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Region 2 Mash Calypso Competition kicks off Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3106

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, January 27, 2017

PRICE

PM’s son-in-law facilitating GuySuCo investment team visit

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Police to investigate GRDB’s forensic audit report P9

Page 3

…legal action to be taken against defaulters – Trotman

Nandlall refutes 1 dead, 1 AG's claim of injured in East "blocking" law Ruimveldt school shooting Lusignan Massacre 9th annual memorial service Page 9

$80 vat included

Page 16

Campbellville cache

P10

Trio remanded for ammo possession, unlicensed firearm

Parking meter burden P11

The Indian Action Committee (IAC) hosted the Ninth Annual Memorial Service, an “Evening of Remembrance” on Thursday evening, for the 11 slain victims of the Lusignan Massacre, which occurred on January 26, 2008 at Track A Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

Senior Government officials and members of the Opposition also attended the event (Marceano Narine photo)

GBA says Govt undermining Patentia Secondary confidence in students protest over judiciary school conditions Page 7

Page 7

Central Govt will not interfere in local Govt affairs – Trotman

5 homeless after Lima fire P10

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friDAY, January 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

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FRIDAY, January 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Friday, January 27 – a night retraction at 05:00h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

Saturday, January 28 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, January 27 – 15:45h-17:15h and Saturday, January 28 – 16:30h-18:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy to light rain showers can be expected in the morning, while light rain showers are expected in the afternoon and will continue throughout the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 03:31h and 15:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.40 metres and 2.54 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:58h and 22:23h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.55 metre respectively.

wednesday, January 25, 2017

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

PM’s son-in-law facilitating GuySuCo investment team visit A

s uncertainty mounts over the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) with accusations of “secrecy” made against Government following an MoU struck with a Trinidadian company, the APNU/AFC Administration is now facing more backlash after it was revealed that a close relative of Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo is reportedly working to bring in investors for the cashstrapped sugar industry.

Last Thursday, the Agriculture Ministry in a statement disclosed that representatives of Srinath Ispat Limited, an Indiabased company with extensive knowledge of the sugar industry, are expected in Guyana this week to have dialogue with Government on potential investments in GuySuCo. The statement went on to say that the delegation would be led by President of Integrated Casetech Consultants PV T LTD, Rajesh Kumar Agarwal, and Managing Director of Sunrise Holdings, Tony Joseph. They would visit the country’s major sugar estates before meeting with several key Government officials, including the Prime Minister, who is currently acting President.

Joseph is married to Prime Minister Nagamootoo’s daughter Angela, something which Government failed to disclose in the media release last week. Nevertheless, when asked on Thursday what role his son-inlaw has in GuySuCo, Nagamootoo said, “None, as far as I’m aware…I’m not aware that he has any (role in GuySuCo), why don’t you ask him?”

When further pressed, the Prime Minister then disclosed that Joseph was merely assisting in finding

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

potential investors for the struggling GuySuCo. “As far as I’m aware, he is a credible and successful businessman, who is not an investor. He is, I understand, here as a finder to introduce investors to help Guyana at no cost to the Government and people of Guyana,” he posited.

Joseph currently heads a freight forwarding company, Joseph Pack-n-Ship in Muscatine, Iowa. Back in October 2015, Prime Minister Nagamootoo had participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Joseph PackN-Ship.

According to reports, Joseph had stated that he migrated from Guyana in the 1970s to the British Virgin Islands with his father to take up a teaching job there. He subsequently learnt the freight forwarding business in Canada and worked at a freight forwarding company in Chicago before returning to Muscatine where he set up his own shipping company.

M e a n w h i l e , Government continues to entertain such interest from investors as it faces major decisions on the future of the local sugar industry. To this end, it has

held discussions with the Opposition PPP/C on the way forward and in last week’s release to the media, the Agriculture Ministry said that consultations began on December 31, 2016 between Government, GuySuCo, the Opposition and unions.

During that meeting, the Ministry noted, stakeholders were presented with the proposed options for GuySuCo and undertook to study the documents and the implications after which a submission of possible additional ideas would be made to expand the range of options, “so that an agreed position could be decided on in a timely manner on the future of GuySuCo”.

However, Government has stated that it was becoming impatient waiting on proposals from the Opposition and the two unions representing sugar workers on how to turn the industry around.

“Government is, at this stage, concerned that no response has been provided by the Opposition or the unions which could be tabled for consideration,” the Agriculture Minister pointed out.

Nevertheless, it was recognised that “it is important that the process of consultations be condensed, particularly since

Tony Joseph (photo from Muscatine Journal)

there are significant financial, economic and social implications attached to an extended delayed process for consultations”.

It noted that GuySuCo has requested $18 billion from the Government for 2017, but that the National Assembly had only approved $9 billion, $3 billion of which has already been disbursed and utilised by the Corporation.

The remaining $6 billion is due for disbursement in March 2017.

In this regard, Government has presented a number of alternatives to keep the Corporation afloat, including diversification of its activities, which have been shared with stakeholders. turn to page 13

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

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

Double standards

I

n a reported effort to upkeep the law, City Hall on Wednesday said that its decision to demolish the ramp leading to the Teleperformance Parking Lot was based on, among other things, primarily the fact that elevating just one section of the pavement would be dangerous to the differently-able community, especially those who are visually impaired.

Public Relations Officer of M&CC, Debra Lewis, supported Town Clerk Royston King on Wednesday and told sections of the media that M&CC has to be sensitive to the needs of the differently-able community and the ramp was a hindrance to them.

It is heartening that the Mayor and City Council has finally seen the necessity to take the needs of those living with disability into consideration but this latest action in the name of those living with disability is a hilariously hypocritical position. The public can recall a mere two weeks ago, the very City Hall, that is working in collaboration with Smart City Solutions, the parking meter company, had erected parking meters near the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre on Carmichael Street, Georgetown. The Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre is a facility that facilitates the enhancing of the lives of persons living with disabilities. It is a Centre where on a daily basis it provides rehabilitative services, including physiotherapy, special education, speech therapy to our special needs persons in society. Were the needs of those living with disability, who frequent the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, taken into consideration by City Hall and its associates when they erected the parking meters in that area? The National Disability Commission had also complained about the placement of the meters, noting that their presence in the middle of parapets were hazardous to disabled persons.

According to the laws of Guyana under the National Disability Act, the construction of any facilities that would impact negatively on disabled persons is prohibited.

The Act also states that the Commission shall collaborate with public or Private Sector agencies to ensure the attainment of a barrier-free environment that will enable persons with disabilities to have access to public or private buildings and establishments.

The fact that the parking meters were erected in the Cty and more so in an area where differently-abled person frequent, displays in itself that there were no consultations with the National Commission on Disability (NCD) on this matter. It was after Guyana Times and other sections of the media highlighted the grave injustice to persons living with disability that the company decided to meet with the NCD. This shows utter disrespect to our brothers and sisters living with disabilities. It is unfortunate that Government itself did not recognise that City Hall and its contracted parking meter company were trampling on disabled persons in our society, whose rights are protected both locally and internationally. This in itself highlights that no proper consultations were done on this projected with was imposed on citizens.

As a matter of fact, it is the lack of consultation that led to the widespread criticisms of the secretive parking meter project from the inception with prominent persons in society describing it as a “getrich-quick scheme”, given the capricious and tenuous strategies and justifications provided for some aspects of the project.

City Hall cannot use the differently-able community as a toy to carry out its master plan. It is an insult to persons living with disabilities.

A rare total cloud inversion is pictured at Mather Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park in Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Cloud inversions are formed through the interaction of warm and cold air masses (Reuters)

From inception of the APNU/AFC Govt, good governance under threat Dear Editor, From the inception of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government, rule of law and good governance in Guyana have been under threat. Every day the actions of the government are conforming to Guyanese worse fears of returning to a dictatorship as the subversion of our constitution, unaccountability, non-transparency and discrimination become pervasive.

It has become necessary for me to remind that the constitutional and rights commissions; namely the Indigenous Peoples Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission, the Rights of the Child Commission, the Human Rights Commission, the Ethnic Relations Commission and the Public Procurement Commission are all entitled to independence afforded to them by the Constitution. The autonomy, financial and operational independence must be preserved and respected by the Executive, their agents, ser-

vants and the Legislature.

No one who is not a Commissioner or the Commission acting as a whole has any right or authority or privilege to interfere in the staffing, fixing of work programmes or giving any directions whatsoever as it relates to their functions. The Chief Executive Officers and all staff members must be aware that they are protected and are not beholden to any authority outside of the Commission.

They are expected to perform their duties impartially and free from fear. They cannot be sanctioned by anyone outside of their respective Commissions. As it relates to the Ethnic Relations Commission, Article 212 B (6) states: “The Ethnic Relations Commission shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer who shall serve as Secretary and such other officers as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Commission, save that the remuneration of the officers and employees shall be sub-

ject by the approval of the National Assembly”.

As it relates to the constitutional rights commission stated above, Article 212 P (1) states: “Each commission established under Article 212 G(1) shall appoint on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the National Assembly a Chief Executive Officer (who shall serve as its Secretary) and the Secretary and Assistants to the Chief Executive Officer..”

As it relates to the Public Procurement Commission Article 212 Z (2) states “The Commission shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer who shall serve as Secretary, and such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions. The terms and conditions of the Chief Executive Officer and the two most senior officers shall be subject to the approval of the National Assembly. “ It is instructive to note that all these Commissions receive financing as a direct charge from the Consolidated Fund and it is

not subject to the same treatment as other budget agencies. Further, Article 226 (1) of the Constitution states: “saved as otherwise provided in this Constitution, in the exercise of its functions under this Constitution, a commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority”.

As a result of the stated above I offer the following guidance: 1.

No member of the Executive, the Speaker or any member of the National Assembly or staff can interfere with the work and functions of these commissions.

2.

The National Assembly is responsible for the process that leads to the naming of the commissioners, once that is accepted by the National Assembly their role is completed.

3.

The President, according to the Constitution is responsible for the swearing in of these commissioners; once that is done the President’s role is completed. continued on page 5

Pouderoyen noise nuisance Dear Editor, It is with utter disgust and frustration that I pen this letter to highlight a rather unfortunate situation unfolding in Middle Street, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.

Overtime, residents have become resigned to their fate and have thrown their hands up in despair at the loud, lewd and vulgar disturbances emanating from a sports bar operated by a Police Officer.

Residents are forced to

endure this callous and unconscionable injustice every Friday evening as calls to the Police station have yielded no results.

In fact, at least two uniformed Policemen have been photographed on the premises joining in the melee of dance, revelry and the consumption of drugs and alcohol on the premises.

The putrid smell of narcotics envelops homes and is harmful to residents who are aged, sick or suffering

various maladies.

Persons with hypertension, migraines, newborn babies and the elderly have not been spared the invasive noises; rattling glass windows, vibrating chinaware and shattering nerves.

Consequently, at least one elderly resident died as a result of the palpitation from the loud music and despite repeated requests to lower the volume of music during the man’s final hours, there was no favour-

able response.

We can no longer endure this disgraceful criminality and trampling of our civil rights that has been foisted upon us and continues way into the wee hours of the morning.

We plead with the relevant authorities, especially those with responsibility for regulating commercial operations in residential zones, to heed our cries for help.

Angry and frustrated residents

guyanatimesgy.com

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

Leadership is more than Tidy up infrastructural works in Sophia making statements

Dear Editor, In regard to an article in the independent media captioned “Guyanese need to practice more ‘conscious’ consumption – Business Minister”, I must say leadership is much more than making statements.

Leadership is about coping with change and after almost two years in the driver seat at the Business Ministry, one would expect Minister Gaskin at this point in time, not only talking about the consumption patterns in Guyana but would have been rolling out some concrete plans to level the trade field for the local Private Sector. But clearly, his team at the Business Ministry has not effectively unpacked the issue and is clueless on the critical changes needed to deliver on his wish for more conscious consumption in Guyana.

There is nothing proud about a tin of pigeon peas imported from Trinidad, on the shelves of the Guyanese supermarket at a cheaper price that the real, fresh

Guyanese stuff on the Boards Mall. This is one of the many national shames that will continue to destroy the state of the economy.

But my gravest disappointment remains; the Ministers in the Granger Government, save and except for a few like Raphael Trotman, continue to hold themselves distant from the responsibility for charting the course to influence the change needed to advance Guyana’s development. If you listen to Minister Gaskin’s speech, you would believe that he is working for a lobbyist who is trying to influence his Government to make changes. But the sad truth he is the policymaker and it is his job to make the changes but if he is unclear as to his role, then "HOUSTON, we got a problem".

If one read his statements on this issue, he said “the business community has to become more productive and that productivity has to be supported by citizens’ habits of consumption” But what has he as the

Minister of Business done to date to have personally influenced the changes needed? BINGO – Very little!

This is like a parent telling the children that sweets are bad for their health but continue to buy sweets every week. Minister Gaskin sits in a position of power to charter a course on what we import and at what price. He has an armoury of tools to do the job such as import regulation, trade tariffs, licencing regulations, health and safety standards, domestic subsidies and so on. All of these can be used in different doses to alter the terms of trade with the world. But instead, he is still stuck on lecturing the business sector and the Guyanese nation rather than getting the job done.

Mind you, I think Dominic is an honest straight up bloke and I wish him well, but the situation demands more than another speech; it demands timely decisions to remedy this trade imbalance that the Granger Government fosters and its predecessors in

the Ramotar Government fostered. Free trade has never helped small and weak economies like Guyana and continues to be a major deterrent to the local Private Sector being incentivised to expand production and enhance productivity. With free trade, the local Private Sector is already at a disadvantage to countries like Trinidad that already had a 20 years head start on the journey to greater production and productivity.

It is time Minister Gaskin IMPLEMENT (not talk) some concrete actions to make FREE TRADE into FAIR TRADE when it comes to the Guyanese business community and the population in general. When will he announce plans for a packaging plant that will be canning all of the fresh foods that are so easily grown in Guyana? When will I see on the supermarket shelves of Guyana a tin of pigeon peas, MADE in Guyana?

Regards, Sase Singh

From inception of the APNU/AFC...

4.

These commissions are to work independently and they provide their reports to the National Assembly.

5.

It is the commissions that advertise, interview, recruit and sign contracts with their staff. The Government or any of its servants or agents has no role in staffing these commissions since these commissions are expected to review and pronounce on Government’s actions. The staff cannot be beholden to the Executive as a contract with the Executive compromises the staff, who is the recipient. This should not be allowed and should be rejected by all parties concerned.

