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Rodney CoI hears…

PNC likely had a GDF weapons account – Lt P3 Col James Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

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Issue No. 2234

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Suspects in waitress’ murder P9 positively identified

Page 9

… for waiving taxes for Beacon Foundation as 'Town Clerk'

BK launches JAGS Aviation

Page 11

Lamaha St P13 Canal desilting almost 75 per cent completed

Uncertainty over fees as UG reopens

P16

Owner of JAGS Aviation Brian Tiwari (left) escorts President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Transport Minister Robeson Benn to the new Cessna Caravan at the official launch of the aviation service (Carl Croker photo)

PPP/C seeks Peacemaker 'national front stabbed to alliance' death Page 9

Page 7

AFC mourns passing of NY official P17 Schools to have adequate furniture for new school P17 year

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, August 26 from 05:00h-06:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Tuesday, August 26 from 17:05h-18:35h

WEATHER TODAY

Winds: Easterly between 4.47 metres and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 04:49h and 17:02h reaching maximum heights of 2.68 metres and 2.63 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:43h and 22.56h reaching minimum heights of 0.58 metre and 0.55 metre respectively.

sATURday, august 23, 2014

LOTTERY NUMBERS 05 07 20 27 11 21 12

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PNC likely had a GDF weapons account – Lt Col James ons. Nevertheless, James admitted to the Commission that from the record, the illegal transfer was a grave security matter.

The Commission also heard that on August 10, 1979, more than one weapons voucher were issued to the National Development Ministry for 15 M70 rifles and five machine guns, along with accessories.

BY TAJERAM MOHABIR

Thundery showers can be expected during the day with heavy rain showers in the late afternoon. Thundery showers are expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

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Rodney CoI hears…

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G

uyana Defence Force (GDF) Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James has contended that it is plausible that the People’s National Congress (PNC) had a weapons account in the GDF given the frequency of unauthorised issuance.

Resuming his testimony under cross-examination at the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, James said the guns during the period 1976 to 1979 were issued to the National Development Ministry, Wilfred Skeete of the National Development Ministry and Robert Corbin of the PNC. Under cross-examination from the Commission’s Attorney Glenn Hanoman, a relaxed and fluent James told the tribunal that some 100 Browning pistols, 15 M70 rifles, five M72 machine guns, 15 Smith and Wesson pistols, 14 G3 rifles, four HK11 rifles, 40 Beretta pistols, four SLR .33 machine guns, six .22 rifles, six .303 rifles and six Carbines were issued.

Weapons issued

James could not say, however, how many of these weapons were issued individually to the National Development Ministry; to Skeete, who was reportedly Corbin’s driver; and to Corbin; how many were not returned; or how many were issued to external agencies.

James is expected to divulge this information when he returns to the stand today. He explained to the Commission that the issuance of weapons within the Army was given by the Chief-of-Staff, and approval for the issuance to

Reason

Lieutenant Colonel Sydney James on the stand on Monday

external agencies would have required the express permission of the Defence Board.

The Army officer pointed out that weapons were issued to Joint Services organisations, and was unaware of any protocol governing the issuance, contending that it was done on a case by case basis.

Quite interestingly, on May 18, 1979, five Smith and Wesson pistols, along with accessories, were issued to Robert Corbin, whose position then was either the Permanent Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Lieutenant Colonel James noted that on the next day, nine Smith and Wesson pistols and accessories were issued to Corbin, this time under

the National Development Ministry.

James indicated to the tribunal that there is no evidence that the Defence Board authorised the distribution. However, he surmised that the board would have been written to, and probably would have given approval, but no record was found to this effect.

On July 24, 1979, the Army also issued 10 Beretta pistols, 19 G3 bayonets and 19 G3 rifles to Corbin of the PNC, for the House of Israel.

James said the record of the transfer was found in a file of the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force, which indicated that Corbin handed over the weapons to the House of Israel.

However, the information was recorded on a form that was used to document missing and damage weap-

The Army Lieutenant Colonel said weapons were not issued to any other Ministry, and on that note, he added that on May 19, 1976, eight G3 rifles, 20 Beretta pistols, 15 SLR rifles and accessories were given to Skeete. James was unable to say for what reason the weapons were given to the PNC agent.

Also on October 13, 1976, six .22 rifles, six .33 rifles and six Carbines were handed over to Skeete, while on July 6, 1978, he received 50 Browning pistols from the Army.

On January 9, 2008, following a shootout with criminals, the Police recovered a quantity of weapons and ammunition, which were traced to those issued by the Army to Skeete on July 6, 1978 and to Corbin May 19, 1976, under the National Development Ministry.

James told the Commission that the guns issued to Skeete were never returned to the Army, contending that the issuance was an anomaly.

He pointed out that some were issued permanently and on loan to the Joint Services organisations, but some of these entities are now disbanded and defunct.

As such, some weapons were never returned.

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Views Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

The end of politics?

I

t is possible that hope beats eternal in the hearts of some that somehow, somewhere, man will be able to arrange his social relationships in such a way that there will be no conflicts. And the lion will lie down with the lamb in peace and harmony.

This, of course, would mean the death of politics as we know it and is the very antithesis of the realist view that has dominated political action since the dawn of time. It could also mean that players who proffer such views in the present are perfectly aware of their inapplicability, but do so in an effort to disguise their realist manoeuvres. In modern times, the realist view of politics was articulated by Hans Morgenthau: “The struggle for power is universal in time and space and is an undeniable fact of experience. It cannot be denied that throughout historic time, regardless of social, economic and political conditions, states have met each other in contests for power. Even though anthropologists have shown that certain primitive peoples seem to be free from the desire for power, nobody has yet shown how their state of mind can be re-created on a worldwide scale so as to eliminate the struggle for power from the international scene…

International politics, like all politics, is a struggle for power.”

Even though Morgenthau was referring specifically to the practice of international politics, his insights have been successfully applied in the domestic politics of countries with great explanatory success for observed behaviour. It has been said that the difference between the international and domestic environments was one in which the latter players played by agreed rules, while in the former it was a case of “the big fish eating the little fish”.

In Guyana, whenever the PPP is in office, the PNC rejects those rules – encapsulated in the Constitution – and the local politics become indistinguishable from that of the international realm.

In the 1960s, the PNC practised, realist politics under the hand of Forbes Burnham who reveled in his willingness to do whatever it took to obtain power – including exploiting ethnic hostilities. After practising the realpolitik of rigged elections for 28 years, the PNC was finally eased out only when its sponsor’s attention turned elsewhere. But the PNC’s politics continued unchanged as it immediately embarked on a war of attrition through accusations of “ethnic cleansing” and state-personnel recalcitrance.

This broke out into open attacks on the state after the 1997 elections, which segued into the violent, terroristic “slow fyaah, mo fyaah” strategy of Desmond Hoyte. At this point, there was no distinction between the anarchy of the international realm and politics in Guyana.

In the mid 2000s, the PNC and some other players began to talk about “shared governance” and “consociationalism”.

However, when put to the test after the 2011 elections, when the combined Opposition won a majority of seats in Parliament, it insisted on controlling every office in every institution in the National Assembly.

In fact, from that point to the present, the PNC and its ally, the AFC, worked insidiously – both inside and outside of Parliament – to seize the functions of the Executive, which the PPP/C had secured in accordance with the constitutional rules of the game. The mask had been ripped from the idealist pretence of “power sharing” and the jettisoning of real politik.

Yet the words have continued to emanate from the Opposition and its allies. After the bitter experiences for over half a century, it was not surprising that the PPP/C took the utterances of the Opposition with more than a grain of salt: it insisted on the building of “trust” between the two sides.

Today, in the wake of the Opposition’s bluff on “snap elections”, being called by the PPP/C, they have gone into overdrive on the panacea of institutions replacing politics.

The Guyanese people will not be fooled twice.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo in deep conversation with President Donald Ramotar, Chairman of Banks DIH Ltd Clifford Reis, Managing Director of BK International Brian Tiwari, and Minister within the Finance Ministry Juan Edghill at the launching of JAGS Aviation at Ogle International Airport on Monday (Carl Croker photo)

Atonement for slavery must not enslave others Dear Editor, ACDA’s Barrington Braithwaite in a letter, “Slavery has to be atoned for”, reminded us that “a letter to the media cannot expand on the vast areas of research and the contentions that constitute the cause of reparations, but the most concise theme would be “there was work forcibly done, minds, spirits and souls destroyed, that has to be atoned for”.

Who is in possession of any immoral negritude to contend or reject reparations for historical wrongs that forever altered the trajectory of Guyanese humanity?

Wrong is wrong, regardless of the colour of the perpetrators. By the same token the victims’ colour and their suffering do not give a passport entitlement to in turn violently brutalise another colour or ethnicity.

The German/Jewish/Arab speaks volumes.

Violent atonement for slavery cannot also enslave others by the ritual which finds it on the forever agenda in Guyana. The principle of European atonement for its historical wrongs to Africans will also similarly require full African reparations to Indians in Guyana for the “recent” wrongs done to them from the 1950s up to the present.

Understandably this has caused much huffing and puffing which hopefully will not bring the house down or contribute to any personal psychiatric distress.

Braithwaite had cause to remind us that it took 350 years from slavery to the status of the colonial subject to raise Europe to its robust maturity. By contrast the Afro Guyanese atrocities against Indo Guyanese is merely just over 50 years.

Suffering is suffering, like Braithwaite reminds and were “forcibly done, minds, spirits and souls destroyed”

by Africans who were with a supposedly superior “civilising” Christianity. Equipped with better education and in complete command and control of superior weapons of mass destruction (WMD), it was effectively deployed against innocent defenceless Indians at Wismar in 1964, elsewhere, and often across Guyana during elections.

Can there be any fledgling ACDA magnanimity to Indians by Barrington’s signal ownership credit, which advises that “every citizen on the local turf, should understand that reparations is not a toy of current politics, it embodies far more severe concerns, and commands the responsibility to ensure that it is not a subject of debt write-offs by a suspect Government”?

Not the usual Guyanese gridlock all over again?

Braithwaite would find it very difficult to justify his sterling surrogate defence of the ACDA’s economics Professor who seeks to sanctify withholding reparations, because he originally set out to “ensure that it is not a subject of debt write-offs by a suspect Government”.

Since the “usual suspect” PPP/C has constantly been under fire to share political power, what credibly justifies upholding the ACDA’s manifesto of Afro Guyanese national economic exclusion with reparations to benefit only one race? Since reparations billions have already cured some of their “socialism disease”, what’s the mission in any national unity government or shared governance?

As advocated both by the ACDA’s letter writers and by extension the black controlled WPA, debt writeoffs which benefit every Guyanese for national progress and development should be rejected as no good because it’s not good for Afro Guyanese. So what’s good for Guyana?

Braithwaite tells it like it is: “But since Dr Clive Thomas’s article of July 20, there have appeared some emotional ‘bash reparations’ letters in the media, that emit the typical venom and are minus depth in relation to the topic in question.”

More and more the wickedness of those under reparations sheep’s clothing who cry ‘wolf’ for attention are justifying their case for no power sharing/unity government because of racial agendas. Under federalism, it would be possible with checks and balances.

Insisting on exclusive ownership of justified reparations windfall is most incompatible with demanding any shared governance or unity government.

Complete ownership of reparations billions (minus reparations to Indians) will best definitely allow nuclear economic augmentation of Afro Guyanese under federalism, even under Dr Thomas’s economic genius without question.

So what’s now preventing complete emancipation, as Braithwaite wrote, from those constant “letters in the media that emit the typical venom and are minus depth in relation to the topic in question”?

The topic is European reparations for Afro Guyanese and the latter’s reparations to Indo Guyanese, as Braithwaite champions, to “facilitate the therapy of psychological repatriation to a better economic landscape and world view” of his kith and kin, hopefully not excluding Indians or our native owners.

In fact, he is most comforted since “reparations envelop historical atonement for an injustice that cannot be ignored”. With such an excellent surrogate support of the ACDA and WPA, what explains the significant “silence of the lambs” about federalism?

And how many cats have GECOM registered in other Georgetown houses or cemeteries to have eaten all the residents' dinners? Someone with undisputed veterinary qualifications has much work to do with kitty at play.

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

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Freddie Kissoon has been Actions of ISIS do not represent teachings of Islam repeatedly reprimanded Dear Editor, The Guyana Islamic Trust on behalf of the Muslim Community of Guyana strongly denounces the actions of the group known as ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham/Islamic State Group).

The dreadful actions of this group and similar groups such as Boko Haram whose origin, existence and operation are for the most part shrouded in mystery, in no way represent the pristine and beautiful teachings of Islam.

We reject their ghastly actions and heinous crimes which are done in the name of Islam, casting a dark image upon Islam and Muslims. However, their abomination does exactly the opposite of what Islam calls

upon Muslims to do, namely establish peace and justice and safeguard human rights and dignity.

We, therefore, categorically condemn the actions of this group and its monstrous crimes against humanity.

Based on reports in the media, ISIS has committed horrific atrocities, including attacks against different religious and ethnic communities in Syria and Iraq who have lived peacefully for centuries alongside Muslims.

They have caused nothing but destruction and corruption and have violated core Islamic teachings and principles such as the sanctity of human life and the importance of treating others with dignity, respect and tol-

erance.

Therefore, we implore all Muslims to denounce this deliberate perversion of our Faith and to dissociate themselves totally from such dangerous groups who intentionally use the name of Islam in their ongoing campaign of distortion and destruction.

We also call upon all our friends, neighbours and fellow Guyanese to stand with the local Muslim Community in condemning the horrendous crimes of these extreme groups and not to judge Islam and Muslims by the actions of a few misguided and deviant miscreants.

Respectfully, GIT Secretariat

Dear Editor, Freddie Kissoon has been repeatedly reprimanded and one cannot fathom why someone who spent 25 years teaching at a university provides so much misinformation to the public. This was again done to me (August 15) through another media house.

Freddie penned, “Bisram in a reply two months ago to Mahadeo Persaud, stated that he, Bisram, has several doctorates and masters”.

I never penned such a statement to Persaud. I never wrote about my academic qualifications and only presented them because Freddie demanded that the media houses request the information. The Stabroek News Editor requested of me to list some of them (April 23, 2011).

In a response to Maxwell (January 24), I stated in a commentary on Alexi Ramotar that: “I do not dis-

pute Maxwell that people with doctorates and master’s degrees at times have failed in their business or other endeavours. For goodness sake, I have countless masters and doctorates and I myself have not succeeded in all of my tasks and responsibilities.” Mahadeo Persaud’s name was never invoked in that riposte. Persaud knows about my academic credentials, which are unique in Caribbean standards. I don’t need to tell him about me.

Freddie referred (on four occasions) to a Stabroek News Editorial comment that he claims was published on December 10, 2010. I checked and could not find such an Editorial Comment on me on that date. However, one popped up for April 23, 2011 and it made no reference to “respect” regarding Bisram.

As I have consistently and methodically noted above, sup-

ported with evidence, Freddie’s comments are replete with misconceived, inconsistent and factual errors. He describes the PNC as a 10 per cent party – is he proud of his polling measure when the PNC consistently polled 42 per cent since 1992?

He described the WPA as a 40 per cent party, but it is yet to cross two per cent.

Kissoon has repeatedly demonstrated why Guyanese have been giving him the title of “grand master of misinformation”.

Instead of focusing on me and demanding information about others, he should tell us why he was rejected for his degree in Canada and deported; why he was denied employment at Cave Hill; why he was deported from Grenada; and why he was sent home from Miami and cannot revisit the US.

Dear Editor, I was not surprised when I saw the front page headline of Guyana’s Chronicle on August 25, “Local publisher at centre of duty-free concession scam”. The local publisher named was Glenn Lall of the Kaieteur News.

However I was aghast when I read the article and found that this self-proclaimed modern-day ‘Robin Hood’ who banters daily about fighting corruption was in the middle of a scam haemorrhaging millions from the Treasury.

This is a man who by his own words has dedicated himself and his newspaper to wage war against corruption.

In his own words, he says he does it for the “protection of the taxpayers”.

However, when examined, his own conduct cannot withstand scrutiny. In fact, he is

very much guilty of the very thing that he claims to have declared war against, as in the bumper sticker on the vehicle referred to in the article.

Low and behold, the very vehicle is the object of alleged corruption.

