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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 2877

Monday, June 6, 2016

PRICE

Pardoned prisoners

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Nandlall’s questions were not offensive – Ramkarran Page 3

… the public is entitled to know

Police investigating social media death threats to former President, PPP/C members

$80 vat included

Spousal killings alarming – Lawrence

“Each One Teach One” programme to tackle P9 illiteracy among youths – Youth Empowerment Adviser

Page 9

…calls for broad-based, community-driven response

Page 2

Gafoors donate homes to less fortunate families

Page 8

Criminal justice system to be boosted P11

by IDB – Williams

Floodwaters affecting P17 Region 3 rice farmers

…while some residents are out of water

Jubilee P7 Hinterland Development funding project extended

Ameena Gafoor presents the beneficiaries of the project with the keys to their new homes

Tobacco legislation

Final draft for Cabinet approval at next meeting – Norton Page 2

Ramadan fasting begins tomorrow – CIOG Page 17

Old alumina plant also P11 contributed to oil spill in Linden – ETS coordinator

2 news

monDAY, june 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Police investigating social media Final draft for Cabinet death threats against former approval at next President, PPP/C members meeting – Norton Tobacco legislation

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ameshwar Beekham, a self-professed A Partnership for National Unity /Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) supporter, is currently under investigation by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) following reports of death threats on social media against the life of former President and Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo and other parliamentarians of the People’s Progressive Party /Civic (PPP/C).

Beekham took to his Facebook page and ranted over the idealisation of the APNU/AFC Government’s accomplishments and vision of former President LFS Burnham, and openly stated his intentions to target Freedom House and “murder” Jagdeo and the PPP/C. “I will one day with my gang that I am equipping and training, will walk into Freedom House and murder Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPPC top brass,” Beekham wrote on his Facebook page. As a result, the PPP/C lodged a formal complaint about the matter with the GPF. “Mr Tameshwar Beekham has posted death threats and physical violence against former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee and former Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon and others at Freedom House, headquarters of the PPP,” the Party said in a release after it had made the report.

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One of Beekham’s posts on Facebook

The report was confirmed

by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who indicated to the media that investigations were ongoing into the matter.

Beekham also confirmed that he had been contacted by the Police, but continued his rant, saying he was not afraid of jail.

Even after confirming his encounter with law enforcement, the Berbice resident continued to issue threats against former President Jagdeo.

Beekham again took to his Facebook page to inform his supporters of the efforts being made by the GPF to locate him in relation to the threats.

“The Police have issued order for my arrest, they have made a few raid and searches for me last night; they want me in relation to threats I made to kill Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, this will be my last post as I am preparing to turn in myself 10 o’clock this morning Sunday 5 June 2016, at the Springlands

Police Station,” his post read.

He continued to issue more threats even as he was wanted by the Police.

“I AM SAYING IT AGAIN I WILL MURDER BHARRAT JAGDEO AND THE PPPC, I TAMESHWAR BEEKHAM AND MY TEAM WILL MURDER BHARRAT JAGDEO AND THE PPPC JAIL OR FREE!!!!!!!!” his post continued.

When Guyana Times made contact with Commander of B (Berbice) Division, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam, he related that Police have undertaken several searches for Beekham, but came up empty-handed.

Just recently, Police detained a 52-year-old woman, who was believed to have posted racially-inciting social media comments about AfroGuyanese, and what appeared to be a threat to President David Granger.

The woman has since been placed before the courts on a charge of attempting to excite hostility on the grounds of race contrary to Section 2 (1) (C) of the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01 of the Criminal Offences Act. Her Facebook post stated that “Granger want a bullet in head…I am out of a job now because of them.”

ith the Tobacco Legislation already having two sessions of consultation at Cabinet level, the Minister of Health is hoping that the final draft will be approved at the next meeting and will make its way to Parliament for final debating.

As the government is embarking on a number of initiatives to promote a healthier Guyana, the legislation has been on top of the agenda of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) since it is believed this will increase the productivity of the country’s population.

Guyana Times speaking with Health Minister Dr George Norton on Sunday, learned that the legislation has been going through Cabinet and amendments are being made to produce the final draft.

According to Dr Norton, after the proposal was made the draft was taken to Cabinet at one of its meetings and there had been discussions on how this can be modified.

Subsequent to this, the draft had passed through the legal draftsman who did the necessary alterations.

Dr Norton related to Guyana Times that at the next meeting of Cabinet he is hoping this will be the final draft that will be sent to Parliament for further analysis and consultations: “I am hoping that before this session is completed, the bill is taken before Parliament and made (into) law because this is something that I am genuinely anxious about.”

However, the minister is optimistic that, when presented to Parliament it will get approval to become law since its benefits and importance are clearly outlined with a direct link on the positive impact it will have on the population.

Norton further added that this is an initiative that is of utmost value since the country’s human resources should be given preference when it comes to ensuring their healthy lifestyles.

Noting how crucial it is to raise a healthy generation, he related that not only because of his personal take on the issue was the legislation

Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton

drafted but also the obvious benefits of having such a bill passed.

Norton’s remarks come on the heels of comments made by People’s Progressive Party parliamentary spokesperson on Health Dr Frank Anthony about the slow pace at which the government was taking to lay the Tobacco legislation in the National Assembly.

Anthony had said in observation of World Tobacco Day last month, that government should stop giving lip service to the need to introduce stricter legislations on tobacco usage.

In April, Junior Minister of Health Dr Karen Cummings had made the announcement that the ministry is mulling legislation that will modify how readily available tobacco is for purchase.

She had affirmed that the ministry is not bent on banning its use but is rather keen on ensuring that the consumption of tobacco is significantly decreased.

Cummings went on to add that this would not only be for the betterment of the country’s population but also for the government as it relates to finances having to be exhausted on medical supplies and drugs to treat persons who come down with an illness because of their consumption of the substance.

There had been a stir of conflicts subsequent to the announcement many questioning the fall of the tobacco industry if the legislation becomes law.

Nonetheless, the ministry had affirmed that it will continue to work alongside government to implement initiatives that will target the healthy growth and productivity of the human resources.

news

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monDAY, june 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, June 6 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, June 7 – 05:00h-06:30h.

Nandlall’s questions were not offensive – Ramkarran

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, June 6 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, June 7 – 05:25h-06:55h

…the public is entitled to know

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FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light to heavy rain showers sometimes with instances of thunder can be expected throughout the day.

Partly cloudy conditions are expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 1.79 metres per second and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 05:04h and 17:35h reaching maximum heights of 2.83 metres and 2.66 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:07h and 23:21h reaching minimum heights of 0.38 metre and 0.59 metre respectively.

Saturday, June 4, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS K 05 21 22 24 26 27 06 Bonus Ball

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Pardoned prisoners

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ormer Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran on Sunday disagreed with the decision by current Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland to disallow questions by People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall calling for the release of the names of some 70 prisoners who were pardoned by President David Granger.

Nandlall’s questions were submitted on May 24, 2016 and sought to elicit from Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan the names, addresses, offences committed and criminal records, length of sentences, process and criteria employed relating to prisoners pardoned by President Granger over the past year.

The questions also sought to ascertain how many persons who were granted pardons were subsequently charged with offences, the names of those persons and the offences for which they were charged.

However, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs on May 30, 2016, by way of letter, informed Nandlall that in accordance with Standing Order 20 (2), Dr Scotland opined that the questions were an abuse of the right of questioning and as such, they were disallowed.

The Speaker did not specify the reason for not allowing the questions.

Commenting on the controversy surrounding the disallowing of the questions, Ramkarran declared that Nandlall’s questions appeared “quite innocuous”, even if the information sought was a bit much.

Writing on his weekly blog, The Conversation Tree, Ramkarran said that while the Speaker was not required to, and did not give any reasons for his ruling, over the past 15 years, Speakers have sought to explain their rulings in order to demonstrate that their decisions were based on rational considerations. This effort was intended to limit allegations of bias.

He explained that the Standing Orders did not define what an abuse of the right to question is, but among the 15 rules stated, he singled out Standing Order 20(2) which states that, “ If

Current Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland

the Speaker is of the opinion that any Question of which a Member has given notice to the Clerk or which a Member has sought permission to ask without notice, is an abuse of the right of questioning or infringes any of the provisions of this or any other Standing Order, he or she may direct that it be printed or asked with such alterations as he or she may direct; or that the Member concerned be informed that the Question is inadmissible.

“The Speaker is, therefore, clearly seeing something that we are not. And the fact that he did not direct any alterations means that he felt that the questions were inadmissible in their entirety,” Ramkarran opined.

Ramkarran, who served as House Speaker for more than 10 years, said that these issues would never have arisen had President Granger released the names and other particulars of the persons whom he had pardoned in response to questions rightly posed to him.

Further, he stated that the decision was controversial because no criteria were announced, except that only non-violent offenders were pardoned “There is no doubt that the President has the power under Article 188 (1) of the Constitution to pardon prisoners. The exercise of that power is a commendable initiative and hardly likely to attract serious or sustained opposition in principle. But the public is entitled to know the criteria employed by the President, the names of the prisoners who have been released and the offences for which they have been charged. This is not and

should not be treated as confidential information or state secrets,” Ramkarran argued in support of Nandlall’s questions.

He reminded that the President was accountable to the people of Guyana who elected him and who now employed him and his Government and paid their salaries.

“He and the Government work for us and act on our behalf. We, therefore, have a right to ask him and them reasonable questions relating to our business, namely, the basis on which they perform their duties on our behalf and they have a duty to answer us,” the Senior Counsel noted.

He reminded that the pardoning of prisoners was a very important matter, adding that the prevailing secrecy and lack of transparency offended basic democratic norms.

“The Guyanese people through their lawful representatives, Members of the National Assembly, are concerned. They sought but failed to elicit the information from the President.

They resorted to the National Assembly. They failed there as well,” Ramkarran noted.

“Are we to understand that the President will now continue to pardon prisoners twice a year for as long as he holds office and refuse to account to the Guyanese people?” he asked.

Nandlall had criticised the House Speaker’s decision.

“Something must be fundamentally wrong in a democracy when a non-elected member of the House seeks to prohibit an elected member of the House from asking questions that are indisputably of public importance and for which the public crave answers,” Nandlall had said.

Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo had also criticised the Speaker’s decision, accusing Dr Scotland of preventing transparency in Parliament, the supreme body, by taking his lead from the President’s position.

President Granger, upon

Former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran

assumption of office in May 2015, pardoned, as part of the Independence anniversary celebrations, prisoners who were incarcerated for “minor offences” – a decision which many questioned because of the secrecy, as the Administration continued to reject calls for the names and offences of those pardoned to be made public. In December and as part of the 50th Independence anniversary celebrations, he again pardoned several prisoners.

Last month, 19-year-old Kelvin Bates, who was pardoned by President Granger, was slapped with six robbery under arms charges, one attempted murder charge, and one charge of illegal possession of arms and ammunition and a possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking charge.

He, along with another accused, is currently on remand.

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mondAY, june 6, 2016

Views “Dinner in the Sky” Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

Editorial

The World’s Environment

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esterday, 5 June, was “World Environment Day” (WED): a day set aside in 1976 by the UN for the inhabitants of planet earth to spare a thought for the environment in which they exist. In those forty years, we have unfortunately not heeded the warnings of the fatal threat man’s activities posed to the fragile environmental balance, which makes man’s life on earth possible.

In 1976, the industrialised nations were facing the first “oil crisis” precipitated by the decision of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to seize control of the pricing of their petroleum products. Simultaneous with the increase of petroleum prices was the accumulation of scientific evidence that burning of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas) since the industrial revolution had increased the atmospheric carbon-dioxide (CO2) content. This in turn, was creating a “greenhouse effect” in that the carbon-rich atmosphere was trapping a greater percentage of radiant energy from the sun and creating “global warming”.

The confluence of the rise in oil prices with the recognition of the adverse effects of fossil fuel usage created a surge in activities designed to be more protective of the atmosphere in terms of stabilizing and then lowering its CO2 content. Since then, however, there was an intense debate about whether the connection between CO2 in the atmosphere and global warming was merely correlative rather than causative.

Today the causative role is generally conceded and we know that large oil producers such as EXXON actually hid data since the seventies which supported that stance.

The rise in oil prices also spurred oil exploration and production both in opening up new oil fields and in utilising new technologies to give life to older ones or others that were previously not considered feasible. Developing countries also followed the model of the “developed countries” to deploy massive amounts of fossil fuels to drive their push towards industrialisation and production of commodities to deliver what was now the standard for defining the “good life”.

The result is our environment is at a tipping point towards the percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere that will make global warming irreversible. We have already reached 400 parts per million (ppm) way beyond the 350 ppm that is thought to be safe. As such, while there are all kinds of activities by mankind that harm our environment - such as the smuggling of wildlife that is this year’s theme for WED the most pressing issue is for governments of the world to reduce CO2 levels.

In 2009, under the leadership of Bharrat Jagdeo and his PPP/C Administration, Guyana punched way above its “global weight category” to design and launch a “Low Carbon Development Strategy” (LCDS) that offered several initiatives to save the environment. Essentially, just as in the 19th century Malthus had predicted a very grim future for mankind as he predicted population growth would outstrip food production, leaders used technology to craft an alternative path to continue with the upward growth trajectory launched since the 17th century.

In a like manner the constraint of CO2 in the atmosphere can be reversed by utilising technology available to us right now. For one, there is the option of shifting energy production to drive industrialisation via “renewables” such as solar, wind, hydro and geothermal sources, rather than using petroleum products.

Increasing the forest cover on earth is one way to actually take CO2 out of the atmosphere since vegetation utilises Carbon its structure to then “sequester” it from creating global warming as a “carbon sink”.

Last December, 196 nations of the world acknowledged the threat to the world environment in their 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) resolution which committed limiting global temperature rise by 2 degree Celsius, increasing renewables to 30%, and committing funding to countries like Guyana that can create “carbon sinks”.

Our government can help our country and the environment by implementing the LCDS.

Guests sit at tables suspended from cranes at a height of 40 metres in front of the Atomium, a 102-metre (335-feet) high structure and its nine spheres, built for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, as part of the 10th anniversary of the event known as “Dinner in the Sky”, in Brussels, Belgium (Reuters/Yves Herman)

Times Media Group condemns attack on KN ...the press must not be intimidated

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he Times Media Group, comprising of Guyana Times, TVG Ch 28 and RGI 89.5 in a statement released Sunday, condemned in the strongest possible language the attack on the Kaieteur News in the form of a grenade being hurled at the vehicle of the publisher.

According to the release: “The press

and, by extension, the media, is regarded as the ‘fourth estate’ because of the role it plays in securing the freedom of all the other estates - especially the ordinary citizens. Any act that can be construed as acting to intimidate the media constitutes an attack on the foundations of democracy. That the act was done while the

personnel of the newspaper were mourning the passing of a respected journalist makes the action even more reprehensible.” The Times Media Group says it expects the Police will “respond with the highest level of professionalism and diligence so that the perpetrators of the dastardly act will be brought to justice.”

Honouring the services of the dictatorship faithful

Dear Editor, The list of recipients of the national awards, which was announced on the eve of Independence Day, has raised many questions in my mind as to the rationale for bestowing national honours on these persons. Even though I have no doubt that some of it was to give back to old party loyalists, many of them do not deserve such national honours due to the great harm they have inflicted on Guyana.

For now, let us examine the three top awardees and try to see what they did to deserve such high honours. i) Fraundel Stewart, Prime Minister of Barbados: It was that party led by Stewart that demonised Guyanese in Barbados. He and his party won the elections in Barbados by making Guyanese living there

the scapegoats for their social and economic problems that that country faced.

The humiliation of our citizens in his country was mainly due to his party’s campaign against Guyanese, who are still forced to run and hide when they see a certain minibus owned by the immigration authorities approaching.

The Barbadian leader that defended Guyanese during that horrific period (and now) is Owen Arthur, former Prime Minister, thus, if there was any Barbadian more deserving of such an award, it was Arthur, and not Stewart. ii) Rex Mckay: This gentleman played a major role in defending the undemocratic PNC regime throughout its rule of our country. That man stood as the main legal representative of PNC regime, as it used the

courts to persecute opposition members and supporters.

It was he who was the special prosecutor in the three trials of Arnold Rampersaud who was placed before the courts on a trumped up murder charge.

Mckay was also again the special prosecutor in the case against the three young PPP members who were charged for treason.

Again, it was Rex McKay who took up the cudgels for Burnham against Walter Rodney who was charged for the fire that destroyed the Ministry of National Mobilisation and Office of the General Secretary of the PNC. Is he now being honoured for his services rendered in defending a political dictatorship, which in the process destroyed Guyana’s economy and its standing in the region and the

world? He helped to sustain the PNC dictatorship that destroyed our country. iii) Dr Bartland Scotland, Speaker of the National Assembly: Scotland, during his one year as Speaker has done a great deal to subvert the National Assembly from fulfilling its role as a deliberative body.

