Guyana Times Daily - September 17, 2015

More than $100M allocated for Georgetown clean up P11

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

Issue No. 2619

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, September 17, 2015

PRICE

Rice farmers on their own in payment crisis...

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

No $23B, no help from Govt – Agri Min Holder Venezuela refuses accreditation to Guyana’s Ambassador – retaliates against alleged Greenidge’s comments in US Page 3

Vendor on $10,000 bail for escaping from Police custody P8 Missing woman’s body retrieved from Kaieteur Falls P13

Page 7

CICAD study finds 12-yearolds using illicit drugs

Fairfield P16 residents affected by air pollution – plead with EPA for relief

Mexico to help Guyana with digitisation of National Archives P16 – teachers in Caricom to benefit from Mexican experts' training

Organisation of American States Country Representative in Guyana Jean Dormeus hands over a report on a study done on drug use among Secondary Schools Students in Guyana by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) to Vice President and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday at a launching ceremony held at Cara Lodge, Georgetown

Albouystown man victim of drive-by shooting Page 12

Govt remains mum on Jagdeo’s tax help offer

Page 11

– Recovery of over $25B in taxes remains in limbo

Herstelling murder ... Page 9

Selfconfessed hitman for court today

Taxi driver P17 sentenced to two weeks in prison for destroying ex’s passport Travel agent robbed of P17 over US$750

2 news

thursday, september 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

“No decision to close Uitvlugt Sugar Estate” ...still awaiting report of CoI – Agri Minister Holder

A

griculture Minister Noel Holder has rejected reports that his Ministry had taken a decision to shut down the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate on the West Coast of Demerara.

During a recent strike by cane cutters (cane harvesters) on the estate for compensation for “obstacles”, several of them had asserted that such a decision had in fact been made and that it was widely discussed on the Estate.

Speaking with Guyana Times from Canada on Wednesday, however, Holder said no such decision has been taken, explaining that the Agriculture Ministry was still awaiting a report from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) before any decision on the future of the sugar industry was taken.

That report is expected to be delivered shortly. It was, therefore, surmised that the cane cutters might have heard the claim or inferred it when the CoI visited the estate.

The 11-member Commission was established in July with the aim of assessing the work of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). In the report that is required to be submitted shortly, the Commission is expected to submit a 15year plan that will move

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

the industry forward by addressing key issues such as the lack of profitability, and production.

This plan is expected to replace the revised version of the sugar industry’s 20132017 Strategic Plan. Under that plan, GuySuCo was expected to produce 350,000 tonnes of sugar by 2017.

Questioned on a decision which was taken by the former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy to accelerate mechanisation within the industry, Holder, in response, said though no decision has been made regarding the industry, manual labour was greatly preferred.

“Mechanisation will reduce the economic benefit of the country, in the sense that labour is Guyanese, machines are not…machines

work with fuel and fuel is foreign exchange; therefore the economic benefit will be less,” Holder explained.

He further added that “there is nothing better than clean cut cane, you cut the cane and there is no brick, no stone, no mud, nothing,” as against machines which “pick up all kinds of junk”.

In 2014, the then Agriculture Minister had announced GuySuCo’s intention to accelerate its Mechanisation Programme to cushion the impact of a dwindling labour force. At the time, 30 per cent of the 48, 000 hectares of fields had been mechanised.

It was explained that sugar workers were downing their tools as they were capitalising on emerging commercial activities that are aiding in the transformation of Guyana’s economical landscape. Back in 1995, GuySuCo’s labour force stood at 24,000, but today it has dropped to below 18,000.

Ramsammy had said that the rate of mechanisation would have been driven by the availability of labour. Owing to the glaring trend in the labour market at the time, GuySuCo had taken a decision to utilise the majority of the $6 billion subvention approved in the National Assembly

in 2014 to facilitate its Mechanisation Programme.

Critical to the industry’s modernisation initiative was the conversion of land.

It was explained that the country’s cane fields were laid out to facilitate manual labour; however, with mechanisation in sight, the

Albion, Enmore and Skeldon.

In 2014, 65 per cent of Skeldon’s operation was mechanised in nature, while the Enmore Sugar Factory was approximately 75 per cent mechanised, because the labour pool was much smaller. “While we have been fairly lucky in dealing

plained.

In addition to mechanisation, the Corporation had been working closely with private farmers. GuySuCo has leased more than 1000 hectares of land to private farmers.

This model has been successfully implemented for a

with the labour situation in places like Blairmont, Canje, Albion, the labour pool in those areas are also becoming smaller and smaller and those are the estates which the field operation is still largely manual,” the former Agriculture Minister had ex-

number of years at the Wales Estate where private farmers are working closely with the Corporation. At that estate, 40 per cent of the sugar is provided by private farmers. (smarshall@guyanatimesgy.com)

Uitvlugt Sugar Estate

Corporation had set aside $1.3 billion to convert 2500 acres of land to accommodate a mechanised operation.

An additional $2.5 billion was set aside to improve the operations of the sugar factories located at Uitvlugt, Wales, Enmore, Blairmont,

news

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thursday, september 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 17 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, September 18 – 05:00h-06:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 17 – 06:10h-07:40h and Friday, September 18 – 06:40h-08:10h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can expected throughout the morning, with heavy to light rain showers expected in the afternoon. Clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 26 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East South-easterly at 1.78 to 4.02 metres per second.

High Tide: 06:32h and 18:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.63 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:07h and 12:22h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.64 metre respectively.

Rice farmers on their own in payment crisis...

No $23B, no help from Govt – Agri Min Holder that there are some laws that allow the Government to take over rice millers, mills and that sort of thing.

Intervening is done by law because the Government would have to get this money back from somewhere,” he explained.

Therefore, the Minister indicated that the current crisis is beyond the help of the Government and that the millers and the rice farmers have to work out among themselves the terms of the outstanding payments.

By Devina Samaroo

T

he series of desperate and vociferous calls by rice farmers for Government’s help seem to have been in vain, since Agriculture Minister Noel Holder made it clear that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration cannot intervene to bring any relief to the farmers who are owed over $632 million by millers.

Minister Holder became the target of harsh criticisms from many in the rice industry over his prolonged silence amid the ongoing plight of the rice farmers.

Following Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s presentation of the budget, farmers and all other stakeholders in the rice sector

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

farmers in an effort to put pressure on those millers to quickly settle their debts.

According to the document released on September 3, the millers who were yet to pay off rice farmers are

But for years, many have complained about rice farmers being squeezed by payment delays, which they have blamed on the lax enforcement of the Rice Factory Act. The Act stipulates that

terest rate that is two per cent higher than the going interest rate of the Bank of Guyana.

But the lack of enforcement of the regulations have caused rice farmers to be constantly exploited and now it has evolved into a situation where the farmers are struggling to meet ends meet due to the limited cash flows on their end.

During his Budget 2015 presentation, Finance Minister Noel Holder explicitly announced that $23B was allocated towards the payment of rice farmers. Hearing this news, rice farmers across the country became excited and awaited Government’s release of the monies. After time went by and no monies were released, farmers became aggravated and began a series of pro-

millers are required by law to complete payment to the farmers for their produce within 42 days of receipt of product. It also states that in the event a rice miller pays half of the monies owed for paddy on receipt of the rice and fails to complete the payment within the required timeframe, then the miller is bound by law to pay farmers an in-

test, calling for Government to honour its obligation.

However, after allowing the rice farmers to believe that the Government would assist, Minister Jordan in an invited comment told this newspaper that the $23 billion was never intended to pay rice farmers but was for a yet unexplained “rice shipments”. (devinas@guyanatimesgy.com)

Lax enforcement

Rice farmers demand Government release $23 billion

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

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were of the belief that $23 billion was allocated for the purpose of direct distribution to the industry.

However, in finally breaking his silence, Minister Holder, during an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, explained that Government simply cannot give any monies to farmers.

“They have to get money from the millers… the Government does not take the farmers’ rice,” he stated.

He alluded to the fact that Government has already released the names of all the millers who owe rice

Wazeer Hussein (Dry Shore/ KSCL) – $285,360,540; Ramesh Ramlakhan (ExMouth) – $156,584,455; Deonarine (Evergreen) – $135,000,000; Old Mac Guyana Inc – $28,300,000 and La Resource Rice Industry – $27,600,000.

Difficult task

Moreover, asked whether the Government would intervene in any way to ensure the rice farmers get some kind of relief, Minister Holder indicated that it would be a difficult task.

“Intervening, I think

4

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, september 17, 2015

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

Editorial

U.S. leader selection process I

t is not merely because of the ubiquity of the American media that we should take heed of the seemingly political circus in which they choose their political leaders. Whether we like it or not, the outcome of that process will definitely have an impact on our country. That impact could range from how the hundreds of thousands of immigrants of Guyanese origin are treated (and the cascading effect on their remittances), to the heating up or cooling down of relations with our neighbouring Venezuela. American politics matters.

Another reason for our interest should be from our aspiration to burnish our democratic credentials by looking at how this crucial aspect of democracy is handled in the country that takes a lead in spreading their form and practice of governance. Not too long before the elections of May 11, the PNC selected its leader - and eventually the coalition's presidential candidate - at a Congress that brought delegates from across the country, while the PPP relied of its Executive Committee to perform the latter task. It is expected that sooner rather than later, the PPP will have to convene a "Congress" of its party groups to select its leadership corps for the next few years.

In effect what is happening right now in the U.S. is that the two major parties - the Democrats and the Republicans and any "independent" parties, are engaged in the process to select their presidential candidates for their elections which is scheduled for the 1st Monday of November 2016. Up to 1968 the candidates were selected at conclaves of party faithful, which generally turned out to be the "political hacks" who are much criticised today, in Guyana. At that time it was decided by the major parties to open up the process to make it more "democratic". They launched the new era of "primaries" and "caucuses".

While both mechanisms allow party members to vote for candidates of their choice, primaries are funded by the State while "caucuses" are funded by the parties themselves. Not surprisingly, the former are more structured for the general membership while the latter is more akin to the old conclaves of party faithful. In Guyana, following the lead of the socialist countries with their tradition of "democratic centralism", the "Congresses" of all the parties consists of delegates selected by party members from local groups based on their numbers and who nominate and vote for candidates proposes at the Congress. For the PPP, the delegates do not directly chose the Presidential candidate, but chose the Central Executive that performs this task.

One consequence of choosing to go the "primary" or "caucus" route is the extended period that is consumed with politicking. In the U.S., it is a truism that as soon as one election is over, the campaign for the next begins. On the other hand the process presents the opportunity for throwing up "dark horses" who were out of the political mainstream such as Jimmy Carter (Democrat) back in 1976 and Donald Trump (Republican) presently). Such individuals are supposed to improve a country's democratic credentials by moving away from "political hacks" as leaders.

One interesting feature of the U.S. primary and caucus system, which will begin on Feb 2016, it's the influence of the first 4 States that will launch the season. For Republicans these are Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada while for Democrats, Nevada replaces South Carolina.

These States were chosen for geographic and demographic representativeness. For Republicans, for instance, would like to see where their stronger base in the south might be heading while the Democrats evidently see Nevada with its higher Hispanic vote as a better bellwether.

With such an extended electioneering season, one cannot get too excited over the "front runners" as history has shown that they can be pipped. The first 4 primaries, however, will separate the wheat from the chaff.

The welcome ‘sign’ at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (Carl Croker photo)

Principles of APNU/AFC guided by double standards Dear Editor, The A Partnership for National Unity/Allaince For Change (APNU/AFC) has been vigorous in elucidating to farmers that rice is a Private Sector industry and that the selling of paddy by rice farmers to millers is a private transaction. The price of paddy is set by millers and the farmers have to either accept or reject it. Whether millers pay farmers or not is a private matter and Government cannot intervene in settling a private transaction.

The APNU/AFC in Opposition promised to solve these problems and accused the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government of not doing enough in ensuring that farmers receive higher prices and immediate payments.

But what is interesting is that they ignore that the Berbice River Bridge is a privately owned national infrastructure. They proceeded without discussion with the bridge owners, that the toll should be reduced. Why the double standard? If this Government feels it can rightfully intervene in a private business when it comes to the bridge, then why can’t it with the rice farmers? Is there a particular private investor who is being targeted?

Four months have now elapsed since the

APNU/AFC took control of Government. It is still relatively early, but four months give us enough signs of what the guiding principles of the APNU/ AFC Government are hoodwinking, hypocrisy and double standards.

These, plus an unambiguous footprint of ethnic discrimination, paints a bleak picture of what the future holds for Guyana.

I am saddened what is happening with our rice farmers, many of whom knew that the wild promises made by theAPNU/AFC were empty. Yet, some fell for these lies but are now rewarded with uncertainty and a future of poverty.

Their agents, like Naithram, Turhane Doerga of Alesie Rice and Jinnah Rahaman, went across Guyana and bombarded rice farmers through the media about how better they would be with APNU/ AFC, promising them $6000 to $9000 per bag of paddy. All of them are now members of the Guyana Rice Development Board.

Charandass who is now an MP and Ramayya who is now an Regional Executive Officer attacked the PPP Government on daily TV broadcasts.

N a g a m o o t o o , Ramjattan and Greenidge joined these charlatans in these empty promises, which included not having to wait for payments.

They promised that they

would immediately within 100 days of being in Government find new, higher priced markets.

Unfortunately, farmers are still owed more than $1 billion from the last crop and now they are getting an average of less than $2000 per bag of paddy.

Many are getting $1500 per bag and there is no indication that they would be paid soon even for the measly small amount they are currently getting. Guyana has lost its most lucrative markets; Venezuela has essentially ended the importation of Guyana’s rice and no one knows how we bungled the Panama market.

Incidentally, cost of production has increased.

Farmers must pay more for fertilisers because the Government has stopped the programme that the PPP introduced by importing more than 7000 tons of fertiliser at subsidised price for farmers.

This caused the Private Sector to lower its price to meet the competition.

Transportation cost has increased.

To add salt to the wound, those who made promises to the rice farmers absolutely deny having ever made them, including Nagamootoo.

Ramjattan has become silent as President Granger and Ministers Holder and Jordon arrogantly deny that there’s a crisis.

In the meantime, its position with miners is also different as it wants to negotiate how it can add more subsidies to the mining industry. Mining is a Private Sector business, is important and it is commendable that the Government is intervening to bring relief to a vital industry. The PPP Government also provided relief to the mining industry and as such is supportive of such a move.

But where’s the consistency in these policies which speak of a double standard? It must be that the Government will either intervene or not intervene in the Private Sector. Are we therefore, to conclude that as APNU/AFC intervenes in the Berbice River Bridge and in the mining industry but not in the rice industry, it is being preferential and discriminatory?

The APNU/AFC has created a corrosive environment in our country.

There is fear among rice farmers that they have been betrayed and that the Government wants to kill the industry, fear among investors that the global public private partnership model for development is rejected by APNU/AFC. Overall, we fear that instead of good governance, APNU/AFC is guided by hoodwinking, hypocrisy and double standards.

Respectfully, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, september 17, 2015

5

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

The farce and deception behind the recruitment Gun amnesty programme: process for the appointment of REOs authorities should proceed with caution Dear Editor, The positions of Regional Executive Officers (REOs) in the 10 regions were advertised by the Communities Ministry, no doubt in a vain attempt by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, and more specifically, its subject Minister, to convince the Guyanese people that this is part of the change leading to the good life. It’s an illusion to make the recruitment process appear to be transparent and non-political. How farcical!

If the political and ethnic considerations evident in the appointment of the State Boards and the dismissal of public servants, Amerindian CSOs etc are anything to be guided by, then social cohesion in our society is a very remote concept that could not be realised under this Government.

