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Issue No. 2747

Monday, January 25, 2016

Wales Estate closure

PRICE

See stories on pages 3, 7, 9, 12

Govt needs to consult with stakeholders on way forward – GTUC ... workers to strike until reversal – GAWU ... sugar is our life – Wales workers ... Govt still to decide on use of lands – Agri Minister

Essequibo teen Slow sales in Region due to sluggish hospitalised after 2economy – Banks attempting suicide DIH Chairman Page 7

P17

Banks DIH Essequibo Coast AGM

– calls for reduction of fuel prices

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Shot miner succumbs at Port P13 Kaituma GRA’s P14 Sattaur justifies backdating pension plan – claims nothing illegal about move

Page 17

President advocates for servant-hearted leadership Page 14

Soldier on bail for statutory rape P8 Porter P12 nabbed at workplace for statutory rape – GPSU rep says protocol not observed

President David Granger underscoring the importance of servant-hearted leadership at the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Convention and Workshop organised by the Guyana Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists

“No available Page 10 low cost house lots in Linden” – Adams-Patterson

LGE 2016

Page 10

Region 1 prepared for upcoming polls – Chairman assures

Bandits P13 rob, terrorised Klassic Kollections employees

2 news Banks DIH prepared for global macroeconomic challenges – Chairman MONday, january 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

– beverage giant records 13% profit for 2015

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uyana’s beverage giant Banks DIH have recorded a profit after tax of $2.569 billion for 2015, which represents a 13 per cent increase when compared to 2014 for which the company had declared $2.265 billion.

This was announced at the company’s 60th Annual General Meeting (AGM) Saturday afternoon at Thirst Park.

In his report, Chairman Clifford Reis shared that this improvement was as a result of the increase of physical sales by 3 per cent, an increase in revenue by 4 per cent, and a reduction in operational expenses by 4 per cent due to internal efficiency measures and favourable ma-

Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis addressing shareholders at Thirst Park on Saturday

terial prices.

The Chairman told stakeholders in attendance that over the years, many lessons were learnt from the rapidly changing global financial environ-

ment aggravated by geopolitical conflicts which appear not to be contained within any one geographical area.

He added that consumer confidence was eroded

in the run-up to the last elections cycle and the post elections events which resulted in the contraction of consumer spending.

For 2015, the Chairman noted that Banks’ main fo-

cus continues to be the development and strengthening of shareholder value by way of capital improvements made to the company’s production plants, the delivery and distribution network, training in all areas to proactively respond to the rapidly evolving technological and emerging market demands and product and packaging development to satisfy the requirements of a younger and more discerning customer base.

It was noted that the company’s turnover net of taxes was $24.875 billion compared to $23.695 billion in 2014, an increase on $1.180 billion or 5 per cent. The Group’s operational profit before tax was $5.285 billion compared to $4.971 billion, an increase of $314.0 million or 6.3 oer cent. Profit after tax attributable to shareholders was $2.945 billion compared to $2.660 billion, a 10.7 per cent increase.

In continuing his report, the Chairman shared that in order to achieve their ambitious growth targets, the Company has over the past few years been investing in modernising its production and distribution capabilities, especially in the Brewery, Soft Drinks, Rum, Wine, and Ice Cream production facilities.

He added that during the year, capital works continued with the acquisition and installation of a new biscuit oven and other equipment across the company. The new “Crème Select” Ice Cream Outlet on Main Street was completed and opened for business in December 2014; there was also the purchase of forklifts and further upgrade of the Demico House facilities.

Reis stated that the company anticipates that the global macroeconomic environment will continue to impact the landscape of all businesses, and noted

that they plan to continue to rise above the challenges.

He posited that investments in the expansion and modernisation of their production facilities, strengthening their geographic reach to all areas across the country and enhanced export trade will significantly enhance the company’s vision of success.

In December 2015, the beverage giant sold its over 4.3 million shares in Banks Holdings Barbados to SLU Beverages Limited of St Lucia.

In a statement, the company stated that the sale of 6.7 per cent stake in Banks Barbados to SLU has barred the possible takeover of Banks Barbados by beverage conglomerate ANSA McAL Limited.

In defending its decision to sell the shares, Banks DIH in a statement to the media said that in 2005, it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Banks Holdings Barbados which predetermined that it “may not dispose of the shares it possesses in Banks Holdings Limited as a result of this share transfer unless the first option to purchase those shares has been offered to Banks Holdings Limited.

Also that Banks Holdings Limited may not dispose of the shares it possesses in Banks DIH Limited as a result of this share transfer, unless the first option to purchase those shares has been offered to Banks DIH Limited.”

The company noted that at the time it sold its shares in Banks Holdings Barbados, the St Lucian company already had 40.3 per cent of the issued capital of the Barbadian company and with the purchase of the 6.7 per cent held by Banks DIH, its stake in the company climbed to 47 per cent.

The Directors of Banks DIH, the statement said, believe that the sale of its shareholding in BHL was both financially and commercially advantageous and will increase shareholder value in Banks DIH Limited.

SLU Beverages is a St Lucian registered company that had been fiercely competing against ANSA McAL for a greater stake in Banks Holdings Limited, Barbados.

In 2004, ANSA McAL had tried to buy majority shares in Banks DIH Limited.

news

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monday, january 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, January 25 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, January 26 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, January 25 – 05:20h-06:50h and Tuesday, January 26 – 05:55h-07:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Thundery showers can be expected in the morning while heavy rain showers are expected to prevail in the afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Wales Estate closure

Workers concerned about job security … to strike until reversal – GAWU

Winds: East North-easterly to North Easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.81 metres per second.

High Tide: 05:16h and 17:30h reaching maximum heights of 2.59 metres and 2.69 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:04h and 23:27h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.54 metre.

GAWU President Komal Chand

By Devina Samaroo

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housands of disgruntled sugar workers along with aggrieved family and community advocates are gearing up to embark on extensive industrial actions to express their utter displeasure and grave concerns over government’s decision to obliterate their only means of earning a livelihood by shutting down the Wales Sugar Estate in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand told Guyana Times that all the workers along with the cane farmers are still shocked by the closure announcement and have consequently signalled their willingness to engage in massive protests until government reverses its decision.

“They have in mind protests and strikes and picketing during the course of the second crop,” Chand explained, disclosing that they have already gained the support of the entire Wales community, including hire car operators and shopkeepers whose operations depended significantly on the functioning of the Estate.

Chand indicated that the industrial actions will vary constantly from small picketings within the village to a massive two-day strike or gargantuan protests within the city.

“The plan of action has to be one that the workers embrace. They might be picketing within the community or go outside to other villages.

It will be periodically, a day or two and then come back to work,” the longstanding

GAWU head noted.

If this fails, Chand said GAWU will then engage the workers on the next way forward.

Government’s next move Chand further emphasised that the closure of Wales Estate will have dire implications on the economy and ultimately the lives and wellbeing of those citizens.

Making the situation more worrying, he revealed that during a recent meeting with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), the body was unable to answer basic questions in relation to government’s next course of plan.

“We asked them specifi-

workers have any stake in it but they are completely in the dark,” Chand said.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder had previously announced that some Wales workers will be transferred to the Uitvlugt Estate, located some 20 miles away and that measures will be put in place for the sugarcane farmers to transport their produce to Uitvlugt.

But the GAWU head is contending that it will be most difficult for workers residing in Wales to travel to Uitvlugt and is therefore questioning the process government will be using to select the workers who will be transferred.

The workers say they are concerned about job security

cally what they will do and they could not give the answer. They talked about another venture that they will put in place, but I asked them what it is; and when; and how many workers will be involved… who will own the venture, is it government and others; or is it going to be put in the hands of private individuals… Will

Contacted for more clarity on the matter, the Agriculture Minister explained that the Wales Estate is currently operating with 50 per cent capacity, similarly the Uitvlugt Estate, therefore, with a merger of the two, inclusive of machinery and workforce, the latter Estate would be functioning with 100 per

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

cent capacity.

On this note, the minister reasoned that if all the factory workers from Wales are to be transferred to Uitvlugt, then the latter Estate would be more efficient.

However, he said discussions are still ongoing to determine the fate of field workers of Wales.

He also said government is yet to decide on what will become of the huge acreage of prime farming lands that will now be left unexploited.

Nonetheless, he reminded that Wales Estate will not be closed until January 2017, which will allow enough time for all to adjust.

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monday, january 25, 2016

Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

False equivalencies on Wales

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he Government is not doing itself a favour in defending its decision to shut down the entire sugar operation at Wales Estate on West Bank Demerara and on the way forward. It is now conceded they should have communicated earlier with the workers at the estate and the surrounding population that would be so adversely affected by the closure.

That is water under the bridge and while the Opposition can be expected to roil those waters, the Government’s task is to calm them by dealing with the questions posed in an honest manner.

The elephant in the room is the fate of the 1700 workers that are directly employed by the Estate. Since the decision has already been announced that there will be no preparation of lands for planting of new cane or any planting itself, the 183 workers in the tillage and planting gangs are now effectively dismissed. There is no point implying they will be employed at Uitvlugt. If there had been any consideration for the livelihood of the Wales workers, the needs of Uitvlugt in these tasks should have been reviewed and announced simultaneously with the closure.

Evidently, Uitvlugt is already self-sufficient in these areas and there are no plans for the expansion of Uitvlugt acreage under cane cultivation. But this is an empirical question and it is hoped that Government would make an announcement ASAP about these workers. Much of the same logic applies to the cane-harvesters, factory hands and office staff. Very few of them would find it practical to spend two additional hours and hundreds of dollars daily to make the trip to and from Uitvlugt daily.

And it is the fate of the Wales workers that the false equivalencies drawn by Government representatives, such as the Prime Minister’s shill in Sunday’s Chronicle, to previous closures at Diamond and La Bonne Intention (LBI) are most cruel in their cynicism. Firstly, the Diamond closure of 2010 was on a much lesser scale - 400 workers and 6000 acres and the factory had already been long closed since 1987.

Diamond, LBI and Enmore had been integrated into the East Demerara Estates since 1998. The economy was booming and workers from East Bank had found alternative employment in the burgeoning construction sector in their midst. A substantial number of “Diamond” workers were actually from across the Demerara River. Most pertinently much of the land contiguous to the East Bank Public Road were transformed into housing schemes and there were already canals to transport the backhand canes to LBI or Enmore.

Similarly, when the LBI factory closure was effected in 2011 this was done during a still buoyant economic climate with alternative employment opportunities abundant on the East Coast Demerara. Thirdly, all the Government spokespersons conveniently neglect to mention that in both Diamond there was never a complete closure of an entire Estate. At Diamond, the factory had been closed and the workforce miniaturised while at LBI, it was only the factory - employing at maximum 200 workers - that had been closed.

The other factor glossed over is that Wales represented a pioneering effort to involve private farmers into the production of sugar - especially when it was in the hands of foreign interests. At this time more than 30 per cent of the sugarcane from Wales is sourced from these farmers who have made massive investment in land and machinery.

Since there are no waterways to transport canes to Uitvlugt the only alternative to this suggestion by the Government would be to use tractors. Even without the logistics being impractical on the West Demerara roads, even at nights, and Uitvlugt lifting cane from punts and not trailers, the fuel costs and number of tractors demanded would be impractical.

The Government must sit down with the Opposition and the sugar unions and work out a staged withdrawal from sugar at Wales.

Union City in New Jersey, across the water from Manhattan, saw particularly high snow drifts (BBC photo)

Govts must understand that payment of dues must be top priority Dear Editor, Guyana and other Caribbean countries have united in many institutions established for the wellbeing of the region.

I refer to the Caribbean Community (Caricom), University of the West Indies (UWI), the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Organisation of American States (OAS), Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), to name a few.

Member countries are required to pay annual fees for the smooth run-

ning and administration of these bodies, but unfortunately most of these countries are not honouring their obligations to pay in due and proper time and as a result, these Bodies find themselves in serious economic problems that pose problems for their wellbeing.

I know that because of financial constraints the ECSC was unable to pay the judges and had to seek assistance from a member country. Most institutions encounter setbacks because of the failure of member countries to pay their dues. I attended a

CLE meeting a few years ago in Jamaica and the poor economic state was discussed at length.

Most Caricom member states do not pay their dues in a timely manner and as a matter of fact a few owe millions. This is a sad state of affair and countries should ensure that priority is given to these regional institutions.

The 34-member state OAS is suffering a deficit of more than $US19 million which prompted chairman Sir Ronald Sanders to set up three committees to remedy the situation.

Failure of member

states to pay their dues is the main reason for the deficit. Sanders said he was “deeply concerned about the financial health of the organisation and profoundly anxious about its capacity to continue to operate.”

Regional and international organisations are necessary for all countries, and governments must understand that funds are needed to operate them and allocation of dues must be given top priority.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

On City Hall and the house lot plan Dear Editor, Reading the newspapers recently, I learnt of an intention of the City Council’s hierarchy to proceed on a land grabbing exercise by commandeering municipal reserves and designated open spaces and converting it into house lots for themselves and compatriots.

There municipal officials seem unaware that they are mere custodians of these lands and not the lawful owners. They need to be reminded that municipal property belongs to the citizenry and not the officers working for the city.

They must be stopped in selling municipal property.

How could they even think about taking up the

open spaces in the areas identified when they are mouthing off about greening the city. This action exposes the insincerity of their sloganeering and must not be allowed. Each area needs an open space and public area for recreation.

If municipal employees need house lots, then they should apply to the Communities Ministry for land like everyone else.

Gated communities are for the well-heeled and the well-known.

Then they had the audacity to boast that they have engineers, building inspectors, carpenters, masons, plumbers, and every aspect needed and

that they will be utilising these in-house skills of the Georgetown municipality, so the loans taken can be on a smaller scale for only building materials. They are therefore announcing that these persons, rather than fixing the roads, mending the bridges, etc, for which they are being paid by the citizens, would instead be providing the labour at no cost to their fellow workers but instead financed by the ratepayers.

Corruption is so endemic at City Hall that they do not even realise the impropriety of what they are saying.

And why gated communities? Do they need special privacy and security and to be traffic free so cit-

izens would not see their posh houses? What will they have inside? Private swimming pools and tennis courts when there are no municipal pools or tennis courts for citizens?

The Communities Ministry must put a stop to this unlawful move or if not then the citizen will have to. The first question to be asked is how many properties these bigwigs already own, and how they were obtained. Hopefully it was not commandeered from property owners who could not afford to pay their rates and taxes.

Sincerely, Sean Moniz

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President Granger may again Dr Vishnu Bandhu most have to reshuffle his Cabinet deserving of honorary doctorate Dear Editor, I refer to Guyana Times article captioned “More lands to be released soon for small miners – new gold board members inducted,” (January 16, 2016).

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman continues his ambiguous statements in relation to the Natural Resources Sector.

This time he instructed the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) for more lands to be released to the small miners in the six mining districts of the country. But while Minister Trotman issued these in-

structions to the GGMC was he satisfied that the GGMC has clearly defined structures in place to deal with monitoring and compliance and in dealing with Amerindian land rights issues which have proven to be an obstacle in the current Amerindian Land Titling (ALT) process? And worst, did he not consider that his instructions to GGMC may be counter-productive to any new partnership agreement with the Kingdom of Norway in combating Climate Change since it is known that mining is a driver of deforestation?

In this regard particularly Minister Trotman may soon have to withdraw his instructions to the GGMC and this is being consistent with my letter in Guyana Times (Fri, Jan 15, 2016) where I pointed out that Minister Trotman is known for making sporadic and unsubstantiated statements and have them withdrawn when confronted with factual and accurate information and data.

