Guyana Times Daily

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Issue No. 2762

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Budget 2016

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

misrepresents economic reality – Irfaan Ali Page 9

..."good life", an "elusive dream" to most, a reality for a "select few" Budget measures will fulfil “ good life for all Guyanese” – Minister Gaskin

Chinese restaurant invasion

P16 1 in custody for Corentyne woman's murder

GPL CEO accused of unethical P11 management practices

As the week-long debate on the 2016 National Budget commenced on Monday, fiery exchanges were the hallmark of day one of the debate in the National Assembly with presentations by Members of Parliament (MPs) of the APNU/AFC coalition and the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)

Canje taxi driver shot by bandits Page 17

Essequibo Coast electrician commits suicide Page 2

Employment of contract workers

Ram & McRae urges President to end abuse Page 7

Rohee accuses GECOM of ethnic hiring – calls on diplomatic community to take note

Page 12

Wales Estate closure

Field workers given 3-day ultimatum

…to choose between Uitvlugt/severance

Page 3

Bicycle bandit nabbed after P7 robbing minibus driver, passenger

Gunmen rob NA Market vendor P16

2 news

tuesday, february 9, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Essequibo Coast Electrician EBE residents forced to use contaminated water commits suicide

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T

wenty-two-year-old Dinesh Chan, also known as Moti, of Reliance Village, Essequibo Coast, died after he consumed a quantity of poisonous substance.

Chan, who was an electrician, was rushed to the Suddie Public Hospital on February 3 after he was discovered by relatives at his Reliance home.

Reports are Chan had relationship issues. However, according to family members, the popular electrician and dancer never confided in anyone about his problems.

As news spread about the young man’s death, his village and the Swarswattie Dance Academy were plunged into mourning.

Chan had been a dancer for almost two years with the Academy. Several members of the Dance Academy described him as a very willing

Dinesh Chan

and cooperative person.

Meanwhile, three other young persons are battling for their lives at the Oscar Joseph Charity Hospital.

The three, who hail from the Pomeroon River area, ingested poisonous substances in separate incidents.

Doctors are monitoring their condition. Only recent-

ly, five persons were hospitalised at the Suddie Public Hospital after attempting suicide. Three of those persons succumbed.

Thus far, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) has recorded the highest suicide rate in the country for 2016 with more than eight reported deaths.

esidents on East Bank Essequibo (EBE) are calling for intervention by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) as they have to use water that is contaminated.

Residents are complaining that the water coming through their taps is discoloured and full of sediments.

This, residents said, is contributing to health issues as they cannot afford to buy water for domestic purposes.

Guyana Times was told resident are currently paying for this water as the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) sends bills on a monthly basis.

One resident complained bitterly about the fact that he receives bills from GWI but yet his service is unacceptable.

“I can’t believe that I have to pay for this water; look at the condition of it, you can’t use this unless you’re an animal or something. They don’t care about

the condition of the water but they sending bill every month on time,” the man complained.

Another resident stated that after consuming the water as she cannot afford to buy clean water, she fell sick.

“I drank the water because the rain is not falling and I’m not getting rain water to drink, I also can’t afford to buy water but that was a big mistake. I started to vomit and I got diarrhoea for almost a week. They really need to do something about this water”.

The residents described the water as dark yellowbrown in colour and with green substance—moss— floats in it. They also explained that after the water settles, more than five centimetres of the bucket contains sediment.

“The water used to be clean but then it started to

change. At first I thought that the main pipes were being cleaned or something but then the water kept coming in this dirty state. I made queries as to what is contributing to this but I couldn’t speak to anyone that would give me an explanation,” explained one resident.

The residents are therefore calling on the relevant authorities to urgently investigate the matter as they are frustrated with the situation.

Meanwhile, Region Three Regional Chairman Julius Faerber stated he was not aware of the matter as he did not receive any complaints from residents.

He however said he will launch an investigation into the cause of this problem so that it could be fixed.

Efforts were made to contact GWI but they were futile.

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 9 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, February 10 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, February 9 – 17:00h-18:30h and Wednesday, February 10 – 05:25h-06:55h.

Wales Estate closure

Field workers given 3-day ultimatum …to choose between Uitvlugt/severance

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, with light rain showers.

Partly cloudy conditions are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North-easterly between 4.91 metres and 6.70 metres per second.

High Tide: 05:07h and 17:24h reaching maximum heights of 2.77 metres and 2.88 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:58h and 23:22h reaching minimum heights of 0.42 metre and 0.34 metre respectively.

S

A group of disgruntled workers at Wales Estate

ugar workers on Monday were given a three-day ultimatum to sign an agreement indicating whether they will opt to receive a severance package from government or be transferred to Uitvlugt Sugar Estate.

If the workers do not sign the agreement in the stipulated timeframe, they will be ousted from the Wales Sugar Estate.

The workers of Wales Estate were informed of this during an intense meeting with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Guyana Times met with the aggrieved workers shortly after the meeting who voiced their concerns on the matter.

The workers described the move as most unfair, noting that the timeframe is too short a period to make such a big and important decision.

One worker Talat Khan stated that the options proposed by GuySuCo are against labour regulations.

“This decision that they have taken to stop you immediately from work [is] against the labour agreement… you have to give the union one month notice before you can then take [workers] off,” Khan explained.

Khan posited that the workers are likely to stand in unity and refuse to sign the agreement since the sole fight is to convince government to reverse the decision to shut down Wales Estate.

“At this point we’re not contemplating [to] accept severance pay because solely our fight is begging the Government and the President to have this deci-

sion revoked because somebody out of GuySuCo is misleading the President and his cabinet [in] making this wrong decision,” he stated.

Another worker, Prem Persaud told this newspaper he is unsure of what to

stated that he has 33 years of service and wants the authorities to give the assurance that his benefits would be paid.

“What we are asking the Government and the decision-makers of GuySuCo to

Another group waiting to meet with GuySuCo managers

do. He explained that transportation to and from Wales to Uitvlugt might be a big issue.

Wilbert Damon father of five, said he is contemplating the pay-out option since it is in keeping with the best interest of his family.

“I will not go to Uitvlugt because for safety reasons, I got to protect my family because if this Estate close, a lot of things can happen in this area – it’s gonna happen so you got to be home at night with your family,” Damon explained.

Guyana Times was also informed that during the meeting, workers explained that employees with long service should be given a signed letter from GuySuCo stating their period of employment so they can receive benefits from the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

An employee who gave his name as Simon only,

do is to ensure that before people cross from this Estate to Uitvlugt or on their early pension or severance, that

their contribution to NIS be properly taken care of,” he expressed.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was not invited to the meeting and its President Komal Chand expressed utmost disappointment that the union did not get an opportunity to raise the myriad of concerns with the Sugar Corporation.

“GAWU has not been invited to be a participant of these discussions… in previous situations like this the unions were involved along with GuySuCo,” Chand stated, noting that these developments of “noninvolvement” is undemocratic.

“This is i tell you, that they are moving in this partisan way, this undemocratic and improper way and yet they hope to draw the cooperation of the workers and the union as they going into the second crop,” Chand related.

“The union ought to be involved because we would be able to capture and to understand that what the workers have disclosed to GuySuCo be correctly recorded as the workers’ position. Many times we found things that workers have never agreed to [that] GuySuCo said that they agreed to – that’s another dimension why we must be involved,” he added.

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tuesday, february 9, 2016

Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

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

Editorial

Let the (economic) debate begin

T

he Budget debate started yesterday and hopefully, the Government will be willing to go beyond gridlock this year of the Jubilee and take the Opposition's critique of the Budget in good stead. Setting the framework for the minutiae of the line items is the macroeconomic framework of the present administration. It is a sign of the times in Guyana that while there is a worldwide debate on the efficacy of macroeconomic models during the present downturn, there is a deafening silence in Guyana.

The irony is that the present crisis up north has reduced the dominant orthodoxy of neo-classicism to a whimpering mass with the simple question: if the model was so perfect, how come it didn’t predict the present crisis? And an even more devastating follow up is: why hasn’t the model suggested a way out of the mess? The ‘science’ of macroeconomics is undoubtedly in deep trouble and its practitioners as policymakers, are in two diametrically opposed camps.

Take Government budget deficits. When the US and UK were into their slumps they allowed deficits to run as much as 10 per cent of their GDP but in Guyana the Government still hones to the orthodoxy of 3 per cent. One camp of macroeconomists claims that, if not quickly reversed, large deficits will lead to rising interest rates and a crowding out of private investment.

Instead of stimulating the economy, the deficits will lead to a new recession coupled with a surge in inflation. Wrong, says the other camp. There is no danger of inflation. These large deficits are necessary to avoid deflation. A clampdown on deficits would intensify the deflationary forces in the economy and would lead to a new and more intense recession.

Or take monetary policy. One camp warns that the buildup of massive amounts of liquidity is the surest road to hyperinflation and advises central banks to prepare an “exit strategy”.

Nonsense, the other camp retorts. The build-up of liquidity just reflects the fact that banks are hoarding funds to improve their balance sheets. They sit on this pile of cash but do not use it to increase credit. Once the economy picks up, central banks can withdraw the liquidity as fast as they injected it. The risk of inflation is zero. Then, of course, there is the anomaly of Guyana that has been awash in liquidity for a decade. What to do?

Let’s take the case of the Government increasing its spending as this Government has announced so as to "stimulate the economy". In the US, the two camps of economists have wildly different estimates of the effect of a 1 per cent permanent increase in government spending on real GDP over the next four years. According to the first camp, the Ricardians, the multiplier is closer to zero than to one, ie 1 per cent extra spending generates much less than 1 per cent of extra GDP, producing little extra tax revenue.

Thus budget deficits surge and become unsustainable.

By contrast, the second camp, the Keynesians, predict that the same 1 per cent of extra Government spending multiplies into significantly more than 1 per cent of extra GDP each year.

This is the stuff of dreams for governments, because such multiplier effects are likely to generate additional tax income so that budget deficits decline. What we would like to suggest to both sides (assuming we will have an ‘informed’ debate) is there are two areas that need rethinking.

Firstly that efficient markets would take care of themselves and not bothering to put financial markets and the banking sector into their models. We need strict regulation. This is a major flaw. Secondly and more fundamentally, the belief the economy is simply the sum of microeconomic decisions of “rational agents”.

The economy is more than that. We need to reduce the effects of ‘animal spirits’ by introducing a robust industrial policy.

And let loose the said "spirits" in Parliament.

Guyana Relief Council celebrates its 22nd anniversary with a photographic exhibition on Monday at the National Library Research Centre. From left: Treasurer Barbara Waldrond, Chairman Yvonne Hinds and council members viewing portraits at the exhibition

AFC shouldn’t be unkind to sugar workers Dear Editor, Just prior to the May elections in the height of the campaign, Moses Nagamootoo (and David Granger) made a commitment that no sugar estate will be closed and no one will lose their jobs. In addition, the coalition promised 20 per cent increase in salaries for sugar workers.

Those promises have not been kept. It is ironic that the AFC in 2011 owed its very survival to the vote of sugar workers (really for Moses who they viewed as a hero) and the victory of the coalition in 2015 was a result of the vote of many sugar workers for Nagomootoo being part of the coalition; the sugar workers had faith in him and he and the coalition have now betrayed them.

I humbly appeal to Prime Minister Nagamootoo and President Granger to re-assess their position on the closure of Wales by honouring their

promise so that normal economic life will continue in that greater community.

Former supporters and friends of Nagamootoo feel the trappings (status and perks) of office have led to the savage betrayal of sugar workers. They are now saying that Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjhattan are no different from the PPP leaders who exploited and betrayed sugar workers for their own benefits – use sugar workers (as electoral backbone) to get into office and then dump them.

Today, sugar workers are thrown on the economic scrap heap as Nagamootoo enjoys perks and says nothing (to the firing of thousands of workers and closure of Wales) just to hold on to the office of Prime Minister. His name will be tied to the closure of Wales that many fear marks the beginning of the closure of GuySuCo. Guyanese are reminding the nation of the adage:

“They came after sugar workers today even though many sugar workers voted for the coalition. They will come for others soon, even if they voted for and support the regime”. Those not connected to sugar or Wales should oppose this policy to close Wales. It will be disgraceful if Nagomootoo, once viewed as a champion of the working class and a hero of sugar workers, now a leader of a coalition regime that closes down a sugar estate, does not reverse his disastrous decision to close Wales.

AFC leadership, please don’t be unkind to sugar workers who gave you political life in 2011 when former PNC supporters returned to their base. The sugar workers and defected PPP supporters will never forgive you.

I humbly bow literally on my knees pleading on Khemraj and Nagamootoo, two of the most senior leaders of AFC and the coali-

tion, and a voice of reason, to reconsider their decision to support the closure of Wales.

Opposing the closure of Wales will give hero status to those in the AFC who advocate such a courageous position. It will show the nation that AFC can stand up to the racist PNC (APNU). It will also give AFC an opportunity to redeem itself in the eyes of those traditional PPP supporters who defected from their natural party and voted/supported AFC and now view AFC as being no different from PNC. Nagomootoo and Ramjattan are handed a golden opportunity to become heroes to sugar workers in opposing the plan to close Wales and reversing course. They will pay the ultimate price for the perceived betrayal of sugar workers.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

No shortage of HIV test kits in Guyana Dear Editor, PPP/C Member of Parliament, Joseph Hamilton at the Monday, February 8, 2016 sitting of the National Assembly, stated that there is currently a countrywide shortage of

HIV Test kits.

However, the Ministry of Public Health wishes to make it known that there is currently a supply of 35,000 HIV Test kits at the Materials Management Bond in Diamond, East

Bank Demerara.

As such, there is no shortage of HIV Test kits in Guyana. However, there is an existing problem whereby personnel from various health facilities are not uplifting these kits in a timely

manner.

Regards, Chriseana Ramrekha Public Relations Officer Ministry of Public Health

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Contract employees City Hall really appreciates what it will take to make – How will the Georgetown a green city?

President act?

Dear Editor, As the National Assembly sits to consider the Estimates of the Public Sector for the year 2016, the number of contract employees and costs associated therewith will no doubt receive much attention.

In Ram & McRae’s Focus on Guyana’s National Budget 2016, we expressed our disappointment on increases in both the number and cost of contract employees, stating that this was “not healthy for our democracy and places a strain on Article 38 G of the Constitution which requires the public service to be free from political influence.” By way of example, we noted that the Ministry of the Presidency reflects an increase in the number of contract employees from 298 to 505.

The media, conflating our example with other information, highlighted the statement by Ram & McRae drawing responses from Government Ministers.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, sought to attribute the increase in the Ministry of the Presidency to organisational changes and posited that the Office of the President cannot be compared to the Ministry of State, which now includes the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ministry of Citizenship, and the Public Service Department.

In fact, Ram & McRae was not comparing the Ministry of the Presidency with the Office of the President but comparing the two yearend numbers (2015 and Budget 2016) in the same Ministry.

It appears that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, may have been under the same impression and called such an increase virtually impossible, adding that the Ministry of Natural Resources, which was recently designated a separate Ministry, was also included within the Ministry of the Presidency until January 2016.

For clarification, here is what is disclosed on page 44 of the 2016 Estimates for Agency 05 Ministry of the Presidency:

Staffing Details

COA

Description 2015 Administrative 11 Senior Technical 2 Other Technical and Craft Skilled 6 Clerical and Office Support 33 Semi-Skilled Operatives and Unskilled 15 Contracted Employees 298 Temporary Employees 3 368

6111 6112 6113 6114 6115 6116 6117 Total

Filled 2016 11 2 6 32 14 505 3 573

To aid our analysis, Ram & McRae had prepared a detailed table on the number of Contract Employees in the various agencies, with such aggregation and disaggregation that was possible given the limited information in the Estimates.

In reviewing the Ministry of the Presidency, information was taken from Agency 01: Office of the President, Agency 05: Ministry of the Presidency, Agency 14: Public Service Ministry, Agency 24: Ministry of Natural Resources and The Environment, Agency 26: Ministry of Natural Resources and Agency 51: Ministry of Home Affairs.