When one checks the job specification set out in the Ministry’s advertisement against the known relevant professional attainment and experience of most of those appointed, and when one adds to this the fact that several of the persons selected and appointed to the position are known supporters, activists and lackeys of the People’s National Congress or AFC and, at least two of the appointees were listed candi-

dates of the APNU/AFC for the last election, what becomes immediately evident is the farce and deception behind the actions of the Government.

The Minister’s actions are certainly clouded by political alliance and allegiance.

Undoubtedly also, they form part of the Government’s efforts to remove and to replace the public servants who held the positions of REOs under the Administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C); notwithstanding the fact of the wealth of experience and the obvious non-political attachment of most of these REOs who have been removed.

Thus, the same Minister and his Government that were very critical overtime of the PPP/C Government’s manner of appointing REOs spared no time after being elected, to immediately removeseveral REOs under the pretext of their being required to take their overdue leave. Furthermore, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan is on record alleging that the former Region Nine REO “ was playing an overt political role and that with a change in Administration it was untenable for her to remain there.” Perhaps the Minister can explain to Guyanese if the proposed REOs of Regions Six and

Nine ; both of whom are overtly political and were loyal campaigners and listed candidates of the APNU/ AFC for the last elections, met the very requirement of non-political activism which he himself set.

This isundoubtedly a clever and sinister attempt to place APNU/AFC faithfuls and lackeys in what the Government seemingly considers as a key and critical position in each of the 10 regions, maybe as part of itsattempt to exercise control over the administration of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs). More so, those regions that the PPP/C won seem to be particularly targeted, so that the authority of the RDCs could be railroaded and the wishes of the Government carried out in those Regions.

The RDC in each administrative region has overall responsibility for the “administration of that region” and in this regard, is responsible inter alia, for monitoring the expenditure of funds appropriated by Parliament. Also, the REO responsible for the execution of projects and the delivery of services in the region devolves, is accountable to the RDC. It is obviously for this reason that it is not by accident that the REO serves also as the Clerk of the RDC. It could not be that the REO discharges his/her du-

ties and responsibilities in an administrative region without the requirement of accounting for and reporting to the RDC on approved budgetary activities funded vide funds approved by Parliament for the execution of programmes and projects submitted.

Furthermore, “all RDC Councillors have a right and duty to question the propriety of any expenditure authorised by the Regional Executive Officer”.

The Regional Chairman performsthe duties of the Council between statutory meetings where decisions taken are ratified. Add to these facts the various pieces of legislation which guide the manner in which Government funds are expended, viz; the Procurement Act 2003, the Financial Management and Accountability Act, Act 12 of 1980. I wish to forewarn the APNU/AFC that it isn’t going to be easy trying to get its own way at the expense of the electorate who expressed their wishes that the PPP/C continues at the helm of the Regional Democratic Councils of Regions One, Two, Three, Five, Six, Eight and Nine.

We will continue to hold the APNU/AFC Government accountable.

REOs, the Guyanese people will be watching you!

Sincerely, Norman Whittaker

Dear Editor, I left the country just as the Government was launching its gun amnesty programme and returned last weekend, anxious to find out how the venture was progressing. I have seen this kind of gun amnesty and gun buy-back work in several countries where I have lived and travelled to, including the USAand Canada.

However, as I listened intently to the summations from recently held press conference on the gun amnesty, I heard that it is decided that there will be ballistics tests conducted on all weapons and ammunition handed in to ascertain whether they are linked to any crimes and that further, there will be amnesty on the possession of the illegal weapon but not for crimes committed using the weapons.

This is where I was taken aback. Why would the authorities, in the middle of an amnesty drive, divulgeinformation that is likely to stymie the drive?

What should have been thehighlight of that press conference is the lauding and praising of those who would have taken the bold steps of doing the right thing and returning those weapons. There should have been a clarion cry for such behaviour to be emulated.

However, the message has now been blurred with

The need for consensus politics

Dear Editor, Consensus politics is where we work together to build trust, understanding and respect. We cooperate on issues as opposed to continually bickering and acrimoniously fighting each other.

There can be a hundred reasons to suggest that consensus politics may not work. However, we just need

to find one reason for it to work. It will bring peace and stability to Guyana.

There are some people who are against consensus politics and some who are unsure. While their views and objections are important it must be remembered that sometimes people continue to fight when a war is over, because they have no

other outlet for their anger.

So they may be acting out of sheer frustration and disillusionment.

For consensus politics to work, the Government and the Opposition need to negotiate in good faith. This also means that they do not get to pick and choose who to negotiate with.

If the Government elects

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to represent it and the Opposition elects Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, then these negotiators need to take each other at face value and not to ascribe ulterior motives to the other side.

Building trust is a prerequisite for any form of unity Government or power sharing arrangement to work.

Hence, the need for consensus politics.

Yours Faithfully, Sean Ori

the suggestion that there are likely to be arrests and imprisonments,related to the said amnesty. It is very likely that criminals, or the friendsand family of criminals are the ones who turned in the guns and ammunitions. Why thenwould the authority publicly announce that it is likely that the very persons who are making use of the amnesty might probably be arrested for a related crime?

I am not saying that ballistics tests shouldnot be conducted on the weapons and ammunition, neither am I suggesting thatthere should be amnesty for any related crimes. I am just wondering why theauthorities – in the middle of the drive – would do even the slightest thing to proverbially shoot its self in its own foot.

We saw the same approach to the Shawn Hinds situation,where right in the middle of Shawn’s boom shell confessions, it was said that the will not benefit any from such confessions and divulgence.

I am convinced that there is something that the politicians and public security personnel know in Guyana, but I am sure that the current administration has the best possible advisors available to them, so I continue to sit on the sidelines, as I carefully observe and learn.

I do hope, for the sake of the safety of all Guyanese, that this amnesty nets a huge portion of the guns used to inflict grievousbodily harm and even death. I also pray that the reluctance to engage criminals in any kind of quid-proquo or plea bargaining, work to the advantage of the security personnel in Guyana and aids in the reduction of crime.

Pastor W P Jeffrey

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thursday, september 17, 2015

Page

Foundation

How moms spend time with their children – and why it is a problem

By Esther Crain

Q

uick question: When you’re hanging out and enjoying downtime with your children, what are you probably doing?

If you’re like most moms, whatever you do typically involves sitting down, like eating dinner or watching something on a screen.

That’s the result of a new survey, which asked 1154 mothers with children ages five to 18 how they spend time with their offspring.

Sharing a meal was the number one activity, with 90 per cent of moms saying they had eaten with their children at least once in the past week. Watching TV came in second; 79 per cent of mothers copped to family time in front of the tube a minimum of once weekly.

Helping with homework ranked third, with 65 per cent of moms responding that they did this at least once a week, according to the survey, which was sponsored by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a national organisation that aims to help children develop lifelong healthy habits, in partnership with Woman’s Day magazine.

What most mothers aren’t doing with their children is moving around. And that poses a problem, the survey suggests, with childhood obesity so prevalent (more than a third of children and teens are overweight, according to the Centres for Disease Control

guyanatimesgy.com

and Prevention) and screens keeping children from getting their recommended hour of daily exercise.

Only half the mothers polled had gone for a walk, run, or bike ride with their children in the past week; and just 26 per cent had played a sport, run around, or danced together, reported the survey.

“The survey results un-

Even 10 or 15 minutes of exercise a day can pay off.

“Going for after-dinner walks, dancing to songs in the living room, even popping in a DVD of Zumba, are really easy and get everyone moving together,” Michelle Owens, national adviser for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, tells Yahoo Parenting.

You can also tap in to

to feel guilty,” Amy Morin, Psychotherapist and author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, tells Yahoo Parenting.

“If you don’t get home in time to go for a walk every day, or you have a physical health problem that impairs your ability to get active, focus on spending quality time with your child in other ways.” Take steps

derline the increasingly sedentary lifestyle many of our children are leading,” Howell Wechsler, CEO of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, said in a news release. “The good news is, there is opportunity to change this trend – and families can make small changes that make a big difference.”

Working in more physical activity when you’re hanging out with your children doesn’t have to mean overhauling your schedule:

your children’ natural curiosity by organising a mini scavenger hunt in the house or yard, or inspiring their sense of competition with an obstacle course or a game of kickball, she says.

And while every mom wants her children to develop healthy habits, it’s worth keeping in mind that it’s not always easy to find the time to work up a sweat with your children. “Parents who aren’t able to participate in much physical activity with their children don’t need

to ensure your child is getting adequate exercise by encouraging her to join sports teams or bringing children to the playground and watching from the sidelines.

In a crazy-busy world where it’s often a challenge to carve out family time, any way you spend time with your children is a good thing, says Morin, boosting a child’s self-esteem, improving communication, and just keeping moms and children connected. (Yahoo News)

Do you dread coming home to your children?

(Conclusion)

By James Lehman, MSW

Acknowledge that you can’t control your child when you’re not there Let me begin by saying that it’s never safe to leave a child unsupervised because children are by nature impulsive, unpredictable and prone to risktaking behaviour. I understand the reality in many families is that older children and adolescents are left unsupervised because of the parents’ work schedule.

I recommend in those cases that the child should have a written emergency plan. This plan should include neighbours they can go to for help if needed, emergency phone numbers, police and fire department, practice exits from the house should there be a fire, and a safe place for everyone to meet if there is a fire. The adults should review this plan with their children regularly.

If your child spends part of his or her day alone, it’s important to understand this simple rule: you cannot control your child when you’re not there. But what you can do is enhance their ability to make certain choices.

Here’s how that works:

let’s say your children get home at 16:00h and you get home at 17:30h, which means they have an hour and a half of unsupervised time on weekdays. When you structure up the night, you tell them that the schedule includes homework time, chore time, dinner time, free time, and bed time.

Because there are only so many hours in the night, your child will have to learn how to use time more effectively. So you can say to your children, “Look, if you choose to watch TV or play video games before I get home, that’s up to you.

Keep in mind that you have two hours of homework a night. If you choose to use your free time before I get home to goof around, that’s fine. But then homework is going to start as soon as I get home.”

You follow up by saying, “If you do an hour of homework at that time and you can show me that your assignments are done, then you’ll have more free time later. So, it’s up to you how you’re going to use the non-chore, non-homework time after school. You can use some now, or you can use some later. But if you want to watch a certain TV show tonight, get your homework started early.”

This way, you are training your children to schedule things and structure things. With this method, problem-solving skills are learned by your child, as well, because they’re learning what to do with their time and how to make good choices.

Remember, if your child doesn’t have an internal structure to manage his behaviour, he needs to have it imposed upon him externally. Part of maturing – for everyone – is taking that external structure that’s been imposed upon you from birth and internalising it by the time you’re in adolescence.

So instead of arguing and getting into power struggles with your child when you come home, you’ll be able to lean on the structure you’ve set up to manage your child’s behaviours.

You’ll be able to point to your schedule instead of getting into a screaming match with your child – and that’s the name of the game. (Empoweringparents.com)

news

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thursday, september 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Venezuela refuses accreditation Minister Greenidge never “attacked” Venezuela to Guyana’s Ambassador – retaliates against alleged Greenidge’s comments in US

Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge

I

n continuing to increase the rift between his country and Guyana on account of the border controversy they precipitated, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro refused to approve Guyana’s new Ambassador to Venezuela, Marilyn Cheryl Miles.

According to Venezuelan media, Guyana requested agreement on its new Ambassador to Venezuela; however, the approval was put on hold.

This recent move by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is perceived as another act of aggression towards Guyana.

Based on the media reports, President Maduro explained that the decision to put the approval on a hold was due to the alleged offensive

remarks made by Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge against Venezuela. He explained that Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodriguez reported that Greenidge made “offensive statements and attacks against Venezuela” during a recent visit to the United States. Against this backdrop, Maduro instructed his Minister to freeze the agreement.

“On the one hand, they (Guyana) ask us to approve their (designated) Ambassador, and on the other hand, they destroy us, they attack us, and issue offensive statements against Venezuela and the Bolivarian Government. The Government of President (David) Granger must come clean,” President Maduro is quoted as saying.

Guyana’s perceived “attacks” come on the heels of Venezuela’s recent claims to two-thirds of its landmass – the Essequibo. In fact, the century-old border controversy, which was not on Venezuela’s front burner for several years, was recently reignited by the latter country when US oil giant ExxonMobil began exploratory works in the Stabroek

Marilyn Cheryl Miles

Block offshore the Essequibo Coast.

Arguably fearful that Guyana might strike oil, President Maduro issued a decree claiming that the majority of Guyana waters now belonged to Venezuela.

Consequently, in an effort to defend its sovereignty, Guyana made it clear to the Venezuelan Government that the Essequibo and its offshore waters belonged to Guyana. The border between the countries was set by an international tribunal in 1899, in an award the parties, including Venezuela, had agreed would be a final settlement.

Since the recent belligerence from Venezuela, moves have been made by the international community, in-

Venezuelan Ambassador Reina Margarita

cluding the United Nations Secretary General Ban Kimoon, to push for a peaceful resolution of the issue.

Meanwhile, Geoffrey DaSilva, who served as Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela since 2010, was recalled by Minister Greenidge shortly after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government ascended to office.

Further, according to the Venezuelan report, President Maduro indicated that he was willing to send Venezuelan Ambassador Reina Margarita back to Guyana, given that tensions seem to be easing due to the mediation by the United Nations.

GuySuCo records highest weekly production since 2012 …due to increased turnout among cane harvesters

T

he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) has seen 9441 tonnes of sugar manufactured in its seventh week of production – the highest weekly total since 2012.

According to a statement from the sugar company, the reason production has increased immensely is the higher turnout among cane harvesters at the Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates.

There was over 70 per cent attendance of cane

contributions came from Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall and Blairmont Estates which surpassed their weekly production targets.

Additionally, the Wales Estate saw a 95 per cent achievement of its production target.

According to reports, the weak production of the second crop was owed to a poor turnout of 56 per cent among harvesters at the Blairmont Estate which resulted in the production of a punt weight of 5.4 tonnes.

GuySuCo records highest weekly production since 2012

harvesters at the Skeldon, Albion, Rose Hall and East Demerara Estates during the seventh week. The attendance at Wales Estate improved significantly from below 50 per cent for the last three crops to above 60 per cent for the current crop.

Particularly, GuySuCo pointed out that major

Further, GuySuCo said the Skeldon Estate produced 2116 tonnes of sugar, while Albion produced 2166 tonnes last week.

According to the sugar company, these improvements in cane supplied to the factories ultimately resulted in better factory performance.

F

ollowing reports in the Venezuelan media that Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge delivered a series of verbal attacks towards their country during an event in the United States, the convener of the event, Wesley Kirton stepped forward to set the record straight, pointing out that the Guyanese Minister did nothing of the sort.

“As Convenor of the Conference at which Minister Greenidge delivered the keynote address and led a panel on the Guyana/Venezuela controversy, I can attest that at no time did the Honourable Minister “attack” Venezuela...

In fact Minister Greenidge sought to “play down” the view expressed by former Grenada Ambassador to Venezuela, Matthew William, that “Maduro is a desperate man” capable of resorting to the use of force in pursuit of the Venezuelan claim and as a means towards bolstering his faltering approval rating amongst the Venezuelan population,” Kirton explained, expressing his utter shock over the claims made by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro who used these alleged attacks as the justification for his decision to freeze the approval of Guyana’s new Ambassador to Venezuela.