President Granger may soon again have to reshuffle his weak cabinet.

Yours sincerely, Carl Lucas

Burma Rice Research Station failing to deliver new rice varieties Dear Editor, The rice industry in Guyana is very vital to the country’s economy. It provides employment for thousands, staple food and is a valuable source of export earnings.

The rice crop, faced with a variety of climate related threats – salt water intrusion from rising sea levels, flooding that can submerge and kill plants at critical phases of their development, drought, new pest pressures and higher temperatures – which can affect plant development.

Over 10,000 acres are affected by excessive salinity, particularly on the islands of Leguan, Wakenaam and Hogg Island at the mouth of the Essequibo River. In addition, rice cultivation on the front lands is also becoming susceptible to salt water invasion from the sea. The risk of this is even

greater in the face of global warming and rises in sea levels because our coastal fields are below sea level. Now with the present El Niño-like phenomena, salt water is finding its way into the irrigation system and into the rice cultivation system in many of the regions, which will definitely have a significant impact on the rice production.

Baring the intrusion of salt water, the country’s agriculture – and particularly rice production – suffered severely from flooding in 2005 and drought like conditions in 2009. Presently, also in many parts of the country, the rice crop is dying due to lack of water or drought-like conditions that will most likely lead to great crop loss.

The effects of climate change are presently threatening the health of Guyana’s rice industry. The Burma

Rice Station needs to take a lead role in the fight against climate change. It is time for a change at the Guyana Rice Development Board’s Burma Rice Research Station. President David Granger, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, Chairman of the Board and the General Manager, need to get rid of the current research head, Dr Mahendra Persaud, who seems to be incompetent for the job and take the necessary steps towards ‘genetic improvement of specific traits’ to avert or mitigate production losses and come up with few ‘climate smart rice varieties’ that farmers can cultivate and benefit economically, under some of these adverse conditions experienced in Guyana.

Your faithfully, T Ross

Dear Editor, Reference is made to news item on Vishnu Bandhu being conferred an honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa) in India for distinguished services in various fields including philanthropy (sponsoring various programmes), helping the poor and serving humanity in general; he has done same in Guyana and in New York and briefly in Toronto before migrating to NY from that city.

Bandhu is most deserving of the rare honour conferred on a Guyanese, much more deserving than some who were conferred honorary doctorates; others gave money whereas Bandhu gave money and time serving people. He is among a few who served people with love and respect and who did not seek a reward.

His kindness knew no bound.

He has been a true altruist.

I have known Bandhuji in NY since the early 1980s, when he and others founded the Arya Samaj in America. He also founded one of the earliest Guyanese/Caribbean newspapers to which I made regular contributions as a community news reporter and columnist.

I also helped to distribute the newspaper (Caribbean Expo Awake) across the city as a community advocate and humanitarian worker.

He fought in the revolution that ushered in democracy in our homeland. He organized so many marches and rallies and lobbied the US government to pressure the PNC dictatorship to restore democratic rule.

Dr Bandhu was among a few dedicated and committed activists devoting significant amounts of time and energy to serving Guyanese. He also spent large amounts of his personal money on community work and on spiritual growth of Guyanese and nationals of India settled in the greater New York area.

I used to travel around with him assisting with picking up Guyanese to attend cultural and spiritual programmes during the 1980s.

He helped people regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation. As an illustration, an Afro-Guyanese soldier (GDF) missed his flight and was stuck at Piarco with nowhere to spend the evening; Bandhu paid the soldier’s hotel. That soldier, now settled in the US, never forgot Bandhu and came to visit him several times at his NY residence. Bandhu helped the poor and underprivileged.

In addition, he would use a very large van to transport devotees in worshipping sometimes to very long jour-

neys; I accompanied him on several trips.

He would sponsor religious and cultural events and even rent halls to host cultural variety shows. In America, he was actively involved in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana before resettling in his native Guyana.

In Guyana, he promoted yoga among many followers (Indians and non-Indians) and helped with spiritual upliftment. He gave so much to help improve human welfare. He was generous in his philanthropic activities and helped so many including the orphanage and the Dharamshala.

Needless to say he organised so many cultural and religious programmes in NY and New Jersey for the benefit of the Diaspora.

He also sponsored and organised floats in the India Day Parades. Bandhu is most deserving of an honorary doctorate and also of Guyana’s highest honours and it is recommended that the government consider honouring him as well for his great work servicing the nation and the diaspora.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

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monday, january 25, 2016

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Foundation

By Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster

flexing that muscle, if you will – with you.

Wouldn’t you rather your child learn to negotiate with you, first, than feel obliged to follow some other child’s directions the first time a pushy peer says, “Come on, everyone’s doing it?”

Or blindly follow the directions of an adult acting inappropriately toward your child?

I

t drives you crazy, but silencing them only holds them back in life. Here’s why.

“Children talking back” is a perennial complaint in parenthood.

When your child starts talking back or mouthing off, it pushes your buttons! Staying calm feels incredibly hard, even though you know – in theory – that a calm response is best for everyone involved (as well as your blood pressure).

But what if – (and just go with me here for a moment) – when your children push back, it is actually great for their development?

The experts agree, this behaviour is actually developmentally healthy for children. Clinical psychologist Kelly M Flanagan explains that “the inability to say “No” – the inability to set personal boundaries – is one of the most common, insidious causes of human suffering.”

Psychologist Joseph P Allen, who headed a study

for t h e University of Virginia, says: “We tell parents to think of those arguments not as a nuisance but as a critical training ground.”

At its core, when children push back at your authority, they’re trying to exert some sense of control over their own lives. They’re practicing that skill –

Focus on how they push back We’re all desperate for our children to master the skills they need to stand up to peer pressure or danger when faced with difficult life decisions.

What if your ability to embrace (coach and help manage) your child’s burgeoning independence is the key to teaching those critical negotiation skills? Skills that enable your children to say “No” to drugs and delay sexual experimentation until an appropriate age?

The truth is – it’s not whether they pushback that really speaks to your authority. They’re children. They’re going to push back. That’s their job.

Your authority lies in how they push back, and in how you respond to them.

Are you teaching your child to challenge you with respect? Are you setting expectations ( a n d positive exa m p l e s ) for appropriate communication?

Do you help them understand and take responsibility for the consequences of their actions?

Your children’s ability to negotiate risky or adverse circumstances improves when you teach them to exercise control with self-awareness, respect, grace and calm.

Who’s in control, anyway?

We want to feel good about ourselves as parents, and somehow a two-year-old saying, “No!,” a nineyear-old saying, “Why do I have to?” or a 14-year-old saying, “You’re not being

guyanatimesgy.com

fair” triggers insecurities about our competence as parents.

We feel like we must maintain a minimum standard of authority as parents. Partially because that was the model WE grew up with (e.g. “I would never have spoken to my parents that way!”), and partially because we want to feel like we have some sense of control over our children. Life is easier (in the short-term, when they just do what we say). But we don’t ultimately have control over our children. Not really.

Children come into the world with a path of their own to follow. From a very early age they start teaching us this lesson, veritably screaming at us: “It’s not about you; it’s about me!”

Sadly, it usually takes us years to grasp the message – if we ever do.

What your child wants you to know In different ways at different stages of development, the message is the same: They are independent beings with their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

They are on their own path. And while it’s your privilege supervising them on their journey, their journey is still their own, not yours.

F o r children to grow into h e a l t h y, independent adults, they need to

practice making decisions for themselves, and negotiating for what they want – even if what they want seems absurd or unimportant to you.

Because, it’s not about you.

If they can negotiate feeding the dog at 19:00h instead of 18:30h now, they’re better prepared to negotiate with their college professors, with their manager at work, and with a spouse or partner at home in their future.

Remember ... You’re raising future adults Parenting a child toward independence almost feels like a contradiction in terms. But when we remember that we’re not raising children, we’re raising future adults, it helps a lot.

So the next time you hear yourself say – “How dare you talk to me that way?” ... or, “Because I said so” ... or even, “I gave you a direction and I want you to do what I said” – think about the message you’re sending, and ask yourself how you might empower your child, instead.

How can you maintain your authority, without needing to exert control?

For example, a simple response to ugly tones and language, try: “Do you have a different way to say that?”

Requesting that they finish a chore, but do so offering them a chance to decide when to do it: “I’d like the dishwasher unloaded before dinner and it’s your turn today. What time would you like to do it, and would you like a reminder?”

Remember, this is a process, and it will take time to turn the ship. A few well-placed questions will not magically shift the relationship currently established. But a move in new, supportive, understanding direction is a powerful play towards fostering your child’s independence – which is ultimately what parenting is all about.

(Yahoo! News)

BY ELIZABETH CASEY

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o what lengths do we go to protect our children?

At what point is it important to recognise that a parent’s job is to facilitate and help the child to connect with responsibility for their own actions?

As a therapist, I know that the connection between “cause and effect” is a very important skill for a child to acquire in order to live responsibly in the world.

Responsibility has become a very rare thing in our modern culture. This is causing much anguish. We are not facilitating responsibility in our children.

The time to start giving your children their own responsibilities is when they are young – three to eight years old – because that’s when the stakes are smaller.

We as parents sometimes have difficulty in allowing our children to learn by natural consequences.

For example, if you ask your five-year-old to wear a jacket because it’s cold outside, but he refuses, you both enter into a power struggle over a seemingly small issue. But it’s not a small issue. Consider what would happen if you let the child learn the hard way – you let him go outside in the cold without a jacket. When you do that, you allow him to understand that he will have to learn by making his own decisions and dealing with the consequences.

When you make a power struggle out of these smaller issues, it sends the message that your children don’t have the capability of learning on their own.

This is the protection that the child needs – giving them the opportunity to feel autonomous. Being a little cold isn’t going to hurt him, but not learning on his own will.

If we look honestly at why we make these small issues into power struggles, it is most often because we fear what others might say.

Our culture is strongly guarded against facing our fears and we do everything that we can to avoid dealing with or facing our fears. We are condoning that avoidance in our children. (Yahoo! News)

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monday, january 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Wales Estate closure

Govt needs to consult with stakeholders on way forward – GTUC – but Govt says will stay out of “politics”

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he Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is urging government to engage in broadbased consultations with all stakeholders including the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), the trade unions representing the workers, the cane farmers and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition to

“It is time the government not only ‘talk the talk’, but ‘walk the walk’,” Lewis said. deliberate on the best way forward following the official closure of the Wales Sugar Estate in January, 2017.

GTUC President Lincoln Lewis via a statement Sunday called on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government to pursue its policy of ‘social cohesion’ and embark on an initiative where every person affected by the Wales Estate closure will have an

opportunity to speak on the matter.

“It is time the government not only ‘talk the talk’, but ‘walk the walk’,” Lewis said.

He noted that from the outset, the entire issue has been handled poorly by government, beginning with the way the decision was announced.

“The manner in which the announcement of the Wales proposed closure was made has contributed to polarisation in the society and this will deepen and widen if a process is not arrived at to bring stakeholders to the decision-making table,” Lewis stated.

He reiterated that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is a state entity and any decision taken must lead to prudent decisionmaking by stakeholders.

Lewis also recalled for both State Minister Joseph Harmon and Agriculture Minister Noel Holder to disclose that government has a plan for the workers are affected by the closure but reminded that, in accordance to the law, decisions cannot be taken unless the community is involved.

Lewis pointed out that consistent with Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana,

GTUC President Lincoln Lewis

there cannot be a plan for any community without the involvement of the people and their representatives.

“When one looks at the stated configuration what is not seen is a winner-takeall system. What is seen is a platform to realise inclusionary democracy as prescribed by the Constitution in Article 13 which the President of Guyana commits to uphold and has consistently been calling for.

This article which is the nation’s Principal Political Objective very clearly states that when it comes to the management and decision-making processes of the State, individuals and

groups are required to be involved on matters that impact their wellbeing,” the

statement read.

It added that, “the rule of law must be respected at all times. It is the rule of that would ensure the sought-after social cohesion and national unity, and successfully arrest the lust of those who thrive on the society being divided.”

On the other hand, the Agriculture Minister told Guyana Times that government will be staying out of the matter.

Asked specifically if government plans on engaged the sugar workers of Wales, Holder responded in the negative.

“By keeping out of politics, we have seen a turnaround in the sugar indus-

try last year with GuySuCo managing its own industry.

If we were to get involved in the industry, it could destroy the industry,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the GTUC also urged the National Assembly to debate the Commission of Inquiry Report into the Guyana Sugar Corporation.

“This nation has spent millions on this commission and its report cannot be allowed to gather dust like others. This is even more important given the precarious nature of the industry, its drag on the economy, and the socio-economic impact/ consequences on workers/ citizens,” the GTUC stated.

Essequibo teen hospitalised after attempting suicide

A

Supenaam woman has been hospitalised at the Suddie Public Hospital after she attempted to take her own life allegedly following a stern warning from her mother about Facebook conversation.

Reports are the wom-

an, 19, who is presently struggling for her life, drank a substance sometime between Friday and Saturday.

According to the girl’s mother, she had a conversation with her daughter about a relationship with a boy, whom she met on

Facebook. She said subsequent to the conversation the daughter was annoyed.

The woman found her daughter in a helpless manner Saturday morning and rushed her to hospital.

Doctors are monitoring her condition.

8 news

monday, january 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Eyew tness

3 Lindeners jailed for From the boring... robbery under arms T S

hree Lindeners were sentenced to five years behind bars by Magistrate Clive Nurse last week, after they were found guilty of several robberies.

The trio are Wesley Griffith, Delon Brummel and Clifton Orna. However, only Griffith and Brummel were present in court when the sentences were handed down. They were also charged along with one Ruel Williams, with the charges filed against him dismissed due to lack of evidence.

Griffith and Orna were sentenced for the robbery committed against the Ramdehol family at South Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden on January 31, 2014.

The court heard that while being armed with a shotgun, the trio robbed Ryan Ramdehol of $280,000

in cash, a Samsung phone valued $120,000 and a gold chain valued $60,000.

They also robbed Davinand Ramdehol of a Sienta car valued $3 million, two gold rings valued $70,000, a gold chain valued $120,000 and $215,000 in cash.

Additionally, they robbed Martina Ramdehol of $4000 in cash. At the same time, they also robbed Nafeeza Ramdehol of a ring valued $27,000, a gold chain valued $40,000 and a blackberry cellular phone valued $40,000.

Further, the trio robbed Lalta Ramdehol of a gold chain valued $60,000, a ring valued $28,000, a phone valued $125,000 and $15,000 in cash. Coomhalia Ramsaroop was also robbed of two rings valued $50,000 by the gun-toting trio.

The court further heard that they were in posses-

sion of an unlicensed firearm (shotgun) along with matching ammunition, that is 3 live 12 gage cartridges on February 2, 2014, at Determa Street, Mackenzie, Linden.

Griffith, Orna and Brummel received the fiveyear sentences for each separate offence, however they will run concurrently.

Magistrate Nurse while handing down the sentences, explained that the court took into consideration the seriousness of the offence, due to the fact that a gun was used and there has been an upsurge in those types of crimes.

Attorney Gordon Gilhuys who represented the defendants noted however, that none of the victims received injuries when the offences occurred.

In addition to the robbery-related charges,

Griffith whom the court was told is a repeat-offender was also fined $25,000 or an additional one month in prison for assaulting a peace officer attached to the Mackenzie Police Station.