Thus far his name has been connected to backtracking and other nefarious activities. He was found allegedly stealing electricity, according to a newspaper article recently. The City Council claims he owes millions of dollars in rates and taxes and they have him in court. Now he is implicated in a duty-free scam.

This man and his newspaper ought to never speak about corruption.

I anxiously await the other crusaders against corruption to speak on this matter. The AFC (Alliance For Change), APNU (A Partnership for

National Unity), Christopher Ram, Anand Goolsarran, Transparency International and others.

I say to them the Guyanese people will judge them harshly if they seek refuge in silence on this matter. After all, it is the same newspaper that they frequently use as their forum to lecture to the world on corruption.

Lastly, I wait also to see what actions that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) will take on this matter. I know of many similar instances where the vehicles in question were immediately impounded, while the matter is investigated.

I see no reason why this should not happen in this matter.

Russian humanitarian aid delivered to south-eastern regions of Ukraine Guyana’s ‘Robin Hood’ unmasked again Dear Editor, Humanitarian aid has been delivered to the besieged city of Lugansk in eastern Ukraine. Two hundred and twenty-seven trucks with 3500 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food, drinking water, medications, essential items and diesel generators which are urgently needed by women, children and the elderly reached Ukraine.

All trucks have returned to Russia safely. The Russian representatives were in close cooperation with the representatives of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) observers.

Kiev has delayed granting its formal consent required by the ICRC for several days, while repeatedly inventing

new pretexts and stepping up attacks on Lugansk and Donetsk that involve military aircraft and heavy-duty armoured vehicles, targeting residential areas and other civilian facilities.

Over the past few days, the Ukrainian army has been launching ballistic missiles in the Lugansk and Donetsk cities, ever more frequently.

Russia is once again calling on the Ukrainian leadership, as well as the United States and the European Union (EU), which are exerting their influence on Kiev, to promptly launch negotiations in south-eastern Ukraine and start complying with the accords formalised in the April 17 Geneva Statement by Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the EU on stopping the use of force, mitigating the humanitarian

situation, and immediately launching nationwide dialogue that would involve all Ukrainian regions.

Outgoing NATO General Secretary Anders Rasmussen misinformed the public that the humanitarian convoy entered Ukraine without consent from the authorities in Kiev and ICRC. His words can be characterised as another distortion.

Recently, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Russia announced plans for a second humanitarian convoy to be sent to eastern Ukraine, urging foreign actors and agencies to participate in continuing efforts at relieving the crisis.

Sincerely, Denis Kopyl Head of the Consular Section Russian Embassy

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Sincerely, Faruk Mohamed

Honouring Test and national cricketers People must be properly informed Dear Editor, Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) is the cricketing headquarters not only for Guyana but the entire Caribbean. It is the area that produced several Test cricketers, and in one village as many as three played in Test matches at the same time, which no doubt was historical.

I refer to Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher and Joe Solomon playing for the West Indies at the same time. Ivan Madray, from Port Mourant, played two Test matches and later Alvin Kalicharran, also of Port Mourant, joined the ranks.

John Trim, who was born at Skeldon, but grew up in Port Mourant was the first Berbician to play Test cricket. Randolph Ramnarace, also of Port Mourant, played international cricket and was included in the Test of the World Squad.

Other cricketers who

played Test cricket from the famous Region Six include Leonard Baichan, Sew Shivnarine, Narsingh Deonarine, and a few others.

But there are several other outstanding Berbicians who played for Guyana, including top-notch swing bowler “Sugar Boy” Baijnauth, batsman and outstanding fieldsman Sonny Moonsammy, spinner Indal Persaud, another Port Mourant player.

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is now celebrating its 75th anniversary and the BCB is honouring its Test and national players and cricket grounds and pavilions are named after Trim, Kanhai, Butcher, Solomon, Madray, Kalicharran, Roy Fredericks and Baichan.

The Guyana Government, GuySuCo, the Ministries of Sport and Public Service are assisting the BCB in the month-long celebration.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan said that his re-

gion, with the assistance of the Government, will go all out to ensure that East Berbice continues to produce international cricketers.

He said that his office will work assiduously with the Sport Ministry and the BCB to encourage youths to be involved in the sport and strive towards reaching national and international level.

Armogan said that efforts will be made to ensure that the region has a cricket coach and there are adequate facilities for the summer games and that there are constant tournaments and competitions at different levels.

President Donald Ramotar will attend the award and presentation ceremony of the BCB on Sunday.

Former cricket administrators will also be honoured at the function, which will be held at Port Mourant.

Submitted by Oscar Ramjeet

about the forestry sector

Dear Editor, As a concerned forestry stakeholder and a committed and patriotic Guyanese, I notice with no surprise, some recent statements made by the Bulkans in the newspapers. I must reply to these statements to ensure that John Public is properly informed, and not sidetracked by the hate and bitterness of these selfish and unpatriotic Guyanese.

They indicated that the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) is allowing the harvesting of only a few species, leading to creaming of the forest. Well isn’t this what the Precision Woodworking Manufacturing did? Weren’t they the ones that financed many loggers to cut only locust logs for their garden furniture business? Did they ever try to utilise the lesser used species? Of course not!

Their only aim was to obtain the profits from the rich

locust logs and they had no interest with the other species. Suddenly, they who never said a word then have woken up now and are saying that the poor community loggers are creaming the forest.

They should know that when the large trees are harvested, there are scores of saplings and more mature younger trees that would be ready to be harvested in the next cycle (25-60 years based on GFC guidance).

A Mazaharally and Sons Limited has been logging in Guyana for several decades.

Can the Bulkans tell the country how many species have this company been harvesting over the years?

And while on that, can they or Kaieteur News/ Stabroek News investigate how many concessions this company has and how many they have been working? How much production, value added products and exports this

company has done for the past five years?

We live in a democracy where the Government respects the views of all. At the National Log Consultation, I was present when the GFC recommended a ban on log exports, but the majority of stakeholders called for an export commission.

I also recall that about 80,000 acres of prime forests were directly given to a group of manufacturers with the understanding that the forest produce coming from those forests would be used to satisfy local manufacturers.

How many manufacturers know of this? Did this privileged group ever alert their fellow manufacturers?

I do not think so – I believe very strongly that this 80,000 acres are being used for the sole benefit of one group.

Yours faithfully, Peter Persaud

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arents are constantly fielding questions from their curious youngsters, many of which they can answer with ease: Why is the sky blue? Does Santa exist? Where did all the dinosaurs go? But the real challenge comes when children start asking about the family’s finances.

Parents say it’s easier to talk to their children about drugs than it is about money, according to a survey published in March by investment management firm T Rowe Price. Those who do broach the subject have difficulty telling the truth: 77 per cent said they’re dishonest with their children about moneyrelated items, with 15 per cent not telling the truth at least weekly.

Some parents may fear how their children will handle what they say. Even answering a simple question, like “Are we rich or poor?” can have repercussions. Tell your children you’re rich, and they’ll think you can buy them anything they want. Tell them you’re poor, and they may feel guilty about how much they ate for dinner.

Other parents may think money isn’t fun to talk about with their children.

“When I would talk to my son about money, my stepmother would say, ‘You’re talking to him too much about money.

Can’t he just be a child?’” says Alan Wolan, author of Moneyology, a book series about money geared toward young children.

Growing up, Wolan says his parents would go into the other room and whisper in hushed tones when they wanted to talk about the family’s money. Wolan didn’t agree with his parents’ approach, so he actively encourages his son to ask any

Foundation money questions he has.

One question a child might ask a parent: “How much money do you make?” Brad Klontz, a clinical psychologist and direct or of research at H&R Block Dollar$ and Sense, which gives parents tips on how to talk to their children about money, says it’s best not to divulge the exact amount – unless you’re comfortable with the entire world knowing how much you make. “Children aren’t good at keeping secrets,” he says.

You’ll probably satisfy them by saying you make enough money to get by, since their

curiosity likely derives from them wanting to know if the family is financially secure.

Jayne Pearl, coauthor of Children, Wealth, and Consequences: Ensuring a Responsible Financial Future for the Next Generation, says some parents feel the need to shield their children from the family’s financial situation. “Some parents would never tell their kid anything negative. While that’s understandable, because their instinct is to protect, I think that’s a mistake,” she says. “We should tell our children the reality in bit-sized pieces.”

Yet that reality may be a despairing one for the family if, say, a parent has lost their

job or they’re so far behind in mortgage payments they have to sell their house.

In those troubling times, full disclosure is probably not the best way to go, says Klontz. “Over-sharing can damage a young child’s self-esteem,” he says.

But not telling your children at least some of what’s going on could scare your children even more. Susan Beacham, CEO and cofounder of Money Savvy Generation, a company that develops products to help parents and educators teach children to make good money choices, says children are instinctual and will pick up on financial strain if their parents appear stressed or anxious.

Beacham says many parents mask financial problems because they don’t want to appear like they’ve failed in the eyes of their children. Adults also may carry shame related to the loss of a job or piles of unpaid bills, she says, and they want to preserve their image as the perfect parent.

But parents may do more damage if their children stumble onto what’s going on, possibly by overhearing a conversation. To minimise the damage, married couples can sit down together to determine the best way to break the news. “You don’t want to shoot from the hip,” Pearl says. She adds it’s important to be on the same page as your spouse so that the message you deliver is consistent.

When money is tight, putting a positive spin on the situation may be the best way to talk to your children, says Jaclyn Weitzberg, president of Money MindEd, a financial education company for parents and teens. Says Weitzberg: “Use any situation as a way to teach your children how to manage money more responsibly.” (money.usnews.com)

BY ROBERTA RAND CAPONEY

T

he loss of a job can put the vow “for better or for worse” to the test.

Unemployment rates high on the list, along with death and divorce, as one of life’s top stress-inducing events.

Fortunately, there are plenty of resources and guidance for those coping with their own unemployment. But what about the rest of the family?

Unemployment impacts spouses and children, too.

Joe’s wife JoAnn says she feels a combination of sympathy and anger towards her jobless husband. “I don’t know what to say to him when I come home from my own job and he’s obviously had another rough day of deadend leads. The house is a mess and he’s lying on the couch in his underwear,” she explains.

“I know he’s had a rough day, but can’t he make himself useful while he’s waiting for callbacks?”

A delicate balance Unemployment places strain on a marital relationship for obvious reasons. Aside from the financial burden unemployment places on a household, a spouse who continues to work faces his or her own issues in dealing with a displaced, depressed family

breadwinner. A wife whose “secondary” job is now a couple’s only source of income may suddenly shoulder the burden of paying the bills. Not only that, but she must also play the role of counsellor and cheerleader to a traumatised, demoralised husband.

A woman in this situation walks a fine line between compassionate helpmate and tough-talking coach. If you happen to have a “caretaker” personality, you may have to watch a tendency to give your spouse unspoken permission to stay stuck in self-pity and inaction. Push too hard and you risk coming off as cold and uncaring.

Anticipate what’s coming As soon as possible after a job loss, you and your husband should sit down together and strategise not only the job hunt, but ways you can head off (or at least minimise) conflicts that come with unemployment stress.

The days ahead aren’t going to be easy. Put your heads together to come up with a “plan of attack” – because that’s exactly what you’ll need to handle the pressures that can undermine a marriage in these tough circumstances.

Marriage and family survival plan First, practise an attitude that treats unemployment as a temporary – and manageable – situation. The repeated rejection that goes with a job search is hard, but the odds are a new job will eventually surface if you both remain focused and deliberate in your quest. Keep a healthy perspective. Be open to what God might be trying to teach you both through this experience.

If you still have children at home, be open and honest with them about your situation.

Communicate realistically, but optimistically, about the future. (It’s not the end of the world!) Plan regular times together as a family to discuss feelings, finances, priorities and how everyone can pitch in to ease stress at home.

Explain that everyone will have to sacrifice (temporary cuts in allowances, cutting back on clothes shopping, etc) for awhile until Dad finds a new job.

Remind children that you’re in this together – and together you’ll come through this, better and stronger for the adversity you’ve experienced, and perhaps with newfound compassion for others in similar circumstances. (focusonthefamily.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

NEWS

7

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Peacemaker stabbed to death

Dead: Bharrat “Lusty” Sugrim

A

fisherman who acted as a peacemaker during an argument between a man and his wife was on Sunday afternoon stabbed to death at Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

Bharrat Sugrim, 37, of

Lot 28 Better Hope North, East Coast Demerara was stabbed once to his heart after he intervened in an argument involving the couple at their home at 6th Field Cummings Lodge.

Initially, the couple who were subsequently taken into custody told investigators that Sugrim had fallen and hit his head after he suffered cardiac arrest.

They are at the Sparendaam Police Station assisting with investigations.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that the husband and wife are habitual drinkers and would regularly assault each other while in a drunken state.

Only recently, the man was injured during one of their confrontations.

On the day in question, the woman whose name was

given as Angela, reportedly attacked her husband, Sewag with a knife; thus, inflicting two wounds to his body – one to his back and the other to his abdomen.

Upon seeing this, Sugrim who is commonly called “Lusty” intervened, and was stabbed. He fell to the ground and reportedly died almost immediately.

At the house of the dead man, his sister Christina Sugrim explained that she was at home when her father frantically told her to go to the couple’s home based on a call he had received from his granddaughter.

Almost in tears, the woman said she went to the house, where she saw her brother covered in a bed sheet. Upon enquiring, she was told that he had fallen after suffering a heart at-

The house where Sugrim was killed

tack. The two suspects were sitting on a nearby bench and were under the influence of alcohol.

Not believing the couple’s version of what transpired

PPP/C seeks 'national front alliance' T he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) said it is moving to establish a broad national democratic front, ahead of the next General Elections.

The outcome of the 2011 General and Regional Elections had left the ruling party with a slim one-seat minority Government for the first time.

The PPP/C garnered 32 seats in the National Assembly while its opponents, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for Change (AFC) collectively acquired 33 seats.

Speaking at Freedom House on Monday, the General Secretary Clement Rohee disclosed that the Party is on a path of establishing a broad national democratic front.

Heartened

Though declining to reveal greater details, Rohee said PPP/C is “heartened” by the overwhelming interest shown by “a large number” of civic and political stakeholders in the establishment of such an alliance.

Of recent, the ruling party has had several discussions with stakeholders and interest groups on the country’s political climate. Those present were assured that Guyanese will benefit significantly from higher levels of transparency and accountability through shared governance.

“The party is satisfied that its ideology, political principles and track record have managed to attract so many stakeholders who are interested in this national democratic platform to build and further develop Guyana,” Rohee told reporters.

Contrary to some reports, he said “more and more stakeholders” are con-

General Secretary Clement Rohee

demning the actions by the Opposition to stymie development and cripple country’s progress.

“The party’s engagement in a wide range of stakeholders has revealed that resentment is growing increasingly as a result of the Opposition’s misuse of parliamentary power and the abuse of their one seat majority,” he added.

The APNU led by David Granger had endorsed the notion of shared governance but said there were genuine concerns.

Rohee said it is the Opposition that is doing all in its power to create strife and diminish the hopes of having shared governance.

“The party is reminded of APNU’s dishonesty following a series of engagements with the Government in an out of Parliament.

"How could the APNU and the PNCR [People's National Congress Reform] who are consistently at work with the AFC to divide our country by voting against budgetary allocations for the Office of the President, Amerindian development, UG students and other critical sectors, claim to be in the same breath in support of national unity and shared governance?” questioned Rohee.

But despite his many criticisms of the Opposition, the PPP/C General Secretary said APNU, and by extension the AFC, should join the national conversation on the formation of a broad national democratic front.

However, he said the Opposition parties should be reminded that shared governance could only be realised if there are serious thoughts and actions directed toward building trust.

“Formulation of a common platform on social (and) economic issues and the rebirth of commitment on the part of the Opposition towards fast-tracking the development of Guyana are for the benefit of all Guyanese,” he said.

Realities

Rohee noted that the party maintains the view that any proposal for shared governance has to be based on the social, political and cultural realities in Guyana and not be used to score cheap political points.

Shared governance has been a long debated subject in Guyana’s political realm dating back to1957 when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) under the leadership of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan attempted to form a broad united front to contest the General Elections; a move which would have seen a government of national unity.

At the time, Forbes Burnham had rejected the notion of “shared governance”. But approximately 54 years after, APNU has reintroduced the concept, calling for a government of national unity.

APNU is a coalition which is dominated by the People’s National Congress (PNC), a party formed following the 1957 General Elections by Burnham.