Furthermore, Kirton explained that Minister Greenidge simply stated that diplomacy remained the best mechanism for de-escalating tensions between the two countries and it was Guyana’s view that a peaceful resolution of the controversy was the only option, best pursued through the judicial settlement process via the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“Further, I accompanied the

Minister to all the meetings held in South Florida, including media interviews, and at no time, in my view, did anything said by the Minister constitute an attack on Venezuela,” the convener stated.

Therefore, Kirton is of the view that the Venezuelan President’s decision to suspend the granting of agreement for a new top envoy from the neighbouring Republic based on alleged “attacks” on Venezuela

by Foreign Minister Greenidge while on his visit to the United States was more the “occasion than the cause for his action”.

“He never intended to grant agreement,” Kirton contended, noting that reliable sources informed him of this posture taken by the Venezuelan Government.

“This, notwithstanding, there is no doubt that President Maduro must have taken note of the overwhelming success of Guyana, through the presentations of Minister Greenidge, in positively articulating its position that the Arbitral Award of 1899 is legally binding and NOT null and void and to win the support of various key audiences and individuals,” he added.

In conclusion, Kirton urged “if President Maduro is really committed to de-escalating tensions and ensuring the maintenance of a secure peace in our hemisphere, the least he could do at this point is to allow for the diplomatic engagement of the two countries by sending his ambassador back to Georgetown and granting agreement for the posting of Guyana’s new top envoy to Caracas. By this action, he would be clearly demonstrating his expressed commitment to a peaceful resolution of the controversy”.

8 NEWS

thursday, september 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Eyew tness Vendor on $10,000 bail for Revolutionary... escaping from Police custody T ...media

A

vendor was on Wednesday released on $10,000 bail after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with escaping lawful custody.

Daniel Wilson, 20, of 476 Meadow Brook Gardens, Greater Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which

read that on Monday, August 31, at the East La Penitence Police Station, while he was in lawful custody on a criminal charge, he unlawfully escaped Police custody.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones told the court that on the day in question, the defendant was in custody following an altercation with his reputed wife, whom he had allegedly assaulted. He was

placed in custody and handcuffed to the prisoner’s bench but managed to free himself from the handcuffs and ran out of the Police station.

The defendant however, claimed that he was told by an Officer that he was free to go. “My worship, a CID officer tell me that I free so I could go home,” he stated after telling the court that he has a young child to support and as such, he

requested bail. Bail was objected to by Prosecutor Jones who stated that the defendant has a pending matter before the court and as such, he is unlikely to return to court. His objection was overruled by the Magistrate who granted bail in the sum of $25,000 but after pleas by the defendant for a lower sum, she reduced it to $10,000. The matter will return to court on October 2.

Man sentenced to 12 months in prison on break and enter conviction

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40-year-old cook was on Wednesday sentenced to 12 months in prison after he made his second appearance before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, charged with breaking into a woman’s house and stealing several items, including her underwear.

Mark Peters, who resides at 40 Da Silva Street, Newtown, Georgetown, and works as a cook in the interior, previously pleaded not guilty to the charge on his first appearance, but on Wednesday opted to accept the

charge which read that on Monday, September 7, at Carmichael Street, Georgetown he broke and entered the dwelling house of the Virtual Complainant (VC), Susan Hailey and stole a hair blow dryer valued $20,000, a curling iron valued $5000, a gas bottle valued $10,000, a pair of women’s underwear valued $2000, an Avon Bath and Body set valued $16,000, six pieces of clothing valued $16,000, a pair of slippers valued $4000, a wallet valued $1000, a pair of sunglasses valued $2000 and a helmet valued at $3000; all to a total value of $71,000 and the

property of the VC. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones told the court that on the day in question, the VC secured her house and left to attend a funeral. Upon her return home, she discovered that the house was broken into and the items were missing. The court was then told that on the day of the incident, Police on patrol duty observed the defendant in the VC’s yard acting in a suspicious manner. The approached him and noticed that he was fetching a gas bottle and a backpack. Upon conducting a search of his person

and backpack, the stolen items were found and the underwear was found tucked into his pocket.

When asked about the nature of the items and how he came into possession of them, he told the ranks that he collected them from his aunt’s house.

He was then taken to the Police station where the VC later positively identified the stolen items as her belongings and charges were subsequently laid against him. After reviewing the charge, the Magistrate sentenced the defendant to 12 months in prison.

he old folks say you can take the boy out of the country, but you just can't take the country out of the boy. All that mud from under his fingernails just won't come out. And we arrive at the latest turn in the saga of Moses Nagamootoo, our man from Whim. And you have to hand it to him: handed a bunch of lemons (some might say, "larwah"") and he's making lemonade.

So he didn't get to handle governance. So he didn't get to chair the Cabinet. So he didn't get to advise on Cabinet and other appointments. But he did get his old job of running "Information" that Cheddi'd given him back in 1992, no? The fella was always a "news carrier" so "information" for him was like duck taking to water.

So too his support for Ramjattan "carrying information/ news" to the U.S. embassy. Nagamootoo, though HAD left to pursue "law", even though he was a sexagenarian, but he soooo wanted to get ahead and took the lemons.

Now starting over, law degree and all, he's really roiling the waters. But he does seem to be confused and this is where the "mud under the fingernails" allusion comes in. Only a couple of weeks ago, he "uppsed" a reporter for writing that the government had "blundered" with the budget presentation. One thing led to another with Nagamootoo hopping from one limb to another. Man was like a cat on a hot, tin roof!

In the end Nagamootoo couldn't get his foot out of his mouth, in placing undue pressure (to be very kind) on the young reporter for his assessment of a governmental action. No matter how he cut it, sliced it or diced it, Nagamootoo was trying to influence the journalist because the Chronicle was a GOVERNMENT newspaper.

Nagamootoo's bottom line was -and "is" - that State and government are one and the same when it comes to exercising power.

And we arrive at the latest chapter - Nagamootoo having to appoint members of the Boards of Directors that'll run the Chronicle and the NCN. And here Nagamootoo placed his other foot into his mouth. Which manoeuvre leaves him flat on his gluteus maximus. How could it be otherwise when he'd promised after the "blunder affair", the State media wouldn't be run by "political hacks"? And now he's stacked the boards with so many hacks, they could hack their way out of Alcatraz with plastic spoons.

Will someone please throw Nagamootoo a lifeline?

It's beyond pathetic!

...gears

Another pathetic display on show was Nagamootoo's "gears" - as his generation would say. Now it's not too kosher to get personal and all that. But Nagamootoo has to realise he's one heartbeat away from the presidency (Please don't say he isn't!!) and he has to play the role by the book. And no book on protocol allows the Prime Minister in olive battle fatigues that could only evoke guerrillas emerging from the Cuban Sierra Maestra after a battle with Batista's troops.

While the PM doesn't have to be a fashionista, he must protect a positive image for the sake of the country.

While we'd critiqued him in the past for his Mafia costuming during the hustings, we would suggest that even his ill, fitting suits send a message more au courant with what his government's trying valiantly to project.

That is, pro-west or more to the point "pro American".

He mightn't get a Michael Kors to fit, but then there's always Bill Blass. Or Target?

...rhetoric

At the unveiling of his "not party hacks" media boards, Nagamootoo kept knocking a previous regime about controlling the State media for their own nefarious ends.

He should remember that even though the PNC banned newsprint from the Mirror when he was there, he can't keep on ripping into the PNC like that, They're still the largest party in the coalition! And paid for his $22M SUV! Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

news

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thursday, september 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Herstelling murder...

Self-confessed hitman for court today

Pay master Beverly Persaud

T

wenty-one-year-old Oswald Jason Yaw, of Back Circle, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who admitted that he was offered $1.7 million to kill 42-year old Herstelling, East Bank Demerara Joiner, Nathan Persaud is expected to make his court appearance today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

His pay master, Beverly Persaud, who hired him to commit the heinous crime was already charged and remanded to prison.

However, Yaw’s confession came moments after he was arrested by Police ranks attached to the Major Crime Unit on Tuesday evening as he was about to enter his home.

The Police claimed that they were staking out the man’s house for several days and would have been successful on Tuesday but on the other hand, the relatives of the dead man were the ones who provided the information to the Police about the man’s whereabouts after conducting their own investigations.

Nevertheless, during the interrogation, the man also admitted that on the day of the gruesome murder, he lured Persaud into the house under the pretext of using the washroom. While in the house, he told investigators that he attacked Persaud from behind but a fight ensured during which he collected a piece of clay brick and struck the man to his head.

He then took a knife and stabbed the man at least twice which caused him to fall to the ground. He completed that the job by using the hammer to bash in his head. He reportedly struck the man 20 times.

He stated the murder was planned by the now dead man’s wife Beverly Persaud who offered to pay him $100,000 weekly installments until the full amount of $1.7 million was paid off. He took up the offer, claiming that he would have finally had enough money to visit his girlfriend in Antigua.

Crime Chief Wendell

Blanhum told Guyana Times that the file is with the Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali Hack and her recommendation is expected early today. He noted that once the advice is sought, they will

Dead: Nathan Persaud

waste no time to prosecute.

Meanwhile, one of the sons of the dead man told this publication that after they would have received information about the killer’s whereabouts, they informed the Police.

“We received a call from a friend telling us that the

that the Police would have also arrested his cousin (his mother’s niece) in connection with the murder.

The young man stated that the young woman’s best friend is the girlfriend on the murder suspect. The murder suspect, he added, was seen by his young brother visiting his mother’s home in Diamond, on the East Bank of Demerara.

“My young brother would tell us that a man would visit the house in Diamond while he was staying with my mother but whenever he is around, the man and my mother and the niece would talk in codes and talk softly”.

As such, he feels that his cousin knew something about the murder and hopes that the Police continue to interrogate her. The Police however, have confirmed that the young woman has already been released.

In addition, the young man refuted claims that his father’s life was in danger.

He argued that his father had a feeling that something was amiss due to his ex-wife behaviour. “We tried to get him to leave the country, but he insisted that he has to stay to take care of us”, the young Persaud stated.

At no point in time, did his father received death threats, he iterated. His father, he stated, has been laid to rest and they are still trying to come to grip with the reality of his death. His mother, the young man disclosed, will never be forgiven for taking away their father who was the backbone of the family.

The 42-year-old man was found dead in his house on Thursday last in a pool of blood in the living room of

Oswald Jason Yaw was contracted to kill Nathan Persaud

man was seen in the hammock… that was like 11 and we immediately alerted the Police but they arrived at the scene till after five”, the young man stated. On the other hand, the son stated

his Lot 66 Herstelling New Housing Scheme home. An autopsy proved the he died as a result of blunt trauma to the head.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, september 16, 2015

News

Guyana producing poor quality furniture – GFC head G uyana has built a poor reputation for itself in the furniture manufacturing industry, Commissioner of Forests, James Singh has said.

According to him, major emphasis has to be placed on quality, durability and reliability if the local industry is to progress.

“Guyana is not reliable, that is a fact. We are not a reliable supplier; we are not a quality supplier. Let’s make no bones about it,” Singh said on Wednesday.

At the time he was delivering remarks during the opening ceremony of a furniture manufacturers’ seminar at the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Multiplex, which was designed to build the industry’s capacity.

At the poorly-attended ceremony, Singh sent a strong message to those operating within the local industry, saying that for too long buyers have been complaining about the substandard furniture being sold by local manufacturers. He said if this issue was not addressed, Guyana would never be able to penetrate international markets that are lucrative, and would continue to experience financial difficulties.

Additionally, he pointed

Commissioner of Forests, James Singh, FPDMC Executive Director Rajnarine Singh and specialist volunteer Raphael Heading engaging in a discussion on the future of the furniture manufacturing industry minutes before the commencement of the seminar

out that only a small percentage of Guyanese engage in the sale of value-added products. Singh said information emanating out of a National Forest Policy document, which was revised in 2011, indicated that Guyana’s market share in countries that have “high price markets” was less than 0.02 per cent, and in the Caribbean, less than six per cent.

“So this myth that our forest products can’t sell is really a myth. Once we do quality products, reliable products, and appropriate

products…we are going to get into those markets,” he stressed.

He said simple changes could make a big difference, contending that a lump sum of cash or a major investment was not necessarily needed to produce high quality products, explaining that the simple sharpening of blades, calibration of machines, and storage of machines and components can make a major difference.

Value-added

Forest

Products

Development and Marketing Council (FPDMC) Executive Director Rajnarine Singh echoed similar sentiments, contending that “for too long we have been hearing that Guyana has an abundance of raw materials, but is not engaged in the processing of raw materials in a meaningful way.”

“For too long, we are hearing that foreign products are increasingly dominating out

markets, and little is being done to protect the market space that is occupied by local products. We believe that something ought to be done to rectify this situation,” the FPDMC Executive Director lamented.

However, he stressed that if the country was to maintain or expand its market share in this highly competitive environment, products ought to be of high

quality.

Once manufacturers would have raised their standards to reach international requirements, he said, FPDMC will assist in the process of securing markets if need be.

“We have at this time a database of over 700 potential overseas buyers, and we have a system in place now, where we can make contact with those potential buyers, so if we have a product to see…we will contact our prospective buyers,” he explained.

To assist the furniture manufacturers which include manufacturers of Cabinet and other finished products, FPDMC solicited the assistance of Raphael Heading, a volunteer specialised in furniture manufacturing.

Heading has been tasked with addressing areas that will enable manufacturers to produce a finished product suitable for the export market. Retooling, maintenance and replacement, layout and techniques to improve product quality are among the areas being addressed by Heading. (smarshall@guyanatimesgy.com)

Guyana Gold Fields to continue US$250M investment

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ore than 500 Guyanese will be retrained as Guyana Gold Fields Incorporated commences its US$250 million operation in Aurora which has a mine life of 17 plus years, with Guyana in the line up to reap tremendous benefits.

This announcement was made during the commissioning and gold pouring ceremony of Guyana Gold Fields Incorporated and Aurora Gold Mines Incorporated on Tuesday.

The projected corporate income tax is estimated at US$509 million. Projected payroll taxes are estimated at US$67 million; excise taxes, US$43 million.

Further, as part of it mandate of being a good corporate citizen the company has also pledged to donate a school boat to aid in President David Granger’s drive to ensure that every school aged child is in school.

In delivering the feature remarks at the ceremony, President Granger underscored the importance of an economically strong and well-managed mining industry. “This enterprise can become a successful model for large scale mining, and for sound environmental stewardship. It can become a matrix for our mineral driven economic renewal.”

In congratulating Guyana Gold Fields, President Granger said the

company is now positioned to intensify production, and by so doing, contribute to its own profitability, the prosperity of the nation and to all Guyanese.

“As you know, through our Sovereign Wealth Fund, we will ensure that a little piece of what is poured today and what is poured over the com-

industry. Alluding to the fact that the hinterland region makes up three quarters of the country’s landmass, he pointed out that the gold mining industry is located mainly in these regions.

“This industry has been the country’s largest foreign exchange earner for several

ing years will remain in that fund for posterity. Guyanese children must not be poor again,” the President said.

Even as he spoke of his optimism for the company, President Granger stressed that his Government will be looking forward to the company’s respect for local labour and occupational safety laws. “We wish you all success, and today we commit our Government’s support, not only to you, but to the entire gold mining sector of our national economy,” President Granger said.

Addressing the importance of the mining sector, President Granger said there is a link between the development of the hinterland, its people and the gold

years, with record breaking production in 2013. A sharp drop in world price for gold in 2014 precipitated a reduction in production, in declarations, and in earnings. Rising cost also resulted in the closure of several small operations and the loss of hundreds of jobs and a slowing in the growth in the economy.”