Comparative information, taking the organisational changes into account, is as follows:

Agency # 011 012 051 012/052 141/053 241/054/261 516/055

Agency Name Administrative Services Presidential Advisory Policy Dev. and Administration Defence and National Security Public Service Management Natural Resource Management Citizenship and Immig. Services Sub-total

2014 32 137 0 7 31 17 63 287

2015 0 0 162 8 30 38 60 298

2016 0 0 288 7 38 56 116 505

2015-16

77.8% -12.5% 26.7% 47.4% 93.3% 69.5%

Overall, the 2016 Estimates show that at the end of 2015, the total number of contract employees, inclusive of the Regions, was 5423, of which 545 were with the Parliament Office, Public Service Commission, Teaching Service Commission, Guyana Elections Commission, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Public Prosecutions and Office of the Ombudsman.

Those entities are now included among the Constitutional Agencies and Statutory Bodies and their projected number of contract employees in 2016 was not disclosed.

The remaining number of contract employees in the Ministries and Regions would therefore be 4878. The Estimates show the projected number of contract employees in 2016 as 5878 and is therefore an increase of 1000 persons, or 20.5 per cent and an increase of 18.2 per cent in budgeted cost.

We repeat that this is not a problem peculiar to the present Administration. It was under the Jagdeo Presidency that the numbers and cost skyrocketed and continued under the Ramotar Administration.

Between 2010 and 2014, the expenditure on contract employees rose from $4.7 billion to $9.4 billion, an increase of 100 per cent.

We welcome Minister Harmon’s assurance that “there has been a clear direction by the President that it is our intention to return the Public Service to a professional one and so contract hires will be reduced to a minimum”. Indeed this is consistent with the sentiment of Focus that “We sincerely believe that President Granger has the authority to end this abuse. We look to him to act on the matter.”

Sincerely, Ram & McRae

Dear Editor, There has been a lot of talk by the Georgetown City Council recently about making our capital city a green city. But is it anything more than just that? Talk? I have hardly seen any real initiatives in this direction. Of course there has been the posting of monstrous billboards all over the city with green city catchphrases but with the only thing being green about that is the millions of dollars that the city has wasted on sloganeering. Then there has been the poorly attended Green Conference and Expo which turned out to be little more than a free concert, along with the distribution of freebies such as tee shirts, bags etc., again a tremendous cost to the City. But does anyone at City Hall really appreciate what it will take to make Georgetown a green city?.

Guyana and Georgetown’s energy infrastructure such as those generators located in Kingston is ripe for improvement.

Most of our electricity is generated in dirty fossil fuel power plants, which pump greenhouse gases into the air and contribute

to climate change. Our electricity is then distributed through thousands of miles of inefficient and unreliable power lines. Transforming our outdated electricity grid into a cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable energy system would be a critical step towards making our capital a green city.

Then there is the city’s transportation infrastructure. There are minibuses zipping along our roadways all day and night long joined by an unprecedented number of private cars traversing the roads. This is now the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Why is the council not making Georgetown more biking- and walkingfriendly? The Mayor and Town Clerk should get out

of their fancy vehicles and lead by example by riding to and from work if they are sincere about this initiative.

And then there is the design of our buildings, which are no longer being designed for natural ventilation with Demerara shuttered windows etc, but rather large concrete edifices that rely on dirty energy sources for their power and cooling needs. One just has to look at the City Hall and one can see all the air conditioners that have been tacked on to this glorious old building.

It is time for City Hall to stop talking the talk and start walking the walk.

Sincerely, Nadine Jerrick

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Foundation

What is platonic parenting? Too busy to play? Push – platonic parenting has different meanings to different people, but no matter its definition, it’s a modern trend that seems to be growing.

By Elena Donovan Mauer

T

he definition of “platonic parenting” seems to vary based on whom you talk to, showing that modern families can be created however works best for everyone. They range from two people partnering up specifically to have children to married couples who dissolve their romantic relationships but remain together for their children’s sake.

Valerie and Clark Tate made news last year for hosting an “uncoupling ceremony,” where they gave each other back their weddings rings.

They decided to no longer pursue a romantic relationship with each other but to stay legally married and amicably live under the same roof, so they could both continue to raise their children together.

“Children are love radars; they can feel when there’s love and kindness, and they can feel when there’s hurt and cut-off between parents,” Valerie recently told The Guardian.

“The way people treat each other makes a huge difference.”

An upward trend

The platonic parenting partnership trend is on the rise, says Rachel Hope, author of “Family By Choice: Platonic Partnered Parenting.”

“It’s building a family with a partner as an alter-

native to a conventional romantic relationship,” Hope tells Parenting.com. Rachel has both a 25-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter raised with platonic partners.

“My co-parent is my colleague, associate, best

have fewer preconceived notions of family,” says Rachel.

Also, some may have come from families of divorce and may be concerned that creating a family based on a romantic relationship could be setting it up for failure or heartbreak.

Putting the children first

friend, editor, treasurer, coenvironmental activist and the most amazing man,” she explains. “We got along so well, I thought, ‘This is the person I could parent with.’

But we had no romantic energy, in part because he was older than me and also it was just not there. We realised both of us wanted kids so badly, but both didn’t feel ready or want to have romantic relationship at that time. So we started talking, wondering, ‘could we do this?’” And they did.

Rachel says 25 years ago, this seemed like uncharted territory, but today, more people are platonically partnering up to raise kids.

“Millennials are embracing this more because they

In a platonic partnership, people can work out and agree to many of the logistics of family life – child-rearing philosophies, finances, education, living arrangements and much more – in advance. They’re entering into the arrangement with clarity and forethought.

“This is a rational alternative to a traditional marriage,” says Rachel. “You can’t say, ‘I fell in love and didn’t know what I was doing.’ In a platonic partnership, you have to be an adult; you can’t use power, intimidation, hysteria, drama or sex to get your way. You communicate with honesty and don’t care about sex... There are always going to be problems to solve, but when you have them, solving them isn’t so emotional.”

“When you’re family, you’re family. When you get to know someone who feels like family, you’re partnering with your best friend,” says Rachel. “And your child is the most important person in both of your lives.”

(Excerpt from parenting.com)

back for healthy balance – give children ample time for free play, nature, reflection, boredom, and imagination

Continued

By Dona Matthews, PhD

Turn it off!

For too many children, too much of the time in their lives that could otherwise be spent playing, thinking, or being creative, is being gobbled up by electronic gadgets and screens. Although there’s a place for technology in children’s lives, too much time on computer games, television, smart phones, and the rest can encourage lazy habits of mind, where a child comes to rely on entertainment and activities created by others instead of creating his own fun and discovering his own interests.

Wise parents turn off their screens, too. As cognitive psychologist Tracy Dennis has written, “Multitasking on our devices all the time is a sure-fire way to interfere with our ability to look our children in the eye, hear what they have to say, sensitively pick up on their feelings, and transmit that sparkle in the eye. The multitasking mode is the opposite of mirroring and of being present.”

Let there be downtime

Ample time for doing nothing – the ‘restful neural processing’ that occurs when we’re daydreaming and dawdling –is essential to self-discovery, and to op-

timal learning and happiness over the long run.

In The Parent’s Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents, William Martin wrote, “Lost in the shuffle of uniforms, practices, games, recitals, and performances can be the creative and joyful soul of your child. Watch and listen carefully. Do they have time to daydream? From your children’s dreams will emerge the practices and activities that will make self-discipline as natural as breathing.”

One of the best ways parents can support their children in acquiring the important habit of reflection is to model it themselves, allowing themselves to slow down and think. Through modelling and active encouragement, help your children welcome downtime as an opportunity for self-discovery, consolidation of learning, creativity, and regeneration.

Breathe and be mindful

Children who learn about breathing and other mindfulness techniques can do a better job of balancing their inner and outer experiences, and feel more solidly in control of their responses to the environment.

Mindfulness reduces stress, improves sleep quality, and heightens the ability to focus. It

helps children concentrate on tests and exams, soothes their anxieties, and helps them cope better with challenging situations. This is particularly important for those with attentional and anxiety issues, and it’s also been proven effective with children with autism.

“Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognise a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.” That was written by Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, but these practices are also being supported by scientists like Jim Swanson, an expert in ADHD at U of California, Irvine, who said, “Mindfulness seems to be training the same areas of the brain that have reduced activity in ADHD… That’s why mindfulness might be so important. It seems to get at the causes.”

One of the best ways to help your children slow down is to practise mindfulness techniques yourself.

Breathe deeply when you notice yourself stressed, or see signs of stress in the people around you. Practise yoga. Meditate. Listen to your children, your environment, and yourself.

Think –and take at least one good thoughtful breath –before you speak.

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude

Children who feel grateful for the people, activities, and opportunities in their lives are happier than others. They score higher on measures of well-being, energy, optimism, empathy, and popularity.

When parents model appreciation for the small gifts of everyday life –sunshine, food, time together with loved ones – they help their children achieve an attitude of gratitude.

Children (and adults) don’t need to fill their time with busy activities when they take time to feel happy with what they have.

In a culture that prizes overscheduling, pushing back against being ‘crazy busy’ takes courage, but it is very much worth doing.

By thoughtfully slowing down the pace of your children’s lives so they have time to play, go outside, decompress, and breathe deeply, you enhance their chances of creating happily productive lives for themselves. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com) TO BE CONTINUED

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tuesday, february 9, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Employment of contract workers

Ram & McRae urges President to end abuse

Chartered Accounting Firm Ram & McRae is calling on the David Grangerled Administration to put an end to the subverting of the Public Service by the practice of employing large numbers of contract workers who are remunerated with exorbitant salaries and benefits.

The Christopher Ramowned Ram & McRae had initially observed in its review of this year’s Budget – Budget Focus 2016 – that the number of contract workers under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration along with the total employment costs had skyrocketed.

Government through Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman had both responded to the reports, insisting that the number had not increased so drastically, but rather it was a miscalculation of Ram & McRae. In a statement on Monday, however, the company posited that its calculations were correct.

“Minister of State Joseph Harmon sought to attribute the increase in the Ministry of the Presidency to organisational changes and posited that the Office of the President cannot be compared to the Ministry of State, which now includes the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ministry of Citizenship, and the Public Service Department.”

In fact, Ram & McRae was not comparing the Ministry of the Presidency with the Office of the President, but comparing the two yearend numbers (2015 and Budget 2016) in the same Ministry.

“It appears that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman may have been under the same impression and called such an increase virtually impossible, adding that the Ministry of Natural Resources, which was recently designated a separate Ministry, was also included within the Ministry of the Presidency until January 2016,” Ram & McRae clarified.

The Accounting Firm reiterated that it was disappointed about the increases in both the number and cost of contract employees, noting once again that it was not healthy for the country’s democracy and such practice put under strain Article 38 G of the Constitution which requires the Public Service to

Christopher Ram

be free from political influence.

The company noted nonetheless that the problem started under the previous Administration, and expressed confidence in the present Government to put an end to the practice.

“Between 2010 and 2014, the expenditure on contract employees rose from $4.7 billion to $9.4 billion, an increase of 100 per cent... We sincerely believe that President Granger has the authority to end this abuse. We look to him to act on the matter,” the Firm stated.

The number of contractual employees under the coalition Government not only grew by 16 per cent but the total employment costs for all the Ministries amounted to a whopping $30.5 billion.

In fact, contract employees have increased in all Ministries except for the Foreign Affairs and Legal Affairs Ministries, with the Office of the Prime Minister (Moses Nagamootoo) capitalising on a 73 per cent increase in the number of contract workers who are budgeted to pocket a total of approximately $82 million at the end of the year, an increase of over 280 per cent compared to the 2015.

For the Ministry of the Presidency, contract employees have jumped from 298 to 505; in the Finance Ministry from 162 to 167; Indigenous Affairs Ministry, 72 to 79; Agriculture Ministry, 248 to 274; Tourism Ministry, 31 to 40; Business Ministry, 30 to 40; Natural Resources Ministry, 38 to 56; Public Infrastructure Ministry, 271 to 294; Education Ministry, 601 to 691; Communities Ministry, 55 to 62; Public Health Ministry, 1303 to 1400; Social Protection Ministry, 369 to 371 and Public Security Ministry, 239 to 248, while the

newly-introduced Public Telecommunications Ministry contracted 122 employees.

Consequently, the total employment costs for all of the Ministries climbed from around $12 billion to in excess of $30 billion, a radical increase of 147 per cent when compared to the previous year.

Moreover, although there was a decrease in the number of contract workers in the Foreign Affairs and Legal Affairs Ministries, their employment costs have risen by a considerable eight per cent.

President David Granger

Bicycle bandit nabbed after robbing minibus driver, passenger

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oments after allegedly robbing a minibus driver and a passenger at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), a suspected bandit was arrested while escaping on a pedal cycle at the traffic lights at Eccles, EBD on Monday.

According to information received, minibus driver Ameer Karin, 51, of Diamond, EBD, and Trevor Blackett, 41, of Mocha Arcadia, EBD, were attacked and robbed by a lone gunman who had joined the bus at Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown.

From reports gathered, the minibus was on its way to Grove, EBD when the

suspect asked to disembark at Providence, EBD. As he was about to exit the vehicle, he held the two men at gunpoint and relieved them of $8500 they had in their possession.

After he exited the bus, he jumped on to a bicycle that was parked in close proximity and rode away.

The robbery was reported to the Police who responded promptly, thus arresting the suspect at the traffic lights.

The Police uncovered an unlicensed .32 pistol with three matching rounds of ammunition along with the stolen cash in his possession.

He is expected to be charged shortly.

8 news

tuesday, february 9, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Plaisance Bus Park stabbing

Miner jailed for 28 years on manslaughter charge

By Ahreefa Bacchus

O

rin Jerrick of Anns Grove, East Coast Demerara, accused of murdering Gavin Fifee, a minibus driver stabbed to death at the Plaisance Bus Park on July 31, 2014, was Monday last sentenced to 28 years in prison for manslaughter.

The sentence was handed down by Justice Navindra Singh after the jury found Jerrick not guilty on a murder charge but guilty of manslaughter.

The Prosecution and Defence rested their case on Friday last.

According to reports, at about 05:45h on the day in question, Fifee was loading his minibus at Plaisance when the accused began urinating on the wheel. When Fifee confronted the man, an argument ensued after which Jerrick pulled out a knife and stabbed him to the upper right chest.

Fifee was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) by public-spirited citizens but he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

A few days later, Jerrick turned himself in to the Police and was put on trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. He was committed to stand trial at the High Court after a prima facie case was established before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

In the High Court, the Jury heard testimonies from eight witnesses, who

were presented by State Prosecutors Narissa Leander and Michael Shahoud and cross-examined by Defence Counsels Nigel Hughes and Peter Hugh.

On Friday the Prosecution’s final witness was State Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, who testified to conducting a post mortem.

Dr Singh related that the deceased died as a result of

commenced his address to the jury. Hughes reminded them of the elements that the Prosecution needed to prove in order to convict his client.

He stated that the police must investigate every version of the incident, which they failed to do. “Not a single person who testified in this case saw how the man died, or how the single stab

perforation of the lung due to a single stab wound. This, the doctor related, would have had to be inflicted using a weapon that is at least nine centimetres long, however, he stated that it could not have been inflicted by the cutlass that the deceased allegedly had in his possession.

Finally, when the time came for the defendant to give his statement, he opted to give an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s dock: “I am innocent of this story,” were the words Jerrick uttered in his defence.

With that said, Hughes

wound was inflicted”, he related, adding that this may lead to speculation.

He further related that none of the witnesses were certain of the suspect’s identity, making reference to the fact that witness Dawson had pointed out his client as the perpetrator during the ID parade but during crossexamination had admitted she had not seen the perpetrator’s face.

He linked this conflict to the fact that most of the Prosecution’s witnesses testified to three varying incidents, adding that they all described the suspect to be wearing different clothes.

The attorney went on to relate inconsistencies in various testimonies which all contribute to the conclusion that the state failed to prove its case.

“They don’t have any evidence,” Hughes said and rested his case.

However, Prosecutor Leander refuted these claims, stating that the state had proven each element of murder in the case.

She stated that while the defence made a big deal of the lack of witness identification, the defendant had placed himself at the scene of the incident in his statement to the Police, adding that he also admitted to being in a confrontation with a minibus driver.

“We’re not assuming anything… he went to the Police with his attorney,’ she stated. She questioned the reason for the defendant turning himself into the Police in the company of his attorney if he was innocent.

She posited that the Prosecution need not bring witnesses to say that they saw, when the fatal wound was inflicted as circumstantial evidence would lead to the correct inference. With this statement she rested her case.