Since then, APNU has

come in for severe criticism, not because it championed the cause for “shared governance” months ahead of the 2011 General and Regional Elections, but because it has instead failed to advance the notion.

Back in 2011, the coalition comprising the PNCR, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Guyana Action Party (GAP) and National Front Alliance (NFA) had said that constitutional and institutional reforms were necessary for the realisation of shared governance.

and fearing her brother was murdered, the dead man’s sister’s fears were confirmed when the Police arrived on the scene and removed the sheet.

“All I see was a hole to he heart and blood was coming out,” the woman said.

During interrogation, one of the suspects (the woman) led the Police to a section of the yard where she hid the murder weapon. The grieving sister told Guyana Times that her brother left home on Saturday morning to sell.

Normally, she stated, he would spend time at the couple’s home and return a few days later. “They does drink together… so we don’t really get worried because we know he does come back… but when we get the news he dead, it shock we.” He left home on Saturday to sell his

catch.

Sugrim (only name given), the father of the dead man, who was still in shock told this newspaper that after he received the call, he went to the Sparendaam Police Station, collected a rank and went to the house.

There, he said, his son’s body was seen covered with a sheet and it was until they removed the sheet, he realised that his son was murdered. He went on to say that his son was a frequent visitor at the suspects’ home and was not sure what had transpired.

The body was taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home and is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The deceased leaves to mourn his 14-year-old son, father and six siblings.

Police are continuing their investigations.

8 NEWS

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

GWI worker seriously injured in accident on Essequibo Coast Eyew tness A

n employee from the Guyana Water Inc is seriously injured following a collision on the Johanna Cecilia Public Road on the Essequibo Coast on Monday evening.

Chunnie Lall, 23, of Golden Fleece is presently at the Suddie Public Hospital. The incident occurred around 17:00h on Monday. According to in-

formation, Lall left his home on his motorcycle to visit the barber shop in Suddie when he was involved in the accident.

Reports indicate that a motorcar bearing registration number HB 105 was heading South from the Maria’s Lodge old Road when the driver, John Budhanlall, 54, of Onderneeming, claimed he

did not see anyone. The car collided with Lall’s motorcycle bearing registration number CG 6665. As a result of the collision, Lall was dragged several feet.

He was picked up by public spirited citizens and taken to the hospital.

Lall’s mother, Rohini Sookram told this publication that she received a call informing her that her son

was involved in an accident and that he was at the Suddie Public Hospital.

The mother added that when she visited the hospital, she saw her son covered in blood. Sookram added her son sustained injuries to his leg. The driver of the motorcar is presently in Police custody assisting with investigations.

Pregnant woman Labourer accused of remanded for allegedly narcotics possession trafficking in narcotics gets $3000 bail

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ppearing in the G e o r g e t o w n Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday was a 21-year-old vendor who resides at Lot 25 Middle Street, McDoom, Greater Georgetown.

Shellon Hopkinson was remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to a possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking charge.

The charge alleged that on August 22 at McDoom, she had in her possession some 257 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The defendant was represented by Attorney George Thomas. According to Attorney Thomas, his client lives in a two bedroom apartment along with four other persons. He told the court that the substance was founded in a concealed place within the apartment and that she had no knowledge of the substance.

On the contrary, Police Prosecutor Joel Ricknaught stated that the defendant told the Police that she lives with her son in the house and that the Police found the

A

Shellon Hopkinson

cannabis in her bedroom.

The defendant is currently in a common-law relationship and is two months pregnant. Thomas told the court that his client has no prior convictions and is willing to lodge her passport with the Police. He then requested reasonable bail for his client.

Bail was refused by the Magistrate and Hopkinson was remanded until September 18, where she is set to appear before the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Handyman charged for stealing eggs

J

unior Anderson, 32, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Tuesday. Anderson, a handyman was slapped with a charge of simple larceny.

The charge alleged that on August 18, at Water Street, Georgetown, the defendant stole six trays of eggs valued $8000; belongs to Eroy Johnson.

Police Prosecutor Joel Ricknaught objected to bail on the ground that the defendant has no fixed place of address. This objection was overruled by the Magistrate who granted bail in the sum of $10,000.

He is said to return to court on September 17

Junior Anderson

where he will be appear before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

24-year-old labourer, employed at a rice mill made an appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, faced with a narcotics possession charge.

The charge alleged that on August 22, at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, Garfield Toppin had in his possession .9 grams of cannabis.

According to the Police Prosecutor Joel Ricknaught, Police on patrol noticed the defendant acting in a suspicious manner.

They stopped and searched the defendant and the drug was found in his right hand.

He was then taken to the Ruimveldt Police Station where he was told of the of-

Garfield Toppin

fence and subsequently arrested.

There were no objections to bail hence he was granted such in the sum of $3000.

Alberttown resident on bail for threatening behaviour, abusive language charges

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tanding before presiding Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts was a 44-year-old resident of Lot 61 Fifth Street Albertown, Georgetown, who was on Monday morning placed on bail for two offences: threatening behaviour and abusive language.

The charge alleged that on August 22, at Fifth Street, Albertown, Kenneth Reece made use of threatening behaviour and abusive language to the Virtual Complainant Jennifer Sukhoo Patab.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges. After there were no objections to bail

by Police Prosecutor Joel Ricknaught, Magistrate Latchman granted bail for the offences. Reece was placed on $50,000 for the

Beware...

A

...the angst of August

ugust used to be time of lassitude and lounging during the long vacations. We’re not sure of the exact connection, but ever since some politicians took to referring to the August holidays as “summer” this Eyewitness has noticed a steep rise in the angst of politicians in the Opposition.

Take this fella Nigel Hughes – who’s presumably still the Chairman of the AFC and putative Presidential candidate of that party, which claims to be the only “multiracial” one in all of Guyana.

Now Hughes is an important cog in the AFC’s wheel.

Since the AFC’s “multiracial” boast rests entirely on the two top leaders being from the Indian and African Guyanese communities (thus satisfying the Mike Persaud ironclad test for multiraciality), then he has to be present and accounted for to “balance” Ramjattan.

Now you dear readers may protest that there are other “African” faces in the AFC that can perform the balancing act. But in the Mike Persaud test, you can’t have just any old African face, can you?? Who else fits the bill but the fella dubbed the “incarnation of Walter Rodney” by the most astute political scientist and historian in Guyana?

The one who Bisram said dismissed the PNC as a “10 per cent party”. The leader got to pull in some votes.

And this Eyewitness also isn’t sure why some folks are saying Ramjattan will once again be the AFC’s Presidential Candidate. That worthy took a solemn pledge that he would “alternate” with his multiracial brother – and he already had his chance in 2011. If it’s one thing, Ramjattan never goes back on his word. It’s just that sometimes he forgets what the “word” is – but this is an occupational hazard for a fella who we all know is a “drinkah”. Ramjattan has been a Member of Parliament for some two decades or so...and they are all honourable men, aren’t they??

But Nigel Hughes isn’t an MP, and this is why there has been some loose talk that he’s not “honourable”.

Some people think he’s dishonourable because he kept mum about being the Company Secretary of Sithe Global, which his party the AFC was fighting tooth and nail not to execute the Hydro Project. But conflict of interest doesn’t disqualify one from honourableness. Or Ramjattan, who pushed the private agenda of a client on the Specialty Hospital, would’ve been dragged before the Privileges Committee, no?

Well to burnish his presidential credentials, Hughes has taken to the African villages to burnish his African credentials, through which he got to be the AFC’s Presidential Candidate. (If that sounds “circular”, that’s how politics work.)

As a fella who every day knocks off a bottle of whatever liquor he can get his hands on, Ramjattan doesn’t have to prove his “Indianness”.

...the truthsayer

But the angst of the politicians can also raise the political temperature. Rather than taking some time off to reflect on their foibles and missteps in the preceding year, these fellas try to stir up their “constituents” hoping to deflect attention from their rascality. Maybe they’re “Guyanising” the expression “the winter of our discontent”. And we return to Nigel Hughes and his forays in the African Villages.

In one address, he’s reported to have declared, “Before we gave up power...we should have changed the constitution to ensure that we have protection whether we are out of power.”

By “we”, of course, he has to mean the PNC. After all, he couldn’t mean all “African Guyanese”, since Walter Rodney proved that most African Guyanese were opposed to the PNC. Kenneth Reece

threatening behavior charge and $20,000 for the abusive language charge.

His next court appearance will be on September 17 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

...cricket tragics

The CPL has rejected the Warriors challenge to the disputed final. In doing so, PJ Paterson, the head of the Cricket Tournament Committee said nobly, “Nothing must be done to impair its (CPL) image or erode its credibility.”

And rejecting a challenge supported by almost every commentator in the Region achieves this??

news

9

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Royston King charged for forgery … for waiving taxes for Beacon Foundation as 'Town Clerk'

P

ublic Relations Officer of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Royston King was on Monday arrested and charged for alleged forgery.

Appearing before Magistrate Judy Latchman, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, King, who was not required to enter a plea is accused of falsely writing off millions of dollars in rates and taxes owed to the City Council by a non-governmental organisation on July 13, 2012.

All this was done while he acted in the capacity of Town Clerk, when, within the confines of the law, he was not.

Entering an application for bail, King’s lawyer Kendecie Rodney told the court that the 49-yearold father of six, of Canal Place, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown is a first time offender.

With that in mind, Latchman set bail in the sum of $70,000. King will return to court on September 16.

In a letter dated July 13, 2012, allegedly written and signed by King to Patrick De Groot, Chairman of the Beacon Foundation, King told De Groot that he had received the organisation’s request to be exempted from the payment of the $36.2 million in rates and taxes to the Council since it was a nonprofit entity.

In the letter, King told the Chairman that according to the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01,

A handcuffed Royston King being escorted by a Policeman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court

Section 212, the Council may grant such exemptions to religious and not for profit organisations.

He also stated that he had seen the requisite documents and the Beacon Foundation had met all of the requirements to be granted tax exemption and the Council had no objections to the foundation being granted the concession.

Acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba found out about the matter some two years after the incident, subsequently writing to Minister Whittaker on April 10, 2014, notifying him about the development.

In a recent response to headlines in sections of the media, King said that it was “mind boggling that anyone would think that such a reputable charitable organisation (Beacon Foundation) would importune the Council to do something that is illegal

or grant them a benefit for which it is not qualified”.

King explained that during the time in question, he was appointed by the Council to perform the duties of the Town Clerk of Georgetown.

In carrying out those duties under the authority of the Mayor and City Council, he said he dealt with building plans and allied documents, and requests these from a number of individuals, corporations, and organisations, including Beacon Foundation.

Beacon Foundation is a charitable organisation.

The documents of the Foundation, including an official valuation document stated that the property is being used for charitable purposes.

The organisation is an incorporated non- profit company which provides an outpatients hospice service across Guyana, meals and temporary shelter.

Suspects in waitress’ murder positively identified

T

he two men responsible for the death of 48-yearold Debbie Blackman, who was shot and killed at the Delicious Chinese Restaurant on D’Urban Street, Georgetown, during a failed robbery, have been positively identified by the Police.

Ranks of A Division (Georgetown) are presently combing several communities in the city as they try to apprehend the two main suspects in the shooting. A Police source told Guyana Times the after reviewing the surveillance footage taken from in the building, they have been successful in identifying the two young men.

The source was optimistic that the Police will make an arrest shortly.

However, the source did not reveal the names of the two perpetrators and their addresses.

One day after the shooting incident, the Police stated that from the way the men operated on the night of the shooting, they

Dead: Debbie Blackman

might have been monitoring the business place.

When this newspaper visited the restaurant on Wednesday, it remained closed.

Blackman of Critchlow Circle, Tucville, Georgetown, was shot dead during at an attempted robbery.

She was shot twice by one of the two robbers who posed as customers.

According to information received, no one else was in the restaurant, since a young woman had left seconds prior to the shooting.

It was reported that the two young men walked into the restaurant and ordered a chicken fried rice and waited until it was prepared. As the waitress brought out the food, one of the men pulled out a gun and pointed it at Blackman, who attempted to run.

The gunman opened fire, striking the woman to the neck and the shoulder.

She subsequently fell to the ground while the men made good their escape on a motorcycle.

Shelly Ann Beni, the dead woman’s daughter recalled being at home on Saturday evening when she received a telephone call from a friend, informing her about the shooting. Guyana Times was told that bandits had gone to the restaurant twice before, but the woman managed to escape.

Unfortunately, this time, she was fatally shot.

She has been working at the restaurant for the past 11 years. The woman leaves to mourn her four daughters and a son.

APNU must be placed under the microscope – PPP/C

T

hough appreciative of the move by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to extend the Claims and Objections period by seven days, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) said the Opposition must be placed under the microscope.

Last week, the PPP/C had called for the extension of the Claims and Objections period which would have concluded on August 24, but it was the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) that objected.

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee said APNU’s non-support forms part of campaign to prevent the sanitisation of the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE).

“One must wonder whether they stand to benefit from a perverted electoral process which allows for confusion on Election Day and consequently questioning of the results,” Rohee said as he addressed the press at Freedom House on Monday.

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

He urged that Guyanese examine the PNC’s electoral records. “Just last month, the world got an opportunity to see what transpired at their Congress. Based on statements made, contestants to the leadership position at the last Congress; their internal electoral process was perverted by padding of the delegates list. It’s the identical problem which we complained to GECOM about,” he opined.

In addition to APNU, the Party also condemned GECOM over failure to resolve some burning concerns.

Of recent, the PPP/C had written GECOM outlining the findings of numerous irregularities in respect to the PLE, but apparently the Party’s concerns fell on deaf ears. According to the PPP/C, GECOM has blatantly refused to conduct physical verification in response to its concerns that 18 persons were found to be listed at one Georgetown address.

Even as the Commission refused to verify the claims made, the PPP/C said it has discovered another case where five persons have been registered at one Georgetown address, but in two separate divisions.

Unless corrected, Rohee said loophole create the perfect opportunity for multiple voting by a single person.

The dramatic increase in registrants is another issue yet to be addressed, he said. turn to page 10

10

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, august 26, 2014

News

Guyana blank at CBU awards ceremony G Tek out de beam

uyana failed to get an award at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s 2013 awards ceremony.

Two hundred and seven entries were submitted by 20 CBU members in 10 countries and territories, and they were assessed by a four-person panel drawn from Barbados, Jamaica, and Suriname. The Union’s President, Shida Bolai congratulated the winners of the 2013 Caribbean Broadcasting Awards.

The Telecommunications Suriname (Telesur)sponsored awards were presented during a live television event at the historic Congreshal in Paramaribo, Suriname as the finale to the 45th Annual General Assembly, which was held August 18-21.

The results are as follows:

Television Best Documentary Programme Winner:

The

85th

Annual Cross Country Cycling Classic – Great Belize Productions Ltd – Belize; Producer/Presenter: James Adderley

Best Drama Programme

*No Winner Awarded Special Mention: The Belize Apprentice – Great Belize Productions Ltd – Belize; Producer/Presenter: Sharmane Garcia/ Marleni Cuellar/Mary Mangar; Director/Editor: Shawn Tewes/Rick Romero

Best News Feature

Winner: Cocaine in Cayman – Cayman International Television Network – Cayman Islands; Producer/Presenter: Paul Kennedy

Best Investigative Reporting

Winner: All Angles: The Bleaching Phenomenon – RJR – Jamaica; Producer/ Presenter: Dionne JacksonMiller/ Andre Jebbinson /Archibald Gordon;

Videographer/Editor: Walford Jebbinson/ Glenford Campbell/ Ivan Shaw/ Shakir Brown

Theme Award: Regional Awareness

*No Winner Awarded Special Mention: In Conversation with Lamming – Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation – Barbados; Producer/Presenter: Beverley Bascombe

Theme Award: Sport:

Winner: A Bigger Goal – Cayman International Television Network – Cayman Islands; Producer/ Presenter: Kevin Morales

Theme Award: Education/ Culture Sponsored by UNESCO

Winner: Land of Legends: David Rodigan – RJR – Jamaica; Producer/ Presenter: Keisha-Ann Smith

Theme Award: Health/ Environment

Winner: San Ignacio Hospital – Great Belize Productions Ltd – Belize; Presenter/Producer: Mike Rudon; Videographer/ Editor: George Tillett

before yuh tek out de mote

Theme Award: Children/Youth Issues Sponsored by UNICEF

Winner: Visual Impairment Does Not Hinder Rowan Garel from Diving the Blue Hole – Great Belize Productions Ltd – Belize; Producer/ Presenter: Isani Cayetano; Videographer/Editor: Chris Mangar

Special Award: Best Public Spot

Winner: Give Thanks – Great Belize Production Ltd. – Belize; Presenter/ Producer: Great Belize Productions Ltd.