He has agreed to put Bishop Edghill before the Privileges Committee for asking how much money the increase in salaries and allowances will cost the taxpayers of this country over the next five years. Only recently, he rejected questions that Anil Nandlall had sent in relation to crime and the release of prisoners. These vindictive acts to silence the PPP/C speakers are old patterns of the regime.

Sincerely, Gopaul Singh

Social unity cannot be obtained by simply offering lip service Dear Editor, It is with much vagueness that the Leader of the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), President of Guyana, David Granger, for some time, has been caressing the media circuit and public events, intimating and advocating for a more inclusive kind of Government and governance but does so without providing any specific feature of this idea.

Many are of the belief that Granger’s apprehension to delve deeper into his “own” idea may be due to his inability to come to terms with his own history and that of the PNC, and understanding where it all fits into an ever-changing, ever-evolving 21st Century reality. One may even venture to say that his reason for not expanding beyond

the banner of “National Unity” and “Social Cohesion” to offer a draft of its framework or road map is, perhaps, because he cannot or does not know what it is or how to get us there.

Moreover, there is reason to suspect that the President intelligently avoids developing and conveying specificity out of fear of society rejecting such ideas not on the basis of newness, rather society’s rejection might be based on its familiarity and personal experience with the kind of divisive politics practised by his idol, Burnham, and by other PNC leaders.

Furthermore, while in Opposition, successive PNC leaders had sermonised various concepts intended to camouflage and/or accompany another agenda; whether it be “shared governance”, “nation-

al unity”, or “social cohesion”, these are ideas that are put forward in conjunction with a kind of obstructionist adventurism and/or counterproductive campaigns against the State.

Consequently, now that power has been achieved and they have successfully taken control of the State such false consciousness and mystification will in turn be employed as representing the interests of the whole of society and act as justification for any and all aggression on the Guyanese populace, including their political representatives.

In the minds of PNC’s upper echelon concepts of national unity, shared governance, and social cohesion are only servants of a conniving political agenda to secure and maintain power. It is a rebrand of

Burnham’s ‘One Nation’ concept, an idea that died with its architect; an idea that failed because there was never any substantive effort to ensure its success.

Besides, Guyanese are, for the most part, a unified people, who gleefully embrace each other’s culture and aspirations of human development and financial prosperity to such a great degree that we have come to rely upon one another for the realisation of those aspirations.

Therefore, it is not that we are without flaw, but to suggest that social unity and economic prosperity can be attained simply by offering lip service to murky political notions is preposterous.

Yours truly, Cleon Maughn

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

Alcoholism plaguing Recruitment is not social engineering Guyana like a cancer Dear Editor, Our society is plagued by young and old rum drinkers from all walks of life including men, women, young boys and girls. We are also the country that has produced the best rum and alcoholic beverages anywhere, and we top the list now by producing plenty drunkards.

As I read the daily papers I see lots of innocent lives have been snuffed out by drunk drivers. The authorities need to take away the licences of drunk drivers for life, and there should be stricter laws for drunk drivers.

Alcohol has been the destruction of the human race since the beginning of time and it has now taken a toll on our country with less than a million people. As I travel throughout the country I can see rum shops all over the place. I rode through a small village and counted over 30 rum shops.

We have rum and beer sellers at all our bus and car parks; some of the drivers of minibuses and taxis drink all the time at these parks and they put their own lives as well as those travelling with them in danger. Rumdrinking has affected many communities, and domestic violence and suicide is prevalent in these communities.

I have seen bar owners selling rum and beer to schoolboys in their school uniforms.

Our country has become a very vulgar and lawless place to live in. Every day we hear ‘cussing,’ abusing and dirty language coming out of the mouths of our Guyanese people. From the rich to the intellectuals to the man in the street, they all behave the same way.

Long-term drinking can result in permanent brain damage, serious mental health problems and alcohol dependence or alcoholism.

I totally agree with the Minister of Public Security about the late night curfew.

Why would people want to walk so late? We have just seen the brutal stabbing to death of a very young man at the Plaisance hang-out bar. That man could have been alive if he was at home with his family.

I know of a Justice of Peace who owns a bar, grocery and gambling shop. He himself is an alcoholic. How can a Justice of Peace own a bar and gambling shop?

Maybe the Ministry of Legal Affairs will answer that question.

It’s over 12 years now since I applied to be a Justice of the Peace; I fulfilled all

the requirements but I am still waiting to be appointed. I am still waiting for a Police Report to be sent to the Ministry of Legal Affairs I did pertaining to my commissioner of Oaths License I did at CID Head Quarters and the Beterverwagting Police Station a few months ago. Until now I have not heard of this report from the Ministry of Legal affairs.

If we are to eradicate rum drinking, domestic violence, dangerous driving, etc, we must have more serious laws and close down all the illegal bars and rum shops in our country. We have become a land of lawlessness. We need to arrest it now before it’s too late. I have known some very educated and talented individuals who cannot hold down a job because they have a drinking problem.

“The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” - Albert Einstein.

We should emulate the wisdom of this great scientist by arresting this evil of alcoholism that is plaguing our nation like a cancer.

Yours faithfully, Rev Gideon Cecil

Dear Editor, I admire very much the writing style and obvious command of the English language of GHK Lall and take this opportunity to thank him for the inspiration I get from reading his letters; however, I must take issue with aspects of his letter of 2 June titled: “There must be diversity in the workplace… and more” wherein there are strong suggestions favouring numerical equity in recruitment to reflect the racial composition (and possibly by extension, political affiliation) of Guyana’s population.

Recruitment is a very serious business; its prime focus is the attraction of an ample pool of qualified applicants from among whom the most suitable candidate(s) can be selected having regard to the competencies required for effective performance of the duties and responsibilities of the vacant position(s).

The pursuit of this primary focus does not necessarily exclude other secondary or peripheral considerations that are germane to the current context or future plans of the organisation or the current/ anticipated state of the labour market or imminent technological/administrative dynamics etc, but to superimpose ‘social engi-

neering’ objectives that are ‘external’ or irrelevant to the job or the organisation could very well lead to “loss of both cutlass & iguana” to use one of our popular indigenous sayings.

My caution stems from my many years as a Human Resource Management professional in numerous organisations and countries around the world where I have experienced both the pros and cons of affirmative actions aimed at correcting and/or preventing racial, ethnic, religious, caste, gender biases and/or inequities, etc.

Too often I have experienced situations where “the potential or anticipated cure was worse than the perceived or actual disease”. And, such situations were exacerbated by the practice of “rewarding managers for diversity in hiring and promotions” as was hailed by Lall in his letter referred to above.

Such misplaced awards can conceivably flood the organisation with ‘socially appropriate’ but ‘competencydeficient’ employees much to the detriment of the organisation and the critical services/competencies required for current and future effectiveness.

Even without such inducements and rewards, Recruitment and Promotion

Seed paddy quality at the Burma Rice Research Station getting from bad to worse Dear Editor, The allegation is the Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) that governs the production of basic and certified one (C1) and two (C11) seed paddy at the Burma Rice Research Station was grossly disregarded, leading to paddy which should not have been sent to mill as commercial grains being processed and sold to farmers as highquality seeds.

The facts of the matter is the head of the Burma Rice Research Station, Dr Mahendra Persaud instructed the staff under his guidance to harvest several seed fields that were heavily lodged and rejected by the field inspection and certification team, bulk harvest whole fields that were only partially inspected with areas that were rejected, and he also instructed the harvesting of other seed fields that were classified as commercial grains based on the

field inspection and certification standard and forcefully sent these paddy to the processing facility to be processed and sold as seed to farmers.

Many farmers who already buy the seed paddy complain of reduced growth and germination. If you look carefully at the seeds, you will see mould and discoloration on the grains which suggest that the grains were harvested from the lodged plants during the rainy period. Any experienced farmer will tell you once a field is lodged and rain comes and catch it, it can no longer be used as seed. The head knows all this.

So, it now begs the question – Why is the Burma head trying to dupe the farmers? Is he trying to make the industry fail to make the APNU-AFC Government look bad? Is he looking for fame and recognition to show an increase in the average

number of bags of seeds produced at Burma at the expense of the end users?

This is not the first times seed fields that did not qualify were forcefully harvested by this very same person to be sold as seeds. Something is fundamentally wrong here.

If the management does not change this malpractice at Burma Research Station, the already challenged farmers and their families will suffer much more.

Many senior officers within the Guyana Rice

Development Board (GRDB) object to this wrongdoing, but their calls were all ignored by the head who is strongly pushing for these bad-quality seeds to be sold to farmers.

In my view, if the seed paddy does not pass the field inspection and quality analysis, they should not be sold to

farmers as seeds. They should be sent to the mill as grains.

Yours faithfully, Terry Ross

programmes that are not anchored on job-related competencies, performance and potential, risk infecting the organisation with misfits and mal-contents.

Indeed, I have experienced, ad nauseam, situations where very good ‘recruits’ and ‘promotees’ are unmotivated, demotivated and even demoralised because they are never sure if they were successful because of their competencies or because of their skin-colour, caste, race, gender and similar non-professional attributes.

I therefore plead with the powers-that-be to tread cautiously and at all cost avoid extraneous considerations such as race, colour, gender and of course, political affiliation when making staff selection and promotion recommendations/decisions.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

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Foundation

Adolescence and the power 10 tips for parenting of personal challenge your pre-teen (Continued from Saturday)

– how adolescents react to and create challenges in life affect their growing up

By Carl E Pickhardt, PhD

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hen, by happenstance or intent, a young person’s capacity or character is tested, a challenge is created to see how and if that person can rise to this demand, because challenges are always demanding.

To meet them requires committing energy, sustaining motivation, identifying some source of incentive, and because they can entail risk, often a measure of courage to accomplish.

When the challenge is met, self-esteem and confidence tend to grow. The criterion for meeting a challenge is a combination of determination and success.

However, a teenager can be denied success and still benefit. Like a mom understood who congratulated her daughter after failing to make the cut for cheerleader.

lenging goals. One is to develop sufficient self-management discipline and responsibility to support functional independence. The other is to experiment with sufficient self-expression and variety of experiences to establish a uniquely fitting individual identity. Both objectives are mostly accomplished by the onset of young adulthood, usually around the end of the college-age years.

can result in momentary mischief. In so many words: “Daring anything is better than hanging out with nothing to do!”

When rebellion to adult authority seems like the only purpose worth following, a lot of self-defeating and even self-destructive opposition can follow. In so many words: “I’ll do whatever school tells me not to, and I won’t do whatever they want!”

By offering choices for

The larger challenge of adolescence

Adolescence confronts young people with a huge array of challenges that come with growing up. This is a messy process during which they must let go of childhood and start acting older, begin to detach and differentiate from parents and family, risk more worldly freedom than they have known before, persist through frustration and reversals, and undergo a lot of trial-and-error learning in consequence of trying themselves out in new and adventurous ways.

In largest terms, adolescent growth has two chal-

Constructive challenge in adolescence

Constructive challenge (that empowers responsible growth) has an upside as an antidote to two very risky adolescent states – boredom and rebellion – that can both become staging areas for a lot of problems and trouble.

Feeling empty of knowing what to do or from feeling entrapped in what they don’t want to do, bored adolescents (in company of likeminded peers) can give in to impulse and excitement that

constructive challenges, parents, educators, coaches, youth workers and the like can often provide alternatives to boredom and rebellion where adolescents can test themselves responsibly and come out the stronger for it. In secondary school, for example, were it not for elective and extracurricular challenges offered through athletics and the arts, a lot of young people would not be able to hang in there with academic demands that can feel unrewarding and seem

to count for less.

So, one would think that for many educationally resistant adolescents it’s the easy, undemanding teachers they like best; but that has not been my impression.

In fact it’s the hard teachers who find ways to challenge disengaged or disaffected young minds that are valued the most. “She taught me stuff I never thought of and didn’t think I could do!”

Adolescents can have a natural ambivalence about challenges adults propose.

On principle of opposition for independence, a teenager will reject a parent’s suggestion for some new social experience or recreational activity up front. “I don’t want to do that!” But the parent, discharging his responsibility to be a door opener into possible new youthful interests, persists against resistance. “I’m not asking you to make some lifetime commitment; just to give it try.”

And lo and behold, the activity the young woman swore she’d never like becomes one that she enjoys, although now not crediting the parent for the assist.

My favourite example of this conversion is the mom and her son who did daily battle about getting to baseball practice after school.

Finally exasperated, the mom asked: “All this argument; is it worth nagging you into your uniform and dragging you off to practice each day?” To which the son, mystified by her not understanding, replied: “Of course it is. I hate getting ready to go; but I love being there.” Go figure.

(To be continued)

– how to stay close as children move into adolescence

By Juliann Garey

3. Don’t be overly judgmental

“At this age your children are watching you very astutely to hear how judgmental you are,” advises Psychologist Catherine Steiner-Adair. “They are taking their cues on how you talk about other people’s children, especially children that get into trouble — how that girl dresses, or that boy has good manners or bad manners.”

4. Watch what they watch with them

Beginning in late primary school, watching the stuff that your child wants to watch with him and being able to laugh at it and talk about it is an important way to connect and to be able to discuss subjects that would otherwise be taboo. “Don’t get too intense in how you critique the values,” says Steiner-Adair.

6. Don’t be afraid to start conversations about sex and drugs

The unfortunate reality is that kids are starting to experiment with drugs and alcohol as early as 9 or 10. And according to Psychologist Laura Kirmayer, “Sexual development is a big part of this age, and it’s when we first start to see eating disorders arise, so these are key years for us to be building a strong foundation and giving them developmentally appropriate information.”

Kirmayer suggests providing your tween with information and resources without the pressure of a big “talk”.

She recommends books like The Boy’s Body Book (by Kelli Dunham) and, for girls, The Care and Keeping of You (by Valarie Schaefer) to introduce sexual development and Ten Talks Parents Must Have With Their Children About Drugs and Choices (by Dominic Cappello) to bring up the subject of drugs.

“They are going to be exposed to this stuff through their peer group,” she says. “You want to provide them with infor-

mation that is accurate, but you want to do it in a way that isn’t overwhelming. Let them have the book on their bookshelf so that they can look through it and come to you with questions.”

7. Don’t overreact

Steiner-Adair warns against being the mom or dad who, in a bad situation, makes things worse.

8. Don’t be “clueless” either

At the other extreme, don’t be a parent who “just ignores stuff”, says SteinerAdair. You risk seeming oblivious or unconcerned to kids.

9. Encourage sports for girls

Girls’ self-esteem peaks at the tender age of nine and then drops off from there, but research shows girls who play on teams have higher self-esteem.

Girls on sports teams also tend to do better academically and have fewer body image issues.

Anea Bogue, creator of an empowerment programme for girls called REALgirl, notes, “There’s a very common correlation, in my experience, between girls who play team sports and girls who suffer less with low self-esteem because they are looking within and to other girls for their value, as opposed to looking to boys for validation.”

10. Nurture your boy’s emotional side

“One of the really hard things for boys at this age is that the messages from the culture about their capacity for love, real friendships, and relationships are so harmful to them,” says Steiner-Adair. “They say that anything to do with real feelings — love, sadness, vulnerability — is girly, therefore bad.”

At the very least parents should do everything they can to encourage boys to be sensitive and vulnerable at home, while at the same time acknowledging the reality that those traits might not go over well at school.

Finding just the right balance with your tween probably won’t be the easiest parenting job you’ve ever had. It will take some trial and error, but keeping the channels of communication open during these years is well worth the work you’ll have to put in. (childmind.org)

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monday, june 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Jubilee Hinterland Fishermen should be given guns, Development Suriname protection – Ramjattan funding project extended P Piracy attacks

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is suggesting putting firearms into the hands of fishers going out to sea as one measure to reduce high-seas piracy.

His comments were made Saturday at the Number 66 Fishermen’s Co-op Complex where he met with fisher folk to discuss piracy and other issues affecting the industry.

The visit to Corentyne comes on the heels of an attack on 15 fishers by five pirates between 27 and 28 May last. The attack left one fisher; Hemchand Sookdeo, 45, of Number 55 Village, dead and three others missing: Dochan Sukra, 54, also called ’Butcher’ of Number 55 Village, Dhanpaul Ramphal of Number 67 Village, and Munish Churman, 26, also called ‘Boyo’ of Number 60 Village.

During the attack, the captain of the boat the missing men were in, Seepersaud Persaud, 43, of Corriverton, was thrown overboard five miles offshore but was rescued by other fishers after swimming for some three hours.

Minister Ramjattan, addressing the more than one hundred persons in the industry, said firearms might help to solve the problem: “I did make the statement when I first became a Minister and we had the bad round of piracy last year, that I want people, if it is possible for them whenever they go out to catch their fish, they can go out with a firearm, allowed by the nearest police station.”

He said the firearm will be uplifted before the fishers leave for sea and returned as soon as they return to shore.