On Monday, after deliberations the foreman announced that they had come up with a unanimous not guilty verdict of murder.

However, on the manslaughter charge, there was a disproportionate verdict of not guilty which was 11-1.

In making the mitigation plea, Hughes related that his client was remorseful and regretted the circumstances for which the incident occurred, adding that his client wished to offer his sympathies to the family of the deceased. He related that his client has no antecedents and is not a threat to society. He further stated that the evidence shows that his client was attacked and acted in self-defence, however the reaction may have been a tad excessive. As such, he sought the Court’s mercy for his client.

However, when Justice Singh asked the defendant what he wished to say, Jerrick replied with a brief “I didn’ juk nobody at the park, I didn’t bore nobody”.

“I am disappointed,” was Justice Singh’s response to Jerrick’s utterance. Justice Singh stated that he was deeply moved by the Defence Counsel’s mitigation plea and the fact that he declared that Jerrick is remorseful.

However, he stated that from Jerrick’s response, there were no signs of remorse or regret which should deter him from delivering the maximum sentence.

He then revealed that while the maximum penalty for manslaughter is 30 years, he would sentence him to 28 years as Jerrick had already spent two years on remand.

Eyew tness The grass isn’t green...

U

...over in the States?

sed to be that cost folks US$12,500 to get a visa for the US. This was what the fella from INSIDE the Embassy - Carroll - charged with his local confederate who now heads the local Guyana-Cuba Friendship Society. After Carroll and his accomplice were both charged, convicted and jailed back in 2000, the movement of bodies to the States handle skipped a beat. A decade later visas - or getting bodies into the states by whichever way possible - were still going for over US$13,000 a pop.

Until two years ago, that is! Suddenly you couldn’t even get someone to fork over US$100!! What happened? The short answer is the bottom dropped out of the market. In international trade, some foreign companies can destroy markets in a country by selling the product below what it even cost them. It’s called “dumping”. For the fellas who couldn’t even practically give away visas, the US Embassy was suddenly “dumping” visas”.

And because it was all done OFFICIALLY - not like on the side with Carroll - there was nothing they or anyone else could do. Suddenly anyone who walked into the Embassy was not only given a visa - but for “ten year” ones! Word spread like bushfire and folks started coming out of the woodwork - not to mention even from Hicksville - to apply for and receive visas.

Forget the baker, butcher and candle stick maker.

Canecutters, watchmen, panhandlers and your motherin-law could now get visas. Suddenly you were asked by your gardner for “leave” because he, his wife and kids had visas to go Stateside. And their tickets were paid for by his “cousins”.

Well, your Eyewitness’ anecdotal evidence was just confirmed by the new US Ambassador. Last year he revealed, more than 39,000 Guyanese lined up along Duke Street for visas and “more than half” - meaning 20,000 at least - got the lucky stamp.

The Ambassador allowed that only five years ago there were only 6000 applications. So why the explosion?

The good, ole southern boy explained it was because “the Guyanese economy has grown over the last few years”!! Well not to take anything away from the PPP that ran Guyana during the said years - with GDP growth rates of 5 per cent annually - but we’re still a “lower middle income country” with only Haiti above us in the Caribbean!

Nah... we gotta look elsewhere. And not far. The effect is actually the cause. It’s simply the US DECIDED suddenly to start giving away visas like hot southern biscuits.

And every Tom, Dick and Harilall now knew they had more than a 60-50 chance of hitting the lotto!!

How sweet it is!!

...over on the West Bank

For decades the “West Bank” has connoted misery and turmoil in the mind of anyone with even the scantiest knowledge of what went on (and down) in the Mid-East.

Well, it looks like the government’s determined to create our own “West Bank” in the image of the original. Our “West Bank” of course, is that part of Demerara where Wales is located.

If you want to see a section of Guyana that’s literally a stone throw away from Georgetown where a hundred six-storey buildings are reaching for the skies - but yet mired in poverty and desperation, then you’re talking about the West Bank of Demerara.

178 years after slavery and bitter sugar, the latter isn’t only “King” but it’s the only game in town. And without even deigning to tell the people what’s going down, the government takes away sugar.

All that’s left is the “bitter”.

...with rice either

So it won’t be accused of discriminating, the government’s also leaving rice in the lurch. Nagamootoo took the credit for the record crop last year. But after the one-two sucker punches of loss of the Venezuelan market and the El Niño drought, now it’s “not our business, man”!!

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

news

9

tuesday, february 9, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Budget 2016 misrepresents economic reality – Irfaan Ali ..."good life", an "elusive dream" to most, a reality for a "select few" Budget measures will fulfil “ good life for all Guyanese” – Minister Gaskin

By Edward Layne

A

s the week-long debate on the 2016 National Budget commenced, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali has declared that the “good life” is just for a select few.

Ali, who opened the debate on Monday afternoon, declared that with Budget 2016, poor Guyanese are poorer while the rich are becoming richer.

“The “good life” is an illusion for most and a reality for a ‘select few’. If you are a Minister definitely, you would have enjoyed the ‘good life’. The contract workers are richer today with the handsome payouts as reflected by the $3.7 billion paid out for this category of workers. However, the pensioners, poor families, rice farmers, sugar workers, and public servants are yet to enjoy the ‘good life’. Unfortunately, Budget 2016 will not deliver the ‘good life’ for these Guyanese,” Ali said.

The former Commerce Minister (acting) chastised the Government for the “penance” being offered to the poor in spite of lofty promises by the coalition while on the campaign trail ahead of the May 2015 General Election.

“The sugar workers were not rewarded for their outstanding performance last year, but will have to cope with the closure of some of the estates, regardless of the outcome of the CoI. The rice farmers were crippled with lower prices last year and will have to deal with their problems since ‘rice is not government business’. The reduction in VAT will not come in 2016, but we will have to pay more indirect taxes in the form of increased licence fees that will cripple the poor man and small businesses. The poor will have to pay substantially more for vehicles,” Ali told the House in a passionate presentation.

He maintained that the Budget was aimed at providing benefits for a select few, while placing heavy burdens on the already impoverished, singling out contract workers who will benefit from an allocation of over $9 billion compared with $3.7 billion in 2015, new vehicle importers, and those who should be rewarded for their “contribution or investment” in the political parties.

The economy Ali said while Finance

Minister Winston Jordan indicated that confidence was restored and more investments were made last year – including the numerous investments GOInvest facilitated – and highlighted the potential value of the investments, he fell way short of speaking directly about the actual investments and the number of new employment opportunities that originated from these in-

economy is “slipping and sliding downwards”, as the non-performing loans also tell the story better about what is really happening in the local Private Sector.

“According to the Bank of Guyana Third Quarter Statistical Bulletin for 2015, the non-performing loans of business enterprises exploded as businesses struggled to meet their loans payment … Mr Speaker, what we have,

PPP/C MP Irfaan Ali

vestments.

Ali highlighted that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for 2015 was US$125 million, significantly below the target of US$217 million and half the size of the FDI reported in 2014.

“Mr Speaker, it is instructive to note that FDI for 2015 was below the levels reported over the past five years, even 2011 when we had elections and the global economy was in turmoil. The excuse for the lower investment cannot be blamed on election or the downturn in the global economy,” Ali stated.

According to the former Minister, in terms of the business climate and investors’ confidence, the FDI is not the only indicator which suggests the

is not an expansion of the Private Sector but contraction. Even more worrying is the situation where the banking system is saddled with “toxic loans” that would serve to dissuade lending to the Private Sector. Unless the Government intervenes, we may very well have a financial and economic crisis that will cost billions to escape and magnify the current economic crisis brewing,” he noted.

Ali said given the economic conditions, responsible leaders would take pre-emptive action instead of hiding their heads in the sand and hoodwinking the public with “fancy speeches that are muddled with half-truths”.

Sound macroeconomic management He said that any responsible government would have ensured the successful implementation of the public sector investment programme, as a countercyclical measure to halt the decline in the economy and stimulate spending.

“We are in this economic quandary because of the decision by the coalition Government to stall the public sector investment programme which contributes approximately one percentage point to economic growth and cushion external shock. In short, our coalition Government induced a slowdown in the economy by cutting back on capital spending when the economy was on the decline. This is not sound economic management,” Ali stated.

Taxation Turning his attention to the Budget measures, Ali again took the Government to task for promoting special interests while increasing the tax burden on the poor, adding that after almost one year in office, Guyanese would have expected measures in the Budget that would serve to fulfil coalition promises. Ali highlighted the fact that the Government exempted a few measly items from VAT, instead of fulfilling its promise of a reduction in the VAT, while meagrely increasing the income tax threshold.

Used cars He also spoke of the ban on used motor vehicles older than eight years, as well as the extensive range of

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

measures to tax the nation further by increasing the fees paid for various licences, including drivers’ licences; fitness; motor vehicle licences; licences for carts drawn by horse, pony, donkey, mule and liquor licences.

Breach of social contract “The failure to fulfil these promises is a breach of the social contract between the coalition Government and those who voted it into office,” Ali said, adding that the benefits for the poor are “a few hundred dollars more to the pensioners, a few twenty dollars for the vehicle owners”.

Gaskin’s counter Meanwhile, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, in countering Ali’s arguments, said he commended the measures in the Budget, which he said would protect the revenue base of the State from threats of depletion, thus enabling Government to fulfil its promise of delivering a good life for all

Guyanese.

Speaking to the issue of tax compliance, Gaskin said that the new measures outlined would ensure small businesses became tax compliant.

Speaking directly to measures relating to the Business Ministry, Gaskin announced that the Ministry would provide training support for some 4000 small businesses during 2016.

Through this training, the Minister said, small business owners are expected to be better positioned to better manage their financial and other affairs, as well as better understand the country’s tax laws.

He added that there would also be provision of more loans for small businesses.

Gaskin also promised support, through the $668 million allocated for the Business Ministry, for the Bureau of Statistics and GO-Invest among other agencies under the Ministry.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, february 9, 2016

News

El Niño

Region 9 at critical stage – Chairman …Govt will help after Budget debate …Pomeroon residents also suffering

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By Jillicia Pinder & Indrawattie Natram

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esidents of Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) who have been experiencing severe drought conditions over the past several weeks now have to wait until the Budget 2016 debate ends before the Government of Guyana can provide adequate assistance.

During a telephone interview with this publication on Monday, Region Nine Chairman Brian Allicock stated that he had recently returned from Georgetown after a visit with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock to initiate ways to help the people who are suffering within

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

the Region. The Chairman shared that the Minister had told him that after the Budget debate has concluded, Cabinet would assemble and determine aid for resi-

Region Nine Chairman Brian Allicock

dents of Region Nine.

He further stated that 10 priority villages have so far been identified, including those in South Rupununi which are in dire need of immediate attention.

The Regional Chairman added much help was needed to actually make an impact within the drying region.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Monday about the situation in Region Nine, Minister Allicock stated that the Ministry was engaged in continuous discussions with the regional administration and “some potential support”.

“Hopefully we could be able to have that support coming soon so that we will be able to address the water situation. Most of all, the only thing to depend on is the rain ‘cause even the wells are getting dry,” Allicock said.

He stated that for the time being, the Administration was providing water purification systems in various communities.

Pomeroon

Meanwhile, residents living in both Upper and Lower Pomeroon in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are also severely affected by the dry weather conditions and according to them, sourcing potable water for domestic purposes is problematic.

As a result, the residents are calling on the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to activate the Charity outlet so that farmers can source potable drinking water.

According to a Councillor for the Charity/ Ursara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Derick Austin, residents are in need of drinking water. He said that the water in the Pomeroon area has

Our Agricultural Class

Councillor Derick Austin

become relatively salty and could not be used for any purpose at the moment.

“Many families depend on the Pomeroon River for water to cook and drink. They were going far for fresh sweet water; now, everywhere it’s salty and persons cannot afford to purchase,” Austin noted.

The cash crop farmer said that families travelled long distances every day in the Pomeroon River to source water, but now they could not do so. He suggested that the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) outlet in Charity be put into operation to ease the burden families in the area faced, as once the outlet was operational, families could paddle their way to Charity and fill their containers. He also called on the Government of Guyana to provide families with black tanks so that in the near future they could be able to store water.

He added that on a daily basis persons were complaining about the water woes and many cash crops such as pumpkin and peas were burnt owing to excessive salt water intruding into their fields.

The Councillor also said that a Hymac was needed in the Jacklow Pomeroon area to clear clogged up drains to ensure proper drainage and irrigation for the farmlands.

Austin said he related his plight stemming from the El Niño phenomenon to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during his recent visit to Region Two. He said that persons in the Pomeroon area are suffering for want of fresh water and called on the Government to immediately intervene as regional officials were dragging their feet on the issue. Reports were made to the Regional Administration about the prevailing water woes, but nothing was done to alleviate the situation.

ne peculiarity about Guyana is that the poorest people live in the most picturesque places.

Of the tonnes and tonnes of places that I am most familiar with, the Corentyne Coast in Berbice comes readily to mind. It is certainly the Delta and the bread basket of Guyana. Increasing poverty, Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine however, has produced social ills like crime, suicide, alcoholism and domestic abuse which undoubtedly have gotten worse since the APNU/AFC collation wormed itself into power.

Thousands have left the Corentyne for greener pastures because they saw no employment, no money, no future, but there is a working class that has remained – the sugarcane and rice workers. Actually, they have nowhere to go.

These individuals associate themselves with sugarcane and rice cultivation on a daily basis. They cling to this routine and know no other way. They work hard and go to bed early and wake up early. The mood of these working class people has always been strong. The weight of their history has always been noticeable in their faces, in their demeanour, in their clothes and in their dwellings and environment. Their neat clotheslines of drooping laundry in their modest housing and the profusion of greenery that permeate their environment are not only beautiful but something that other regions of Guyana can emulate.

Notwithstanding beauty and magnificence, all of Guyana, including the agricultural belt on the Corentyne, are in a state of immeasurable levels of uncertainly since the current regime controls the grid of power through a controversial election last year. This community is on edge. It is disturbed and is very much concerned about its future.

It appears that the people along the Corentyne coast have been conquered and proof of this is in the consistency of their complaints. Will this regime take a stronger stand on supporting sugar and rice cultivation? If not, what is the alternative other than lip service to the public?

All along the Corentyne, there seems to be a sense of profound loss, despair and wounded pride amongst the working class. They were ignored by the PPP that had lost touch with them and their concerns. They were fooled by the PPP defectors. Now, under the APNU/AFC, there is a sense of surrender. Yet, few outside of Berbice have spoken against the injustices inflicted on the working class.

To rule anywhere in the world today, be it in Guyana, Ghana or Greece, and be callous to one group of people who did not vote for you is like living in Siberia and hate snow. This sort of leadership is supercilious since these are the people - the working class - that government needs to engage in to achieve nation building and national unity, not ethno-nationalism and witch hunting.

The challenge here is what should be done to at least make the regime listen or even comply with the demands of a citizenry that it does not seem to have at heart.

One would expect Nagamootoo and Ramjattan to have a bigger heart for the mostly 11 per cent of supporters that put them in power. Instead, these men are too busy trying to regain lost ground with their former PNC enemies, displaying egomaniacal confidence.

Meanwhile, voters in the Corentyne region do not have the clout to hold the regime accountable for campaign promises. The strategy of the regime seems to be, without even realising it, not to risk flexibility but pursue unpopular economic policies they did not campaign for (closure of Wales Estate, for example) on the premise that it would receive ultimate support when successful. This has been the pattern of politics all along. Some divergence are expected but not more than 75 per cent of the 100 days manifesto. In the words of one working class person, the APNU/AFC regime “fool up dem people.” (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu)

tuesday, february 9, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Wales Estate closure GPL CEO accused of Make Wales a public company unethical management – former GuySuCo Chairman practices

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uyana Power and Light (GPL) acting Chief Executive Officer Colin Welch is under fire once again after employees publicly accused him of unethical management practices, of which he denied knowledge.

According to a letter to the editor published in one of the local dailies on February 8, “aggrieved GPL staffers” are up in arms over the management and some of the decisions taken by the acting CEO. In the letter, the employees recalled one of the recent experiences they have encountered with management with which they are displeased. “… things are not well at GPL. Staffers are demotivated because of the attitude of management and some of the decisions taken

by Mr Welch. Take for example the case of a Berbice supervisor whose services was terminated in 2014 for stealing electricity. An investigation team found that his Kildonan, Berbice home had a meter that was tampered with – a GPL staffer stealing electricity. He was sent home. Today … the gentleman is one along with several other questionable characters who have been rehired by Mr Welch and his team,” an excerpt from the document read.