6. It is the various commissions that will determine the remuneration of members of staff subject to the approval of the National Assembly.

It therefore follows that it is the various commissions that will determine the contract and terms and conditions of those contracts, not an external authority.

7. It is expected that all commissioners, once sworn in and duly appointed, function independently, impartially, without fear and favour in the execution of their duties and should ensure that their support staff are suited and are free from political interference.

8.

The general pub-

lic, particularly members of civil society organisations who participated in the process that allows for the appointment of commissioners should not sit in silence and allow these constitutional bodies to be undermined, hijacked or influenced by the Executive or any other authority. Breaches must be exposed, condemned, addressed and it is expected that the Constitution be upheld as the supreme law of the land.

I write this letter as the former Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission and as

from page 4

a Member of Parliament and Member of the Parliamentary Committee of Appointments and Public Accounts Committee.

I will be carefully following and publically speaking on this matter even as we now have in place the Public Procurement Commission and we are getting ready to name new commissioners for the other rights and constitutional commissions.

Yours faithfully, Bishop Juan Edghill

Dear Editor, In the past 20 months, there has been a flurry of infrastructural works in the sub-urban area comprising sub-sections Sophia, Pattensen, Lilliendaal, South Turkeyen and Cummings Park, commonly referred to in general as Sophia. Asphalted roads have been constructed where tracks and dams once existed and street lights installed under what I think is called the Sophia Ring Road Project.

Habitation of this vast area on the eastern outskirt of Georgetown, with an estimated population of 30,000, was encouraged by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan even prior to his ascension to the presidency in 1992. It saw the evolution and transformation from what was likened to a huge squatter settlement to a modestly regularised housing area. Regrettably, Dr Jagan’s successors virtually forsook this section of the capital in the last 20 years prior to 2015. Any infrastructural work done during that period was of a shoddy nature by disreputable contractors who seemingly disappeared leaving incomplete works behind.

I know of a particular street that developed potholes and erosion in less than a month of its construction.

The recent infrastructural works by the current A Partnership of National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government has been timely, and particularly good, given the high density population comprised of a mainly youthful lower to middle class component. It gives the inhabitants a sense of belonging and inclusivity.

Notwithstanding the improvements, the infrastructural works seem to have

come to a sudden halt without explanation.

The stretch of road, commonly called ‘B Field’ road, running North to South from Dennis Street to the Lamaha Canal, which was resurfaced has deteriorated significantly due to the load of traffic detoured from other access-ways previously under construction. Erosion is at its worst closer to the 10th field. This is just one of the many motorways without revetment, sandwiched by parallel canals, where high volumes of traffic impacts deterioration over time. The B Field road undoubtedly has the highest volume of traffic since it is also used as alternative by motorists from the East Coast to access South Georgetown and vice versa.

Lighting of streets has also been a positive feature, but the distribution is somewhat mind-boggling.

Some sections are so heavily lit that you can find a pin on the road at nights, while other sections have no lighting installed period. A good example is the D Field road, where darkness stretches from the Dennis Street junction with the ‘Red Shop’, past the Turkeyen Police Station for about 1300 feet or a quarter mile going South. On that same stretch of road however, lights prevail from the Mosque going South into Cummings Park. If the lights allocated are limited then the spread should have been broader to allow for greater coverage.

I believe that tidying up of this infrastructural project is imperative if the current Government wishes to score full points for the developmental works at hand.

Sincerely, Orette Cutting

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

How kids learn resilience

By Joel L Young, MD

W

e live in an increasingly competitive world. Gone are the days when a 4.0 GPA and decent SAT score could get a child into the Ivy Leagues. Even college graduates who excelled in school may struggle to get jobs, and may need to save for several years just to be able to afford an apartment.

It’s no wonder that so many parents find themselves micromanaging their children. They’ll do anything to give their children an advantage.

As it turns out, so-called helicopter parenting does children no favours. It can be challenging to watch a child fail – or to wonder if they will succeed – but this is a necessary ingredient in the recipe for successful adulthood. A new study suggests that helicopter parenting can trigger anxiety in certain children, adding to a small pile of data suggesting that helicopter parenting stunts children’s emotional and cognitive development.

the child perceives them. Over time, this can erode a child’s ability to succeed on their own, and potentially even increase anxiety.

Other research on helicopter parenting

Some other research, as well as anecdotal data from college counselling centres, also points to the ability of helicopter parenting to induce anxiety. College-aged students whose parents are overly involved in their academic lives, or whose parents created rigidly structured childhood environments, are

Helicopter parenting and anxiety

The latest study looked at how helicopter parenting affects children with anxiety. Children and their parents were invited to a laboratory setting, where the children were encouraged to complete as many puzzles as they could in a 10-minute period. The puzzle tasks were designed to mimic the challenging and occasionally frustrating nature of homework and other academic tasks. Parents were permitted to help their children, but were not encouraged to do so.

The parents of children with social anxiety touched the puzzles significantly more often than other parents. Though they were not critical or negative, they attempted to help even when their children did not seek help. This suggests that parents of socially anxious children may perceive challenges as more threatening than

more likely to experience anxiety and depression. They may also experience academic difficulties.

Nurturing independence in children

It’s challenging to send your child out into a hostile world, knowing he or she may fail, face ridicule, and struggle. Rest assured, children must struggle to grow and learn. Saving your child from conse-

quences and challenges now only ensures he or she will face more challenges down the road. A few guidelines can help you avoid becoming a helicopter parent by nurturing independence in your child: *Listen to your child, rather than imposing your goals and wishes on him or her. Listening to your child encourages independent thought and critical thinking.

It also helps you avoid a common downfall of helicopter parents: imposing your values on your child. *Don’t manage your child’s relationships or communications for him or her. *Don’t try to help your child escape consequences for his or her actions, unless you believe those consequences are unfair or life-altering. It’s fine to hire your child a lawyer if he or she is in legal trouble, or to intervene with a bullying teacher. But don’t try to get your child out of detention or berate another parent who talks to your child about problematic behaviour. *Don’t raise your child to expect treatment that is different from, or better than, the treatment other children receive. Every child deserves an equal chance at a sports team or scholarship.

Your child shouldn’t expect to get something they don’t deserve or didn’t earn. *Encourage your children to solve their own problems by asking them to contemplate potential solutions. *Don’t do your child’s work for them, or keep track of deadlines for them.

Even school-aged children can learn to remember test dates and classroom projects. By middle school, your child should be managing their schoolwork largely on their own, with only as-needed help. *Support your child’s teacher, and encourage your child to respect the teacher’s opinions. *Allow your child to face natural consequences for their actions. Don’t allow a child to stay home sick just because she or he didn’t timely complete a school project.

F

ast-forward a few years, to the moment when those students arrive in middle or high school, and these executive-function challenges are now typically perceived to be problems of attitude or motivation. When teachers and administrators are confronted with students who find it hard to concentrate, manage their emotions, or deal calmly with provocation, the first instinct often is not to look at them as children who, because of a lifetime of stress, haven’t yet developed a healthy set of self-regulation mechanisms. Instead, the adults see them as kids with behavioural problems who need, more than anything, to be disciplined.

When children and adolescents misbehave, we usually assume that they’re doing so because they have considered the consequences of their actions and calculated that the benefits of

safer and more effective if they had “zero tolerance” for violence, drug use, and other types of misbehaviour led to a sharp rise in suspensions.

In 2010, more than a tenth of all public-high-school students nationwide were suspended at least once. And suspension rates are substantially higher among certain demographic groups.

African American students, for example, are suspended three times as often as white students. In Chicago public high schools (which have particularly good and well-analysed data on suspensions), 27 per cent of students who live in the city’s poorest neighbourhoods received an out-of-school suspension during the 2013–14 school year, as did 30 per cent of students with a reported personal history of abuse or neglect.

Sixty per cent of Chicago’s out-of-school suspensions in public high schools are

misbehaviour outweigh the costs. So our natural response is to increase the cost of misbehaviour, by ratcheting up punishment. One of the chief insights that recent neurobiological research has provided, however, is that young people, especially those who have experienced significant adversity, are often guided by emotional and psychological and hormonal forces that are far from rational. This doesn’t mean that teachers should excuse or ignore bad behaviour. But it does explain why harsh punishments so often prove ineffective in motivating troubled young people to succeed.

Most American schools today operate according to a philosophy of discipline that has its roots in the 1980s and ’90s, when a belief that schools would be

for infractions that don’t involve violence or even a threat of violence: They are for talking back to teachers, violating school rules, and disruptive behaviour. With the neurobiological research in mind, it’s easy to see that kind of behaviour—refusing to do what adults tell you to do, basically—as an expression not of a bad attitude or a defiant personality but of a poorly regulated stress-response system. Talking back and acting up in class are, at least in part, symptoms of a child’s inability to control impulses, de-escalate confrontations, and manage anger and other strong feelings—the whole stew of self-regulation issues that can usually be traced to impaired executive-function development in early childhood. (Excerpt from the Atlantic)

(psychologytoday.com)

7 GBA says Govt undermining confidence in judiciary news

friDAY, January 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

– PM distances self from attacks on Chancellor

P

rime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has reprimanded Attorney General Basil Williams and the State-run Guyana Chronicle newspaper over recent attacks on acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, following a ruling which dismissed a State-sponsored appeal against a High Court decision quashing a racial incitement charge against Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The apparent intimidation campaign, which was being peddled by the State’s newspaper attributed comments to the Attorney General expressing displeasure with rulings made by the Chancellor, stressing the point that the “sun is setting” on the Chancellor’s career with his pending retirement.

However, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who is currently acting President, during his feature address at the opening of the annual Police Conference on Thursday morning, pointed out that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government does not support any such attacks on the Judiciary even if it is coming from its own officers.

“In as much as any citizen, or the Government for that matter, may criticise decisions emanating from our courts which, after all, are not cloistered halls immune from public scrutiny our Government does not encourage attacks on the Legislature and Judiciary.

It is not Government’s policy or decision to besmirch the character of any judicial officer. Our Government would not condone attempts, however well-meaning or veiled, to impugn the integrity of judicial officers,” Nagamootoo asserted.

The Prime Minister further underscored the need to respect the various tenets of democracy, such as the separation of powers that guide the Executive in its relations with the Legislature and the Judiciary. To this end, he posited that his Administration has been leading the way in ensuring the independence of both the Legislature and the Judiciary by making them financially and administratively autonomous.

Nagamootoo’s statement comes in light of comments made by former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran last weekend, when he called out the Prime Minister, who has responsibility of the State media, for being silent on the matter, noting that the attacks on the Chancellor seemed to be a government policy.

Disassociation

However, Prime Minister Nagamootoo was quick to distance himself from the articles published in the Guyana Chronicle. “… while I would not interfere with editorial discretion, I disassociate myself from perceived scurrilous attacks in the Chronicle newspapers against the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary who will, less than a month

will be turning 65 on February 23, 2017. Justice Singh has been acting Chancellor since 2005, after Justice Desiree Bernard demitted office; she served from 2001-2005. Last week Government spokesperson, Natural Resources

Acting President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

from now, demit his substantive office as Chief Justice at the end of a distinguished career,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, at a press conference on Wednesday, Attorney General Basil Williams further insisted that the acting Chancellor needs to retire, noting that he should have already proceeded on preretirement leave in preparation for his official retirement date on January 30, 2017.

“I would expect that the Chancellor would also proceed on preretirement leave and then leave on his birthday (anniversary) as he had advised me that should be the position of Acting Chief Justice (Ian) Chang at the time,” Williams pointed out.

However, Chancellor Singh last week posited that he intends to continue functioning until his constitutional tenure expires next month.

“Not when the Chronicle says I must leave. My constitutional tenure expires on the 23rd of February, 2017, and until such time unless my appointment is revoked, I intend to exercise my functions as a Judge,” he affirmed to reporters.

Third term case

According to the Constitution, the Chancellor demits office at age 68, however that has no bearing on Justice Singh as he is acting Chancellor and not substantive Chancellor. Justice Singh

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Carl Singh

Minister Raphael Trotman, has stated that Government is aware of the Chancellor’s impending retirement and

will hold discussions on same.

The apparent push for Justice Singh to retire by January month-end comes in light of the impending ruling on the appeal to the two-term presidential limit case set for February 15. The Chancellor is expected set to rule on the State’s appeal made against the decision by former Chief Justice Ian Chang that the presidential term limit is unconstitutional.

Many commentators including the former Speaker of the National Assembly and former President Bharrat Jagdeo believes that the Government is attempting to intimidate the members of the Judiciary and send a warning of what will happen if they make rulings undesirable to the APNU/AFC Administration.

On the other hand, Guyana Bar Association (GBA) has not taken kindly to the actions of Attorney General Williams. According to former President and current committee member of the

Bar Association, Teni Housty, the Government should remain conscious of the importance of maintaining the Judiciary’s independence and impartiality.

Clashes with Judiciary

He noted that for the Executive to be clashing with the Judiciary over its decisions, instead of respecting its authority to make those decisions, jeopardised the concept of separation of power.

“There is an old adage: “When elephants rumble, the grass gets hurt”. When the Executive and the Judiciary clash, it’s the administration of justice that suffers. And (they) have to be conscious of the damage that is done to the administration of justice,” Housty pointed out while adding that “… when the Executive seeks to comment on the judicial administration of justice, the lines between the doctrines of separation of power are blurred and can be obliterated.”

The Attorney called for an “independent and impartial judiciary, immune from ef-

fect and statements from any other branch of Government” to be maintained. He made it clear that attacks against the Judiciary, above which the Chancellor presides, should never happen.

“The whole system of administration of justice, the confidence in the independence and impartiality of the Judiciary, all of those things go and the ultimate rule of law suffers,” he posited.

Attorney General Basil Williams

Patentia Secondary students protest over school conditions – PTA says environment insanitary

One of the padlocked gates at the Patentia Secondary School on Thursday morning

L

ess than one month into the new school term, students at the Patentia Secondary School staged a protest against the deplorable state of the school, pointing to the bat infested conditions which they have faced over the last several

The overflowing garbage at the school

months.

According to the concerned students and teachers, the West Bank Demerara school’s protest action, which was staged early Thursday morning, stemmed from the delay of the Region Three (Essequibo

Islands-West Demerara) Regional Democratic Council and the Education Ministry in addressing the many concerns raised by the school’s administration.

