnight Score 278/2) MT Renshaw b Yasir Shah 10 DA Warner c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Wahab Riaz 144 UT Khawaja c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Wahab Riaz 97 SPD Smith* not out 100 PSP Handscomb c Sami Aslam b Sohail Khan 54 NJ Maddinson b Yasir Shah 22 MS Wade† c Asad Shafiq b Sohail Khan 9

MA Starc not out 7 22 Extras (b-1, lb-8, nb-13) Total (6 wickets; 113.5 overs) 465 To bat: JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon, JM Bird Fall of wickets 1-46 (Renshaw, 13.1 ov), 2-244 (Warner, 48.5 ov), 3-282 (Khawaja, 62.1 ov), 4-374 (Handscomb, 85.4 ov), 5-433 (Maddinson, 104.3 ov), 6-454 (Wade, 111.3 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 27-5-74-0 (nb-1),Sohail Khan 23.5-7-86-2, Yasir Shah 34-2-150-2,Wahab Riaz 27-3-135-2 (nb-12), Azhar Ali 2-0-11-0

Tour of Qatar cancelled due to lack of sponsorship The Tour of Qatar was scheduled to take place between February 6-10 next year

T

he 2017 Tour of Qatar has been cancelled because of “difficulty attracting financial sponsorship”, cycling’s governing body the UCI has announced.

The UCI said race organisers had decided to cancel both the Steven Smith helps it along towards fine leg on his way to his 17th Test century

crease on his home ground, and he showed plenty of attacking intent to outpace Smith and close the gap with the visitors’ total. On a pitch offering precious little to the bowlers, Pakistan reverted largely to a short-pitched angle of attack with a leg-side field.

Neither Handscomb nor Smith had too many awkward moments before the second new ball was taken, the former passing 50 for the third time in as many Tests. However in Mohammad Amir’s first over with the fresh projectile, Handscomb was beaten by one delivery then, next ball, pushed a difficult return catch back to the bowler, who dropped it.

While Amir continued to bowl well, it was Sohail Khan who claimed the wicket, when Handscomb sliced an attempted drive to backward point. Maddinson accompanied Smith to lunch and made it as

far as 22 after it, before yorking himself when dancing down the wicket to Yasir Shah to be bowled.

Wade connected with several meaty blows, one of which felled the doublecenturion Azhar at bad pad, before he edged Sohail Khan to depart for another underwhelming score. It was around this time that the weather began to close in on the ground, and the umpires conferred over the matter of bad light before Smith forced one through an off-side gap for three runs to go to his second century in as many Tests.

That, then, was more or less that. A further 42 scheduled overs were lost from the match, meaning a more optimistic weather forecast for day five is most probably a moot point.

(ESPNcricinfo)

women’s and men’s events.

British sprinter Mark Cavendish won the men’s race in 2015 and 2016. Next year’s race was scheduled to take place between 6-10 February.

It would have been the 16th edition.

(BBC Sport)

WICB pays tribute to Sir Dwight Venner

T

he Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) would like to pay tribute to the late Sir K Dwight Venner, the former Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. He died last Thursday (December 22) in St Lucia.

Sir Dwight could be described as “the quintessential supporter of West Indies Cricket. He loved the sport and often admitted that to become a member of the West Indies Cricket Team was one of his childhood dreams.

He appreciated the challenges of the West Indies Cricket Board especially because he was such a dedicated regionalist,” said one Director, who worked closely with him.

“He was an eternal optimist focusing on what’s next to improve the lives and livelihoods of our West Indian society.

He was most of all a humble, caring, and very generous man.

Sir Dwight Venner

His unparalleled contributions in his field would prove to set many challenging standards for many decades to come.”

The entire Board of Directors agree that “this region has lost a great leader but the anchor of his irrefutable legacy will forever hold in the annals of West Indian history.” The Board wishes to extend sympathies to his immediate a n d extended family.

Bangladesh collapse to series defeat against Kiwis

A

Five balls later Kayes drove lazily at a Tim Southee delivery nother mind-numbing batting collapse from Bangladesh meant that they lost the Nelson ODI and along with it the and Bangladesh’s best hope for stemming the collapse was gone. series to New Zealand. They only had 252 to chase, and at He made 59 off 89 with six fours.