He pleaded guilty to the offence, explaining to the presiding magistrate that he did not “touch” the said officer but decided to maintain a guilty plea so as to avoid attending court.

Meanwhile, Orna was handed the five-year sentence in absentia in addition to being fined $50,000.

Magistrate Nurse however stated that the time Brummel, Orna and Griffith spent behind bars, which was just two days short of two years, would be taken into consideration and therefore they will spend the remaining three years behind bars.

Soldier on bail for statutory rape

A

soldier charged with rape of a child under 16 was last week granted bail by Magistrate Clive Nurse after he appeared at

the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that Trevon King, 25, of Corentyne, Berbice, engaged in sexual penetration with the

child, 11, on July 4, 2015.

The alleged incident is said to have occurred at Blueberry Hill Squatting Area, Wismar, Linden.

The defendant, a father

of two, was granted bail in the sum of $150,000 by the magistrate.

The case will be called again on March 8.

Simple larceny accused on $100,000 bail

A

simple larceny accused was granted bail by Magistrate Clive Nurse when he appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court charged with stealing several items.

The defendant, Neville

Skeete, 38, of Bushy Park, Parika, East Bank Essequibo, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that he stole a gold chain valued $82,300, a Burberry perfume valued $23,000, a make-up kit val-

ued $5400, a pair of pants valued $2500, two pieces of female clothing which cost $7500, four underwear valued $6100, two brassieres valued $9600, a belt valued $2400, a cellular phone charger valued $2000, a

check book valued $3000, a pen valued $5000, a pair sandals valued $4200 and $80,000 in cash. The said items were the property of Cassandra Crawford.

The matter was adjourned for February 17.

...to the banal

ince it’s his job, your scrupulous Eyewitness has to plough through the dailies...daily. While you’ll understand, dear reader, that he’ll tend to report back on the “big things”, there are the little quirks that sometimes catch his attention. Like being piqued by shock columnist Kissoon over at the Muckraker complaining the Stabber News hadn’t published a letter of his.

He’d responded to an allegation by Stabber’s columnist, Khemraj - of “Dankey Cart economy” fame. Kissoon was defending his argument - made to sound churlish by Khemraj - that the latter had demanded a big job back in 2011 for backing the AFC. Now this isn’t just some hair pulling by a couple of academics: it explains why Nagamootoo’s doling out awards to overseas AFC on his taxpayer-funded trips.

Khemraj had hopped across to APNU after his AFC rebuff.

Nothing strange there - economists like Khemraj insist self-interest rules the human breast. But coincidentally your earnest Eyewitness had been just wondering why the Stabber insisted on publishing every one of frothy effusions of one GHK Lall. They always left him exclaiming “What the F!!” Take the latest one that took precedence over Kissoon’s right to reply.

It had to do with some alleged struggle between two top leaders of some party in Guyana for the ultimate spot. Your average reader would be forgiven for thinking Voldemort had been cloned - no names are ever mentioned! Lall strains mightily to be snarky - but bereft of any wit - ends up just being snide in a “call name” way. Save he doesn’t have the guts to actually call any names.

In his last missive he dubbed “the leader” of the party he mentions, a “loser”. Surely he couldn’t be referring to Jagdeo of the PPP who’s never lost an election. Is it Ramjattan, who’s been struck mute after his tax filings were “collected” from GRA? Granger hasn’t faced a challenge since Norton and Solomon claimed he rigged the last PNC elections.

Kissoon had speculated Lall’s ubiquity in Stabber’s letters’ pages is due to his very, VERY close “friendship” with the big honcho of the paper. (Your Eyewitness isn’t getting infected with Lall’s snideness - Kissoon hadn’t mentioned the latter’s name - but had seen them in a tete a tete over soup at German’s!)

As a remigrant Lall superciliously boasted about “the American” in himself when responding to Kissoon - arrogating the exceptionalism that vaults him over “natives”.

The fella once threatened to stop writing his letters since nobody was listening to him!! If it weren’t for his “friend” he’d be like the tree falling in the middle of the forest with no one around.

Did it make a sound?

...to the pathetic

Your Eyewitness yawned when Clive Thomas was named head of SARU - the State Asset Recovery Unit.

He’d expected the government to give the old economist a squeeze - since WPA had provided cover for the mark of the PNC. But the position DID sound like the “Repo” fellas in the US who “repossess” cars when their deadbeat owners can’t pay their loans. A bit infra dig, for the prof, no? But any port in a storm.

Anyhow Thomas suddenly began to leak so many allegations to the Muckraker of “who and who” should be jailed and would be jailed for “stealing” state assets, he looked more like a sieve! So the millions per month he was earning from his position wasn’t enough? He had to get a “freak” from the Mook?

Now we find out, the PPP was right all along: legislation’s only NOW being proposed to make SARU legal!!

Can Thomas be sued for making all those allegations since he had no locus standi?

...to the ridiculous

After refusing to answer calls for local oil prices to match plummeting world oil prices, the government finally offered a justification for pocketing $50B (and counting) rather than passing it to the consumers.

They want “stability”’in the markets! Consumers might get upset that prices fell!

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

news

9

MONday, january 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Through the eyes of the workers

Sugar is our life – Wales workers

Krishna Gobindhi

F

ollowing the announcement by Government that the Wales Sugar Estate would be closed by the end of 2016, workers at the factory are pleading with the authorities to consider their livelihoods before implementing this decision.

According to information gathered, if the government goes through with plans to shut down the estate, the over 1700 employees would be thrown on the breadline.

The workers explained that they are now in a state of uncertainty as unemployment will present dire consequences on their lives and the lives of their families.

While many are afraid to make their concerns public as they fear further victimisation, others have opined that the move to end operations at the Estate is politically motivated as the majority of the workers there are supporters of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Cane harvestors

Ramnaresh Bissessar, a cane harvester as well as a workers’ representative

Ramnaresh Bissessar

of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) explained that a large section of the workers are already adversely affected.

“Approximately 110 planters (and) over 60 operators are being affected now because they stopped the planting programme and they send the machines to Uitvlugt. Right now, they

are offering alternative work like weeding and what have you. GAWU had asked that these guys get their pick up pay. Okay, if they work for $3000 a day, don’t reduce the money. Those two categories are fully affected right now,” he explained.

He decried the government’s reasoning for the closure, saying: “Now, with what the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is saying… I believe it is politically motivated because the Commission of Inquiry in their recommendation, they never mentioned any closure of any estate. Now, these politicians like they suddenly get a dream overnight and the next morning they decide to close it. We had a meeting with GuySuCo last Wednesday where they insist that they would close it.”

Private cane farmer

A private sugar cane farmer who gave his name as Billy related that since the announcement, he has had much difficulty processing the catastrophic consequences that the closure will present for the West Bank area as well as for him.

“This gon affect we a lot.

Look, I got seven acre cane field behind my house with fully cultivated cane and all is first harvest and second harvest ratoon cane. And then I rent another piece of land not far from here. I got to get money to pay rental and if me nah get nothing to produce on the land I cannot afford fuh pay rent. This gon really affect the community because presently we get offset with the payments that the government gave us,” the flustered farmer explained.

Billy continued to explain that he had listened to the government’s reported solution of sending the cane to Uitvlugt Estate, however he discredited this approach saying it would only generate a loss.

“They don’t have no water way and the cheapest way fuh GuySuCo carry the cane to Uitvlugt factory is by water way. You cyah do it by land cause it too costly… five gallons ah diesel is mek about five trips to the Wales Estate, that gon only be one trip to Uitvlugt,” he explained.

He added that the Uitvlugt Estate currently lacks certain equipment to unload the cane and take it into the factory.

Billy told this publication that they were told that the equipment would be provided, however, he disclosed that use of the equipment to unload the cane will incur a fee and the earnings that they receive from each trip will not offset the cost.

“Them ah talk something in Parliament, and when yuh guh pon the ground is something different. How long them seh they gon help

the punt farmers with some charges and up to now they ain’t do nothing. Half ton cane does only work off at $30,000. They shoulda consider it and if they feel it ain’t showing profit… give us two years grace and if within the two years grace we ain’t show no progress then we can say yuh still try and do something,” he suggested.

Mill docks worker

Krishna Gobindhi who works on the Mill Docks explained that he is the sole breadwinner of his family and is fearful that with the closure, calamity will befall his family.

“It will be hard because there will be no money to buy anything in the home and not for me alone. I is the only breadwinner for meh family and there are six of

Jai Ramjit and Kripaul Singh

us in the home. We depend on the estate to bring in something and without the estate what we gon do? We gon cyah do anything. We is poor people and we ain’t got no sort of back up,” the troubled father cried.

Jai Ramjit, 53, who has given 34 years service to the Wales Estate explained that his troubles began when he heard the news of the closure. The father of five broke into tears as he explained that he has not been given

work since the last crop was harvested.

“One of meh daughter gah fo write CXC. Right now she want two CXC book and we can’t afford it. Young ones growing up will depend on the Estate for a job too. Meh nah want the estate close.

Look, right now we tek loan from GBTI and GuySuCo fuh build we house and we gah fo find $12,000 every month to pay back,” Ramjit explained as he battled tears.

The cane harvester further disclosed to this publication that his oldest son recently had an accident and cannot work as a result of extensive liver damage.

“Cutlass work is all I know,” the man revealed as he explained that he does not possess any other skill which may gain him some sort of employment.

Turn to page 11

10

guyanatimesgy.com

MONday, january 25, 2016

News

LGE 2016

“No available low cost house lots Region 1 prepared for upcoming in Linden” – Adams-Patterson polls – Chairman assures

BY UTAMU BELLE

I

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

ll eligible voters in towns, villages, NDCs and Toshao Councils will have the opportunity to let their voices be heard by casting their votes in the March 18 Local Government Elections.

Regional Chairman of Barima-Waini, Brentnol Ashley in an interview with Guyana Times stated that Region One is prepared for the upcoming polls.

“The region is prepared for Local Government Elections, there were several meetings between GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission) and the various interested entities that will be contesting the elections come March,” he stated.

“Tuesday is Nominations Day here in the region and both political entities are working assiduously to ensure that their candidates are ready and the necessary requirements are met. So far I’m only aware of the People’s Progressive Party contesting and the APNU-AFC coalition contesting for both the municipality of Mabaruma and the local authority of the Maparkai sub-region which is an NDC (Neighbourhood

Democratic Council).

Other communities in Region One are managed by Toshaos and councils, as directed under the Amerindian (Indigenous People’s) Act of 2006.

Chairman Ashley remarked that GECOM is currently in the process of recruiting staff to ensure all necessary mechanisms are in place for the elections.

Kezia Williams of Mabaruma in an interview with this publication related that she learnt of the elections in the newspapers.

She did however claim that GECOM has evaded her community.

“GECOM reaching out to other people but not us,” Williams stressed.

She further explained that she is desirous of greater devel-

opments in Mabaruma through the upcoming elections.

“There’s a lot of development needed here - our roads need to be fixed… new infrastructure like bank and things like that,” the woman claimed. She also called for street lights and better drainage.

A resident of Port Kaituma stated that she was “not too sure” of any outreach programmes upon which GECOM has embarked. She also echoed the call for better roads in her location.

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield had stated in news conference on January 18 that 71 elections will be held in each local authority area.

This year’s Local Government Elections will be the first since 1994.

n an effort to get rid of the backlog of applicants with land issues in Linden and other parts of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice), Minister within the Communities Ministry Valerie Adams-Patterson met with affected residents last week.

Scores of persons turned out to the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN) to consult with the minister, stating their concerns. The minister outlined that the issues are many, in dealing with house lot allocation. She stated that there is a serious backlog of applicants which dates back to as far as the ’90s.

“I know that there are many issues relating to housing so I’ve arranged to meet with the public... to deal with house lot allocations. Many persons would have been reporting that they signed up for their house lots, did the application, today I found out that we have people as far back as 1997/98 that have applied and have never received an allocation. We had people for 2003, 2005 which is very alarming,” the minister said.

She added that there were a number of persons with double allocations.

“There are a number of persons that got their allocation and when the Ministry of Housing re-surveyed those areas, like Amelia’s Ward and elsewhere, the persons were given a second number and you had other per-

Minister within the Communities Ministry Valerie Adams-Patterson

sons with land titles for some of those same numbers that they were allocated. So these are issues we have to deal with”, she said.

Adams-Patterson said there is also high demand for low cost housing, such as in the case of core houses. She stated that based on the report from Housing, Linden is the only area which has an “occupied 100 percent” status, as compared to areas where houses were allocated but remained unoccupied after a year-and-a-half or two years.

“We have 25,000 active applications in the system... before we can even allocate to the new people we have to clear the 25,000. So I’ve given the mandate to the Projects Department to go into all the Regions we can develop for low income earners, we have to put road, water and

light. However, I’ve said to the residents this morning (Monday) that if we’re to develop this land and to issue them in 2016 that we can’t give them a road that is one hundred per cent what we wanted but we’ll make the road usable with the promise that after a year that we’ll bring it up to the level of bitumen”, she said.

Additionally, AdamsPatterson disclosed that while she is not too clear on the mandate of Region 10 Land Selection Committee, Regional Chairman Renis Morian had indicated plans to collaborate on having it re-established. She said however, it would be a topic which would be up for discussion so as to understand the role of the Committee before moving forward with the collaboration.

On Friday last, Chief Development Planner Rawle Edinboro of the Central Housing & Planning Authority (CH&PA) stated that in 2015 under the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) low income settlements programme, 400 core houses were completed which was geared towards addressing those low income families at the base of the economic ladder.

Additionally CH&PA continued its Infrastructural Provision Programme which was aligned towards a major housing initiative in all regions in Guyana.

Approximately 840,067 house lots were provided.

Turn to page 13

monday, january 25, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Youth Ambassador, Dr Collins on anti-suicide initiative

Dr Astell Collins during one of his seminars

Y

outh Ambassador Dr Astell Collins will be leading an anti-suicide initiative across the country in schools and other national organisations.

Dr Collins, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of “Be the One” (BD1), said that since returning to Guyana, he has been responding to young people through inspirational lecturers and his BD1 Leadership seminars.

His response to a “national outcry” saw his immediate participation in the anti-suicide initiative. He will be addressing as many secondary school students as possible during his tour across Guyana. There is also planned a special seminar for the military, police, fire

service, religious and other support organisations that would assist in addressing the issue.

The initiative commenced at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre, SoesdykeLinden Highway, with 250 students in attendance.

There, he called for the young people to know themselves and have a plan for their lives.

Dr Collins said that his programme, which operates across all administrative regions in Guyana, includes a social responsibility aspect to assist the needs of youths and seek alternative activities to rid them of idle and dangerous activities.

His partners across Guyana have welcomed

Sugar is our life...

Cane harvesters Bodo and Kripaul Singh related that they share similar dispositions and have no other means of earning an income.

Bodo explained that he has been working at the Estate since 1985. Meanwhile, Singh, 56, related that he is a father of three - the youngest being three years old - and he fears that he will no longer be able to provide for the basic needs of his family.

Other workers

Prakash Ramchand, 31, related that he has been working at the estate since he was 16 and is currently employed there as a boiler feeder. He explained that his job is the sole means of maintaining his two children, ages seven and eight. He added that his wife recently passed away and as such, the pressure is on him to be both mother and father to his children, while upkeeping them financially.

“They saying that the equipment there old but year after year they never replace anything. This thing gon affect me a lot cause that’s what I depend on. I work five days a week and you barely get $9000 a week and we barely mekin’ that work much less when they close it. Me nah gah paper (education) and with the cheap labour that going now, is real hard. It gon be over 1600 people out of a job,” he fearfully explained.