The staffers wrote that this particular decision was nothing but a “slap in the face” of the hardworking employees who have been with the company for a number of years. “(We) are simply asking for a level playing field when it comes to us,” the staffers penned.

Acting CEO Colin Welch

The letter went on to explain that there were many more problems to talk about; however, no additional details were provided.

Nonetheless, the employees called on the GPL Board of Directors and more particularly, President David Granger to launch an investigation into the management of Welch.

Contacted for a comment on the allegations, Welch said he was not aware of the situation.

Asked whether management had indeed rehired the employee from Berbice, Welch ended the call with the reporter.

Efforts were made to solicit a comment from GPL Board Chairman Robert Badal, but to no avail.

Welch was only recently under the microscope after reports surfaced alleging his involvement in an attempt to influence the procurement process for a multimillion-dollar contract.

Last April, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) closed the bids, with Tesco PLC, a British company, winning the contract to supply prepaid meters to Guyana.

Tesco was going to procure the meters from Shenzhen Clou Electronics Company Limited of China.

Subsequently, one bidder raised objections about the evaluation and award, claiming that Tesco’s supplier, Shenzhen, did not manufacture the 100amp meters required by GPL. This resulted in the Tender Board writing both Tesco and Shenzhen, seeking clarifications.

It was during the waiting period for responses that the controversially appointed Welch allegedly contacted the Chinese company, stating that it must lie about having the 100amp prepaid meters available in other countries.

Welch has since maintained his innocence.

However, calls had mounted from civil society groups including Transparency Institute of Guyana for government to send the Acting CEO on leave to facilitate a comprehensive probe into the matter.

Government is yet to act accordingly.

Former Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive Member, Dr Asquith Rose recently pointed out that it was outright unjust for the Government to justify sending other heads of departments on administrative leave pending investigations but refuse to take action against Welch.

Bath family receives donation

A

CIOG donating items to family members

Bath Settlement family who were terrorised and had their house burnt by two armed men, received donations from Central Islamic

Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) and other charitable organisations.

Family members of deceased Anita Baichan of Bath Settlement, West

Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), who perished in the fire on January 4, 2016 expressed gratitude for donations from several charitable organisations last Wednesday.

During a simple ceremony, the items donated by CIOG, West Coast Berbice, included beds, groceries, household appliances and cash.

Two armed men with cutlasses entered the home of Baichan and her son, 28, demanding cash and valuables. The bandits injured then bound the duo’s hands, mouth and feet, and set the house on fire before escaping.

An injured Khan managed to escape from the building, but subsequent efforts with support from neighbours failed to save his mother who perished in the fire.

F

ormer GuySuCo Chairman Vickram Oditt is proposing that the Wales Sugar Estate be made into a public company, Wales Sugar Estate Inc (WSEI) with shareholders including the sugar workers, the cane farmers, the Guyanese public, pension funds, the workers’ unions and others.

This proposition was made at a panel discussion based on the closure of the estate at the Moray House Trust on Friday evening, which was attended by seasoned farmers and others from within the industry who voiced opinions on the matter.

The former chairman explained that if one million shares were sold at $5000 each, this would raise $5 billion in capital for the venture. Vickram further posited that WSEI would lease the factory, lands and equipment from Government/GuySuCo for $1 per year for a 25-year period, with an option to renew.

He added that the public company would not own any of the lands and therefore could not dispose of them.

The company would continue the cultivation and production of sugar and by-products at Wales and invest in the field and factory equipment necessary to produce three or 4 times the 2015 production.

He also stressed that, whatever the outcome of this proposal, it was vital to continue field operations at Wales throughout 2016 (tilling, replanting and other husbandry) to ensure Wales was still a functioning estate at yearend.

He also pointed out that at present hundreds of workers are turning up to work with nothing to do, and added that there is an 11 month variety

Former GuySuCo Chairman, Vickram Oditt

of cane that could be planted and harvested at yearend to keep workers occupied and the factory productive.

It emerged, in the course of the presentations on Friday, that there are about 800 private cane farmers at Wales and that they account for over 50 per cent of the estate’s cane supply. The yield from cane grown on the estate

by GuySuCo dropped from 68 tch (tonnes cane per hectare) to 51 tch between 2008 and 2015. During the same period, the private farmers increased their supply from 7700 to 10,200 tonnes, from 31 per cent to 51 per cent of the total supply.

Adding his thoughts to the conversation, Mark Khan, a plant foreman at Wales Factory, challenged some of the information being circulated (to residents of the area in leaflets emanating from various ministries) and in the press.

He explained, for example, that the allegation the plant machinery at the factory is ‘old’ is misleading as all

estates, (with the exception of Skeldon) have machines which are over half a century old. He noted that sugar factories are built to run for hundreds of years and a recent ‘steam’ test, conducted by himself and colleagues, showed the plant to be in good working order though there are parts that are needed.

Jai Petam, a former GuySuCo manager, raised the question of who would fund the development of cane lands into other crops or any other diversification ventures.

A conservative estimate of the cost of severance (based on 1500 workers receiving an average of $15,000 per week and with a service of average 15 years) would be $675 million.

Meanwhile, Attorney and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram pointed out that all sugar industries across the world are subsidised, so the world market price is not a ‘true comparison’ for what it costs to produce sugar anywhere.

He also noted that while the Commission of Inquiry report included a financial assessment and projections, no-one appeared to have undertaken an economic assessment. Several speakers concurred that this was a vital element of any plans involving such significant numbers of workers and their dependants.

There are about 1800 workers at Wales Sugar Estate while there are some 800 cane farmers in the area.

At the end of the presentations, many comments and questions arose from the audience. The most poignant were those from workers of Wales who expressed anguish and uncertainty about the state of limbo they are facing.

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news

tuesday, february 9, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Rohee accuses GECOM of ethnic hiring ― calls on diplomatic community to take note BY: DEVINA SAMAROO

W

ith Local Government Elections (LGE) fast approaching, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has once again raised concerns about an “ethnic imbalance” in the staff component at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and has consequently called on the diplomatic community to pay keen attention to the series of activities that occur on LGE Day, March 18.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee during the Party’s weekly press conference at Freedom House on Monday said he finds it difficult to believe that only one particular ethnic group is being hired to work for GECOM on Elections Day. “We cannot understand, how when GECOM sets exams that one set of people are failing and another set of people are passing… how are these exams being set in such a way that only one set of people can pass and another set are failing?” Rohee wanted to know.

He noted that this conveys that such imbalance is one of the tools being used to alter the results of the elec-

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

tions in a particular direction.

Following the General and Regional Elections last year, similar concerns were raised with PPP/Civic officials declaring that the imbalanced staff somehow conspired with the coalition to rig the elections.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had previously posited that deliberate actions are being taken to ensure a certain group of persons are being employed with GECOM for sinister reasons.

Rohee had also raised these concerns before but GECOM Chairman Dr Steve

Surujbally had robustly rejected the notion.

Dr Surujbally, when asked to respond to the allegations made by the PPP, simply explained that the Commission has a standard procedure which it follows when hiring persons to ensure the process is fair and transparent.

“If you want to change the procedure and say we must have “x” amount of this race and “y” amount of that, then GECOM will have to be under another Chairman…,” he had stated.

Moreover, when prompted, Rohee pointed out that the PPP whilst in government had similar concerns about the glaring “ethnic imbalance” in GECOM’s staff component but had valid reasons for not voicing those concerns.

“There’s no way in which the PPP in government, that the PPP/c could have voiced it on GECOM and dictate to GECOM who they should employ from who they should not… because had the PPP done something that people feel we should have done, we would have been attacked and criticised for interfering,” Rohee explained.

Meanwhile, Rohee

had other concerns about GECOM’s competence to conduct free and fair elections.

During the press conference, the politician noted with worry the reports about a shortage of Elections Day staff.

GECOM Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield had told a news conference on January 18 that the Commission has been hit with a shortage of staff to work on LGE Day. “We do at this point, continue to have a shortfall in the numbers, particularly in the areas we advertised over last weekend, specifically Georgetown and for the nine NDCs on the East Coast, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) in some specific local authority areas and also in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne),” Lowenfield had stated.

Nonetheless, the Commission was confident the vacancies would be filled in time for the LGE polls.

Essequibo Coast accident

Injured motorcyclists air-dashed to GPHC

G

anesh Lall, 36, and Lakeram Lall, 28, of Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), were airdashed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) early Monday morning as their conditions worsened. Both men were involved in a douible motorcycle collision in the ETI Chinese Lock area at about 15:00r Sunday.

Ganesh Lall of Lima Sands and Lakeram Lall of Lot 44 Anna Regina Housing Scheme, suffered severe injuries following the collision.

Reports are that the men are nursing head injuries, broken feet and arm.

On Sunday, both men were transported by public-spirited citizens to the Suddie Public Hospital where they underwent emergency surgeries. They were later placed in the Intensive Care Unit at the Suddie Hospital and subsequently air dashed to Georgetown.

Reports are that Ganesh Lall, a rice farmer, was riding motorcycle CE 1061 when he collided with Lakeram Lall, who was riding motorcycle PFF 7071.

Both riders were heading in opposite directions when the collision occurred. They were both picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Suddie hospital.

The Police are continuing their investigation into the matter.

An alternative to Wales Closure (Part 2)

T

he following proposal is one alternative to shutting down Wales Estate at the end of this year, and had been proposed back in 1999-2000 by ROAR. We highlighted the challenges to continuing sugar production on the old model at Wales and the Demerara Plantations, for export. We took as its baseline competition, High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) which the developed world could always crank out at US12 cents/lb.

This can never be matched by simply focusing on brown sugar that didn’t earn a premium as Demerara Brown Sugar under the ambit of Geographical Indications. The fundamental problem with sugar production in Demerara was sugar cane optimally needs the Type 1 soil of Berbice and less rainfall. To compensate for the poor soil, intensive husbandry practices had to be maintained, demanding a large labour pool and costly inputs. Because of the authoritarian plantation mode of management in the fields, workers also rebelled by passively doing the least they could.

If sugar production costs in Demerara could not be lowered, closing the plantations, however, was never an option. The question was whether there were other uses of the premium drained and irrigated land within a partial or complete diversification to deliver higher returns that would permit greater emoluments for workers and owners.

But the diversification had to be done in a phased manner so as not to disrupt the livelihood of the workers and the surrounding communities.

The present government blundered in its abrupt announcement and the dribble of information that is grudgingly emanating is not surprisingly seen as a rear-guard “damage control” operation.

But even in the informational dribble, the government has clearly given up on Wales as far as injection of capital into the factory goes. But we say this most unequivocally: the proposal to transport canes and personnel to Uitvlugt is not viable and the government will plunge US$1 billion down a black hole.

We suggested inviting an investor/consortium, domestic or foreign that will invest US$5 million into the factory and plantation. They are available. At the Moray House panel discussion, Mr Vic Oudit outlined one possible financial model. The government should prepare and present a plan that can become the starting point for investors.

To prevent these investors from hiving off the assets of the venture - primarily land - the latter should be leased. In whatever financial model we select, the workers must have a stake in the operations. They should be part of a profit sharing plan for the venture in which 40 per cent of profits go to them.

No “diversification” can take place in one fell swoop and this is why the government’s decision on Wales is baffling.

Even if the plan is eventually get out of sugar this will take time, if for no other reason that 14,000 acres of land cannot be converted at once, nor can workers be retrained so quickly.

With profit sharing, the workers can match and exceed the productivity of the farmers at Wales.

The new entity would initially not only look for value from sugar but also and its byproducts bagasse, molasses, and mud press.

There has been much talk of co-generation at Skeldon.

Why not also at Wales by the new investors? Back in 2008, we wrote: The generation of electricity from bagasse ought to be seen not simply as a subsidiary operation from the production of sugar, but as an economic enterprise on its own merits.

Mauritius embarked on this road since the mid-eighties and ten out of its present factories have co-generation capabilities that, by 2004, exported 240MW of electricity to the national grid: this is about equal to our entire generating capacity (226MW).

If power generation is evaluated from its own capabilities, some of the Type III lands in Demerara that give such poor yields for sugar cane could be converted into fuel cane that are hardier but generate more fibre and thus more energy in power generation.

Unlike the sugar cane, the fuel cane can also be harvested in sub-optimum weather since sunlight to maximise sucrose content is not a factor: the number of available days in the wetter Demerara Plantations could then be increased, lowering unit costs. (To be continued)

news

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tuesday, February 9, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Walter Rodney CoI

Chairman fails to present report due to inadequate ink ― AG “fed up” with situation

By Alexis Rodney

T

he final report of the investigation into the death of Dr Walter Rodney was further delayed Monday after the chairman of the Commission Sir Richard Cheltenham indicated that he was not ready to hand it over.

Journalists were on Monday invited to the Ministry of the Presidency (MoP) where it was stated that Commissioners would be submitting the report to President David Granger.

However, after a few minutes waiting, they were informed that the submission was postponed since the Commission was not quite ready.

Late Monday evening, the MoP sent out a statement saying “Cheltenham did not submit the CoI Report to President David Granger, as was scheduled to happen today (Monday).

Sir Cheltenham reported that he was unable to make the 12:00pm scheduled time because he had run out of ink to print the document,” the release said.

Last week following a meeting with Attorney General Basil Williams, Cheltenham had told reporters that Commissioners were concerned about the impact the premature ending of the investigation back in June would have on the out-

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams

come of the investigation. He had however said the report would be ready for submission this Monday.

Government, when it assumed office back in 2015, had given the Commission a mere two weeks to wrap-up its meeting, saying the investigation, which was set up by former President Donald Ramotar, had expended too much of taxpayers’ money.

AG “fed up” Attorney General Basil Williams also released a statement Monday evening expressing that he is “fed up” of the way the Commission has been treating the President and the People of Guyana.

“I am deeply concerned.

I am even more concerned that this is a Presidential Inquiry and that the

President has been asked for extensions of time and every time the President agreed.

It is not an appropriate way to deal with the President of a country and I think the time has come for us to put a definitive end to this entire Commission of Inquiry… the President has bent over backwards on many occasions. I am fed up of the entire situation,” the Attorney General said.

Minister Williams added that he found the handling of the matter by the Commissioner surprising and unfair since he had put all arrangements in place to ensure the completion of the work of the Commission.

Sir Richard had requested that the handing over be rescheduled to a time later in the day but Minister Williams indicated that this arrangement seemed uncertain. “Sir Richard was asking for any time between 16:00h and 18:00h this evening (Monday evening), which again sounded very iffy and I had to come to Parliament,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Justice for the Walter Rodney Committee has called on Government to allow fairness to emanate from the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry The organisation on Monday said it has been following with interest the statements of government through its spokespersons, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs

CoI Commissioners: Chairman Sir Richard Cheltenham, Jamaican Jacqueline Samuels-Brown and Guyanese Seenath Jairam

Basil Williams, Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman.

“From the statements attributed to these officials, their comments demonstrate that they are on a campaign to disparage, denigrate, and thus create the impression that the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry did not accomplish anything of substance. It is not clear why this would be in the interest of the Government of Guyana.”

According to the Committee, an objective of the Commission was to get to the truth as to the circumstances which led to the death of Walter Rodney on June 13, 1980.

“It will be in the interest of the Government of Guyana that the Commission completes its work so that all of the evidence and the hearings can be placed in the public domain. It will be important at this point for the

GECOM supports youth initiative on voter education campaign T o ensure a high voter turnout at the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has begun to encourage wholesome voter education.

It is in this regard representatives of Youth Challenge Guyana, the National Coordinating Coalition and the National Youth Council visited the Commission to discuss the facilitation of training and support for their joint programme “Voter Education Project”, which, according to them, is being funded by USAID through Counterpart International.

The Voter Education Project is designed to lend support to the electorate as well as candidates and aims to target young people primarily. The Project also focuses on women and special interests groups.