Representatives from the Parent Teacher Association padlocked the gates and the

students stood in unity to vent their frustrations.

“We need a proper environment,” stated one student.

“The toilet don’t flush, it don’t work, it always dirty,” remarked another. turn to page 12

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friDAY, January 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Vendor remanded for ganja possession

F

orty-eight-year-old Gregory Payne was on Thursday remanded to prison after making his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Faith McGusty for the unlawful possession of cannabis.

Payne, a vendor and father of one, was allegedly found in possession of 203 grams of cannabis on January 12, 2017, in the city of Georgetown.

He entered a not-guilty plea to the charge, explaining that on the day in ques-

tion, he was on the premises of a boxing gym in Kitty,

Gold miner remanded on narcotics charge

A

pork-knocker of Kumukumu village on the Essequibo coast appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Thursday, and was remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to a charge of cannabis possession.

It is alleged that 22-year-old Abdool Adil Salim on January 17, 2017, was stopped and searched

by Police officials at 70km Barama Road on the Essequibo Coast, leading to the discovery of 149 grams of cannabis. Salim denied the charge read to him by the Chief Magistrate and entered a not-guilty plea.

The defendant was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court, where the miner will appear on February 9, 2017.

Georgetown, where he would usually pick up his son on a

daily basis. He stated that the said item was found in a public place and not in his possession, claiming that the culprit had escaped and the Police had mistakenly arrested him.

However, according to the prosecution’s case, the parcel was found tucked in the defendant’s shirt, contrary to his version of events.

Bail was refused and the Magistrate remanded the man to prison. Payne will make his next court appearance on February 13, 2017 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

3 charged for larceny T

hree men, all employees of Alfa Alphonso and Sons Mining Enterprise, were on Wednesday granted bail after they were charged with larceny.

Terrence Richards,

23, all appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge against them alleged that between January 20 and 21,

27; 35;

2017 at Kumung Kumung, Essequibo, they stole two dredge mats valued $150,000, property of Alfa Alphonso and Sons Mining Enterprise.

Terrence pleaded guilty to the charge, but the other two accused denied the allegation, pleading not guilty.

According to the prosecution, the defendants were all working in a mining pit when they stole the items from the dredge.

The number one accused reportedly admitted to the offence when arrested by the Police.

However, in his explanation, Terrence told the Magistrate that he did not know what happened to the mat, as he was at the mining camp when it was stolen. “I went to camp, watch two movies and drop to sleep, me ain’t know is what happen to it.”

As such, a not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf. All the defendants were granted $50,000 bail each, as the prosecution had no objection. They will return to the Bartica Magistrate’s Courts on February 9, 2017.

Brian Richards, and Jared Stanley,

Being graded…

T

…on public corruption

ransparency International (TI) just came out with its scores on how countries are perceived as being corrupt in their Public Sector. And to the surprise of no Guyanese – apart from any who might’ve been on a manned mission to Mars – Guyana’s still ranked as one of the most corrupt in the world. Out of 176 countries measured, we scored a piddling 34 to place us at #108.

In this hemisphere, on this metric – like in so many others that the international community use to evaluate performance – we barely squeezed out Haiti! Nothing to be proud about – and everything to make this PNCled Government ashamed. First of all, they can’t cavil about the criteria used by TI to make their evaluation – since they’d used TI’s index to regularly beat up on PPP’s “corruption”.

And we return to the theme we’ve been slogging away at ever since the Government squeezed into office.

Namely that since APNU/AFC had made corruption their major plank to get elected, they owe it to the Guyanese people to exit the bevvy of incorrigibly venal South Saharan countries in which we’ve plunged – and at least join our cohorts in Caricom. Even Suriname outpointed us by a wide margin – and let’s not even talk about The Bahamas.

We don’t have to count the ways in which this Government has dragged us into the muck of public corruption, do we? We thought not. The question is what are we, as citizens of Guyana, going to do about it. Imagine India, long seen as a hotbed of corruption with its Licence Raj, outpointing us! If they can turn their massive ship of state out of the murky corruption waters, why can’t we?

We can do worse than start with leadership at the very top. Like Modi, Prezzie’s widely acknowledged as not being corrupt. But unlike Modi, he absolutely refuses to oust party faithful who’re blatantly corrupt. The PPP, back in 1992 inherited a system in which corruption had become the grease almost every government transaction - but they didn’t move to remove it root and branch. They didn’t want to be blamed! And no one should be surprised when several of their personnel became tainted after Jagan, their moral exemplar, passed away. Even their top leaders concede this.

But Prezzie’s not even making an attempt to deal with the canker of corruption that’s undermining his regime. He must begin to clean the Augean Stables that’s fast filling up with newly dropped horse-dung.

He just has to look out of his windows to Jubilee Park, which was evidently his vision.

Where did the $1.3 billion go?

…on local corruption

Can you imagine what score the City of Georgetown would get if it were to be graded on the corruption score?? While no country can garner a perfect 100 (Finland came in 1st with a 90), there’s no question Georgetown would get us attention with a ZERO! Quick now – can you cite one example – that’s right just ONE! ANY one! – where the Gang of Four at City Hall did something for the City and not for the augmentation of their pockets?

Thought so!! Didn’t do so on the clean-up of the City from Central Government funds. Didn’t do so on Merriman Mall. Ditto on the vendors. And of course, the elephant in the City – the parking meters! This is a sweetheart deal to beat all sweetheart deals! We can only guess how much passed under the table – when all Georgetown gets 20 per cent and the vendor rakes in 80 per cent of the profits for the next 20 years!!

And imagine the City has to eliminate competition by breaking down other parking lots!

…on leadership

Doesn’t say much for the AFC when you have the “Big Four” – all with “senior Ministries” – squaring off for the Top Spot.

Have all the new blood they boasted of attracting, been strangled?

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

news

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friday, January 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Nandlall refutes AG's claim Police to investigate GRDB’s of "blocking" law school forensic audit report – says Legal Council seems unaware of GoG/UCC MoU

F

ormer Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall has denied claims by his successor, Basil Williams, SC, that he was trying to “prevent” the establishment of a law school here.

At a press conference on Wednesday, AG Williams in a statement to media operatives said that “Mr Anil Nandlall of the PPP/C has written the Council of Legal Education maliciously, seeking to prevent the establishment of the law school in Guyana.”

A claim which Nandlall has refuted, saying he “did no such thing”. In fact, the former AG posited that he was merely trying to ascertain whether the Legal Council had granted permission to the Guyana Government to establish the law school here.

Two weeks ago, Williams signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of the Caribbean (UCC) and Law College of the Americas (LCA) for the establishment of JOF Haynes Law School of the Americas (JHLSA) in Guyana with the permission of the Council of Legal Education that was given some two decades ago.

However, in a statement on Thursday, Nandlall pointed out that there seemed to be a shift in Williams’ position with regard to permission received from the Council.

“As an Executive Member of the Council of Legal Education, from December 2011 to May 2015, I know that the permission granted

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

to Guyana 20 years ago is no longer extant and has been long overtaken by other decisions. Being well acquainted with the modus operandi of the Attorney General, I suspected that he was misleading the nation when he said the Guyana has the permission of the Council to establish this current law school,” he stated.

To this end, Nandlall added that he wrote the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education on January 21, 2017 about the agreement that was signed for the establishment of the law school. In the letter, he requested information on whether: “the Council of Legal Education is aware of this initiative; this initiative enjoys the authority and support of the Council; the aforementioned institutions are recognised by the Council.”

The former AG said the Chairman Reginald Armour, SC, responded to him two days later.

The response from the

CLE Chairman, which Nandlall released, outlines that, “…The fact of media reports of the Memorandum of Understanding (to establish a law school in Guyana) was last raised at the meeting of the Council of Legal Education in Antigua and Barbuda in September 2016 and will be further discussed by the Council of Legal Education at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Council scheduled to be held in Jamaica on the 27th of this month. Please be so advised.”

According to Nandlall, he interprets this response as the Legal Council is now learning of the agreement to establish the law school here.

“The Council has not even been formally informed of this matter and accordingly, could not have given this project its permission. It is clear that our Attorney General has a peculiar allergy to the truth. I do not know for how long the President will allow this circus to continue at 95 Carmichael Street,” the former AG posited.

Williams is currently in Jamaica for the CLE’s Meeting of the Executive Committee, which is slated for today and Saturday. At that meeting, he is expected to bring up the MoU signed for the establishment of a law school here.

Additionally, the AG is also expected to partake in a press conference and reception in furtherance of a programme to sensitise the Jamaican public on the establishment of the law school in Guyana.

… legal action to be taken against defaulters – Trotman

G

overnment could be moving to take legal actions against officials of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and could be pumping monies into the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to assist as it carries out its investigation.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said on Monday that the report of the forensic audit carried out into the GRDB has revealed that hundreds of millions of dollars had been misused by officials of the then Board, and while many of them resigned following the change of Government, actions would most likely be taken against them.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan on Tuesday presented to Cabinet the reports of the audits carried out into the operations of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) and the Guyana Rice Development Board, and which found that there had been some financial irregularities. The findings of the reports also indicated that there was need for further investigation into these agencies, and while Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has been instructed to handle the report of the power company, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was told to have

the reports of the GRDB and the GEA submitted to the Police Commissioner.

According to Trotman, Government will allow the law to take its course.

However, if the investigations reveal that charges can be laid, Government

will move to have the head of these agencies step down.

Delving a little deeper into the report, Trotman shared that over $500 billion had passed through the hands of officials of the GRDB from the PetroCaribe Fund.

“The junior Finance Minister who made the presentation to Cabinet highlighted some of the glaring anomalies, where there had not been any paper work or traceable signs or notes accompanying transactions”.

It was reported too that persons from the agency was using funds to trade in foreign currencies among other things.

Government back in

June 2015 ordered a forensic audit to be conducted into the GRDB in a bid to uncover any potential financial irregularity and corruption.

The accounting investigation was carried out by Nigel Hinds and Associates, a local accounting firm.

Prior to the commencement of the forensic audit of the GRDB, head of the entity Jainarine Singh had been protested against by farmers who called for his removal from the helm of the body. Farmers had demanded outstanding payments amounting to some $1.9 billion to be met by the Government. Government subsequently authorised the release of US$800 million to go towards clearing their debts to the millers, thereby facilitating payments to farmers.

Following its assumption to Government, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change Government had claimed that the GRDB had misused the money from the PetroCaribe ‘oil for rice deal’ between Guyana and Venezuela. President Granger had said the PetroCaribe Fund – used to meet payments to farmers for rice and paddy shipped to Venezuela – contained less than US$1 million in May 2015. He said Government was forced to make available nearly $4 billion immediately so that poor paddy farmers could be paid.

10 news

friDAY, january 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

5 homeless after Lima fire A

family of five from Lima Public Road, on the Essequibo Coast, is now homeless following a fire which completely destroyed their two storey concrete and wooden home.

The incident reportedly occurred around midnight on Wednesday. Fire officers, who were summoned to the scene by neighbours, were unable to extinguish the blaze. According to family members, they have estimated their losses at $5 million.

Guyana Times understands that no one was at home at the time of the incident. When this publication visited that scene early Thursday morning, the owner’s daughter, Vallini Singh, who was visibly distraught, explained that the premis-

live, but where would they come and stay now,” Singh said.

The sister is therefore calling on kind hearted

Regina Fire Station, Clive McDonald explained that while the origin of the fire is yet unknown, investigations are continuing.

Campbellville cache

Trio remanded for ammo possession, unlicensed firearm

T

The sister receiving comfort from a friend

she visited the home and assisted in cleaning up.

"My brothers and sisterin-law don't really be around.

They come and spend time.

Whenever they get work at sea or at North West, they go, but when they come out, the house is there and they bought a lot of new household items recently, this is really sad, my father legacy destroyed," Singh stated.

The items lost in the fire

The charred ruins of the house

es is owned by her deceased father, Jainarine (only name given) but that it is occupied by her brothers ages 14 and 24 years and their families .

Singh recounted that she was informed about the incident on Thursday morning, and still cannot come to grips with what happened. She added that only last week

The house on fire

Inside the ruins

Guyanese to assist her brothers in rebuilding. Singh said she is uncertain as to what caused the fire. When contacted, the head of the Anna

include beds, a washing machine, stoves, a refrigerator, a microwave, sofa and other house hold items. The woman also said that the house was recently refurbished, which adds to the losses.

Singh said she is unsure as to what the family’s next move is, as they are in need of a new home. "Once my brothers get a new house they can

hree men were remanded to prison on Thursday after they appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty, to answer to joint charges of possession of guns and ammunition without being licensed.

Teon Alleyne,30, of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara; Andre Pollymore, 24, of Lamaha Gardens, and Lloyd Roberts, 35, of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, all of whom are miners in the interior of Guyana, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charges stated that on January 22, at John Street, Campbellville, the three men had in their possession an AK-47 rifle, 60 rounds of ammunition and a 9 mm pistol with 20 rounds of matching ammunition, without being holders of a firearm licence. The trio pleaded not guilty to the four charges when they were read by the Magistrate.

The accused were represented by Attorney Nigel Hughes, who argued that the said items were not found at the residence of the number three accused, as it is alleged. However, according to Police Prosecutor Sean Blackman, Roberts had reportedly admitted to the Police upon his arrest his guilt, saying, “I am responsible for everything, I rented this house”.

Attorney Hughes argued that the other two accused have no prior convictions, and given the prosecution’s sole reliance on the alleged oral confession of Roberts and the absence of any written statement, he saw no grounds for objections to bail.

Bail was denied and the presiding magistrate re-

The trio making their way to court on Thursday

manded the men to prison until February 14, 2017, when the trial will proceed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Roberts, along with the two others, was arrested on Sunday evening after Police swooped down on a house at John Street.

Roberts and the others were known to the Police, since they had previous brushes with the law.

Roberts was listed as the prime suspect in the shooting to death of 19-year-old Ryan “Harry” Sergeant outside the Rio Night Club.

According to Police sources, he has been implicated in several armed robberies as well as murders.

In 2010, Roberts, who was a minibus driver at the time, was charged with the double murder of Romeo De Agrella and Clint De

Agrella, who were killed in 2009 at Iron Punt, North West District. The charges were dismissed; however, soon after he was freed, he was rearrested for the murders of political activist Ronald Waddell and former boxing coach Donald Allison.