However, even amid these challenges, the President said that the national economy will significantly be enhanced and the livelihood of hinterland residents and miners would be enriched if the industry were to be placed on a surer economic foundation with better administrative controls. turn to page 12

thursday, september 17, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Govt remains mum on Jagdeo’s tax help offer – recovery of over $25B in taxes remains in limbo People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was willing to make former Attorney General Anil Nandlall available to work with the Government to offer “institutional knowledge” about the ongoing tax cases in order to put it on firm footing to be able to successful fight the cases.

“We will share all of the institutional memory that we have about those tax cases, because we don’t want

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

t is now two weeks since Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo offered the Government of Guyana assistance in recouping over $25 billion in taxes owed by 10 companies to the State coffers and there was still no sign from the new Administration of its willingness to accept the offer. With the gargantuan quantum of monies owing as unpaid taxes, it has to be concluded that these are

companies with proportionate mega revenues.

Jagdeo had made the offer while speaking at a press conference on September 9 following complaints from the new Attorney General Basil Williams that he was unable to properly acquaint himself with the ongoing matters because of the lack of all of the files.

Although the Opposition Leader rejected the AG’s excuse, he said that the

I

More than $100M allocated for Georgetown clean up

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s the Government of Guyana continues with the “Clean-Up My Country” campaign, the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown has embarked on the cleaning and desilting of street drains, alleyways and canals. Areas being targeted are Agricola, Mc Doom, Houston, Ruimveldt, Bourda, Lacytown, Le Repentir and South Cummingsburg, with in excess of five million dollars allocated for the cleaning of avenues and verges in the later.

The Bourda Cemetery is being cleaned of garbage and overgrown weed and similar works are due to begin at the Le Repentir Cemetery, which is in the process of being fenced. According to City Hall officials, the cemetery will be weeded on a steady basis, once the weather per-

mits. Also, the parapets and verges in Carmichael, Main and Camp Streets have been manicured and the City Council will continue similar works in other wards in the City. In the wards of Lacytown and Bourda, more than $65 million has been budgeted, for similar interventions.

Works completed thus far have seen the Bourda Cemetery being rehabilitated at a cost in excess of $6 million. At Agricola, Mc Doom and Houston, Greater Georgetown, in excess of $25 million will be spent to enhance the communities.

It is the intention of Government and other stakeholders to restore Georgetown to its previously designated state as the Garden City of the Caribbean. (GINA)

the Government to lose those tax cases based on bad legal representation, because it will cause the treasury billions of dollars and us as taxpayers – people of this country. We want to share things with them, we want to work with them on this,” he had outlined.

When contacted on Wednesday, Jagdeo said that no one from the Government had contacted

the Party or him directly to accept the offer.

He maintained that the PPP has no interest in simply going after businesses in general and was unwilling to be part of any crusade to target businesses unfairly.

“We merely wanted to ensure that the Government had all of the information it needed to prosecute the small amount of cases that we had initiated action

against,” Jagdeo said.

In the meantime, former Attorney General Nandlall reiterated that he remained ready and willing to assist if necessary.

“All of the information needed at the Government is at its disposal, but I am available as the Opposition Leader said to lend assistance,” Nandlall reassured the Guyana Times Newspaper.

12 news

thursday, september 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

CICAD study finds 12-yearolds using illicit drugs A

study conducted in 2013 on the prevalence of drug use among secondary school students has revealed an alarming trend showing that students as young as 12 years old are engaged in the use of both licit and illicit substances.

The Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey Project was done by the Organisation of American States (OAS) InterAmerican Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) in collaboration with the Government of Guyana. The study was undertaken in May and June of 2013.

Some two years after the survey was conducted, the report was officially launched on Wednesday at the Cara Lodge, indicating that alcohol, cigarettes, inhalants and marijuana are the most commonly used drugs among the student population in Guyana.

CICAD representative Tiffany Barry, during a review of the survey, disclosed that 1890 students from 28 schools participated in the study, with 92.5 per cent from public schools and 7.5 per cent from private schools. These students were from Grades 8, 10, 11 and Sixth Form. Some 43.8 per cent of the participants

said they usually get alcohol from shops, while marijuana and cocaine are acquired from friends and relatives.

Moreover, marijuana was found to be the most accessible illegal drug, while cocaine was the least accessible.

Private school

OAS Country Representative Jean Dormeus handing over a copy of the Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey 2013 report to US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Bryan Hunt

were between the ages of 11 and 14.

Most of the participants in the survey were from schools in Georgetown, while the others were from the various Regions except Seven and Eight. The drugs categorised in the study are: Licit drugs – alcohol and tobacco; and illicit drugs – inhalants/solvents, marijuana, tranquilisers, ecstasy and cocaine.

According to the CICAD representative, 19 per cent of the students have admitted using an illegal drug at least once in their lifetime, while 52 per cent said

they have consumed alcohol. However, the findings showed that there is a higher prevalence of drug use among private school students.

The following percentages of participants also admitted to using these other drugs once in their lifetime: 10.8 per cent of the participants admitted to having used inhalants/solvents; 16.8 per cent used tobacco; 6.6 per cent used marijuana: 3.2 per cent used tranquilisers; 1.6 per cent used ecstasy and 1.4 per cent used cocaine. Eighteen per cent of these students are from pub-

lic school, while some 24.5 per cent are private school students.

However, 7.6 per cent of the students said they have tried an illegal drug for the first time within the past year (dated from when the survey was done). More alarmingly, Barry outlined that students as young as 10 years, eight months are using inhalants, while those 12 and above were using substances such as alcohol, cocaine and marijuana.

Most of the students

The CICAD representative indicated that the data from the survey shows a trend of drug use being more prevalent among private school students.

“Overall students are aware of the dangers of drug use as more than 50 per cent of them indicated that using any type of drug is very harmful to their health.

Generally, students are not curious to try a drug even if given the opportunity – more than 80 per cent said no. Efforts need to be taken to reduce students’ access to drugs in public places such as sporting events and from being able to purchase alcohol and cigarettes in shops,” Barry detailed in her presentation.

This survey by CICAD has been replicated in 12 other Caribbean countries. On this note, another representative of CICAD, Pernell Clarke, gave a detailed comparative analysis

of Guyana’s position at the regional level.

He outlined that Guyana has been placed in the mid to lower end of the crisis when compared to other countries in the Region. Clarke pointed out that the most widely consumed substance across the Region was alcohol, which was followed by marijuana. However, he highlighted that binge drinking among Guyanese students is the most prevalent in comparison to the other countries.

As it relates to illicit substances, marijuana remains the most widely used drug among secondary students in the Caribbean.

Furthermore, the CICAD representative outlined that in order to tackle this worrisome and growing trend each country in the Region would have to design a response strategy of its own.

“Every country has a unique pattern of use so you can’t have a one size, fix all approach to prevention… You have to customise your approach, depending on unique situation,” he stated.

This is the third Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey that CICAD has conducted in Guyana. The first was done in 2003 and another in 2007.

Albouystown man victim of drive-by shooting

A

2 2 - y e a r - o l d Albouystown, Georgetown, resident is nursing gunshot injuries to his left foot following a driveby shooting on Wednesday.

Anton Johnson of Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, was reportedly standing in front of his home

when shots were fired by an occupant in a motor car as it drove by.

The young man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted. The Police have launched an investigation into the matter.

According to addition

information received, the shooter might have been known to the victim.

After the shooting incident, the victim reportedly called the name of the suspect and would have also given it to the Police. No arrest has been made up to the date of publication.

Guyana Gold Fields to continue...

This, he said, would result in a more comprehensive and collaborative approach rather than the confrontation and recrimination, which Guyanese have become accustomed to between the state and the industry.

“The gold mining sector is an important pillar of our national economy; it continues to contribute to economic growth. Gold production in 2014 represented seven per cent of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product,” President Granger pointed out.

President Granger also took the opportunity to outline some of his Government’s overall plan, which would see the further development of the hinterland. He noted that ev-

ery Ministry under the new Administration will play a role in addressing issues affecting the industry.

“The Ministry of Education must aim at providing better primary education for children in the hinterland. The Ministry of Public Health must provide better primary health care for our residents, particularly because they are susceptible to vector borne diseases. The Ministry of Social Protection must direct its efforts toward reducing trafficking in persons of our young women, and reducing the high incidence of mining fatalities. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure must work with private partners to build public private partnerships, to provide more extensive, safer and surer

from page 10

transportation,” the Head of State said.

In addition, the Administration will be working on creating a different strategy for security in the mining sector with assistance from all stakeholders.

“We now have to pay more attention to strategic policies for long-term plans and the enforcement of the law,” the President said.

Meanwhile, it was a very emotional day for all stakeholders of the company as they have been working effortlessly for years, to bring mining operations to fruition. The company began exploration in 1996, with 150 employees. However, drilling in the Cuyuni only began in 2003. (smarshall@ guyanatimesgy.com)

news

13

thursday, september 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Missing woman’s Stakeholders alarmed about drug in schools body retrieved use – urge alternative activities for students/youths from Kaieteur I Falls

F

Dead: Gyaneshwarie “Laleta” Sivanand

ifteen days after Gyaneshwarie “Laleta” Sivanand of Durban Backlands, Georgetown allegedly jumped off Kaieteur Falls, her battered and decomposing body was finally transported to Georgetown on Wednesday. The woman went missing on September 1 during a visit to the Kaieteur Falls National Park.

The woman’s body was taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home where it will await a post-mortem examination. Relatives of the dead woman have remained tightlipped.

However, a member of the Special Forces told Guyana Times that they spotted the body of the missing woman on Sunday after they were deployed to the area, based on a report that the body was sighted.

He stated that upon locating the body, they attempted to use ropes and a helicopter to retrieve it but it was too risky taking into consideration the condition of the body. The officer stated that the eight-crew member team was forced to fetch the body to location that would have been safe enough for the helicopter to land.

He stated that on the first day of the recovery mission, they secured the body in a body bag by which time, it was dark; hence they camped out for the night. On the second day, they fetched the body for close to six hours in rough terrain and ceased operation for the remaining of the night.

On the third day, which is Tuesday, he stated that they took turns in carrying the body closer to the spot where it had to be collected. On Wednesday at about 11:30h, the body was collected and transported to the Ogle International Airport.

However, he explained that the body was severely damaged and was identified by the wristwatch on one of the hands. “Due to the current of the water, the body did not have on any clothes… so I am not sure how relatives stated that they identified her by the clothes she was wearing”, the official stated.

Nevertheless, he stated that the crew worked tirelessly to get the body out to the city. “It was indeed an experience… and it was hard work”, he added.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Presidency via a release to the media announced the Kaieteur National Park (KNP) has been re-opened as of Wednesday while noting that the woman’s body was retrieved and transported to the city.

The body, which was first spotted by a KNP Ranger late Saturday afternoon, was found in a rocky area at the base of the Falls, which had previously been submerged by high water levels.

On the afternoon of September 1, it was discovered that Sivanand, who had arrived at the KNP on an Air Services Limited flight, was missing after she left her group on the way back from touring the Falls.

A search operation was immediately launched by the KNP Rangers. An expanded search was later led by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF), focusing on the base of the Falls and the surrounding gorge and trails, but no trace of the woman had been found at that time.

The Ministry of the Presidency expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased tourist during this difficult time.

n light of the revelations from the Guyana Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey 2013, local stakeholders have raised concerns about the alarming trend which shows more young students engaging in the use of both licit and illicit drugs.

During the launching ceremony of the Guyana Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey 2013 report, the various stakeholders were informed of the trends that were detected. The survey was done by the Organisation of American States (OAS) Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). It was conducted in collaboration with the Crime and Social Observatory within the Public Security Ministry.

Addressing the gathering, OAS Country Representative Jean Dormeus pointed out that drug consumption was prevalent among Guyanese secondary school students and with the use of the information gathered from the survey, stakeholders would be better equipped to design strategies and policies.

According to Dormeus, substance abuse has a negative impact on both the security and development of any country. He noted that this was reflected in the high rates of violent crime across the Caribbean. “In order to fight effectively, we need to have access to information that is reliable, up-to-date and comparable so that a better understanding of the situation is achieved and relevant policies and programmes are crafted in response,” he stated.

The OAS Representative outlined that during a discussion panel stakeholders would be focusing on drug use and related behaviours of the high school population in Guyana. Dormeus said he wished he could report that substance abuse was not an issue in Guyana, but noted that would be far from reality.

Similar surveys were conducted in 12 other Caribbean countries. Guyana is the sixth of those countries to present its survey report to stakeholders.

CICAD conducted the survey with the support of the United States and Canada.

Representatives of these two countries were present at the launch of the report on the Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey 2013.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan addressing the forum

efforts should be taken to reduce drug use in Guyana, particularly among youths.

He pointed out that it was important to learn the scope of the problem and identify alternative ways to have youths meaningfully occupied.

“We have learnt in the United States that we cannot arrest our way out of the drug problem,” he stated. Instead, the Embassy official noted that a balanced approach was needed to eliminate both the supply of and demand for drugs.

Further, he said educating young people about the dangers of drugs was also important.

On this note, Hunt disclosed that the US has assisted Guyana in this aspect, referring to the various youth-oriented programmes such as the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment (SKYE) project for at-risk youths.

According to the Chargé d’Affaires, more than 1600 young Guyanese have graduated from the programme and some 650 of them have been linked to long-term employment. “By providing new hope to these youths, their families and their com-

munities, we hope to assist Guyana in stemming the tide of youth crime and violence that too often has dominated the national news headlines in this country,” he noted.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Pierre Giroux pointed out that the information gathered from the survey would prove to be beneficial to the authorities in crafting the relevant policies to tackle substance abuse among the country’s youths.

“How can one make public policy if you don’t have information, how can you make policy and have a public policy debate if you don’t have facts? So this is a real contribution to a fact-based policy debate. In that sense, it is an important progress in addressing security issues not on hearsay but really basing it on facts,” the High Commissioner declared.

Outrageous

On the other hand, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said the statistics obtained from the survey were an outrage.

“These cold hard facts about the state of our children as it relates to their use of lic-

it and illicit drugs whilst attending school tells a worrying story,” the Minister said.

However, he noted that the story must be told as it would show what areas needed work and what should be done. Ramjattan stated that he was disheartened to know that the average age for first-time use of marijuana was 12 years 8 months, while for cocaine, it was 12 years 1 month and for other stimulants, 11 years 7 months.

Additionally, the Public Security Minister went on to highlight that the survey showed 52 per cent of the participants having used alcohol at least once in their lifetime, while 31 per cent said they have consumed alcohol within the past year and another 16 per cent, within the past month at the time the survey was conducted.

Moreover, he noted that some 4.9 per cent of the students admitted to being binge drinkers. Ramjattan added that when compared to the rest of the Caribbean Region, Guyana has the highest binge drinking rates.

He added that the effects of using these drugs were reflected in the behaviours of students who tend to skip schools, engage in fights and even contemplate suicide.

“My intention here is not to create a moral panic but in all honesty, these statistics paint a picture which changes us all. It is an outrage and we must do something about it,” he declared.

The Vice President underscored that the war on drugs needed to be renewed, with focus placed on reducing the demand for and supply of drugs among other things. Like the US Chargé d’Affaires, Ramjattan said that demand can be reduced with the promotion of activities that foster resilience.