Bangladesh lost six wickets in 10 overs between the 23rd and one point were 105 for 1 but ended up losing the remaining nine 33rd and were eventually bowled out for 184. One wickets for only 79 runs. This meant that Neil Broom, who made t h e more damning sign of their collapse was that his first ODI century nearly eight years after his debut, it was a part-timer, Williamson, who took the had something special to savour. most wickets - 3 for 22.

It was déjà vu for Bangladesh. Back in October, It completed a highly satisfying series they were on course to chase England’s 309 in win for New Zealand after their torrid tours Mirpur. After Imrul Kayes and Shakib Al Hasan of India and Australia. One that might not added 118 runs for the fifth wicket, the hosts have happened if the selectors hadn’t thawed needed just 39 runs in the last 8.3 overs. But Broom out of ice. He had to wait six years to they ended up losing their last six wickets for restart his ODI career, but ended 2016 with 17 runs in the space of 39 balls. It seemed a maiden century that proved match-winning Bangladesh had carried the baggage from on a day bathed in sunshine, and on a pitch that game to their tour of New Zealand. slower than normal at Saxton Oval, New Zealand There was a rosy period, as with most struggled to bat at their usual high tempo.

Bangladesh batting collapses. After New Only Broom applied himself to any effect. He was Zealand were restricted to the first score particularly good driving through extra cover and used under 300 batting first at home against Bangladesh, Kayes and Sabbir Rahman the sweep liberally - both shots were used to upset the spinners. His team was nine down when he was on 99, added 75 runs for the second wicket.

Kayes showed good patience, nudging but Trent Boult hung in there just long enough and Broom finished unbeaten on 109 off singles off the wicket-to-wicket balls and taking full 106 balls with eight fours and three toll when he was given width. The pull also came out sixes. a number of times and when part-time seamer Colin The rest of the New Zealand Munro dropped him on 19, New Zealand would have been worried. Sabbir, from the other end, confidently cut batting line-up faltered with and drove the fast bowlers as Bangladesh seemed to take Martin Guptill falling legRahman control. They needed 146 runs off 163 balls with nine Sabbir before to Mashrafe in the gets some hang time first over. Kane Williamson wickets in hand. was dismissed for 17 by Taskin That was when the first domino fell, via a tragicomic while avoiding a short ball run-out. Kayes pushed the ball into the covers and set Ahmed for the second time in off for a quick single. Sabbir responded initially before changing as many games and the Boxing Day centurion Tom Latham, was his mind. Kayes kept on running, and ended up reaching the lbw for 22. non-striker’s end before Sabbir who had turned him away. That Broom and James Neesham added 51 runs for the fourth meant the throw at the strikers’ end essentially led to the the wicket before the latter was stumped for 28, giving wicketkeeper non-striker’s run out.Then, in the 26th over, an inswinging yorker Nurul Hasan his first ODI dismissal. Munro, another hero from from Lockie Ferguson toppled Mahmudullah’s middle stump.

Christchurch, lasted six balls before Mashrafe got one to scythe Three overs later, Shakib Al Hasan cut Kane Williamson to between his bat and pad and hit the top of off-stump. Luke backward point. In the next over from the part-time offspinner, Ronchi added 64 for the sixth wicket with Broom to push the Mosaddek Hossain chipped a catch to mid-off. total past 200 and in the end, it proved more than enough.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand innings (50 overs maximum) MJ Guptill lbw b Mashrafe Mortaza 0 TWM Latham lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 22 KS Williamson* c Shakib Al Hasan b Taskin Ahmed 14 NT Broom not out 109 JDS Neesham st †Nurul Hasan b Mosaddek Hossain 28 C Munro b Mashrafe Mortaza 3 L Ronchi† c Tanbir Hayder b Taskin Ahmed 35 MJ Santner c Mashrafe Mortaza b Subashis Roy 9 TG Southee c †Nurul Hasan b Shakib Al Hasan 3 LH Ferguson c †Nurul Hasan b Mashrafe Mortaza 4 TA Boult run out (†Nurul Hasan/Taskin Ahmed) 12 Extras (b-1, lb-7, w-4) 12 Total (all out; 50 overs) 251 Fall of wickets 1-0 (Guptill, 0.4 ov), 2-37 (Williamson, 10.5 ov), 3-47 (Latham, 13.1 ov), 4-98 (Neesham, 22.5 ov), 5-107 (Munro, 25.3 ov), 6-171 (Ronchi, 37.3 ov), 7-198 (Santner, 42.5 ov), 8-214 (Southee, 45.2 ov), 9-228 (Ferguson, 46.5 ov), 10-251 (Boult, 49.6 ov) Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-1-49-3 (w-2), Subashis Roy 10-1-45-1 (w-1),Taskin Ahmed 10-1-45-2 (w-1), Shakib Al Hasan 10-0-45-2, Tanbir Hayder 8-0-47-0,Mosaddek Hossain 2-0-12-1