However that suggestion was again met with opposition. One fisher noted that his son went out with a licensed firearm and it was taken away by the Surinamese.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Most of the waters Corentyne fishers use to fish are considered Suriname territory.

According to Ramjattan, negotiations are currently taking place between the two countries to iron out some of the issues surrounding fishing in waters belonging to Suriname and in close proximity to Guyana.

Most of the fishers have obtained licences from Suriname to fish in the foreign waters allowing them to ply their trade hassle free.

When this was told to the minister, he urged the fishers to seek protection from Suriname police: “You are using Suriname licence to fish in Suriname waters then you need to go to the Suriname police and ask them to protect you.”

Ramjattan noted that his government had suggested communication sets be used by fishers while out at sea, but the suggestion when put to the fishing community, was shot down. “When I made the suggestion, a lot of people went to members of the opposition saying that we want to take away most of your monies. They want us to give free radios but we can’t do that, we don’t have the money to do that.”

Ramjattan said too many lives and property are being lost due to piracy. “What is the value of a life as against putting up a $300,000 radio system?” He asked.

According to him, government will be looking to make it compulsory that persons going to sea to fish are equipped with a radio system.

Minister Ramjattan said there is need for more stringent registration processes in the fishing industry.

He also suggested that there must be proper documentation of persons who are going out to sea and in which boat they are going.

“We feel that one of the solutions lies with better communities; communities that live and also communities that are going to ensure that they give the information to the law enforcers so that we will be able to have this thing solved. And that we can know up front who might be the ones that will turn out to be bad boys…We have to start doing all of these things rather than sometimes pass the blame on to somebody else, like the police or govern-

ment” Ramjattan outlined.

Ten days after fishers came under attack by five pirates on the Corentyne River, three remain missing. However with very little chance of finding the men alive, the focus of the search is expected to concentrate on the recovery of bodies as from today.

Commander of Berbice Police, Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam made that disclosure on Saturday when he along with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan met with fisher folk at the Co-op Complex.

Amsterdam said that with assistance from Suriname and the Guyana Defence Force using their ‘metal sharks’ (sophisticated military boats) they have carried out extensive searches for the men who are feared drowned.

He noted that the services of divers may be employed as he vowed to find the men even if they are under the muddy Corentyne River water.

Meanwhile, Sookdeo was laid to rest yesterday at the Number 51 Cemetery.

Linden farmer shot multiple times

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cash-crop farmer is now nursing gunshot wounds after he was shot several times about his body on Sunday morning.

According to information, at about 09:00h on Sunday, Cicel Todd, 56, of Moblissa, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, was shot to his left arm, left leg and along his pelvic region.

According to Todd, he left home about 08:30h on and went to Moblissa Hilltop where he collected wood shavings for his chicken pen.

The man recalled that while returning home, he heard a series of explosions and subsequently felt a burning sensation to his left side. He fell but raised an alarm, resulting in his daughter Deslyn Cornelius coming to his rescue.

The daughter rushed Todd to the Linden Hospital Complex where he was admitted. He has been listed as stable.

A 36-year-old man also a farmer of Moblissa is currently in police custody assisting with investigations.

– only 38 communities received funding thus far

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f the 211 hinterland communities that were identified to benefit from the Jubilee Fund for community development projects, only 38 have thus far applied, received funds and commenced their development project.

In January of this year, Government had announced that budget allocations were made for investments in excess of $4 billion, in support of the Plan of Action for Hinterland Development.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan had also announced that in excess of $280 million was allocated to promote economic prosperity in these communities. This sum it was revealed is inclusive of grants for 211 Indigenous communities that would build village economies and fund other tourismbased projects, particularly for the Nation’s 50th Independence celebration.

It was explained that the communities would be able to access up to $2 million in funding through the grant.

However, it was revealed that only 38 communities actually applied for and received funding through the grant. As such, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs has announced that the remaining Hinterland communities have up to the end of 2016 to access money from the grant to undertake their developmental ventures.

Under the Presidential Grant, Hinterland Communities would usu-

ally have been receiving $700,000 to embark on these developmental projects. However; in celebration of the country’s 50th Independence anniversary, the government released more funds for the benefit of these hinterland communities.

Some of the projects that have been approved for funding included but are not limited to: the expansion of village farms, aquaculture, cattle and poultry rearing, eco-lodges, construction of guest houses, village offices, shops and markets, landmark benabs, recreational parks, internet service, and purchasing vehicles for agriculture, among others.

Presidential Advisor on Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Mervin Williams stated that in order to benefit from the Jubilee Fund, the communities would have had to develop a business or project plan for the purpose of improving village economies and community enhancement. These proposals, he explained, would be assessed and approved, and funding would be issued.

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monDAY, june 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Gafoors donate homes to less fortunate families

Eyew tness Countries...

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Ameena Gafoor presents the beneficiaries of the project with the keys to their new homes

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n another act of astounding generosity, Sattaur Gafoor and Ameena Gafoor through the Gafoor Foundation, on Saturday donated homes to two less fortunate families. The homes, though not fully completed, were constructed at a cost of $9 million each.

Oliver Kerr, a visually impaired father of two, received his first home - a flat, two-bedroom concrete house located in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

Kerr had approached Sattaur Gaffor seeking assistance to build a house, as he had nowhere to live with his wife and two young children. Ameena Gafoor explained that her husband, when he heard of the Kerr’s genuine need situation, took on the responsibility of

building them a home.

“We operate something called the Gafoor Foundation where we help people in need. We try to see those with genuine needs and help them, and we also try to keep children in school. Oliver Kerr, who is blind, approached our company and said that he and his family have nowhere to live. So we thought we would rise to the occasion and fortunately he had this bit of land here. If someone does not have land, we cannot put down a house for them, so fortunately for him he had this bit of land. So the next step was for us to try and get a house erected and this was promised to them before the fire which was just a month ago.”

According to Ameena

Gafoor: “It took us about three months to build this house so here we are today.

The house is somewhat incomplete but soon they will get all the finishing touches but basically they have a house and all the necessary facilities to function until we put all the finishing touches in place. And we are very happy to help the Kerr’s… we have known Oliver for a very long time and know of the circumstances”, she explained.

She further revealed that she would be taking the responsibility of furnishing the home. “I am going to help them put in beds and chairs. If they need a stove, we will help them.

Also, when the kitchen is complete we will try to help them with a fridge so that

the children can grow comfortably. They deserve a decent and comfortable house,” she explained.

She further related that the Gafoor Foundation was founded in 1992 when she and her husband returned from overseas, and noticed the need for such an organisation which would assist the underserved and less fortunate.

Philipa Kerr expressed her appreciation to the Gafoors for their kindness.

She related that it would have been quite difficult for her husband and herself to construct a home, given their circumstances. She recalled the moment when she was told that the Gafoors would be building them a house, telling Guyana Times that she was at a loss for words. “I am very much happy. I want to thank God for Mr Gafoor and his family who gave us this house that I can enjoy and live comfortably with my family,” she stated.

Meanwhile; Bibi Ramjit, 61, an ailing widow, also received her flat concrete house at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara.

The woman explained that prior to receiving the home from the Gafoors, she was constantly moving from one relative’s house to the next. Struggling to contain her tears, she expressed thanks to the Gafoor family: “I feel so happy that I own my own home, I must thank them for building my house because if it wasn’t for the Gafoors I wouldn’t ah own my own home.”

She related that she bought the land a number of years ago, and had begun constructing the foundation of the building. However; after her husband passed away, she was not in a financial position to continue the house.

The contractors of the project expressed pride at being able to play a part in the kind act. They explained that they were very happy to be working for such a generous employer, saying: “we are very proud about what Mr Gafoor is doing for the less fortunate.”

...and leaders

he French have a way with aphorisms and your humble Eyewitness’ favourite one (which his faithful readers would have figured out by now) is “The more things change, the more they remain the same”. Of course they don’t speak English like us and rather actually said, “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.” Another of his favourites is “Countries get the governments they deserve”.

While that might sound rather gloomily teleological, another aristocratic Frenchman de Tocqueville, after observing matters in the new democracy of America, modified the saying to a more understandable, “People in a democracy get the government they deserve”.

We wonder if he was thinking about this fellow Trump who might just be the next President of America. But really, does America really deserve Donald Trump? The question is whether Trump can trump American values – the main one, of course, being money.

Well...Trump just loves his money and he makes no bones about it. No understated reverse snobbery of the British nobility for Trump...he just exults in flaunting his money. Ever seen what he did to the Plaza when he made it to...what else? ...the “Trump Plaza”?

Remember Fitzgerald and “The Great Gatsby”? Sorta like the other American we in the Caribbean had some experience with – Allen Sanford, who rolled out his money in a wheelbarrow to persuade the English Cricket Board to have him push their 20/20 league. They kicked him out, of course. But then we have to remember, the US did kick out their royalty and are probably driven to show us they’re different.

But anyhow back to Trump. He’s the quintessential democratic leader that old Plato feared would result if you allowed the great unwashed to select their own leaders. The leader, not surprisingly, would just tell them what they wanted to hear. And with America going down the tubes and the lower classes getting it literally in the end, they have to find somebody to blame. And why blame the 1% like Trump who’s now accumulated 40% of the country’s wealth? Blame the immigrants who’re doing all the grunge work that even the trailer-trash rednecks don’t want to do! Folks gotta look down on SOMEBODY, nuh?

So Trump beats up on immigrants because he reads the mood of the key electorate he’s targeted – the white underclass. He also thumps his chest and roars, “America will be number one!!!” And his crowd roars with him.

Never mind those same immigrants –- especially the Chinese and Indians – are the ones who’ve driven America’s success in space exploration, computers and information technology.

But who cares? It’s all about getting elected, nuh?

...and “on top” leaders

There’ve been all sorts of articles recently bigging up Burnham and his bête noir, Jagan. The two men were full of “great ideas”. But it all kinda reminds your Eyewitness of the old saw ( French, of course!) “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Now don’t get him wrong, your Eyewitness knows there are two tribes in Guyana and tribal loyalty demands the “Founder Leader” and the “Father of the Country” be duly acknowledged. But if we’re to do better than the last 50 years, we have to go past “intentions”, don’t we?

One way to do so is to look at their great plans and check out why they didn’t work. Take “national unity”. They both conceded it was necessary. So what happened on the way to them tying the knot? Well, in the inimitable words of the Tradewinds and their honeymooning couple, Jagan and Burnham both wanted to “be on top”.

So can’t the new leaders please be side by side?

...obsolete?

With the WTO in abeyance because of uppity developing countries like China and India, trading blocs are the thing. But in the new mega Trade Blocs formed by the US, corporations will now take governments to court.

So with “sovereignty” gone, whither countries?

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

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monday, june 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Mother claims unprofessionalism Spousal killings alarming – Lawrence of CPA workers

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mother is appealing for intervention by government after she reported that welfare workers from the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) made false allegations against her daughter with the motive of having her taken away from her custody.

According to the woman, Debbi Tappin, welfare workers visited her mother’s home demanding that she hand over her granddaughter.

Tappin related to Guyana Times that on 11 May her mother was at her home in Sophia when three officials insisted that the young girl be handed over to their care as she was reportedly being “sexually abused” and was “pregnant”.

However, after the grandmother refused, making it clear that the child’s mother was not at home at the time, the officials had left indicating that Tappin should visit the agency to settle the issue.

Tappin reported that when she visited the agency the same day she was escorted by the welfare officers to the Turkeyen Police Station where she was told by a senior officer that she was under arrest.

This publication understands that while the woman was at the station demanding information about her arrest and the reason behind her daughter being taken away, the welfare workers

once again visited her mother’s home.

While at the station, Tappin alleged that the officer assaulted her as she was trying to make her way out of the building.

“While I was going through the gate, this man who identified himself as Mr Benn chucked me back against the gate post and the women officers were right there, he could have let them handle the situation” she related.

She further stated that when the welfare officials returned to the station with her daughter, the child was taken into a private room where she was questioned by the officials.

“They didn’t want me to go in, they said that I wasn’t allowed in. When my daughter came out and I asked her what happened, she told me that they told her she had been raped and was now pregnant,” Tappin explained.

Shocked at the unprofessionalism of the officials, Tappin related that she asked the officers to take her and the child to the Georgetown Public Hospital to have a test carried out in order to ascertain the claims.

However, according to the mother, after tests were done on the child it showed she was not pregnant and had not been sexually abused.

The enraged mother told this publication that she be-

came annoyed since her family was embarrassed as news had circulated that her grade five daughter was pregnant.

According to her, she took her daughter to the CPA the following day where she met with Director Ann Greene whom she believed would have been able to offer help.

However this was not the case as Greene allegedly informed her that nothing would come out of the case and that she should “drop it.”

Subsequent visits to the Minister of Social Protection were futile as each time she ended up meeting with Greene.

The woman is calling on the ministry to investigate the matter since her daughter is facing the brunt of the offensive action.

She explained that students from her daughter’s school are aware of the matter also and have been teasing the child about being pregnant.

“I need something to be done because my daughter is suffering. She went to school and every student is teasing her, now she doesn’t even want to go anymore. She had exams but I can’t force her to go,” Tappin exploded.

Attempts to get on to Childcare and Protection Agency Director Ann Greene and Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence for responses to the allegations made were unsuccessful.

“Each One Teach One” programme to tackle illiteracy among youths - Youth Empowerment Adviser

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programme dubbed “Each One, Teach One” project aimed at fostering literacy and numeracy among young people will be launched shortly by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Youth Empowerment.

This is according to Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment Aubrey Norton who explained that the programme is aimed at training individuals who will in turn train others with the intention of eliminating illiteracy and innumeracy from the country.

“The Each One, Teach One programme is a, ‘trainer of trainers’ programme which seeks to build capacity for a core of young people, to deliver literacy and numeracy to their peers. A lot of our young people are illiterate and innumerate. Now we want to make our young people literate, we want them reading and writing, so we are piloting this programme… We are calling it “Each One, Teach One,” because when we train them, they would go out and teach other people,” the advisor explained.

He related that the “Each One, Teach One” programme is among one of the may initiatives being carried out

Presidential Adviser on Youth Empowerment Aubrey Norton

by Office of the Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment, “aimed at empowering youths to become self-sufficient and develop them into productive individuals in the society.”

He explained that the programme will be targeting youths in communities such as Number 43 Village, West Coast Berbice; Kildonan Village, Corentyne, Berbice; Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice); and, Suddie, Essequibo Coast, while a special programme would be executed for hinterland youths.

“We would have to take the training programme to them rather than they

coming to the training programme, so we have scheduled for July, a youth leadership training programme in the Rupununi,” he explained.

Norton revealed that at the end of this year, the programme would be reviewed and if it is found to be lacking in any area, it would be modified to make it efficient and sustainable.

The advisor further revealed that as of this weekend, Office on Youth Empowerment will commence a training project with over 60 youths in basic leadership skills including effective communication, correct meeting procedures, and the role of the secretary and treasurer.

“We have found from moving around the country that a lot of the young people have not been exposed to leadership training. What has been happening is that even when you try to form youth organisations with them, they are willing, but they do not have the skills,” Norton stated.

He further pointed out that empowering youths with such skills is important so as to ensure they can benefit from the many entrepreneurship opportunities available within and outside of the country.

…calls for broad-based, community-driven response

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s nine cases have already been recorded of Guyanese women being murdered, both locally and internationally, so far for 2016, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence believes that despite efforts by the Government to significantly reduce these figures by implementing strategic measures, women continue to fall prey to senseless killings mostly at the hands of their partners or jealous lovers.

The issue has been brought to the fore by Minister Lawrence subsequent to the murder of another woman, Candacy Pitt, by her husband of 13 years on Friday.

Minister Lawrence in a statement said the country was undergoing an unfortunate phase whereby women have become the primary targets of heinous crimes which continue to burden not only the household of these victims, but the country by extension.

Noting the impact on the country, Lawrence pointed out that the nation’s overall development was susceptible to attenuation as Guyana continued to lose its most valuable resources owing to the “war” that has been launched against the womenfolk.

“This signals for us a lamentable negative and a deterrent to our overall national development, for we are losing our most important resource, which is so crucial to the sustainability of our nation,” Lawrence said.

The Minister said that the Government was aware of the quickly escalating issue and has been working to put in place measures that would secure the women of

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence

Guyana; however, these efforts seemed not to be working, as the number of women being murdered at the hands of their partners continued to rise.

“It seems that there are wanton murders, that domestic problems are being resolved today with recourse to extremely violent action. No longer can we hear of amicable solutions to our domestic conflicts.”

Considering the importance of having the crisis addressed before another woman suffered the fate of a brutal murder, Lawrence called for a broad-based response to be taken, especially by members of the community. She underscored the significance of healthcare workers and counsellors in tackling the issue at the grassroots level.

“There is no doubt a need for more interaction between members of the community, for more trained counsellors and experienced healthcare workers who can provide a forum whereby those suffering from mental illnesses, depression, family upheavals, abuse, can relieve their stress and communicate their problems and difficulties in an atmosphere of confidentiality,” the Minister said.