Waddell was murdered on January 31, 2006 outside his Subryanville, Georgetown home. Bullets rang out, hitting him in his back, face and other parts of his body. Allison was shot dead outside the boxing gym in Agricola, Greater Georgetown.

Meanwhile, A Division (Georgetown and East Bank Demerara) Commander Clifton Hicken told reporters on Thursday morning that the Police were committed to ridding society of all illegal guns and ammunition.

friday, January 27, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Parking meter fiasco

Central Govt will not interfere in local Govt affairs – Trotman

W

hile Central Government is fully aware of the cries and complaints of Guyanese, particularly in the capital city, about the new parking meter project, it has vowed that it would not put its hands into the affairs of Local Government.

That is, of course, contingent on the situation not getting out of hand.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, chairing this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, said when Government made way for the holding of Local Government Elections last year, it also relinquished any role in the decision-making process of the local entities.

will continue to observe and will only intervene if it feels it is imperative to do so,” Trotman told Journalists at the Ministry of the Presidency.

On the issue of further consultation, Trotman said that there was not enough consultation that could address an issue.

“The idea of parking meters has been alive for many months; I believe that we need to wait to see how it will be implemented. I think the visual of empty streets says a lot and I believe that the people’s voice is not to be ignored and I believe that time will tell.”

He said the Georgetown Mayor and City Council was a democratic body and

Since the introduction of the parking meter project, there have been mounting protests about its inconvenience and irrelevance to Georgetown

He said Cabinet had examined both the financial and legal aspects of the project, and had also received reviews from the Finance Ministry and the Chambers of the Attorney General.

And while Cabinet has not removed its interest from the matter, it is very aware that City Hall needs to have some level of autonomy.

“So I believe Cabinet

would make decisions that were not just for its own benefit.

Since the introduction of the parking meter project, there have been mounting protests about its inconvenience and irrelevance to Georgetown. Those protests took on a larger and wider scale earlier this week when the project officially kicked off, with major stake-

of the Finance Ministry had been that “the contract has given complete monopoly power to SCSI over parking within Georgetown.

This control could lead to exploitation of consumers as SCSI has the power to

Natural Resources Raphael Trotman

Minister

holders, particularly the Guyana Teachers Union, demanding that it be reviewed as it posed a heavy financial burden on the working class. The most recent protest took place on Tuesday in front of the homes of President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

The manner in which the parking meter contract, signed in November 2015, was arranged with National Parking Solutions/Smart City Solutions Incorporated (SCSI) has attracted heavy scrutiny in the press.

This was not helped when Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green, Town Clerk Royston King and Councillors Oscar Clark and Junior Garrett left on a trip to Mexico to inspect the product – seven months after the agreement was inked.

Subsequently, the Finance Ministry and the Attorney General’s Chambers conducted reviews of the contract to determine its practicality and legality. In the former’s review, the glaring absence of a financial analysis or feasibility study by the M&CC had been noted.

One of the observations

change fees arbitrarily and determine zones.”

The fee amounts to at least $200 an hour. The minimum time a motorist can purchase is 15 minutes. The meters work by the user inputting the number of their

parking space, the time they need and then presenting a prepaid card which they would have purchased, to a card reader on the meters.

Metered hours are Monday to Saturday, from 07:00h to 19:00h.

12 news

friDAY, January 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

2 wanted for Friendship Police hunt suspects double murder in Kaneville fatal fire

A

D i v i s i o n (Georgetown and East Bank Demerara) Commander Clifton Hicken on Thursday related that the investigation into the Old Year’s Day double murder following a cockfight at Friendship, East Bank Demerara was active and the Police were hunting for two men.

The Commander stated that several persons were arrested and based on information attained, the Police have narrowed their search for the men.

He could not give locations as to where they intended to carry out searches, but he was optimistic that the men would be arrested.

Desmond David Singh, called “Fix Up”, 34, of Lot A 1 Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown and Azrudeen Hussain, 24, of Little Biaboo, Mahaica Creek, East Coast Demerara were killed in an apparent hit moments after leaving a cockfight.

Singh’s body was riddled with bullets and he died instantly, while Hussain was shot to his neck and was pronounced dead on ar-

F

Dead: Azrudeen Hussain

Dead: Desmond David Singh

rival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Reports are the two men were at a “game cock fight” at Humphrey Street, Friendship, which ended in a draw. Soon after the fight, Singh left and was reportedly walking towards the public road as Hussain drove out of the street.

Less than two meters before the public road, Singh stopped Hussain to chat and it was during this time, two armed and masked men emerged from the southern side of the street and opened fire in Singh’s direction, but one

bullet strayed and struck Hussain.

The gunmen allegedly stood over Singh, after he had fallen to the ground and riddled his body with bullets. They then escaped in a waiting motor car.

At the time of the shooting, Hussain’s brother, nephew and two friends were in the car. After they realised that the final-year University of Guyana pharmacy student was shot to the neck, his brother took over the wheel and drove to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but it was too late.

our days after the deadly fire at Kaneville, East Bank Demerara, which claimed the life of a seven-month-old baby, the Police are still to arrest the main culprits who reportedly set the home on fire.

The Police are, however, hunting for two young men, who are wanted for questioning about the incident.

This was according to A Division (Georgetown and East Bank Demerara) Commander Clifton Hicken, who explained that he recently led a team of investigators to the area where he met with the victims who provided them with information and based on that, one person was apprehended.

Guyana Times understands that the person taken into Police custody was a female, who was reportedly with the men when they hurled an explosive device into the house.

However, the Commander noted that the detainee has provided additional information and

Dead: Romain Levi Seth

based on that, the Police were looking for the two males. One of the men is reportedly known to law enforcement.

As their investigations continued, detectives swooped down on the area on Wednesday evening, but came up empty handed. They also went to a house in East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, but that effort also proved futile.

Nevertheless, Hicken noted that the Police would

continue to pursue the men.

He added that once the men were arrested and interrogated, the information collected would be released to the public to clear up any lingering speculation.

The charred remains of seven-month-old Romain Levi Seth were pulled from the debris hours after the fire was extinguished by firefighters at the Lot 462 Third Field, Kaneville.

The fire reportedly started about 02:00h after an explosive device was hurled through the window by members of a gang, who had threatened to set the house alight after the owner, Michelle Menezes, had made a report to the Police Station about their marijuana business close to her home.

The young men were reportedly arrested, but were later released by the Police.

It was upon their release they threatened to kill each member of the house and accused Menezes of being a Police informant. After the fire, none of them were seen.

Guyana to attend Tourism, CTO in The Bahamas

C

abinet has approved Guyana’s representation at a meeting of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism in Nassau, The Bahamas on January 31.

At a post-Cabinet press briefing held on Friday at the Ministry of the Presidency, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said that this meeting will be attended by Donald Sinclair, Director General of Tourism, and who will represent the Business and Tourism Minister, Dominic Gaskin.

Minister Trotman said the meeting will provide the opportunity for Guyana to present adven-

Director General of Tourism Donald Sinclair

ture tourism, such as safaris, and jungle and river trips as an alternative to the most traditional sun and sand-based Caribbean vacations.

The opportunity will also be taken to put CTO

countries on notice that Guyana will be hosting the prestigious 24th InterAmerican Congress of Ministers and High Level Authorities of Tourism in November 2017.

The Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism is the highest policy-making body in the CTO. This forum will serve as a platform for the promotion of sustainable development of tourism through the sharing of experiences, technical cooperation, and bilateral engagement.

The CTO was established in 1989 to promote the Caribbean as the most desirable year round warm weather tourist destination.

Patentia Secondary students...

Guyana Times was also informed that there were a myriad of other issues plaguing the institution; including stagnant water under the wooden section of the school, overflowing garbage and a lack of updated textbooks – these all hamper the delivery of education. According to reports, the Education Ministry was informed of the bat situation over a year ago and the roof was torn down, but due to excess heat, the bats returned. This newspaper

was also told Grade Nine students were especially affected by the conditions and the stench.

Additionally, work was done by the Education Ministry to remove termites, but this situation has not improved as the termites have returned.

One parent, who is familiar with the school, informed this publication that the bat waste has affected the students, many of whom have suffered from skin rashes and asth-

from page 7

ma like conditions which have prevented them from attending classes.

Reports are that around 09:30h on Thursday morning, the Regional Education Officer instructed the school’s headmistress to have the padlocks removed and allow the students to sit in classes under a shift system.

Guyana Times was later told that the protest would end once the Ministry addresses the mounting problems at the school.

13 PM urges greater bilateral relations with China news

FRIDAY, janUARy 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

A

The Chinese Ambassador Cui Jaianchun and delegation at the New Year celebrations

s Guyana joins the People’s Republic of China in ushering in their New Year celebrations, acting President and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has expressed hope for continued cooperation with the Government of China, as both countries strive for a greener economy.

“Our friendship, which started nearly 45 years ago, was born out of a common desire to build a relationship that produced tangible benefits for the people of our two countries,” Nagamootoo recalled during the reception on Wednesday night.

He acknowledged China’s significant successes since then, highlighting that Guyana felt honoured to have a friend that has been able to demonstrate how effective international

trade and capital flows can be in bringing immeasurable economic success for itself and the international community as a whole.

“It serves to remind all of us of our mutual dependence on each other and the common responsibility that we have towards helping to improve the human condition. The opportunity for economic expansion and human development rests on open trade relations and greater flows of foreign investment and Guyana is pleased to be a part of that system,” he said.

Nagamootoo also noted that Guyana was looking forward to being able to continue doing business with China in an atmosphere of mutual respect, in keeping with the aspirations and capacity of both countries.

The acting President

also expressed gratitude to China for its immense assistance throughout the years, while placing the construction of the Arthur Chung Convention Centre in the spotlight, as well as the offer of exchange programmes for Journalists, security personnel and other professionals.

“We are grateful for the services of your Medical Brigade, and for assistance to expand and improve Guyana’s public infrastructure, public safety and security, and provide language and cultural support,” Nagamootoo asserted.

Moreover, he alluded to similarities between the two countries, highlighting that “like China, [Guyana] seeks a peaceful solution to any controversy and welcome the intention of the Secretary General of the

United Nations to ensure the use of a peaceful mechanism to bring the unjust

claim to our Essequibo region to an end, once and for all….[and]…Like China, Guyana is a signatory to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and has adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, which provides a framework for the realisation of the green economy. “ Meanwhile, the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jaianchun expressed great pleasure in spending his first Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) in Guyana and commended the gracious hospitality he and his wife received.

He also noted that Guyana was an influential country in the Latin American and Caribbean

Region and the Chinese Government placed high importance on the relationship between the two countries.

The Ambassador stated that since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972, the friendly cooperative relationship between China and Guyana has been developing constantly and steadily in the manner of mutual respect and support and equal coexistence.

“We have witnessed continual visits of all levels, sound progress of economic and trade cooperation and frequent people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

The friendship between our two peoples has been deepening day by day,” he said.

(Ramona Luthi)

Government officials and Opposition members at the New Year celebrations

Wedding Expo 2017 to showcase PM’s son-in-law “Magnificent Beginnings” facilitating... from page 3

To this end, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with Trinidadian company D Rampersad and Company Limited (DRCL) for the undertaking of a feasibility study. The agreement will see the company likely to rake in major benefits from the Guyana Government, including favourable tax incentives for the development of an integrated sugarcane processing facility at the Skeldon Sugar Estate.

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No consultations

Hosted under the theme “Magnificent Beginnings”, this year’s Expo will seek to promote diversity

he ninth Annual Wedding Expo, hosted by the Roraima Airways, was on Wednesday morning launched at Duke Lodge, Georgetown.

It will provide yet another opportunity for a couple to win a $3 million wedding.

With great pomp and many expectations for a grand event this year, the Wedding Expo officially opened its doors to the public.

Hosted under the theme “Magnificent Beginnings”, this year’s Expo will seek to promote diversity.

Small businesses in Guyana will also be given

an opportunity to showcase their offerings.

The Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia applauded the Business Ministry, which has once again supported the initiative.

“I want to say that the Ministry of Tourism and Business is fully supportive of Wedding Expo last year and they have been able to help us financially and otherwise because Wedding expo is an activity that helps to promote Guyana,” Captain Gouveia said.

The Roraima Group of Companies will also have

the support of Dynamic Airways, Insolair of Cura Sol and East Sky out of Curaçao. The Cubans will also be a major part of the activities here in Guyana, with the aim of satisfying the Wedding market in Cuba.

This year, the Roraima Companies will be linking with St Vincent to make the event even bigger.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, in his address at the opening, said that he was of the belief that Guyana was a perfect wedding tourism destination.

“Wedding also provides other opportunities and

Guyana with its rich natural attractions is the perfect wedding tourism destination.

“Wedding Expo will have what is needed for that special event right here,” Gaskin announced.

The Wedding Expo was inspired by a similar event held in Jamaica, and was brought home by one of the Roraima managers who proposed to have the event for couples hoping to get married.

The event started with just 10 exhibitors, but has, over the years, grown to feature a wider array of attractions beyond just the wedding aspect.

But Government spokesperson, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman last week said that there was nothing signed to give away the assets of GuySuCo. In fact, he posited that there was no secret deal since the relevant stakeholders were informed about the MoU. However, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, in his criticism of the agreement, pointed out that Government entered into this deal without any consultations with stakeholders beforehand.

“You do not speak with the parliamentary

Opposition.

You know, just recently, they called us in December, after everything else and told us they want to talk to us about it, but the secret MoU was already signed, now the story is in the news,” he outlined. The MoU was signed on December 8, 2016.

Jagdeo went on to outline that this agreement gave the Trinidadian company an advantage over any other entity or person who was interested if it decided to privatise the estate or the industry.

“So they are busy working these quiet deals and one day we may wake up and find that one of the prized estates in Guyana is gone to a group that knows nothing about sugar or is on middle land without any public valuation of the land, no public tendering but has acquired a deal by the Government,” he told media operatives last week.

The Skeldon Sugar Factory, which is located on the Estate, alone is worth US$200 million, so the total value of the Estate would amount to billions.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, January 27, 2017

News Region 6 rice Region 2 Mash Calypso fields damaged Competition kicks off − losses due to rat infestation

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ver 300 acres of rice fields in Berbice have been lost due to an infestation of rats, which have damaged a large portion of the current rice crop.