Harvester Robin Sanichara, 38, opined that people are taking the development too lightly and do not seem to realise the grave

from page 9

circumstances that the surrounding communities will have to endure with the closure of the estate.

“I work with this estate for 23 of my 38 years. Now I got two children, age 9 and ten and no other skills that I can use to take care of them,” a frustrated Sanichara vented.

One female weeders who gave her name as Michelle divulged that there are over 40 weeders in her group, most of them single mothers who have no other means of fending for themselves and their children.

“Is hard on me, I got bills to pay and I gah fo support meh daughter as well,” she stated, adding that it is her hopes that government will listen to the cries of the workers and reverse the decision.

Rohan Subran, a foreman, explained that there are in excess of 40 foremen who will be left to wonder about their future when the estate is closed. ”I work 11 years there and I got three kids ages, 6, 4 and two months old to take care off. This is brutal news,” the worried father explained, adding, “I depend on the estate, my family depends on me for the daily bread. Most persons in my community depend on it for work”.

Harrynarine Ketwaroo, employed at the estate since 1974, worriedly explained that his sons are also employed at the estate. As such, fear grips the lives of the over 1700 worker there. The elderly man explained: “If the estate close it gon become a ghost town.

Crime gon increase and people gon leff fuh wonder where them next meal coming from.”

the initiative, and have, with the aid of the Regional Education Departments and the Regional Democratic Councils, put in place all the logistics for the lectures.

Meanwhile, with assistance from international organisations, government is in the process of implementing a National Suicide

Prevention Plan, to tackle the scourge in Guyana.

Many social activists are calling for government to revert to the widely-regarded Gatekeepers Programme initiated by former Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy, which during its existence was able to put a dent in the scourge.

The Gatekeepers Programme broadened the suicide prevention approach beyond the counselling centres, which were established on the premise that the potential victim would reach out and seek help.

It entailed training of Gatekeepers who were taught to recognise the signs and signals in a person’s life that they were at risk of taking their own lives.

11

News Apology

Jai Ramjit and Kripaul Singh

G

Ramnaresh Bissessar

uyana Times would like to express our profound apology to Jai Ramjit, Kripaul Singh and Ramnaresh Bissessar of West Bank Demerara for inadvertently publishing their pictures under the caption, “Crabwood Creek attempted murder trial: Accused found guilty of intent to commit murder,” in our Sunday, January 24, 2016 edition. This newspaper apologises for the embarrassment such a mistake has caused the men and their families.

12

news

monday, january 25, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Porter nabbed Govt still to decide on use at workplace for of lands – Agri Minister statutory rape Wales Sugar Estate closure

By Kristen Macklingam

T

hough the administration has already decided it will be closing down operations at the Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara (WBD), in one year’s time, it is still to determine what the thousands of acres of prime lands will be used for.

This is according to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder who told Guyana Times Sunday that with regards to what the acreages will be utilised for, the government is yet to decide.

“We are still looking at options at the moment… we will not be closing the operations in 2016 so there is time… we will work out the options and we have lots of time to adjust to allow a smooth transition,” he stated.

The Minister explained that the move to rationalise estates is not a new one in Guyana as he recalled that the former administration had done so with the East Demerara Estates in the past.

“The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) had rationalised estates before, the East Demerara ones… we are rationalising the West Demerara ones and indeed we are giving the workers more time than the former government gave when they implemented such a move… as for the estates in Berbice we don’t see the need to do that at this point in time because they are more efficient than the ones in the West and East Demerara,” he posited.

Minister Holder pointed out that there will be some cases with redundancy in having work-

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

ers sent to Uitvlugt Estate, West Coast Demerara (WCD) but that severance will be given to those affected.

“In the selection process of who will be going to Uitvlugt we have not set out the criteria as yet… we are reviewing this, of course, at the moment… but we will have to talk to and discuss with the workers’ unions to come to decisions,” the minister also explained.

Community centre

Guyana Times was further told that with regards to the Wales Community Centre and ground which belong to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and is managed through the Wales estate, it will not be sold.

The minister noted that operations at Wales Estate have an impact on drainage and irrigation works in neighbouring communities.

As such GuySuCo will have

to hand over the community centre ground to the Agriculture Ministry.

“GuySuCo is trying to do a lot of things… but it will have to hand over the land to the ministry of agriculture… it will be taken care of by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) under the ministry so that drainage and irrigation in the communities will continue and not be affected,” he added.

Following the announcement by government last week that it will be shutting down the Wales Sugar Estate, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo called on the APNU/AFC government to take into consideration the option of transforming large sums of sugar debt into equity.

This would greatly assist the cash-strapped GuySuCo and put it on a better footing, he said.

According to Jagdeo, the debt of the sugar entity could be easily reduced by $5 billion which is what is owed to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) as a short-term debt.

“Of the $62 billion in longterm debt, over $33 billion is owed to the government… you can easily convert it to, and this is for the co-gen plant and other things, so that tomorrow this debt could be off the books. We can covert this into equity so if you go through the short-term debt and the longterm debt you will see that although it is carried on the books that they are not required to service a lot of these things,” he had explained. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

– GPSU rep says protocol not observed

A

porter attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) was arrested and taken into custody on Wednesday, after allegations of statutory rape were brought against him.

This newspaper understands that the young man was arrested at his place of work and taken into police custody after he was implicated in the matter involving two Linden schoolgirls, both under the age of 16. The incident is alleged to have occurred last December.

Speaking on the issue, Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) representative Maurice Butters said the arrest was made while the suspect was engaged in his work duties and more so without first notifying the management of the institution. Butters said it was protocol for management to be alerted of the alleged incident involving its employee and contended that he should not have been arrested at his place of work or while on duty.

He said while he is against the act of statutory rape, there was no regard for protocol in the arrest.

The GPSU representative noted that the arrest should have been made while the suspect was off duty instead.

“Our position is that we are not against the police for perform-

ing their functions and duties but when it comes to arresting an employee at his place of work they can’t just do so without informing the management,” he said.

The GPSU’s Butters went on that the explanation he received from police was that based on the situation, they were present at the hospital at the time and were not afforded enough time to consult with the employee’s management, since they were afraid he would have escaped in the meantime.

“Regardless, they went with a set of ranks and he was removed without management’s knowledge. If the employee committed an offence then they have a right to do what they have to do but it is protocol to consult with and receive permission from management... because if anything happens to the employee who will take responsibility? The police have to do their job but we expect them to act more responsibly”, the GPSU’s rep proclaimed.

This newspaper understands that the porter is still in police custody assisting with investigations into the incident. At the same time, Butters is urging parents to be more responsible and look into the welfare of their children, noting that there are too many similar cases involving under-aged girls.

NEWS

13

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US to help Guyana in Bandits rob, terrorised Klassic suicide prevention fight Kollections employees

U

nited States Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway has committed his government’s assistance to the People of Guyana towards the fight against suicide.

Suicide in Guyana has been on the rise of recent, forcing government to engage all stakeholders to work towards a redress.

Acknowledging this, the Ambassador told Guyana Times that too many youth are taking their lives. He said the US will be looking at ways it could help out, since young people are the future of tomorrow and need to have their lives preserved.

He said specifically that the embassy will be looking at having experts on the subject come to Guyana to conduct workshops and outreach programmes, among other things.

The last reported suicide occurred last week when a Bartica man was found

US Ambassador to Guyana Perry Holloway

hanging by a rope from the ceiling in the unoccupied bottom-flat of his house.

Before him, several persons particularly in the Berbice and Essequibo regions were successful in taking their lives.

Government, in a frantic attempt to address the issue, announced that the Public Health Ministry would be moving to implement a National Suicide Prevention Plan in an effort to tackle the growing scourge in Guyana.

During a meeting with Cabinet members and several stakeholders within

posed Suicide Prevention Plan and identify the critical elements for action; define roles, responsibilities and functions of all partners; develop a joint work plan and a monitoring and evaluation framework; prepare a draft budget and establish a technical task force to oversee the implementation of the initiative.

The National Suicide Prevention Plan, as presented to stakeholders, will provide guidance for the development of a joint work plan including a wide cross-sec-

the sector two Sundays ago, Public Health Minister Dr George Norton appealed for the involvement of all along with an action-oriented plan that would address the needs of the most vulnerable groups in an effort to curb the spike in suicide here.

The objective of the meeting was to appraise all key stakeholders on the magnitude and burden of suicide in Guyana; examine the pro-

“No available low...

Meanwhile, former Housing Minister, Irfaan Ali commenting on the matter late last week said that the issue of housing has never been one of the availability of land whether low income, middle income or high income.

“In Guyana we have enough land resources to fulfill the needs of all Guyanese, the housing needs of all Guyanese, as well as our industrial manufacturing commercial needs.

What has been the difficulty is the cost of infrastructure, the cost, the investment that is required to make the lots serviceable,” Ali said.

He noted that the minister in her first set of comments on the housing sector

FROM PAGE 10

after assuming office said that focus will be placed on the housing strategy with emphasis on areas such as Linden, which she said was left out.

“This is totally untrue.

I am not going to go down the road of identifying what would have been done in any specific area but Linden has benefitted equally from housing development like any other community across Guyana. As a matter of fact if you look at the per capita investment in housing Linden would be among the top areas, region 10 would be among the top areas which would have benefited. So I think she is speaking from a very uninformed perspective,” Ali said.

tion of partners.

The work plan will enable collaboration among Government Ministries; international partners; nongovernmental organisations (NGOs); Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) and other stakeholders.

The proposed activities in this multi-sectoral approach will be aligned to one of four strategic action areas: risk factors reduction, health promotion and suicide prevention; reducing access to the means of suicide; improving health systems’ response to suicidal behaviour and strengthening surveillance and research on suicide in Guyana.

Since the beginning of the year, close to 20 persons have either committed suicide or attempted to take their lives, a shocking trend which has been evoking grave concern among the populace.

F

ive unmasked men carried out a daring day-light robbery at the Klassic Kollections store on Sunday, leaving employees traumatised.

It was reported the staff at the store, located at Lot 148 Regent and Alexander Streets, were pounced upon by the bandits while opening the establishment for business. The staffers were ducttaped and terrorised by the men who relieved them of

$130,000 along with US$40 before escaping in a waiting car.

One staffer recalled that while opening the gate for a car, normally parked in the store to exit, an armed gun man made his way into the store, closed the door and instructed everyone to converge at the centre of the building. Four others then entered the building.

The employee related that the men then proceed-

ed to duct tape everyone and said “We don’t want to hurt anyone. All we want is the boss money.” It was stated that several staffers received head and body blows.

The owner of the business entity, who is an Indian National declined to provide any additional information, stating he is not interested in any publicity.

Investigations are currently ongoing.

Shot miner succumbs at Port Kaituma

P

olice are trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) who succumbed to a gunshot wound he received in Venezuela.

The deceased, identified as Keron Caleb, 21, succumbed to his injuries short-

ly after arriving at the Port Kaituma Hospital with a gunshot wound to his upper thigh.

It is alleged Caleb was playing with a firearm when he accidentally shot himself. The area in Venezuela where the incident occurred is approximately four hours from Port Kaituma. Caleb

was attached to a gold mining company within that territory.

It was reported that Caleb was conscious upon his arrival in Port Kaituma with his Guyanese counterparts. Unfortunately his condition worsened resulting in his death before he received medical attention.

14 NEWS GRA’s Sattaur justifies backdating pension plan MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– claims nothing illegal about move

By Kristen Macklingam

C

ommissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur in justifying his move to backdate his pension plan stated that this was neither an illegal act nor the first time such steps had been taken involving pension plans at the GRA. He explained that it was the then Board of Directors (BoD) of the revenue agency that had requested a legal opinion from a prominent lawyer in relation to the “normal Human Resource (HR) practices” of the GRA before adopting a new policy.

This legal opinion was given in November 2014 and

covered many topics, one of which was the eligibility for contributing to the ‘GRA pension plan’ as this was one area which had required clarification, Sattaur said.

According to him, it was after conducting a ‘proper study’ of this legal opinion sometime in April last year that he approached both the HR and Legal Department on his eligibility for membership of the scheme.

Sattaur posited that he was “rather pleased with the response received” regarding his eligibility for contributing to the pension scheme and “further the opinion given that I can actually backdate my membership to the DemLife pension scheme from as far back as September 2007” when he

Former Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur

became a permanent staff of the GRA and commenced receiving salaries from the Public Treasury.

Guyana Times was told that prior to August 2007 Sattaur was employed un-

President advocates for servant-hearted leadership

P

resident David Granger underscored the importance of servant-hearted leadership when declaring open the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Convention and Workshop organised by the Guyana Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists.

The event was held at the Central SeventhDay Adventist Church on Oronoque and Church Streets, Georgetown under the theme, “Embracing Christ’s method, making a difference”.

Alluding to the theme,

President Granger said that Christ’s method was love; love for God and love for fellow man. In keeping with this, he highlighted the importance of strong leadership in the church and reiterated that leadership is service to others. “One who cannot serve will find himself or herself incapable of leading,” he said.

The Head of State also spoke of the importance of absolution, reminding the gathering that Christ moved away from the primacy of punishment under the law

and revealed the power of forgiveness and redemption.

“Christ came not just to preserve the law, but to preserve humanity…

Christ taught compassion, he taught forgiveness,” President Granger said. “Our Christian faith must continue on the trajectory that was inspired by Christ’s method…the values of love, compassion and mercy are values that we as Christians must never forget,” he is quoted by the Government Information Agency as saying.

der a foreign funded contract and was receiving a special US based salary.

“With regards to backdating the registration I was informed by the HR Department that such a decision was dependent on acceptance from the operators of the pension scheme; DemLife, and the necessary funds being made available, both “by” the employer “with a contribution of “ 12 million and employee 6 million contribution, “for” a sum in excess of 18 million (the sum I would have accumulated if I had started paying the pension Scheme in 2007), inaccurately reported as 12 million in the article,” Sattaur further explained.

He noted that initially he was hesitant and reluctant to request that the backdating of the registration be done; however, he proceeded to do so after being assured by the HR Department that this was a “normal practice” and had been given five such cases to peruse for his satisfaction.

The former GRA head said that to date he has the names of the persons in these five cases in his possession.

“The Head of Corporate Services Department, Ingrid Griffith, by letter dated 6th May 2015, addressed to The Minister of Finance and copied to Sonia Roopnauth requested the necessary funds to backdate my membership to the scheme. Subsequently the necessary funds were provided by both myself

and the Ministry after approval was given. Had the Chairman requested the necessary information from the Finance Department such explanations would have been given or an explanation from me. I would have provided the necessary documents and explanations as regards to my membership,” Sattaur contended.

He went on to say that he was subsequently issued with a letter dated May 8, 2015, from the Head of the HR Department notifying him that he was officially accepted as a member of the Scheme, retroactive from August 2007 “with requirement” that he make the employee contribution in excess of $6 million.

“It should be noted that the necessary funds are required to be paid into the scheme and as such I am not a beneficiary until I would have severed my employment with the Agency. Once again I am extremely disappointed that had the Chairman made the necessary request from the Human Resources Department concerning the said issue the necessary explanations would have been forthcoming,” he clarified.

According to him, the release of the government’s $12 million along with his $6 million was lodged with the DemlLfe Company to cover the period 2007 to 2015.

He then started contributing on May 8, 2015 where his salary has since suffered four per cent and the gov-

ernment eight per cent, he said.