Bangladesh innings (target: 252 runs from 50 overs) Tamim Iqbal c Latham b Southee 16 Imrul Kayes c Broom b Southee 59 Sabbir Rahman run out (Williamson/†Ronchi) 38 Mahmudullah b Ferguson 1 Shakib Al Hasan c Broom b Williamson 7 Mosaddek Hossain c Neesham b Williamson 3 Tanbir Hayder st †Ronchi b Williamson 2 Nurul Hasan† c Ronchi b Boult 24 Mashrafe Mortaza* c Williamson b Boult 17 Taskin Ahmed st †Ronchi b Santner 0 Subashis Roy not out 1 Extras (b-1, lb-4, w-10, nb-1) 16 Total (all out; 42.4 overs) 184 (4.31 runs per over) Fall of wickets 1-30 (Tamim Iqbal, 7.2 ov), 2-105 (Sabbir Rahman, 22.6 ov), 3-112 (Mahmudullah, 25.3 ov), 4-128 (Shakib Al Hasan, 28.4 ov), 5-134 (Mosaddek Hossain, 30.4 ov), 6-136 (Imrul Kayes, 31.3 ov), 7-141 (Tanbir Hayder, 32.4 ov), 8-162 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 36.4 ov), 9-175 (Taskin Ahmed, 39.3 ov), 10184 (Nurul Hasan, 42.4 ov) Bowling: TA Boult 8.4-0-262 (w-3), TG Southee 9-1-33-2 (w-2), C Munro 2-0-12-0, LH Ferguson 8-0-53-1 (nb-1, w-2), MJ Santner 8-1-20-1 (w-1), JDS Neesham 2-0-13-0 (w-1), KS Williamson 5-0-22-3 (w-1)

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21

SPORTS

Golden Blue Echo takes centre stage in Boxing Day spectacular C hampion Jockey Colin Ross piloted Golden Blue Echo to capture the feature event at the Boxing Day one-day horse race meet at Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne Berbice.

Golden Blue Echo was out of the starting gates and tried to show off its speed but Jockey Colin Ross held the animal back allowing Its My Choice and stable mate Brave Sky to take the lead.

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Golden Blue Echo leads Lady Budapest, Keep on Swinging and Brave Sky heading for the finish line at the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club annual Boxing Day feature

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meters to go, Ross spurred Golden Blue Echo going pass Spit Fire, Brave Sky and lady Budapest to win comfortably by 5 and a half

lengths.

Lady Budapest ran second ahead of Keep on Swinging and Brave Sky finishing in that order.

Golden Blue Ecko with the win showed that it is one

of the better all-round horses around with the ability to sprint and cover the longer distances. This was after winning the feature events at the two Sprint Classic events held at the Nand Persaud Racetrack.

The L class race over a distance of five furlongs for non-winners was won by The Rocket while Release The Beast won the E and lower event sprinting ahead of the pack over six furlongs.

Release the beast won the $500,000 first prize and trophy compliments of Digicel.

The 2-year-old Guyana and West Indian bread race saw Genuine Risk winning ahead of Miss Angalie, Princess Saria and Mischievous Maker. The winning purse was $220,000 The race for West Indies bred maiden and Guyana bred H and lower animals saw Amazon Warrior winning.

Other winners were, Settling Star and Party Time.

Jockey Rooprut Ramnauth was the champion jockey with two wins.

Meanwhile, the Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club will have races on March 20, May 14, August 1, October 22 and Boxing Day next year.