The representatives explained that the Project would establish “candidate hubs” across the country where trained personnel would be available to answer questions on LGE. Youth-friendly publications will also be produced to

entire government to make it clear that this Commission of Inquiry should be able to complete its work. By making the recommendation to cabinet to disallow more time for the testimony of crucial witnesses to allow for a smooth and proper completion of the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry, Mr Williams is seeking to mould the public’s perception on the real historical meaning of this Inquiry,” the statement said.

The Justice for Walter Rodney Committee noted that it is unfortunate that the Cabinet seemed to have accepted William’s recommendation without regard to due process that he and his colleague Trotman are now arguing for in the court of public opinion.

“Lawyers make their arguments in court. We are concerned about the statement attributed to Minister Trotman as reported in the

Guyana Relief Council celebrates 22nd anniversary

Guyana Relief Council Chair Yvonne Hinds

I From left: Deputy Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud, Youth Challenge Guyana Executive Director Dmitri Nicholson, Guyana National Youth Council President Tricia Teekah, Guyana National Youth Council Executive Member Francis Bailey, and Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield

strengthen awareness.

Deputy Chief Elections Officer Vishnu Persaud indicated that GECOM could provide existing literature and check materials produced via the Project to ensure the accuracy of the information being disseminated.

GECOM has continuously been engaged with vot-

er education over the years.

Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield indicated that because of the long hiatus between LGE, a culture may have developed whereby people view the LGE as unimportant. However, through these awareness campaigns, that view can be corrected.

“I am very happy with

this initiative and we are willing to provide guidance on information accordingly. We can aid in providing trained personnel to offer guidance and information to your representatives,” explained Lowenfield.

The youth team expressed appreciation of GECOM’s willingness to assist.

Guyana Chronicle because it is not based in facts. If Ministers Williams and Trotman were indeed following the proceedings of the inquiry, they and the Cabinet would have known that the inquiry was not a waste of time.”

The committee said the world is waiting on the findings of this commission.

The CoI report was initially expected to be handed over since November 2015; however, several hiccups had caused postponements.

The three-member team comprising its Chairman Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Sir Richard Cheltenham, Jamaican Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline SamuelsBrown and Trinidad-based Guyanese Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam returned to Guyana last Monday to put the finishing touches on the report.

They had met with Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

Following that meeting, Cheltenham had expressed concerns about the impact the premature ending of the hearing would have on the final report.

The new Administration upon its ascension to office, made a decision to discontinue the hearing, which was close to the end but which still had some pertinent witnesses to give evidence.

n recognition of its 22nd anniversary, Guyana Relief Council (GRC) hosted a photographic exhibition on Monday at the National Library Research Centre under the theme, “Caring and Sharing”.

Chairperson of the Council, Yvonne Hinds related to Guyana Times, this year’s anniversary commenced with a photographic exhibition which chronicles the GRC’s years of service and significance to the people of Guyana.

A church service was also slated for next Sunday as

part of the celebrations.

The organisation has already contributed donations to more than 30 adults, 10 families and children for this year.

Hinds explained that in order for the Relief Council to function effectively to assist persons in need, support was needed from the public in the form of generous donations.

Last year, the Relief Council assisted in donating household and personal items to persons who were victims of fire and other natural disasters.

The Council also has built a shelter which is used to temporarily accommodate people rendered homeless by disasters.

The GRC opened its doors on Camp Street before moving to Ruimveldt where the headquarters is presently located. This non-profitable organisation was established to render support in a generous way to persons who were affected by manmade or natural disasters in Guyana.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, february 9, 2016

Regional

Haiti’s President steps down Venezuela shopping centres halve opening without successor in place

H

aitian President Michel Martelly has stepped down at the end of his term amid tension over how he is to be replaced.

No successor has yet been chosen as Opposition supporters challenge a deal to select an interim leader.

The first day of carnival has been called off over the threat of more Opposition protests.

Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, is still struggling to recover from a huge earthquake in 2010.

The last-minute deal aims to prevent the country from plunging into an immediate power vacuum.

In a speech, Martelly said his biggest regret was that January’s presiden-

President Michel Martelly has stepped down without a successor in place

tial election had been postponed.

The runoff vote to elect his successor was shelved because of fears of violence and allegations of fraud.

It will now be held on April 24, with a new presi-

dent due to be sworn in on May 14.

Under the latest agreement, Parliament will elect an interim president and install a transitional government for a four-month term.

deal with the crisis.

A price freeze has been ordered on products needed to prevent the disease.

According to officials, the pregnant victim is in her first trimester of pregnancy. There is particular concern over pregnant women contracting the virus, as it is suspected to be linked to microcephaly, a defect in which babies are born with small heads and brains. In Brazil, there have been thousands of

cases of women giving birth to babies with this condition.

In the other case of note, a man diagnosed with Zika has developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. It has been associated with viral or bacterial infections.

Puerto Rico reported its first case of Zika in December 2015.

Meantime, scientists at Brazil’s premier state-run

Martelly is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, but has thrown his weight behind Jovenel Moise, a banana exporter who won the first round of the presidential election in November.

But the result has been contested by the Opposition challenger, Jude Celestin.

He accused the electoral authorities of favouring Moise and threatened to pull out of the runoff vote.

Prime Minister Evans Paul – who is due to remain in his post until Parliament agrees on his replacement – has appealed for calm.

On Friday, protesters beat a man to death in the capital, Port-au-Prince, in a clash with ex-soldiers. (BBC

News)

Puerto Rico declares state of emergency over Zika outbreak

A

state of emergency has been declared in Puerto Rico over the Zika Virus, with at least 22 people infected, including a pregnant woman and a man who developed a paralysis syndrome that has been linked to the mosquito-borne virus.

Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced that the State Emergency and Disaster Administration is creating a task force to

research institute for tropical diseases say they’ve discovered the presence of active Zika Virus in urine and saliva samples.

President of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Dr Paulo Gadelha, says the Virus’ ability to infect other people through the two body fluids requires further study, and the discovery does not yet merit any additional health recommendation.

(Excerpt from

times as crisis bites

S

hopping centres in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, say they will be halving their opening times to four hours a day.

The move will allow them to comply with Government energy rationing.

Ministers says a severe drought caused by El Niño has brought 18 of the country’s hydro-electric dams to critically low water levels.

A spokesman for the country’s retail association said the drop in working hours would have an impact on jobs.

The State energy corporation (Corpoelec) had wanted cuts twice a day, between 13:00h and 15:00h and then again between 19:00h and 21:00h.

The retail association, The Chamber of Venezuelan Commercial Centres (Cavececo), said it had made an alternative proposal: that shops should open late at 12:00h and close at 19:00h saving five hours of energy use daily.

But they had not received a response to this suggestion, the organisation said.

“To turn the lights off at one in the afternoon and not to be able to work would have a huge impact on our business,” said Mleidys Galves who works in a pizzeria in the Lider Shopping Centre in Caracas.

“That is our peak selling time when people come out to eat lunch.”

Cavececo said opening and closing twice in a day would be disastrous for banking operations, health centres, servicing companies, pharmacies, supermarkets and particularly restaurants that depended on electrical energy to preserve and refrigerate their products.

However, the reduction to only four hours a day would also have an impact on businesses that ran two work shifts which represents around 75 per cent of employees in shopping centres. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Millionaire jailed in Cayman Islands for fraud scheme

Caribbean360)

No evidence of political motive in JLP rally shooting – Police Chief

C

ommissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams says there is no evidence of political motivation in Sunday night’s shooting incident at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) mass rally at the Sam Sharpe Square in Montego Bay, St James.

Preliminary reports are that two men were shot dead while three others were injured. However, Williams said in a release a short while ago that a total of six people were injured.

The dead men are 22-year-old Javin Campbell and another man identified only by his alias “Chow”.

The Police claim that both men are members of a gang that operates in the Flanker

community of St James.

“The shooting resulted from a dispute among known persons who were in attendance at the public meeting. We are aware that prior to the shooting, there

were attempts by other persons at the meeting to quell the dispute,” Williams said.

He expressed confidence that the case will be solved based on “some very good leads” that the police are

working with.

The Commissioner’s statement read in part: “I condemn in the strongest terms the shooting incident, which occurred at the JLP public meeting in Sam Sharpe Square last night that resulted in the death of two persons and the injuring of six others… This incident proves the point that whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself, it will be exploited by criminal elements.

“I am satisfied that there was an adequate number of Police Officers supported by military personnel deployed to provide security at the meeting.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Police Officer allegedly fatally shoots teacher in Jamaica

A

Police Officer has been arrested following the fatal shooting of a teacher over the weekend.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) arrested the Officer, whose

name has not been disclosed, on Saturday evening, on suspicion of shooting with intent.

He allegedly shot the primary school teacher, Steven Dyer, around 10:50h that day in the southern parish of Clarendon, after the two

had an altercation. There were no details about the nature of the altercation.

Dyer was admitted to the hospital in serious condition and was reportedly paralysed. He succumbed to his injuries Sunday morning.

According to a report from INDECOM, investigators took a statement from Dyer before he was hospitalised, and also spoke to several people who witnessed the incident, and the Policeman was identified as the shooter. (Caribbean360)

Canover Watson (centre) being led away from court after being sentenced for fraud (Photo: screen grab from Cayman27 Video)

A

millionaire businessman who conspired with his friend, FIFA corruption accused Jeffrey Webb, will spend the next seven years behind bars after being found guilty of involvement in a scheme to cheat the Cayman Islands Government out of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Businessman Canover Watson was sentenced to seven years on each of two counts of conspiracy to defraud, and three years each on the counts of conflict of interest, fraud on Government and breach of trust. The sentences will run concurrently which means he will be in prison for seven years.

He was found not guilty of a sixth charge, transferring criminal property.

The charges stemmed from a CarePay hospital contract investigation.

According to evidence led at the trial, Watson, who was Chairman of the Cayman Islands’ Health Services Authority, conspired with

Webb, his friend and business party, to skim hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits from a CarePay patient swipe card contract between 2010 and 2013.

The prosecution had contended that the loss to Government, through the fraud, would have been almost US$5.7 million if Watson’s and Webb’s plans had succeeded.

“The evidence against you was overwhelming,” Justice Michael Mettyear said in handing down the sentence last Friday, chastising Watson for using his position of power and trust as HSA Chairman to carry out the fraud.

“You are a certified accountant. Yet you behaved shamelessly, falsifying presentations, letters, emails, contracts and signatures . . .

You were already a wealthy man when this started. It was sheer greed and contempt for your fellow Caymanians that caused you to act as you did.”(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

tuesday, february 9, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Syria “exterminating Turkey and Germany agree detainees” – UN report on plan to ease refugee crisis

T

he Syrian Government has carried out a State policy of extermination against thousands of detainees, United Nations human rights investigators say.

They accuse President Bashar al-Assad’s regime of crimes against humanity, in a report for the UN Human Rights Council.

The study says both loyalist and anti-Government forces have committed possible war crimes.

Many detainees were tortured, some were beaten to death, and others died from lack of food, water, or medical care.

The findings come from interviews with hundreds of witnesses and cover the period since the start of anti-Government protests in March 2011.

The report says thousands of detainees have been killed while in the custody of warring parties during that time.

Investigators suspect tens of thousands of people are detained by Syria’s Government at any one

T

Torture, rampant disease and extrajudicial execution have claimed the lives of many detainees. In photo, protesters in Aleppo called for the release of prisoners in Government-run jails in January [Reuters]

time.

Their report describes the situation of detainees as an “urgent and large-scale crisis of human rights protection”.

Survivors’ accounts “paint a terrifying picture of the magnitude of the violations taking place”, it said.

The civil war in Syria has claimed an estimated 250,000 lives so far.

About 4.6 million people have fled Syria, while another 13.5 million are said to be in need of humanitarian assistance inside the country.

Both Government and rebel sides are accused of violence against people they detain, the investigators say, but the vast majority are being held by Government agencies.

A pattern of arrests since March 2011 targeted Syrian civilians thought to be loyal to the Opposition, or simply insufficiently loyal to the Government.

Senior Government figures clearly knew about and approved of the abuse, says the report. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Taiwan earthquake: Eight-yearold rescued after 60 hours

A

n eight-year-old girl has been pulled alive from the rubble of a building in Taiwan more than 60 hours after it was destroyed by an earthquake.

Rescuers in Tainan City freed three others on Monday, including the girl’s aunt, as they raced to find more than 100 residents buried in the ruins.

At least 38 people died in the magnitude 6.4 earthquake on Saturday. One of those rescued was a woman found lying underneath her husband’s body. Their infant

son was found dead nearby.

The woman, Tsao Weiling, was conscious and was taken to hospital.

Rescuers said it appeared her husband’s body had protected her from a falling beam. Five of the couple’s family members remain missing, Taiwan’s Government-run Central News Agency reported.

A man rescued on Monday had been talking to rescuers throughout the night. He was pulled free just before midday local time.

Officials said late on Sunday that 310 people had been rescued from the rubble of the building, with 100 of them taken to hospital.

A six-month-old baby girl pulled alive from the rubble died a few hours later in hospital.

The 17 storeys of the Weiguan Jinlong (Golden Dragon) apartment complex crumpled as the quake struck just before 04:00 local time on Saturday (20:00 GMT Friday), as Taiwan was beginning the Lunar New Year holiday. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Somalia drought leaves 50,000 children “facing death”

M

ore than 50,000 children in Somalia “face death” because of the ongoing drought there, the United Nations says.

A stark warning issued by the UN’s humanitarian office, Ocha, said the malnutrition situation is “alarming”.

It added that nearly one million Somalis, one in 12 of the population, “struggle... to meet their food needs”.

The drought in Somalia has been partly caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon which has affected east and southern Africa.

The worst-affected areas of the country are parts of Puntland and the self-declared republic of Somaliland.

Many of those in need of help are people who have

Some 260,000 people died in Somalia as a result of a drought earlier this decade

been displaced by years of conflict in the country.

In all 4.7 million people, nearly 40 per cent of the population, need some sort of humanitarian assistance.

As the drought is intensifying there “many more people risk relapsing into crisis”, said the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Somalia Peter de Clercq.

Highlighting the condition of the children, he said that 58,300 will die “if they are not treated”.

De Clercq appealed for more funds so they can be helped quickly.

In neighbouring Ethiopia, more than 10 million people need food assistance following the failure of the rains. (Excerpt from BBC News)

urkey and Germany have agreed on a set of measures to deal with the Syrian refugee crisis, including a joint diplomatic initiative aiming to halt attacks against Aleppo, Syria’s largest city.

On Monday in Ankara, officials from the two countries added that they would push to curb illegal migration.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was in the Turkish capital for talks on how to reduce the influx of refugees into Europe, said after discussions with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that she

was “not just appalled but horrified” by the suffering caused by Russian bombing in Syria.

Merkel said that Turkey and Germany will push at the United Nations for everyone to keep to a UN resolution passed in December that calls on all sides to halt without delay attacks on the civilian population.

She said: “We have been, in the past few days, not just appalled but horrified by what has been caused in the way of human suffering for tens of thousands of people by bombing – primarily from the Russian side.”

“Under such circumstances, it’s hard for peace talks to take place, and so this situation must be brought to an end quickly,” Merkel said.

Davutoglu said the city of Aleppo was “de facto under siege. We are on the verge of a new human tragedy”.

Cengiz Aktar, a political scientist with Istanbul Policy Centre, told Al Jazeera: “Russians are carpet bombing – they want to clean the entire region so as to make sure the Damascus (Syrian) army will take over and push on to the Turkish border. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

India: Leopard injures 6 in Bangalore school

A

male leopard which entered a school in the Indian city of Bangalore injured six people trying to capture it.

A scientist and a forestry employee were among those mauled during the near 10hour long effort to corner the dangerous animal on Sunday.

The leopard, which strolled into the Vibgyor International School, was eventually tranquillised and released.

A recent wildlife census estimated that India has a leopard population of between 12,000 and 14,000.

The eight-year-old male was spotted strolling inside the school premises in the Kundalahalli area.

Footage on the school’s security cameras showed it attacking a man near a swimming pool.

Conservation scientist Sanjay Gubbi and forest department employee Benny Maurius were injured when they tried to corner the animal and tranquillise him, reports say.

“It was a long strug-

The leopard was tranquillised on Sunday evening

gle to capture the leopard.

Although it was injected with tranquillisers, it could be captured only around 20:15 local time when the medication took full effect,” senior Police official S Boralingaiah told reporters.