“I am disturbed to say the least and for the records to state that this is an ominous foreboding of what is likely to happen to the GRA under the current Chairman as I fear similar injustice to prevail over the treatment of taxpayers’ ‘affairs’ and equally the affairs of the staff of the GRA from the meddling into the day-to-day affairs by this individual. I do not intend to waste any more of my precious time on this matter and would be requesting my lawyers to take the necessary actions to ensure that I receive not only my just treatment as a former terminated employee of the GRA but that my reputation is protected,” Sattaur added.

On Thursday last, the GRA announced that its Board during its 171st meeting unanimously decided to sever ties with Sattaur who had been sent on 200 days leave since December last year to facilitate a forensic audit.

According to reports an investigation has also been launched into an investigation into a ‘suspicious $12M pension payment’ that Sattaur is said to have received shortly before general elections last year.

The payment was among the reasons which reportedly led GRA’s Governing Board of Directors to terminate the services of the embattled tax chief. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Guyana-Norway Agreement

Team expected in Guyana for discussions A team headed by Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to Brazil and Guyana, Aud Marit Wiig, is expected in Guyana this week, to conduct a series of meetings and field visits to project sites, which the Norway Government has supported through the Guyana-Norway Agreement.

The team will include Anahita Yousefi from the Norwegian Ministry of Environment, Simon Ry, Development Policy Director, Tron Lovda, Senior Adviser at Norway’s Department for Climate, Energy and Environment, and Hege Ragnhildstveit, Senior Advisor from the Rainforest Foundation Norway.

The future of the GuyanaNorway Agreement, which had been shadowed by a cloud of uncertainty since the change in administration, was first discussed at a meeting in Paris, France, in December between the two countries, in the presence of key representatives of the Inter-American

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

Development Bank (IDB), a Ministry of Presidency release stated.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said both parties had agreed at that time to formulate a document to determine the future of the relationship and how best it can serve both countries. He said he is looking forward to the visit, as it is imperative that the Norwegians see what has been accomplished so far under the project.

“We are committed to this

relationship and its continuation. They will be meeting Ministers, Head of agencies, the Opposition and civil society, and we are looking forward to a successful project,” Minister Trotman said.

The minister noted that the initial agreement expired in 2015. However, the two governments had a verbal agreement that works would continue as there remained some outstanding deliverables.

“This is a fact-finding mission to see what has been accomplished so far, but we are both committed to finishing that previous one and then entering into a new one,” Minister Trotman said.

Since the agreement was signed in 2009, Guyana has earned approximately US$190 million.

Of the total amount, US$69.8 million has been transferred to the Guyana REDD+Investment Fund (GRIF) while US$80 million went to the IDB for the delayed Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the world

France’s Hollande pushes Palestinian girl, 13, shot dead after trying to stab Israeli guard – Police for fighter deal in India A F rench President Francois Hollande said on Sunday his Government was considering an agreement with New Delhi that would clear the way for a long-awaited US$9 billion sale of French-built Rafale warplanes to India.

Hollande arrived in India on Sunday. During his visit he will try to close the defence deal and to push forward with nuclear and solar energy agreements, including a plan to build six French nuclear reactors in western India.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been trying to attract French companies to India and to share high technology in defence and other fields as part of a bid to promote local industry and build a domestic manufacturing base.

In the run-up to Hollande’s visit, Indian and French negotiators debated the price of the 36 combat

France’s President Francois Hollande (front L) and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a picture with Indian folk dancers during their visit to the Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh, India, January 24

planes designed to replace ageing Indian air force jets, officials of the two nations said.

“The idea we have in mind is the one of an intergovernmental agreement between the two countries in order to allow the firms involved to go all the way,” Hollande told journalists.

“It is this intergovernmental agreement that will allow a commercial transaction,” said Hollande. The French leader, speaking in Chandigarh, a city designed by French architect Le Corbusier, said such an agreement was a prerequisite for the Indian side. (Excerpt

1 3 - y e a r - o l d Palestinian girl was shot dead on Saturday by an Israeli security guard she tried to stab at a settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Israeli Police said.

Hours later, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas came out against Palestinian groups he said were encouraging youth to take part in an almost four-month long surge of violence with Israel which has raised concern of wider escalation a decade after the last Palestinian uprising subsided.

The fatal incident on Saturday followed two stab-

bings this week inside settlements carried out by Palestinian teenagers, according to Israeli authorities. Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said initial investigations showed the teenager killed on Saturday “had fought with her family and left her home with a knife…”. Holding a knife, she ran toward the security guard at the entrance to Anatot settlement and he opened fire on her, Samri said.

The family of the teenager, Ruqayya Abu Eid, confirmed her death. Since the start of October, Israeli forces have killed at least 149

Zika: Olympics plans announced by Rio authorities

from Reuters)

5 murdered, 2 killed by Police in T&T

W

ithin 24 hours, seven people were shot and killed, while another four were shot and wounded throughout the country. Among the seven, five were murdered and two were killed by Police.

The Laventille murders took place despite the announcement by Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley on Friday that soldiers would immediately return to the streets to weed out criminal elements and also become a permanent fixture in areas such as Laventille, Enterprise, Diego Martin, Tobago, and other parts of Trinidad and Tobago.

Rowley’s call came shortly after Thursday’s murders of schoolboys Deneilson Smith, 17, and Mark Richards, 16, on Picton Road, Laventille, while on their way home from school.

An 81-year-old pensioner, Mosley Phillip, who is said to be the father of one of the men allegedly involved in the shooting of the two secondary school teens, was gunned down on Friday night in Laventille.

Residents claimed the son was part of a gang.

On Friday night, Police on patrol heard gunshots and upon investigation

found the bloody body of a young man. Police Officers were unable to identify the man up to late Saturday.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old taxi driver Richard Soleyn was also shot dead on Saturday while he hid under a pile of clothes.

And in South Trinidad, Police reports were that 39-year-old Steve Stephenson of Penal Rock Road was selling vegetables near his home when gunmen approached and shot him several times. Stephenson was rushed to the Siparia Health Centre but was pronounced dead on arrival.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Palestinians, 95 of them assailants according to authorities. Almost daily stabbings, shootings and car-ramming attacks by Palestinians have killed 25 Israelis and one US citizen. Many of the Palestinian assailants have been teenagers.

On Sunday, an Israeli mother of six was stabbed to death at her home in a West Bank settlement and a 15-year-old Palestinian was arrested for the attack. On Monday, Israeli troops shot and wounded a 17-year-old Palestinian who had stabbed and wounded a pregnant Israeli woman in a settlement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rio de Janeiro’s first Carnival street parades this year call for action against the Zika virus

T

he Brazilian authorities have announced plans to prevent the spread of the Zika virus during the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games later this year. An outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease – which is being linked to severe birth defects – has caused growing concern in Brazil and abroad.

Inspections of Olympic

facilities will begin four months before the Games to get rid of mosquito breeding grounds.

Daily sweeps will also take place during the Games. But fumigation would only be an option on a case-by-case basis because of concerns for the health of the athletes and visitors.

The Brazilian health ministry says it is also

banking on the fact that the Games are taking place in the cooler, drier month of August when mosquitoes are far less evident and there are considerably fewer cases of mosquito-borne viruses.

A British Olympic Association spokesperson said that it would be monitoring the situation over the coming months and its medical team had been liaising with specialists at the London School of Tropical Medicine.

The aim is to ensure that team members are “given the most up-to-date travel medicine advice, which includes information on bite prevention strategies,” the spokesperson said.

“This information has already been shared with all sports and it will be continually updated prior to departure for the Olympic Games.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

Iran and China agree closer ties South Sudan misses deadline to form after sanctions ease unity Government

I

Xi Jinping is the first Chinese leader to visit Tehran in a decade

ran and China have pledged closer economic and political ties after talks in Tehran between the two Presidents. China’s Xi Jinping is one

of the first world leaders to visit Iran since international sanctions were lifted.

The two leaders signed 17 agree-

ments on a range of issues from energy to boosting trade to US$600 billion (£420 billion).

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said he and Mr Xi had signed a “comprehensive 25-year document” on strategic relations. They also discussed terrorism, instability in the Middle East, as well as “science, modern technology, culture, tourism... security and defence issues,” President Rouhani said on Iranian TV. President Xi is also due to meet Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during his 24-hour visit.

He is the first Chinese President to visit Tehran in over a decade.

International sanctions on Iran were lifted last week after it agreed to roll back the scope of its nuclear activities. China is Iran’s biggest trading partner and both countries are hoping the strong relationship will continue in Iran’s new post-sanction era, the BBC’s Farhana Dawood reports.

(BBC News)

S

outh Sudan has missed a key deadline to create a transitional Government, after the President increased the number of provinces from 10 to 28. The plan for a unity Government was part of a peace deal in August to end the civil war which began in 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused his then-deputy Riek Machar of plotting a coup.

The two sides blame each other for violating the terms of the agreement. Thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced since 2013.

President Kiir, who said he had “reservations” about the August peace deal, appointed 28 new governors for the new provinces, just as rebel delegates arrived in the capital Juba, to begin work on the new Government.

The former President of Botswana and head of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, Festus Mogae, told Al Jazeera the move was one of the many barriers to peace.

“One important one that has occurred, unfortunate in its timing, is the creation of 28 states because it’s inconsistent with what is envisaged in the [peace] agreement and, therefore, it is not acceptable,” Mr Mogae said.

The United Nations released a report this week, accusing both President Kiir’s forces and Mr Machar’s rebels of mutual killings, including “hundreds of extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, gang-rapes, sexual slavery, forced abortion, [and] massive child soldier recruitment”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 NEWS

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016| GUYANATIMESGY.COM

VOX POPULI

What do people say about

I SAY...

Guyanese share their views on the upcoming Local Government Elections Adisa Lewis – (West Coast Demerara)

Danniram Persaud – Labourer (Essequibo Coast)

Stephen Farnum, age 46 – (Diamond)

“I don’t really know much about the Local Government Elections but I would like to be educated about it and know who’s entitled to vote so that I can take part just like I take part in the election last year and encourage other young people to do the same. But I think that it will make a big difference because we’re already seeing changes so we would like to see more.”

“I think it’s a wise move to conduct the Local Government Elections.

Community problems will be easily solved and there will be less burden on the regional authorities, persons would be elected within their own communities to represent the people, this is a good initiative and would give power to local authorities within the various constituencies”

Cora Skeete – (Georgetown)

“I think this Local Government Elections can bring a change because every time you pick up the papers everything goes wrong and with this now we get the chance to see if wrong things can be right. I also think that there should be more education about it so that people can see for themselves who is the best person capable enough to develop their community and their country.

There should be awareness so people can know who to put their X next to and by putting the respective person in place can change their lives and their family and friends.”

Kevin Glenn – Credit Officer (Linden)

“I think that Local Government Elections is very important for the community since they will get a chance to say what is going on in their community. They will have a say. And I’m sure that many people do not have the knowledge about what is Local Government Elections and what it is all about so they need to be educated more about it what it’s all about.

Also, we need to know our representatives at the local level, we need to have more information and know more about them and their agenda, and if they have the people’s interest at heart. The people need to understand that we must not choose based upon race and political affiliation but the trust that you have in your representative that they must have the capability to represent you at the Government level that is something we need and we need to look at carefully to make sure that they are representing the nation and not themselves, for their own self interest and their own self aggrandisement. We need to choose a representative with dignity, honour and respect based on trust not on race, religion, not on creed or colour.”

“I think Local Government Elections is very important. In the past, I think communities rarely had the correct representation, thus projects and infrastructure works were on the decline, which in other terms was hindering the progress of the various constituencies. With Local Government Elections I think many of these issues will now be addressed”.

Jageshwar Singh – (East Canje)

““I don’t even know who is the person that they choose to represent our village. Those are things they should put on the TV. Me glad fuh the Local Government Elections because is share waste-man they got at the office. I still got to understand this whole set up… but what I know that time overdue for Local Governments Elections.”

Satnarine Deonarine – Businessman (Essequibo Coast)

“In my opinion, local government will give power to local authorities or those trusted leaders within the various constituencies, residents can be able to communicate better on communities problems and same would be addressed at a more prompt manner, the [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] NDC would be more active in addressing community related issues and power would be given to those Councillors who would be on the ground, I am therefore urging residents to take the elections serious March 18 and come out and vote, since it’s your interest”.

Clarence Bourne – Retired (Linden)

“We need people who are very interested in their area for development to take place because the system here is that people work for themselves only, not for the people. We need people who are honest and will work for the development of the communities, not for themselves. For Local Government Elections, I think we have to choose very wisely because some are just running for position and they are not qualified. It’s not about going up for a position so that you can get a salary. It’s about doing what the people need and going to Central Government with the problems of the people so that you can get benefits for them”.

David Chisholm – (East Bank Berbice)

Joseph Andrews – (Corentyne)

“I know that we will be voting for a new mayor and is not only the [People’s Progressive Party] PPP and the [Alliance For Change] AFC that we will be voting for.

But to tell you the truth, I don’t understand anything about the Elections… it suppose to be sometime next month?”

“What I don’t understand is why the politicians not coming out and telling people what’s going on, is not they suppose to do so?”

“I don’t know much about Local Government Elections, but I understand that everyone will get to vote. That is not fair.

Because I live on the East Bank and the place is not part of the [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] NDC, we can’t vote.

But my children go to school in New Amsterdam, I work in New Amsterdam, do all my business in New Amsterdam and still I can’t vote. I should have a say as to what happens in New Amsterdam.”

Police search for killers and motive after schoolboys gunned down in Trinidad

T

wo secondary school students were murdered Thursday, and Police and family members are trying to figure out why.

Mark Richards, 15, and Denelson Smith, 17, were forced out of a vehicle in

which they were travelling Thursday afternoon and shot multiple times.

The Education Ministry confirmed that both were students of Success Laventille Secondary School, but said Richards did not attend

classes Thursday morning.

The two were among four schoolboys who were in a taxi when it was intercepted by gunmen along Picton Road, Laventille, in the country’s capital, shortly after 15:00h.

There are conflicting reports about whether the boys were pulled out or ordered out, but when they emerged from the vehicle, the gunmen opened fire on them.

They died on the scene.

The other two students escaped.

As residents lamented the gun violence in the community and expressed concern that even children in uniform were not safe, Police and relatives of the dead

students said they were not involved in anything illegal and the motive behind the killings was unclear.

The Education Ministry issued a statement condemning the shooting. (Excerpt

from Caribbean360)

17

NEWS

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President urges end to corporal Banks DIH Essequibo Coast AGM punishment in homes and schools Slow sales in Region 2 due to sluggish economy – Banks DIH Chairman

By Devina Samaroo

T

he practice of flogging indisciplined children is all too common in Guyana but there have been countless debates locally, regionally and internationally about its effectiveness in the upbringing of morally-aligned children.

For President David Granger, he believes that corporal punishment hurts rather than helps.

Appearing on his weekly telecast ‘The Public Interest’, the President said it is time to throw the archaic proverb “spare the rod and spoil the child” out the window; as he called on all parents, guardians and teachers to put an end to corporal punishment.

“I think in 2016, the better course of action would be for parents to avoid corporal or physical punishment of children… so maybe 50 years ago, 100 years ago, it might have been typical. But the days of going into the classroom and seeing that wild-cane hanging up there and the days of going home and seeing the wildcane, have passed,” he stated.

Studies show that physical punishment can easily escalate and become abusive; sometimes lead to injuries and can result in children becoming emotionally alienated from parents which can

President David Granger

country.