In the most recent case of murder, Pitt, 31, also called “Cindy” of Chelsea Park, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, was hacked to death by her husband of 13 years on June 3.

Pitt was at the time performing security duties at the Bygeval Secondary School.

Last week, Guyanese national Shemel Mercurius, 17, was shot dead in a New York apartment she shared with her aunt. Her 25-year-old boyfriend has confessed to the brutal slaying.

A few days earlier, Leelawattie Sookhoo, 37, and her 10-year-old daughter, Tisha Ahiram, were reportedly strangled to death by Sookdeo’s 22-year old lover in Suriname.

Another woman, Hafeeza Rohaman, 28, was allegedly murdered by her husband and buried in a shallow grave in Helena No 2, Mahaica.

Following this, Leolyn Sullivan was stabbed to death in her Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) home by her husband during an argument.

Also this year, Bibi Zabida Khan’s body was found in a trench at Zeelugt in January after she had gone missing.

It was later confirmed that she had been murdered by her husband who then disposed of her body.

In March 2016, Indrawattie Somwar was hacked to death by her husband, while Simone Hackett, a mother of one, was murdered by her ex-lover and her body dumped in a Cummings Lodge trench.

Only recently, Latchmini Shivpujan’s lifeless body was found in her apartment at Old Road, Crane, West Coast Demerara.

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guyana-times.com

monDAY, june 6, 2016

News

Youth Ambassadors to launch Cove and John Ashram reaches out to leadership training programme Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice residents – 68 single mothers, widowed and needy persons receive food hampers

The six Youth Ambassadors who will be facilitating the ‘Up For Youths’ programme and their adult mentors

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he United States Embassy will be hosting a leadership training programme for young people in August, and are inviting interested persons to submit their applications to join the programme.

The programme, dubbed “Up for Youths” which lasts for two weeks, is facilitated by the US Embassy’s 2015 Youth Ambassadors of Guyana.

“The programme is aimed at developing young Guyanese by awakening their social responsibility and equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in service to their communities. It is the perfect opportunity for youths to optimise their leisure time by being involved in fun, educational and impacting activities,” Youth Ambassador Ashraf Dabie explained.

He further related that the programme is open to anyone between the ages of

15 and 18, who has an interest in volunteering in their community.

He added that the programme will be focusing on capacity building: “The programme will be focused on capacity building for the participants. The key areas being developed include team work, leadership, communication and civic engagement. This programme will create an opportunity for young Guyanese to develop themselves and build a network with young enthusiasts like themselves while giving them practical volunteering opportunities and an experience to just be young and enjoy themselves,” he stated.

He further pointed out that the sessions will include outdoor activities and workshops which will engage the participants in a fun atmosphere.

The Embassy will be accepting applications from 5 June to 3 July and the

programme commences on 2 August and ends on 12 August.

The application forms are available on the “Youth Ambassadors Guyana 2015” Facebook page, and can be submitted to the Public Affairs Department of the US Embassy, Georgetown.

Since they returned from the Youth Ambassador Programme in the US, the six Guyanese Youth Ambassadors have been implementing various youth development programmes.

They recently held the Student Development Programme in which they shared their leadership skills and raised suicide awareness among students of several schools through drama and interaction.

They have also used their influence on students to encourage environmental protection and preservation, and even hosted awareness walks and clean-up campaigns.

Housing Exhibition scheduled for October

H

aving been postponed from May to accommodate the Jubilee Celebrations, Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valerie Sharpe-Patterson highlighted that the Housing Expo is now expected to be held in October, under the theme “Housing Solutions 2016 and Beyond.”

The display of fullscale models of housing solutions for low-income and middleincome earners, hosted by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), will give the public the chance to voice their opinions about the housing solutions put before them.

“At that Expo we will have home developers doing two samples for us, a low cost house and a moderate income house. Persons would have an opportunity to look at the models, and if they have their house lots and they want a developer to build for them, they can now have an opportunity to make direct contact,” Sharpe-

Minister within the Ministry of Communities Valerie Sharpe-Patterson

Patterson explained.

It was relayed by Government Information Agency (GINA) that the advantage of the public having an input on the homes constructed by the ministry would be offered through this exhibition, as opposed to the ministry building homes solely on their (Ministry) ideas of the housing solutions.

The Minister within the Minstry of Communities said: “Persons would be asked to assess the housing solutions presented and based on their assessment, we know what is the best choice and that will help us now, not to give persons what we want but to give the people what they want.”

Sharpe-Patterson indicated that there was awareness that the previous solutions presented by the Core and Turn Key Homes have not entirely been to the public’s liking since it has on numerous occasions, proven to be insufficient to the specific category it was allocated to facilitate.

However, she also relayed that there has been numerous indications of interest towards the Expo, highlighting that a total of 14 applications from developers have been acquired thus far, with others expected since the CHPA has all intentions to accept applications for the event until midJune.

Swami Shivashankaranandaji Maharaj posing with his outreach team

By Indrawattie Natram

S

ixty-eight persons, including single mothers, widows and needy persons living in Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), recently benefited from the Cove and John Ashram monthly hamper distribution outreach.

The Ashram members in their quest to assist families to live a more comfortable life, presented food hampers, clothing and bed sets to needy persons in the area.

The activity was part of the Ashram’s monthly service programme to assist persons who are in need of help.

Heading the team was administrator and spiritual leader of the Ashram, Swami Shivashankaranandaji Maharaj, who said that this year the Ashram was celebrating its 60th Anniversary and various monthly outreaches were planned.

During the distribution exercise, the administrator spoke to the gathering en-

Some of the beneficiaries of the Ashram’s outreach programme

couraging persons to have faith in life and to think positively. During his address, he told persons not to let their situations and conditions prevent them from making the changes that would lead them to a prosperous life.

He encouraged the single mothers to perform daily prayers and to be strong to make the right decisions in their lives and the lives of their children.

The spiritual leader also told the gathering that they should be thankful to the Creator for whatever he has

bestowed them upon and not pity themselves, but instead use the opportunities to grow and become someone better.

The Swami was assisted by members of the Ashram, Hindu College Principal Rajkumarie Singh and also students from the Hindu College. At the end of the outreach, residents expressed their gratitude towards the Ashram for selecting their community to benefit from the outreach. The next outreach is slated for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on July 4.

monDAY, june 6, 2016

guyana-times.com

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News

Criminal justice system to be boosted by IDB – Williams

G

overnment is set to soon sign an agreement with the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) which could see the financial institution providing funds that would boost this country’s Criminal Justice System.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams said he is currently perusing the document that will have to be signed by both his Ministry and the IDB. “There is an agreement that both the Ministry and the IDB have to sign in relation to the criminal justice aspect of my budget. That will soon be signed as I am cur-

rently perusing it”, Williams informed.

Speaking on the issue of funding for the hiring of High Court Judges, Williams indicated that this was budgeted for following discussions with the Finance Ministry and the IDB. “The IDB process involves various officers of IDB coming in and engaging you on the proposed projects and looking at the feasibility and viability.

After the assessment, the assessment was positive for the Ministry in relation to the IDB programmes and they indicated that funding would flow at a later date,

though they could authorise you to start spending and they would recoup”, the Legal Affairs Minister said.

Prior to the IDB engagement, Government also received funding from the Canadian Government for the strengthening of the Criminal Justice System. The Attorney General, along with Canadian Chargé d’Affaires, Sharmini Poulin, visited the Police Training Centre in January of this year to meet with police, police prosecutors and state prosecutors who were being trained under the Canadian funded project ‘Strengthening the Guyanese Criminal Justice System’.

The Government of Canada, through its AntiCrime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP), provided funds to Canadian NGO, the Justice Education Society (JES), to implement the project over a two-year period to the tune of C$750,000 (G106 million).

The Canadian Government had said the goal of the JES project was to develop the technical capacity of the police, police prosecutors, state prosecutors and magistrates to collect, analyse and present forensic evidence as a means of decreasing impunity rates.

The JES team had been

visiting Guyana since September 2015 and had commenced training activities with the Guyana Police Force on Major Case Management, Forensic Video Analysis and Crime Scene Management.

JES is a Canadian nonprofit organisation with an impressive record of improving the effectiveness of justice systems in Canada and around the world.

The JES programme in Central America has resulted in increased efficiency of criminal investigations, greater collaboration between institutions and reduced impunity rates.

For example, in Guatemala, between 2009 and 2013, the conviction rate for violent crimes increased from 5 to 29 per cent.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministries of Public Security and Legal Affairs, as well as the Office of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Guyana Police Force.

Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh has visited the trainings in session and noted the “tremendous value” of targeting police prosecutors, state prosecutors and magistrates.

Old alumina plant also contributed to oil spill in Linden - ETS coordinator

By Rennella Bourne

E

ven as the Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) seeks to pay its fine following an oil spill in the mining town of Linden, Environmental Technical Services coordinator, Wainewright Bethune has said that another oil leakage has been unearthed from the old Alumina Plant.

According to him, oil is leaking from the old Plant and is no way associated with BMGGI’s spillage.

Just over two months ago it was discovered that there was an oil spill from BMMGI into the Demerara River.

This newspaper had outlined that, following a meeting between the privately owned bauxite company and the Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC), BMGGI community relations officer Vanessa Mitchell-Davis noted that the Chinese-owned mining company will do its part by putting necessary systems in place to ensure there is no

The Old Aluminium Plant located in Linden

recurrence.

RDC councillor Sandra Adams who was part of that meeting, has said the company was advised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to include an additional pond at the point where the company’s waste oil is being collected, in an effort to further protect against possible future spills.

BMGGI was recently ordered to conduct a clean-up

by EPA, as a result of the spill caused due to negligence of an employee.

Following the spill, several farmers of the Dalliwala community had complained that their produce were adversely affected, not however only by the recent spill, but what they noted occurred over the past few years.

It was discovered that there was additional oils present apart from BMMGI’s oil spillage.

Bethune noted that an investigation was launched into the additional oil that was not a part of BMGGI’s oil spill. Based upon the

investigation’s findings Bethune explained: “What we have noticed is that the leaking is coming from the old Alumina plant since farmers located 5 miles up the Dalliwala River are more affected than those just one mile away from the mining company.”

Bethune noted work will soon commence to rectify the new found source of oil in the river that is causing a decline in farmer’s productivity.

In recent reports in line

with BMGGI’S oil spill, Regional Chairman Renis Morian had expressed optimism of Linden striking oil since it was found that the oil spillage was not only that of Bosai.

He had said: “For all you know we might be sitting on oil in Linden and don’t know.

This is not being funny because they (farmers) showed Bosai signs that oil has been seeping from somewhere; it’s either we got some old storage that got oil seeping whether the alumina plant

or Omai Wharf or maybe the best of everything.

It’s in our best interest to find out where this thing is coming from so that we can address it and I’m hoping that it’s a sign that we got oil in Linden.”

He was correct in that it was a seepage from the alumina plant but it is not a natural source coming from Linden based on the assessments of the Environmental Technical Services coordinator.

12 news

monDay, june 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Grenade hurled at “If you want to ban the used tyres, Glenn Lall’s vehicle fix the roads!”– vehicle operators – Govt says it’s an act of “domestic terrorism”

P

olice blocked off the area surrounding Kaieteur News on Saffon Street, Georgetown, and have launched an investigation into the incident where a grenade was hurled at the vehicle of Glenn Lall, publisher and owner of the media entity.

The incident reportedly occurred late Saturday night as staff and members of the public gathered in front of the company to pay their respects to Assistant Editor Dale Andrews who had died on Friday.

According to information, around 22:00h, persons heard a noise coming from the vehicle, which was parked on the western side of Saffon Street, and had perceived it to be the sound of shattering glass.

Checks were carried out by security personnel, but no physical damage was observed on the vehicle.

However, a more thorough search around the Lexus revealed a grenade lying just next to the right front wheel of the vehicle. Persons had not observed any suspects around the area at the time when when the grenade was hurled at the vehicle. Immediate contact was made with the Police, who visited the scene promptly to investigate the situation.

Demolition personnel from the Force were, up to Sunday morning, attempting to get rid of the device before any serious damage was done.

Up to press time, Police were still trying to identify

the individuals involved in the attack.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that the device was a fragmentation grenade, which had fortunately failed to explode as a result of poor storage that caused its deterioration.

He also disclosed that video footage from surveillance cameras in the area was viewed by the department but as the images were blurred, it was of no use.

Meanwhile, the coalition Government, in a statement on Sunday, deemed the incident as an act of domestic terrorism on the media entity. While condemning the act, the Government is thankful that no lives were lost or injuries sustained.

“The coalition Government stands resolutely in defence of press freedom in Guyana and condemns, in the strongest possible manner, this heinous and dastardly act of cowardice against Kaieteur News.

The coalition Government

is thankful, as are all rightthinking Guyanese that no lives or limbs were lost and there was no damage to property,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the Government believes that this was a wilful act against the entity aimed at intimidating, harming or creating fear.

The Government stressed its commitment to working with the Guyana Police Force so that the main perpetrators involved in the act would face the full force of the law.

“The coalition Government commits its full support to the Guyana Police Force as it investigates this sickening attempted act of terrorism. The Government looks forward to the perpetrators and possible intellectual authors being identified, pursued, arrested and placed before the court and being dealt with to the full extent of the law,” the Government declared in the statement.

I

n light of the decision of the Government to ban used tyres, drivers are still maintaining that with the implementation of the ban, there should also be measures put in place with regard to the road network development in the country.

According to a host of drivers who met with Guyana Times on Saturday, the decision to ban used tyres has created a major financial hurdle which was worsened by the bad roads in the country which they say quickly damage the new tyres. The drivers said that the cost of the new tyres was exorbitant and they were not as durable as the Government highlighted they would be since they needed to be frequently replaced, adding to their expense.

“They ban the tyres and we had to accept it, right?

So, why they can’t fix the roads now? The tyres don’t even last long and the roads destroying them faster.

The Government, the Town Clerk seh the tyres gon last

long, he mussy don’t use Georgetown roads. We gotta spend more and more money. What happen man, is nothing we ain’t got to do but waste we hard earnings?” voiced a private car driver who identified himself only as Singh.

The drivers, however, indicated that if the roads, especially in Georgetown, were repaired given their current “broken” and “deteriorated state”, they would be more inclined to accept the Government’s prohibition of used tyres in the country.

“It will make more sense if they just fix the roads and done, man. We can’t accept this law if we gotta keep getting in expense….

That’s nonsense. The roads got some big big holes in it and we gotta drive in it, and the tyres damaging up more. Let them fix the road and then we gon accept they new law. They just sit down there making laws like it’s nothing because it ain’t affecting them. They ain’t concern about poor people,” one driver commented.

Framework for food and nutrition security to be strengthened

T

he Food and A g r i c u l t u r e Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture hosted a national stakeholder consultation on strengthening the governance framework for food and nutrition security (FNS) in Guyana.

The consultation was held to gather inputs from the stakeholders in relation to the governance of food security in Guyana along with

insecurity by 2030. This he “requires the involvement of all at the national level.”

Robertson disclosed that the achievement of food and nutrition security is dependent on the four pillars; food availability, access, utilisation, and sustainability.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture George Jarvis in his remarks highlighted what Guyana has been do-

the announcement of the preliminary findings of the inception report on governance for FNS in Guyana.

The gathering sought to establish a technical working group to support the work of the consultant.

FAO’s Country Representative to Guyana Reuben Robertson highlighted the need for the framework, noting that it is an important element in the process of achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 2 which speaks to the elimination of undernutrition, food and nutrition

ing: “Guyana recognises a large section of the population depend on agriculture for food and income, this has led to the government continuously increasing investments in agriculture, expanding safety nets and social assistance programmes and enhancing job creating activities for both rural and urban citizens,” he said.

Jarvis noted that there was a food, fuel and finance crisis in 2007-2008 which lead to an economic downturn in 2009 and by 2011 there were high food prices.

Those factors combined to drive 44 million persons into poverty and so it is very important to examine food security interventions worldwide.

“Commitments were taken in this direction in 2009 at a summit. 2010 saw the first decline in the number of nourished people in the world after approximately 15 years. That number dropped to 925 million from 1.023 billion the previous year,” Jarvis said.

The Guyana Food and Nutrition Strategy 20112020 was developed and officially launched in 2011. Its aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of all citizens and enhance food security. The ministry has been working to effectively implement this strategy through various initiatives.

The permanent secretary further stressed the importance of nutrition in daily diets: “Many of us in Guyana take food for granted and do not consider nutrition… you eat because you hungry and that’s it,” he said.

According to Jarvis, the ministry would like to use the forum to resuscitate or reactivate the council and shortly thereafter invite all the heads for the various agencies, bodies, ministries and agencies to sit and continue the work that was started in 2011.

Representatives from various ministries, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and United Nations agencies were among the participants, according to information by GINA.