22 It has been a 6 tie for top spot at Senior breathtaking Chess Nationals year for football T – Forde

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friday, december 30, 2016

P

resident of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Wayne Forde has labelled 2016 as a breathtaking year for the sport despite the challenging circumstances the Federation had to endure but believes that there are all phases which are geared towards a sound development of the sport.

Speaking on Thursday at the Federation’s yearend press conference, the Forde stated that “it has been a breathtaking year for football in Guyana and we are challenged each day to produce under very challenging circumstances.”

He added “We have very challenging road ahead of us, they are many fundamental changes that football needs to undergo in order to get to a place of sustainable development and in any case of construction, if you going to lay a foundation there needs to be some excavating and that can be disruptive but it is all in our own opinion to better the game over time.”

One of the ailing circumstances in the President’s opinion was the resistance the expansion of the Elite League faced as he felt venturing to communities such as Linden would have done a lot for the sport but top clubs such as Alpha United, Slingerz FC, Georgetown Football Club and Pele FC had a different perspective on the expansion which hampered the start and reduced the number of teams participating in season two of the league from the expected ten to six.

In expressing his disappointment , Forde said “ W h a t would be most disappointing is that w e set out a sound plan to expand the league as it would have brought more excitement and created interest in key geographical areas but it turned out that the decision was overly politicised and we end up with a league that is being contested by six team which is not the ideal situation and disappointing not just for the sake of the contest but the players who would have been denied a chance to play football”.

However, with success highlighted in capacity building, hosting of tournaments, community engagements and forging solid relations with corporate entities such as Ansa McAL, National Milling Company (NAMILCO), CAMEX Restaurants among other entities, the National senior team’s performance is most pleasing to the President.

The Golden Jaguars managed to move from 136 on the FIFA international rankings to currently hold a spot of 133 which is seen as credible by Forde.

“What is most pleasing is the performance of the men’s team which is commendable and also I’m very pleased with the youth initiatives being implemented by newly appointed Technical Director Ian Greenwood which has demonstrated that if we are to get serious with football, it must start from the grassroots,” the GFF head posited.

In addition, the President is optimistic of having the Grassroots model be adopted by other countries in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and will be extending an invitation for regional programme be held in Guyana in 2017.

The vision of the GFF boss in 2017 is to have the national team remodelled and also focus on developing the soundness of football in Guyana since the one of the main goals is to play in the World Cup.

he Guyana Chess Federation held its Senior National Qualifiers at the National Resource Center, Woolford Avenue on Sunday afternoon which saw the likes of Candidate Master (CM), Taffin Khan, WFM Maria Varona-Thomas, CM Anthony Drayton, Davion Mars, Calvin Giddings and Chino Chung ending the day on two points apiece.

Throughout the day, Mars disposed of Jaden Taylor in his first sitting before returning to make light work of Shazeeda Rahim later in the day. Meanwhile, Giddings defeated Joshua Ferdinand in the morning session and then came back in the afternoon to snatch a win from Joshua Gopaul.

In the other matches, CM Taffin Khan disposed of both of his opponents, Aravinda Singh and Roberto Neto while Chung conquered Akili Theophil before taking down Rashad Hussain, earing the two winners two points. Anthony Drayton, also a former junior chess champion, defeated Joshua Gopaul and veteran player, David Khan, to also stay

Players showing immense levels of concentration during the high intensity competition on Sunday

among the front runners.

Aravinda Singh then won from Kriskoff Persaud.

Gopaul also surrendered his second game to Calvin Giddings while David Khan repaired the damage of his loss to Drayton with a win over Nellisha Johnson.

Woman Candidate Master (WCM), Maria Varona Thomas benefitted from a bye in the first sitting before extending her tally to two points in the second sitting by defeating Frankie Farley.

Farley won his first game against Andre Jagnandan.

Rahim won from Jessica Callender.

Arvinda Singh rebounded from her loss to Taffin Khan to win from Kriskoff Persaud.

Persaud also surrendered a game to Roberto Neto.

Meusa, who recently secured his transfer from Barbados Chess Federation to the local entity, will aspire to retain the crown

for the third time. He has chalked up a FIDE rating of 1967 and is the highest local FIDE rated player.

The tournament is being competed in a Round Robin format and will resume sometime during the week. The organizers said that the current venue will be unavailable and they are scouting a replacement before ascertaining the next playing days.