Two vehicle smash up

Alternative ways

Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt, during his presentation, said

This vehicle seen here was badly damaged after it was involved in two-way collision in the vicinity of the Demerara Habour Bridge on Wednesday evening

14

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Regional

Venezuela promises 300 homes Haiti’s supreme voodoo leader for Dominica storm victims; Max Beauvoir dies at 79 President Maduro to visit M

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro (right), in this file photo with Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit at the ALBA summit earlier this year, will visit the storm-hit island over the weekend

V

enezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro is due to visit Dominica this weekend as his Government announced it would provide 300 houses for people affected by Tropical Storm Erika.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said Dominica has accepted the offer.

“The Venezuelans brought in over the week-

end one such structure to be erected, because we expect the President of Venezuela to come to Dominica on Saturday where he will have the symbolic handing over of this one home and, of course, making a pronouncement on the 300 homes for those affected by Tropical Storm Erika,” he said.

“We expect the first 50

homes will be here in the next couple weeks and the Ministry of Housing... will advise the Cabinet on where we go about erecting those homes so we are trying to move as quickly as possible.”

Skerrit made the announcement as he also disclosed that Government was relocating 94 people, currently living in shelters since Erika’s rains caused flooding and landslides in some communities, to more comfortable accommodation.

“We will be discussing with the community, with the residents, the 94 of them, to see how we will go about assigning them to different properties, taking a number of variables into consideration and not wanting to split families and so forth.”

The group is currently being housed at the Grammar School and Skerrit said it was time to provide them with more comfort and privacy. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

ax Gesner B e a u v o i r , “National Ati” or supreme leader of voodoo, Haiti’s traditional AfroCaribbean faith, has died at the age of 79.

A Government statement said Beauvoir died over the weekend in Portau-Prince after an illness. The exact cause of death was not immediately known.

President Michel Martelly took to Twitter to express his sympathy on Beauvoir’s death, which he described as a “great loss for the country.”

Born in 1936, Beauvoir left Haiti in the 1950s to study chemistry in New York City. After going on to the Sorbonne in Paris, he returned to the United States where he worked as a chemist for private companies.

A New York Times profile of Beauvoir said he returned to Haiti in the 1970s where his dying grandfa-

Max Gesner Beauvoir

ther urged him into a life as a houngan, or voodoo priest.

In 2008, he attained the title of Supreme Servitur, a role that has historically been a fiercely protective one, designed to defend Haiti’s unique voodoo tradition from Protestant churches and Evangelical preachers.

The faith was brought to the island from Africa via the Atlantic slave trade in

the 1600s and 1700s. It was banned by the French for its mystical, supernatural elements, and continues to be sensationalised and misunderstood.

About 70 per cent of Haitians are believed to practice voodoo. Beauvoir estimated there were more than 60,000 voodoo priests across Haiti, many living in rural communities. (Excerpt

from Caribbean360)

Developing countries warned to brace for possible Cuba’s Raul Castro to ‘coincide’ with Obama tremors as US tightens monetary policy

D

eveloping economies, like those in the Caribbean, should brace for possible financial market turbulence from the upcoming US monetary policy tightening cycle, according to a new World Bank policy research paper released ahead of this week’s meeting by the US Federal Reserve’s policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee.

The new paper “The Coming US Interest Rate Tightening Cycle: Smooth Sailing or Stormy Waters?” suggests that while a likely rise in US interest rates, which would be the Fed’s first rate hike since 2006, has been widely telegraphed to world financial markets and the public, it nonetheless runs a risk of being associated with market vola-

tility.

The Fed has set the stage for the tightening cycle carefully and there is every reason to envision a smooth transition with benign effects on emerging and frontier markets. However, there can be financial market volatility even around a long-anticipated Fed policy change. This could lead to a sizable drop in capital in-

flows to emerging and frontier markets.

The new research paper assesses the potential impact on developing economies if financial market reaction to Fed tightening mirrors the upheaval that occurred after the US central bank signaled in May 2013 that it was poised to taper its pace of quantitative easing. (Excerpt

from Caribbean360)

Ecuador forest fires envelope Quito in smoke

Q

uito was enveloped in smoke as forest fires raged around the Ecuadorean capital on Tuesday.

President Rafael Correa said he had contacted the Venezuelan authorities for help extinguishing 17 major fires across the country and that they had promised to send helicopters.

He said he would also ask Brazil, Colombia and Peru for support.

Ten people have been arrested on suspicion of setting fires in the vicinity of the capital.

The Government has asked people to denounce firebugs and has offered a $50,000 (£32,500) reward for information leading to their capture.

One of the biggest fires is burning in the hills of Auqui, north-east of Quito. Dozens of firefighters are try-

The flames could be seen from downtown Quito

ing to stop the flames from spreading to residential areas.

Three firefighters were killed last week and many more injured. (BBC News)

at UN this month

P

residents Raul Castro and Barack Obama, who are forging a new detente between Cuba and the United States, are bound to cross paths again at a UN gathering in New York this month but do not have a formal meeting set, Cuba said Wednesday.

Both leaders, who held a historic meeting at a regional summit in Panama in April, are to due to address the UN General Assembly on September 28.

“Obviously, they will coincide at various events,” Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez told a news conference.

Castro would also listen to a September 25 UN address

by Pope Francis and address a development summit, he added. “I imagine there will be interactions between the two presidents, but I cannot say that a meeting is fixed,” Rodriguez said.

Castro, who took over from his ailing brother Fidel Castro provisionally in 2006 and definitively in 2008, has made only one known previous trip to the United States, briefly visiting Houston shortly after the 1959 revolution.

Cuba’s President Raul Castro attends a ceremony at the Palace of the Revolution in Havana May 19. Serbia’s President Tomislav Nikolic was awarded the Jose Marti medal during his official visit to Cuba

Castro and Obama stunned the world last December by announcing detente following more than half a century of animosity between the former Cold War foes.

That led to the restoration of diplomatic relations on July 20, after a 54-year break.

The pair made further history by meeting in Panama in April. Their first encounter was a brief handshake at Nelson Mandela’s funeral in December 2013. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela extends state of emergency to third border State

V

enezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced he will extend a state of emergency to another 10 municipalities on the border with Colombia.

Three of them are in Apure state. The others are in the state of Zulia,

parts of which had already been placed under a state of emergency. The move is part of a crackdown on crime near the border, where smugglers and guerrilla groups are active.

The crackdown has heightened tensions between Venezuela and

Colombia. The President did not say if border posts in Apure would also be closed as they have been in the states of Tachira and Zulia.

Under the Venezuelan Constitution, a state of emergency can be declared if the security of the country, its citizens or its insti-

tutions are at risk. It temporarily restricts some constitutional rights and allows security forces to search homes without a warrant.

President Maduro took the measure after three soldiers and a civilian were injured in an attack in San

Antonio del Tachira near the border last month.

The 2200km-long border (1400 miles) between is porous and there has historically been a steady flow of people both ways.

It is also a haven for smugglers, who make an easy profit buying sub-

sidised goods cheaply in Venezuela and selling them at much higher prices in Colombia.

The Venezuelan government estimates that up to 40 per cent of goods it subsidises are lost to smuggling, exacerbating shortages of key products. (Excerpt from BBC News)

thursday, september 17, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the world

Migrants tear-gassed

by Hungary Police

Kenya’s wildlife flees al-Shabab conflict into Somalia

The firing of tear gas and water cannon created a panicked stampeded of migrants away from the border

Almost all of the game animals that survived poachers after the start of Somalia’s civil war migrated to neighbouring Kenya [AP]

H

ungarian riot Police have fired tear gas and water cannon to force migrants back from the Serbia-Hungary border.

Hundreds of people have massed at a closed crossing point near the Serbian town of Horgos, and are involved in a tense stand-off with Police on the other side of the border.

Some migrants threw missiles, including stones

and water bottles. Many of the migrants want to reach Germany via Hungary.

Tens of thousands of migrants have crossed the border in this area to enter the Europe Union’s Schengen zone, which normally allows people to travel between member countries without restrictions.

Hungary closed its entire border with Serbia on Tuesday after enacting laws

that make it illegal to enter the country or damage a new razor-wire border fence. The country’s courts have started fast-track trials of arrested migrants.

Serbia’s Foreign Ministry – which has protested over the firing of tear gas and water cannon into its territory – says Hungary has now closed the main border crossing between the two countries to all traffic for 30 days.

There were chaotic scenes near Horgos, with fires burning and police vehicles and ambulances arriving on the Serbian side of the border, across from the massed ranks of Hungarian riot police on the other side.

The firing of tear gas and water cannon created a panicked stampeded of migrants away from the border.

Several people received medical treatment from the Serbian ambulance service on the other side of the border, some suffering the effects of tear gas. (Excerpt from BBC News)

W

ild elephants, lions, leopards, giraffe, buffalo and ostriches have been spotted in Somalia’s Lower Jubba area in the first sightings of the animals in the east African country in decades.

The animals are believed to have been displaced from Kenya’s Boni forest by ongoing security operations against the armed group al-

Shabab that operates in the area.

Boni forest, which is a national reserve for conservation, borders Somalia.

“The animals are coming back in large numbers.

Inside the town we have ostriches walking around.

Leopards and elephants are just outside the town,” Farah Haybe, Badaade district commissioner, told Al

Jazeera.

The densely forested area used to be home to herds of wild animals and birds until the start of the Somali war in 1991 which led to unabated poaching.

The animals which escaped the poachers migrated across the border in to Kenya. But with sense of normalcy now returning to Somalia the animals’ fortunes seems to be changing.

“The animals are returning from Kenya because they find peace here. They are not disturbed here.

They are free and they find plenty of food here,” Haybe said.

With this latest development local authorities have been busy advising the population to not harm the wild animals.

“We have told all the butchers in the area it is illegal to kill or sell the meat of wild animals. But everyone is happy to see the animals back.” Haybe said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Syria’s Assad blames West for China eases limits on overseas debt refugee crisis

S

yrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed Europe’s refugee crisis on Western support for “terrorists”, as people fleeing his country’s civil war stream towards the European Union.

In his first public comments on the mass migration, broadcast on Wednesday, Assad said Europe could expect more refugees.

Countries including the United States, Turkey and

Saudi Arabia want to see Assad gone from power and have supported the opposition to his rule during the four-year-old war, including some of the armed groups fighting him.

Assad said Turkish support had been crucial to the growth of two of the biggest insurgent groups in Syria, Islamic State and the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, and aerial bombing by a USled coalition had failed to stop Islamic State. Turkey

denies the accusation.

The Syrian President dismissed Western suggestions that his Government’s actions in the war had fuelled the spread of such groups.

“As long as they follow this propaganda, they will have more refugees,” Assad said in an interview with Russian media. “If you are worried about them, stop supporting terrorists.”

The Syrian Government describes all the armed groups fighting it as terror-

ists. The insurgents in Syria range from the hardline Islamist Islamic State to nationalists viewed as moderate by the West.

Assad has been buoyed in recent weeks by signs of increased military support from his ally Russia. In his comments he made no mention of reports of Russian military activity in Syria.

Moscow says the Syrian Government should be part of a broad coalition to fight Islamic State. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Obama invites arrested US Muslim boy to White House

U

S President Barack Obama has issued a White House invitation to a Muslim schoolboy who was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school.

Ninth-grade high school student Ahmed Mohamed from Irving in Texas was arrested on Monday after his teachers reported him to the Police for making a clock , which they said resembled a bomb.

“Cool clock, Ahmed.

Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like to you like science. It’s what makes America great,” Obama tweeted.

The arrest prompted outrage on social media with thousands expressing their anger at authorities for arresting a 14-year-old boy over his school project.

Social media users rallied behind the teen using the hashtag #IStandWithAhmed

, which has picked up more than 224,000 mentions on Twitter so far, according to analytics site Topsy, and continues to rise rapidly.

The story also ranked highest on the user-generated curation website, Reddit.

Many of the comments cited Mohamed’s religious and ethnic background as the probable cause of his arrest, a viewpoint shared by the largest Muslim civil advocacy group in the US. Ibrahim Hooper, the

spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told Al Jazeera that it was “obvious” the schoolboy’s religion had played a role in his arrest. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

B

eijing has eased restrictions on Chinese companies seeking to raise funds overseas, after a record monthly decline in China’s foreign exchange reserves in August.

The decision to loosen capital controls on inbound funds stands to boost capital inflows at a time when big domestic stock market losses and the slowing Chinese economy are heightening concerns about capital outflows.

China’s top planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission, has made it easier for Chinese companies to obtain foreign currency bank loans or issue renminbi bonds with a term of more than one year, according to a statement on its website dated Tuesday.

“The new policy will simplify the process for Chinese entities to issue

offshore bonds. It will give Chinese companies flexibility in terms of timing and the amount of bonds issued as long as it is within the approved foreign debt quota,” said Ivan Chung, head of greater China credit research at Moody’s in Hong Kong.

Previously, companies needed approval on a dealby-deal basis, but now they are only required to register with the regulator.

“Like Shanghai-HK Stock Connect, it is another step forward in integrating the Chinese financial market with the world,” Mr Chung said.

China’s foreign exchange reserves fell 2.6 per cent to US$3.557tn in August, a monthly US$94 billion drop that was the sharpest on record, as the People’s Bank of China sold down some of its stockpile to support the renminbi. (Excerpt from Financial Times)

Startup India: Time to change the ‘nuisance’ capital gains tax

I T

ndia, as a country, need to rethink capital gains taxes on venture capital and private equity. hese ‘nuisance taxes’ are inhibiting investment and development of Indian startups, reducing foreign and domestic technology, capital inflows, job creation and hurting overall economic and government revenue growth, Rajan Govil, co-founder of Marketnomix Research, has said .

“At the same time,

India’s capital gains taxes do not add to the exchequer, but rather are a deterrent to additional investments.

Amongst others, we estimate at least US$12 billion of smart, high quality, tacit knowledge based foreign direct investment here to stay and add value for the longterm that could flow in over the next five years in a zero capital gains tax regime.”

According to independent technology think tank iSPIRT, nearly US$10 billion in venture capital and

private equity funds has been invested into India’s technology product industry from 2010 to March 2015.

Most of this investment has been routed through Mauritius and Singapore because of their favourable capital gains tax exemptions for investors.

While this means negligible capital gains tax revenues from venture capital investments, luckily the tax revenues collected from employees of startups funded would far surpass the po-

tential capital gains tax collected.

Angel investments totalled US$24.1 billion in the United States in 2014, according to the Centre for Venture Research. A significant number of these angel investors (individuals) are of Indian origin.

Many have made their money in Silicon Valley and would like to invest in India, but individually find it expensive and complicated to invest via Mauritius or Singapore. (Excerpt from Times

of India)

Rajan Govil is co-founder of Marketnomix Research, an independent economics and markets research firm

16 News

thursday, september 17, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Public Service Ministry CoI Mexico to help Guyana with Commissioners unsure of salaries digitisation of National Archives

T

he Commissioners who were recently appointed to the Public Service Ministry Commission of Inquiry (CoI) are not aware of their salaries, since negotiations in this regard were not made between them and the government.

In fact, these Commissioners told media operatives during a press conference on Tuesday that should they be paid meagre sums, they would have no qualms about that.

According to reports, the trio – Professor Harold Lutchman, Sandra Jones and Samuel Goolsaran, could not provide reporters with information in relation to their personal remuneration packages.

Guyana Times understands that since they are unaware of their salaries, the possibility exists that they may be providing their services to the Government, free of cost.

Dr Lutchman redirected queries concerning the figures, stating that they

should be posed to politicians.

He told the media that he has neither stipulated nor asked the relevant authorities details of his salary such as the total sum.

It was reported that the lead Commissioner emphasised that such a query was not a major concern for the trio, as their aim was to conduct professional jobs in the interest of Guyana and the public as well.