Wildlife official Ravi Ralph told the BBC Hindi’s Imran Qureshi that the leopard possibly strayed into the school from a patch of forest not far away.

The captured animal

has been moved to a national park and the six injured people, including a cameraperson of a TV channel, have been treated for minor injuries.

Leopards and other big cats have been known to stray into populated areas, and conservationists have warned that such confrontations may increase as humans encroach on animal habitats. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Canada to end bombing missions in Iraq and Syria C anadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday Canada would pull out six jets that have been bombing targets in Iraq and Syria, ending Canada’s controversial combat role in the effort against Islamic State.

Trudeau’s Liberals won an election last October promising to pull the jets out, but had been under pressure from allies unhappy with the decision.

Bombing had begun in April 2015 under the previous Conservative Government.

“In any mission, you need to make choices. We

can’t do everything. In our decision, we were guided by our desire to do what we could do best to help in the region and to do it in the right way,” Trudeau said during a news conference.

“The people terrorised

by ISIL (Islamic State) every day don’t need our vengeance, they need our help.”

Canada will end its bombing missions by February 22, but keep two surveillance planes in the region as well as refuelling aircraft, and triple the number of soldiers training Kurdish troops in northern Iraq to about 200, from

about 70 currently, the Government said.

Canada’s decision came as the Syrian Army advanced toward the Turkish border on Monday in a major offensive backed by Russia and Iran in one of the biggest shifts in momentum of the war, helping torpedo the first peace talks for two years, which collapsed last week before they had begun in earnest.

Trudeau said the new military mission would be engaged for at least two years, after which it would be re-evaluated. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

16 news

tuesday, february 9, 2016| guyanatimesGY.com

E-Governance project

Chinese restaurant invasion

1 in custody for Corentyne Board of Directors to be appointed woman's murder M A man was arrested Monday as police continue their investigation into the fatal shooting of a Chinese National on Sunday evening at her No 57 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, businessplace.

Dead is Sue Di Wong called ‘Xiudi Yang’, 49, of the Jinlai Lai Restaurant who was shot once to the head during what appeared to be an attempted robbery.

Police in a release stated that about 19:45h the businesswoman along with her husband and two sons were having dinner in their res-

Dead businesswoman, Sue Di Wong also called ‘Xiudi Yang’

The restaurant where the shooting took place

taurant when two men, one armed with a firearm, entered through a opened door with the intention of robbing the family.

Upon seeing this, the

husband and the two children ran out of the building and raised an alarm during which the one holding the gun discharged a round hitting the woman to the head.

The two men then escaped.

The woman was taken to the Skeldon Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

When Guyana Times visited the scene Monday, the woman’s son, 24, Zhouxing Su, explained that the family was enjoying dinner to mark the Chinese New Year when two men emerged from the back of the building and held them at gunpoint.

He said none of the men wore masks but one was carrying a cutlass while the other had a firearm.

At the time of the incident the young man recalled, the restaurant was closed but the front door was ajar and the front gate locked.

According to Su, he along with his brother, 13, ran into the yard and scaled the fence in a bid to escape while leaving their parents behind.

“This is the first time something like this happen to my mum and she never know to protect she self and start screaming and my dad see that and ran and start screaming too and hold a chair in front he to protect my mum,” Su told Guyana Times.

Meanwhile Su and his brother raised an alarm as they ran over the road. “An then when ah just reach over the road, ah hear gunshot and when I watch I see my mum fall down to the ground”.

He recounted seeing his mother lying with a bullet in her forehead as he rushed back to the house. From all indications, the men collected a box which they thought had money but the box contained cigarettes and pens.

“Actually dem ent take nothing, they see we close down so they feel we done cash out all money an so…

He see I have a box, is with cigarette, is with pen and thing, they thought say maybe was money in it,” Su said.

The police arrived shortly after the incident and took the injured woman to hospital. The ranks have recovered several packets of cigarettes left behind by the bandits.

The police believe the perpetrators were monitoring the businessplace for quite some time based on their quick movements in the yard.

Residents are of the view that the perpetrators could be members of small gangs in the community involved in the use of illicit drugs.

The police will continue to question the man in custody.

inister of State Joseph Harmon has announced the decision to work to incorporate the operations of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) into its massive E-Governance operations.

During a recent visit to the NDMA office attached to the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus, the Minister was informed of the unit’s mandate as well as a number of challenges

Minister of State Joseph Harmon interacts with Godfrey Proctor of the National Data Management Authority

facing that authority.

Meanwhile in light of this process, Minister

Harmon recapped his official visit to the operations in August 2015 where he found the operations of the unit to

be apprising.

According to a press statement on Monday, the General Manager of the operations Godfrey Proctor informed the Minister that the NDMA has not had a board appointed in over two decades which resulted in the work of the authority being severely hampered.

Minister Harmon noted that government in its review of the Public Service ICT will restore the NDMA and similar bodies so that they can play a meaningful role in the administration’s E-Governance initiatives.

Gunmen rob NA Market vendor A New Amsterdam Market vendor was robbed by two armed bandits who took away her bag containing money.

The woman Frieda Khan, 55, related to Guyana Times that at about 20:30h Friday last, she was leaving her East Canje home heading to Port Mourant Market to purchase vegetables to sell when she was attacked by the two gunmen.

According to woman, she was placing her baskets and bags into a car parked outside of her home when she noticed two men standing in close proximity.

She added that although she was able to see the individuals, she did not recognise any of them.

Frieda Khan

“I watching them and me ask me nephew if he know them and he say no… before I put in the basket, they run to me and them get the gun and them shot and me nephew escape and

run away. The one next to me say, give me the ****ing bag and I give him the bad with the money,” Khan lamented to Guyana Times.

The men escaped with the vendor’s bag, which had $50,000. She said the gunmen escaped on a bicycle while firing shots.

“Before they escape, they fire shots and one graze my brother-in-law shoulder and then the two of them go away on their bicycle”.

The woman and her nephew reported the matter to the police, who responded and combed the area for approximately three hours but their search was unsuccessful.

Police are still searching for the gunmen.

Parika Sea Dam murder

Suspects released, Police working on new leads T he five men who were arrested for the murder of Ramroop Rameshwar, 63, whose body was discovered Tuesday with his hands and feet bound and mouth gagged were released on Monday.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that although the men were released, they are required to report to the Parika Police Station as police continue their in-

vestigations.

He noted that the police are working with several leads and are hopeful for a breakthrough soon.

The police are however working with the theory that the man was robbed of his jewellery and then killed.

Rameshwar, of Parika Sea Dam, was found lying on the floor in front of the door with his hands and feet tied behind his back and his mouth gagged. He

also had blood oozing from his mouth and nose.

Neighbours made the gruesome discovery after they observed his front door opened and went to check on him. The elderly man was heard screaming, but neighbours claimed that they did not take it seriously, since he usually behaved in that manner.

The post mortem proved that Rameshwar died as a result of blunt trauma to the head.

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news

tuesday, february 9, 2016 | guyanatimesGY.com

Budget 2016

Heated debate engulfs National Assembly

Canje taxi driver shot by bandits

– Hamilton wants review of “vampire budget”, Broomes vows to end gold smuggling

By Edward Layne

F

iery exchanges were the hallmark of day one of the debate of the 2016 National Budget in the National Assembly on Monday, with presentations by a number of Members of Parliament (MPs) of the governing coalition and the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Zulfikar Mustapha, a PPP/C legislator, in his presentation, said Budget 2016’s theme’s “Stimulating Growth, Restoring Confidence, The Good Life Beckons” was very misleading, and suggested that the Finance Minister adjust it to “Stifling Growth, Removing Confidence And The Good Life Buries”, which received nods of approval from the Opposition side of the House as his colleagues banged on the tables.

Mustapha, a one-time Chairman of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) said the Budget failed to address the welfare, concerns and needs of the poor and working people of Guyana, adding that all the Minister did was raise the hopes and expectations of citizens without providing any solid measures to pull the country out of its current economic crisis.

He accused the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government of dismantling the regional governance system by removing qualified, competent and experienced persons as Regional Executive Officers (REOs) and replacing them with “political hacks” who lacked the competency to do the job and demonstrated utter disrespect for the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs).

“Mr Speaker, because of the actions of these politically appointed hacks, many

“Vampire budget”

PPP/C MP Joseph Hamilton Regions were unable to spend their budget, and much-needed funds were sent back to the treasury: Region Two – $79 million, Region 3 – $97 million, Region 5 – $109 million, Region 6 – $66 million and I can go on and on. Many of the items budgeted [for] could have easily been procured, but there was no interest to look at the welfare of the people in their regions,” he told the House.

He also lambasted the Administration for “abandoning” the rice and sugar industries – two critical sectors of the Guyanese economy.

Salary increase

Mustapha lamented that the Government was hiding behind the guise of talks with the unions as the reason for not offering public servants any pay increase.

“What a shame when we consider that immediately upon taking office, they awarded themselves very hefty increases in a manner that created resounding surprise to the nation. Mr Speaker, why they didn’t set up an independent … committee to look into salary increases for Ministers? But they went ahead and award-

ed themselves and the workers are being told to wait. Mr Speaker, ‘a good life’ beckons for Government Ministers only,” he noted.

Housing sector

Meanwhile, Minister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Sharpe-Patterson in her presentation said that the Ministry has begun the process to rectify the many issues facing the housing sector in Guyana.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day…We will not only fix it but it will be fixed with lasting solutions,” she declared.

Sharpe-Patterson said young professionals, including nurses, teachers and members of the Joint Services, must be able to access affordable house lots since it is publicly known what they earn, but acknowledged that some categories of citizens must pay more for premium house lots. Sharpe-Patterson also vowed to correct a policy which prevents 18-year-olds from receiving house lots.

She also announced that some 50 homeowners across the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana would be chosen to receive a $300,000 grant to be used to upgrade their homes.

PPP/C MP Joseph Hamilton, in a passionate presentation, declared that the Finance Minister presented a “vampire budget” which would only make the poor poorer.

“Even the donkey cart owner and horse cart man is not spared…APNU/AFC seeks to suck the lifeblood out the poor and powerless…this is a vampire budget,” he declared.

He called on the Government to present a comprehensive plan for the economic development of the country, as he warned that Guyanese were smart people and as such, “fanciful rhetoric” would not woo the masses.

Hamilton said that the Budget was utter disrespect to the womenfolk of the county, as no mention was made of support for women, and similarly no allocation was made for the development of youths, including job creation.

Mining

Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry Simona Broomes said the Government would “roll back” the tide of gold smuggling to ensure that the nation benefited from its natural resources fully.

“It is unacceptable that as a nation, we cannot benefit directly from more than half of our gold product,” she said, lamenting the high number of cases of gold smuggling.

Broomes also noted that her Ministry would soon be working to craft a new strategy to tackle corruption in the natural resources sector which was embedded in the system.

“It’s like the more you peel away layers of decay, the more you discover,” she said.

A

Injured, Darshan Rampersaud

Berbice taxi driver is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital nursing a gunshot wound to the leg after he was attacked and shot by two armed men during a robbery at his Cumberland, East

the beating, a bullet was accidently discharged which missed his head.

Reports are the two bandits panicked and started to order each other to kill the man but the neighbours had already heard the gunshot and raised an alarm thus causing the men to flee.

Marlyn Ramsammy, wife of the injured man told Guyana Times that her husband was home alone on the night of the robbery.

“He was waiting for the computer to come on when he heard footsteps going up the step. He though that is we came home so he was coming to look and midway in the hall he see two fellows, one with a cutlass and one with a gun and they point the gun to him and tell him to be silent,”

The home of the injured man

Canje, home on Friday last.

The injured man was identified as Darshan Rampersaud, 39, of Lot 125 Coburg Street, Canje, Berbice. According to reports, the taxi driver returned home at about 20:30h and took off his wristwatch and placed it on the steps along with the day’s earning.

He then went into the kitchen, got some food and went upstairs. While there the two men armed with a cutlass and a gun confronted and ordered him to remain silent.

They demanded he hand over money and valuables but when he resisted, they dealt him several blows to the head and body. During

the wife related.

The two men, she explained began demanding valuables from Rampersaud while beating him with both the gun and cutlass.

“The one with the gun take the gun and lash he in he head and it went off. The one with the cutlass start telling the one with the gun to shoot he and the one with the gun telling the one with the cutlass no, you no chap he… then the one turn an shoot he on he foot.”

They escaped with the money placed on the stairway and rode off on two bicycles parked a stone’s throw away.

The police have launched an investigation.

Wedding Expo kicks off second phase of the competition

W

edding Expo ‘Race to the altar’ 2016 kicked off the second phase of the competition, which saw the final five contestants vying for the top prize of $3,000,000 all-inclusive wedding in this the 8th Annual Wedding Expo.

The top five contestants are Hamilton Holder and Karen McAllister, Clay Harris and Maelisha Kellman, Steven Persaud and Monalisa Sammy, Troy Archer and Karen Alexander and Mutola Caesar and Eldon Pile.

This event hosted by Roraima Airways saw the contestants competing in activities ranging from mountain biking, kayaking, forest expedition and couple communication at the Arrowpoint Nature Resort.

This part of the competition was created to provide the judges an opportunity to examine the interaction of the couples while they are under stressful situations.

Criteria that the judges will also be looking at when determining the winner is “Good ambassadorship”, affordability of a wedding, and chemistry.

Other activities slated for the remainder of the competition are visits to their homes, media blitz and the talent segment at the Valentine’s Day Special at the Roraima Duke Lodge.

Public voting will commence today on the Roraima Wedding Expo Facebook page. The announcement of the winning couple will be done at the Roraima Duke

Contestants of the ‘Race to the altar’ 2016

Lodge Valentine’s Special.

Day

is

This annual event aimed at showcasing

Guyana’s diverse wedding industry and at the same

time promoting the country as a wedding destination.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, february 9, 2016

ARCHIE

Discipline will be the key to getting ahead. Don’t expect (March 21- help or rely on anyone but April 19) yourself to get things done.

Jealousy is apparent, and must be handled with care.

ARIES

Do what you enjoy most in TAURUS order to find success. If you (April 20- show affection, your love life May 20) will flourish. Work to build instead of to destroy. Focus on keeping the peace.

dilbert

Don’t let uncertainty ruin GEMINI (May 21- your day. Set your sights on June 20) what you want to achieve, and refuse to let anyone interfere. Emotional matters will surface if you are too accommodating.

CANCER

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

Generosity and understanding will be your ticket to popularity. Someone from a different background or with a different mindset will capture your attention and alter your course. Romance is featured.

Embrace change and acLEO cept the inevitable. Getting (July 23upset or starting an arguAug. 22) ment you cannot win is senseless. Listen and learn as you go along in order to avoid a stalemate.

Alterations to where or VIRGO how you live will pay off.

(Aug. 23- Money or a gift will come from Sept. 22) an unexpected source. Making plans for a relaxing time with someone you love will improve your relationship.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take note of what everyLIBRA (Sept. 23- one else does and wants, but Oct. 23) don’t feel obliged to make everyone happy. Listen and make suggestions, but don’t risk your own well-being for the sake of others.

SUDOKU

Pick up the pace and be SCORPIO the first to make a move.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22) Make a point to control any situation you face instead of letting it manipulate you.

Stop thinking about what SAGITTARIUS you want to do and pursue (Nov. 23- your plans. Discipline and Dec. 21) precision will help you avoid costly mistakes. Avoid indulgence, overspending and emotional outbursts.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Take the time to nurCAPRICORN ture important relationships.

(Dec. 22- Sharing your intentions will Jan. 19) enable you to plan for the future and ensure that you have everyone you care about on board.

Get along with others and AQUARIUS (Jan. 20- form alliances. How you hanFeb. 19) dle people will make a difference to your reputation and prospects. Your strength will come from your courage to speak up.

Your energetic, no-nonPISCES (Feb. 20- sense approach to taking care March 20) of business will win you favours. Romance is on the rise, and a partnership will improve your life. Exude confidence in order to excel.

tuesday, february 9, 2016

19

New Zealand defend 246 on McCullum’s ODI farewell

New Zealand pose with the series trophies

O

ne of Brendon McCullum’s fondest ODI memories was a match in Hamilton in 2007 when he helped New Zealand run down an Australian tally of 346 to complete a Chappell-Hadlee sweep. This time around McCullum’s team-mates honoured him with a rousing defence of 246 at Seddon Park, ensuring their captain retired from ODI matches with the trophy in his keeping.