Internal changes at FIFA delays Guyana’s goal project T

he election of FIFA’s new President Gianni Infantino in February has resulted in some annexations of the world’s governing body football including staff changes.

The changes in staff have meant that the country’s goal project will have a further wait before it reaches to the next stage.

In September, the contract for preparatory works on the site which is located Providence was signed after being won by Dwain Ferdinand and Home Designs and Engineering Associates.

Speaking at a press conference, on Thursday President of the Guyana Football Federation Wayne Forde explained that the development arm of FIFA has been dissolved; the process

for the development of the project has been delayed.

All FIFA funded projects fall under the development arm, meaning that those projects have now been grounded to a halt. Forde further stated that the FIFA office in Jamaica has been relocated to Barbados, and most of the key personnel have been replaced.

“As a consequence of that, all FIFA projects essentially have been grounded to a halt. We were visited by the representative from Greenfield two weeks

ago f o r some preliminary discussion as to when the project will commence and some of the key aspects, admin aspects of business that we need to sort out. I am optimistic that we can actually see work on the project commencing by the last week of January, early February, but a lot of it is dependent on the changes that are taking place at Zurich [FIFA headquarters] at this moment,” Forde explained.

He added, “The former developmental office has been essentially dissolved, so you would imagine people that were very keen and critical to the execution of these projects [are] no longer involved and new people taking over, so it will take some time. Our project has advanced significantly; I think it’s just a matter of contracts being signed and cheques being released for the work to actually start. It’s out of the Guyana Football Federation’s hands; I think that is the key message here. We have done our part, months ago. Everything

Goal project

that they required of us we have satisfied. It’s now FIFA to deliver.”

The facility, which will be constructed at the Providence Community Centre Ground, will be done in two phases, the first phase of the project will be the installation of an artificial turf and the second phase will see infrastructure such as stands, lights, beach, Futsal training pitches, mini pitches and an administrative centre for the headquarters of the GFF being established.

Former head of the GFF Normalization Committee Chief Clinton Urling had brokered an agreement between the GFF and the Eccles/ Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the location and was granted a 30 year lease for the land.

Caption: The conceptual design of Guyana’s FIFA Goal Project to be built at the Providence Community Centre ground

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

23

Sri Lanka slipping in 488 chase

Local badminton ace Ramdhani attends NCCP workshop

G

uyanese ace Badminton player, Shuttlesport Elite, Sunburst Champion, Narayan Ramdhani, who is currently in Vancouver Canada on a Badminton Scholarship, attended National Coaching the Certification Programme (NCCP) Shuttle Time workshop on December 27 at the Shuttlesport Badminton Academy in Port Coquitlam.

According to Guyana Badminton Association President, Gokaran Ramdhani, this workshop was to keep him in the development programme in his training methods.

In a release issued by the GBA President, it was related that the first half of the workshop focused on how to do specific badminton skills, classroom management and trying out the drills while the second half of the workshop was based on a more Narayan Ramdhani (left) and one of his students took time off practical portion whereby for a photo each player would be teach- Sport Development course.

Jordan Beatty - Serve and ing the group using the lesNarayan is also pre- Rally son plans. Additionally, paring for the 2017 Series Aaron Collette, David each player was teamed of Championships which Luo - Midcourt drives with another student where starts in January.

Negin Jafari & Daryl the duo had been randomly The Players who did the Yang - Backhand Lift assigned a lesson. Narayan Demonstrations were: Rey - Smash and block paired with Jordan Beatty Clarence Liu, Yolanda Mandinu DaSilva - Net as they presented the Serve Chang - Clear with Scissor & Lunge and Rally presentation.

Jump Thomas Wong - Grip The course was conductZach Fan - Drop with Change and Footwork ed by Alvin Lau, BBA & BEd Scissor Jump who is the manager of the Narayan Ramdhani, &

Prime Minister Skerrit urges Caricom to avoid WICB confrontations

ed Independent Review Panel of the Caribbean Community Sub-Committee on Cricket Governance had recommended that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) be disbanded. The proposal was rejected by the WICB. (SportsMax)

The South African players celebrate the wicket of Kusal Perera

A

succession of soft dismissals left Sri Lanka in danger of a big defeat in the first Test despite their batsmen, almost without exception, looking comfortable at the crease in their pursuit of 488. No team has successfully chased more than 418 to win a Test match, but Sri Lanka suggested they were capable of giving South Africa a serious scare only to gift away four of the five wickets they lost on day four. Angelo Mathews, who witnessed two of these gifted wickets from the nonstriker’s end, was batting on 58 at stumps, and with him was Dhananjaya de Silva on 9.