Additionally, the Commission’s Secretary, Geeta Chandan-Edmond disclosed that statements have already been pouring in. Dozens of memoranda from interested parties, persons, stakeholders have been received.

According to media reports, Chandan-Edmond stated that these statements came from all across the country. She stated that she even received statements from persons in Canada, in the United States of America and this one from members in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the

Commission’s lifespan is expected to be between three and five months with the possibility of a renewal in the case of the Commissioners expressing the need for more time.

Guyana Times understands that the public hearings, which are opened to the general public for oral presentations, will be conducted at the Secretariat Building of the Public Service Ministry on Waterloo Street, Georgetown.

It should also be noted that the terms of reference of the CoI state that the Commission is to inquire into, report on, and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration and conditions of service for public servants.

It is also expected that the CoI determine measures to improve the efficiency of the public service. Also, there is to be a detailed examination of how salaries and wages are determined and allocated. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Ministers visiting without proper communication – Region Two Chairman

R

egion Two Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt has vented his concern over the disrespect that is being shown to the Regional Administration by Government Ministers and other officials of the new Government who are visiting the region countless times and failing properly communicate their presence in the region with the authorities there.

Ramdatt was at the time speaking at the statutory meeting of the Regional Democratic Council on Tuesday held in the RDC boardroom at Anna Regina.

The newly elected chairman said he is not pleased with the level of communication between the Office of the Presidency and other Ministries in APNU+AFC Government and the Region.

He said often activities are being conducted in his region and he has no knowledge of what’s going on pointing out that most time he keeps update through the media as oppose to Ministers offices themselves.

“If they don’t want the Regional Chairman to attend those activities, at least inform me about the activity so I would be informed what’s happening in the Region I oversee” Ramdatt noted.

Reflecting on an instance, he said that he was only informed about President David Granger visit a day infront via a telephone call.

This, he said, could have been properly communicated via an email or a visit by

APNU+AFC representative beforehand.

Ramdatt who did not attend the Commissioning ceremony of the school boat at Charity which was handed over by President Granger, said that communication is important and he feels that a Presidential visit should be communicated to the Office of the Chairman.

Speaking about National Unity and Cohesion, Ramdatt further argued that often times, Office of the Region Two Chairman and Office of the Vice Chairman are excluded from important activities that are happening within their Region.

Reference was also made on a recent visit made by the Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnarine without any communication.

The Department of Education was not informed also about the Roopnarine’s visit. It was then A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change Councillor, (APNU+AFC) Dacia Jones alleged at the RDC meeting that the Minister’s visit was a personal one.

She said several officers raised similar concerns with her and she called the Minister Office and she was told his visit was a personal one.

The Chairman then responded saying he saw several reports of the Minister recent visit in the media.

Recently also, representative for Youths, Aubrey Norton visited Region Two. Ramdatt

said

that

youths are very important and at the meetings held by Norton he should have at least been invited.

The chairman said that he has the responsibility of the region as such he should be informed on happenings and called upon Ministers and Office of the Presidency not to exclude the Regional Democratic Council of the Region Two Adminisation on activities.

He is of the opinion that with togetherness and unity then positive changes can take place in Guyana.

– teachers in Caricom to benefit from Mexican experts’ training

G

uyana will soon benefit from the digitisation of its National Archives with the help of Mexico and it is expected that this project will commence shortly.

This is according to Mexico’s Ambassador to Guyana, Ivan Robero Sierra Medel, as he highlighted the achievements of the relationship that the Spanishspeaking nation has shared with this country over the years.

During Mexico’s 205th anniversary celebration at the Marriott Hotel on Tuesday evening, in the presence of President David Granger, the Ambassador stated that his country has provided significant assistance to Guyana and more could be done.

He posited that there was “huge” potential for a more dynamic engagement with the greater Caribbean and Mexico had every intention of collaborating with Guyana in order to broaden the political dialogue and improve economic exchanges.

It is also expected that with Mexico’s assistance Guyana will ‘make strides’ in international development cooperation.

Ambassador Medel further added that his country would be sending experts to provide training to secondary school teachers in various Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries. The gathering at the anniversary celebration was reminded that there has also been collaboration between the countries in areas such as agriculture and health.

Mexico’s Ambassador to Guyana, Ivan Robero Sierra Medel

Fundamental role

Meanwhile, President Granger commended Mexico’s support for the Region through the Caricom-Mexico cooperation programme as he stated that the Spanish-speaking country’s geopolitical role would be fundamental in addressing many challenges faced by Caricom.

The major challenges faced are in the areas of food security, climate change and transnational organised crime.

“We wish, therefore, to urge Mexico to use its influence in the hemisphere and on the international stage to reject the use, or threat of the use of force between states, to promote development and to preserve the Caribbean as a zone of peace,” Guyana’s Head of State said.

It was noted that despite the disparities in wealth and size, Mexico and Guyana share a number of similarities. Hence, there will be

many opportunities that can be seized for collaboration.

Guyana Times understands that Guyana, like Mexico, adheres strongly to the values of democracy, liberty, respect for human rights, sustainable development, the rule of law and peaceful solutions to international controversies and more.

President Granger emphasised that Mexico’s technical assistance, especially in the fields of training and education, complements Guyana’s national efforts to create a more competent workforce. This is essential to providing vital services to support Guyana’s development.

According to the Guyanese President, the groundwork for the intensification of bilateral activity between the two countries has been well laid.

He further added that the Government of Guyana hoped to work closely with the Mexican Embassy to bring projects to fruition.

“We hope also to deepen the dialogue between our two countries and to explore and exploit the considerable potential, which exists for increasing investment opportunities between Guyana and Mexico,” the President added.

Guyana and the Spanishspeaking nation established bilateral relations in March 1973. These were further strengthened with the establishment of the Mexican Embassy in 2009. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy. com)

Fairfield residents affected by air pollution – plead with EPA for relief

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esidents living in Fairfield in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to visit their area, as they are predominately affected by air pollution.

The pollution is as a result of huge stockpiling of several tons of sand and loam stored by a private contractor in the area. The storage has resulted in serious environmental and health problems for those living in that community.

Speaking on behalf of residents, Monnilall Ramlall related that the dust from the stock pile of several tons of white sand and loams on the left side of the community has created a situation where residents are affected daily.

“We can’t even sit down on we veranda in the eve-

ning, the stock piles are located on the waterside side and with heavy wind, its killing us here, this is very unhealthy for us,” Ramlall related.

Asked how long this has been ongoing, Ramlall said this has been the case for over five years and daily things are being dumped by the contractor at the location. The resident said numerous complaints were made to the Good Hope/ Pomona Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) but nothing has been done to date.

Ramlall, whose wife has been affected, said that he has to constantly visit the Suddie Public Hospital for her to seek treatment. He explained that his wife’s skin has rashes due to the

dust. The farmer said that he cannot open his house due to the continuous sand and dust blowing in the wind, adding that all of the rain water he has collected has been contaminated by the dust.

Others residents living in close proximity, many with young babies and children are also severely affected. This newspaper was informed that the contractor uses the location to stockpile sand and loam before it is transported to Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

“Nuff times we went for help... nothing not doing, we suffering, this has to do with we help, we even called EPA yet nothing nah been done, we need immediate help,” one visibly upset resident explained.

The residents feel the location is inappropriate for

stockpiling and are calling on EPA to act on the matter urgently and to make a visit.

Many persons have become asthmatic due to the constant dust residue in the air.

According to the NDC Chairman Showkat Ali, the Contractor in question, Ali Khan, who owns private land at the location, was informed about the situation on numerous occasions.

He said that letters were written to the Contractor through the Public Health Department informing him about the plight of the residents.

The Chairman further added that residents have also visited him and aired their concerns over the issue. He has however promise to follow up with the EPA, noting that he had forwarded several letters in relation to the matter to the environment body the past.

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news

thursday, september 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

agent robbed Foster honoured by Mibicuri Travel of over US$750 Community Developers A return home from the United States turned sour for a local travel agent and her son after they became the most recent victims of robbery on their way home from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Rowena Bowen and her son had just exited a taxi at their Lot 2 Shell Road, Kitty, Georgetown, home when they were attacked and robbed by two bandits.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, September 16.

Based on reports, the perpetrators exited a vehicle

T

he outstanding work of longstanding Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), Hilbert Foster, was recognised by another organisation earlier this week.

The 2010 National Sports Personality-of-the-Year was honoured for his work among youths, especially his hard work in the fight against suicide in Black Bush Polder and Guyana in general by the Mibicuri Community Developers.

Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings handed over the World Suicide Prevention Day Award on behalf of the group and congratulated Foster for his outstanding work among youths. In an invited comment, Foster, who has received numerous awards from international and national organisations, stated that he was humbled to be honoured by a sister organisation of the RHTY&SC. The Mibicuri Community Developers and the RHTY&SC were both founded by the three-time Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee, the St Francis Community Developers.

Foster has been the architect and driving force behind thousands of projects/activities directed towards youths over the last 15 years, in his capacity as Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC. Every year, the Club, under his leadership, undertakes a massive list of 200 programmes/activities that touch and change the lives of youths across Berbice.

Foster also served as the Chairman of the Special Events Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) from 2008 to 2014 and completed over 1000 projects/activities that com-

Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster receives the award from Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings

pletely transformed the Board from a mere cricketing organisation into a highly successful Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

In 2005, he drafted a massive anti-drug and pro-education campaign for the RHTY&SC that included magazines, leaflets, posters, educational scholarships, counselling, television commercials and programmes, billboards, involvement in sports and assistance to students to stay in school.

In 2014, the programme was expanded to include a “Say no to crime and suicide” promotion.

Thousands of youth information booklets, posters and banners for schools were produced, in conjunction with the Edward B Beharry

Company Limited, the Guyana Police Force B Division and the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Education Department.

The anti-suicide promotion has comprised numerous sporting tournaments, donation of equipment to numerous clubs, lectures from role models and an anti-suicide rally that featured more than 1000 students from schools across Region Six. The eight cricket teams of the RHTY&SC, under the guidance of Foster, have also targeted the prevention of suicide under their personal development programmes. Foster has dedicated the World Suicide Prevention Day Award to the sponsors and every member of the RHTY&SC.

WBCIC supports day care initiative ensuring that our children were cared for and brought in a decent environment.

He also believed parents needed to play a vital role in the upbringing of children and challenged Sister Jacqueline to play her role as the leader of the Day Care to ensure that the objective was achieved.

that was parked on Stanley Place, a stone’s throw away from Bowen’s home and pounced upon her and her son as they were about to walk through the gate.

One of the bandits attacked the taxi driver while the other held the mother at gunpoint, demanding cash and valuables.

Eventually, the bandits escaped with a laptop, passports and some US$750.

Investigators said there was no evidence to prove that the family was trailed from the airport.

Taxi driver sentenced to two weeks in prison for destroying ex’s passport

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taxi driver was on Wednesday sentenced to two weeks in prison after he was found guilty by Magistrate Annette Singh in Court 11 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts of a charge of damage of property.

Gavin Major, 39, of 11 Charles Street, Charlestown, on June 29 at 11 Coconut Walk, Albouystown unlawfully damaged one Republic of Guyana passport valued at $15,000, property of the Virtual Complainant (VC), Shaminka Thomas, his exgirlfriend.

The case was prosecuted by Police Prosecutor, Corporal Aduni Innis.

During the trial, the court learnt that the two individuals shared a two-year relationship during which they resided together at Coconut Walk.

On the day in question, the VC was at home preparing to leave for a trip abroad when the defendant, who was no longer in a relationship with her, came to the house and an argument en-

sued. During the argument, there was an exchange of words during which the defendant accused the VC of going abroad to engage in drug peddling.

He then went into her suitcase and removed her passport, which he tore to pieces. The matter was reported to the Police and the defendant was arrested and charged. He was brought before the Court and the trial commenced on July 7.

After reviewing all of the evidence and testimony during the trial, the Magistrate found the defendant guilty telling him that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt his culpability.

She then sentenced him to pay a fine of $30,000 as well as two weeks in prison. In addition to that, she ordered him to compensate the VC for her loss.

He was given two weeks to pay the fine and compensation; in lieu of which he would spend another two weeks’ imprisonment.

GRC reached out to eight families in August

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WBCIC Treasurer Eworth Sangster hands over the cheque to Sister Jacqueline Isaacs in the presence of WBCIC President Imran Saccoor and Tage Singh, along with a few children of the Day Care Centre

T

he West Berbice Chambers of Industry and Commerce (WBCIC) has joined the effort to support young children through a monetary donation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Day Care Centre of Rosignol, Berbice.

The donation is intended to help the Day Care Centre to offset its operational expenses and to invest in literature materials for the students.

So far, 31 children, be-

tween ages three months and three years, have been registered at the school, which is headed by Sister Jaqueline Isaacs, a childcare specialist. The Chamber was delighted to have been part of this initiative since it believes that investment in youth represents investment for the future.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, WBCIC President Imran Saccoor welcomed the undertaking by the Day Care, and called

on organisations to support this cause since some of the services offered will be charitable. He added that the project would benefit the wider community since single parents could now have another option in leaving their children in a safe environment while they go to work.

WBCIC Treasurer Eworth Sangster has committed to the Chamber providing support as was needed and called on the business community to play its role in

he Guyana Relief Council (GRC), a Non-Governmental Organisation known for rendering aid to persons whose lives were disrupted by man-made or natural disasters, assisted eight families during the month of August.

The Council provided support in the form of distribution of mattresses, food supplies, clothing, beds, gas stoves, kitchen utensils, building materials and hygiene items to families who suffered as a consequence of fire or experienced some form of hardship. Some families also receive a monthly care package.

Those who received assistance are: Ms Joyclyn Pickett (family of four) of

84 Plum Park, Sophia; Mr Linden De Jonge (family of one) of Samaroo Street, Sophia; Ms Anral Wickham (family of three) of 1857 Parfaite Harmonie; Ms Yvette Glasgow of 177 Triumph, Beterverwagting; Mr Milton Alli (family of seven) of Friendship, East Bank Demerara; Ms Savitri Williams (family of five) of Tuschen Housing Scheme; Ms Amanda Anthony (family of two) of Hope, East Coast Demerara; and Ms Roxanne Winfield (family of four) of Middle Walk Road, Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.

Additionally, following the recent fire at 79 William Street, Kitty, the GRC responded and provided assistance to two families who

were left homeless as a result of the disaster.

The families: Mr Germain Fraser (family of seven) and Rohnel Griffith (family of four) took up occupancy at the Yvonne Hinds Home of Hope. The Council will provided all the basic necessities for the duration of their stay.

According to a release from the Council, it has facilitated 70 cases, affecting 289 persons who were affected by disasters and persons in difficult circumstances.

Persons desirous of supporting the GRC’s humanitarian work can contact the NGO at its office, Lot X West of Public Road, Riverview Ruimveldt or on telephone, 225-3081 or 225-2874.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, september 17, 2015

ARCHIE

It will be hard to focus on one task. Limit distractions (March 21- and keep plugging away until April 19) the job is done. Once finished, you’ll feel satisfied and should treat yourself to a reward.

ARIES

Utilize your skill and TAURUS training to the utmost. Find (April 20- an innovative way to diversiMay 20) fy to better suit the changing economic climate. A successful partnership is apparent.

dilbert

Play by the rules, and GEMINI (May 21- don’t toy with someone’s feelJune 20) ings. What you see as harmless flirtation will be misinterpreted and could damage your reputation.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Change is inevitable. You can fight what’s coming or you can embrace it wholeheartedly. Choose to make your life simpler and let matters unfold naturally in order to excel.