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monDay, june 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Hugh Wooding Law School entrance debacle – AG announces local public/private law school in the pipeline

W

ith still a major hurdle to overcome by law students of the University of Guyana (UG) to be able to successfully get into the Trinidadbased Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS), Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams on Friday announced plans

by Government to establish a Public/Private law school here.

The success of the establishment of this institution however, will depend on the approval of the Council for Legal Education (CLE), the authoritative regional organisation, which operates the law schools in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and The Bahamas.

The AG told journalists at his office that government remains concerned about the situation in which students have found themselves and is working to

Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline Samuels-Brown

have it settled.

“We are currently engaged in seeking to establish a public/private law school. We are still in the early stages of that and one of the things is we have raised the question with the Council of Legal Education

on whether such an institution could be under the umbrella of the CLE”, he told reporters.

He said in the interim however, government is still faced with a situation where it has to assist students in getting to Hugh Wooding.

Last month Minister Williams told reporters that he had written the Chairperson of CLE on the issue of placement, but is yet to receive a response.

He explained that the situation has grabbed the attention of Deputy Vice Chancellor of the UG, as well as the Belizean government, since many students of that country also study at the University of Guyana: “When the last council meeting was held in January, the, matter was referred to the sub-committee.

I am not sure if the sub-committee has come up with any position on the matter, that

Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General Basil Williams

is why I wrote the CLE.” Williams said government is hoping for some response, since UG is ready and able to sign a collaborative agreement.

Williams said the decision by the former People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration to

discontinue contributions to the HWLS is responsible for the dilemma facing Guyanese law students.

“I could tell you that they all (HWLS) feel that because we don’t pay and contribute, it is unfair for us to have our students taking up places at the school”, Williams said.

According to him, the problem was further “aggravated” because all the campuses of the University of the West Indies are doing the full law degree just as the University of Guyana, and have hundreds of students who also want to enter the programme.

“It is a question of the discontinuance of paying any contribution whatsoever, and we inherited that situation and are trying to address it. But all we seem to have done is to encourage a lot of problems”.

The previous PPP/C administration fought ‘tooth

and nail’ in recent years to ensure that the top 25 UG law students are accepted in the Hugh Wooding Law School.

As a matter of fact, in 2013, then Caribbean Community (Caricom) Chairman, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, had cause to write the University of the West Indies Council for Legal Education on the impasse over Guyanese law students being accepted at the Trinidad-based Hugh Wooding Law School.

Then in 2015, at their 36th Heads of Government Meeting in Barbados, regional leaders issued a call on the Hugh Wooding Law School’s Council of Legal Education to extend the arrangement between that institution and the University of Guyana for the automatic entry of the top 25 students of the legal education programme.

Guyana needs a Wakapao teachers, dormitory students more comprehensive without electricity since February welfare system By: Indrawattie Natram

T

By Shemuel Fanfair

G

uyana, over the years, has been striving to improve the welfare services it offers to citizens to ensure their health and wellbeing.

Some of the services offered in Guyana are National Insurance, Old Age Pension, Board of Industrial Training courses in cosmetology and engineering, etc; Legal Aid services and Public Assistance.

Although these initiatives have received much praise, calls are being made that more should be done to better the lives of citizens, especially single mothers.

Donelle Pillu, a single mother of three, has to work two jobs just to make ends.

Since her children all attend school, she is of the view that the authorities can do more to render assistance to parents.

Pillu noted that for her, she would greatly appreciate an enhanced welfare system.

Elijah Warton stressed that it was good to help single mothers because of the many challenges they may be too embarrassed to share.

His friend, Trey Simmons, 27, shared the same sentiments, noting that a more broad-based welfare system offering more financial incentives would benefit the majority of the single parents, most of whom he reminded were teenagers.“I feel it would be great if the welfare system is

improved,” Simmons noted.

Guyana Times has learnt that in the United Kingdom, some working parents can get over 100 pounds in tax incentives per child but recent proposals want this limited to two children. In Norway, parents who qualify can claim a parental allowance for documented costs associated with minding and caring for children at home who are under 12 years of age.

Amanda Ramkission, a sales girl who re-migrated from the United States, explained that in New York City, parents who face financial difficulties can go to churches and community centres for help or use Government-provided food stamps to obtain necessary food items. She also related that this would be a good initiative for Guyana to introduce as this would alleviate some of the burdens that citizens face.

She also noted that other organisations in Guyana should offer more volunteer job opportunities so that those having difficulties in acquiring employment would still be able to gain some job experience. This can prove to be a vital asset as many young persons in the country, some of whom who would have completed technical and vocational training at local institutions, are finding great difficulties in utilising their skills for their financial benefit.

eachers and dormitory students attached to the Wakapao Secondary School in the Lower Pomeroon in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have vented their frustration over the lack of electricity at the school.

The teachers’ quarters and the dormitory were said to be without electricity since February.

The solar panels that were gifted to the school reportedly were malfunctioning. Students and teachers are currently forced to use lamps in the evenings, the former to study for the upcoming Grade Nine assessments, and the latter to plan their notes for lessons.

Wakapao Secondary School Dormitory

Both teachers and students vented their disgust at the situation and said that despite numerous reports made to the Education Department in Region Two and the Regional Executive Office, nothing has been done to date. The teachers said that productivity at the school has significantly dropped since students can-

not get to charge their laptops to do their assignments.

Teachers who ventured to the isolated community to render their services fear for their safety in the dark as most of the windows in the teachers’ quarters are broken. According to them, they cannot operate in such an unsafe environment.

Additionally, the chil-

dren cannot keep up to date with what is happening around them as there is no electricity to charge their devices so that they can access the Internet. Both students and teachers are calling on Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to investigate as regional officials are turning deaf ears to their complaints.

Caricom determined to help Guyana preserve territorial integrity amid controversy with Venezuela

S

ecretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque says the regional grouping remains unwavering in its determination to preserve Guyana’s territorial integrity.

He gave the commitment when he met with President David Granger on Wednesday.

His comments came as Guyana remains in a border controversy with neighbouring Venezuela.

“The Community has been resolute in always preserving the territorial integrity of Guyana. It is an issue that we are always on. At appropriate junctures, statements have always been issued. I have made statements, the Community has made statements, the Chairman, at the appropriate occasion, and the matter of Guyana’s terri-

Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque

torial integrity is sacrosanct.

The Community will always be supporting Guyana in this issue. There is no question about it,” Ambassador LaRocque said.

The Caricom Secretary General said the matter would be discussed in the next few weeks at the Heads of Government Summit.

He met with President Granger to discuss the status of the preparations and the agenda for the upcoming summit which is being co-hosted by Guyana since Dominica, which holds the current chairmanship and was scheduled to host, could not assume that responsibility as it is still recovering from the impact of Tropical Storm Erika, which battered that island nation last year.

President Granger had previously identified a number of the areas on which he would like to focus when Guyana assumes chairmanship of Caricom in January 2017. Food security, environmental protection and the security and defence of small states, as well as the response to disasters, will be among Caricom’s priority issues under his stewardship.

The Caricom Single Market

Economy (CSME), an integrated development strategy aimed at promoting growth in the member states, will also be addressed in the push for food security.

Ambassador LaRocque said that during his meeting with the President, discussions were expanded on those priority areas.

“He already has some thoughts which we will work on which are issues pertaining to the green economy, the economy in general and how we could look to cause the CSME to be make more contributions towards job creation [and] the environment. Of course we spoke about geopolitical issues and challenges in our Region and hemisphere and those are some of the issues, which will be on the agenda,” the Caricom SG said. (Caribbean360)

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guyana-times.com

monday, june 6, 2016

Regional

Peruvians vote in tight election Cuba will never rejoin OAS over

P

eruvians voted in a presidential election on Sunday that pitted right-wing populist Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of a jailed former President, against former World Bank economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, with the results still up for grabs.

Fujimori’s lead over Kuczynski, 77, melted away in recent days, evoking memories of her close defeat to outgoing President Ollanta Humala in 2011.

In opinion polls by Ipsos and GfK on Saturday, Kuczynski pulled slightly ahead of Fujimori, though the two remained in a statistical dead heat. A poll by CPI seen by a source gave Fujimori a slight advantage with 50.9 per cent of votes to Kuczynski’s 49.1 per cent.

The 41-year-old Fujimori, who would be Peru’s first female President, has spent the last five years seeking to broaden her appeal beyond

Venezuela row, says Castro

C

The election pitted right-wing populist Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of a jailed former President, against former World Bank economist Pedro Pablo Kuczynski

loyalists to her father, Alberto Fujimori, who is serving a 25year sentence for graft and human rights abuses.

She kicked his staunchest defenders off her party’s congressional ticket and stepped up campaigning in provinces she lost to left-leaning Humala in 2011. Still, many voters remain wary as some of Fujimori’s new associates have become mired in fresh scandals.

“I voted for PPK because I don’t think Keiko Fujimori would be the one governing, her father would be,” said Luz Vite, 34, referring to Kuczynski by his commonly used initials.

While both candidates are fiscal conservatives who would maintain a free-market model in the resource-rich Andean economy, their styles and approaches differ widely.

uban President Raul Castro said the country would not return to the Organisation of American States (OAS) in a show of solidarity with Venezuela.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almargo has called for sanctions against Venezuela.

At a summit of Caribbean countries in Havana, Castro called the OAS “an instrument of imperialist domination”.

Meanwhile, former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has met jailed Venezuelan

Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez.

It was Leopoldo Lopez’s first visit from anyone other than family members or lawyers since the 45-year-old was sentenced to 14 years in prison last year after being found guilty of inciting violence.

His supporters insist he is innocent and say he was jailed on trumped-up, politically-motivated charges.

The meeting at Ramo Verde military prison outside Caracas lasted about 90 minutes, according to Adriana Lopez, the Opposition

Leader’s sister.

Zapatero is trying to negotiate between the Opposition and the Government in Venezuela’s worsening political crisis.

Cuba was expelled from the OAS in 1962, but following a recent thaw in relations with the US it was suggested that the island might return.

But Castro appeared to rule out the possibility, offering “our most firm solidarity to our brothers the Venezuelan people, to the legitimate Government of President Nicolas Maduro”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

J’can mobile app developers among PitchIT winners

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Corruption and violence test Mexico’s ruling party in state elections

M

exican regional elections on Sunday pose a major test for the ruling party’s hopes of retaining the presidency in 2018 as discontent over corruption and violence fuels support for the anti-establishment message of a resurgent leftist firebrand.

Voters were choosing new governors in a dozen of Mexico’s 31 states, including bastions of President Enrique Pena Nieto’s Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, that could fall to the Opposition after more than 80 years of one-party rule.

The biggest prize on offer is oil-rich Veracruz in the Gulf of Mexico, the third most-populous state, which has been long dominated by a few families under nonstop PRI Government.

Turnout was patchy in the state capital, Xalapa, early on Sunday, with many voters expressing anger, fear and resignation over years of gang violence and a sluggish economy. Election officials said as many as a fifth of polling booths opened late.

Turf wars between the gangs, mounting debts and allegations of corruption have turned Veracruz into a

liability for Pena Nieto, and only thanks to splits in the Opposition does the centrist PRI look to have any hope of holding on to it.

Opinion polls show Cuitlahuac Garcia, candidate of the new National Regeneration Movement, or Morena, party of twotime presidential runnerup Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, running neck and neck in Veracruz with the PRI’s Hector Yunes and his cousin Miguel Angel Yunes, who heads a joint bid by the main centre-right and centre-left Opposition parties.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Developing tropical storm threatens the Caribbean

A

broad area of thundery showers has been bringing heavy downpours to the western Caribbean over the past few days. It now looks likely that this system could develop into the third named storm of the year.

Should it do so, it will be named Colin. Remarkably, this would make it the earliest that we have reached a “C” named storm since the naming system was brought in for Atlantic hurricanes, and the earliest third storm of the year since records began in 1851.

The clutch of thunderheads looked set to become increasingly organised as they move from the northwest Caribbean and into the southern Gulf of Mexico. It is likely to become a tropical depression within the next 24 hours as it tracks northwestwards towards the Florida Peninsula.

Winning teams from the PitchIT Caribbean Challenge competition show off their ‘cheques’.

From left are: Rowen Willabus and Ronson Gray of Directory.gy from Guyana, Stephan James and Dion Santana of Wanderscape of Trinidad and Tobago; Shannon Clarke and Lybion Sobers of MediRevu from Barbados; Walter Bernyck Counsellor from the Canadian High Commission; Dushyant Savadia, chief judge and entrepreneur; Dwayne Samuels and Shawn McLean of Samelogic along with husband and wife team of Dwayne Campbell and Kalye-Rae Fisher Campbell, both from Jamaica

J

amaica mobile app developers, Same Logic and Bookfusion, were two of five winners at the Caribbean Mobile Innovation Project (CMIP) PitchIT Caribbean tech-entrepreneurship competition, which ended Saturday.

Same Logic and Bookfusion along with the other three winners, Wanderscape of Trinidad, Directory.GY of Guyana, and Medi Revu of Barbados, were selected after two rigorous days of pitching to two panels of judges and an audience of regional and global investors.

The top five teams each took home US$5000 in seed

funding to develop their businesses and have also been awarded spots in PitchIT Caribbean business accelerators across the region.

Chief Judge Dushyant Savadia of Jamaican security technology firm Amber Connect, who announced the five winners, could hardly contain his excitement over what he said were the impressive pitches the initial 10 finalists made to the panel of four judges, earlier in the day.

“What I saw today was not just Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, it was truly worldclass,” Savadia said amid the applause. “What I have seen here was truly outstanding,

truly tremendous, so congratulations to all 10”.

A total of 25 groups of mobile app developers from seven countries across the Caribbean, participated in the competition, the aim of which is to enhance the region’s mobile app development ecosystem.

The project, which is part of the Entrepreneurship Programme for Innovation in the Caribbean (EPIC), is being executed by the University of the West Indies Consortium, with funding from the Government of Canada and the World Bank.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

TT$100M THA hotel deal

T

The National Hurricane Centre have given an 80-per cent chance that the storms in western Caribbean become a tropical system within the next few hours, becoming the earliest third storm of the year since records began in 1851 [Al Jazeera]

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the system closely and have given an 80-per cent chance that it will become a tropical storm within the next 48 hours. They have issued warnings for heavy rainfall.

There is a flood threat across parts of the Yucatan Peninsula along with western Cuba, the Florida

Keys and later the Florida Peninsula over the next few days. Sea surface temperatures are already above average at 28C which will encourage big downpours.

One saving grace is that the system is expected to move through quickly.

Hence, any heavy rain will not be over any one place for too long. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

he Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has acquired two hotel properties at a price of TT$32 million and will spend TT$68 million more to renovate them, putting the overall investment at TT$100 million, a Parliament committee heard on Friday .

The Joint Select Committee on Local Authorities, Service Commissions and Statutory Authorities heard that the THA has purchased the Manta Lodge at Speyside and the Sanctuary Villa Resort at Grafton .

“Currently we are working assiduously to revive

the properties,” said THA Management Accountant Gwen Toppin. “There are a few teething issues.” She said the acquisitions were made without financing from the Central Government .

“There was no financing from Central Government,” she said .

“The THA has made those two properties priority projects.” She said TT$68 million was the estimated cost to bring the two properties up to, “operational standard” .

Renovations will be done

by Eidcot, the Eco-Industrial Development Company of Tobago, which is tied to the THA. “How are you going to

benefit?” asked UNC Senator Daniel Solomon . “There will be an addition of 80 rooms to the island, that is the THA’s way of contributing some rooms to the island,” said Toppin .

Director of Tourism Frederica Brooks-Adams said the properties would be “similar to the model of Hyatt and Hilton” .

She said the facilities would cater for the differently-abled, in line with international standards. The same committee heard there are proposals for several new marinas currently before Cabinet . (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

monday, june 6, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the World

World’s Muslims mark Air strikes kill dozens beginning of Ramadan in Syria’s Aleppo M

illions of Muslims around the world will mark the start of the holy month of Ramadan today, a time marked by intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and good deeds.

Religious authorities in most Middle Eastern countries announced the new moon of Ramadan was spotted on Sunday evening.

Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, also said Muslims there would begin fasting today, as will Muslims in Singapore, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, among others.

Following these announcements, a mosque in Tampa, Florida announced to its followers that they too would celebrate the first day’s fasting today.

The sighting of the new moon marks the beginning

A mother holds her son to look at a theodolite to determine the sighting of the new moon to mark the start of Ramadan [Fazry Ismail/EPA]

of the Muslim lunar month that varies between 29 and 30 days.

Some countries use astronomical calculations and observatories, while others rely on the naked eye alone, leading sometimes to different starting times in the Middle East.

Ramadan begins around 11 days earlier each year.

Muslims believe Ramadan to be the month in which the first verses of the Quran, Islam’s holy book, were revealed to the Prophet

Muhammad more than 1400 years ago.

The faithful spend the month of Ramadan in mosques for evening prayers known as “taraweeh”, while free time during the day is often spent reading the Quran and listening to religious lectures.