A mix-up between Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva ended an 87run stand for the first wicket, while a moment of overconfidence cost Kusal Mendis his wicket after he had added 75 for the fourth wicket with Mathews. Kusal Perera and Dinesh Chandimal frittered away their wickets as well, and at stumps, 248 adrift of their target, Sri Lanka were left counting what-ifs, with an entire day remaining on a pitch that seemed to have flattened out entirely after starting out as a green seamer.

South Africa declared 10.5 overs into the morning session, after Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock had completed half-centuries and stretched their overnight partnership to 129.

SCOREBOARD

D

ominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has urged regional leaders to be less adversarial in their approach to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and cited cooperation as a much more useful tool for re-building the regional game.

There have been several recent and well-documented spats between various Caricom leaders and the WICB, with the majority of the disputes led by Grenada Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, and St Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who have strongly called for reform of the WICB. Skerrit, however, while claiming that passion for the sport displayed

Prime Minister Skerrit

Roosevelt

by his colleagues was commendable believes a spirit of collaboration between the two bodies would be far more beneficial.

“We have to avoid the confrontation because it will only be a distraction,” said Skerrit on the state-owned DBS Radio. “We have to see where are the positives and where are the weaknesses, and chip in to build on the strengths and fortify the weaknesses. “We all love the game. It has been a unifying force in our Caribbean society and I think the anxiety that people have – and the leaders have expressed their views – is real concern.”

Earlier this year a Caricom appoint-

Stumps day 4 South Africa 1st Innings 286 Sri Lanka 1st Innings 205 South Africa 2nd innings (Overnight Score 351/5) SC Cook c †Chandimal b Chameera 117 D Elgar c Mathews b Lakmal 52 HM Amla lbw b Pradeep 48 JP Duminy c Mathews b de Silva 25 F du Plessis* not out 67 T Bavuma c Mendis b de Silva 8 Q de Kock† lbw b Herath 69 Extras (b-5, lb-2, w-3, nb-10) 20 Total (6 wickets dec; 90.5 overs; 373 mins) 406 Did not bat: VD Philander, KJ Abbott, KA Maharaj, K Rabada Fall of wickets 1-116 (Elgar, 32.1 ov), 2-221 (Amla, 50.6 ov), 3-245 (Cook, 57.6 ov), 4-267 (Duminy, 62.4 ov), 5-277 (Bavuma, 64.4 ov), 6-406 (de Kock, 90.5 ov) Bowling: RAS Lakmal 18-2-641, N Pradeep 14-0-65-1 (nb4, w-1), AD Mathews 4-0-10-0, PVD Chameera 15-0-85-1 (nb-2, w-2), HMRKB Herath 24.5-1-84-1,

DM de Silva 15-0-91-2 Sri Lanka 2nd innings (target: 488 runs) FDM Karunaratne run out (Duminy/†de Kock) 43 JK Silva lbw b Rabada 48 MDKJ Perera c †de Kock b Maharaj 6 BKG Mendis c †de Kock b Rabada 58 AD Mathews* not out 58 LD Chandimal† c Rabada b Maharaj 8 DM de Silva not out 9 Extras (b-4, lb-3, w-2, nb-1) 10 Total (5 wickets; 83 overs) 240 To bat: HMRKB Herath, PVD Chameera, RAS Lakmal, N Pradeep Fall of wickets 1-87 (Karunaratne, 32.4 ov), 2-93 (Perera, 34.6 ov), 3-118 (Silva, 46.2 ov), 4-193 (Mendis, 64.2 ov), 5-225 (Chandimal, 77.3 ov) Bowling: VD Philander 175-38-0, KJ Abbott 15-3-310 (w-1), K Rabada 19-3-72-2 (nb-1, w-1), KA Maharaj 29-784-2, JP Duminy 3-0-8-0

The declaration arrived when Rangana Herath had de Kock lbw for 69, missing a sweep against a ball that was probably too full and too close to off stump to play the shot against safely.