Steven Smith’s Australian side had been happy to restrict the hosts via a collapse of six wickets for 23 after McCullum, Martin Guptill and Grant

Elliott all made starts, a meagre target to defend on the small outfield of Seddon Park. However a slowing pitch and excellent spells by Doug Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Corey Anderson and Matt Henry combined with a moment’s controversy to carry New Zealand home.

The visitors were still a chance of chasing down the target when an in-form Mitchell Marsh jammed a Henry delivery back down the pitch. New Zealand appealed only half-heartedly but the umpires were moved to refer after a big screen replay showed the ball had hit boot rather than ground.

Marsh was livid at his dis-

G. Square Cavaliers top Lakers by 2 wickets

G

. Square Cavaliers fought past Lakers to win a hard earned game when the two sides met on Sunday in a friendly 35-over cricket match in Wakenaam.

Lakers took first strike and carved their way to 1949 in their allotted 35 overs.

B. Moses was the highest

run scorer with 25 while Sanford (only name gives) scored 27 runs.

The bowling for the Cavaliers came from J. Manbodh who picked up figures of 3-37. Dr D. Shiwnandan chipped in with figures of 2-20.

Meanwhile in reply, G Cavaliers batted their way to 195-8 in 33 overs to claim victory. K. Han top scored with 37 runs while Dr. Shiwnandan brought the game home with 22 not out for a brilliant display of allround cricket.

Bowling for the Lakers came from Moses who had figures of 3-23 while Pathan (only name given) chipped in with 2-12.

missal, and Australia may yet query the protocol that resulted in his exit.

Nevertheless, the night was New Zealand’s, and it was an important win in the context of a tour that now moves into two Test matches. Smith’s run of outs is significant for the Australians, who lost their fifth consecutive match in Darren Lehmann’s absence - having recovered from DVT, he was in Wellington for the previous ODI but remained there with the Test players.

Josh Hazlewood, John Hastings, Scott Boland, Mitchell Marsh and the legspinner Adam Zampa kept New Zealand in check be-

fore making life difficult for a succession of new batsmen at the crease later in the innings. New Zealand’s total was the smallest the Australians had managed to restrict an opponent to in the eight ODI matches they have played this year.

Usman Khawaja and David Warner began as if intent upon chasing the target down inside 25 overs, a flurry of boundaries and sixes providing a decidedly rapid start. However the difficulties to be tackled later were foreshadowed when Warner was out to a ball that stopped on him, the catch shovelled to cover.

Khawaja was to follow without making a matchshaping score, victim of an excellent spell by Bracewell in which the ball that dismissed him was actually one of the bowler’s looser offerings.

These wickets left the match in the hands of Australia’s middle order, which apart from Marsh had not functioned at all this series.

Sodhi had not played until this night, but it was his excellent spell that accounted for Smith and the out of sorts Glenn Maxwell. Smith was lbw sweeping, before Maxwell threw his hands at a legbreak and was pouched at slip by McCullum, who had smartly left himself there.

At 94 for 4 the match was now firmly in New Zealand’s hands, requiring an outstanding part-

SCOREBOARD New Zealand innings MJ Guptill c Hastings b Zampa 59 BB McCullum* c Hastings b 47 Marsh KS Williamson b Boland 18 HM Nicholls c Smith b 18 Hazlewood GD Elliott c Maxwell b 50 Marsh CJ Anderson c Khawaja b Hazlewood 27 L Ronchi† c Boland b Marsh 5 DAJ Bracewell b Hastings 2 AF Milne lbw b Boland 5 MJ Henry not out 0 0 IS Sodhi b Hastings Extras (lb 6, w 9) 15 Total (all out; 45.3 overs; 199 246 mins) Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-123, 3-131, 4-171, 5-223, 6-237, 7-237, 8-246, 9-246, 10-246 Bowling: JR Hazlewood 10-045-2, JW Hastings 7.3-0-42-2, SM Boland 9-0-59-2, MR Marsh 6-0-34-3, A Zampa 10-0-45-1, GJ Maxwell 3-0-15-0.

nership of greater dimensions than that between Marsh and John Hastings in Wellington. Through a combination of fine bowling and good fortune, New Zealand did not allow that to happen. Bailey and Marsh added 59 before the former was beaten by a Henry breakback for the second time in as many matches, this time dragging on.

Ten runs later the mo-

Australia innings UT Khawaja c †Ronchi b 44 Bracewell DA Warner c Elliott b Henry 16 SPD Smith* lbw b Sodhi 21 GJ Bailey b Henry 33 GJ Maxwell c McCullum b Sodhi 0 41 MR Marsh c & b Henry MS Wade† c Guptill b Milne 17 JW Hastings c Elliott b 6 Anderson A Zampa c McCullum b 2 Anderson JR Hazlewood not out 5 SM Boland run out (Nicholls) 2 Extras (lb 2, w 2) 4 Total (all out; 43.4 overs; 188 191 mins) Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-75, 3-94, 4-94, 5-153, 6-164, 7-179, 8-184, 9-184 Bowling: MJ Henry 10-160-3, AF Milne 8.4-0-42-1, CJ Anderson 6-1-16-2, DAJ Bracewell 6-0-15-1, IS Sodhi 8-0-31-2, GD Elliott 5-0-25-0.

ment of the match arrived when Marsh squeezed Henry back to to the bowler off bat, boot and, most presumed, the ground. Henry’s appeal was half-hearted, the umpires barely interested.

However a replay on the big screen showed that things were not as clear cut as that, and after some discussion Ian Gould referred the decision to the TV umpire S Ravi. (Cricinfo)

Mourinho story made up, says Van Gaal

M

anchester United boss Louis van Gaal has responded angrily to speculation about his job after it emerged Jose Mourinho is in talks with the club.

The BBC has learned that former Chelsea boss Mourinho could be set to take over at United this summer.

Asked about his future, Van Gaal, 64, accused media of “inventing” the story and said there was no need for United to issue any kind of denial.

Van Gaal’s contract runs until the end of next season.

Speaking after Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea, he was involved in a frosty exchange with a reporter in the postmatch news conference.

Van Gaal questioned whether the reporter had spoken to either Ed Woodward, the club’s chief executive, or the Glazers, the owners, to find out what was going on behind the scenes.

Instead of writing stories about his future, Van Gaal said the media should

Louis van Gaal

be praising his team for their recent performances, including the one that gave them a point against Chelsea.

“It was not a ‘boring’ match,” insisted the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager.

“For the third game in succession, our football was sparkling. So I hope to get the support of the media this week.

But you write what you like.”

He also referenced Sir Alex Ferguson’s three years without a trophy at the start of his United reign, clearly insinuating that things would get better under him.

“Maybe you remember the difficult first years of Fergie,” said Van Gaal.

“You have to study... study statistics.”

He has clashed with the media before.

Last month, the former Netherlands coach claimed journalists had “sacked” him three times already this season.

United had the better of the first 70 minutes at Stamford Bridge and led through Jesse Lingard’s goal, only for Diego Costa to equalise in added time.

United lie fifth in the Premier League table, six points short of the top four. (BBC Sport)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, february 9, 2016

Mobile Wizard 10/10 Softball cricket...

ICC U-19 World Cup…

Unbeaten Speedboat SC West Indies into semi-finals crowned Champions A

T

The victorious Speedboat XI pose after their thumping vicorty

he Mobile Wizard 10/10 softball cricket tournament organised by the Guyana Softball League (GSL) and sponsored

by Mobile Wizard, Trophy Stall, Wolf’s Furniture Store, Rohan’s Furniture Establishment, Miss Love Trading (West Coast) and Imtiaz and Imran Hack concluded at Tuschen Ground on Sunday.

The conclusion saw the Lads from Goed Fortuin, Speedboat SC convincingly defeating Wolf’s Warriors in the final and kept their unbeaten streak intact.

The final which was played under lights, saw the toss being won by Wolf’s Warriors and who elected to bat.

They started badly, losing the in-form Amrit

Rai with the score on 15 in the second over but the other opener Vishnu Tannichandra stepped up and blasted 37(3x4s;3x6s) off 16 balls to help his team reach 106-6 in 10 overs.

Imran Hamid with 2-17 from two overs was the top bowler for Speedboat SC. After losing their first wicket through a soft dismissal of Lennox Marks the tempo changed as the smart batting of Shazim Hussain 18 (1x4) feeding the strike to skipper Greg Singh who in turn pulverized the bowling to all parts of the ground and led his team to victory.

He ended on 56 not out which included five massive sixes and three fours that left the Warriors in shock.

The day began with a

master’s game between West Coast Blazers and East Bank XI. The East bank team loss the toss and were inserted and struggled to 36 after four overs with the loss of two wickets but accelerated after reaching 102-6 in their 10 overs with the reliable Abdul Sadeek contributing 29 which included one six and two fours.

Alim Khalil took 2-12 from his two overs and supported by Arnold Padmore who took two wickets but was expensive going for 30 runs.

West Coast Blazers in reply struggled from the onset with Ritchie Salim batting six overs for only nine runs but the late batting of Mohamed Saffie who top scored with 22 off nine balls and shepherding the tail

made a fight of it.

Nevertheless, it was too much to do in the end and the innings closed with the Blazers only achieving 91-7 in their 10 overs losing by 11 runs.

John Singh took 2-11 off two overs and Imtiaz Mohamed 2-16 from his two overs being the top bowlers for East Bank.

Meanwhile the one ball “manto” brought out fifty pairs and was a big hit with the spectators as they had an opportunity to get out in the middle to show their talent.

The tournament brought out renewed interest in the game and the exploits of the teams and their discipline must be commended as the sponsors and the league acknowledged.

Symonds mulls over a T20 comeback

A

ndrew Symonds is considering coming out of retirement to play a limited amount of T20 cricket.

Symonds, who retired in February 2012 citing family reasons, has so enjoyed his experience of playing in the Masters Champions League - he is representing Capricorn Commanders in the tournament for players who have retired from international cricket - that he is mulling over offers to play more mainstream tournaments in the coming months.

And, even if Symonds, now 40, ultimately decides against a playing comeback, he believes he could contribute to the game in a coaching role.

He did some consulting work with the Australian Twenty20 team in South Africa in the lead-up to the World T20 in 2014 and has also had a loose advisory role with Brisbane Heat in BBL. “People have asked me: ‘would you consider starting up again?’” Symonds told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s something

players.

Andrew Symonds

I’ve definitely got to consider.

“I suppose I’m in a situation where I could go back, try and get really fit and engage again. Or just be happy doing what I’m doing. That’s something I’ve got to work out in the next six months or so.

“I’m enjoying playing. It’s physically demanding, but I’m enjoying the challenge again. I’m enjoying the adrenalin and the nerves again. It’s not too bad at all. I am enjoying it.”

For all his success - and Symonds played in World

Cup-winning sides, set world records and finished with a Test batting average in excess of 40 - there is a sense that his was a talent not entirely fulfilled.

A series of disciplinary misdemeanours saw his international career end prematurely when he was sent home ahead of the 2009 World T20, aged 33, but he believes his experience - particularly his experience in limited-overs cricket and playing in Asian conditions - could prove beneficial to another generation of

“There’s a lot of ‘could haves’ with me,” Symonds admitted. “I’m probably a bit too old now to play really seriously. I’ve a good life. I’ve had a good life through cricket. I’m not unhappy. Life is really good. I’ve a young family now. It’s probably the greatest thing we’ve ever done.

“But I’m also considering maybe going into the coaching side of things now. I wouldn’t want to burden anyone with my presence for too long, but a bit of consultancy work would be good. Going in for a couple of weeks and then leaving them alone: match awareness; how to finish games; setting totals; tactics against certain types of bowling or on certain surfaces.

“I ended up playing a lot of cricket in the sub-continent and a lot of teams struggle when they go there. If I can pass on my experience, that may be helpful for them.

“I’ve probably a few decisions to make in the next little bit.” (Cricinfo)

bsolutely mean spells of bowling and Shimron Hetmyer’s first half-century of the tournament helped propel the West Indies into the semi-final of the under-19 World Cup in Fatullah yesterday.

The West Indies earned their place in the semi-final courtesy of a five-wicket win over Pakistan.

The Pakistanis, batting first, were restricted to 227 for six, with Chemar Holder, 2 for 26 off seven overs and Alzarri Joseph, one for 28 off 10, choking the life out of their innings.

Pakistan were in real trouble after a Holder bouncer removed Pakistan captain and opener Zeeshan Malik for three and then his pace and bounce got the better of Shadib Khan for one.

Joseph would soon join the party, striking Mohammad Umar in the pads with a well directed yorker for eight.

The fall of wickets would be constant, as Pakistan limped to 57 for five, the pace and bounce of Holder causing problems, while Shamar Springer and Keemo Paul sent two others back.

“Our bowlers did superbly well to take early wickets,” said Hetmyer after the game.

Bringing some respect to the innings, wicketkeeper Umair Masood struck a fine ton, carving out 113 before a pull shot ended in the gloves of wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach off the bowling of Ryan John in the 50th over.

Masood was well supported by Salman Fayyaz, who ended high and dry on 58.

The West Indies responded well with Gidron Pope, making 25 and Imlach taking off the gloves

Shimron Hetmyer

to score 54 at the top of the order. Pope’s innings was ultra aggressive, coming off 18 deliveries, and his replacement, Hetmyer wasn’t in the mood to slow down either, racing to 52 from just 42 balls before he was stumped by Masood of the bowling of Khan.

Imlach seemed destined to bat through the innings but was run out after facing 76 deliveries for his half century.

There was a stutter when Keacy Carty was sent back for seven after struggling to score for 19 deliveries, but that hardly mattered, as Springer, a run-a-ball 37, Jyd Goolie, 26, and Paul, 24 from 16, made the run chase look easy.

“Wonderful result for us.

Feels good to be through to the semi finals. We just stuck to our plans, executed what we worked on at practice,” said Hetmyer.

Pakistan skipper, Malik said his team was capable of defending a low total but credited the West Indies batsmen for being aggressive in the run chase. (Digicel

Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD Pakistan Under-19s innings Zeeshan Malik* c John b Holder 3 Mohammad Umar lbw b Joseph 8 Shadab Khan c Hetmyer b Holder 1 Saif Badar c †Imlach b Springer 10 Hasan Mohsin c †Imlach b Paul 19 Umair Masood† c †Imlach b John 113 Salman Fayyaz not out 58 Hasan Khan not out 1 Extras (b 4, lb 1, w 9) 14 Total (6 wickets; 50 overs) 227 Did not bat: Hayatullah, Sameen Gul, Ahmad Shafiq Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-14, 3-21, 4-40, 5-57, 6-221 Bowling: AS Joseph 10-0-28-1, CK Holder 7-2-26-2, SK Springer 10-1-387-1-43-1, RD John 1, MA Paul 10-1-53-1, GD Pope 4-0-20-0, JU Goolie 2-0-14-0

West Indies Under-19s innings GD Pope c Hasan Mohsin b Ahmad Shafiq 25 TA Imlach† run out (Sameen Gul/Shadab Khan) 54 SO Hetmyer* st †Umair Masood b Shadab Khan 52 KU Carty run out (Shadab Khan) 7 SK Springer c Shadab Khan b Sameen Gul 37 JU Goolie not out 26 KMA Paul not out 24 Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 2) 4 Total (5 wickets; 40 overs) 229 Did not bat: MO Frew, RD John, AS Joseph, CK Holder Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-122, 3-138, 4-147, 5-190 Bowling: Sameen Gul 5-0-321, Hasan Mohsin 2-0-18-0, Hayatullah 5-0-37-0, Ahmad Shafiq 7-0-35-1, Shadab Khan 10-1-54-1, Hasan Khan 9-0-380, Salman Fayyaz 2-0-13-0.

sports

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Guyanese quartet sets new indoor 4x200m record

By Treiston Joseph

A

Guyanese quartet of Kadecia Baird, Alita Moore, Melissa Caddle-Hope and Shenika King set the standard for Guyana’s 4x200 metres indoor event with a record setting run on Saturday in New York, USA. The quartet clocked a time of 1:37.93s for the new record which won the event as well, topping USA and France who finished second and third respectively.

The four speedsters who never ran together before as a team was elated with their performances and each female expressed what a joy it was not only to set the record but also to represent Guyana while running as a unit.