You will feel vulnerable LEO and have a tendency to over(July 23- react. Don’t start off on the Aug. 22) wrong foot by making assumptions that aren’t based on facts.

Observing and asking pertinent questions will pay off.

Calvin and Hobbes

There is a limit to what VIRGO you can do on your own.

(Aug. 23Listen to someone with expeSept. 22) rience. An older friend or relative will be key to resolving your current problems.

Travel or communicaLIBRA (Sept. 23- tion delays will be unnervOct. 23) ing. Don’t let minor issues distract you from your goal.

Don’t pass up a chance to take a trip, whether for business or pleasure.

SUDOKU

Emotional issues will surSCORPIO face, but you mustn’t let them (Oct. 24interfere with your productivNov. 22) ity. Seek the help of a trusted friend or adviser, and get on with your day.

You may feel stuck or SAGITTARIUS stagnant. Spending time and (Nov. 23effort on your appearance or Dec. 21) wardrobe will lift your spirits and boost your confidence.

Love and romance are in the stars.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Spread your good will CAPRICORN around.

A charitable or benev(Dec. 22olent agency will benefit greatJan. 19) ly if you offer your services.

Your natural compassion and honesty will be instrumental in helping those in need.

AQUARIUS

It’s possible that in the (Jan. 20- heat of the moment you have Feb. 19) hurt the feelings of a loved one. It would be best to make amends before the distance between you grows.

You have to pace yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 20- Rely on your instincts to tell March 20) you which way to turn. Don’t be surprised if an old friend wants to reconnect.

thursday, september 17, 2015

19

WICB marks time Bolt donates US$10,960 plus in equipment to alma mater with BCCI I

nternal problems currently facing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are likely to inflict further woes on the West Indies as the regional board seeks to find a mechanism to deal with the future relationship between the two Boards.

A lawsuit worth US$41.97 million and the possibility that all future bi-lateral ties may be severed by the BCCI, continue to haunt the WICB, and recent developments within the BCCI are unlikely to ease the pressure.

The governing body for Indian cricket is currently engaged in a court battle with its former president N Srinivasan that is preventing it from holding general elections.

Last week, the BCCI sought the opinion of the Supreme Court on whether Srinivasan could attend the meetings of the board as the authorised representative of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA).

Srinivasan has been told to stay away from BCCI meetings before, owing to conflict of interest issues, and had even been made to apologise to the Supreme Court for doing otherwise.

Yet Srinivasan came

Former BCCI Srinivasan

president

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to the working committee meeting in Kolkata last week, at his own risk, and BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya called it to an end mere minutes after it had begun. Dalmiya said he would seek a court directive with regards to Srinivasan’s eligibility to participate in board matters.

Since Srinivasan has technically attended the meeting before it was adjourned “sine die”, the Cricket Association of Bihar, the petitioner in the IPL corruption scandal, is likely to move a contempt plea to the court. The legal muddle is likely to result in the postponement of the BCCI’s AGM, which needs to be held before September 30, for the

second year in succession.

A source close to the WICB revealed that at last weekend’s regular quarterly meeting of the WICB, the India matter came up, concerning the severing of bilateral ties and the also the lawsuit worth US$41.97M. “The matter was discussed by the WICB directors but at this point there is little they could do to advance the discussions with the BCCI. They are having internal problems and as such it is difficult for the WICB to get them to sit down to discuss the matter further. When their elections are held, then and only then would the WICB get an opportunity to engage these men in talks, so that cricket relations can resume.”

The source added that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has gotten involved in the matter and has written both bodies, asking them to meet at their earliest convenience to work out a deal moving foRward.

India is due to tour the Caribbean next year to play four Test matches and if they fail to make the trip, the WICB stands to lose significant revenue from what is expected to be a very lucrative tour. (Trinidad Guardian)

Usain Bolt making the presentation to the school

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ack in the island after his triple gold medal-winning performance at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has come to the aid of his alma mater’s sports programme with a donation of US$10,960 plus sporting equipment and supplies.

The world 100m and 200m record holder jumped to the assistance of William Knibb Memorial High

School after a number of its sports programmes were threatened due to financial constraints, adding 50 pairs of football boots, shin guards, 50 Usain Boltbranded football and bibs to assist in their current Inter Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA)/FLOW DaCosta Cup campaign.

Bolt also donated cricket gears including bats, pads, clothing, gloves and balls, to assist in the school’s Headley Cup cricket sea-

son, while the track and field team, has been receiving a yearly supply of gears from Bolt’s sponsor PUMA since 2002, when he was signed to the company.

That arrangement was also secured upon the sprinter’s request.

“William Knibb played an integral role in the athlete that I am today so any time they call; or anything I can do to give back, I am more than happy,” said Bolt. (Jamaica Gleaner)

UWI-WICB Celebrity T20 cricket Caledonia AIA rebranded with Morvant match to help Dominica

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Jamaal Shabazz

aledonia AIA, the 2012 Caribbean Club Champions, have rebranded and are now known as Morvant Caledonia United.

Caledonia have contributed towards the successful development of many notable players like Russell Latapy, Dennis Lawrence (both of whom are now practising coaches), Stokely Mason, Shurland David,

Densill Theobald, Conrad Smith and Radanfah Abu Bakr, just to name a few.

The pro league club have now spread their wings to incorporate the entire Morvant community, and not just the Caledonia district which borders the Eastern Main Road in Barataria.

“It’s five years now we’ve been discussing re-branding since Caledonia is a small part of the bigger entity which is Morvant,” founder and technical director Jamaal Shabazz explained.

“The emergence of gangrelated activity, divisive politics and the like have rendered our community into sectors and borderlines.”

“As a youth growing up, we could go to any part of Morvant. We must rekindle that community spirit and bring our villages in Morvant together again.”

(Trinidad Express)

T

he University of the West Indies (UWI), in partnership with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), will host a Celebrity T20 cricket match in Barbados on September 26 in support of Dominica, which continues to grapple with the devastation caused by the passage of Tropical Storm Erika on August 27.

The T20 match at Kensington Oval, which aims to attract a sold-out crowd, will see a WICB President’s Celebrity XI play against a UWI ViceChancellor’s Celebrity XI. Each team will field six West Indies cricketers and five Caribbean celebrities.

Sporting personalities including former West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago cricketer Brian Lara, Tobago-born footballer Dwight Yorke and Jamaican Olympian Yohan Blake are

Brian Lara

among the first celebrities to confirm their availability for the benefit match.

For the West Indies team players, it will be their final home game before departing for their tour of Sri Lanka.

UWI Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles said that the UWI was pleased to collaborate with the WICB to support the Dominica relief fund. Expressing sympathy to the families who lost relatives and property in the

storm, he said: “The UWI is committed to doing everything we can to help in the resuscitation of Dominica and its people.”

Noting that cricket is a sport that has historically united Caribbean people, Sir Hilary said: “It is fitting that our celebrated cricketers and athletes should join with academia in providing financial aid.”

Since the August 27 disaster, Beckles has been in contact with Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, and a UWI task force of experts in disaster management, including engineers and doctors coordinated by Dr Jeremy Collymore, is already on the ground.

President Dave Cameron endorsed the WICB’s and the cricketers’ dedication to doing their part in the face of Dominica’s disaster. He said

Yohan Blake

that the West Indies cricket team represents the region with pride all over the world, but nowhere is more important to them than the Caribbean. He further underscored the long-standing collaboration with the UWI for the development of the region.

In addition to supporting the benefit match through ticket sales, persons and institutions may also make financial pledges through online and telephone mechanisms. (Jamaica Observer)

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guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, september 17, 2015

BCB/BBCI 50-over tournament…

Badminton on the rise, says Ramdhani Fudadin, Sinclair – Narayan Ramdhani to attend the power RHTGG to final Young Talents Camp in Colombia

By Rajiv Bisnauth

P

resident of the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA), Gokarn Ramdhani, feels that the sport continues to move in an upward direction, both locally and internationally.

Ramdhani comments came after Guyana’s top player Narayan Ramdhani was selected by the Pan American Badminton Federation Development Committee to attend a 10day Young Talents Camp in

Gokarn Ramdhani

Narayan Ramdhani

Medellin, Colombia.

“For a player to be selected from Guyana is definitely good news for the sport,” Ramdhani, who is

also the Secretary General of the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO), said.

He added, “The committee had to do a sur-

vey worldwide for the best young talents, and Narayan was picked, so it’s a clear indication that the international people recognise us, so badminton locally is definitely on the rise.”

The camp, which will be conducted by Professor Qadafi Muamar of Indonesia, commenced on Tuesday last and will conclude on September 25. As part of the programme, Narayan will also take part in the VI Colombia International Championships in the Men’s Singles category.

Meanwhile, the younger Ramdhani has moved up the Junior World rankings from 491 to 269 after participating in three international tournaments.

He participated in the Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) International Under-19 Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Pan American Junior Championships held in Tijunana, Mexico, and the XVII Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

His ranking will get higher, since three more international events remain for the year- the Colombian Open, the World Junior Championships and the Suriname International. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy. com)

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n unbeaten second wicket stand of 140 in 23 overs between West Indies middle-order batsman Assad Fudadin and Berbice senior player Jason Sinclair spearheaded Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG) to an easy nine-wicket victory over Port Mourant in the semi-finals of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) 50-over cricket tournament.

Playing at the Area “H” ground, Fudadin continued his rich vein of form with an attractive unbeaten 82 not out with nine boundaries and a six, while Sinclair hit an attacking 69 not out with seven boundaries and a six as RHTGG chased down 187 in 29.2 overs.

Batting first in front of a colorful crowd at the Area “H” Ground after losing the toss, Port Mourant lost Loydel Lewis in the second over when he was caught off Keon Sinclair for one.

At 5-1, Avishwar Sewharran and Samuel Krishasammy then added 15 for the second wicket before Krishasmmy was forced to retired hurt after receiving a serious blow to his right hand from Clinton Pestano.

Sewharran struggled to get the ball off the square and he was finally dismissed for four off 27 balls at 44- 2 in the 11th over.

Parmanand Narine (22), Joshua Ramsammy (42) and N. Cameron (15) reached

Rose Hall cricketers continue community work T he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Pepsi Under-19 team and the Community Outreach Department of the Guyana Police Force ‘B’ Division recently collaborated to donate a set of items to the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost.

The donation of one bicycle, rechargeable lamp and a clock was done under the two organisations’ joint “Say no to drugs/crime/suicide and YES to sports/education” programme. The programme was launched in response to the rapid use of drugs and the rise of criminal activities in the Ancient County.

Secretary/CEO of the club, Hilbert Foster, in handing over the items, stated that the club and the police met residents of the township during the month of August and several requests were made as part of the effort to improve the performance of the outpost.

The items were purchased with proceeds from a corn-house fundraising ef-

Secretary/CEO of the club, Hilbert Foster, making the presentation to representatives of the Rose Hall Town Police Outpost

fort of the two organisations.

Foster urged the management of the outpost to use the items for their intended purpose and committed the Pepsi Under-19 team to provide another bicycle to the outpost, along with some much needed items.

The RHTY&SC, he proudly stated, is the only sport organisation in the en-

tire Caribbean, which gets its different cricket teams to undertake projects to make a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and the less fortunate.

The Pepsi Under-19 team, along with the other RHTY&SC cricket teams, namely Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and

Second Division, Metro Females and Gizmos and Gadgets Under-21 and First Division, on an annual basis undertake dozens of activities/programmes under the sub-headings of sport, education, antidrugs, charity, anti-suicide, youth and community development, religious and

Assad Fudadin and Jason Sinclair walk off after leading RHTGG to victory

double-figures, while extras contributed a healthy 44 as Port Mourant reached a respectable 187 all out in 46.2 overs.

Bowling for RHTGG, skipper Shawn Perriera took 4-29 from 10 overs, Keon Sinclair 2-33, while there was a wicket each for Fudadin, Rajiv Ivan and Collis Butts.

Needing 188 for victory, Fudadin and Vidal Crandon added 49 for the first wicket

in 6.2 overs before Crandon was yorked by medium-pacer Mahendra Looknauth for 14.

The Fudadin and Sinclair partnership then dominated the hapless Port Mourant bowlers to all parts of the lightening fast outfield. Fudadin’s fifty came off 34 balls, while Sinclair’s took 37 deliveries.

RHTGG would play the winner of the Albion and Police semi-final match.

Elizabeth Styles tournament continues on Sunday

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he East Coast Cricket Board’s (ECCB) Elizabeth Styles 40over tournament will continue this Sunday with four matches.

Enterprise Busta Sports Club “A” will host Mon Repos “A”, Golden Grove will oppose Mon Repos “B” at Buxton Community Centre, Lusignan Sports Club “B” will host Buxton “Carl Hooper” Sports Club, and Ogle Blue and Lusignan Sports Club “A” will clash at the Ogle Community Centre ground.

The club of the tournament will take home $350,000, while there will be prizes and trophies for the losing finalist and the player-of-the-final.

All matches will be played strictly in accordance of the rules and regulations of the ECCB with regards to the preparation and availability of the host facilities.

Raymond Barton

awards/honours among others.

A s s i s t a n t Superintendent Terrence Browne and Corporal Ceasar of the Guyana Police Force expressed gratitude to the Pepsi Under-19 team and the Police Community Outreach Department for the donation. Browne stated that he enjoys working with the RHTY&SC, as it is an action-oriented organisa-

tion, which strongly believes in making a difference.

In the coming weeks, the two organisations would be unveiling plans for several sporting tournaments and the construction of a Recreational Park for families in Rose Hall Town. The sport tournaments to be organised will target the disciplines of volleyball, basketball, football and female cricket.

Further information on the tournament can he had from Raymond Barton on 6260223 or Davteerth Anandjit 617-8502.

Meanwhile, ECCB second division semi-final between Better Hope Sports Club “B”’ and Perseverance Sports Club will be played at Better Hope Community Centre, also on Sunday. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy. com)

sports

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21

South Asia to back Platini in FIFA vote, says official

A

senior South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) official has said its seven members will vote for Frenchman Michel Platini in next year’s FIFA presidential elections.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) chief Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has already backed Platini as his preferred candidate for football’s top job in the February elections, which have been forced by the worst crisis in FIFA’s 111-year history.

SAFF general secretary Anwarul Huq told Reuters on Wednesday that his organisation would follow the AFC’s lead.

“The AFC chief has already backed Platini. We will go with the AFC,” he said.

“At the end of the day, voting is an individual thing but we will go with AFC as we always do,” the Bangladeshi official added after the draw ceremony for the ninth SAFF Cup to be held in India later this year.

Swiss Sepp Blatter beat Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan to win a fifth term as FIFA president in May, but four days later announced his decision to step down following the arrests of FIFA officials and others two days before the election.

Prince Ali has again joined the race for the FIFA top job, while former Asia vicepresident Chung Mong-joon of South Korea is also in the fray.

Chung has accused the AFC of sending unsolicited letters to its members urging them to support Platini but FIFA has dis-

Frenchman Michel Platini is aiming to be the next FIFA President

missed his complaint.

All India Football Federation general secretary Kushal Das echoed Huq’s view on SAFF’s stance on the election.

“We’ll go by what AFC says. Of course, there have to be more meetings before that.

But whoever is elected, it won’t be a problem for us,” he added.

The South Indian city of Thiruvananthapuram will host the ninth SAFF Cup from December 23 to January 3, the eight-team tournament securing a title sponsor in Suzuki for the first time since it started in 1993.

Apart from the seven SAFF members -- India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Maldives -Afghanistan will also compete in the tournament. (Reuters)

Elite League breathes...