The Agriculture Ministry has begun been addressing the issue in the Black Bush Polder area where the rat infestation is worse.

In Black Bush Polder, there are 18,000 acres under cultivation, and more than 2500 acres have already been destroyed.

Chairman of the Black Bush Polder Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Takoor Persaud, says it is a region-wide problem which has been reported.

He explained that the rodents have been cutting the growing plants while others are eating the young paddy. Accorded to the NDC Chairman, the first sighting of the rats was during the first week of January.

Meanwhile, the last time there was such an infestation was back in 2004.

The NDC Chairman, speaking with Guyana Timeson Thursday, said the Agriculture Ministry has been assisting in addressing the issue. He explained that some farmers have been using poison to kill the rats.

He explained that the recent drought is the main contributory factor for the current rat infestation affecting Black Bush Polder.

“Because of the long dry sea-

son and then the water coming from the rainy season, with so much water coming on the land, the rats moved to the rice fields where they could build nests and on the dry land and find food.”

Meanwhile, the current rice crop commenced in November 2016, when the regional administration began pumping water for rice farmers to irrigate their farm lands.

Abram Zuil Secondary performing a calypso

NDIA responds to erosion at Coomacka River Cotton Field Secondary performing on stage

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NDIA CEO Frederick Flatts (dark blue jersey), Regional Chairman Renis Morian and other officials and residents during the inspection

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he National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has responded to the recent erosion affecting the Coomacka River, an issue which caused residents and regional officials much concern, since almost half the river has since been rendered impassable.

NDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Flatts recently visited the community situated in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) where he and other officials, including Regional Chairman Renis Morian and Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph, along with officials of the Regional Works Committee assessed the situation.

Morian has asserted that the situation was undoubtedly caused by recent heavy rains, noting that while erosion has always affected the

River in the community, it has now become worse.

During an interview with this newspaper, a resident of Coomacka also noted that this was not the first time that the community has been affected by erosion, adding that a few years ago residents had suffered tremendous losses due to river erosion.

During the visit, officials tried to ascertain the source of the problem, as they visited several sites. According to the Regional Chairman, who served in the capacity of Regional Councillor in the past, the area has lacked maintenance over the past 15 years which eventually has led to the situation worsening.

“This has been going on for about 20 years. With the rains that we were experiencing, even Mr Flatts was

alarmed because he came here four months ago and it didn’t meet to this stage. So, the fact that we never had in the past 15 years, a programme to contain movement of this stuff, with the heavy rainfall over the past two months and continuing to fall, this is the result,” the Regional Chairman said.

During his assessment, Flatts also indicated that the situation had indeed worsened since his last visit. An official also noted that based on assessment, the situation has gotten so out of hand one could actually walk across the river, while Morian explained that the focus should now be on drilling.

During his visit to the Region, Flatts also assessed numerous bridges in the “mines” communities which suffered a collapse of the revetment works.

cores of children and teachers from Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) flocked the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground on the Essequibo Coast, on Thursday morning, to witness a spectacular display of colours and creativity as the Education Ministry’s Department of Education hosted their Dramatic Poetry and Calypso Competitions. The competitions were held under the Mash Theme “celebrate with dignity, liberty and greater unity".

The programme com-

menced at 10:00h, however, a power outage delayed the proceedings for close to three hours.

The participants used their lyrics to convey several messages, including calls for unity and cooperation.

Many also used the platform to call on motorists to stop speeding, pointing to the many lives lost on the country’s roadways. The children were all outfitted in brightly coloured costumes depicting various Mashramani messages.

Participants competed in several categories and were

drawn from various schools across the region, including Husit Diren, Mainstay Lake, Good Hope, Taymonth Manor, Suddie, Tapakuma, Good Hope, Hampton Court, Taymonth Manor, C V Nunez and Maybel Sandy Primary schools.

Students from Abram Zuil, Cotton Field, Charity, Anna Regina and Aurora Secondary schools also attended.

The Chief Judge for the competition was seasoned Calypsonian Learie McKenzie.

Region 2 Police hunting alleged rapist

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55-year-old woman from Charity Extension Scheme on the Essequibo Coast has reported that she was robbed and raped by a known individual at the Amerindian hostel, in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Police in G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands) have since confirmed that a report was made and they have launched an investigation into the allegations.

The incident occurred on January 25, 2017 around 03:00h at the Amerindian hostel in Charity. The woman reported that she was in a room in the upper flat of

the hostel when a male approached her and put his hand around her neck. The assailant then allegedly warned her not to say anything then proceeded with the sexual assault. She said the man then asked

her if she had any money, and even after she said no, he continued to choke her.

The perpetrator then made off with her cellphone and phone charger worth $11,000.

friday, January 27, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Trump seeks Mexican import tax to pay for border wall

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resident Donald Trump will seek a tax on goods imported from Mexico and use the revenue to build a border wall, the White House spokesman has said.

The plan was announced just after the Mexican President cancelled a visit to Washington, amid a row sparked by the question of who will pay for the wall.

Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to create a wall on the US southern border with Mexico.

Making Mexico pay for it was one of his key election campaign pledges.

But President Enrique Pena Nieto has always insisted that will not happen and on Thursday, he pulled out

Some fencing already exists on the 2000-mile (3200km) US boundary with Mexico

of next week's White House meeting.

Hours later, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the President had discussed the funding

proposal with lawmakers, and they were considering making it part of a tax reform package the US Congress is planning.

He said that a 20 per cent tax could generate approxi-

mately US$10 billion in tax revenue per year.

"Right now our country's policy is to tax exports and let imports flow freely in, which is ridiculous," Spicer said aboard Air Force One, adding that the tax will "easily pay for the wall".

The plan is still being finalised, he explained, saying that the tax could ultimately be as low as five per cent.

Reince Priebus, the White House chief of staff, later said that the border tax is only one of several options being considered.

The rift between the neighbours and trade partners has deepened just days into Trump's presidency. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Chile forest fires: Death toll now rises to 6

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ix people have now been killed fighting vast forest fires in central Chile, officials have said.

Interior Minister Mario Fernandez said two Police Officers were found in the Maule River, adding to the deaths of four firefighters.

A giant Boeing 747 super tanker plane has been loaned from the US to battle the forest fires, Chile’s worst in decades.

15

A state of emergency has been declared south of the capital, Santiago.

Chile’s National Forestry Corporation said multiple blazes had affected 238,000 hectares (588,000 acres) and were increasing.

On Wednesday, a firefighter died after getting stuck while trying to help a family escape from their home near the city of Constitucion.

Three others have died

Brazil orders 11.5 million yellow fever vaccine doses

and three were injured over the past week. More than 4000 people have been evacuated from their homes.

The plane can carry 22-times more water and fire-retardants than more common single-engine air tankers.

The cost is being met by the Walton Family Foundation, created by Walmart founders Sam and Helen Walton.

Chilean President

Michelle Bachelet also asked for help from French counterpart Francois Hollande, who was visiting Chile.

The authorities also requested planes and helicopters from the US, Canada and Mexico and neighbouring Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Peru.

The blazes spread quickly in the dry and particularly hot summer that many South American countries are experiencing. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Gambia’s new President arrives home G

ambia’s President Adama Barrow has returned to the country to assume power – days after his predecessor Yahya Jammeh left to go into exile.

President Barrow’s plane touched down at Banjul airport where jubilant crowds waited to welcome him. After landing, he tweeted: “I’m finally home #Gambia.”

Barrow, who has been in neighbouring Senegal, won elections in December.

However a handover was stalled when Jammeh, Gambia’s President of 22 years, refused to step aside.

He left for exile at the weekend after mediation by regional leaders and the threat of military intervention. Barrow, dressed in white robes and a cap, stepped off the plane in Banjul as heavily armed troops from Senegal and

Nigeria stood by.

Overhead, a fighter jet from the West African force guaranteeing the new president’s security performed fly-pasts. “I am a happy man today,” Barrow told a reporter from the Associated Press in the crush at the airport, adding: “I think the bad part is finished now.”

The President said his priority was to appoint his Cabinet and “then get the ball rolling”.The BBC’s Umaru Fofana in Banjul said that thousands of people had tried to force their way into the airport to see Barrow return and they burst into celebration as soon as his plane touched down.

President Barrow was driven from the airport in a convoy of cars and waved to the crowds who lined the route. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Haiti's Presidentelect investigated

Lunar New Year makeover for online game

Vaccinations are being recommended for those travelling to affected areas

Opposition lawmakers are demanding that the investigation be completed before President-elect Jovenel Moise enters office

razil's Health Ministry has ordered 11.5 million doses of yellow fever vaccine amid the largest outbreak of the disease in the country since 2000.

Seventy cases – including 40 deaths – are confirmed, mostly in rural areas of the state of Minas Gerais.

More than 300 cases are under investigation.

Vaccinations are being recommended for people travelling to Minas and other areas with confirmed cases.

Yellow fever is a potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquitoes.

Most of Brazil is considered at risk from yellow fever, but the country has only seen a handful of cases in recent years.

Most people recover after the first phase of infection that usually involves fever, muscle and back pain, head-

n investigating Judge in Haiti has spent four hours questioning the President-elect, Jovenel Moise, about fraud allegations.

Moise – who is due to be sworn into office next month – says he went to the court voluntarily without a lawyer.

The former banana exporter denies accusations of money laundering and receiving favourable loans before he entered politics.

He says the allegations are a political smear by his opponents.

It is unclear if the Judge will rule whether there is a case to answer before Moise takes office on February 7.

The investigation was launched in 2013 as a routine bank-regulation procedure.

The investigating judge took no action until four Opposition Senators demanded information about

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ache, shivers, loss of appetite, and nausea or vomiting.

About 15 per cent of people face a second, more serious phase involving high fever, jaundice, bleeding and deteriorating kidney function Half of those who enter the "toxic" phase usually die within 10 to 14 days.

The governor of Minas Gerais has declared a 180day state of emergency.

There have also been three confirmed cases in Sao Paulo, Brazil's most populous state, and one each in Espiritu Santo and Bahia, which both neighbour Minas.

Around 5.5 million vaccine doses have already been sent to five states that have confirmed cases or are at risk. The other six million ordered will arrive soon.

It is not clear what has caused the rise in cases. (Excerpt from BBC News)

A Chinese mythology meets modern day gaming in Overwatch's latest update

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f you are in Asia this time of year, Lunar New Year festivities are all around, even in one of the most popular online games.

US gaming giant Blizzard Entertainment has released a special update for its newest game Overwatch in time for the festivities, and it's using China's most revered literary tale to keep players interested and boost sales.

Titled the 2017 Lunar New Year event, players can don cosmetic "skins" modelled after the four main characters from Journey to the West, a story most Chinese children grow up hearing, about a legendary

pilgrimage of a Buddhist monk and his three disciples.

Special holiday items and a new game mode were also made available through special New Year Loot Boxes).

The firm's other fantasy titles such as Heroes of the Storm, StarCraft and World of Warcraft (WoW) also received festive updates.

China is one of Blizzard's biggest markets. Although the firm has not provided official Chinese player numbers for Overwatch, gamers in the country have been estimated to make up about half of its five million players worldwide for the WoW franchise. (Excerpt from BBC News)

the findings.

Moise said: "Certain people should not be allowed to exploit the law, to decide the only way to engage in politics is to accuse others of lying."

The case reflects Haiti's political divisions.

Moise's three main rivals in the election contested the results in court and have refused to concede.

The election was held on November 20, more than a year after the previous poll was annulled following allegations of widespread fraud.

That vote, in October 2015, was won by Moise, but his closest Opposition challenger called foul and, after violent unrest, the ballot was annulled.

Haiti has been blighted by political instability and poverty for decades and is still struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake in 2010. (BBC News)

16 news

friDAY, January 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC leadership

Ramjattan insists he is eligible for re-election D

espite concerns of his re-election breaching the party’s constitution, incumbent Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan is adamant about running for a third term, noting that the provisions in the party’s constitution differs from that of the national Constitution.

Article 19 (1) of the AFC’s constitution provides for the rotation of leaders within the AFC “so as to ensure a broader activism in leadership positions by the membership”.

However, Ramjattan told reporters on Thursday that while the constitution was formulated to ensure the change of leadership was a necessity, it does not exclude those of whom might want to run for a third term or whom might be nominated to run. “… that formulation was never done in identical terms to what the national Constitution says, which eliminated after two terms.

We were two very good lawyers who formulated it in that way which extends but

a desirability – that’s why the world “ought” was used and not “shall” or “must”,” he explained.

Meanwhile, former AFC Leader Raphael Trotman, one of the founders of the party, had strongly objected to the notion of one member holding the same position for more than two consecutive terms. In fact, Trotman, who aided in the drafting of the party’s constitution, had asserted that the spirit of the constitution was to ensure that the leadership is constantly rotated.

However, Ramjattan posited that this will result in the entire hierarchy of the party being excluded from running.

“Now when you start gaining experience and expertise in leaders, that provision must not exclude thus to the extent of then having what sort of leadership… if we were to exclude, it would necessarily mean that Trevor Williams will have to go, the General Secretary will have to go, myself will have to go, the (Prime Minister) PM who is Vice Chairman for two terms

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

will have to go, Michael Carrington will have to go, Cathy Hughes will have to go,” he further stated.

According to Ramjattan, he wants to create a precedent that indeed people can run a third term if it is a necessity of the situation and the circumstances. He asserted that his necessity to run for a third term is informed with his nomination by the membership of the party and the fact that he has provided a high quali-

Minister Harmon meets with UN reps to discuss Country Implementation Plan

ty leadership since his appointment in 2012.

Challenging his quest for the AFC’s top leadership spot at its National Executive Conference (NEC) this weekend are incumbent Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo and Executive Member Raphael Trotman.

When approached for a comment on Wednesday, Trotman told Guyana Times that he is pleased to know that several regions and

chapters have confidence in him and still wants him at the helm of the party.

“I’m going to represent them and will respect whoever wins. We’re all one party and one people, and we will make the party stronger so I’m very humbled to be nominated, and happy as well, and promise to serve in whatever capacity and in whatever position in placing,” he related.

According to Trotman, his nomination alone has given him confidence ahead of this week’s conference.

Meanwhile, asked how confident he is about his nomination for the party leadership, Prime Minister Nagamootoo teased with a smirk saying, “wait for this weekend, wait for the surprise.”