“If people feel that the way to deal with discipline is flogging then that child will continue the cycle of violence, and when he/she becomes a parent, they will use the same method and what we see happening in Guyana today is that many adults are reported in the newspaper can only deal with controversy or conflict by physical violence,” he said.

“If you are in a minibus and somebody opens the window and rain comes in, there is only one way they will know to deal with that… or you go to a wedding house and somebody dancing with your wife

“I think it is ancient and backward, a caring parent should use nonphysical means to deal with discipline…”

– President David Granger eventually evolve into a widerange of other social problems.

President Granger sounded a call for the immediate ban on the use of physical punishment in disciplining children, indicating that such actions eventually contribute significantly to the high domestic violence rate in the

then the person will probably die,” the President added.

He emphasised that “intelligent and educated” parents especially ought to know better and he encouraged them to set the tone of cultural change by using a different method of disciplining their children.

Notably, the Education Ministry had some time ago

adopted rules and regulations for administering corporal punishment. One rule stipulated that children should not be flogged for being unable to learn, or for not doing school work; and another rule mandates that no child should be flogged in the presence of other children, however those rules were often violated.

Recently, Education Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine committed himself to do whatever he could to ensure this practice is completely eradicated in schools.

However, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) shares a completely different view on the use of corporal punishment.

According to the union in October last, the movement to ban corporal punishment should be put on hold until the Education Ministry introduces an alternative method of disciplining disobedient children.

In 2013, the GTU had opined that the abolition of corporal punishment may prove to be disastrous for teachers as there are many hostile children in their classrooms.

The National Assembly had adopted the Report of the Special Select Committee of the National Assembly on the United Nations Human Rights Council with regard to the abolition of corporal punishment in schools in May 2013.

The committee had begun work in 2012 following the move to adopt a motion addressing the issue which was tabled by then Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in August 2012. Hinds had reported to the National Assembly that Guyana appeared before the United Nations Human Rights Council during the first cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in May 2010, and then in September 2010.

The second cycle is to take place sometime in 2016.

– calls for reduction of fuel prices

A section of the shareholders at the Essequibo Coast AGM on Sunday

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

C

hairman of giant beverage company Banks DIH, Clifford Reis on Sunday said there has been a significant drop in sales of all Banks products within the agricultural region of PomeroonSupenaam and blamed it on the slow economy.

According to Reis, sales have drop significantly in Essequibo Caost due to the sloth in the rice industry.

During the Chairman’s address at the company’s 60th Annual General Meeting held at the Airy Hall Branch, he said there has been a decline of sales at the company’s Bartica and Essequibo branches, citing that it has to do directly with the falling of the rice industry and the drop of gold prices.

“Closer to home, consumer confidence was eroded in the run up to the last elections cycle and the post elections events which resulted in a contraction of consumer spending, In spite of these

challenges, we continue to adapt to realities of operating in a rapidly changing business and social environment” Reis said.

Commenting particularly on Region Two branch, he said plans are in the pipeline for the establishment of a new state-of-the-art complex for the location. He said this will be done in the near future.

“Maybe next year when you come back you may see a new complex, I can’t tell you exactly when it will be but it is still in a minor stage of development, we have to do something on the piece of land in Essequibo,” the Chairman said.

Reduction of fuel prices

The Chairman said that Banks DIH had a tremendous increase in the cost of fuel, explaining that the company spent over $1 billion on its fuel operations.

“We are hoping that the government would reduce gasoline prices in this country, we cannot afford the pric-

es that are being implemented right now for fuel. I don’t know why the government is not reducing fuel cost, God in heaven knows. In fact this will help the entire manufacturing sector particularly you the farmers,” Reis said.

He also referred to the company as a “cash cow” of the private sector, stating that millions of dollars are being paid to government daily whether sales are conducted or not.

He urged shareholders not to sell their shares for lower prices than they are worth.

Meanwhile, Branch Manager of Airy Hall Munniram Singh, informed that for the financial year ending September 2015 the branch recorded a performance of $1,157,000,000 in sales.

At the end of the AGM two primary schools were gifted monetary donations. They were Good Hope and Fisher Primary Schools.

The AGM was held under the theme, “The journey of discovery continues”.

Region 2 calls for National Policy to address suicide – Dharmic Sabha hosts “Suicide Conversation”

I

n light of the rising suicide and attempted suicide rates in Guyana, regional authorities in the county of Essequibo are calling for the implementation of a ‘National Policy’ to be developed to address social issues/problems.

Chairman of Region Two Devanand Ramdatt opined that this is a necessary move in order to intensify the fight against suicide in the country.

He told Guyana Times that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) has noted with deep concern the increase in suicide and attempts within Essequibo since the beginning of 2016 and noted this issue should be urgently addressed.

Ramdatt explained that there is need for a scientific study and assessment to be conducted within the various communities in Essequibo to identify the root causes and

offer strategic recommendations to address suicide in Region Two. “There is also need for parenting forums, more community based outreaches and review with the aim of strengthening our education system and schools’ curriculum delivery... professionals in youth development, social work and mental health need to be appointed... we also need to have law enforcement address the distribution, sale and consumption of illegal substances,” the chairman posited.

Ramdatt also pointed out that faith based, community based and non-governmental organisations along with other stakeholders should develop relevant, well coordinated programmes to address the social ill of suicide.

According to him, the present situation in the rice industry has created a down-

Group members in discussions

turn in the Essequibo economy, with over 80 per cent of the region’s population relying heavily on the rice industry.

“This situation has lead to a great deal of uncertainty and hopelessness within the region; which if not urgently addressed by the government at a national level can result in further devasta-

tion,” he added.

In mid-January five females were hospitalised on the Essequibo Coast after attempting to commit suicide which took the number of cases in Region Two to a double digit figure.

It was reported that that three of these persons ingested a herbicide used by millions of growers and is

considered one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. Those three persons have since died.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha in collaboration with the Essequibo Coast praant on Saturday hosted a “Suicide Conversation” involving a wide range of members, students and representatives from various faith based organisations and the Guyana Police Force.

President of the Sabha, Dr Vindhya Persaud stated that her organisation through various programmes\initiatives and seminars is encouraging persons to value their lives and not to be ashamed or afraid if they are having suicidal thoughts, to contact someone.

Dr Persaud said the Sabha has recently launched a Facebook page “Value your

life” and also noted that counsellors are at the various locations willing to help via the Sabha’s 24-hour helpline.

“Keeping it simply means that you will have more pain than you can cope with, speak to someone you have confidence in, seek advice” Dr Persaud said.

She explained that persons need to understand that the first steps are to “communicate, listen, observe and in the process be confident.”

Persaud also urged persons to avoid being judgmental and also to think positively since life is filled with many challenges.

Discussions were held on topics such as depression, anger and frustration, peer pressure, fear of failure, stigmatisation, and managing relationships, as well as dealing with financial burdens/issues.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

ARCHIE

Get out and socialize. The people you meet will change (March 21- your life. An offer will prompt April 19) you to make a move. Get all the details before you commit.

ARIES

Make plans to do someTAURUS thing with the youngsters in (April 20- your life or spend a romanMay 20) tic evening with someone you love. The more you interact with others, the more you stand to gain.

DILBERT

Don’t limit what you can GEMINI (May 21- do. Be up-front about your June 20) qualifications and feelings.

Avoid indulgent behavior and extravagance.

CANCER

PEANUTS

(June 21July 22)

When making a deal, make sure that you give yourself enough leeway to feel comfortable moving forward.

Romance is in the stars, and greater security is within reach.

Don’t get angry when you LEO should get moving. If some(July 23thing needs to be done, forge Aug. 22) ahead and don’t look back. As long as you are responsible and reliable, you have nothing to worry about.

Love is on the rise. Discuss VIRGO what you’d like to see happen (Aug. 23and put some plans in moSept. 22) tion. A vacation or joint venture will bring you closer to your dreams.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

You can offer help, but LIBRA (Sept. 23- don’t get taken for granted.

Oct. 23) Put a limit on how much you will do, and refuse to let anyone guilt you into anything more. Make personal changes.

SUDOKU

You’ll have unusual ideas SCORPIO (Oct. 24- that will help you find soluNov. 22) tions to pending problems.

Your keen sense of timing coupled with your insight will conquer whatever you come up against.

Exaggeration must be SAGITTARIUS avoided. If you make unreal(Nov. 23- istic promises, you will suffer Dec. 21) an emotional or financial loss.

Keep your personal affairs a secret or the information will be used against you.

THURSDAY'S WORD – INFIDELS

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Gather information and CAPRICORN put a plan together that will (Dec. 22- help you raise your profile Jan. 19) and your reputation. A business trip will pay off, as will a romantic gesture.

Your personal relationAQUARIUS (Jan. 20- ships will flourish if you share Feb. 19) your feelings and intentions.

Make a promise that will help you enforce positive alterations at home and work.

Be direct, ask questions PISCES (Feb. 20- and do your best to find out March 20) exactly what’s going on. A trip or cultural event will give you plenty to think about and new options to consider.

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

19

Error-prone Djokovic survives scare, Serena rocks on N

ovak Djokovic’s grip on the Australian Open title looked shaky for a short spell on Sunday but the world number one finally shook off Gilles Simon in a four-anda-half hour marathon to take his place in the quarter-finals.

Serena Williams, by contrast, booked a re-match of last year’s title decider against Maria Sharapova by sweeping into the quarter-finals without having lost a set, and Roger Federer progressed almost as comfortably to bring the day to a close.

The whiff of an upset hung around Melbourne Park for much of the day -Tomas Berdych, Agnieszka Radwanska and Carla Suarez Navarro all lost opening sets -- but it was most potent in Djokovic’s five-setter against Simon.

Djokovic had eased into the fourth round without losing a set as he continued the dominant form that earned him 11 titles, including three of the four grand slams, last year.

Defensive baseliner Simon is a wily campaigner, however, and he elicited 100 unforced errors out

Djokovic.

“When you’re playing someone like Simon ... you’re trying to cut down on the length of the rallies, go for a winner or go for a dropshot. Sometimes you have a brain freeze, if I can call it that.”

Djokovic’s next opponent, Japan’s Kei Nishikori, must have enjoyed every last minute of the match as he rested up after a straightforward 6-4 6-2 6-4 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Nishikori was humiliat-

Novak Djokovic

of the reigning champion in his 6-3 6-7(1) 6-4 4-6 6-3 defeat.

Hurtling around the arena on legs that have always looked too spindly to take the kind of punishment they regularly endure, the 31-year-old Frenchman absorbed Djokovic’s power and timed his shots to perfection to hurl it back at the Serbian.

Djokovic has not won five titles at Melbourne Park without being able to negotiate a scrap, however, and despite a string of fluffed drop shots he reasserted his authority in the final set to reach the last eight for a 27th successive grand slam.

Serena Williams

“I honestly didn’t expect to make this many unforced errors. In terms of a level that I’ve played, it’s the match to forget for me,” said

ed 6-1 6-1 in his last meeting with Djokovic in November and will be hoping to avenge that defeat and revive mem-

ories of his stunning upset of the Serbian in the semifinals of the 2014 U.S. Open.

“In London, he kind of destroyed me,” the seventh seed said. “I hope I can make some changes and try to play better. Yeah, I’m ready to beat him again.”

Williams lost her serve for the second time at the tournament in the opening game of her match but that was just about all that went against the American in her brisk 6-2 6-1 demolition of Margarita Gasparyan.

[L3N15801T] “I feel if I can just continue to play well, then it could be good,” the six-times champion said after celebrating her victory with a graceful twirl.

Sharapova was make to work much harder for her 7-5 7-5 victory over teenager Belinda Bencic in the opening match of the day on the main showcourt.

If Djokovic’s high error count was uncharacteristic, the fifth seed’s reliance on her serve to get her out of trouble against the rising Swiss talent was also at odds with perceptions of her game in recent years.

The 28-year-old might need more than 21 aces to

end a run of 17 successive defeats against Williams going back to 2004, however.

David Goffin has made great strides over the last couple of years but could still not cope with 17-times grand slam champion Federer.

The 34-year-old Swiss got onto court late but wasted little time in dissecting the Belgian 6-2 6-1 6-4 to set up a meeting with Berdych, who earlier came from behind to beat Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6 6-4 6-3 1-6 6-3.

“I’m pleased with how I played,” said Federer.

“David normally gives me a hard time in practice so I was surprised at how well I went.”

Radwanska and Suarez Navarro both had their nerves tested before being able to set up their quarterfinal date.

Radwanska was 5-2 down in her deciding set against Anna-Lena Friedsam but the 21-yearold German was reduced to tears when her legs simply gave up on her, allowing the fourth seed to recover for a 6-7 (6) 6-1 7-5 victory. (Reuters

Sport)

Chelsea deny Arsenal top spot, Swansea win for Guidolin A

rsenal missed their chance to go back to the top of the Premier League after being forced to play with 10 men for much of the 1-0 home defeat by London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.

At the other end of the table Swansea City improved their prospects of avoiding relegation with a 2-1 win at Everton in new Italian head coach Francesco Guidolin’s first match.

Arsenal’s German defender Per Mertesacker was sent off after 18 minutes for denying a goalscoring opportunity to Diego Costa, who scored the only goal five minutes later from a cross by Branislav Ivanovic.

The result preserved the defending champions’ unbeaten record under experienced Dutchman Guus Hiddink, who took over as interim manager last month following Jose Mourinho’s sacking.

They remain a bogey side to Arsenal, who have not beaten them in the last nine league games, failing to score in the last six.

Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois makes a save during the match (Reuters photo)

Arsene Wenger’s side were left in third place, level on points with Manchester City but three behind leaders Leicester City, who beat Stoke City 3-0 on Saturday.

Chelsea moved up to 13th, as high as they have been since beating Arsenal 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in September. On that occasion two Arsenal players were sent off -- although the red card to defender Gabriel was later re-

scinded.

Costa proved the key figure on Sunday before making way for substitute Loic Remy midway through the second half.

Arsenal, who took off striker Olivier Giroud after the sendingoff in order to bring on Gabriel in defence, improved in the later stages, when Alexis Sanchez came on as a substitute, but they managed only one shot on target.

As Chelsea’s captain John

Terry claimed, his team were on top even before the sending off.

Terry insisted that reaching the top four to qualify for next season’s Champions League was still not out of the question despite a 14-point gap with fourthplaced Tottenham Hotspur.

“Everyone’s beating everyone and if we can put a run of games together, we are not writing anything off,” he told Sky Sports.

Hiddink was more circumspect. “It’s a big gap,” he said.

“But I want to see ambition always, whether you can (do it) or not.

“When you come here, you have to take the initiative and I’m proud of the guys.”

Wenger felt Arsenal should have had a draw despite making so few chances but said they are still very much in the title race.

“It will be very tight until the end,” he told Sky Sports.

Earlier Swansea’s victory at Everton lifted them four points above the bottom three places.

A poor back pass by young Everton defender John Stones led to the 17th minute penal-

ty from which Gylfi Sigurdsson gave Swansea the lead.

The home side soon equalised when Jack Cork touched Gareth Barry’s flick into his own net, but a deflection off Stones from Andre Ayew’s shot restored the Welsh club’s lead before halftime.

They held out amid strong pressure in the second half, when Everton’s leading scorer Romelu Lukaku twice went close and substitute Seamus Coleman twice missed badly, including from two yards out with the last kick of the match.