Baird who is a World Junior silver medalist told Guyana Times Sport, “Well it was amazing, I never ran a relay with these girls before, it was a last minute thing and we made it work…

I was a bit nervous before because I did not know what these girls were capable of but after such an amazing performance it made me extremely happy and proud to represent my country.”

Caddle-Hope who represented Guyana at the World Indoor Championship in 2014 was also ecstatic, “I felt like our performance was great for the first time getting together...I would

like for us to be able to get together more to really get Guyana among the crowd as a country that they should worry about.

“When we get to the line I’m confident that we can make that happen...for the most part we had fun...and it’s always a pleasure representing Guyana...a lot more to come,” Caddle Hope promised.

Moore who is a former national junior sprint champion as well as Joint Services champion talked a bit more on the dynamic of the team.

“Being it’s my first time competing on our relay team for Guyana internationally I was excited and also honoured. At first I was a bit nervous after the coach said I was running last but after the second leg I knew we were going to win it… it was really amazing running with the other females and I hope for us to do this again because I know we can drop that time, myself and Kadecia were at the Armory Friday and we did a few baton passing.

“We have different coaches and we already have experience running the relay for our school so we just had to go out and win and we did,” Moore related.

King who is the new kid on the block but obviously a talented sprinter touched on the team chemistry, “I thought the perfor-

mance went really well. It was amazing knowing that some of us were only introduced to each other that day and the chemistry we developed immediately together for the first time running as a team is what made the performance a plus. It was an absolute great feeling to represent our country.

“I was nervous at first but it was something I have always wanted to do and getting the opportunity was an honour. In all it was really fun competing with the girls and other countries. I would love for us to keep working together, and definitely work on running a faster time,” King highlighted.

In addition, it was related to Guyana Times Sport was informed by the Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) North American Representative, Aliann Pompey that both the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the AAG congratulated the quartet on their performance.

Pompey further added that performance by the females was “brilliant” while sharing that the moment is really for the girls to enjoy and be proud of.

While the team is not scheduled to run again just yet with the Olympics approaching, the AAG will have a perfect opportunity of possibly fielding its first relay team.

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Fruta Conquerors raring to go ahead of Friday’s kick-off – club set to sign two Brazilian players

By Akeem Greene

D

espite placing fourth in the points standing after the first half of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ Stag Elite League, the Tucville based football team is confident that upon the completion of the league they will find themselves much higher in the points standing.

Coach of the Club, Calvin Allen revealed that “our preparation has started just over six weeks ago and it has been going well and we are in the final stages of preparation so we are going through our tactical plans”.

The club which arguably has some of the younger players in the league, found it difficult on many occasions to upkeep a high level of fitness throughout the full 90 minutes, which hampered their ability to finish goals.

“Firstly it’s more of a mind thing, you can burn yourself by holding the ball too long and trying to do the magic as we say; If you stick to the game plan and do the basics you can conserve some of that energy; its more about teaching the youngsters to re-

Calvin Allen

serve their energy and use it in a wise manner”, Allen explained.

Secretary of the Club, Daniel Thomas shared a similar view that there is a need for improvement, especially as it regards making sure they finish set pieces.

“We learnt quite a lot in the first the first half of the league, we observed where the short comings, we didn’t score enough goals, a lot games we could have won we threw away by not putting the ball in the back of the net”, Thomas vented.

As it regards new players join the squad, Thomas revealed that about five players are set to join the squad with two of them being amateur

Brazilian players.

“We tried to make some adjustments, we brought in some local players who are pretty good, we have a very good crop of players who approached the club to join; two amateur Brazilian players should be turning out for us but we are hoping they could get the paper work sorted”.

Derrick Carter from Western Tigers; Adrian Adonis and Jahall Greaves from Campton are the local players to transfer, however Thomas did not disclose the names of the Brazilians.

In recognition of having these foreign players in the league, Thomas believes it flourish a greater interest in the competition as many persons will be excited over having the prospects of Brazilians playing in Guyana.

“When you have these quality players coming into this kind of league and people get a chance to come out and watch the games, it sparks a great interest”, the Club Secretary posited.

After playing fourteen games in the League Genesis, they won five, lost four and drew five which gave them a total of twenty points.

22

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, february 9, 2016

Mentore urges Seecharran wins Caddy integration of golf golf tournament in school system

Alfred Mentore

By Akeem Greene

G

olfer Alfred Mentore is of the belief that golf should be integrated into the school system to develop a larger pool of players.

The unique sport can become popular in Guyana only if more people are encouraged to play the game especially with emphasis being placed on young people.

“In relation to developing the game, we need to tackle the schools, and have a programme where schools can be introduced into the game by creating a feeder programme”, Mentore explained.

He added, “we need to have some kind of driving range, some place where we

can teach the game early, teaching the fundamentals of the sport is necessary”.

Mentore highlighted the many benefits of the sport and believes the perception persons have on the sport is misguided.

“Ideally I have been around golf for 16 to 17 years now, people get the perception that golf is a bourgeoisie sport but it is not, it’s a game you play until in you reach old age; it’s a healthy game.” The golfer posited.

Golf is certainly still in its elementary stage of development in Guyana, but it certainly should be an area where more sports men and women tap into.

Despite it may seem a difficult sport to comprehend, the Golfer explained the simple rules of the sport.

“Ace means Hole in one; Albatross/double eagle means three strokes under par on a hole; Eagle, Two strokes under par on a hole; Birdie, One stroke under par on a hole; Par means Score a good player would expect to make on a hole or round; Bogey, One stroke over par on a hole and Double bogey”.

Golf has its own language, and its scoring lingo can be especially puzzling to understand.

Clearly it is certainly still in its elementary stage of development in Guyana, but it certainly should be an area where more sports men and women tap into.

Some of the golfers who assisted in the day along with the winners. From left are Parmanand “Max” Persaud, David Mohamad, D. Sugrim, Roberto Mohan, Vishnu Seecharan, Deosarran Ramsundar (partly hidden), Dalthan Dhanai (partly hidden), Ryan Dinanauth, Caddy Manager Roy Cummings and Club Captain Chatterpaul “Chen” Deo

V

eteran Caddy, Vishnu “Mahgo” Seecharran, was in fine form on Sunday as he returned the Best Gross, as well as the first place in the exciting senior Caddy tournament at the Lusignan Golf Course.

Young Dhaniram “Rocky” Kushiram emerged winner of the junior category.

In the senior category, Seecharran recorded a net of 75, gross 78. He was followed by Deosarran “Davo” Ramsundar with scores of 76/79, and Dalthan Dhanai with 79/85.

“Blindie” Sugrim was adjudged the Most Improved Caddy.

On the junior side, Khusiram had a net 49 and gross 50, while Roberto

Mohan (57/64) and Ryan Dinanauth (68/72) were second and third respectively. The competition was contested under the Medal Play format and attracted approximately 30 Caddies.

After the day’s activities, Caddy Manager Roy Cummings remarked, “The tournament was a great success, with willing and

Princess She Not wins PMTC race meet

Pietersen won’t be selected for World Twenty20 - Morgan

F

Kevin Pietersen

ormer England batsman Kevin Pietersen will not be recalled for this year’s World Twenty20 in India, captain Eoin Morgan was quoted on Monday as saying.

Pietersen, 35, has not played for England in any format since 2014 but has been in good form recently in club Twenty20 tournaments in Australia and Pakistan.

“That door is completely shut, Kevin will not be picked. That’s from me,” Morgan told the Daily Mail.

South African-born

Pietersen, a former England captain and member of the side that won the World Twenty20 in 2010, was dropped in 2014.

England director of cricket Andrew Strauss explained the decision at the time by saying there was a “massive trust issue” with Pietersen. The pair had fallen out over text messages sent by Pietersen to South African players during a 2012 test series when Strauss was captaining the team.

Pietersen responded to Morgan’s comments on Twitter. “Interesting he’s saying it’s HIS call! Very interesting! Hmmmmm,” said Pietersen, who is England’s second highest run-scorer in Twenty20 internationals.

Morgan, top of that list, has led a revival in England’s one-day fortunes since their dismal firstround exit at last year’s 50over World Cup. They lead hosts South Africa 2-0 in the current five-match series. (Reuters Sport)

expert assistance of golfers from the community, many of them previous Caddies, to assist in proper ruling and scoring of play.”

He expressed gratitude to the nearly one dozen golfers who helped to serve as stewards and contributed to the good quality of scoring and the successful activities.

Jockey Colin Ross was the star of the day, powering to four wins

T

he Shariff Stable was in dominant mode on Sunday, carting off four top place finishes in as many races at the Port Mourant Turf Club’s (PMTC) annual horse race meet.

The star of the day was

undoubtedly Princess She Not, which was powered Colin Ross, who was eventually crowned champions jockey.

Returning from a break from competitive racing, Princess She Not connected with front-runner

Storm Bird on the line to win the day’s feature race.

By virtue of winning the five furlong race, Shariff Stable collected $700,000 and the Banks DIH trophy.

In other results, Campador of the Shariff

Stable won the G and Lower 6.5 furlong race from Birdman, Chelsea and Bridal Stone Corner. The H and Lower event saw Lova Lova of the Shariff Stable finishing ahead of Cat Messiah, Mod Night Blues and Amazing Run. Miss Kristina, also of the Shariff Stable, made it four wins in as many start for that entity, as it won the event for Three-year Maiden Guyana bred horses from Golden Kiss and She’s in Control.

Party Time of the DeMattos Stable with jockey Paul Delph in control had things its way in winning the J and Lower race, with Liquid Lion and Little copping second and third respectively.

Massapequa Dr of the Crawford Stable won the K and Lower race from Sunday Silence and Noble Import, while Another Storm of the Amernauth Stable took first place in the L and Lower six furlong event from Uncertain and Turn About.

Ross was adjudged champion jockey with his four wins, with Delph the runner-up. The Shariff Stable was easily adjudged the champion stable for its four wins.

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, february 9, 2016

R&R International cycling doubleheader this weekend

23

Massy Industries presents gate prize for YWCC Mash Cup

Marlon Williams

L

Orville Hinds

ocal cyclists are hard at training in preparation for a heated weekend of cycling, with R&R International committing to sponsor its ‘Park’ programme and road race for the 25th year in succession.

Organised by the longserving national coach, Hassan Mohamed, the two days of cycling will pedal off on Saturday with an 11-race programme at the National Park, followed by a gruelling 40-miler on the West Demerara roadways the following day.

Saturday’s event will start at 09:00h with the BMX races, namely the 6-9, 9-12, 12-14 and Open, followed the senior riders engaging in the Juveniles, Mountain

Bikes, Veterans and the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational.

Last year’s main race was won by the country’s leading rider, Orville Hinds of Team Gillette Evolution.

The Linden wheelsman had won the race in a time of one hour, 35 minutes, three seconds (01h: 35m: 03s).

The other category winners were Jaleel Jackson (Juveniles), Junior Niles (Veterans Under-50), Sean Budhan (Mountain Bikes) and Davenand Kapilnauth (12-14 BMX Boys and Girls).

On Sunday, the action will switch to the roads, with the race starting at 08:00h on the Western end of the Demerara Harbour Bridge at Schoonord, proceeding to Bushy Park, Parika, and re-

turning to the point of origin for the finish.

Another Team Gillette Evolution rider, Marlon “Fishy” Williams, is the reigning champion, having won the 2015 event in a time of one hour, 38 minutes, 59 seconds (01h: 38m: 59s).

Jamal John had won the Juveniles segment, while Junior Niles (Veterans), Keon Thomas (Mountain Bikes) and Marica Dick (Females) were the other category winners.

The top six finishers in the Open race, as well as the leading three in the other divisions will be rewarded. Six prime prizes will be at stake.

Managing Director of R&R International, Jacob Rambarran, himself a former cyclist, is expected to witness the road race on Sunday, and later assist in the presentation of prizes.

Roxan Prahalad (right) hands over the hampers to Waheid Edwards, captain of YWCC in the presence of the team coach Hubern Evans and Wazim Ali

M

assy Industries has thrown its support behind the annual fund-raiser of the Young Warriors Cricket Club of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice – the Mash Cup 2016.

The company has been in support of this event from the inception, and at the presentation ceremony held recently, Roxan Prahalad, employee of the New Amsterdam Branch of Massy Distributions, told the gathering that they are pleased to be part of this annual event.

She said that all and sundry can see the progress the club has made as it continues to produce players at all levels. “Lots of infrastructure work is done too,” remarked Prahalad.

Collecting the two large

hampers, Hubern Evans, senior coach of the striving club, thanked the company for coming on board once again after providing support for every tournament since its inception. He said that despite the challenges faced, the club continues to grow.

He called on other businesses and private individuals to follow suit. Evans added that these times it is important to keep youths off the streets and sports is a major way of doing so. He reiterated the club’s motto of “Striving for excellence through cricket and education.”

Other sponsors already on board are beverage giant Ansa McAl Trading and Ashiek and Sons Motor Supplies and Auto Sale.

This event will form

part of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebration with proceeds going towards further improvements to the club’s facilities and day-to-day running. In addition, funds will be allocated to three schools in the Number 19 to Gangaram area.

The tournament will be played on February 23, a national holiday, and will involve 10 second division teams from the area.

It will be five-over-a-side with no first division cricketer allowed. Top clubs such as Canje Pathfinders, Betsy Ground Triple Stars, Kendall’s Union A, Rose Hall Community Centre and the host are expected to take part. Incentives to the value of over $100,000 will be up for grabs with lots of gate prizes.

NSC/BRCA 40-over cricket…

Friendship Cavaliers are champions

F

riendship Cavaliers are the National Sports Commission (NSC)/Berbice River Cricket Association (BRCA) second divison 40-over champions after defeating Kimbia in convincing fashion in the final recently.

In the match played at the Goed Bananen Land ground in East Canje, Berbice, Friendship youngsters won the toss and took first strike.

The opening pair of Ryan De Nobrega and Michael Caple gave them a good start of 48 before Caple fell for 26.

De Nobrega continued and added another 49 for the second wicket with Jason Denhart (22) and after putting on another 20 for the fourth wicket with Preston Fredericks, he fell for 58 (7x4s, 2x6s). With Fredericks going on to make 45, Gavaskar Caple 38 and Joshua Leacock 19, Friendship Cavaliers finished on 273 all out in 35.1 overs. Bowling for Kimbia,

Samuel Seegobin took 2-16, Reon Smith 2-34 and Ecliff Lindee 2-45.

When Kimbia began their response, they ran into the pace of Waqar McKenzie, who cleaned up three early wickets, to have them 9-3. Brentnol Lindee and Brian Thom then stemmed the flow of wickets for some time, but after they put on 35 for the fourth wicket, Thom fell for 14.

Lindee and Damien DaSilva then added another 30 for the fifth wicket, before DaSilva fell for 12. The flood gates then opened with medium-pacer Daniel Leacock picking up four quick wickets to bowl out Kimbia for 97, losing by a whopping 176 runs.

Lindee topscored with 33, while bowling for Friendship, Leacock ended with 4-9 from 1.4 overs, McKenzie 3-12 from five overs and Joshua Leacock 2-26 from four.

DeNobrega was ad-

judged Man-of-the-Match for his half-century. At the brief presentation ceremony after the match, Friendship Cavaliers were presented with the winner’s trophy.

DeNobrega was also adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the competition, while Andrea Pearson of Ebini Ranch Raiders was identified as the most improved player.

Speaking on behalf of the BCB, Angela Haniff thanked Director of Sport Christopher Jones for his kindness in providing balls for the competition. She added that the BRCA is not short of talent and encourage them to continue to play regular cricket and nurture the young cricketers.

Haniff even encouraged the association to send the talented players to play for clubs in the New Amsterdam/Canje area. She promised the teams in the association to organise more cricket at all levels.

Members of the Friendship Cavaliers team pose with the trophy

tuesday, february 9, 2016

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

ICC U-19 World Cup…

West Indies into semi-finals Pg 20

West Indies are joyful after advancing further into the tournament

Princess She Not wins Guyanese quartet sets new indoor PMTC race meet Pg 23

Princess She Not won the feature event of the day

4x200m record

Pg 21

From left, Alita Moore, Kadecia Baird, Shenika King and Melissa Caddle-Hope pose for a photo after setting the national 4x200 record

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