In addition, Nagamootoo, Ramjattan and Trotman are also contesting for the post of AFC Chairman, which is currently vacant following the resignation of Nigel Hughes. Nagamootoo is currently acting Chairman.

Also vying for this spot is Executive Member Catherine Hughes.

The Vice Chairman

position is being contested by Nagamootoo, Trotman, Hughes, Valerie Garrido-Lowe and Audwin Rutherford. Additionally, David Patterson is being challenged for the General Secretary post by Michael Carrington, Alison Mohamed and Marlon Williams.

A major shakeup in the AFC’s leadership structure is expected at its NEC which will be held at the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School on January 28.

At the NEC, the AFC will also appoint its 12 National Executive Committee members from a total of 73 nominees.

In addition to the 12 elected members of the National Executive Committee, each Regional Management Committee and overseas chapter, along with Women for Change and Youth For Change are entitled to send a representative to the NEC meetings.

The NEC can co-opt up to five members if the need arises for additional representation in particular areas.

1 dead, 1 injured in East Ruimveldt shooting

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Minister of State, Joseph Harmon (left) conversing with UN Resident Representative Mikiko Tanaka; PAHO/WHO Resident Representative, Dr William Adu-Krow and UNICEF’s Deputy Representative, Paolo Marchi at the Ministry of the Presidency. The Minister’s Legal Adviser,Geeta Chandan-Edmond is at his immediate left

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inister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, on Thursday, met with representatives from three United Nations (UN) agencies to discuss the Country Implementation Plan, which is an annual work plan for UN agencies.

The visiting team included: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Resident Representative, Dr. William Adu-Krow and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Deputy Representative, Mr. Paolo Marchi, the Ministry of Presidency said in a release.

During the meeting, Ms. Tanaka explained that the UN has been engaging with various government agencies to garner feedback to address development issues in Guyana such as health, edu-

cation, poverty reduction and the Green State Development Agenda. She explained that the UN agencies aim to ensure that their respective programmes are in keeping with the targets and indicators that are outlined in the 2017 national budget. “Whatever is in the plan is an aggregate of what has been already negotiated with the various line ministries,” she said.

Dr. Adu-Krow informed that the UN team has already met with both Ministers in the Public Health Ministry and have agreed that much more can be achieved in terms of improving health care delivery at the level of the Administrative Regions if a more coordinated approach is taken between the subject Ministry and the Ministry of Communities. He said that the UN agencies stand ready to assist to make this a reality.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the Government,

Minister Harmon said that he is happy with this step that the UN agencies have taken whereby it is working with the Government to address priority areas in its work plan. “I can assure you that at the level of the Government we will support this kind of undertaking wherever necessary,” he said.

Meanwhile, the UN agencies in Guyana are set to launch the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework (MSDF) tomorrow. This framework is essentially the business plan for the UN agencies, funds and programmes in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean for the period January 2017 to December 2021. It replaces six country-level UN Development Frameworks, for: Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); Belize; Guyana; Jamaica; Suriname; and Trinidad and Tobago.

Thursday evening shooting in Warlock, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, has left one man dead and another in critical condition at a city hospital. Guyana Times was told that 38-yearold East Ruimveldt resident Andrew Fraser, called “Zeggy”, was pronounced dead on arrival following a reported drive-by shooting that occurred around 20:30h. Reports are that the Fraser was a clothes vendor who plied his trade in the Arcade.

While details remain sketchy regarding reasons for the attack, this publication understands that another man was shot in the side of the abdomen and was listed as critical following surgery. He was identified as Stanley Abram, age 26.

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) was crowded with relatives and neighbours who were anxiously awaiting word on the condition of their loved ones.

Reports are that sometime after 21:30h, the body of Andrew Fraser was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s mortuary, unbeknownst to many of the hysterical relatives who were still in shock over what had

Andrew Fraser, called “Zeggy”, was pronounced dead on arrival at the GPHC

occurred.

Up to press time, Police were still hunting suspects in relation to the deadly attack.

Guyana Times will disclose additional details as more information becomes available.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

NOC inmates recaptured after escaping custody

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hree inmates who were serving time for various illegal activities at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) at Onderneeming on the Essequibo Coast, reportedly escaped custody on Sunday , after a church service.

They were, however, recaptured by officials at the juvenile correctional institution and placed in the dormitory.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that

around 14:45h on January 22, the trio escaped.

Sixteen-year-old Noel Husbands from Kwakwani, who was serving a oneyear sentence for break and enter and larceny, was among the escapees. The inmates made their dash for freedom after a church service conducted by the Administration Manager, Pasaram Singh.

As they were returning to their dormitory, Husbands, along with 15-year-old

O’Neil Benn of Berbice and Wazir Ally, 16, of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara made a sudden dash for freedom and ran west out of the compound to the backlands. Officials immediately informed the Police and searches were conducted.

All three of the escapees were later recaptured in the compound.

Investigations are currently being conducted by officials from the NOC and the Police Force.

guyanatimesgy.com

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friday, january 27, 2017

he highly-anticipated Miss Universe Pageant is set for Sunday evening in the Philippines, and the delegates definitely created an impression during the preliminary competition on Wednesday evening.

The delegates competed in the swimwear and evening gown preliminary competitions. Before the competitions, however, the delegates introduced themselves to the panel of judges and the audience.

Guyana’s representative at the pageant, Soyini Fraser is making sure she uses every possible opportunity to make sure Guyana is spotted on the international stage.

At the preliminaries, she sported a Papillon Dezign evening gown created

by US designer Richard Petit. For the swimwear contest, she used a Yamamay design complemented with shoes by Chinese Laundry. She also showcased her national costume titled “The Coconut Queen”, much to the amusement of the judges and audience.

The Guyanese beauty will be keeping her fingers crossed to be named in the top 12 vying for the title of Miss Universe 2017. Before getting there, she would have had to score big in the three preliminary competitions among the 86

other delegates.

She is optimistic of doing well. However, the delegates from Venezuela, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Panama, Indonesia, Philippines, France, Australia and Thailand are among the top contenders for the title.

The grand finale, which is slated to be aired on Sunday evening on Fox Network, is expected to be spectacular. TVG-28 will be providing live broadcast of the pageant from 20:00h.

The judges for the evening include Miss Universe 1993 Dayanara Torres, Miss Universe 1994 Sushmita Sen, Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori, and Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes. The others include Mickey Boardman, the editorial director of fashion and pop-culture magazine, PAPER; TV star and former model Cynthia Bailey; and Emmy and Tony award-winning producer and activist Francine LeFrak.

The patrons will be entertained by Grammy award-winning R&B group Boyz II Men. The group is known for its 90s hits “End of the Road”; “One Sweet Day”; and “I’ll Make Love To You”. They will be joined by rapper Flo Rida at the coronation set for the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

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n the last edition of Guyana Times Entertainment, the nine delegates competing for the title of Miss Region Three Culture 2017 were revealed. For the next few weeks leading up to the pageant billed for April 1, we will feature each delegate thus giving our readers an insight into their lifestyles. This week, we will feature Kasherell Tiffany Payne.

The 21-year-old beauty was born on January 25, 1996 under the lucky zodiac sign Aquarius to Peggy Walcott and Cedric Payne. She is the youngest of eight siblings and has grown to become a phenomenal, humble and compassionate individual.

She is a tertiary-level graduate.

Currently, she is a proud licensed practical Nurse, attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital and an aspiring social worker, who aims to transform lives and contribute positively to society. In her leisure time, she enjoys modelling, dancing, singing, drawing and painting. She makes the most of new opportunities and enjoys meeting new and interesting people. Her favourite quotes are “a dream does not become reality by wishing, it takes courage, determination and hard work” and “Be the change you would want to see in the world”. These are motivational messages that she would encourage anyone to live by.

During her years of work at the medical unit, she has witnessed the rapid growth of Guyana’s suicide rate and its prevalence among young people. Thus bringing awareness of suicide and its prevention to the people is her optimum goal, the precise reason it is her platform in the pageant. She noted that suicide was everyone’s business, and called on society to make a change.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, january 27, 2017

Vanilla starts Mashramani feva with

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s Mashramani draws closer, music fans will be happy to know that their favourite local artiste Vanilla is back at it again with new music. Now, her newest single “Mash up de Place”, which was released just days ago, has already gained popularity on the airwaves and has been featured as Song of the Day, Song of the Week and Booming 9.

The highly anticipated music video for this chart topper will be released today.

On Thursday, Vanilla continued the momentum by launching a second single for the Mash season, “We Run Tings”, then later in February, fans will see a third track being released to add to the road march soundtrack.

Though the artiste has been taking a step back from the music scene, several factors spurred her creativity which led to these new projects. Chief among these was calls from fans and support from her producer and writer Burchmore Simon to release new music. She also made the observation that the airwaves needed local music to support the Mashramani festival. “So “Mash up de Place” kind of revived it and now I have noticed more songs are being released for the season,” the artiste stated.

Vanilla also credits the efforts of Hits and Jams for helping the song to catapult to popularity, and admitted that this was the first time she has received such avid support for her music from the company and she looks forward to its continued support.

These tracks are also part of her upcoming album, which, Vanilla said, is “coming along beautifully”. Set to be released this year, songs for the album will be recorded in the Sound Garden Studio by Kross Kolor Records.

The finished product, she said, will see a fusion of sounds and a step away from her old material. Referring to it as “an experiment”, Vanilla said that the album will also feature some crossover work, including from fellow Kross Kolor artiste Gavin Mendonca.

“I’ve been working to build the brand Vanilla and so these mixtures of things will look to make the brand stronger, and that includes crossovers and mixed genres.”

Speaking of her brand, a large part of what Vanilla is about also includes film and fitness. She revealed that she is currently working on some new film projects, while continuing to build her fitness portfolio. She currently serves as an instructor at Space Gym and Fitness 53 and also leads the annual Digicel Mash Fit event – which is another project she is passionate about.

Digicel Mash Fit

This is the third year that Vanilla will be hosting Mash Fit – the six-week long fitness extravaganza that allows gym buffs to work on that ‘Mash’ body or just lose some weight through an intense daily workout.

“We get a lot of success stories every year; the first year we had about eight to 10 persons losing between 15 and 20 pounds.

Last year, our aim was to get one person to lose 50 pounds and we got very close with 49 pounds,” she said. Focus is also placed on providing nutrition and other health tips during the six-week stints to help get persons on a healthier track. Seeing the way Mash Fit has impacted people’s lives, Vanilla lauds Digicel for hosting the event annually. Moreover, she commends the company for still providing the opportunity for persons this year despite not having a 2 0 1 7 Mashramani band themselves.

Fans can look forward to many more projects in the pipeline from Vanilla as she continues to expand her brand with her musical, fitness and filmmaking talents.

Laushana Walters Damion Apple

Alex Wayne

T

he Aracari Resort is bringing to the platter its fourth annual karaoke competition – 3 separate competitions are held annually – that will see seasoned and new amateur singers taking centre stage. The competition kicked off at the Aracari Resort at Versailles, West Bank Demerara last evening and will run for one month.

However, with the long list of participants, an elimination round will be held every Thursday leading up to the grand finale on February 16. This year will see an explosion of vocals and the competition is expected to draw a huge audience.

During the competition, all eyes and ears will be on Damion Apple, Alex Wayne and Laushana Walters who are versed in the trade. Wayne, who entered the competition for the first time, is expected to create quite a stir.

He and Apple are presently sparking fire at each other and this undoubted has created some rivalry.

While the entrance fee for the competition is $1000, the eventual winner will take home $50,000 and a trophy while the second and third place finishers will cart off trophies, couples dinners, and gym and pool membership.

Contestants will be judged on diction, presentation, choreography and crowd response. As such, they are urged to bring out their supporters in their numbers.

Interested persons are urged to call the organiser on telephone number 603-1893 for registration and more information. The competition is strictly for amateur singers.

No professional singers or recording artistes are allowed to participate.

W

ith Mash 2017 just around the corner, Pulse Entertainment is ready to create the vibes once again. Back in 2015, the entertainment group had several trucks on the road with patrons receiving the VIP treatment.

This year, the group is taking the mash experience to another level that will see bigger and better concept parties, international DJs and of course the Pulse party truck (PPT) going down the road on Mash Day. Get ready to gyrate down the streets with Trinidad’s versatile deejay Marcus Williams, DJ Ryan, DJ Shizzle, DJ Carl, DJ Country Boy, P Star Perry and Dr Dominic.

Pulse Entertainment has already hosted “Feteology” at Palm Court last weekend but soca junkies can get ready to get all dirty with the biggest J’Ouvert party on February 18, followed by the Pulse party truck on February 23 and “One More Wine” on the evening after the mash parade.

On Mash Day, patrons will not be permitted access to the trucks but will party alongside them with the safety of security guards and roped off sidewalks.

However, access to the PPT after party “One More Wine” will cost $10,000 while those who wish to

experience the VIP treatment will pay $20,000.

Patrons can walk with their own drinks on both trucks but drinks will be provided by Pulse Entertainment.

In addition, patrons are granted access to their choice of the celebrity air conditioned truck or tented truck as well was free access to the “One More wine” after party.

Costumes for the parade are designed and customised by Olympia Small Sonaram at a cost of $15,000 and $20,000; however, costumes

are not compulsory.

The Pulse party trucks will move off from the 704 Parking Lot from 11:00h.

friDAY, january 27, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

19

“B

eyond the Runway” with Sonia Noel, inspiring lives through fashion, is a new and dynamic radio programme aired on Radio Guyana 89.5FM and soon there will be an exciting television programme.

The objective behind the programme is to motivate and inspire persons to have a better quality of life.

Noel will use her training with international bestselling authors and renowned transformation coach, Lisa Nichols, as well as the number one leadership guru in the world, John Maxwell.

Also she will utilise the teachings of Les Brown, who is among the top five motivational speakers in the world.

The programme is aired on Radio Guyana Inc from Monday to Friday at 06:45h.

“My attitude to life and all its manifestations has been adjusted and my expectations on living and all its interactions have been realigned. I have recognised that the human resource is the most valuable resource there is. I feel poised to share some of my new-found strengths and distribute my unique methods of sustainable cooperation within a world prone to maximising profit and winning material conquests,” Noel stated.

The content of the programme varies from the value of personal and professional growth to the struggles as a single mother. Growth, she says, is not accidental, it has to be intentional. If you have dreams, goals and aspirations, you need to grow to achieve them, the fashion icon iterated.