Radio Best Documentary Programme

Winner: Armadale: Never Again Pt 1 – RJR – Jamaica; Presenter/ Producer: Marilyn Facey

Best Magazine Programme

Winner: This Week November 3rd, 2013 – Starcom Network Inc – Barbados; Producer/ Presenter: Carol RobertsReifer; Technician: John Stoute

Best News Feature:

*No Winner Awarded Special Mention Vincentian Stalwarts: Dr JP Eustace – NBC – St Vincent and the Grenadines; Producer/Presenter: Shevrell McMillan

Theme Award: Children/ Youth Issues

Winner: Armadale: Never Again Pt.1 – RJR – Jamaica; Presenter/ Producer: Marilyn Facey

Special Award: Best Commercial Spot

Winner: Life – Starcom Network Inc – Barbados; Producer/Presenter: Ronald Clarke / Phil Archer; Production Team: Dave Husbands/ James Leacock/ Tamara Marshall (Trinidad Express)

S

ome people right fuh seh that this damn country gettin from bad to wuss. That is a damn terrible ting to happen. Especially when every body gettin a don’t-give-a-damn attitude. It does become a damn big problem.

Dem people who does wuk in de public service don’t give a damn bout any wuk. Some body could go in a Guvament office and stand up and dem gon leff yuh right deh pun yuh own, while dem deh pun de phone pun de Guvament time. Dem public servants don’t give a damn.

Now de MPs don’t give a damn bout de country. A lotta Bills to pass and a no-confidence motion with four words to debate. That’s a lotta wuk to do. Because Rum Jhaat might tek a whole month to read whah he and de Nagga man tek a whole two months to write and another three months to show Green Jah. Now dem gone pun vacation fuh another whole two months.

Some politicians don’t give a damn bout corruption.

De whole time dem talkin bout corruption and seh de Guvament don’t give a damn. Now de whole pack of dem in de Opposition don’t wanna admit whah dem own to de Integrity Commission.

Is people who ain’t got no integrity does hide from de Integrity Commission. And talkin bout integrity, it got one man who don’t give a damn whah he seh bout people. Or whah photo he show bout people. Plus he don’t give a damn whah people seh bout he.

Accordin to that man, he gon expose all de people who doin wrong things, plus he wanna expose all de wrong tings whah dem doin. Now that supposed to mean that he ain’t doin any wrong. Well, that is wheh yuh wrong.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! De good book seh tek out de beam from yuh own eye before yuh try to tek out de mote from another person eye. But this beam look black and it got four wheels. And is two of dem!

Man killed in car accident

A

49-year-old man of Plantation Brahn, West Coast Berbice (WCB) died on Sunday after being struck down by a car, Police have confirmed.

In a release, Police said that about 10:55h on Sunday, Parmendra Mohan was struck down by a motor car while walking along the roadway at D’Edward Village, West

Bank Berbice.

He was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment.

The driver of the motor vehicle fled the scene, but was later arrested by Police at Fort Wellington, WCB. He is in Police custody assisting with the investigation.

APNU must be placed...

The astronomical increase in new registrants amounting to almost 80,000, when previously, the usual annual increase was recorded at approximately 11,000. Requests have been made to GECOM to provide a breakdown of the names of these persons and their origin. To date, GECOM has failed to act,” the General Secretary lamented.

Never in Guyana’s history did the Commission have

a list with over 550,000 electors, the General Secretary said, while emphasising that GECOM needs to offer a logical explanation.

The PPP/C is known for venting its concerns over the inputting of data into the National Register of Registrants Database (NRRD) and the subsequent compilation of the PLE. But the ruling party said to date; key questions have not been answered surrounding the

from page 9

Information Technology Department, which manages this process.

“Who inputs data and who supervises the process? What quality control mechanism is in place at GECOM to ensure the integrity and security of data? Why the refusal by GECOM to use the services of the Joint International Technical Assistance (JITA). These are the questions must be answered by GECOM,” Rohee stressed.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, august 26, 2014

11

News BK launches JAGS Aviation – pledges commitment to foster tourism in Guyana

By Vahnu Manikchand

T

he BK International Group of Companies officially launched its JAGS Aviation airline on Monday afternoon at the Ogle International Airport (OIA), promising to help promote tourism.

At a simple ceremony at the Wings Aviation Hangar, the airline was launched before a host of dignitaries.

The airline will be providing domestic services to in-

sion programme. This, according to the Director, saw staff receiving training overseas and the recruitment of new personnel. Tiwari pointed out that the new Cessna Grand Caravan is outfitted to provide the highest standard of comfort for passengers. The Director assured that her company will be continuing its efforts to improve the aviation sector by investing in new aircraft and higher standards of operations and customer care.

He highlighted the importance of air transportation for the various sectors, particularly mining.

“Air transport is vital to the development of Guyana, we talk a lot about the opening of the interior and part of the opening of the interior must be linked to the air transport sector of the country, because we still have many areas that are not accessible by road or not accessible by waterways… therefore, the general de-

President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Transport Minister Robeson Benn along with Director of JAGS Aviation, Briony Tiwari inside the new Cessna Grand Caravan

facilities and this is why the investment in the airport is so important,” Ali added.

Also delivering remarks at the event was Transport Minister Robeson Benn.

He too referred to the work Government has done to expand the aviation sector and will continue to do to improve the navigation sys-

with respect to their continued partnership in their work together with the Government and the people of Guyana in developing our country,” the Minister said.

Benn went on to express his disappointment over the fact that for a critical project such as the CJIA expansion, persons are making objec-

A sectoion of the gathering at the launch of the new airline, JAGS Aviation

terior locations with a brand new aircraft recently added to its fleet. The Cessna Grand Caravan 208B EX, valued some US$3 million, has a seating capacity of 13, excluding the pilot. It is equipped with state-of-theart technology and is fully air conditioned.

In addition, she pledged her commitment to investing in promoting the country’s tourism sector. “You will also see substantial investment in the promotion of Guyana as a destination for international and domestic tourism… we want to encourage everyone in the tourism and transporta-

velopment of many sectors of our economy is directly linked to the air transport sector,” he pointed out.

According to the President, milestones such as this are possible after Government would have invested in the sector. On this note, he mentioned the importance of proper facilities refer-

Brian Tiwari escorting President Ramotar for a tour of the Cessna Grand Caravan, recently bought by JAGS Aviation

and those that are in the pipeline, stating that all of these are promoting what the country has to offer. “…it is very important for us to have brand named hotels like the Marriott in Guyana, because it helps us in the marketing drive, it brings a different dimension to the marketing aspect

tems at both the OIA and CIJA. “The BK Group of Companies has had a sterling record in Guyana with respect to civil construction in our infrastructure development. It has been a solid and reliable partner… and particularly now, we note

tions when it can only boost the tourism sector further.

In addition, Chairman of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Hugh Denbow; overseas-based Guyanese broadcaster Bobby Vieira, and former President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and

BK Group of Companies Chairman Brian Tiwari and US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunte being told about the Cessna Grand Caravan

The BK Group is no stranger to the transportation sector with a history in the minibus and marine subsectors. However, its entry into the aviation industry is the vision of the younger Tiwari generation, who will be leading the airline.

One of the Directors, Briony Tiwari, told the gathering that they saw the potential of Guyana’s tourism product and wanted to invest; hence, the acquisition of JAGS Aviation. She disclosed that the BK Group had acquired JAGS three months ago and began immediately investing in the company with a fleet expan-

tion sectors to work together to quickly bring Guyana’s tourism infrastructure to the place where we are hosting a substantial amount of tourists each year,” she stated.

The young airline director noted that they are currently using the facility of Wings Aviation; however, they are currently engaged in negotiations for land to build a new hangar.

In delivering his feature address, President Donald Ramotar pointed out that for too long Guyana has been the best kept secret, but it is now putting its tourism products out there.

encing the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project.

Meanwhile, acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali also spoke about the gains the tourism sector has made over the years. He noted that Government has made provisions for any company that invests in the aviation sector, in order to boost tourism transportation within and outside of Guyana.

Ali pointed out that Government has placed much effort into marketing the country’s tourism product to reach its target group.

He spoke about all the documentaries that were made

JAGS Aviation Directors, sisters Briony and Alana Tiwari with their proud mother at the launch

of tourism. Similarly is the investment in the airport, we cannot market a product if we do not have the proper

with pleasure that the BK Group of Companies is taking wings, is taken flight

Industry, Clinton Urling, also made remarks at the launching of the airline.

12 NEWS

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Jamzone Summer Break ends on a high note

Canadian educator teaches his trade in Guyana

Gerald Logan, a retired Principal, holds a seminar for teachers in Mabaruma, Guyana this summer

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Section of the massive crowd at the Beach Jam on Sunday

T

he 14th Edition of Hits and Jams Jamzone Summer Break ended on a high note on Sunday evening when the Beach Jam was hosted at the Water Park, Providence, East Bank Demerara which saw thousands in attendance.

Although, the beach and its facilities were not completed, the venue was filled with activities ranging from games for children, various competitions for adults and even a deejay sound clash.

Earlier in the day, patrons trickled into the newly built facility but at sunset, they came in their droves to be part of the late night affair. During the day, close to $400,000 were won by patrons as they played several games. The event provided a balance of activities for both children and adults.

When the event was advertised to be held at the Water Park, there were mixed reactions from the public but after witnessing the turn out on Sunday even-

West Coast, East Coast and event people from the Soesdyke area. With the new plans for the park which include water slides, a manmade beach, pool, restaurant and bar, he feels that it will be the ideal family oriented facility.

Three young ladies who were having a blast told Guyana Times that the decision to bring the event closer to Georgetown was an excellent one, adding that patrons will no longer have to travel far distances after partying.

More so, with the new venue being strategically placed at Providence, they have more time to get their groves on.

An elated Rawle Ferguson, a Director of the Hits and Jams Entertainment, said that he was amazed at the amount of support they have received since the announcement of the new venue.

He said that while certain amenities were not ready for the event on Sunday evening, he promised that all will be in place for the 2015 event

He thanked all the supporters while apologising for the incomplete state of the park but promised that the 2015 Jamzone Summer Break will be an unforgettable one. He reiterated that the park will consist of all modern amenities that will cater for the entire family.

Meanwhile, patrons were somewhat disappointed since the much anticipated sound clash between Jory Hector and Deejay Magnum did not materialise. The clash was slated to begin at 21:00h but at that time, there was no sign of the two artistes.

Patrons however were never starved for entertainment since the deejays and selectors had the best mixture of music that satisfied the audience.

Jackie Hanover also did her part, enticing the audience with her saucy and sensual moves. All in all, Jamzone Summer Break 2014 was deemed a success, without any serious incidents.

Three young ladies competing in one of the many games at the event

ing, without a doubt it was the perfect venue.

On this note, Kashif Mohammed who attended the event praised the Hits and Jams team, especially directors, for a job well done.

He too admitted that the venue was an excellent choice for the hosting of the event, noting that patrons did not have to travel the long distance to the Spashmin’s Fun Park and Resort to partake in the fun.

He further added that venue is strategically placed to cater for persons on the

which he said will be ‘off the hook’.

Ferguson added that his staff worked around the clock to host the event and from all indications, he reiterated that it was indeed a success.

His business partner, Kerwin Bollers, said he was blow away by the amount of people who stormed the newly built venue.

He said that while they expected the support, it was indeed overwhelming taking into considerations it was a new venue and more so, a new experience.

erald Logan is no stranger to bringing his teaching expertise to other countries.

The retired Hillside Community school principal recently returned from his fifth trip with Project Overseas, a collaboration between the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) and its member organisations across Canada.

This year the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) sponsored 10 of their teachers to work with teachers and school leaders overseas by providing professional development workshops.

“When I started, it was 1996,” said Logan. “I was interested in helping people beyond our borders. Here in Canada, we’re very privileged. We have a great education system and what we take for granted, other countries would be excited to have.”

With a team of four other teachers, Logan, who was in charge of school administration, spent two weeks in Guyana providing training on teaching strategies, which includes bringing current teaching practices from North America.

“One of the primary things I did was called the jigsaw learning activity where the goal was to have them teach each other. In the jigsaw, this group learns some information and then we go to the home groups and we teach the other people in our group and they teach us,” said Logan. “By getting them to do the actual teaching, we make sure we cement it.”

Logan said the 152 teachers who participated were either untrained or undertrained.

“I guess one, Vivian, strikes me as almost a typical person,” said Logan. “She was 19; she was a headteacher in her village school and had been a headteacher

for over a year. She started teaching at 16 when she finished high school and was the most experienced teacher in her village school at 19.”

The school where Logan and his team worked was in the village Mabaruma, near the Venezuelan border and within the tidal zone. He has previously volunteered in Guyana just five years ago, in the village Moruca, also in the northern part of the country.

The volunteers who Logan worked with in Moruca could not join in this round, but as Project Overseas had also visited Mabaruma a year later, around one-third of the teachers Logan taught this trip also participated in 2009.

Difference

“I noticed a tremendous difference between this group and the group in 2009 when I was there last time because that was the first time we had been to Moruca so the difference was significant,” said Logan.

“This time in Mabaruma, they had way more understanding and they were way more educated because of the effects of the project.”

Besides Guyana, Logan has also volunteered in Sierra Leone, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines “I like just the whole idea of helping teachers because I’m lucky, I was raised in Alberta and in Canada and education is relatively easy to get. I’ve been blessed with I think seven years of university,” said Logan. “And these people to get into university, a teacher training programme, they have to have a job as a teacher first so they have to go in as untrained teacher and then get accepted.”

For now, the school system in Guyana is very lecture-oriented but Logan hopes the teachers take what

they learn and bring it into their schools.

Although there is no possible way of Project Overseas monitoring the teachers who participated, there can be local follow ups made and many of Logan’s pupils said they would take the strategies back to the schools and even teach their colleagues, as many teachers had to be turned away due to large numbers.

“The average teacher there had about 26 students.

Most of them taught more than the 26 because a lot of them were secondary school teachers so you figure that each of them taught probably 50 students per day,” said Logan.

“The impact of that filters down, you have the potential to impact a lot of students and a lot of learning.”

There were 12 different teams like Logan’s who went to 10 different countries, including Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Uganda, Saint Kitts, Trinidad, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Haiti and Togo.

In Guyana, Logan said they do not have oil like Alberta but gold where people can go into mines and make large amounts of money with little-to-no education. But as gold prices drop, other options are available.

“I know that they have a lot of young, energetic and enthusiastic teachers and that’s what will make that system better,” said Logan.

Being nominated for Project Overseas by the ATA or any member organisation of the CTF is a lengthy application process that requires two letters of reference.

Around 90 teachers applied in Alberta this year alone, but Logan would like to go again.

“I’ve been involved five times and I’d love to be involved five more times,” said Logan. (Alberta Daily Herald Tribune)

Guyana could tap £5M raised for children of the Commonwealth

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ore than £5 million was raised during the recent Commonwealth Games for children of the Commonwealth thanks to a new partnership between UNICEF, Glasgow 2014 and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).

The £5 million already raised will allow UNICEF, the world’s leading children’s organisation, to achieve the joint partnership ambition of reaching out to

every child in every Commonwealth country. This will be done in a whole range of ways. For example, in Bangladesh UNICEF is tackling child labour and child marriage, by helping to keep the most at risk children at school; in Malawi we are using sport and education to engage with young people and help reduce HIV infection; in Scotland we are helping ensure all new born babies get off to the best start in life, supporting a strong nurturing bond

between parents and their babies.

The campaign, called ‘Put Children First’, places children and young people firmly at the heart of the Games, and has achieved something never done before. Unicef will now set to work to ensure this money really does save and change millions of children’s lives across the Commonwealth, whether that is in Paisley or Papua New Guinea, Guyana or Ghana.