Achieving a second successive win for the first time this season put Guidolin’s team in 15th place, and boosted their chances of avoiding relegation back to the Championship after five years.

“This is our target,” Guidolin told Sky Sports. “These (two) results are very important for us.”

The defeat left Everton 12th, with their former Swansea manager Roberto Martinez rueing a slow start and missed chances.

“The scoreline was very hard to take,” he said. (Reuters Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

Rabada’s 7-wicket best keeps SA on victory track

Kagiso Rabada was pumped after removing Joe Root (AFP photo)

F

our specialist bowlers and one of them succumbing to injury.

For Kagiso Rabada, an upand-coming fast bowler acting as spearhead one moment, workhorse the next, it was an onerous burden. But Rabada was up to the task, producing the most redoubtable display of his fledgling career to leave South Africa anticipating victory in the final Test in Centurion.

Radaba’s return of 7 for 112, his finest figures in a Test career only five matches old, presented South Africa with a first-innings lead of 133 which they extended to 175 for the loss of Dean Elgar by the time bad light fell upon the third day.

With reason to expect that this surly surface will become more indifferent as the Test progresses, South Africa retain strong hopes of a consolation victory which would reduce the series margin to 2-1 and enable them to claim their first victory in 10 Tests.

Rabada tore through England’s batting line-up with three quick wickets on the stroke of lunch, removing Joe Root, James Taylor and Jonny Bairstow in succession to turn the Test heavily in South Africa’s favour.

With Kyle Abbott leaving the field as tea approached for intensive treatment on a tight hamstring, South

Africa’s four-strong attack was under heavy strain and Rabada, at the tender age of 20, bore most of it.

By the time he led South Africa from the field half an hour after tea, his figures were the third best ever recorded at Centurion, outdone only by two other outstanding displays of recent vintage - Abbott’s 7 for 29 against Pakistan in 2013 and Mitchell Johnson’s terrorising of South Africa to claim 7 for 65 a year later.

The accolades were thoroughly deserved for a display of great control, nous and stamina. His best Test figures followed a return of 5 for 78 in the third Test in Johannesburg. His achievements so young are rarely achieved. An unrewarding Test introduction on spinfriendly surfaces in India has been well and truly put behind him.

His progress this series has been swift, his speeds around 145kph until fatigue took a hold and he sensibly throttled back, and his control of line excellent. He caresses the pitch - the antithesis of Hardus Viljoen who in Johannesburg tried to deep mine it. At 20 years old, he is a prize asset but he is still physically developing and South Africa will have to nurture him with care as they prepare for a future not too distant now - without

Dale Steyn.

Alastair Cook, the first wicket to fall on the third day, must wait for the potential accolade of the youngest player to reach 10,000 Test runs - and as he watches England flounder after losing an influential toss he must be ageing by the minute.

Cook, 67 not out overnight, began fifty runs short of the record, but he added only nine runs in an hour before he was unpicked by Morne Morkel, an excellent delivery from around the wicket which bounced

and seamed away to take the edge. The wicket stirred Morkel, whose signal has come and gone like a mobile in an iffy reception area.

Cook has one more innings in South Africa to secure a record that looks inevitable, barring injury, as he still has a full English summer to achieve it. He has ticked off the record thousand by thousand since his Test career began to evolve, the youngest batsman at every measuring point.

The removal of Root, the mainstay of England’s batting line-up, was a huge breakthrough for South Africa. Root had launched England’s challenge by taking three back-foot boundaries off him in an over, the first of them thick-edged wide of gully, but he became the first victim of the morning when Rabada produced one that shaped away a tad around off stump for Quinton de Kock to hold a simple catch.

Rabada struck again when Taylor was too early on a pull shot that was both too wide and high for the shot, especially with wickets falling and lunch approaching, and cue ended the ball to the wicketkeeper. Taylor might have been defeated by the inconsistent bounce, but it was an unwise shot with a short leg and two men back for the shot. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD South Africa 1st innings 475 England 1st innings AN Cook* c †de Kock b Morkel 76 AD Hales c Piedt b Rabada 15 NRD Compton lbw b Rabada 19 JE Root c †de Kock b Rabada 76 JWA Taylor c †de Kock b Rabada 14 BA Stokes c Amla b Rabada 33 JM Bairstow† c †de Kock b Rabada 0 MM Ali c Piedt b Morkel 61 CR Woakes c Elgar b Duminy 26 SCJ Broad c Cook b Rabada 5 JM Anderson not out 5 Extras (b 2, lb 7, w 3) 12 Total (all out; 104.2 overs; 432 mins) 342 Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-78, 3-177, 4-208, 5-211, 6-211, 7-252, 8-295, 9-320, 10-342

Bowling: KJ Abbott 19-9-360, K Rabada 29-6-112-7, DL Piedt 24-4-78-0, M Morkel 23.2-4-73-2, D Elgar 4-013-0. JP Duminy 5-0-21-1 South Africa 2nd innings SC Cook not out View dismissal D Elgar c †Bairstow b Anderson HM Amla not out Extras (b 2) Total (1 wicket; 17 overs) 42 To bat: AB de Villiers*, JP Duminy, T Bavuma, Q de Kock†, KJ Abbott, M Morkel, K Rabada, DL Piedt Fall of wickets: 1-5 Bowling: JM Anderson 5-1-14-1, SCJ Broad 4-18-0, BA Stokes 3-1-6-0, CR Woakes 2-0-7-0, MM Ali 2-1-1-0, JE Root 1-0-4-0.

23 1 16 2

Warner steers clear of the US for a little longer

F

ormer CONCACAF and Trinidad and Tobago Football Association president, Austin Jack Warner, has successfully negotiated the first hurdle in his battle against extradition to the United States.

The former FIFA vicepresident, banned from all football-related activity, had Justice James Aboud agree with his attorneys over questions about the

Jack Warner

legality of the extradition request from the United States.

The judge granted Warner’s team leave to ask those questions before a trial could proceed.

Warner will return to court on February 26.

The United States requested the 72-year-old Warner’s extradition after an investigation into the activities of FIFA over the last 20 years suggest-

ed that he was involved in bribery, money laundering, and racketeering.

According to Warner, the government has been too quick to make a decision on him facing charges in the United States.

The matter, his lawyers charge, is far too complex to be rushed, saying they intend to bring out the difficulty in granting extradition in this particular case. (Digicel Sportsmax)

Are we the best of the best OR the best of the worse?

By Akeem Greene

T

he appeasing headline “Guyana Jaguars mauls another cricket team” could be mainly attributable to the appalling standard of regional cricket and not a correlation to high quality.

The cliché, “ a win is a win” is always postulated in the world of sports and to a large extent, it infringes on the idea of mediocrity and even more so it appeals to the notion that statistics are more important than actual performances.

If one is to put the performances of the Guyana Jaguars under the microscope, they will unravel the peculiar reasons why many of our regional players perform so outstandingly on the domestic scene but fail to quickly adapt to the rigors of international cricket.

Let’s talk facts; in the recently concluded West Indies Cricket Board/NAGICO Super50 tournament, the highest team total made by a team batting first was Trinidad and Tobago Red Force with a score of 270-7 from 50 overs in the final.

Guyana Jaguars highest score batting first was 219-9 from 50 overs against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes; that total was on the back of Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s 83, as no other batsman surpassed 30.

There was the case of 255 against the Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners where Assad Fudadin made a sparkling 103 not out in a thrilling run chase. In fact he was Guyana’s best batsman by scoring 259 runs at average of 51.80.

An alarming fact is that in the 25 of the 50 games played teams scored below 200, in an era where the changes in the 50-over game has made high scoring matches more common.

Undoubtedly, we can agree with West Indies One Day International (ODI) and Test Captain Jason Holder who also bemoaned the quality of pitches in the Caribbean which in essence are extremely counterproductive for high scoring matches or producing lively cricket more consistently and most importantly, aid in the development of quality cricketers.

The leading run soccer is Darren Bravo, a full time West Indies player, with 274 runs from just three games! While there were others who played double the amount of matches and still failed to challenge Bravo. Only three individual centuries were recorded (Evin Lewis, Andre McCarthy and Fudadin). Need more facts?

Only eight batsmen scored over 200 runs, six of which play for the perceived stronger cricketing territories (Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago). On the flip side, ten bowlers picked up ten wickets or more with left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn leading the way with 15 scalps.

The Barbados Pride performance is a wonderful example, as it regards quality over quantity.

At the start of the tournament, their side was severely weaken due to majority of their seniors players on West Indies duty. They were even facing the possibility of not qualifying for the semi-finals but their West Indies players returned and their performances drastically changed for the better.

Albeit, they lost the final, they looked a more competitive team and a higher standard of cricket was being played on the field.

The Jaguars only Group ‘B’ losses came at the hands of the Windward Islands Volcanoes, their strongest competitor in the group.

On both occasions, the more experienced players produce sterling performances to hand Guyana a defeat.

Let’s go even further back to a format that Guyana Jaguars has dominated in the last year and six months, the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) 4-day competition. There are only six team totals over 350 runs; Guyana has three of those totals. The majority of the other totals are either in the 200 range or below and this is four days of cricket we are talking about.

The second leading run-scorer of the tournament is Guyana’s very own Vishaul “Cheesy” Singh with 421 runs at an average of 60.14 with two centuries. It’s hard to believe that only four batsmen have been able to score centuries; no wonder why the Test team’s performances are simply horrendous.

“Cheesy” top score of 150 came at Providence came at the hands of Leeward islands bowling unit which only had one player with over 25 games experience.

Guyanese orthodox left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie leads the competition with 34 wickets at an average of 11.73 from five games. One of his most memorable performances was his 6-33 against Jamaica at Sabina Park, but yet again it was against a side that lacked First-class experience with only about three of the Jamaica’s players having more than 40 games under their belt.

By no means can we take away anything from these players performances, they have trained hard and put in some serious work to be where they are currently. But for cricket to grow and be progressive we cannot think selfish and must look at the other side of the coin with regards to a team’s performance.

We desperately need our more seasoned cricketers playing more in the domestic competitions to foster more competitiveness. It will be a difficult task to attract them to play considering the lucrative overseas tournaments but a solution must be found and found quickly!

SPORTS

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21

Windies U-19s play to exciting draw with South Africa

T

he West Indies under19s played to a draw with South Africa in a warm-up match in Fatullah on Sunday ahead of the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Bangladesh 2016, which bowls off on Wednesday.

South Africa, chasing the West Indies’ rain-affected target of 153 for nine in 35 overs, appeared to have the game won when the team began the final over needing just seven runs with seven wickets in hand.

Fast bowler Keemo Paul, however, came up trumps to claim a wicket and conceded only six runs to conjure an exciting tie. Wiaan Mulder remained unbeaten

Keemo Paul

on 58 as South Africa finished with 153 for four.

The West Indies, who

were sent into bat, were steered to a challenging total by Kacey Carty’s 45 and an unbeaten 33 off 34 balls by tail-ender Michael Frew.

The 11th edition of the biennial 16-nation tournament features nine Testplaying nations and seven Associate and Affiliate Members – Afghanistan, Canada, Fiji, Namibia, Nepal, Ireland and Scotland.

Teams have been divided into four groups with the top two in each advancing to the Super League quarter-finals and the other two qualifying for the Plate championships. (Digicel Sportsmax)

Murray crowned Rebel Champion T he Men’s final of the Rebel Tennis Club Championships closed with the biggest twist of the tournament when the unseeded Ronald Murray dashed the hopes of the number two seed, Leyland Leacock with a shocking win at the Harry Panday hHard Court on Saturday evening.

The skills of Leacock were heighten at the beginning of the match while hitting the ball with clean surgical precision that awarded him a 3/1 lead. This did not rattle Murray and his composure was held to quickly take back the break and return on serve.

The two matched each other to the point of 5/5 until Murray took the window of opportunity on Leacock’s serve to break and clench the opening set.

Excellent volleying by Leacock built his confidence

Leyland Leacock (left) and Ronald Murray after the final

at the net. This did not deter Murray to produce some incredible passing shots.

The scoreboard pressure mounted on Leacock in the second set at 5/4 to Murray.

Leacock found himself serving to stay in the match and a focused Murray glar-

ing across held, eyes glued to court at the intense rally and the deadly forehand passing shot blasted pass Leacock at the net to make Murray champion.

The gathering stood and cheered the two players.

GCA’s Trophy Stall, GISC & Star Party Rental cricket

Chanderpaul’s 205 gives ECC innings and 47-run win – comprehensive wins for DCC, GDF

T

By Akeem Greene agnarine Chanderpaul seems to have picked up where his father left off with his appetite for big scores.

On Sunday, he batted his way to a magnificent 205 not out against the Police Sports Club (PSC) to hand the lawmen an innings and 47-run defeat in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) First Division, Two-day competition at Everest.

Resuming on his overnight score of 72, Chanderpaul played an array of elegantly timed straight and cover drives on his way to his double century. He and Akshaya Persaud (64) shared a 126run second wicket partnership followed a by a mammoth 202 fourth wicket partnership with Amir Khan (86).

Chanderpaul Hemraj made 57 as the Everest cricket Club (ECC) reach 441-6 declared.

Jason Heyliger was PSC most successful bowler as his off-spin claimed 2-78 from 20 overs. PSC needing 233 to make ECC bat again folded on 186 all out from 53.4

overs thanks to Hemraj who returned with the ball to take 5-43 from 16.4 overs. Batting for PSC, Andrew Lyght made 51 and Kevin Leitch 54 in the losing cause. Scores in the match,( PSC: 208 and 186; ECC 441-6dec.)

At the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), the home team wasted little time in inflicting an innings and 83-run defeat upon Ghandi Youth Organization (GYO).

GYO who resumed the day on 3-2 chasing 230 to make DCC bat again sunk to 143 all from 28.1 as off-spinner Dennis Squires ripped the GYO team taking 6-46 from 11.1 overs. Coen Ismond backed up his first innings five-for with 3-53.

Lower order batsman George Gill showed some fight with an attacking 54 inclusive of six fours and five sixes. Scores in the match (DCC 362-8; GYO 132 and 143).

At the Guyana Defence Force Ground (GDF), Kevin Ramdeen was the star of the day with an even 100 against Transport Cricket Club (TSC), which helped the soldiers reach 207-8 declared in

their second innings. Dexter Solomon supported 42.

It meant TSC needed 270 to win, but they could only muster 159 all out from 34.1 overs. Soopaul Sanichar made fighting 78 opening the batting and only D. Nandan with 41 provided any other stable support. Randy Lahore took 3-1; and A. Foster 3-26 picked up wickets as GDF won by 110 runs. Scores in the match (GDF 190 and 207-8dec; TSC 128 and 159) At Maltenoes Sports Club (MSC), the home team gained first innings points against GNIC. GNIC who entered the final day needing 95 to make MSC batted again, simply gave their batters some time out in the middle as they ended on 264-8 to give themselves valuable batting points. Gajanand Singh top scored with 81 while Joshua Persaud made 46. The MSC team had something to cheer about in their day out in the field as leg-spinner Steven Sankar took 5-74 from 30 overs. Scores in the match (GNIC 118 and 264-8; MSC 213)

22

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

Golyn and Sons to sponsor countrywide 10/10 softball tournament

GCA/NBS 40-over cricket

Forrester’s ton powers – games begin on January 30 GCC to 78-run over UG

Stefan Wilson (left) and Winston Forrester

By Akeem Greene

W

inston Forrester turned back his years as a national youth player to give the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) a comprehensive 78 run win over the University of Guyana (UG) on Sunday in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) New Building Society 40-overs , second division competition.