Today, most people work towards achieving abundance in their health, finances, relationship and spirituality. It is in this light, a variety of topics will be discussed with the aim of inspiring a wide cross section of persons.

“I am no expert but I love sharing and I feel a sense of gratitude and appreciation for this chance of a lifetime. I experienced an awesome 2016 of adding value to myself so that I can add value to others,” the fashion icon noted.

She further stated that “we have only one life and we want to make a meaningful contribution so sometimes it is good to ask yourself some questions”.

“The people in your life now, are they contributing to the growth and development in your life? Are they making you a better person? Who is in your front row? Do you like what you are doing now? What would you like to do? Can you do what you would like to do?

She encourages all to start that transformation today as we continue this beautiful journey called life “Beyond the Runway”.

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Meet junior calypso contender

“Chris P” A

s plans continue to move apace for the hosting of several Mashramani competitions, the junior calypsonians are gearing up for a very competitive semi-final round.

One such young man is Paul “Chris P” Clark of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, who has entered the 2017 Junior Calypso Competition under the moniker “Chris P”.

His entry to the National Junior Calypso competition addresses the 2017 National Budget and is produced by Bonny Alves out of the SSIGNAL Production Studios.

It is but one of 11 entries carded to compete for the Junior Calypso Monarch crown this year. Whoever wins the title would advance to the Adult competition to take on the more senior contenders.

However, that is just one of the prizes that are offered to the lucky person. Additionally, this year, the winner of the junior monarch would also be entered as Guyana’s representative to the Caribbean Junior Calypso Competition.

That regional competition is scheduled to be staged in August of 2017 as part of Carifesta XIII in Barbados.

Come February, the National Junior Calypso competition would be staged in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) where the decision for the local competition rests in the hands of the judges.

W

ith just two days before the big clash, Deejays are adding that final tweeks to their selections as they intend to represent to the fullest come Saturday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sport Hall tarmac. The competition called “Armageddon” is expected to be the biggest clash among deejays and selectors.

The tarmac will explode when Deejays Antzman, Magnum, and Dellon along with Selectors Charlie, Face and Clive juggle for a whopping $500,000 as first prize. The winner will not only receive

the cash prize but also trophies and bragging rights for an entire year.

Just a reminder, the competition will be held in four segments.

The first segment is called “Good over Evil – God Bless Round”. After this, one contender will be eliminated. The second segment is called “Release the Beast – Anything goes” and again after this 10-minute clash, one person will be eliminated.

The third round is called “Crossing over – Hip Hop/Rap” while the final round is called “Last day – Singer Artiste/Vocal Artiste Only * Tune for Tune”.

The Armageddon sound clash will be judged by the fans while the rules will be enforced by the Host or emcee, Malcolm Ferreira. Tickets for the event cost $1500.

Gates open at 19:00h and the clash begins at 21:00h. The evening is promoted

by Empire Media Inc.

20

friDAY, january 27, 2017

Long-term youth plan on the cards

Australian Open 2017

…as CONCACAF hosts Technical Officer training

T

he Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation Inc. (GFF), Ian Greenwood, participated in a CONCACAForganized coaching education seminar in Mexico from January 15 to 21, 2017.

The session was open to Technical Directors from across the CONCACAF region and was hosted in partnership with the Mexicana de Futol Asociacion, A.C. (FMF).

Greenwood explained the key focus of the programme was the development of a sustained national youth programme: “The key messages delivered by the Mexican Federation and CONCACAF stressed the requirement of all Member Associations to develop a ro-

bust long term youth development plan with the ultimate aim of improving the senior national teams.

International football cannot start at the senior level; there must be a clear national coaching and playing philosophy to highlight the country’s identity from the youth levels. The most pleasing aspect of the seminar is that it has reinforced the long-term Development Plan that is being created and implemented nationwide by the GFF Technical Department.”

The six-day session also saw a representative from The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Coaching Education discussing the need for coaches to engage in contin-

uous professional education.

Among the other areas covered during the session were technical-tactical aspects of preparing and training national youth teams, structuring national youth competitions, the structuring of a talent development programme, the use of sports science and performance analysis, player personal growth, medical services focusing on both clinical diagnosis and performance diagnosis, the importance of age appropriate physical conditioning and nutrition.

The seminar was a combination of theoretical and practical sessions with a focus on the U-13, U- 15, U-17 and U-20 categories.

Venus & Serena to

Federer dumps Wawrinka to set up Nadal showdown

R

oger Federer beat fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka 7-5 6-3 1-6 4-6 6-3 to reach the Australian Open final and stay on course for an 18th Grand Slam title.

The 35-year-old will face Rafael Nadal on Sunday if the Spaniard beats Grigor Dimitrov in Friday’s semi-final.

The Swiss, returning from a six-month lay-off to rest his left knee, last won a major at Wimbledon in 2012.

He is the oldest man to reach a Grand Slam final since Ken Rosewall did so at the 1974 US Open at the age of 39.

“I couldn’t be happier right now,” said Federer.

“I felt like everything hap-

V

me as much as Venus.

“I feel no matter what that we have both won after all we have been through. I know a Williams is going to win this tournament.”

Vandeweghe, 25, had played superbly in seeing off world number one Angelique Kerber and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza to reach the last four, but she could not maintain that level in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Lucic-Baroni was playing her first Grand Slam semi-final for 18 years, but it only lasted 50 minutes as Serena Williams dominated in her 34th major semi-final.

It was their third meeting but their first since 1998, when the pair were teenagers. The story of Lucic-Baroni’s comeback from a series of personal issues that saw her career all but finished had captured the attention, and she ended the tournament by taking a selfie with the crowd on her way out of Rod Laver Arena.

“Mirjana is an inspiration and deserves all the credit today,” said Williams. “To get so far after all she has been through inspires me and I wanted to give h e r all the congratulations.

“It is great to see her out here. I was rooting for her through the whole tournament.”

Williams will return on Saturday to try to make history once again by surpassing Steffi Graf and winning a 23rd major singles title. (BBC Sport) Serena Williams

the semi-final, but the two had never played a five-set match.

Both players needed medical treatment during a match of high intensity but it was the 17-time Grand Slam winner who finally prevailed after three hours and five minutes.

Federer will now seek a fifth Australian Open title, and his first in Melbourne since 2010, when he plays in his 28th Grand Slam final and 100th Australian Open match on Sunday. (BBC Sport)

England draw

1st blood

clash A

in 9th Grand Slam final enus and Serena Williams will meet in a Grand Slam final for the ninth time after the American sisters came through their semi-finals in Melbourne.

Thirteenth seed Venus, 36, beat fellow American Coco Vandeweghe 6-7 (3-7) 6-2 6-3 to reach her first major final since 2009.

World number two Serena, 35, saw off unseeded Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2 6-1 in the second semi-final.

Serena is attempting to win an Open-era record 23rd Grand Slam singles title.

It would also be a seventh Australian Open victory for the younger Williams sister, while Venus hopes to win an eighth major title, first in Melbourne and first since Wimbledon in 2008.

Saturday will be their first Grand Slam final against each other since Wimbledon 2009 when Serena won in straight sets.

“It is unbelievable to watch Serena play tennis - the way she hits the ball and the competitor she is,” Venus Williams said after the first semi-final.

“It would be a dream to see her on the opposite side of the net on Saturday.”

Speaking after her win, Serena said: “I am really proud of Venus - she is a total inspiration.

I a m really happy for her and to be in the final together is a dream for us.

“She is my toughest opponent, no-one has ever beaten Venus Williams

pened so quickly at the end, I had to check the score.

“I never ever in my wildest dreams thought I’d come this far in Australia. It’s beautiful, I’m so happy.”

Federer’s extraordinary run in Melbourne had already seen him beat top-10 seeds Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori to reach the last four.

Seeded 17th following his injury, Federer had an 18-3 record against the fourth seed and reigning US Open champion coming into

in T20s

n impressive England bowling display laid the foundation for a comfortable seven-wicket victory over India in the first Twenty20 international in Kanpur, India. Expertly varying pace and length, England restricted India to 147-7, off-spinner Moeen Ali’s 2-21 the standout.

Sam Billings took 20 from the second over of England’s reply, with Eoin Morgan (51) and Joe Root (46 not out) completing the chase in 18.1 overs.

The second of the three T20 matches is in Nagpur on

Sunday.

England will look to wrap up the series after putting in their best performance of a tour that saw them heavily beaten in the Tests and squeezed out in the one-day internationals. The home side rested spin-bowling tormentors Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, but even their presence would have been unlikely to derail an England side that won their first T20 match in India since an agonising defeat in the final of the 2016 World T20. (BBC Sport)

SCOREBOARD India innings (20 overs maximum) V Kohli* c Morgan b Ali 29 KL Rahul c Rashid b Jordan 8 34 SK Raina b Stokes Yuvraj Singh c Rashid b Plunket 12 36 MS Dhoni† not out MK Pandey lbw b Ali 3 HH Pandya c Billings b Mills 9 Parvez Rasool run out (Jordan/Morgan) 5 0 JJ Bumrah not out Extras (lb-3, w-7, nb-1) 11 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 147 Did not bat A Nehra, YS Chahal Fall of wickets 1-34 (Rahul, 4.3 ov), 2-55 (Kohli, 7.1 ov), 3-75 (Yuvraj Singh, 10.1 ov), 4-95 (Raina, 12.3 ov), 5-98 (Pandey, 13.2 ov), 6-118 (Pandya, 16.2 ov), 7-145 (Parvez Rasool, 19.4 ov) Bowling TS Mills 4-0-271 (w-1), CJ Jordan 4-0-27-1

(nb-1, w-1), LE Plunkett 4-032-1, BA Stokes 4-0-37- 1 4-0-21-2 (w-5), MM Ali England innings (target: 148 runs from 20 overs) b Chahal 19 JJ Roy SW Billings b Chahal 22 46 JE Root not out EJG Morgan* c Raina b Parvez Rasool 51 2 BA Stokes not out Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-4, nb-1) 8 Total (3 wickets; 18.1 overs) 148 Did not bat JC Buttler†, MM Ali, CJ Jordan, LE Plunkett, TS Mills, AU Rashid Fall of wickets 1-42 (Roy, 3.2 ov), 2-43 (Billings, 3.5 ov), 3-126 (Morgan, 15.2 ov) Bowling A Nehra 3-0-31-0 (w-2), JJ Bumrah 3.1-0-26-0 (nb-1), YS Chahal 4-0-27-2, Parvez Rasool 4-0-32-1, SK Raina 2-0-17-0, HH Pandya 2-0-12-0 (w-1)

sports

YELLOW PAGES

21

friday, january 27, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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– Clash of the Champions set for February

I

n 2016, two separate futsal tournaments were held at two separate locations locally where two separate champions were crowned. However, the question that requires an answer is, who are the true champions?

That question will

New Era Entertainment Cell Smart Futsal tournament in Linden and Sparta Boss who were victorious in the Guinness Greatness of the Streets in Georgetown.

The crucial first leg will be at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown

the Street” football title when they won it for the second time in as many years defeating Tucville 1-0 while Hustlers fought with sweat and bones to dethrone Magic Stars in the Mohamed’s Enterprise Linden Futsal Tournament to book their matches with

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Hustlers will need to bring their best to win

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Sparta Boss will have their hands full when they come up against Hustlers

event seemed to be all but ideas until the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) recently gave thumbs up to the contest. The two day competition will be played on February 11 and 18 at different venues.

There will be four official games as well as two exhibition games on each night with the two teams who will be battling for the top honours playing each other on both nights.

The two teams that will take to the court will be Dave and Celena’s Hustlers who won the Mohamed’s Enterprise

with Bent Street going up against Tucville in the first match followed by Gold is money facing Tiger Bay and Broad Street battling Leopold Street before the main event.

The following week, February 18, the games move over to the McKenize Sports Club Hard Court, Linden where Magic Stars will play Good Fellas and town cars (Georgetown taxi drivers) taking on Linden bus (linden bus drivers).

The Georgetown-based side Sparta Boss made a successful defence of their Guinness “Greatest of

entertainment for the large crowds night after night. It will be particularly interesting to see who will take it as it provides a home and away scenario for both teams.

The style of play for both teams is different from each other and this will be providing a competition like never seen before.

The matches will be played on a six a side basis inclusive on 5 players and a goal keeper, using the large goal and run under the rules of the Guyana Futsal Association.

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friDAY, january 27, 2017

Limacol football

GABA League Championships 2017…

Ravens, Trojans

offering fans excitement and consistency

register wins

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The first two matches were thrilling draws which gave an indication of how invigorating the tournament will be for fans

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he second edition of the Petra Organised Limacol Football Tournament is in full flow and Co-Director of the organizing body, Troy Mendonca feels the tournament will offer fans excitement on a consistent basis.

His position comes due to the fact that the round-robin knock-out tournament has 24 group matches with some of the associations’ best teams on show.

More so, based on the scheduling there were will specific playing on weekdays and weekends aimed at attracting more fans of the “beautiful sport.”

With such planning, Mendonca firmly believes the tournament will offer excitement and consistency.

“What we have to accept is that Guyanese patrons and players are so enthusiastic about football and what they want to know is that on specific dates there is football and we are offering that to them especially in the round-robin stage,” Mendonca stated.

Thursday evening, was the second night of matches and the organizer is so far impressed with the level of intensity among all teams.

He said, “We are happy about the games on the opening night, seeing teams going at each other hard, there were no advantages; the level of play is reasonable for teams that are not involved in the elite league but most of teams were recently involved in competitions as late as December so they are prepared.

The double-header which was scheduled for the McKenzie Sports Club ground, Linden on Saturday has been moved to Georgetown Football Club (GFC), Bourda as rehabilitation works are currently going at the Linden premier football venue but there are discussions to have a shift back to Linden at some point in the tournament.

Additionally, the Co-Director posited that this tournament will certainly help to develop football in Guyana, as it gives teams who may not gain the exposure of Elite teams a chance to showcase talent.

“When we formed the group our mandate was to revitalize football at the school level and to fill in any gaps that will be beneficial to the sport; a year ago the elite was formed and we saw the opportunity to bring together the second best teams in the country,” Mendonca explained.

Tonight at the Leonora Stadium top clubs from the West Coast Demerara will be in action beginning with Uitvlugt FC clashing with Eagles United from 18:30h, followed by Pouderoyen against Den Amstel at 20:30h.