NEWS

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TuesDAY, august 26, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Lamaha St Canal desilting almost 75 per cent completed other parts of the Lamaha Street Canal are currently in progress. Further works are ongoing at the six other identified canals, namely the Downer, Princes Street, Young Street, Church Street, Sussex Street, and Irving Street canals.

Also works are being carried out at Le Repentir Cemetery. In March, the

Government of Guyana allocated in the national budget a total of $1 billion for the countrywide cleanup, with half of that sum going towards Georgetown.

Works to be done under this programme, include the cleaning and desilting of canals, the rehabilitation of Le Repentir Cemetery, restoration of excavators belong-

Works currently ongoing at the Lamaha Street Canal in the vicinity of Main Street

T

he national “Clean-up My Country” initiative continues to progress with cleaning of major canals in the capital ongoing while

coastal regions are mobilising to begin clean-up soon.

Project Engineer attached to the Public Works Ministry, Khiraj Bisesar

Family farmers, Amerindians key to adapting to climate change – experts

ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena

E

xperts at the opening of the fifth Regional seminar on agriculture and climate change in Chile last week said it is vital to acknowledge the traditional knowledge accumulated by family farmers and native peoples, as well as to learn from that knowledge in order to adapt to climate change.

The seminar was organised by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Food and Agriculture Organisation with support from the French Cooperation and sponsored by IICA and Oxfam (United Kingdom).

Held under the theme “Agrobiodiversity, family farming and climate change”, it was attended by officials from the region’s ministries of agriculture and planning, agricultural innovation agencies and international experts.

In her opening address, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, stated that the region has been the source of various crop species such as maize and potato. She highlighted “the major role played by native peoples and family farmers in selecting and handling these varieties from generation to generation”.

She said “this accumulated

knowledge has not been sufficiently acknowledged”.

According to the senior official, climate change is already generating dramatic alterations to the water cycle, soil and coastal areas of Latin America and the Caribbean (particularly Central America), hence the need for urgent action. “We need to develop more diversified and resilient agricultural systems and develop production options for variable climatic conditions,” Bárcena said. She described the seminar as “an opportunity to think about the role of family farming, not just in producing food but also in protecting agro-biodiversity”.

Raúl Benítez, Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), declared that 16 of the region’s 33 countries have already achieved the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) to reduce by half the number of people suffering from hunger between 1990 and 2015.

He said, “We will achieve this goal as a region”, while also identifying many challenges that remain pending (such as increasing food production, reducing waste and losses and protecting the environment).

In this regard, he affirmed that family farming accounts for 80 per cent of farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean, and generates 50 per cent of rural employment.

Pascal Delisle, Regional Advisor for French Cooperation, pointed out that “In this International Year of Family Farming, we feel it very important to analyse not only its contribution to the agricultural sector, but also its known ability for adaptation and resilience to climate change”. The event, which ended on Thursday, August 21, included a presentation by Graciela Magrín, Argentine expert from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

said the cleaning and desilting of the Lamaha Street Canal is almost 75 per cent completed.

Bisesar highlighted that from east of Camp Street to Middleton Street, sections of the canal have already been completed and are awaiting further inspection.

He said the desilting and carting away of slush on the

A completed section of the Lamaha Street Canal

ing to the Mayor and City Council to ensure the maintenance of the city following cleanup activities, and also neighbourhood cleaning activities.

Neighbourhoods such as Albouystown and West Ruimveldt have already started their cleaning activities.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014

News

Man seriously injured after smash- Haiti’s recalcitrant senators pressured up on Walton Hall Public Road by colleagues to A pass electoral law A 48-year-old labourer from Walton Hall on the Essequibo Coast is in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital after his motorcycle collided with a minibus on Monday afternoon.

Seriously injured is Ramesh Jaigopaul.

Jaigopaul was at the time heading to his Walton Hall home on his motorcycle when he collided with a bus that was proceeding to Charity.

The bus was said to have five passengers inside and received extensive damages to the side. The accident occurred around 13:30h on Monday.

Jaigopaul motorcycle was smashed and he suffered injuries to his abdomen, legs and arms. He was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to wife of the injured motorcyclist Kawalli Chattergoon, she received a call around 14:00h informing her of the accident. The woman said she went to the hospital and saw her husband in the Intensive Care Unit. Jaigopaul is the father of two children.

The driver of the bus is currently in Police custody assisting with investigations. The minibus and the motorcycle have been impounded.

Ramesh Jaigopaul

Trinidad AG calls emailgate scandal a “diabolical, evil and wicked plot”

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ttorney General Anand Ramlogan says the “emailgate” scandal was a “diabolical, evil and wicked plot” aimed at destroying the People’s Partnership Government after indicating that the USbased search engine, Google, had said no such emails existed.

But the main Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM), whose leader, Dr Keith Rowley brought the emails to light during a parliamentary session in May 2013, said the country should await the outcome of the investigation being conducted by the Integrity Commission and the police.

“We do not accept the AG’s version as an interested third party as to what has

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan

happened in this matter. He is properly entitled to seek to defend himself, but I don’t want for the population to run away with the story that this matter has been put to rest. Do not be fooled by these charades. The jury

is still out and the investigation is still ongoing,” said PNM Public Relations Officer, Faris Al-Rawi.

Ramlogan told a news conference Sunday that he had received a certified affidavit from Google Inc which

invalidates the entire emailgate scandal.

“I can breathe a sigh of relief because this has been a very trying time for me personally,’ Ramloan said, noting that “it is the first time that I have been accused of such… of any criminal wrongdoing in my lifetime, and the nature of the crimes that were alleged to have occurred including attempting to…conspiring with the Prime Minister to attempt to murder a journalist, bugging the DPP’s (Director of Public Prosecutions) office to spy on the DPP, open corruption speaking about building a helipad and passing this in e-mails between the Prime Minister and myself,” Ramlogan said. (Excerpt from

growing number of Haitian senators have undertaken to pressure recalcitrant Opposition colleagues who have been blocking the holding of a crucial legislative and local ballot, as a political tactic to create a stalemate they hope will help them overthrow the Caribbean country’s leadership.

The President of Haiti’s senate, Dieuseul Simon Desras, and more than a dozen other senators have repeatedly called on a handful of six extremist colleagues to renounce their “evil strategy” consisting in boycotting sessions, preventing at the same time the senate from reaching the quorum required to hold a session.

“I am sorry to admit it, but it is true that there are senators within the group of the six senators who are ex-

tremists and I call on them to put the interests of the country higher than their own particular interests,” Desras, who once supported the so-called Group of Six, told HCNN over the weekend.

“These hardliners in the senate need to understand that sometimes they have to give up a minimum to keep the essential,” Desras said.

Only two thirds of the 30-member Haitian senate remained in office following the end of the term of ten senators over two years ago.

Ten additional senators are scheduled to leave office in January next year, when only the remaining 10 members will then make up the senate assembly, which will automatically become dysfunctional, since a quorum of 16 senators is required to hold a session. (Excerpt from Caribbean

News Now)

Diaspora a major help to Jamaica’s health sector – Health Minister

Caribbean360)

Mexico to monitor satellite images of ‘La Bestia’ trains used by migrants

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exico said on Monday it would use satellite imagery to monitor key railway lines running toward the US border to ensure the safety of the tracks and to help stem the flow of illegal immigrants heading north for the United States.

A top Interior Ministry official said a dozen satellite-monitored vehicles are to be deployed ahead of cargo trains near Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala that Central American migrants often jump on as they journey North.

The vehicles will be charged with monitoring the tracks, relaying realtime data on damage as well as on migrants seeking to climb on the trains.

The new technology aims to “prevent migrants from putting at risk the

Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson

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People hoping to reach the U.S. ride atop the wagon of a freight train, known as La Bestia (The Beast) in Ixtepec, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca June 18

safety of the trains which are for cargo, not passengers,” Humberto Mayans, the Interior Ministry’s southern border coordinator, told reporters.

The Government said more money would be spent on maintaining tracks in six southern states after

years of neglect, aiming to avoid derailments and help to speed up the notoriously slow trains to ferry cargo faster and deter would-be migrants.

Following a surge of migrants earlier this year, the number of Central American migrants cross-

ing illegally into the United States has fallen over the past couple months. The fall is attributed to a combination of factors, including tighter border policing and raids on the famously dangerous “La Bestia,” or the beast, cargo trains. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

ealth Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson says the Jamaican Diaspora has been of major help to the Health Ministry in its efforts to improve Jamaica’s health sector.

According to Ferguson the Diasporas has helped to close the gap in Ministry spending as it faces severe challenges especially with the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement.

Speaking at the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Monday Exchange, the health minister said the ministry is in several partnerships with members of the Diaspora.

“I have put in place a think-thank and advisory body looking at the Diaspora, because the

Diaspora is a wide open area and we have some of the best known doctors and other administrators in the Diaspora and we believe in establishing that relationship,” said Dr Ferguson.

He said as the first step, he has established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a major medical centre (Sunnybrook), a well known establishment in Canada.

Ferguson said out of that MOU, they are working with the ministry in setting up a Cancer Programme in the form of a centre of excellence for cancer care. He said the ministry and Sunnybrook are in the final stages of procurement after which they will go into construction.

(Jamaica Observer)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014

15

News

More duty-free concessions for miners – Ramotar President Patrick Harding had painted the gold industry black, contending that it was in a “crisis”.

Crisis

“This industry is in crisis. Small and medium scale miners need help,” he told the gathering. Drawing a comparison, he pointed out that in 2013, the gold sector created history when it recorded the highest gold declaration of 458,105 ounces of gold, but, to date, it has been unable to reach its projections for 2014.

He also complained about the issues surrounding recovery and the deplorable road networks.

Natural Resources and

President Donald Ramotar

Environment Minister Robert Persaud, GGMC Chairman Clinton Williams, and GGMC Commissioner Rickford Vieira were among officials at the opening and award ceremony held at Gravity Lounge on Monday evening under the theme “Improved Recovery, Reducing Impact: Securing the Future of Mining.”

Raymond Khan was awarded for this outstanding performance in responsible (environmental) mining while the Best Licensed Gold Dealer Award went to Mohamed and El Dorado Trading.

BK International and Toolsie Persaud received awards for their outstanding

President Ramotar and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud flanked by the awardees and officials within the mining sector

By Svetlana Marshall

I

nvestors within the mining sector would soon benefit from additional dutyfree concessions, President Donald Ramotar disclosed on Monday as he declared open Mining Week 2014.

The duty-free concessions would be given for a “particular type of vehicle”, the President said, but explained that key requirements would have to be met.

“We will grant these, but we would want to tie that to gold declaration and we would want to tie it to payment of taxes,” he further explained.

Since August 2013, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) had called for the Government to assent to tax

waivers on the importation of 4x4s and four-door open-back vehicles. It was noted that these vehicles are still being deemed luxury vehicles and attract heavy import duties, although they are necessary for safe travel. These vehicles are often used to transport rations, spares and personnel to and from mining operations.

It was also an occasion where President Ramotar poured cold water on the notion that the mining industry, particularly the gold sector, was in “crisis” given the drop in gold prices on the international market.

According to www.goldrate24.com, one ounce of gold is currently being sold at US$1277.56 or G$263,113.18.

But Ramotar said every sector has its challenges.

According to him, many investors within the gold sector entered the industry at a time when the price of gold was below US$1000, but nevertheless benefited significantly when the prices surpassed US$1800.

As Guyana feels the impact, local miners, the President stressed, must be able to improve their efficiency.

“This should challenge us, we should not despair and talk about crisis, this should challenge us to do things in an even better way,” he urged the miners. They were also encouraged to aid in the process of diversification by investing within sectors and infrastructural projects.

The President had spoken minutes after GGDMA

The National Dance Company performing a piece entitled “Africo”

performance in the production of stone, while Lennox John and Cecil Persaud were presented with awards for their accomplishment in the area of sand production.

The top awards were presented by President d Ramotar and went to MB&D Persaud Mining, the 2014 top producer in terms of diamond while the top gold producers were Chunnilall Babulall and Ryan and Julio Pereira.

In addition to the awards, the National Dance Company and other dance troupes entertained the audience comprising members of the diplomatic corps, miners and the private sectors.

16 NEWS

TuesDAY, august 26, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Uncertainty over fees as UG reopens

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mid increased fees and initial uncertainty over the disbursement of funds to cover student loans, the University of Guyana (UG) reopened its Turkeyen Campus on Monday.

When UG went into recess in May of this year, students hadn’t the slightest clue that when the institution reopens, they would be faced with a hike in tuition fees.

One such student Sherene

out that it was always said that education is one of the most expensive commodities and the increase just “snaps that reality back into place… it’s just a reminder of how much we have to pay to educate ourselves.”

However, another student Aleah Cummings said that because of the hike in tuition fees, she will no longer be able to pay her fees in cash, as she normally would. The young lady said that for the remainder of her days at

The University of Guyana reopened its Turkeyen Campus on Monday following a hike in tuition fees

University of Guyana student Sherene Craig

Craig expressed initial disappointment with the hike in tuition. The third-year student explained that while she does not agree with the increases, she has to deal with it.

A second-year law student Keeona McKay was dismissive of the tuition increase. She pointed

UG’s Turkeyen Campus, she will be studying via loans.

“I was already struggling to pay that amount and now I have to pay $50,000 more, I can’t, I can’t do it, I will be taking the loans… its gonna be too much for my family,” the frustrated young woman opined.

Guyana Times also spoke to some of the new students. Delisa Small is one of those students who said she was disappointed with not only the tuition increases but also the near crisis situation with the loans. She explained that she will be paying for her studies by way of loans but feels the whole issue was politicised.

In July, the University’s Administration Council adjusted fees applying to both new and continuing students who are pursuing programmes which previously attracted a fee of $127,000.

Students are now required to pay an incremental increase beginning with $130,000 in 2014; $145,000 in 2015 and $160,000 in

2016; in addition to the $50,000 Facilities Fee. The new Guyanese students who will be commencing their studies from September will be required to pay $210,000, inclusive of the Facilities Fee for most programmes.

In 2013, approximately 40 per cent of the student population acquired loans; however with the increase in tuition, this figure is expected to skyrocket.

Government has approved additional funds for the University of Guyana Student Loan Fund to facilitate the increase in tuition fees that will take full effect with the commencement of the new academic year 2014/2015.

During the 2014 Budget presentation in March, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh disclosed that $450 million was budgeted for the Student Loan Fund but by April, this sum was reduced to zero after the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) signalled their collective disapproval.

The Opposition had taken this course of action after the Student Loan Fund was lumped with items it had deemed objectionable. Their decision, however, was made before the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Jacob Opadeyi announced the hike in tuition fees.

Conservation agriculture, a new technology linking generations

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fter adopting conservation agriculture technology, ‘Me Maphoka is ready to harvest the fruits of her success.

‘Me Maphoka Thaba is an energetic woman and guides us to her field with a fast pace. She is 71 years old and she is still an active farmer who feeds the three orphans living with her.

“I am taking care of my husband’s children, two 17-year-old boy and girl twins and a 14-yearold daughter.” The youngest attends primary school, one of the twins is in high school and the other attends a technical school of carpentry.

“I have always been anxious because I cannot produce enough food to feed my family for a whole year.” ‘Me Maphoka says. “The neighbours help me when I run short of food.”

Seeing the long, healthy looking maize crops next to which we are standing as she talks, this is hard to believe.

Change ‘Me Maphoka explains that she decided for the first time in her life to change her agricultural practices and plant maize and beans following conservation agriculture (CA) principles: minimum soil disturbance, crop rotations and permanent soil cover.

‘Me Maphoka says that she saw CA being practiced in the

‘Me Maphoka explains that she used to harvest around 60kg of maize using conventional farming but this year she expects over 400 kg. Earlier in the season, as she was weeding – a good practice that can increase production up to 50 per cent – people would come and watch her working her land.

FAO and partners support vulnerable farming households to improve and diversify their production adapting to Climate Change

neighbouring village of Naleli and was very impressed by the harvest coming from the fields.

She enquired at Mahobong resource centre about CA and was encouraged to do it by the extension officers, who had been trained on conservation agriculture practices by the Emergency and Resilience Programme.

However, it was no easy feat to convince her 17-year-old son, Poello, to adopt this new agricultural technique. “I didn’t know what CA was”, he says. “I could not understand how the seeds would germinate when they were put in the basins.”

Deep inside, ‘Me Maphoka also believes that her son was concerned about her health given the amount of work he thought digging basins would require.