According to Aaron, being afforded the opportunity to compete in the first-ever Elite League in Guyana has brought the club back to life, and there is a renewed energy among the players and management.

“It was a good gesture of the NC [Normalisation Committee] to come along with the Elite League that generated a new interest, a new energy into the club and the ownership, and we decide we will give it a go…not just a go, but we’re working very hard to win this first Elite League,” Aaron divulged.

Slingerz FC will face perennial rivals Alpha United in the main game of a double-header on Friday eve-

ning when the Elite League gets cracking at the Leonora football facility. The match could potentially set the tone for the rest of the competition, as the two teams are considered heavy favourites to lift the title.

Earlier this week, Ali said he sees the Stag Elite League as “the window for the next level”, further stating “this is what my club was built forto participate in the League and move on to the CFU and hopefully CONCACAF.” He pointed out, “If it wasn’t for the League, my club would’ve been out of football because we don’t have nowhere else to go and nothing more to win or to prove. We won almost ev-

erything, we had a chance to play in the Banks tournament we won it, we played in the Kashif and Shanghai and won that too and also we played the Mayor’s Cup and we won it after finishing runner-up the first year, so basically, everything for football we’ve won.”

Apart from their already strong line-up Slingerz FC recently signed national Under-23 forward Domini Garnett from Caledonia AIA, along with St Vincent and the Grenadines national goalkeeper Winslow McDowall, and his compatriots defenders Jolanshoy McDowall and Keith James. (aramzan@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Stag Elite League set for...

“Guyana is a sporting nation. This league will prove that we’re a football nation.

A few years from now we will sit and down and say ‘look what we’re accomplishing here, what’s the next step.’ We will turn back to this moment, the kick-off of the Elite League. It’s a tool of social development. We can’t get away from that,” Bolton reasoned.

He added, “We’re creating stars for our young players. Young players here only know of [Lionel] Messi and so on. Within this month, we will be able to hear a child somewhere in the field saying ‘oh I’m Vurlon Mills’; that’s what you’re going to hear.”

Shabazz, who shared the head table with Bolton on Wednesday, was equally optimistic about what lies ahead for Guyana’s football, noting that it is “really exciting days” for local football.

“Outside of facilities, this is most important step for

Guyana football, especially as it relates to the national team,” Shabazz opined.

The former GFF Technical Director said the Elite League is geared to improve the standard of local players, and bring them on par with foreign-based national players in terms of engaging in a strict training regimen.

“Without this league the people who were speaking about a local-based national team were not saying anything. The league provides an opportunity for the players to do just what the foreign-based players are doing- training in the week, playing week in, week out, and competing at a higher level, and I think this is so important,” Shabazz highlighted.

Trinidadian Shabazz added that while football will benefit directly from the League, there are several importance facets of local life that will also receive a boost.

from back page

from back page

“From a social standpoint, we see a League that generates economic activity- the vendors are going to have their stuff on sale, the transport people are going to get an income, the electricity people...all the spinoffs of hosting an elite event and the economic activity and the benefits of it will come with this League. It’s really, really exciting days,” Shabazz explained.

He concluded, “It’s important that we recognise this moment. Everybody wants to see the final product, but this is the development phase of it. This is where we build the passion in the country.”

The League will kick off at 18:00h on Friday with the country’s two oldest clubs GFC and Pele taking the field, followed by the feature game between the country’s youngest club Slingerz FC and Alpha United at 21:30h. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, september 17, 2015

Pele FC ready for Stag Elite League – three North West players to appear for Georgetown side

O

ne of the country’s oldest football clubs, Pele FC, is ready and raring to go in the inaugural Stag Beer Elite League, which kicks off on Friday at the Synthetic Track and Field and Football Facility at Leonora.

The Georgetown-based unit has been given the distinct honour of playing

Members of Pele FC pose for a photo after last weekend’s meeting

Pele FC President John Yates

the first game of the historic League against the country’s oldest football club, the North Road-based Georgetown Football Club (GFC), at 18:00h.

The clash of Guyana’s two longest functioning foot-

ball institutions will commence the Genesis phase of the eight-month League, which will be contested by the top eight teams in Guyana.

Like all the other participating clubs, word coming out of the Pele FC camp is fully geared up for battle in the country’s first professional League.

“We’re very happy to be part of the League,” President of the club, John Yates, said on Wednesday.

The club’s chances of winning the League were given a massive boost recently when two key players returned after plying their trade with another city side, Alpha United.

Guyana’s first Major

League Soccer (MLS) player Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson and the experienced midfielder Travis “Zorro” Grant are now back with Pele, and their switch is a huge confidence booster for the team.

According to Yates, the club has also sought resources from outside Georgetown and the coastland to aid its cause during the League.

“There are three young players who have come from the North West and we’ve arranged for them to go to training at the Government Technical Institute in Georgetown and they will be coming to show their skills, and I hope that coach Shabazz will look at them, and maybe we will have a

player from the North West on the national team shortly,” Yates explained.

Yates added that club has embraced the League, and is looking forward to its success. He is urging football fans to come out and witness the games in the interest of the game’s development at all levels.

“The club has gone through a restructuring; we’re in the process of cementing a new home for the club, and one of the things the players have expressed a strong desire for is that we’re hoping that all the games what we play and what the other clubs play that we have large attendance,” Yates outlined.

He added, “It is impor-

tant for two reasons as we see it- one, that the revenue from the programme would be large enough that the players will get back benefit from it and also that when there are large crowds at games, it motivates the players to excel a little more than if you have to play in a bare stadium or in front of just a few people.”

Meanwhile, the club held a general meeting on Sunday last when the members ratified a new constitution for the club in keeping with the directives of the Guyana Football Federation.

The club, which will celebrate its 45th anniversary in June 2016, has a full complement of players in training for the Elite League.

BCB/Telenec First Division cricket…

Wins for Tucber Park, Rose Hall and Albion T

ucber Park, Albion and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) have all registered easy first round wins when play in the Telenec Inc. 50-over tournament commenced last weekend for first division teams in Berbice.

At Edinburgh, the hosts were bowled out for a disappointing 85 in 35.1 overs.

Denny David topscored with 34, while Jamal Henry supported with 23.

All-rounder Eugene LaFleur took 3-8. He received support from Niall Smith, Joemal LaFleur and Kevin Pellew, who all took two wickets apiece. Tucber Park, in reply, reached the revised target of 38 from 8.1 overs with Romario Shepherd making 23.

Home team Skeldon fell

Devendra Bishoo

Anthony Bramble

for 115 with West Indies legspinner Devendra Bishoo, who is preparing for the tour to Sri Lanka, finishing with 5-29.

Bishoo received good support from Gudakesh Motie (3-11) and Veerasammy

Permaul (2-10). Albion then knocked off the target for the loss of three wickets.

National wicket-keeper/batsman Anthony Bramble hit an unbeaten 56, while Jonathan Foo supported with 35. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, september 17, 2015

23

C3 Recreational Park Chanderpaul 10/10 tournament billed willing to mentor for September 26 young batsmen

By Avenash Ramzan

L

ike most cricketers at the tail-end of their careers, Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been touted by Head Coach Esaun Crandon as a mentor for the Guyana Jaguars’ batting in the upcoming Professional Cricket League (PCL) Fourday tournament, set to start in November.

The Guyana Jaguars, winners of the first edition of the PCL in 2014/2015, are hard at training with the aim of defending the title, and Chanderpaul, who was overlooked for West Indies tour of Sri Lanka next month, is very much part of the set-up.

Crandon, during an interview with another section of the local press this week, said he plans to tap into Chanderpaul’s reservoir of expertise so as derive benefits for the South Americabased franchise.

“As far as I am aware Shiv still wants to play for Guyana at Regional FirstClass level. He is as fit as most of the younger guys and when he comes back I will sit with him to discuss what he wants and how he can help Guyana’s cricket.

Chanderpaul’s experience and temperament would make the ideal batting mentor and once he still has the desire, should be an asset for Guyana in the Four-Day format,” Crandon had said.

Chanderpaul, the region’s most capped Test player with 164 matches, joined the squad on Tuesday after returning from the United States and America, and during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport, he quickly expressed a desire to share his knowledge with the young crop of batsmen.

“It’s obviously the part you have to play now. The younger players need help and there are not a lot of senior players around, and you need to be there to help them. If you’re not here you can’t help them. A lot of times when you’re out there you can help a young fella to carry on and bat,” the former West Indies captain pointed out.

Chanderpaul reflected on the Guyana Jaguars’ last match against the Windward Islands in the PCL inaugural season, when he was constantly in the ears of all-rounder Christopher Barnwell, who eventually churned out his maiden First-Class hundred, a brilliant 148.

The left-hander, who has piled up 25,173 runs from 345 First-Class matches at an average of 54.48 with 71 centuries, said he is keen on using his wealth of experience to nurture the next

Shivnarine Chanderpaul (right) was Guyana Jaguars’ leading runscorer in the PCL earlier this year

generation of batsmen, who currently form part of the Guyana Jaguars’ franchise.

“Things that they might not expect you might be able to pick it up before them and you help them to be aware of certain things,” Chanderpaul said.

The former West Indies captain lauded Crandon and the support staff for their work in preparing the team this year, and he was particularly pleased to see several young players being incorporated into the training sessions.

“We have some bright young boys in this set-up right now, and it’s good that we have coach Crandon and Chairman of Selectors [Rayon] Griffith pulling out the bright ones and getting them here with us. They can only learn if they’re here with us and that is what they’re trying to do. It’s good to see what they’re doing for the future,” Chanderpaul related.

In terms of his personal preparation, Chanderpaul, who is a vital cog in the Guyana Jaguars’ middleorder, said he will continue with the same intensity as he has done all the years, despite being once again overlooked by the West Indies Cricket Board’s Selection Panel for the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka.

“I prepare myself one way and that’s the way I will always prepare myself. I’m not thinking that the tour is gone and I’m not there, I keep my preparation [method] the same, and when the tournament comes around I’m still hungry and ready for it,” the “Tiger”, as he is popularly known, asserted.

Quizzed on the team’s chances of retaining the title, Chanderpaul related that while there are several match-winners in the squad,

“you still have to go out and play well.”

He explained, “We still have basically the same players in team. We miss probably Narsingh [Deonarine], and we pretty much have the same team, but remember it’s a cricket match and you still have to go out and play well.”

Chanderpaul added, “You don’t know if you would have the same luck from last year because at times when we were in problems someone came along and performed for us and we were able to win games.

You don’t know if this time around that will happen, but we have the calibre of players who can win matches for us, so hopefully when the time comes we can deliver.”

Chanderpaul, who is currently the longest active First-Class player in the Caribbean, played a major role in Guyana Jaguars winning the inaugural title, as he was the leading runscorer for the franchise. He had amassed 539 runs in eight games, including a century in the final round to complement four half-centuries.

The veteran left-hander was one of three Guyanese to score over 500 runs; the others being opener Rajendra Chandrika with 525 and middle-order spearhead Narsingh Deonarine with 514.

The Guyana Jaguars, who won eight of the 10 matches, and lost and drew one each, accumulated a whopping 148 points, 31 more than second place Barbados Pride on 117.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes finished third on 109 points, followed by Jamaica (75), Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (65) and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (54).

T

Captains and representatives of the various clubs at the launching ceremony recently

he C3 Recreational Park 10/10 tournament is billed for September 26 at the Park’s location, Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice.

The event will feature eight county sides from West Berbice namely, Cotton Tree Die Hard, D’Edward Sports Club, Blairmont, Ithaca, Bush Lot United, Bush Lot Challengers, Number Three Sports Club and West Berbice.

The teams will be vary-

ing for cash prizes and trophies to the value of $200,000.

According to information from the organising committee, each team is permitted to invite as much guest players as they so desire. This, according to the committee, is an initiative taken in order to make the event exciting and fun-filled.

The games will commence at 12.00h and will end under floodlights.

There will also be Kids

Fest featuring bouncy castle, trampoline, cartoon characters, games, face painting and much for the children.

Admission to the day’s event is $300 for adults, while children will be admitted free.

Interested persons can contact the committee members for more details on 6879009 or 611-4593. Vending spots are available for games and food stalls. (rajivb2guyanatimesgy.com)

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

thursday, september 17, 2015

Stag Elite League set for grand kick-off Friday

By Avenash Ramzan

A

Chanderpaul willing to mentor young Pg 23 batsmen

new chapter in Guyana’s football history will be written on Friday evening when city sides Pele FC and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) step on the virgin soil of the Leonora football facility to contest the opening match of the country’s first-ever Elite League.

Under the title sponsorship of Ansa McAl’s Stag Beer brand, the eight-team League will start with the Genesis phase, which runs until November monthend, followed the Finale soon after.

Battling for supremacy over the coming months will be Alpha United, Guyana Defence Force, Slingerz FC, Pele FC, Fruta Conquerors, Georgetown Football Club, Buxton United and Monedderlust FC. “This is a very significant and exciting time for us because coach [Jamaal] Shabazz and I see it as more than just the League.

This is the future of foot-

GFF Technical Director Claude Bolton (left) and Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz

ball, because as we have said many times you cannot have a proper national team without having a national league,” Technical Director of the Guyana Football Federation, Claude Bolton, intimated at a press conference on

Wednesday.

He continued, “Players must play to get better, coaches must coach to get better, referees must referee to get better, and at the same time, the public comes along for the ride.”

Bolton, who has been

leading the process forward in terms of planning and executing of the League, said such a major step to professionalise the game can only serve to enhance the country’s standing in football. turn to page 21

Elite League breathes Singh, Adams star life back into Slingerz FC on rain-affected day Guyana Jaguars’ 3-day simulation match…

W

ith no competitive senior football being played since the 25th Kashif and Shanghai tournament in April, and a hefty monthly bill to ensure its existence, the West Demerarabased Slingerz Football Club was on the verge of being scrapped, according to General Manager, Colin Aaron.

“We were deciding, based on how the football was going at this time- nothing was happening- that we have achieved everything and there is nothing more to go after. Running on a budget of over $5 million a

S

Colin Aaron

Christopher Barnwell

month for gaining nothing, he [owner Javed Ali] was thinking of pulling the plug on the club,” Aaron said on Wednesday.

However, the Guyana Football Federation’s Stage Elite League came along, and the club, which is just two years old, but has won all of the tournaments entered, except the Namilco Football Classic, managed to fulfill all the requirements to gain entry into the League. turn to page 21

kipper Vishual Singh was unbeaten on 44 and Kemo Paul on four when rain brought an early end on day two of the three-day simulation match for the Guyana Jaguars as they continue preparation for the 2015/2016 WICB’s Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day tournament.

Singh has so far hit

Raymond Reifer

six boundaries, as his team replying to Assad Fudadin’s XI first innings 229, reached 64-3.

Test opener Rajendra Chandrika and FirstClass opener Shemron Hetymer fell without scoring to pacers Ronsford Beaton and Joshua Wade respectively, while Robin Bacchus (15) was removed

by Raymond Reifer, before Singh and Paul came

Vishual Singh

Anthony Adams

together and ensured no further damage was done.

Earlier, all-rounders Christopher Barnwell and Reifer took their overnight scores to 67 and 57 respectively before both batsmen retired out.

Kevon Boodie (04), Dexter Solomon (05), Akshaya Persaud (02) and Veerasammy Permaul (02) then fell in quick succession to left-arm spin-

ner Anthony Admas, who finished with 4-37.

The other successful bowlers for Fudadin’s XI were Paul Wintz, Steven Jacobs, Devendra Bishoo and Gudakesh Motie.

Weather permitting, the match will conclude today.

The second edition of the PCL starts on November 6. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

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