Admission to the venue is $500.

he Basketball season got underway on Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Homestretch Avenue with the second edition of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s League Championships 2017 with Dyna’s Ravens and University of Guyana (UG) Trojans notching up victories in the Under-23 category.

In the opening contest, Bounty Colts were defeated by a rampant Ravens team who seemed to be feeding off of the hype of the crowd of basketball lovers while a nail biting end to the UG Trojans-Eagles ended the night on a high point.

Ravens romped past Colts 64-55, having gotten off to a slow start. Colts jumped the gun and started like a team on a mission, leading 11-8 in the first period and then extending the gap to 10 as Ravens slipped further behind 25-15.

But the second half completely belonged to Ravens who returned like a different team finding their spirit to produce two outstanding periods. In the third, Ravens notched up 22 points and 27 in the last period while Colts only managed 17 and 13 respectively.

On their way to victory, Ravens were lead valiantly by Trenson Burnett and Murthland Ward who both produced 18 points to halt the assentation of Colts lead by Jonathon Managra (16 points) and Timothy Thompson (15 points).

Meanwhile, in the second contest, UG looked as if they were going to run away with the match, taking an eight-point lead in the first period with the score at 14-6.

UG took the second period as well, but this time by a smaller margin, a sign that Eagles looked to be soaring once more as the score line read 27-17.

However, getting down to the business end of the match, Eagles found their wings and tried to make a turnaround in the contest and secure a come from behind win, outscoring UG by seven points to bring the deficit down to three.

But when the final buzzer sounded, both teams had managed to score 17 points in the last period to see UG coming out on top.

Sherland Gillis with 14 points and Kadeem Peterkin with 13 points were all that was required by UG to fend of Eagles who threatened with Travis Belgrave scoring 17 points.

The next fixture will see three more exciting matches as Pacesetters will come up against Guardians in an Under-23 match while Colts will play UG and Eagles will play Guardians in two open matches.

The contest sees Colts, UG, Pacesetters and Sonics in Group A, Guardians, Ravens, Nets and Eagles in Group B. Also, Colts, Pacesetters, Guardians, Ravens and Eagles are the Under 23 teams.

The top two teams from the two groups will advance to the semifinals and the winners will play best of three in the finals while the top four under 23 teams will advance to the semifinals and the winners play best of three in the finals.

Cycling season opens with 11-race programme

− Ricks and Sari celebrates 24 years on the track

Flashback! The top performers of the 23rd annual Ricks and Sari Agro Industries multi-race cycle programme pose with their rewards at the National Park

By Romario Samaroo

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he country’s leading wheelsmen will return to battle when the inner circuit of the National Park is transformed into the pedalist’s playground for the 24th edition of the Ricks and Sari 11-stage cycling meet on Saturday.

The event which has become a traditional race for the cyclists is organized by National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed and is expected to commence at 09:00h with the younger riders going up against each other in the boys and girls BMX races aged 6-9,9-12, 12-14 followed by the Open race which is the main event of the day.

Up for the challenge will be the Junior and Juvenile riders as well as the Mountain Bikers and Veterans.

However, the highlight of the day will be the 35-lap featured race. This race is particularly important for the clubs as they look to get the edge over the other not to mention their riders looking to start their season on a positive note.

Team Evolution has built a somewhat sort of expectation in winning this event, having notched up victories in the previous two editions of the event, Team Cocos, who had a red hot streak in the latter part of the 2016 season, will be gunning for the win in the upcoming edition. Team Cocos, with the likes of Hamza Eastman, Raynauth ‘Obeah Man’ Jeffrey, Stephano ‘Sunny’ Husbands and Jamaul John will not be easy to beat.

However, with the skills and talent of last season’s best rider Orville Hinds, Michael Antony and Marlon Williams Team Gillette Evolution will be bringing the pace to their opponents.

Not to be excluded from the contest for the top spot Linden Bauxite Flyer’s Shaquel Agard, Team Alanis Paul Nobrega, United We Stand pair, Andrew Hicks and Raphael Leung as well as the beast, Roarima’s Alanzo Greaves.

Last year’s main event was won by Anthony, who stopped the clock at one hour, 18 minutes, 38.90 seconds (01h: 18m: 38.90s).

While Anthony would no doubt be looking for a repeat, he would be fully aware that his opponents would also be gunning for a win to start the season on a positive note.

Some of the other winners from 2016 were Romello Crawford in the Juveniles, Andrew Spencer in the Veterans, Adelia Hodge in the BMX 12-14 and Ronaldo Narine in the 12-14 Racing Bikes.

As per tradition, the presentation ceremony will be conducted by representatives of Ricks and Sari Agro Industries who will also be there in their numbers to witness the action.

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friDAY, january 27, 2017

−Chanderpaul hits classy 101 Chadwick Walton

ter they were Scorpions at the Shiv took 94 but needed supand Anthony The vetersorts of trouble The Jaguars “Tiger” to do hunt with with Steven in the 40th his century, with the score on 199/9 in the 43rd over and the Scorpions were already celebrating their first points of the tournament.

Their opening bowlers bowled with fire and shared eight wickets with Jerome Taylor capturing his second five-wicket haul at this level.

Earlier, the Scorpions won the toss and were out of the blocks immediately with Chadwick Walton taking a liking to the Jaguars opening bowlers. In the fourth over he lost his opening partner John Campbell which paved the way for his partnership with Jermaine Blackwood. They added 92 for the second wicket which set up the Scorpions to get to 249/8. In addition to 42 from Blackwood at the top of the order, Devon Thomas hit a breezy unbeaten 56 at the back end of the innings to give the Scorpions the momentum going into the break.

Reifer and Jacobs,

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hivnarine Chanderpaul scored his 13th List A century but it was not enough to prevent the Guyana Jaguars from going down to their second consecutive defeat in this year’s Regional Super50. Playing their second match the Jaguars fell 41 runs short afbowled out for 208 chasing 249/8 made by the Jamaica Kensington Oval, Barbados. balls to get to the landmark hitting 12 fours and a six port at the other end with only Raymon Reifer (25) Bramble (29) offering any. an batsman rescued the Jaguars after they were in all at 3/1, 4/2, 13/3 and 14/4 due to some hostile bowling. never really recovered and it was just too much for the alone. However, he managed to keep his team in the partnerships of 77 with Reifer, 54 with Bramble and 44 Jacobs but when Jacobs went in strange circumstances over the writing was on the wall. Shortly after bringing up Shiv edged behind to give Walton one of his five dismissals

23

Steven Jacobs

Veerasammy Permaul picked up two wickets a economical and he accounted for two big wickets to only momentarily.

The Jaguars will meet the Marooners on venue while the Scorpions will next be in action on also at the Kensington Oval. The tournament continmatches; at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground the West Indies U-19’s from 09:00h while defending Tobago Red Force open their campaign at the Coolidge Volcanoes in the day/ night fixture from 13:30h.

piece but Jacobs’ spell was push the Scorpions back but Saturday at the same Monday against the Pride ues today with Group A the Hurricanes take on champions Trinidad and Cricket Ground against the

Marooners beat

ICC Americas to go 2 from 2

SCOREBOARD Scorpions Innings (Maximum 50 Overs) C Walton c Fudadin b Jacobs 82 J Campbell LBW b Reifer 2 J Blackwood b Jacobs 42 B King c Fudadin b Reifer 21 R Powell c Barnwell b Bishoo 16 D Thomas Not Out 56 D Sewell LBW b Permaul 12 J Taylor b Permaul 0 N Miller Run Out (Permaul) 6 D Jacobs Not Out 1 Extras (w-5, lb-1, b-5) 11 Total (For 8 wickets, 50 Overs) 249 Did not bat R Leveridge FOW: 1-18, 2-110, 3-138, 4-179, 5-202, 6-229, 7-229, 8-243 Bowling Beaton 7-0-36-0 (w2), Reifer 10-1-41-2, Permaul 10-0-48-2 (w-2), Barnwell 3-0-24-0 (w-1), Jacobs 102-27-2, Bishoo 10-0-67-1 Jaguars Innings (Target 250 from 50 Overs) S Hetmyer b Leveridge 1

A Fudadin b Taylor 3 L Johnson* b Taylor 0 S Chanderpaul c wkpr Walton b Leveridge 101 C Barnwell c whpr Walton b Leveridge 1 R Reifer c wkpr Walton b D Jacobs 25 A Bramble+ c wkpr Walton b Campbell 29 S Jacobs Hit wicket b Taylor 19 V Permaul c D Jacobs b Taylor 4 D Bishoo Not Out 6 R Beaton c wkpr Walton b Taylor 4 Extras (nb-1, w-13, lb-1) 15 Total (All out, 43 Overs) 208 FOW: 1-3, 2-4, 3-13, 4-14, 5-91, 6-145, 7-189, 8-197, 9-199, 10-208 Bowling Taylor 9-0-40-5(w-3), Leveridge 9-0-38-3(w-9, nb-1), Sewell 3-0-18-0, Jacobs 10-0-571(w-1), Miller 7-0-23-0, Campbell 3-0-15-1, Powell 3-0-16-0 Player of the Match Jerome Taylor (Scorpions) Points; Scorpions 4 Jaguars 0

Guyana NRA on target for Commonwealth Games 2018 T he Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has thrown their support behind the Guyana National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) as they continue to prepare for the 2018 Commonwealth Games slated for the Gold Coast, Australia.

President of the GOA K.A Juman Yassin yesterday presented a cheque worth $1.5m to the GuyanaNRA Captain Mahendra Persaud at a simple ceremony held at the GOA office in High Street, Georgetown.

Yassin in remarks stated that the donation was made through the Commonwealth Games Federation to help the GNRA with their preparations for the Commonwealth Games next year. “The GNRA has been doing exceedingly well and with this we hope to see them on the podium,” he said. He indicated that another donation will be made shortly.

He made special mention of Mahendra Persaud and Lennox Brathwaite for their performances over the years, adding that the executive of the GNRA has been working very hard to make the nation proud and he hopes to see the results in Australia.

Persaud expressed gratitude to the GOA and said their input will assist them with their training for the Commonwealth Shooting Federation Championships which is a pre run to the Commonwealth Games set for the said venue. He said that the assistance will help them to get acclimatized to the conditions as compared to previous championships.

Persaud noted that this will be the first time any Guyana team will be present at the championships and they hope to medal. “Our shooters have always held their own but we have been a little off in terms of medals and hopefully with this assistance we can land a spot on the podium,” he posited.

Timroy Allen played some attractive shots in his entertaining innings

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he Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners continued with their winning ways after a convincing seven wicket victory against ICC Americas in Group “B” of the Regional Super50 Tournament on Thursday at Windward Cricket Club in Lucas Street, Barbados.

After stunning Jamaica Scorpions by seven wickets two days earlier, the students followed their path to success by inserting the ICC Americas to take first strike.

The ICC Americas never suggested permanence nor dominance at the crease and after a steady procession to and from the pavilion they were eventually limited to 181 for 9 from their 50 overs. It took some late hitting from to give the score some respectability.

After the top order was blown away, ICC Americas were tottering at 53/5 at one stage then 89/6 before Akeem Dodson made a patient 28 (79 balls; 2x4) and Timroy Allen 43 with four fours and a six from the 50 balls came to the rescue.

Opener Kamau Leverock and wicketkeeper/ batsman Nikhil Dutta chipped in with 26 each while Man of the Match produced a superb economical spell and nicely supported by all of the

Marooners bowlers.

The Marooners paced the run chase beautifully to ensure they picked up another four points for their second consecutive win. Captain Jamal Smith and Amir Jangoo put on 81 for the opening stand that laid the foundation for Kyle Corbin and Cassius Burton to fin-

ish. Jangoo hit his second consecutive half century in the process.

Group B action will continue with the Marooners taking on the struggling Jaguars on Saturday at the Kensington Oval while ICC Americas meet Barbados Pride at the 3W’s Oval.

SCOREBOARD ICC Americas Innings (Maximum 50 overs) Kamau Leverock c Cassius Burton b Nino Henry 26 Srimantha Wijeyeratne+ c Nino Henry b Keon Hardin 0 Nitish Kumar* c Amir Jangoo b Christopher Powell 1 Alex Amsterdam c Keon Harding b Jermaine Levy 2 Nikhil Dutta c Ryan Hinds b Vikash Mohan 26 Nicholas Standford c Jamal Smith b Ryan Hinds 11 Akeem Dodson c Keon Harding b Jermaine Levy 28 Timroy Allen C Cassius Burton b Vikash Mohan 43 Saad bin Zafar c Kyle Corbin b Keon Harding 25 Jasdeep Singh not out 1 Cecil Pervez not out 3 Extras (nb-0, lb-3, wd10, nb-2) 15 Total (For 9 wickets, 50 overs) 181 Fall of wickets: 2-1, 4-2, 22-3, 39-4, 53-5, 89-6, 117-7, 177-8, 177-9

Bowling: C. Powell 3-1-141, K. Harding 10-1-27-2 (wd6), J. Levy 8—43-2 (wd-4), N. Henry 5-0-15-1 (nb-1), R. Hinds 10-2-19-1, M. Deyal 5-115-0, V. Mohan 9-0-45-2 CCC Marooners Innings Jamal Smith*+ lbw b Saad Bin Zafar 36 Amir Jangoo lbw b Jasdeep Sin gh 52 Kyle Corbin not out 47 Vikash Mohan lbw b Nikhil Dutta 0 Cassius Burton not out 38 Extras: (b-0, lb-4, wd-7, no-0) 11 Total (For 3 wickets, 45.4 overs) 184 Did not bat: R. Hinds, M. Deyal, L. Edwards, N. Henry, J. Levy Fall of wickets: 811, 110-2, 111-3 Bowling: C. Pervez 7-1-27-0 (wd-2), J. Singh 9.4-1-36-1, T. Allen 3-0-9-0, N. Dutta 8-231-1 (wd-1), 1-0-9-0, Saad Bin Zafar 10-0-36-1 (wd-1), N. Kumar 7-1-30-0 (wd-1)

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

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017

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WICB/ Regional Super50 2017...

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Scorpions sting Jaguars − Chanderpaul hits classy 101

Shiv "Tiger" Chanderpaul goes high and hard over the on side at the Kensington Oval

Guyana NRA on target for Commonwealth Games 2018

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GOA President K A Juman Yassin gleefully hands over the cheque to Mahendra Persaud in the presence of members of the GOA and GNRA at Olympic House

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