Although faced with Poello’s resistance, ‘Me Maphoka was not discouraged. She decided to give her son part of her 0.4Ha-land, letting him plant the conventional way while she would go ahead with conservation agriculture techniques.

‘Me Maphoka and other farmers that benefited from the FAOMAFS ERP programme worked in a team and helped each other preparing the land, strengthening the social linkages in the community.

The group of farmers is guided by the MAFS extension staff and the lead farmer Ntate Motseki who advises them on CA practices when they need complementing MAFS extension efforts.

The results of ‘Me Maphoka’s determination and solomonic de-

cision to split her land into two are more than evident now.

After lines and lines of healthy maize, we get to Poello’s piece of land which looks fallow. Looking carefully, we notice that it is actually a field of scattered poor looking stalks of corn. He confirms “My crops look poor, whereas my mother’s crops look good”.

He adds “Now that I know more about CA, I am willing to improve my knowledge and I want to help my mother implement this technique on 100 per cent of the land.” The young man wants to support the family to produce more and be able to sell some of the production.

“My children helped me a lot, especially for applying the fertiliser during the post-planting period,” she says.

Resilience Sustainable and integrated agriculture practices leading to increased resilience. ERP provides input support and capacity development on Conservation Agriculture, home gardening and nutrition targeting communities, lead farmers and extension services.

To date, the programme has invested more than US$5 million in support of over 18,500 households or 92,500 individuals coming from vulnerable farming households in Lesotho.

The programme has also trained over 530 extension staff, 600 lead farmers and local leaders and over 260 teachers from primary and secondary schools.

Additional financial support has been secured by COMESA to complete the distribution of cover crops among 7500 families by the end of 2014 while additional funding is still required to expand capacity development activities.

NEWS

17

tuesday, august 26, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Protected areas of Guyana

Schools to have adequate furniture for new A school year

T

he Education Ministry has said that all schools are expected to have additional new furniture to accommodate every child in the new school term.

To date, more than 90 per cent of schools have already received their supply of furniture, the Ministry said in a statement. Some schools in Regions Four and Eight are expected to have all their furniture by the end of September. In the meantime, contractors will continue to deliver furniture during this week.

“The Government of Guyana, in understanding the importance of education in a country’s development, allocated approximately $300 million to the construction and provision of furniture, so that every child can be comfortably seated in the classroom as they receive quality education,” the statement read.

According to the

Ministry, well ahead of the close of school in July 2014, Education Minister Priya Manickchand had held a meeting with builders to discuss the importance of contractors meeting their contractual obligations, specifically emphasising the importance of contractors delivering the furniture on time and of an acceptable quality.

Minister Manickchand told the meeting that the most desirous outcome would be that quality furniture is delivered on time.

She emphasised that if these requirements are not met, the Government will apply penalties under the relevant contracts.

The contractors undertook to ensure that they meet the conditions to which they agreed under the various contracts and expressed a deep understanding of the necessity to provide good furniture in a timely manner.

AFC mourns passing of NY official T

he Alliance For Change (AFC) is mourning the passing of Lionel Peters, one of its “foremost fighters”, who died peacefully after prolonged illness, in New York on Saturday morning.

In a statement, the AFC said at the time of his death, Peters was the Chairman/ General Secretary of the AFC’s New York/New Jersey Chapter and in the past held the position of Chairman of the Queens, New York section. He also served the AFC as a co-opted member of the party’s Management Committee.

During his prolonged illness and his final days, AFC’s leaders visited him in hospital, and were in constant communication with his wife Christine and offered support.

The party expressed appreciation to Dr Rohan Somar, Sankar Nirahu and Kamla Balbachan-Frank for their timely initiatives.

The party will be represented at the funeral services and cremation by its leader Khemraj Ramjattan, Vice Chairman Moses Nagamootoo and Executive, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, all three of whom are also Members of Parliament.

Peters enjoyed a distinguished career as a Berbician cricketer and courageous political activist that spanned over 40 years.

Formerly from Whim Village on the Corentyne, Peters was to become a leader of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), and an organiser for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), from which he resigned.

He enlisted in the AFC for the 2006 and 2011 elections, and became one of the party’s members in the USA. Before his passing, Peters had drafted a campaign song and an election manifesto and celebrated the AFC’s no-confidence motion against the minority Government.

"AFC pays tribute to this outstanding Guyanese son, and assures him that his struggles for unity and clean governance of his beloved Guyana would not be in vain," an AFC statement said.

“AFC sends sincere condolences to all bereaved persons, including Lio’s wife and children, his mother and several siblings, and grandchildren,” the statement added.

protected area is an area of land which has been legally protected to preserve its resources, natural beauty or biological diversity or “biodiversity”.

The reasons for having a protected area are to conserve our natural and cultural resources and to protect important habitats and species for long term benefits for all Guyanese and the world.

metres above the surrounding plain. The mountains are underlain by hard granites and softer volcanic rocks.

Kaieteur National Park

Kaieteur National Park was officially established as a protected area in 1929 by the British Commonwealth and is

Types of protected areas

These include: • Nature Reserve/ Wilderness Area − Managed for science or wilderness protection.

• National Park − Managed for ecosystem protection and recreation.

• Natural Monument − Managed for conservation of specific natural features.

• Habitat/ Species Management Area − Managed for conservation through management intervention.

• Protected Landscape/ Seascape − Managed for landscape/ seascape conservation and recreation.

• Managed Resource Protected Area − Managed for sustainable use of natural ecosystem.

Each type of protected area has different goals and ways of managing the unique resources they protect. Sometimes a protected area will be divided into sections or zones and each has its own type of rules and management. Protected areas balance the needs of wildlife and the needs of those persons who live nearby. Each should have enough space and resources to survive and prosper.

The protected areas of Guyana are: Kanuku Mountains

The Kanuku Mountains are located in the Rupununi Savannahs in southwestern Guyana and is one of the most

currently one of Guyana’s protected areas. As a result of the high biodiversity and endemic flora and fauna, the area has a long and rich tradition of scientific investigation. Kaieteur also has an equally long tradition of visitation, with the primary attraction being the 741 foot waterfall, one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere. In addition, the area has unique geological attractions as well as large areas of primary tropical rainforest directly accessible from the core park area.

Shell Beach

Shell Beach was designated a protected area with the passage of the Protected Areas Act of 2011. The Shell

ecologically diverse areas in the country. The Eastern Kanuku Mountains and the Western Kanuku Mountains are separated by the Rupununi River.

Healthy populations of many globally important species can be found in and around the mountains. The lowland forests sustain 60 per cent of all the known bird species in Guyana. Around 150 mammal species, or 80 per cent of all mammals found in Guyana, live in the Kanuku Mountains.

Iwokrama

This 360,000 hectares protected area is found in the centre of Guyana. Approximately half is a wilderness preserve

with the remainder being used for sustainable utilisation of resources. The Iwokrama Mountains constitute the principal geological features of the Iwokrama forest. They rise 800

Beach Protected Area (SBPA) is located in the northwest part of Guyana, in Region One, stretching over 120 kilometres of beach and mudflats. It covers an approximate area of 304,074.7 acres (123,055.2 hectares). It is bound, running south-east to north west, by the Moruca, Barabara, Biara, Baramani, and Waini rivers and is bound to the northeast by the Atlantic Ocean. It is categorised as an IUCN Category VI – Managed Resource Protected Area.

Guyana benefits from protected areas whereby its natural and cultural heritage will be conserved for Guyanese.

There are many species of plants and animals with very valuable medicinal properties that have not been explored.

It is quite possible that the cure for now incurable diseases may be developed from our forest. Therefore, it is essential that we protect our biodiversity – ecosystems and the animals and plants they support.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com.

18

tuesday, august 26, 2014

GHRA discusses concerns with Sport Minister

18 named for Windies Women’s training camp T

GHRA President Vic Oditt makes a point to media operatives in the presence of officials of the NSC and Sport Ministry on Monday afternoon (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

T

op officials of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) on Monday met Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony and a team from the National Sports Commission, highlighting a few concerns and hindrances to the growth of the sport in Guyana.

Key among the issues raised by the GHRA team was the regularisation of

the sport as they noted that failure to enact the requisite rules and regulations could be counterproductive and detrimental to the development of the sport.

To help in this regard, the GHRA has solicited the assistance of Secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority (TTRA), David Loregnard, to first exam-

ine the situation and then make the necessary recommendations on the way forward.

Loregnard was part of the team that met with Dr Anthony at his Main Street office to discuss the way forward.

Dr Anthony, in outlining his vision for the development of the sport, said he was happy to collaborate with the Trinidadian

authorities to bring those plans to fruition.

The meeting was also attended by Director of Sport, Neil Kumar; Chairman of the National Sports Commission' Conrad Plummer; ViceChairperson Vidushi Persaud; GHRA head Vic Oditt; and GHRA Legal Advisor Rajendra Poonai.

Legend Classic Basketball…

Knights close off Jammers to reach knock out stage

C

anje Knights made easy work of a tiring Rose Hall Town Jammers in their playoff game at the Area ‘H’ Ground on Sunday to leave the home team winless at the end of the round robin stage in group ‘A’.

The Knights catapulted on the fact that the Jammers did not have replacements on the bench in Sunday’s game and scored 19 points in the last quarter to win 60-41.

After dominating the first quarter 19-9, the Knights utilised their players on the bench to

allow time for their star players to rest. That gave the Jammers their best performance where they scored 20 points in the second session to trail 29-39 at the half time interval.

With a game on and a chance to get to the knockout stage, the Jammers were up to the challenge in the third quarter but two three-pointers from Damieon Hunte late in that session gave the Knights the advantage going into the final session 41-35.

Bobby Tusher, who shared a game high 15

points for the Jammers, was the target of the Knights in the final session as they prevented him from adding to the 3 three-pointers he had already scored.

Steve Roopnarine continued his good showing in the tournament and led the Knights to their second straight victory with 15 points. He received good support from Kevon Emanuel who netted 14 points and Travis Sutton who had 12.

Michael King sank 14 points in a losing effort for Rose Hall Town Jammers

while Kevon Wigging contributed 10.

The competition continues on Sunday with New Amsterdam Warriors taking on Smithfield Rockers at the New Amsterdam Court. Both teams have already qualified for the knockout stage of the competition and will be playing to top group ‘B’.

The competition is sponsored by Ponai’s Pharmacy, A Ally and Sons and Nand Persaud Rice Mills. The event is being organised by Vibert Garrett.

he West Indies Cricket Board announced on Monday that 18 players have been invited to a West Indies Women’s training camp from August 27 to September 8 in Barbados and St Kitts.

The squad will be preparing for their opening series in the ICC Women’s Championship against New Zealand Women on home soil.

Squad: Merissa Aguilleira, Shemaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Stacy-Ann King, Kycia Knight, Hayley Matthew, Natasha McLean, Anisa Mohammed, Jodian Morgan, Subrina Munroe, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt, Stafanie Taylor Team management unit: Sherwin Campbell (Head Coach), Ann Browne-John (Manager), Ezra Moseley (Assistant Coach), Jacqui King (Physiotherapist), Shannon Lashley (Fitness Trainer), Trent Sargeant (Video Analyst) The inaugural edition of the IWC will see the top eight sides in the women’s game lock horns in a multi-year, bilateral qualifying competition that will lead into the pinnacle event in women’s cricket, the ICC Women’s World Cup. Developed in order to create a more extensive and meaningful bilateral playing programme for women’s cricket, the IWC will see the eight sides play each other in three One-Day Internationals, either at home or away, between 2014 and 2016.

Points will be awarded for each game, with the top four sides at the conclusion of the ICC Women’s Championship gaining automatic qualification to the ICC Women’s

World Cup 2017, to be hosted by the England & Wales Cricket Board.

The bottom four sides will have a second chance to qualify for the marquee event through the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier 2017, details of which will be announced in due course.

The bottom four will join six regional qualifiers and face off for the final four positions at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017.

In this forthcoming series, West Indies Women and New Zealand Women will play four One-day Internationals – the results of the first three matches counting towards their IWC tally – all at Warner Park in St. Kitts.

This will be followed by three Twenty20 Internationals – all at the Arnos Vale Multiplex in St. Vincent. (WICB) Schedule of matches September Friday 12-1st IWC One-Day International – Warner Park, St Kitts (9:30 a.m. start) Saturday 13-Reserve Day Sunday 14-2nd IWC One-Day International – Warner Park (9:30 a.m.)

Monday 1-Reserve Day Wednesday 173rd IWC One-day International – Warner Park (9:30 a.m.)

Thursday 18-Reserve Day Friday 19-4th OneDay International – Warner Park (10:30 a.m.)

Tuesday 23-1st IWC Twenty20 International – Arnos Vale Multiplex, St. Vincent (2 p.m.)

Thursday 25-2nd IWC Twenty20 International – Arnos Vale Multiplex (2 p.m.)

Saturday 27-3rd IWC Twenty20 International – Arnos Vale Multiplex (2 p.m.)

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

19

East Coast leg of Scotiabank cricket camp starts − Berbice sessions commence today

By Avenash Ramzan

D

ozens of youths from several East Coast Demerara schools are engaging the attention of coaches as the East Coast leg of the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Camps commenced on Monday at the Enmore Community Centre ground.

The camp, which is another in a series of such activities hosted countrywide and sponsored by Scotiabank, will run until Thursday. Former national fast bowler Esaun Crandon, who is now a qualified coach, is leading the team of instructors that includes Bevan Butts, Jamal Hinckson and Dhanpaul.

Focus during the sessions, which will be held from 09:00h to 15:00h daily, will be on the fundamentals of the sport.

During last week, sessions were held at the Banks DIH ground at Thirst Park and at the Imam Bacchus ground in Essequibo with more than 100 young, aspiring cricketers being tutored on basic aspects of the game.

According to Coordinator of the camps, Colin Stuart, there has been an overwhelming response to the programme, which is the first such to be held in Guyana, and targets schools that would have done well at

Youngsters participating in the East Coast camp at Enmore pose for Guyana Times’ Avenash Ramzan. The coaches also share the moment

the preliminary zone competitions earlier this year.

At Thirst Park, schools from Georgetown, East Bank and West Demerara were targeted, while students from schools on the Essequibo Coast were the focus of the sessions at the Imam Bacchus ground.

Stuart, who is also the

Territorial Development Officer of the Guyana Cricket Board, said sessions for schools in the Ancient County of Berbice will take place from today to Friday under the expert guidance of Coaches Michael Hyles, Julian Moore, Winston Smith, Andre Percival and Albert Smith.

Stuart, a former West Indies fast bowler, said the camps will touch approximately 300 students, who are being exposed to the basics of the game from an early age, as well as information gathering on the game.

At the launch of the camps last week, Manager of the Scotiabank Robb Street

branch Brian Hackett stated that the bank was happy to aid in the dissemination of cricket knowledge to the beginners. Hackett explained that since its inauguration in 2001, Kiddy cricket has made noteworthy progress, being played in at least 13 territories in the Caribbean.

The Scotiabank Kiddy

Cricket Camps are done with the assistance of several partners, including the Guyana Cricket Board, West Indies Cricket Board, Ministry of Education and Allied Arts Department, Ministry of Sport and the Guyana Teachers’ Union.

Central American and Caribbean World Masters Athletic Championships (NCCWMA) in San Jose, Costa Rica at the weekend.

Fortune ran 12.12 secs in the 35-39 Women’s 100 metres on Saturday, beating into second place Silvia

Zamora of Costa Rica who clocked 14. 97. Third was Mayra Valentina Carillo of Mexico.

Returning to the track on Sunday, Fortune clocked 24.55 secs to easily win the 200 metres ahead of Cindy Hernandez of Costa

Rica. Third was Mayra Valentina Carillo.

Fortune had started her campaign at the World Masters on a successful note as she captured gold in the Women’s 25-39 400 metres on Friday.

Fortune clocked 56.32

secs to easily win the final ahead of Alejandra Cedeno (01:03.79) of Venezuela and Heidy Segura Gonzalez (01:05.81) of Costa Rica who came second and third respectively. Fourth was Mayra Valentina Carrillo of Mexico and fifth Beatriz

Araya Granados of Costa Rica.

The sprinter’s trip is through the blessings of the Guyana Masters Athletics Association (GMAA).