Each day for the month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex from sunrise to sunset to focus on spirituality, good deeds and charity.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Philippines President-elect: Shoot a drug dealer, get a medal

T

he Philippines’ President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has encouraged the public to go after drug dealers, urging citizens with guns to shoot and kill them.

In a nationally televised speech late on Saturday, Duterte, who will be sworn in on June 30, told a huge crowd in the southern city of Davao that he would offer huge bounties to those who turn in drug lords – dead or alive.

“Please feel free to call us, the Police, or do it yourself if

you have the gun – you have my support,” Duterte said.

If a drug dealer resists arrest or refuses to be brought to a police station and threatens a citizen with a gun or a knife, “you can kill him”, Duterte said.

“Shoot him and I’ll give you a medal.”

He also said that drug addicts could not be rehabilitated and warned, “if you are involved in drugs, I will kill you.

You son of a whore, I will really kill you”.

Duterte, who won the

May 9 vote, based his successful election campaign strategy on a pledge to end crime within three to six months of being elected.

Speaking on Saturday, he reiterated that his anti-crime campaign would be “a bloody war” and large sums of money for slain drug lords.

“I will pay, for a drug lord: five million (pesos) ($107,000) if he is dead. If he is alive, only 4.999 million,” he laughed.

He did not say how a private citizen could identify suspects. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

1 dead, thousands evacuated after blast at Sri Lankan armoury

O

ne soldier was killed and thousands of people were evacuated after a fire and a series of explosions on Sunday at one of Sri Lanka’s biggest ammunition dumps, where the army stores heavy weapons, officials said.

Explosions at the army camp at Salawa, 33 kilometres (20 miles) east of the capital Colombo, continued for more than five hours and were heard more than 12 km away, local residents said.

The cause was not immediately known and the Government ordered an investigation by the Police criminal investigation department.

Local television stations showed rocket propelled grenade (RPG) shells and shrapnel that had landed in the middle of a road.

“The fire started in a small arms store and spread.

There were heavy weapons such as artillery shells stored

Men inspect damage after an airstrike on Aleppo’s rebel held al-Hallak neighbourhood

A

[Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]

t least 53 people, including children, have been killed in Government air strikes in Syria’s Aleppo city, activists have said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human rights said on Sunday dozens of barrel bombs – oil drums or cylinders packed with explosives and shrapnel – were dropped by military helicopters on the heavily populated al-Qatriji neighbourhood.

At least 32 people, including three children, have been killed in the air strikes, the Observatory added.

At least 40 air strikes hit the rebel-held areas on Sunday in some of the heaviest recent raids by Russian

and Syrian Government war-planes, the Syrian Civil Defence have said.

Rebels also hit Government-held parts of Aleppo in what Syrian media said was an escalation in mortar attacks on the western parts of the country’s largest city before the war.

State media said missiles fired on Hamadaniyah and the Midan areas by rebels left scores injured and several casualties in a second day of intense shelling of Government held areas.

The Observatory also said that since May 31, at least 74 people were killed in air strikes.

Zouhir al-Shimale, a local journalist, told Al Jazeera

that intensive air strikes have not stopped targeting Aleppo for a few days.

“Every morning for the past few days over 50 air strikes and barrel bombs have targeted Aleppo. A local journalist was among those killed, while another journalist was injured.

“A rescue worker was also killed while he was saving an injured person, it happened within two minutes,” al-Shimale said.

In another development, the Syrian army crossed the boundary of Raqqa province after advancing in a major Russian-backed offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, the Observatory said on Saturday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UN: Rising environmental crime threatens our societies T he international community must work together to tackle the alarming growth of environmental crime, a leading United Nations official has told Al Jazeera.

The value of plundered natural resources today is estimated to be as high as US$258 billion, up by 26 per

cent compared to 2014, making environmental crime the world’s fourth most lucrative illegal activity – following drug smuggling, counterfeiting and human trafficking.

“It’s not just an environmental problem, it’s a threat to our societies,” Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment

Programme (UNEP) said from Angola, which hosts this year’s World Environment Day (WED) celebrations.

Marked on June 5 annually, this year’s WED theme is about the fight against the illegal trade in wildlife. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Number of migrant bodies found on Libyan coast rises to 133 – Red Crescent

T

Explosions at the army camp at Salawa, 33 kilometres (20 miles) east of the capital Colombo, continued for more than five hours and were heard more than 12 km away, local residents said

in the proximity, but the damage is still unknown,” Sagala Ratnayake, Minister of Law and Order, told media.

One soldier was killed and one injured in the blasts, an army spokesman said.

Sources from two nearby hospitals said at least five people were being treated for injuries. The soldier died on admission due to loss of blood, they said.

Pradeep Koddipily,

spokesman for Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre, said residents living in a five-km radius had been asked to evacuate immediately. Thousands of people have already been evacuated fearing explosions.

Rohitha Fernando, Chief Operating Officer at Colombo Fire Brigade, said firefighters could not reach the site due to the intensity of the explosions. (Excerpt from Reuters)

he bodies of 133 migrants have washed up on the shore at the western Libyan city of Zuwara in recent days, the Red Crescent said on Sunday.

Spokesman Al-Khamis al-Bosaifi said about threequarters of the migrants were women and there were at least five children. No documents were found with the bodies, which were partly decomposed, but they were mainly sub-Saharan Africans, he said.

A local security official said the migrants were thought to have set off from the nearby city of Sabratha, where a surge in boat departures led to hundreds of migrant deaths last week.

Migrants hoping to reach Italy from Libya pay hundreds of dollars to traffick-

Libyan Red Crescent workers search for bodies of the migrants who died after a boat sank off the coastal town of Zuwara west of Tripoli, June 3, 2016

ers for a place in a boat. The vessels are often flimsy and ill-equipped for the journey across the Mediterranean.

The crossing is far more dangerous than that between Turkey and Greece, which was the busiest sea route until a deal to curb flows between the European Union and Turkey came into force in

March.

So far this year , more than 40,000 migrants have arrived in Italy after crossing the central Mediterranean, many fleeing poverty, repression and conflict in sub-Saharan Africa. More than 2000 have died trying to make the crossing. (Reuters)

16 news

monDAY, june 6, 2016 | guyana-times.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say about

I SAY...

The introduction of parking meters in Georgetown Davin Misir – Secondary School Teacher, Aurora, Essequibo Coast

“I think it’s a good idea, but if Government is serious about it then there should be proper consultations with the hire car associations. It will be good for the country in terms of additional source of revenue, but the process has to be a transparent one. It will encourage car pooling too; also the money earned can be used to construct sidewalks, etc. It will also foster organised parking too.”

DeShawn Junor – Georgetown

Michael Augustus – Essequibo Coast

“I don’t agree with them doing this, because poor people are the ones who will feel the brunt of this new system. They have to think about the people who might not be able to afford this especially the route drivers who barely earning anything on a daily to provide for their family. If these people have to go in their pockets to scoop out money for parking, how much they really taking home? I really think they should consider this thing first before they go and make it law.”

“I think it’s a modern move that will reduce traffic congestion on busy streets, but there should be consultations with persons on such. The country will earn more revenues and the same money can be used to develop parking facilities as well as to enhance walkways that persons can utilise; I think if properly implemented, it can be a good source of revenue throughout Guyana.”

Vladimir Glasgow – Linden

“The meter parking system would be a very good idea. The initiative by the Government, I think it would help to control parking and the flow of traffic downtown. If that is implemented, persons will now value the space that is available for parking. Then you won’t have people coming and park their cars anyhow and leave it all day long while they go about their business. The parking system would bring about some order. Like the ones I know overseas...

It depends on how long you pay for your car to leave there, when the time is up and you’re not back to move it ,then the city Police then writes you a ticket. So, basically it helps the Government also to not only control traffic and parking spaces, but it helps to better generate revenue in two different ways – when you pay for parking and when you overstay your time.”

Lisa Seeram – Essequibo

“Personally, I think it is good: pay for the parking, but it must be properly organised to ensure transparency and accountability.

Most municipalities can maximise on the opportunity to earn a toll to help enhance parking facilities – it’s a good source of revenue for Guyana. Government has to ensure that these meters are functional, not work for a few mornings then malfunction; the parking fees should also be an affordable one. The traffic and fuel consumption will be reduced because there will be fewer people driving around trying to get an open spot.”

Colwyn Abrahams – Linden

“It’s a great idea – something that raises revenue for the Council; we all know they always crying ‘ain’t got money’, and not to mention it also helps with the whole parking situation in Georgetown and congestion that happens daily in the city. However, I hope it’s a reasonable price to park. All in all, it’s a great idea.”

Renzel Cole –Georgetown

“This is something that I am happy about, given that it is a small fee, it will be good for the country because the more taxes we pay, the better our country would develop physically in terms of blocked drains and dirty streets would be a thing of the past. I really don’t see anything wrong with it, because parking at some busy places is hard and stressful so once I know I could pay and park my car with security that is up to date, I would endorse it. It is indeed a great move.”

Aditya Persaud

“That is too much money for parking. It’s a quarter per hour in NYC, one of the biggest cities in the world. No one gets anything done for 15 minutes in Guyana, especially banks and Government offices. The walking distance will sometimes take 15 minutes due to the diagonal parking system which indeed have freed up traffic, but accommodates fewer vehicles. Hence, you will end up paying $250 or $500 for half or one hour respectively. Gas prices are going up again and the economy is at a standstill, so persons who have a fixed budget for travelling with their personal vehicles will indeed feel a squeeze. Why not make it $50 and have a feel of the income generation and after continuous consultation you can gradually increase the price or even decrease it, based on the amount of vehicles in the city daily.”

Merisa Blackman – Georgetown

Jake August – Georgetown

“As much as I think that it is a good step for generating income for the country, I also believe that this should only apply for certain parking spaces across the city. We know that it will help reduce the congestion of traffic, but there should also be consideration of how this would affect the lowincome persons. For example, this shouldn’t be applied to bus parks because these operators mostly have a hard time surviving and if you are going to impose a fee on them, it is rather unfair. So they should assess the system a little more.”

“The implementation of parking meters throughout the city is a good idea to generate extra income to be used to beautify our city.

However, with the high cost of gas and the strain of PAYE, VAT along with the additional fees attached for parking, this would end up leaving taxpayers with less money to spend. It would be a better idea to just place the meters in a few strategic points around the city.”

Haitians may vote for new Head of State in October

T

he nine members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) of Haiti on Saturday held talks with officials of the major political parties amid widespread speculation that presidential elections could take place on October 9.

According to informed sources, the CEP has indicated a willingness to publish an electoral calendar as early as today outlining the dates for the presidential elections.

The sources said that the first round would be held on October 9 and if a candidate did not receive the necessary amount of votes to prevent a second round, then that would take place on January 8, 2017 and the final election results would be published January 30, next year.

Local media reports said that Interim President Jocelerme Privert, who was in Cuba attending the summit of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) told his Dominican Republic counterpart, Danilo Medina that the poll would be held in October.

He said it “should take place on October 9 and that based on the information he has, “from the date of publication of the electoral calendar, CEP needs 90 to 120 days to organise elections”.

The October elections would also include voting for one-third of the Senate.

During the meeting on Saturday, party officials were informed that the presidential race, which fielded 54 candidates, would not be re-opened to accommodate any new can-

didates and the current 54 would have until June 27 to confirm their participation in the election.

Gerald Germain, spokesman for Jude Celestin, who placed second in the October 25, 2015 presidential election, said his candidate agreed with the timetable and the CEP’s proposal.

“We’ve always contended that the October 25 elections were not elections,” he said.

The winner of the October poll, Jovenel Moise, has already knocked the verification report regarding the election, calling it unconstitutional and illegal.

Haiti has been without an elected Head of State ever since President Michel Martelly left office in February. (CMC)

monday, june 6, 2016

guyana-times.com

17

News

Flood waters affecting US-based Guyanese author’s achievements not Region 3 rice farmers …while some residents are out of water recognised in homeland

R

The author autographing his work

By Rennella Bourne

J

amall Adams, a passionate young author on Saturday hosted his second book launching at the gap of his residence showcasing his line of eight books and counting, to the public.

Adams, 29, has written eight books thus far and will soon release two more before the year concludes.

Adams wrote his first book in 2012 that was launched in October of the same year titled “#100for1” noting it was a shoe shining experience. The book speaks of many challenges one can encounter in a relationship.

Another interesting book

by Adams is “#60for1” dedicated to the young generation encouraging them to make wise decisions.

Adams disclosed he began writing at work which was therapy for him: “I would engage in conversations with my customers who would give me countless advice. I always wanted to become a better person so I would listen attentively to all of their advices, but I was encouraged by one to pen all of the advice I would receive, which I did, that in turn prompted me to make a book and share it with others who have the same objective as me, that is to become a better person.

“My thing is all about inspiring the children showing, the youths that I can come from East Ruimveldt and make a substantial contribution to my country. Writing is about being a motivator and showing the youths that anything can be done as long as you put your mind to it” said Adams.

According to Adams he migrated in 2008 to pursue the American dream. “In 2008, when I got the news that I was going to be migrating to the United States of America to start a new life, I felt a fervent feeling flowing through my body, a

feeling of accomplishment, a feeling of, ‘yes, I’m finally getting a chance to make my family and country proud”. I

Adams also catered for children by creating a number of colouring books featuring Guyana’s landmarks

ice farmers in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) are facing new woes as flood waters are affecting their rice fields.

This is according to Regional Chairman Julius Faeber who told Guyana Times he has received numerous calls from farmers regarding their current plight.

This publication was told that excessive water is swamping the farmlands, causing the rice crop to be ruined. This problem was increased by the intensity of rains experienced.

He added that works are being undertaken by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) to have the water irrigated so as to stall any further damage to the crop.

This however, is proving difficult to accomplish since the dams leading to the rice farms are already slushy and breaking away. As a result, the machines that are

Region 3 Regional Chairman Julius Faeber

to be used to irrigate the waters are facing difficulties accessing the lands.

According to the Chairman, not only farmlands are being flooded due of the excessive rains but so are roads and dams in numerous areas throughout the Region.

This he said is a cause for worry as residents are complaining.

Meanwhile, as some are affected by flooding, quite a number of residents are complaining of having limited or no potable water at all, as currently the water is hardly flowing through the pipes.

According to reports, the water stops flowing as soon as there are power outages which now happens frequently.

Calls were made to the Regional Chairman by residents regarding this matter a little while ago. According to Faeber he made calls to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to address the issue but the situation remains the same.

The residents are hoping that soon they can see an end to their water woes.

This publication made calls to the Public Relations Officer of GWI but was unsuccessful in speaking with him.

Ithaca residents want their interests locked into

A

didn’t have any idea what I was getting into, but just the little that my dad had told me and what I had seen on television.”

He noted that when he arrived there, the life of an American was very different from what he had seen on television. “It was more challenging but I was not afraid to move forward and do whatever I had to make it in America.”

Despite arriving during the economic crisis of 2008, Adams highlighted that “going to America at that particular time, has made me work harder and become more passionate to be successful than I was previously.”

He added that there were a lot of ups and downs, disappointments, failures, broken hearts, laughs and tears but he is still grateful that America is still the land of opportunities.

Adams usually returns to Guyana annually to promote his books.

Meanwhile, at the launching Adams was giving away 500 free historical alphabet charts that he created for Guyanese children.

The alphabet is symbolical to Guyanese history, he outlined.

along with a story line.

He said despite visiting several major businesses for corporate support to do the alphabet and books for the children, none have been responsive to the initiative.

According to Adams he spoke with Chief Educational Officer Olato Sam about facilitating him in schools to speak with the youths and share his books but that has not been realised since he said Sam was not welcoming of the initiative.

Adams described the sale for his book in Guyana as “not golden”, and noted that Guyana is a visual society but he still wanted to motivate whoever would listen to him.

“The cost for the books are coming out of my pocket and I know I cannot make any profit on them here but nevertheless that has not dampened my spirit to desist from my writings” Adams outlined.

Adams books are published in the United States of America.

He noted his support comes from the media and social media mainly, despite his own homeland’s failure to recognise his works.

t an invitational community meeting in Ithaca, West Bank Berbice, residents related several pressing issues affecting them to Sita Nagamootoo, wife of Prime Minister and 1st Vice President Moses Nagamootoo on Thursday at the Ithaca Primary School.

Residents indicated the importance of adequate street lighting, a problem troubling the community for a significant period of time.

In addition to that, community speakers voiced concerns over the state in which children receive education.

There is no fixed allocation for a nursery school in the community as it was housed in a deplorable building and as a result had to be relocated.

Apart from academic

training, residents noted the lack of any skills based programmes.

They pointed out the appropriate place to hold such training would be the cultural centre but that building is no way near suitable to be occupied.

“We want to get the youth involved and teach them a skill” the residents voiced.

In fact, the cultural centre was commissioned by Moses Nagamootoo when he served as Minister of Local Government and information under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) in 1996.

Development among youths and women in the community can be enhanced if there is improvements in the centre, the citizens re-

peated.