Both Sri Lankan openers missed out on half-centuries, but showed they had worked on the weaknesses that had caused their first-innings dismissals. Silva was eventually lbw for the second time in the match when Rabada nipped one into him after tea, but had till then shown improved balance and alignment while dealing with South Africa’s concerted effort to attack his stumps, and had looked particularly good while driving straight.

Rabada’s extra pace and bounce had discomfited him a couple of times before that.

Before lunch, he had gloved a rising ball, managing to drop his bottom hand and keep the ball down in front of Quinton de Kock diving to his right behind the stumps.

Then, in the second session, he had taken a blow to the shoulder while ducking into a bouncer delivered from wide of the crease.

Karunaratne, apart from a couple of moments when he lost concentration, was alive to the danger of playing away from his body.

The seamers looked to get him nibbling with the angle across him, and then tried to go around the wicket as well, but he handled both lines well, making sure his hands didn’t follow the ball when he was beaten. He was just getting into stride when he was dismissed, having moved from 20 off 90 balls to 43 off 113. He had hit three fours in that period of acceleration, including a sweetlytimed flick off Philander and a reverse-sweep off Maharaj immediately after the leftarm spinner had got one to spit at him out of the rough.

The opening stand ended when Silva pushed Maharaj into the covers and set off immediately. Karunaratne responded after a moment’s hesitation, and that little stutter was enough to find him short of his crease when he dived to beat JP Duminy’s throw to the keeper.

Then Perera, his place at No. 3 in question after his dismissal to a wild slash in the first innings, fell to another injudicious stroke, top-edging a cut against the turn off Maharaj when he was getting consistent turn and bounce out of the rough.

When Mathews walked

in, Sri Lanka had lost three wickets for 31 runs either side of tea, but he immediately showed the positive intent of a man with a fourth-innings average of 69.37, rotating the strike comfortably at the start before stepping out to his 17th ball and drilling Keshav Maharaj back past him for four. Rabada fed him a wide long-hop and a full-toss in the next over, and he put both away to the boundary, before a back-foot whip off Maharaj took him to 25 off 27 balls.

Then, with Vernon Philander returning to the attack, Mathews made a strategic retreat, scoring only six runs off the next 29 balls he faced. He was perhaps mindful that he needed to be at the crease when the second new ball became available on a pitch where the old ball was doing almost nothing. By then, though, Silva had fallen to the daftest of shots, taking on the returning Rabada’s aroundthe-wicket attack by making himself room and looking to ramp over the slips. All he managed was an edge to the keeper.

Mendis’ innings had always promised that sort of end. His 58 had displayed a vast range of shots - notable among them an off-drive off Philander and a number of sweeps off Maharaj - but also a tinge of impetuosity.

In the over before his dismissal, he had run down the track to Maharaj and looked to hit him over mid-on, mistimed his shot horribly, and fortuitously managed to hit the fielder on the bounce.

Chandimal didn’t learn from Mendis’ close shave against Maharaj. Having already been dropped once while going after the leftarm spinner - Dean Elgar putting him down at short extra-cover - he tried it again, with the new ball 2.4 overs away, and spooned the ball straight to mid-on.

South Africa took the new ball as soon as it was due, and came very close very early. Abbott, starting the 82nd over of Sri Lanka’s innings, caught Dhananjaya de Silva shuffling too far across his stumps, and Bruce Oxenford upheld his lbw appeal immediately.

De Silva reviewed - perhaps more in desperation than any real hope of getting the decision overturned - and ball-tracking saved him, suggesting the ball would have carried on to miss leg stump. (ESPNcricinfo)

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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

It has been a breathtaking year for football – Forde

Pg 22

(L-R) Public Relations Officer Debra Francis, Executive Committee Member Keith Ojeer, President Wayne Forde and Executive Committee Member Dion Innis at the press conference on Thursday at the secretariat

Johnson, Campbell, Yadram cash in at GCB awards ceremony Guyana Jaguars skipper Leon Johnson receives the Cricketer of the Year Award from Minister with responsibility for Sport Nicolette Henry(left photo). Bhaskar Yadram receives the Junior Cricketer of the Year Award from Vice President Carl Greenidge at the Umana Yana on Thursday. (see full report in a subsequent edition of the Guyana Times) Marceano Narine Photos

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