Fortune makes clean sweep of sprint events at World Masters F

ormer sprint queen Alisha Fortune followed up on taking gold in the 400 metres to ensure a clean sweep of the sprint events by also capturing gold in the 100 metres and 200 metres events at the North,

Oretga Montes optimistic about the sport of table tennis in Guyana

By Treiston Joseph

I

nternational Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Latin America Development Officer Ramon Ortega Montes believes that the level one and two courses he conducted at the National Gymnasium will help to improve the sport here in years to come.

Ortega Montes, who completed a level one coaching course in Guyana

only last week, revealed that the major problem for the newcomers was the lack of technique.

“What I saw was basic steps of technical things, very basic that were not in place like footwork or grip of the racquet.

“So the idea in level one was that all of them will be able to implement these things to get the level of table tennis in Guyana better,” Ortega Montes noted.

With the level two

course in progress and about to wrap up, the development officer also spoke on some of the things he is focusing on.

“In the level two, we have similar problems, the basic problems of the technical things from level one that I saw in the players, some of those problems I see here.

“So first we were doing this to teach them how the basics should be and later we are going in detail…

how I think they will put it in place, I don’t know because it is tough,” Ortega Montes highlighted.

Further, Ortega Montes was optimistic on where table tennis in Guyana can go once the coaches are able to implement what they have been taught.

“I think this is the very best way to begin to change that (the level of table tennis in Guyana)… to do a level one and then level two courses at the same

time is the way to teach the coaches how to do it.

“So how it should be from now on? It should be that these coaches receive the knowledge and implement it the best way to the players and once this is done I think that in two years or three, the level of the table tennis here will improve,” Ortega Montes said.

Meanwhile, the level two course is expected to be completed this week at

the National Gymnasium.

Ramon Ortega Montes

20

tuesDAY, August 26, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

Sri Lanka seek to stall Mercedes to let drivers ‘calm down’ Hambantota slide T

he locals in Sri Lanka’s southeast had been hoping for heavy rains to rejuvenate their crops and refill their wells.

The rain though, has been in Colombo. Hambantota gets extra cricket instead. Given Sri Lanka have now lost three on the trot at the venue, that may not be much of a condolence prize.

Sri Lanka is often thought of as a tough team to beat at home, particularly in limited-overs cricket.

But since 2006, they have lost seven bilateral ODI series at home to the six they have won. In the last two years, they have also drawn against New Zealand and Bangladesh.

Pakistan now have the chance to inflict a successive ODI series loss on the hosts, after South Africa beat them 2-1 last month.

Angelo Mathews already has one eye trained on the World Cup, and had said he would experiment with Sri Lanka’s combination in this series. But he will be tempted to shelve those ambitions for now, and pick his strongest team.

Pakistan, meanwhile, are out to get silverware out of this tour. They had seemed sunk on Saturday until two batsmen with fewer than 50 ODIs between them put on a partnership worthy of seasoned one-day cricketers. Perhaps the wisest thing about their 147run stand was that neither batsman seemed keen to rely on Shahid Afridi.

Saturday’s was the kind of win that fills a batting unit with confidence. If they can win a chase from five down, 160 adrift and the required rate touching seven an over, they might feel anything is possible. Moreover, Misbah-ul-Haq now seems to have some level-headed company in the middle order. They will be without their other middle-order anchor though, with Younis Khan returning home due to personal reasons. They will also need to make do with-

From left: Nico Rosberg, Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton

Fawad Alam has scores of 62, 114* and 74 in his three ODIs this year. Photo: AFP

out ace spinner Saeed Ajmal for one more match, but even without him, the bowling and batting appears to have the depth and variety to deal with whatever the temperamental Hambantota venue serves up on Tuesday.

In the spotlight Upul Tharanga’s reintroduction to the top teams has been well-earned, but he is still working on locking down a place in both the ODI and Test teams. He top scored in the Test victory at SSC, but the edginess outside off stump that has always been his bane has not yet been fully dealt with.

There is now competition for opening spots, across all formats. If Tharanga wants a place in Sri Lanka’s World Cup side, he will need consistent scores.

Sohaib Maqsood was the star of Saturday’s chase, but alongside him for much of his innings was Fawad Alam who has begun to carve a niche for himself as the busy engine-room batsman in Pakistan’s middle order.

There is nothing eye-catching about Alam’s batting, except an ability to find gaps, and an opportunistic streak that sees him squeeze out runs when most would see none there. He has a bandit’s beard and hairstyle, to match his style of play. Alam has crossed 50 in all his

three ODIs this year, and an average of 47.38 after 28 innings suggests Pakistan unearthed something valuable.

Teams news The only place in Sri Lanka’s top order that does not seem settled is the Dinesh Chandimal-Lahiru Thirimanne spot. Elsewhere, Sri Lanka may be tempted to bring in offspinner Suraj Randiv, if only to prevent Rangana Herath from disintegrating into the molecules that comprise him, given his workload this year.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Upul Tharanga, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Lahiru Thirimanne/ Dinesh Chandimal, 6 Angelo Mathews (capt), 7 Ashan Priyanjan, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Rangana Herath, 10 Nuwan Kulasekara 11 Lasith Malinga In Younis Khan’s absence, Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad will open, while Mohammad Hafeez will be pushed down to No.3.

Pakistan (probable): 1 Sharjeel Khan, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Umar Akmal (wk), 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Fawad Alam, 7 Sohaib Maqsood, 8 Shahid Afridi, 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Mohammad Irfan

M

ercedes will let Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg calm down before deciding how to resolve the controversy of their crash in Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix. The incident on lap two gave Hamilton a rear puncture that ultimately caused his retirement. Rosberg recovered from a damaged front wing to finish second.

Hamilton said rival Rosberg admitted to causing the crash “on purpose”.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff said: “We will decide what to do when everybody is in a cooler, calmer frame of mind.” The Austrian added that he was “very disappointed” with Sunday’s events at SpaFrancorchamps and that Rosberg “shouldn’t have done it” but said “there will be no knee-jerk reaction”.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo won the race but Hamilton’s retirement leaves the British driver 29 points behind Rosberg in the championship, with only 200 available in the remaining seven races. Mercedes have until this point allowed their drivers to race freely on the proviso they did not

hit each other.

Wolff said this philosophy would now change, but he did not yet know how, adding that he had not expected things to deteriorate this badly. “I thought with the two of them, with the way they have previously driven against one another, that it wouldn’t come to this point,” he said.

“But we are at that point and it needs to be managed going forward.”

Wolff insisted the meaning of Rosberg’s comments during a private team meeting after the race had been misinterpreted.

Hamilton claimed that Rosberg said he had caused the incident “on purpose”, adding: “He said he could have avoided it. He basically said: ‘I did it to prove a point’.”

Wolff explained: “They agreed to disagree in a very heated discussion amongst ourselves, but it wasn’t deliberately crashing. That is nonsense. “It was deliberately taking into account that if Lewis moves then it could end up in a crash.”

Governing body the FIA is to consider whether to take any further action

over the incident after stewards did not investigate it in Belgium. Officials at SpaFrancorchamps made their decision to close the case during the race, long before Rosberg had made his comments in the Mercedes meeting.

The FIA will now have to decide whether to investigate what was actually said in the meeting and whether Rosberg’s decision not to take avoiding action effectively caused a collision, which is an offence under the F1 sporting regulations.

If the FIA rules that Rosberg is in the wrong, it will have to decide if there needs to be a penalty of some kind.

Wolff, who has indicated Rosberg could face internal disciplinary action from Mercedes, added: “The incident, as I see it, is not acceptable for us. “What we saw there was that Nico was not prepared to take the exit, and that caused the collision. That is not something we want to happen.”

He added: “With hindsight, if he could turn back time, Nico would probably not do it again in the way he did.”

First ODI between England and India at Bristol washed out

Man Utd agree British record fee of £59.7m for Angel Di Maria

M

anchester United have agreed a British record transfer fee of £59.7m to sign Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria. The Argentina international, 26, is in Manchester and will have a medical on Tuesday morning, after which the move - which will take United’s summer spending to £132m - will be confirmed.

He could make his debut away to Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday. The fee will eclipse the £50m Chelsea paid Liverpool for striker Fernando Torres in 2011.

United last broke the British transfer record when they paid Leeds £29.1m for Rio Ferdinand in 2002. The Old Trafford club have already bought left-back Luke Shaw, midfielder Ander Herrera and Di Maria’s Argentina team-mate Marcos Rojo for a combined £72m this summer.

“Di Maria has not trained with us today and he came in to say goodbye to the players and people at the club,” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti on Sunday.

“The decision is his and the club has done what it

could to keep him here.”

Di Maria injured a thigh in Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final win over Belgium but was still named on the 10man shortlist for the Fifa player of the tournament award. He joined Real from Benfica for £36m in 2010, and won La Liga in 2012 and the Champions League last season.

Former Real president Ramon Calderon said he “does not like” the idea of Di Maria leaving, adding: “Normally a club who owns the very good players don’t like to sell them.”

The abandonment is a blow for the Nevil Road ground, which was set to host its first ODI since 2010

T

he first one-day international between England and India at Bristol has been abandoned without any play due to rain.

England’s Alex Hales had been due to make his international debut in the 50-over format, but spectators were denied the chance to see his new-look opening partnership with

Alastair Cook.

The abandonment is a blow for the Nevil Road ground, which was set to host its first ODI since 2010.

The second ODI takes place on Wednesday at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff.

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club chief executive Will Brown told BBC Radio 5 live: “We will lose

money.

“We’re insured for the ticket sales, but not for things like beer sales.

“People made the call that they’d stay at home, so everything was at a slightly lower level than we’d hoped.”

Bristol is not scheduled to host another international match until 2016.

SPORTS

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Zimbabwe v Australia, Tri-series, Harare

tuesday, august 26, 2014

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Zimbabwe fold after Marsh, Maxwell blitz A

blistering 109-run stand in nine overs between Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell saw Australia rack up the highest ODI total at the Harare Sports Club and leave Zimbabwe in the dust in the tri-series opener. Both Marsh, promoted to No.3 in Michael Clarke’s injury-enforced absence, and Maxwell recorded their highest scores in the format as Australia stacked on 147 runs in their last ten overs.

Zimbabwe’s best batsman, Hamilton Masakadza, managed less than half of that.

On a late winter surface, neither team’s bowlers were able to extract much from the pitch but Zimbabwe’s attack was rendered particularly toothless in the face of Australia’s aggression. The usually miserly Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara were torn apart while John Nyumbu was swept and sliced all over the ground. In contrast Australia’s frontline seamers were disciplined and their premier spinner, Nathan Lyon, found turn against a much meeker line-up that never looked likely to chase at seven runs to the over.

Australia’s innings had a solid start and a flourishing finish as they first assessed the conditions and the opposition and then showed how they would react given the lack of any real threats. Aaron Finch and Brad Haddin, who was given the opening berth ahead of Phil Hughes, were circumspect upfront but found the boundary often in the first 15 overs with Zimbabwe’s bowlers offering a mix of deliveries that spanned the spectrum of too short, too wide, too full and too far down the leg-side.

When Elton Chigumbura introduced himself in the 15th over, it seemed groundhog day was looming for the hosts.

Fortune intervened to give them a breakthrough when Haddin went down the pitch to defend against Chigumbura but the ball dropped on the pitch, bounced behind him and removed the leg bail.

That was Zimbabwe’s cue to enforce a squeeze, engineered by Prosper Utseya.

Tight lines against a watchful Marsh resulted in just 23 runs coming from the next sevenand-a-half overs, during which Finch reached his half-century. In a bid to get a move on, Australia took the Powerplay at the start of the 29th over but found themselves similarly stuck. Zimbabwe gave away just 25 runs in the fiveover period, got rid of Finch, and tightened their grip afterwards when Utseya held on to a catch at short third man to dismiss George Bailey.

Little did they know what lay on the other side of that wicket.

Maxwell allowed himself an 12-ball sighter before charging Utseya for the first of his three sixes. Australia’s score peeped over 200 as the last 10 overs began and exploded to 281 by the time the last five overs had arrived.

Marsh and Maxwell put to use the six-hitting practice

Glenn Maxwell goes for a switch hit

Australia had done the day before the match and tucked into Williams, Nyumbu and Panyangara, sometimes finding the boundary, other times going over it. Twenty runs came off a Nyumbu over, and 19 and 15 off two from Panyangara. Marsh went from 50 to 88 in 32 balls; Maxwell from 20 to 64 in 18 balls and both seemed destined for three figures.

But as Marsh was about to enter the nineties, he failed to clear long-on and was caught off a Chatara slower ball.

Maxwell marched to 93 but then misjudged one and gave Chatara a second consolation wicket. But the damage had already been done and Zimbabwe could only hope for a respectable response.

For that, they needed a strong opening stand but their third combination in the last four matches could not deliver. Tino Mawoyo, who was brought into the XI, was trapped lbw by a Mitchell Starc delivery that caught him

in his crease as it angled in.

Sikandar Raza and Hamilton Masakadza showed fight with the highest stand of the Zimbabwe innings, 63 runs, with Masakadza the mainstay. Raza refused to take a run off Mitchell Johnson, playing out two successive maidens from him, but eased the pressure when Kane Richardson was brought on and he could hit with confidence through the off side. He once again threw away a start when he hit Lyon straight to backward square leg.

Masakadza held the innings together as Taylor, fresh from being dropped, pushed lazily at a Johnson delivery with a hint of extra bounce to be caught at slip, Chigumbura top-edged a short ball after being hit by Johnson and Sean Williams gifted a catch to cover. At 88 for 5 in the 23rd over, Zimbabwe were out of the contest, and besides Masakadza’s 24th ODI fifty there were few positives for them.

SCOREBOARD Australia innings (50 overs maximum) AJ Finch c sub (V Sibanda) b Nyumbu 67 BJ Haddin† b Chigumbura 46 MR Marsh c Sikandar Raza b Chatara 89 GJ Bailey* c Utseya b Williams 14 GJ Maxwell c Mawoyo b Chatara 93 SPD Smith run out (Sikandar Raza) 1 JP Faulkner not out 5 MG Johnson not out 20 Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 7, nb 3) 15 Total (6 wickets; 50 overs; 210 mins) 350 (7.00 runs per over) Did not batMA Starc, KW Richardson, NM Lyon Fall of wickets 1-98 (Haddin, 18.3 ov), 2-145 (Finch, 29.3 ov), 3-178 (Bailey, 36.2 ov), 4-287 (Marsh, 45.2 ov), 5-298 (Smith, 46.4 ov), 6-317 (Maxwell, 47.4 ov) Bowling: T Panyangara 7-168-0, TL Chatara 9-0-77-2, J Nyumbu 8-0-64-1, SC Williams 10-1-59-1, E Chigumbura 6-033-1, P Utseya 10-1-44-0 Zimbabwe innings (target: 351 runs from 50 overs) TMK Mawoyo lbw b Starc 1

Sikandar Raza c Marsh b Lyon 33 H Masakadza st †Haddin b Smith 70 BRM Taylor c Finch b Johnson 10 E Chigumbura* c †Haddin b Faulkner 0 SC Williams c Maxwell b Marsh 1 R Mutumbami† lbw b Lyon 11 P Utseya c Starc b Smith 9 T Panyangara b Starc 1 J Nyumbu c Faulkner b Smith 1 TL Chatara not out 6 Extras (lb 2, w 7) 9 Total (all out; 39.3 overs; 175 mins) 152 (3.84 runs per over) Fall of wickets 1-1 (Mawoyo, 1.2 ov), 2-64 (Sikandar Raza, 13.6 ov), 3-83 (Taylor, 18.3 ov), 4-86 (Chigumbura, 21.1 ov), 5-88 (Williams, 22.1 ov), 6-117 (Mutumbami, 29.3 ov), 7-138 (Masakadza, 33.3 ov), 8-144 (Panyangara, 36.6 ov), 9-144 (Utseya, 37.4 ov), 10-152 (Nyumbu, 39.3 ov) Bowling: MG Johnson 6-27-1, MA Starc 6-1-23-2, KW Richardson 5-2-28-0, MR Marsh 5-0-15-1, NM Lyon 7-1-42-2, JP Faulkner 6-019-1, SPD Smith 4.3-0-16-3

22

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

DCB Elite Youth Summer Camp commences today

T

he Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) oneweek Elite Youth Summer Camp sponsored

by W&H Rambaran Marine, Distributor of Mariner Outboard Engines, commenced on Monday at the Demerara Cricket Club.