Further, the community’s teachers are calling for government to establish a school-feeding programme there.

In relation to that Minister within the Ministry of Communities Keith Scott had earlier indicated that that is on the agenda.

“Even though we are not giving a 10 cent more on salary, our government is committed to giving a dollar more value, the school feeding programme and transportation service is making it easier for parents” Scott had said.

Sita Nagamootoo requested the school to produce a letter to her for the school feeding programme so she can forward it to the relevant authority.

Ramadan fasting begins tomorrow – CIOG

T

he Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) on Sunday announced that the fasting for Ramadan will begin on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

“The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) wishes to inform all Muslims that the crescent for Ramadan has not been sighted; therefore, fasting begins on Tuesday June 7th 2016,” the CIOG said in a statement.

It added that taraweeh prayers will commence this evening.

CIOG also used the

opportunity to extend Ramadan greetings to all Muslims.

According to the CIOG in its Special Ramadan Supplement, the most important message of Ramadan is that “we are not just body”. “We are body and soul and that is what makes us human beings and determines our value as human beings, the soul not the body.

During Ramadan, we deprive the body to uplift the soul. Materialism teaches the opposite that the body is everything.

That this world is all that

matter; that the greatest happiness is not virtue but in filling the appetites of the body.

This message produces endless appetites and consequently endless wars to fill those endless appetites through endless exploitation. It produces endless frustrations since the gap between desires and achievements can never be filled.

“Ramadan is here to liberate us from all of these, rediscover your inner self that has been buried deep under it. Reorient yourself….”

18

guyana-times.com

monday, june 6, 2016

ARCHIE

ARIES

Refuse to get into a dis-

(March 21- agreement at work or home.

April 19) It’s better to make person-

al changes that will leave you feeling good about your health and finances.

Discuss work-related matTAURUS ters with someone who can (April 20- help you bring about satisMay 20) factory changes. Indulge in something that will improve your insight and appearance.

dilbert

Make plans to improve GEMINI your home life. Bring about (May 21June 20) change, but do the work yourself. Depending on others will be costly and will not bring the results you want.

If you rearrange your surCANCER roundings, it will motivate (June 21- you to make headway on a July 22) project that needs to be finished. Exercise and nutrition will contribute to a better appearance.

Peanuts

If you don’t want to be disLEO appointed, rely on yourself to (July 23get things done your way. The Aug. 22) personal changes you want to make will not turn out according to plan.

Calvin and Hobbes

Review what you have VIRGO done and what you have left (Aug. 23to accomplish.

Organisation Sept. 22) and preparation will help you avoid delays. A discussion with a loved one will resolve a pending problem.

If you listen more and talk LIBRA (Sept. 23- less, you will avoid getting Oct. 23) caught in an uncomfortable situation. Put more effort into helping someone in need.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD – NUMBERED

SUDOKU

Don’t let added pressure SAGITTARIUS keep you from doing what’s (Nov. 23- best for you. A change you Dec. 21) make will help you cut your costs, leaving more cash for entertainment and personal changes.

(NUMBERED: NUM-berd: Counted; added up to.)

Average mark 30 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 43 or more words in NUMBERED? The list will be published tomorrow.

SATURDAY’S WORD – TORPEDO

toed tope toper tore trod troop trope odor

opted redo rode rodeo rood root rope rote

pert poet poor pore port prod deport depot

doer door dope dote doter droop drop

Present your ideas in orSCORPIO der to get help to expand your (Oct. 24- plans into something quite Nov. 22) special. Take ownership and make all the arrangements necessary to follow through on your goals. Romance is encouraged.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Make plans to get together CAPRICORN with someone you want to do (Dec. 22business with. Joining forcJan. 19) es with a person who shares your goals will make the ride to success easier.

You’ll thrive in situations AQUARIUS that motivate you to show (Jan. 20Feb. 19) what you have to offer. Share your story, express your feelings and form an alliance with someone special.

Make plans with chilPISCES (Feb. 20- dren, a friend or a loved one.

March 20) Whatever you experience will help you make choices that will improve your life. Don’t be afraid to try something different.

MONDAY, june 6, 2016

19

French Open 2016

Djokovic beats Murray to win 1st French Open title W

orld number one Novak Djokovic beat Britain’s Andy Murray to win his first French Open title and complete the career Grand Slam.

The Serb, 29, won 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4 to win his 12th major title and become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to hold all four Grand Slams at once.

Murray had hoped to secure the third leg of his own career Slam, having already won Wimbledon and the US Open.

The Scot, 29, was Britain’s first male finalist in Paris since 1937.

Second seed Murray played superbly to win the first set but could not convert a break point early in the second, and Djokovic took control to win in three hours.

He becomes only the eighth man in history to have won all four of the sport’s major singles prizes and could yet match Laver’s achievement of winning all four in a calendar year.

Djokovic fell back on the clay in delight and relief after requiring two breaks of serve and four match points in a desperately tense end to the final.

With three-time champi-

Djokovic follows Rod Laver and Don Budge as holder of all four Slams at once

on Gustavo Kuerten watching from the stands, Djokovic then emulated the Brazilian by drawing a heart in the clay with his racquet.

“It’s a very special moment, the biggest of my career,” said Djokovic. “I felt today something that I never felt before at Roland Garros, I felt the love of the crowd.

“I drew the heart on the court, like Guga, which he gave me permission to do.

My heart will always be with you on this court.”

Murray, who has now lost five Grand Slam finals to Djokovic, had looked ca-

pable of causing an upset with an aggressive display in the opening set.

However, Djokovic turned the match around early in the second set and Murray, who had played five hours’ more tennis in reaching the final, could not keep pace.

“To Novak, this is his day,” said Murray. “What he’s achieved the last 12 months is phenomenal; winning all the Grand Slams in one year is an amazing achievement.

“It’s so rare in tennis, and for me personally, it sucks to lose the match, but

I’m proud to have been part of today.”

Djokovic looked determined to make up for losing in three previous Paris finals when he broke the Murray serve to love with a brilliant opening game, but the nerves were soon apparent.

A beautiful lob saw Murray hit straight back in game two and, playing aggressively at every opportunity, he powered into a 4-1 lead as Djokovic misfired with his forehand.

Murray clinched the set at the third opportunity after a generous overrule

that drew boos from a crowd seemingly backing Djokovic - and some stunning defence earned the Scot a break point at the start of the second set.

Djokovic needed to turn the tide and he did so with a smash, before grabbing the lead when Murray doublefaulted at break point down.

Serb then began to dictate with his backhand, firing a winner down the line for a decisive second break as Murray’s first-serve percentage slipped below the 50% mark.

Djokovic continued to press, setting up break points at 1-1 in the third set with a forehand winner and watching as Murray dropped a volley into the net

with the court gaping.

The crowd chanted “Nole!

Nole!” as the world number one finally regained the lead he had surrendered after the opening game of the match, and he broke again with a terrific sliding winner on his way to a two-setsto-one lead.

With a 5-2 lead in the fourth set, and his friends and supporters preparing to celebrate in the stands, Djokovic suffered a tortuous few minutes as Murray refused to give up.

The Briton got one of the breaks back and saved two match points, before finally netting a backhand as Djokovic clinched a historic win.

Murray was hoping to emulate Fred Perry’s French Open victory of 1936

Lorenzo feared the worst after Iannone collision A ndrea Iannone hit Jorge Lorenzo from behind, taking both riders out of the race at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

Movistar Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo admits he feared he had suffered a serious injury after being taken out of the Catalan Grand Prix by Andrea Iannone on Sunday.

Lorenzo started brightly in Barcelona, taking the lead in the opening laps after starting from second on the grid, but the Spaniard dropped down to fifth after struggling with front-tyre wear.

While it appeared he would still maintain his MotoGP riders’ championship lead, Lorenzo was taken

out by Iannone at turn 10 midway through the race.

The Ducati rider went into the corner with too much speed and, despite his best efforts, could not stop in time to avoid hitting Lorenzo from behind.

Lorenzo’s retirement meant he dropped down to second in the championship standings, 10 points behind Honda’s Marc Marquez, who finished second behind racewinner Valentino Jorge Lorenzo

Rossi.

And Lorenzo revealed after the race he thought he had suffered an injury following Iannone’s hit.

“I don’t know if he braked too late, or didn’t brake knowing someone was in front of him, and finally I feel a big impact and I was lying on the ground,” the 29-year-old said.

“First I was scared I had broken my hip or my collarbone, but after a minute I saw it was only the [shock of the] impact.”

The three-time world champion

added: “You can make a mistake, but you have to go and say ‘sorry’ and ‘it was my fault’. Instead of that, he just asked me ‘what happened to your bike?’

“That was the worst [thing] for me, he didn’t say sorry and he didn’t understand it was his mistake.

He is making too many mistakes that put other riders at risk.

“Dani [Pedrosa] made a mistake at Austin, but [at least] he apologised to [Andrea] Dovizioso.”

Iannone, who will make way for Lorenzo at Ducati in 2017, was penalised for the collision and will start the next race at Assen on June 26 from the back of the grid.

(Sportsmax)

20

MONday, june 6, 2016| guyanatimesGY.com

Copa America Centenario USA 2016

Brazil and Ecuador play to stalemate Coasta Rica Vs Paraguay

C

osta Rica and Paraguay opened their Copa America campaigns with a testy goalless draw that saw more cards than scoring chances.

In hot conditions in Orlando, the mood was set inside the first 20 seconds when Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda was booked for a foul on Celso Ortiz.

Tempers threatened to spill over after a number of early fouls, with Paraguay’s Jorge Benitez also picking up a booking early in the 13th minute.

The game’s best period of play came immediately afterwards as Benitez was played through into the box but scuffed his shot wide, and Paulo Da Silva’s glancing header missed inches wide following a corner.

Costa Rica then had a chance in the 17th minute when Bryan Ruiz sent a powerful header straight at Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar.

As the second half began, Ronald Matarrita was fortunate to stay on the pitch after a hard foul on Derlis Gonzalez.

Paraguay’s best chance after half-time came when Bruno Valdez’s shot following a corner was saved.

The teams nearly came to blows after Costa Rica’s Kendall Waston fouled Dario Lezcano in the 77th minute.

Costa Rica almost stole the game in the 88th minute when Cristian Bolanos was given plenty of space outside the box, but Villar did well to push his shot aside.

There was more late drama as Costa Rica’s Waston was sent off in the final minute of stoppage time for a challenge from behind on Nelson Valdez, meaning he will miss the next game against the United States.

Colombia lead Group A with three points following their win on Friday, ahead of Costa Rica and Paraguay with a point apiece and the

Joel Campbell and Costa Rica could not find a way past Paraguay on Saturday

U.S. at the bottom.

Peru needle Haiti

In the end, the result was what many expected, but Haiti did their part to keep the match close by thwarting chance after chance in Seattle, settling for a 1-0 loss to Peru to open Group B play in the Copa America.

It took Peru until the 61st minute to score, but it was no surprise to see it come from striker Paolo Guerrero, the leading scorer of the last two Copa America tournaments. In the 61st minute, winger Edison Flores lofted a floating ball to Guerrero racing at goal. Guerrero launched into a diving header that slammed past goalkeeper Johny Placide.

The pairing of Guerrero and Flores combined for Peru’s best chance of the

first half in the 45th minute.

With his back to a defender, Guerrero chested down a ball and volleyed a lay-off to Flores across the goal area.

Flores’ one-time shot hammered off the inside of the post and out.

Haiti had their chances to equalize, notably with a cruel miss in the 94th minute, which ended up being the final play before the full-time whistle. On a free kick, substitute forward Kervens Belfort made a run at goal unmarked, but sent his header just wide of goal.

Peru had double the shots of Haiti, including four more on goal.

the teams’ Group B opener in Pasadena, California.

A Miller Bolanos cross appeared to bounce off Brazil’s Alisson and into the goal, but referees disallowed the goal.

With the power of Luis Antonio Valencia and the pace and subtlety of Jefferson Montero, Ecuador had a terrifying pair of wingers backed up by attacking full-backs in Juan

side that appears to be placing more emphasis on possession of the ball. Where recent teams have been obsessed with the counterattack, the addition of Renato Augusto and Casemiro has given an extra-cerebral air to the midfield.

Willian worked the right flank, while Coutinho, in one of his most pleasing performances for his country, drifted infield, with Luis keeping the pitch wide outside him. Brazil could have taken an early lead, especially when Coutinho met Willian’s low cross to force an excellent reflex save from Esteban Dreer early on.

Meanwhile, Brazil worked hard to close down the space of Christian Noboa, the passing specialist in the Ecuador midfield and the usual supply line of the dangerous wingers. For

Brazil Vs Ecuador

Ecuador might feel hard done by after finishing on level terms with Brazil in Peru’s goal scorer Guerrero celebrates the only goal of the match”

Ecuador defense holding off Brazil to a Draw

Carlos Parades and Walter Ayovi. Brazil had Willian and Philippe Coutinho wide, with Dani Alves and Filipe Luis providing the support.

Ecuador had their moments. Indeed, there could have been few complaints from Brazil, had midfielder Elias been sent off for scything down Montero as he harried toward goal. But Brazil had a few more and were able to get behind the Ecuador defence on a few occasions. This was a Brazil

the most part, it worked, though Brazil looked unusually vulnerable to the opposition’s counter.

The disappointing second half, though, stands as proof of an old adage in football: Under pressure, the last thing you learn can become the first thing you forget. Without an early goal and with the clock ticking away, Brazil’s controlled possession was not nearly as impressive after the break.

Euro 2016

Roy Hodgson says England will not cheat to win M

anager Roy Hodgson says England will not cheat in order to gain an advantage at Euro 2016.

Midfielder Eric Dier has previously said England need to be more streetwise to compete with other nations and suffered from being too honest.

But Hodgson, whose side start Euro 2016 against Russia on 11 June, said: “I won’t be spending time teaching players to stay down or feign injury.

“I want to teach players how to defend better and attack better.”

Hodgson added: “That’s what I’ve been trying to do for four years and will continue to do so.”

Striker Harry Kane barely reacted after being kicked in the head by Portugal’s Bruno Alves in England’s 1-0 friendly win on Thursday, a challenge for which the visiting defender was shown a straight red card.

Tottenham’s Kane said it was not in his nature to over-act, an approach which Hodgson agrees with.

“Harry’s first instinct Harry Kane chose not to react to a boot in the head by Bruno Alves, an approach Roy Hodgson has lauded

when he got kicked severely was to carry on and to try and do something with the ball,” he said.

“Some people might say that’s very laudable, others might say you’ve got to go down, you’ve got to be cynical. I find the cynicism quite a hard thing to coach.

“Unfortunately that’s a very hard thing to teach. I think it has to be taught - if it’s going to be taught - at a very early age and be part of your culture; I’ve said many times I don’t think it is part of our culture.”

(BBC Sport)

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akistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has been picked for the Test series in England, his first appearance in a Test squad since his return to international cricket after a five-year suspension for spot-fixing in September last year. He had made a comeback to Pakistan’s limited-overs’ squads earlier this year.

Changes in the squad

In: Sami Aslam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Sohail Khan, Mohammad Amir Out: Ahmed Shehzad, Bilal Asif, Fawad Alam, Junaid Khan, Shoaib Malik With the team set to depart on June 18, the PCB is hopeful that Amir will be granted a visa by next week. His application was also supported by the ECB. There were concerns over Amir being granted a UK visa, after the bowler - along with Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt - was sentenced in a London court for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal in the controversial Lord’s Test against England, and was given a six-month jail sentence, half of which he served at the Portland Young Offenders Institution in Dorset.

Leg spinner Yasir Shah was picked for his first international series after the end of his doping ban in March. The bowler had missed Pakistan’s tour to New Zealand, the Asia Cup T20 and the World T20 after he was given a three-month suspension by the ICC. Yasir was provisionally suspended under the ICC’s Anti-Doping Code in December after he tested positive for a banned substance, chlortalidone, and a three-month suspension was given after he pleaded guilty to breaching the code. The penalty, which was backdated to December, ended on March 27. The legspinner, however, did suffer an injury scare last month, when he missed the fitness camp in Abbottabad after aggravating an old knee in-

jury. Zulfiqar Babar was the other spinner named in the squad.

Mohammad Hafeez was picked despite suffering a knee injury which had ruled him out of the conditioning camp in Abbottabad.

Hafeez, too, had aggravated an old injury, which he suffered during the World T20 in March. With more than a month to go for the first Test, the selectors were hopeful Hafeez would be fit for the series.

After a long time, the PCB named a back-up wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan - who is yet to make his Test debut. He has played 15 ODIs and nine T20Is since his international debut against Bangladesh last year. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq said Rizwan was picked to take some workload off Sarfraz Ahmed since it was a long tour.

“Rizwan has been playing in T20s and he has been doing well in ODIs,” Inzamam said. “We are sending two keepers because there are four Tests and it will be a good opportunity for Rizwan too.”