Playing at the famous Bourda Ground, Forrester cracked a blazing 124 from 91 balls with twelve beautifully timed fours and four mammoth sixes which helped GCC reach 270-4 from 40 overs.

In the third over rightarm pacer Lloyd George bowling from the northern

end hit the centre of the pitch but the right-handed Forrester was not fazed as he rocked backed and pulled George hitting him on the roof of the pavilion and the ball having to be retrieved from Shiv Chanderpaul Drive.

Earlier, Forrester and Manny Forde (24) had a 94run opening stand as they put the UG bowlers to the sword.

Martin Pestano-Belle did not miss out on the carnage as he made 79 from 77 balls inclusive of five fours and two sixes and he shared a 116-run partnership with Forrester for the second wicket.

When it seemed the students had enough battering from the GCC batsmen

Devon Lord who scored a century on Saturday returned to make 26 from 15 balls (1x4; 2x6s) in a 48- run third wicket partnership with Forrester. Off - spinner Dennis Haywood took 2-44 from eight overs as UG gave away 26 runs in extras.

Set 271 from 40 overs, the students chase got off to a horrible start as they lost opener Melroy Stevenson for 02.

However, Leon “Boo” Williams who made 52 (5x4s) and Mahendra Persaud (34) forge a second wicket partnership of 74 to solidify the innings.

With the pair’s dismal, it brought UG’s more renowned big-hitters in likes of Damien Vantull (02) and Omesh Danram (08) to the crease but they failed to make a big impact on the score.

When it seemed all done and dusted for UG, Pravindra Lall (11) and Dawyne Dodson who made 44 not out (3x4s) manipulated the field with canny singles and twos to put some pressure on GCC bowlers.

Dodson in particular grew in confidence as his innings progressed and began to play a flurry of pleasant drives but they were not yielding him the much needed boundaries UG required.

The UG reached 192-8 when their 40-oers expired; Left-arm spinner Stefan Wilson took 4-36 for GCC.

George sets Guyana’s 1st 300m indoor record

Winston George

By Treiston Joseph

O

lympian Winston George who is currently in the United States of American (USA) preparing for the Rio Olympics created a bit of history on Sunday in Manhattan, New York, USA. George became the first man to officially set an indoor 300 metres record for the Golden Arrow

Head when he competed at the New Balance sponsored indoor meet at the Armory Track Club facility.

The 400 metres specialist under the guidance of Coach Joe Ryan clocked 33.5s to set the record while finishing second in the event.

“It was a really good race I was comfortable and I just reacted to my competition, I was not

doing any speed work so for my coach it was really about seeing where I am at the moment and I think It was great, I have no problem with the time or the race I just felt comfortable,” George told Guyana Times Sport.

Talking about the record being the first of its kind, George was definitely proud of the achievement, “man it feels good to be in the record books, I like making my country and myself proud and that’s what I want to continue doing, I just love putting my name in the books and it feels good to be honest, I am just comfortable right now,” George stated.

In addition, George indicated that while this was his first indoor 300 metres his time of the indoor circuit might be limited since his coach has other plans for him for the upcoming season.

Nevertheless, George hopes to run another indoor race in the near future.

T

he Guyana Softball League (GSL) continues to be proactive in their effort to spread the sport of softball throughout Guyana.

Their latest venture sees them securing the sponsorship of Golyn and Sons to launch a 10/10 softball tournament.

The tournament will run for two months, beginning on January 30 and runs until April 2.

The tournament is geared towards enhancing softball cricket in each area with all area boards having to ensure that maximum participation is achieved.

The Guyana softball League which has some four programmes running at pres-

ent is moving aggressively to ensure softball cricket has more continuity in all areas to allow for the interaction of communities are achieved.

The tournament will have eight zones and each zone will have one qualifier to the quarter finals.

The top prize for the males will be $200,000 while for the females the winning prize for the females will be $50,000.

Registration forms and rules can be uplifted from the following representation: Berbice Softball LeagueOmeshwar Sirikishun – 627-5788; Pinky Arthur – 615-9423; Alston Barrington – 628-8291; James Hart –

628-2391 Essequibo Softball League – Travis Simon – 603-0106/619-2022; Anil Durga – 644-5276; Elroy Stephney – 621-8484; Eckie Persaud – 649-1382; Shermon Austin – 663-8278; Linden softball league – Mortimer Denny – 6390057/ 442-1562; East Coast softball league – Nadir Baksh – 6967285/222-3605; West Demerara – Ravendra Ramgobin – 2761381; Bonasika – Ashraf Mohamed -665-6138/6649245; Guyana Softball League, Leonard Harprashad – 6460568/268-2458

Milo U-20 School Football Tournament

Day 2 produce big wins

– North Georgetown upset Lodge in opener

By Treiston Joseph

Q

ueen’s College was in a no nonsense mood, hammering Houston Secondary 6-2 to register the highest scoring match of the Milo under-20 school football tournament that continued on Sunday at the Ministry of Education ground.

The offensive flow of the squad was so smooth that six different players scored with the massacre beginning in the 15th minute with a goal from Kevin Willis.

Damani Thomas (22nd), Ashmar Angel (27th), Jumal Sampson (32nd), D’Andre Kirton (53rd) and Stephen King (60th) were the other scorers in the game.

Scoring consolation goals

for Houston were Hassian Nedd and Andre Hinds in the 55th and 58th minutes respectively.

Meanwhile the early stages of the tournament might have produced the biggest upset yet when North Georgetown Secondary comfortably defeated last year’s third place finishers and former champions Lodge Secondary 3-1.

Nehemiah Gomes torched the defence of Lodge scoring a brilliant hat-trick to lead his squad to victory with goals in the 15th, 53rd and 56th minutes. Keoma Crawford scored a consolation goal for Lodge in the 22nd minute.

Game one of the day saw St Joseph High School demolishing Brickdam

Secondary 5-0 as Stephen Isaacs scored a hat-trick in the 51st, 59th and 64th minutes.

Dwight Ferguson and Nkosi Patterson scored solo goals for St Joseph in the 55th and 62nd minutes respectively.

Morgan Learning Centre got their campaign off to a good start with a 4-niol drubbing of North Ruimveldt.

Shane Luckie’s hat-trick in the -27th, 36th and 46th minutes led the way for the side that is deemed as one of the favourites to win. Mark McLean was the other scorer in the 50th minute.

Action in the tournament will continue on January 30 at the Ministry of Education ground.

GABA League of Champions

Colts crowned inaugural champions

By T reiston J oseph

T

he Colts were crowned as champions of the 2015/2016 Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League of Champions when Colts won the final game of the best of three series 68-58 against Plaisance Guardian on Saturday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

A big three-pointer by Kurt English with less than three minutes to play to put the Colts up 59-56 was the game changer that allowed Colts to pull away for the win.

Colts would go onto outscore the Guardians 9-2 for the remainder of the game as the dagger snuffed the life out of the guardians in the final minutes of the en-

Dave Causway

counter.

The games was fast paced and back forth early on as both teams traded buckets with a number of lead changes displaying the quality of the two sides.

Clutch shots and timely runs by both teams played to the crowd that came out in support of

Caption: The winning Colts team celebrate with their trophy saved as Colts Caption: y saved as Dave

the final. However, it was Dave Causway and Shane Webster who made some clutch plays along with English’s three that really stole the game away from the Guardians.

With the win, the Colts came from one game down at the start of the series to win the final with back-toback wins.

Nevertheless it was Dave Causway who led the Colts to the victory with 20 points while Shane Webster scored 13 points.

English after his clutch three ended on nine points.

Scoring for the Guardians came from Nikkoloi Smith who dropped 20 points in the loss. Marlon Chesney who had some smooth moves with the ball in hand ended on 10 points.

GUYANATIMESGY.COM

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

23

Grassroots Referees Clinic KMTC Phagwah race meet set for March 13 attracts scores T he Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) will on March 13 stage its annual Phagwah race meet at the Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, race track. Six races are part of the provisional programme, issued by the KMTC at the weekend.

The day’s activity, which will gallop off at noon, will be headlined by the D1 and Lower W/A, which has a top

ner will pocket $120,000.

The opening race of the daythe L and Lower W/A- has $100,000 at stake for the winner.

The deadline for the submission of entries is March 6, and no late entries will be accepted. According to a release from the KMTC, owners of horses must pay at least $5,000 for each horse at the time of entry. Failure to do so will result in the

GFF’s Head of Referees Stanley Lancaster (seated centre) with participants of the Grassroots Referees Clinic on Saturday

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) and the Petra Organisation have collaborated to stage a Grassroots Referees Clinic for students representing schools in the Milo Under-20 Schools Football Tournament, which kicked off over the weekend.

A total of 35 students are part of the programme, which is being conducted by the GFF’s Head of Referees,

Stanley Lancster, and is being held at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

According to Lancaster, the aim of the programme is to produce more qualified referees to officiate the game at every level.

He said two students from each school participating in the Milo tournament were invited to attend the clinic, which commenced

last Friday and on Sunday.

The programme involved the students being trained on the basic laws of the game, as well exposure to field work.

Lancaster, a FIFA accredited referee, said that the aim was to develop the ability of the referee from the grassroots level in keeping with the GFF mandate and to get more aspiring persons involved in the sport.

He disclosed that the participants will undergo further technical work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and this will last throughout the year as the GFF intensifies its efforts to get more referees qualified.

He further revealed that there will be a Beginners Course in March where those who participated in last weekend’s programme will be incorporated.

Khawaja 70 hands Thunder maiden title

The Sydney Thunder players get together after sealing the title (Getty Images)

T

he fifth BBL final was a tale of two innings, and two collapses. Kevin Pietersen, who is in marvellous form, scored 74, before Usman Khawaja, who is in simply superhuman touch, made 70 which, as wickets tumbled, proved enough to hand Sydney Thunder their first title.

Thunder had never finished outside the bottom two for the first four seasons and 2015-16 has been a topsyturvy one too. They lost four consecutive games after winning their first three and only

crept into the finals when their fate was beyond their control. Since then, however, Thunder have been clinical.

Khawaja had considered quitting the western Sydney (the area he grew up in) franchise, but opted to stay after a chat two years ago with Michael Hussey, whom the club pursued desperately to mastermind a rebuild.

Thunder have won only 11 out of 41 matches since the Big Bash’s inception and Hussey has been at the helm of nine of them, including a final on the same day Thunder

won the inaugural Women’s BBL too.

In his final game on Australian soil, Hussey was given a guard of honour by Stars led by their captain, his brother, David Hussey, as he walked to the crease. He left, 18 runs later, to a standing ovation; fortunately for him, his team-mates finished the job.

Pietersen’s was princely innings. The match was barely into the second over when Marcus Stoinis slapped Shane Watson to mid-off,

where Andre Russell, who had struck Stoinis’s chest with the match’s first ball - took the catch. Pietersen was initially starved of the strike. He was stuck at the non-strikers’ for ten balls before flicking Clint McKay for a four, then had to wait ten more deliveries for another hit. Perhaps the Pietersen of old would have forced a suicidal single or lost concentration; here he lofted Jacques Kallis over long-on, cut him for four and just kept going.

Stars were 50 for 2 in seven overs when the other opener Luke Wright fell, but Pietersen was unperturbed.

He swatted Fawad Ahmed’s first delivery for a straight six, picked up a googly and swept it fine to round off the over and in the next one bowled by the legspinner, Pietersen skipped to leg and flicked the ball over the cover boundary quite powerfully.

In Peter Handscomb and David Hussey, Pietersen found a pair of willing assistants to run hard and exploit the MCG’s vast expanses.

The big ones came along too as Handcomb favoured the cut and whip while Hussey profited from slog-sweeps.

But when Kallis bowled Hussey with a magnificent yorker, it sparked a collapse as Stars lost six wickets for 45 runs.

Pietersen had drilled the first ball of the 15th over for six, but in the next one, a push to leg back ended up in the bowler Green’s hands. With the stadium silent and the

According to the provisional programme, six races are carded for the day

prize of $700,000 and will be contested over one mile.

The G1 and Lower W/A, which will also be held over a mile, will see the winner carting off $280,000, while the six furlongs H1 and Lower W/A has a winner’s purse of $240,000.

The J1 and Lower W/A six furlongs showdown has a top prize of $160,000, while the K and Lower W/A win-

horse’s name not appearing on the official programme, and hence will not be permitted to run.

Registration can be done by contacting Roopnarine Matadial (325-3192) or Ivan Dipnarine (331-0316) or Justice Cecil Kennard (6237609) or Fazal Habibulla (657-7010) or Dennis Deroop (640-6396).

fielders confused, Pietersen simply walked.

Rob Quiney was through his shot early and popped a return catch to Russell, but Stars managed to finish on 176 thanks to some late heaves from Evan Gulbis and Adam Zampa. This despite three wickets off the final three balls of the innings - Zampa and Daniel Worrall were run out either side of Gulbis being magnificently caught on the midwicket fence by Green.

Khawaja ends the BBL

with 345 runs in four innings, three of which were genuinely match-winning. He has been untouchable in the Powerplay, making the finest gaps look like vast craters and his timing takes the ball over the infield easily. Ben Hilfenhaus, in his first over, was driven down the ground twice, once along the deck and once through the air; Worrall was crunched through the covers, flicked over long-off for six and ramped over fineleg for four. Khawaja was purring along. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Melbourne Stars innings (20 overs maximum) MP Stoinis c Russell b Watson 5 LJ Wright b Watson 23 KP Pietersen c & b Green 74 PSP Handscomb† c Hussey b Green 9 DJ Hussey* b Kallis 21 RJ Quiney c & b Russell 2 EP Gulbis c Green b McKay 16 A Zampa run out (Rohrer) 15 BW Hilfenhaus not out 0 DJ Worrall run out (†Hartley) 0 Extras (b 4, w 7) 11 Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 176 Did not bat: MA Beer Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-50, 3-85, 4-131, 5-139, 6-144, 7-176, 8-176, 9-176 Bowling: AD Russell 4-0-301, SR Watson 3-0-17-2, CJ McKay 4-0-40-1, JH Kallis 3-0-24-1, Fawad Ahmed 2-024-0, CJ Green 4-0-37-2.

Sydney Thunder innings (target:

177 runs from 20 overs) UT Khawaja c Worrall b Hussey 70 JH Kallis c Pietersen b Zampa 28 SR Watson c Hussey b Stoinis 6 MEK Hussey* b Zampa 18 AD Russell c †Handscomb b Stoinis 10 BJ Rohrer not out 13 AC Blizzard run out (Beer) 16 CJ Green c Hussey b Stoinis 8 CD Hartley† not out 0 Extras (lb 3, w 8, nb 1) 12

Total (7 wickets; 19.3 overs) 181 Did not bat: CJ McKay, Fawad Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-94, 3-123, 4-142, 5-146, 6-163, 7-172 Bowling: DJ Worrall 3.3-042-0, BW Hilfenhaus 2-021-0, MA Beer 3-0-25-0, EP Gulbis 2-0-19-0, A Zampa 4-0-32-2, MP Stoinis 4-030-3, DJ Hussey 1-0-9-1.

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 2016

Milo U-20 School Football Tournament…

Pg 22

Day 2 produce big wins

– North Georgetown upset Lodge in opener Action between Queen’s College and Houston Secondary

George sets Guyana’s 1st 300m indoor record

GABA League of Champions

Colts crowned inaugural champions Pg 22

Pg 22 Winston George

The winning Colts team celebrate with their trophy

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