Day one of the camp got off with the U-15 boys being engaged in an ‘Introduction to Scoring’ session which was done by regional scorer, Calvin Roberts. After which, Garvin Nedd and Clive Grimmond carried the boys through specific warm-up sessions and batting drills. The same programme, although more indepth, was done with the U-17s in the afternoon.

The camp continues today when Matthew Kissoon will deliver a presentation on the ‘Relevant Laws of the Game’, followed by warm-up sessions and

bowling drills to be done by the coaches.

Morning sessions, from 9:00h-12:00h, are for the U-15s while the afternoon sessions, from 13:00h16:00h, are for the U-17s.

These sessions are spearheaded by Demerara’s head coach, Nedd who is supported by Grimmond. The GCB Territorial Development Officer, Colin Stuart is overseeing the camp.

According to a press release from the GCB, the aim of the camp is to challenge, improve and develop the younger cricketers’ ability, widen their knowledge of the game, and make them more appreciative of it.

The DCB is encouraging more youths, both males and females, to join the camp. To be eligible for the U-15 programme, players have to be born on or af-

ter September 1, 2000 and for the U-17, on or after September 1, 1998. Those interested can contact the DCB office on 223 5479 or Garvin Nedd on 617 9381.

The DCB is grateful to have W&H Rambaran Marine, Distributor of Mariner Outboard Engines onboard.

This company is located at Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, and was founded in the early 1990s with its aim being to make its customers’ boating experience better in the long run and to propel Guyana into the 21st century.

“W&H Rambaran Mariner Outboard Engines is the number one on the water, and the Company supplies both Mariner and Mercury outboard engines, spare parts and accessories to the general public,” the DCB press release stated.

The Demerara Cricket Board one-week Elite Youth Summer Camp, sponsored by W&H Rambaran Marine, got underway on Monday

Anti-doping seminar Tiger Woods parts set for next month company with

I

n light of the challenges faced by many athletes regarding the use of illegal performance enhancement products, steps have been made globally to address the situation which has seen several athletes being suspended from their respective sporting discipline and their medals returned.

The most recent cases include American cyclist Lance Armstrong and Jamaican track and field star, Asafa Powell.

In the Caribbean, the Regional Anti-Doping Organisations (RADOs) were created to combine the efforts, resources and capacity of many countries from specific geographical regions into one organisational anti-doping body.

Just like National AntiDoping Organisations (NADOs), RADOs have an imperative role to play in ensuring that all the grouped countries are able to comply with and implement the many anti-doping rules and regulations bestowed upon athletes by the World Anti-Doping Code and the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA).

With this in mind, the Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, will be hosting a seminar for Coaches and Team Managers on

September 5, commencing at 09:45h at the National Sport Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue.

The topics that will be discussed include WADA/ RADO role in anti-doping, doping in sports- why worry, the list of prohibited substances, responsibilities of managers/coaches in the context of doping, testing protocol, athletes’ whereabouts, results management and penalties for positive test(s).

The Caribbean RADO has a responsibility to provide education on the use of drugs and doping methods in sport, as well as to promote and coordinate the fight against doping in sport among the countries of the Caribbean. Its core vision is to value and foster doping-free sport in the Caribbean.

The organisation provides various resources, seminars and workshops to athletes, coaches, sport-related administrative personnel and the public on matters relating to the anti-doping process and the sporting arena. It also encourages the active participation of National Sports Associations who have the serious responsibility of ensuring that their members have all the information that is necessary to be fully knowledgeable and aware of the anti-doping programme as well as to sup-

port and comply with it.

The seminar seeks to highlight and foster discussions on the challenge of doping, which dates back to when ancient Greek athletes used special diets and stimulating potions to fortify themselves. Strychnine, caffeine, cocaine, and alcohol were often used by cyclists and other endurance athletes in the 19th century.

For instance, Thomas Hicks ran to victory in the marathon at the 1904 Olympic Games, in Saint Louis, with the help of raw egg, injections of strychnine and doses of brandy administered to him during the race. By the 1920s, it had become evident that restrictions regarding drug use in sports were necessary.

The Sport Ministry in a release said, “Today, authorities are faced with new innovations.

However, they are not hindered in any way since they have the necessary technology to help them effectively carry out their tasks. It is, therefore incumbent on athletes, coaches and sport managers to exercise diligence, professionalism, tact and be well informed about the restricted substances and the impact such substances can have on an athlete’s career.”

coach Sean Foley

Woods began working with Foley (right) at the 2010 PGA Championship

T

iger Woods has said he will no longer be working with coach Sean Foley. The former world number one, currently sidelined with a back injury, spent four years with Foley but has not added to his 14 major titles in that period.

Woods, 38, returned to the top of the rankings in 2013 but has been deposed after a best finish of 25th this year. “I’d like to thank Sean for help as my coach and for his friendship. This is the right time to end our professional relationship,” Woods told his website.

“Sean is one of the outstanding coaches in golf today, and I know he will continue to be successful with the players working with him.

“Presently, I do not have a coach, and there is no timetable for hiring one.”

After being named the PGA Player of the Year in 2013 - when he won five of his 16 tournaments and finished in the top 10 in three others - Woods has endured a wretched 2014 season. He missed the first two majors of the year, the Masters and US Open, while recovering from back surgery on 31 March.

At the Open at Hoylake, Woods finished in 69th place, 23 shots behind champion Rory McIlroy. He then missed the cut at the PGA Championship this month, a week after withdrawing from the World Golf Championships event in Akron with further back

trouble.

Having failed to earn an automatic place in the US team for next month’s Ryder Cup at Gleaneagles, Woods ruled himself out of contention for a wildcard and said he would not return to competition before December.

Foley, who has also coached Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Hunter Mahan, was Woods’ third coach since turning professional in 1996.

The American split from Butch Harmon in 2003 and spent six years with Hank Haney, which ended when Haney resigned in the spring of 2010.

Woods began working with Foley at the 2010 PGA Championship.

tuesDAY, august 26, 2014

guyanatimesGY.com

23

Stag Beer/EBFA Division One League…

Grove hammer Diamond; Agricola tame Timehri

Gove Hi Tech Captain Domini Garnett (second right) scores the first of his three goals against Diamond United

G

rove Hi Tech solidified their hold at the top of the standings with a workmanlike 9-1 drubbing of Diamond United whilst Agricola Red Triangle took care of Timehri Panthers 3-1 when rivalry in the Stag

Beer/East Bank Football Association division-one league continued yesterday at the Grove Playfield.

Led by their Captain and the competition’s leading goal scorer to date, Domini Garnett (13 goals), who blasted a hat-trick,

Grove proved to be way too much for Diamond to handle on a cool Sunday afternoon which saw a damp pitch owing to heavy rain on Saturday which had left the ground waterlogged and resulting in the CULT Under-17 semi-finals be-

ing postponed.

However, on Sunday it was no damp feelings in terms of the on-field play.

Diamond drew first blood in just the second minute of play. Mark Jhingoree’s looping shot from the left side was too well paced for goalkeeper Michael Matthews to handle as it eased over his outstretched fingers into the back of the nets.

Diamond was happy to at least put their opponents on the back foot even if it was for a few minutes and, as it turned out, it was indeed for a few short minutes as the home team fired back to cancel out the lead in the 6th minute when Sherman Doris fired past custodian Andre Gibbs.

Clive Matthews Jr eased Grove into the lead with a well-taken free kick from about 30 yards out that Gibbs and the Diamond defence could not keep out in the 12th minute. Even at this juncture, Diamond looked as if they were going to keep up with Grove but couldn’t

Gordon Grant

find their touch that brought the opening goal.

Colin Lancaster netted the first of his brace in the 19th minute before Captain Garnett tucked in his first in the 38th minute. Lancaster hit the network again in the 40th minute; Grove’s fifth of the half which ended 5-1 in their favour.

In the second half, there was no stopping Grove as they fired in four more. Garnett was on target again in the 64th and 67th. Joel Dick who came on in the second half also

inked his name on the score sheets in the 79th minute, three minutes earlier, John Matthews had converted.

The win for Grove has put them six clear points ahead of their closest rival, Soesdyke Falcons who are on 21.

The afternoon got underway with Agricola Red Triangle easing to a 3-1 win over Timehri Panthers. Gordon Grant, who started the game as the joint leading goal scorer with Domini Garnet (10 each), netted a double in leading his side to victory.

Grant scored in the 4th and 23rd minutes and Sheldon Gurrick put the icing on the cake in the 63rd minute. Timehri had pulled one back in the 20th minute through Hubert Adams and stood toe to toe with Agricola for the most part.

The win for the Agricola boys saw them overtaking Timehri for third, easing two points clear of them.

More action is set for Sunday at the same venue.

Latest Points Standings

Sheldon Gurrick’s free kick accounted for Agricola’s third goal as the ball eased through the hands of goalie Clitus Johnson

Teams Grove Soesdyke Agricola Timehri KK Warriors Herstelling Diamond Mocha

P W L D GF GA GD Points 10 9 1 0 44 10 34 27 10 7 3 0 29 14 15 21 10 6 2 2 25 10 15 20 10 6 4 0 16 11 5 18 1 21 10 5 4 22 -1 16 10 42 -32 2 6 2 10 7 10 1 7 2 6 21 -15 5 10 0 9 1 10 31 -21 1

Rewiring of Cliff Anderson Sports Algeria halts football Hall on the cards after death

T

he Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), in the coming months, will have an improved electrical system that should better serve the various associations that utilise the facility.

The National Sports Commission (NSC), accord-

ing to Director of Sport Neil Kumar, will be rewiring the entire facility starting sometime this month.

“We are totally changing the wiring of the whole Sports Hall, it has been like that for about two decades now and we think it is time for a change so everything

can run smoothly…so we are basically rewiring,” Kumar told Guyana Times Sports.

While no time frame was given for the project to be completed, Kumar is optimistic that the rewiring will only enhance the use of the facility with more efficiency.

DCB calls up players for senior trials

T

he Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) is calling up players for its senior trials to select a team to represent the county at the upcoming GCB Inter-County one-day and 4-day competitions.

There will be two one day trials today and Wednesday August 27, 2014. The three-day trials will be from Friday, August 29, 2014 to Sunday, August 31, 2014.

All players are asked to

be at Everest Cricket Club ground for 9:00h when the selectors will decide how to form the teams.

Players called up: Trevon Griffith, Rajindra Chandrika, Leon Johnson, Chris Barnwell, Derwin Christian, Chris Pattedin, Steven Jacobs, Amir Khan, Totaram Bishun, Trevor Garraway, Rudolph Knight, Paul Wintz, Ryan Ramdass, Robin Bacchus, Vishaul Singh, Kelon Carmichael, Zaheer

Mohamed, Joseph Perry, Gavin Moriah, Shaquille Williams, Shemroy Barrington, Jeetendra Sukdeo, Yatesh Dhanpaul, Andre Stoll, Shivram Persaud, Daniel Seegobin, Irshad Ali, Mark Robe, Seon Daniels, Dexter Solomon, Raj Nanan, Sherfane Rutherford, Arvind Seepersaud, Kamesh Yadram, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Antoniel Atwell, and Joshua Wade

A

lgeria has suspended football indefinitely following the death of Cameroonian player Albert Ebosse, who was hit by a stone thrown by fans. The Algerian Football Federation made the decision after a meeting on Sunday.

Ebosse, who was 24, was struck on the head when leaving the pitch after his side JS Kabylie’s home defeat by USM Alger in Tizi Ouzou on Saturday.

Algerian authorities had already ordered the indefinite closure of the 1st November 1954 stadium.

That ruling will now apply to all stadiums in the country.

Algeria’s football federation said in a statement it had postponed the league “in protest at the irresponsible actions of certain fanatics and hooligans who resort to violence in the stadiums which has reached an unacceptable level”.

It added that it was considering taking further action, including the expulsion

Ebosse,24, was struck on the head when leaving the pitch

of the club at fault “from all competitions”.

The governing body has also decided that US$100,000 will be given to Ebosse’s family, plus the amount he would have earned over the period of his contract. In addition, JS Kabylie’s players will each donate a month’s salary.

An investigation into Ebosse’s death, and a deeper inquiry into football hooliganism in the country, has been ordered by the Algerian

interior ministry.

BBC Sport has learned that the 1st November 1954 stadium was under maintenance at the time of the game and fans threw loose stones that were lying on the ground. It is understood that one of the key questions to be asked by the investigation will be why the venue was used when construction works were still in progress.

The match was only the second round of games in the new season.

tuesday, august 26, 2014

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

Ramdin, Bravo centuries flay Bangladesh

TOP SCORES

D

enesh Ramdin wouldn’t have had as much fun on a cricket field as on Monday afternoon at Warner Park. His malevolent 169 was part of the highest third wicket partnership in ODIs with Darren Bravo, who also accumulated a century, and ensured West Indies completed a 3-0 whitewash by 91 runs.

The hosts were catapulted to 338 for 7 in 50 overs, a score that was well out of Bangladesh’s reach especially at a time when their batsmen are scraping the bottom of the confidence barrel.

But they are due some for bouncing back after such a hiding, making 247 for 8, having lasted their full quota.

Bangladesh were 2 for 2 in the second over and were threatening to sink further, but Tamim Iqbal struck his first inter-

national fifty in more than nine months and 18 innings. Mushfiqur Rahim top scored with 72, but since he holed out in the deep the last hopes his team had faded away.

Summarised scores: West Indies 338 for 7 (Ramdin 169, Bravo 124) beat Banglandesh 247 for 8 (Mushfiqur 72, Tamim 55) by 91 runs

SCOREBOARD

Fortune makes clean sweep of sprint Page 19 events at World Masters

East Coast leg of Scotiabank cricket camp starts Page 19

West Indies innings (50 overs maximum) LMP Simmons c Mahmudullah b Mashrafe Mortaza 6 CH Gayle c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Al-Amin Hossain 6 DM Bravo c Imrul Kayes b Mahmudullah 124 D Ramdin† c Nasir Hossain b Al-Amin Hossain 169 KA Pollard c Tamim Iqbal b Abdur Razzak 10 DJG Sammy c Abdur Razzak b Al-Amin Hossain 10 DJ Bravo* not out 3 JO Holder c Nasir Hossain b Al-Amin Hossain 0 SP Narine not out 0 Extras (lb 4, w 6) 10 Total (7 wickets; 50 overs) 338 (6.76 runs per over) Did not bat: R Rampaul, KAJ Roach Fall of wickets 1-7 (Simmons, 3.2 ov), 2-12 (Gayle, 4.5 ov), 3-270 (DM Bravo, 42.4 ov), 4-302 (Pollard, 44.5 ov), 5-320 (Sammy, 47.2 ov), 6-338 (Ramdin, 49.3 ov), 7-338 (Holder, 49.4 ov) Bowling: Sohag Gazi 9-063-0, Mashrafe Mortaza 10-0-69-1, Al-Amin Hossain 10-1-59-4, Abdur Razzak 10-076-1, Mahmudullah 10-1-481, Mominul Haque 1-0-19-0

Bangladesh innings (target: 339 runs from 50 overs) Tamim Iqbal b Narine 55 Anamul Haque c Sammy b Holder 0 Imrul Kayes c Roach b Rampaul 1 Mushfiqur Rahim*† c Sammy b Rampaul 72 Mominul Haque c Sammy b DJ Bravo 5 Mahmudullah c †Ramdin 27 b Roach c Roach b Nasir Hossain Rampaul 26 Sohag Gazi b Rampaul 24 Mashrafe Mortaza not out 15 5 Abdur Razzak not out Extras (lb 2, w 13, nb 2) 17 Total (8 wickets; 50 overs) 247 (4.94 runs per over) Did not bat: Al-Amin Hossain Fall of wickets 1-1 (Anamul Haque, 0.5 ov), 2-2 (Imrul Kayes, 1.5 ov), 3-101 (Tamim Iqbal, 21.6 ov), 4-108 (Mominul Haque, 24.5 ov), 5-163 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 36.6 ov), 6-178 (Mahmudullah, 40.4 ov), 7-215 (Nasir Hossain, 46.1 ov), 8-230 (Sohag Gazi, 48.4 ov) Bowling: JO Holder 8-0-471, R Rampaul 10-2-29-4, DJ Bravo 5-1-32-1, KAJ Roach 9-0-48-1, SP Narine 10-031-1, CH Gayle 8-0-58-0

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