Inzamam named a backup opening batsman in 20-year-old Sami Aslam, who made his Test debut against Bangladesh in April last year. Aslam, a former Pakistan Under-19 captain, played both Tests of the series, scoring 47 runs. Ahmed Shehzad, who was left out of the probables list for the England tour on disciplinary grounds, was not picked.

Four other fast bowlers, apart from Amir, were named in the squad of 17 - Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali, Sohail Khan and Imran Khan. Sohail, who last played a Test in September 2011, was part of Pakistan’s squad for the 2015 World Cup, where he played seven matches and was the second-highest wicket-taker for the side with 12 wickets. His tally included a five-for in his comeback ODI, against India at the Adelaide Oval.

Inzamam said the selectors were keeping an eye on

Junaid Khan’s progress too, but he needed more time to recover before being picked for an international tour.

“Junaid had a knee injury and struggled a bit after that,” Inzamam said.

“It will take him some time now to get back into rhythm and then we will consider him again. We have picked Sohail instead because his performance has been very good. I saw him bowl during the camp and he is in really good rhythm. Inshallah he will do well on the England tour.”

The last time Pakistan toured England for a Test series was in 2010 and their last Test series outside the subcontinent against one of the top eight sides was to South Africa in early 2013.

Pakistan lost all three Tests on that tour and Inzamam admitted touring outside Asia was something that bothered him.

“My only concern is that we have hardly played outside [the subcontinent] in the last six-seven years,” Inzamam said. “Otherwise the Pakistani team is known to play aggressive cricket across the world. I think that is the strength of this team - aggression.”

Pakistan will undergo a conditioning camp in Hampshire and will play two tour matches - against Somerset and Sussex - before the first Test at Lord’s, which starts from July 14. They will play another tour match, against Worcestershire, between the second and third Tests at Old Trafford and Edgbaston, respectively. The fourth Test will be played at The Oval from August 11.

Squad: Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Sami Aslam, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Younis Khan, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Sohail Khan. (ESPN Cricinfo)

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

MONDAY, june 6, 2016

Ballr Cup Tri-Nation Series…

Australia down West Indies by 6 wickets

By Akeem Greene

W

atched by a close to capacity crowd, a combination of steady bowling by the Australians and irresponsible batting by the West Indies batsmen was the main reason for Australia’s convincing six wicket win in the second day/night match of the Ballr Tri-Nation Series at the National Stadium, Providence on Sunday.

The home side were bowled out cheaply for a paltry 116 in 32.3 overs, the second lowest total in a One Day International (ODI) at Providence, as the spin combination of Nathan Lyon

mystery spinner first trapped Steve Smith (06) leg before then delivered a gem of a ball to bowl Glen Maxwell (00) through the gates and give the match some life with the Australians 92-2, still needing 25 more for the win.

The experienced Warner seemed unmoved by the West Indian revival as the 29-year old reached his fifteenth ODI halfcentury off just

Johnson Charles' stumps are decimated by a Mitchell Starc yorker (Marceano Narine Photo)

Adam Zampa picked up 3-16 in an impressive spell of bowling (Marceano Narine Photo)

and Adam Zampa combined to take six wickets for 55 runs in 15.3 overs.

An unbeaten 53 by Aussies opener David Warner drove the Australian’s chase, as they reached their target of 117 in 25.4 overs which allowed them to gain a valuable bonus point.

Mystery spinner Sunil Narine opened the bowling but that played little in stifling the visitors’ run chase as they motored to 44 inside eight overs when Windies captain Jason Holder trapped Aaron Finch leg before for 19.

The in-form Warner continued in usual aggressive style to help his side reach fifty in the 10th over with his personal score on 26 and the number three Usman Khwaja on eight.

The left-handed Khwaja played some handsome drives in an attractive 44-run partnership with Warner, before he top-edged a Sulieman Benn delivery to fall for 27 (5x4s) with the Aussies 85-2 at the end of the 17th over.

The change of ends for Narine proved to be the spark the West Indians needed, as the off-spinner who started from the top end was switched to the players pavilion end where struck twice in one over. The

49 balls.

Warner along with allrounder Mitchell Marsh ensured a batting collapse was not on the cards by shepherding their team victory with a 146 balls to spear; Narine took 2-36 in a valiant effort, while Holder and Benn picked up one wicket a piece.

Earlier, Smith won the toss and choose to bowl after the match was delayed due to a wet outfield and the Aussie decked in their canary yellow outfit got immediate success in the first over of the match.

Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc steaming in from the Media Center End had an eventful first over, with a close leg before call, a waist high no ball, then he floated one wide to which Andre Fletcher (04) played a loose shot straight to Glen Maxwell at point, to leave the home side 6 for 1 in the first over.

Johnson Charles had an early chance on five, when he played a flashing drive and was dropped by Smith at first slip but at the other end, Darren Bravo looked in total control with some eyecatching drives and authoritative pull shots to put the pressure back on the visitors.

A string of dot balls hampered the fluency of the bats-

men and could have resulted in Bravo playing what can be considered a poor shot when he stroked a Mitchell Marsh delivery straight to extra cover to fall for an attractive 19 (3x4s) from 31 balls.

Starc returned from the Southern End where he uprooted the stumps of Charles with a classical in-swinging yorker to end the batsman’s struggling innings of 22 from 40 balls and left the team in a precarious position at 59-3 in the 14th over.

The experienced Marlon Samuels (10) came and went after he played a lazy shot to be adjudged leg before off the bowling of Lyon.

Kieron Pollard, who displayed maturity with his match winning knock two nights ago, played an unnecessary shot as he lofted his first ball straight down the throat of mid-on to put the West Indies in serious trou-

host six down in the 23rd over.

As the wickets continued to tumble and no partnerships were forming, captain Jason Holder (01)

with the ball the previous match, was now needed with the bat as he struck the first boundary since the 9th over.

A useful partnership of seemed to brewing between

Narine and Carlos Brathwaite as the pair got their team to the hundred but Narine played a rash shot when he chipped to Adam Zampa to be out stumped for five.

The innings came to a close when the valiant knock of 21 (1x4; 1x6) by Brathwaite ended when he held out to a well-judged catch at long-on.

The off-spin of Lyon accounted for 3-39 while the skiddy leg-spin of Zampa took 3-16; while Starc took 3-39 on his return to international cricket.

Nathan Lyon was named man of the match for his impressive bowling performance on a typical low and slow Providence track.

The next match of the series is on Tuesday at the same venue, when South Africa will look to notch their first win of the series against Australia from 13:00 hrs. (akeemg@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Narine sparked a West Indian revival with two quick wickets in one over (Marceano Narine Photo)

SCOREBOARD

Warner cuts during his unbeaten 53 (Marceano Narine Photo)

ble with just 70 runs on the board and half the side gone in the 17th over.

Denesh Ramdin was next to go, when he played across the line and fell for a painstaking twelve as Maxwell joined the party to leave the

was bowled by Zampa and Sulieman Benn (03) pushed one straight back to Lyon, as an all-out total below a hundred was begging to look more likely with the team 91 for 8 in the 27th over.

Narine who did the job

West Indies Innings (Maximum 50 Overs) J Charles b Starc 22 A Fletcher c Maxwell b Starc 4 D Bravo c Zampa b Marsh 19 M Samuels lbw Lyon 10 D Ramdin lbw Maxwell 12 K Pollard c Warner b Lyon 0 C Brathwaite c Finch b Zampa 21 J Holder b Zampa 1 S Benn c&b Lyon 3 S Narine st Wade b Zampa 5 J Taylor not out 5 Extras (lb 3, w 9, nb 2) 14 Total (all out; 32.3 overs) 116 Fall of Wickets: 1-6 (Fletcher, 0.5 ov), 2-50 (Bravo, 11.1 ov), 3-59 (Charles, 13.1 ov), 4-70 (Samuels, 16.1 ov), 5-70 (Pollard, 16.2 ov) 6-85 (Ramdin, 22.2 ov), 7-88 (Holder, 23.4 ov), 8-91 (Benn, 26.1 ov), 9-111 (Narine, 30.4 ov) ,10116 (Brathwaite, 32.3 ov) Bowling: Starc 9-0-37-2 (1nb,

5w), Hazlewood 3-0-13-0 (1nb), Lyon 10-2-39-3 (2w), Marsh 3-1-5-1, Zampa 5.30-16-3, Maxwell 2-1-3-1

Australia Innings (Target 117 runs from 50 overs) D Warner not out 53 A Finch lbw Holder 19 U Khwaja c Holder b Benn 27 S Smith lbw Narine 6 G Maxwell b Narine 0 M Marsh not out 9 Did not bat: M Wade, M Starc, A Zampa, J Hazlewood, N Lyon Extras (lb 1) 1 Total (4 wickets; 25.3 overs) 115 Fall of Wickets: 1-44 (Finch, 7.4 ov), 2-85 (Khawaja, 16.6 ov), 3-92 (Smith, 19.2 ov), 4-92 (Maxwell, 19.4 ov) Bowling: Narine 10-2-36-2, Taylor 3-20-0, Benn 6-0-21-1, Holder 3-0-21-1, Brathwaite 3-0-14-0, Fletcher 0.3-0-2-0

guyana-times.com

MONdAY, june 6, 2016

GFF/Stag Elite League Finale

23

AAG National Seniors Championships

GFC, Fruta Conquerors Hooper stars on final day register wins, Pele FC Advance to semis I

n a crucial double header at the National track and field facility, Leonora, Georgetown Football Club (GFC) registered their first win of the tournament against G u y a n a Defence Force (GDF) FC, while Fruta Conquerors FC defeated Pele FC on Saturday night.

In the much anticipated double header, it was about pride for the winless GFC as they came up against GDF who were looking to cement their spot in the playoff stage of the tournament.

It seemed as though GDF would have made light work of the GFC ballers, having denied them of a goal for the entire first half. However, a 63rd minute goal from Olvis Mitchell all but confirmed GFC’s position as the whipping boys of the league.

Nevertheless, two wonderful late goals by Kenneth Oparaemetuche and Keron

Soloman in the 74’ and 75’ respectively saw the GFC registering a 2-1

victory, their first win of the tournament. The loss to GFC inevitably crushed GDF’s chances of progressing into the knock out stage of the league.

The second game of the night was much more significant for Pele FC, despite their defeat to Fruta Conquerors the Pele side still managed to go through to the next stage of the competition.

Late into the first half Julian Joseph netted the first goal to give Pele FC took first blood.

Coming down to the late stages of the second half the men in yellow were doing their best to keep the Fruta Conquerors at bay. Unfortunately for Pele

N

Davin Fraser (centre) wins the Men’s 200m

Julian Joseph scored a crucial goal for Pele

FC, a blunder in the defense allowed two late goals to be scored, with Jahall Greaves netting in the 71st minute and Jermey Garette further exposing the Pele defence with a perfect shot on goal in the 73rd minute.

The match ended with Pele going down 2-1 but still managed to advance based on their better record over GDF. Action continues on June 9, 2016 as the National Track and Field Facility with semi-final action. The first match beginning at 18:00 Hrs will see table toppers Slingerz FC taking on the Pele FC while later in the evening, at 20:00 Hrs, Fruta Conquerors will battle with Alpha United FC.

The official points standings of the Stag Elite League Finale Team Slingerz FC F/Conquerors Alpha United Pele GDF Buxton United Monedderlust GFC

GP 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14

W 13 11 9 5 5 3 1 1

L 0 2 2 7 7 9 10 11

D 1 1 3 2 2 2 3 2

GF 43 34 36 15 23 12 12 10

GA 8 22 11 20 29 23 37 35

GD +35 +12 +25 -5 -6 -11 -25 -25

PTS 40 34 30 17 17 11 6 5

atrena Hooper shone (21.34) a sprint double as by Quincy Morian in 1:53.79 brightest yester- the latter won the 100m followed by the 18 year day as the curtains yesterday. Guyana Police old Anfernee Headecker came down on the Athletics Force (GPF) athlete Arenze (1:54.63) and Samuel Lynch (1:55.04). Julio Sinclair Association of Guyana Chance was third in 21.84.

(AAG) National Seniors Running Braves Winston (39.04m) threw farthest to take the Men’s Discus Championships at the throw with teammates National Track and Field Kleon Spelling (37.76m) Centre at Leonora. and Warren Duncan The Guyana Defence (36.79m) finishing second Force (GDF) athletes capand third respectively to tured the women’s high make it a GPF clean sweep. jump with a personal best Julio Sinclair won of 1.83 meters, the womthe Men’s shot Put with en’s triple with a leap of a throw of 14.30m fol12.54 and women’s 200m lowed by Osafa Dos in 24.79 to cap off a domiSantos (12.95m) and Kleon nant day’s display.

Spelling (12.91m) while the The Olympic Qualifying Women Discus Throw was mark of 1.93m may well secured by Tinisha Cort be within her sights at (34.15m) with Natasha the Aliann Pompey (AP) Alder (30.97m) second Invitational on June 18 as and Saphina Vanderstoop she pushes for a ticket to (30.97m) third. the Rio Games in Brazil.

Cindy Fraser was a distant The inform Andrea Foster also made a mark on second clearing 1.50m with the event by winning the Clarissa McBean jump off Women’s 800m in 2:19.25.

1.45m being good enough Shion Boyer crossed the for third place.

Emmanuel Archibald won the Men’s line second in 2:25.32 folNatrena’s success in the Long and Triple Jumps lowed by Mercury Fast women’s triple jump also meant some amount of disLaners Assata Eastman in appointment for her sibling Missigher ran 15:53.62 and 2:29.83.

16 year old Claudrice Natricia (12.10m) who had once again proved to be class to settle for second while 16 above the rest as he easily McKoy ran a comfortyear old Chantoba Bright won the Men’s 5000m. He able race to win the wom(11.79m) was third. Toyan would later reveal to this en 3000m in a time of Raymond was second in newspaper that he’s run- 10:50.00. Finishing second the Women’s 200m in 25.61 ning on tired legs and looks was Ashanti Scott (10:51.44) while 100m winner Aniquah forward to a much needed followed by Tabita Bowman Powley who was clearly in break as he prepares for the (11:59.90) The Event was not well pain yesterday was third in AP Invitational. Club mate Cleveland Thomas was sec- attended but kudos must be 25.99.

GDF’s Davin Fraser won ond in 16:00.46 followed by given to the AAG for running it smooth and incident a very close Men’s 200m in GDF’s Odwin Tudor.

The Men’s 800m was won free.

21.29 to deny Rupert Perry

Crawfords dominate at Rose Hall Jubilee Sport R omello Crawford earned the respect from his older cousin, Juban Crawford when he beat him twice on Sunday when the Rose Hall Town Municipality held its Jubliee day of sports.

Romello won the feature event of the day, the 40-mile road race from Rose Hall to Number 51 Police Station and back. The win was not an easy one as his cousin challenged him to the finish line. The winner was decided sometime after the event which he was of the opinion he had won.

However this publication caught the finish on camera as Romello had his wheel a few centimeters ahead as the two cyclist crossed the finish line.

The third place went to Steve Ranchuchit ahead of Ray Millington and Franco Crawford, finishing in that order. Ramchuchit was also

the first veteran to cross the finish line, the second was Syborne Fernandez.

In the U-16 category, Zamal Khan was the winner with Kewwin Collings second. Khan claimed three of the sprint point prizes, Romello two and each went to Andrew Green, Ramchuchit and Juban.

The females rode a seven mile race which was won by Shenika Teixeira ahead of Whitney Poyer.

Meanwhile, in a race for the bragging rights as the best sprinter on wheels in Berbice, Romello made light work of his cousin to take the Mayor’s trophy as they rode from Adventure to Rose Hall to cover a distance of seven miles.

Meanwhile in a 5K crosscountry race also orgainised by the Municipality, 24-year-old Jamal Evans was the first to cross the finish line unchallenged.

Jamal Evans crosses the line first to win the 5K cross country race

The second place went to Renaldo Gobin and third to Audrel Ross.

On the distaff side, Lynese McKenzie was the winner with Melissa Kyte

and Aleema Arokium bring up the rear.

Mckenzie also won the

women’s 100M dash. She was followed by Errika Lashley and Arokium in that order.

The men’s 100M saw Troy Matterson winning followed by Jamal Lancaster and Jason Hope.

Before the start of the cycle race, members of the People’s Militia, the Rose Hall Constabulary and Community Policing Group were involved in a marchpass.

Mayor Vikay Kumar Ramo at the presentation ceremony said that the events could not have been held before because the focus was on the national calendar of events which took center stage. “I am very happy that finally we were able to pull off these events…

This is the beginning of many more great things to happen in the town,” the Mayor said.

MONdAY, june 6, 2016

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

Ballr Cup Tri-Nation Series…

Australia down West Indies by 6 wickets Pg 22

The Australians celebrate the fall of another wicket. (Marceano Narine Photo)

AAG National Seniors Championships

Hooper stars on final day Pg 23

Natrena Hooper jumped a personal best of 1.83m

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