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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

NOT GUILTY!

Issue No. 3028

Thursday, November 3, 2016

– Carvil Duncan’s GPL fraud charge dismissed

Corentyne woman hacked to death by neighbour Page 2

– suspect nabbed after attempted beheading

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: TAM 2016 activities

GTA hosts first of P12 several hospitality workshops

Page 3

Fire ravages Cane Grove supermarket

Roraima P13 Airways seeks stronger Guyana-Cuba relations Page 2

– owner estimates losses to be over $40M

Bartica Massacre P10 trial

Accused men caused terror with wanton disregard for life – State Prosecutor

“I will not bury my daughter” – father pleads for help to P12 save daughter from cancer From left: Colonel Emerson DaSilva; Colonel Oswaldo DaSilva; Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Brigadier George Lewis; President David Granger; Military Commander of the North of the Brazilian Armed Forces, General Carlos Alberto Neiva Barcellos; Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Lineu Pupo De Paula and Major Meer Khan of the GDF (See story on page 17)

Special Prosecutions Unit

Govt has no business in prosecutions!

– Gaskin Page 7

…wants initiative challenged in courts

CH&PA’s $50B revamped housing programme “backward, nonsensical” – Ali Page 7

Anti-sexual harassment campaign launched P5

2 news

thursDAY, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Corentyne woman hacked Fire ravages Cane Grove supermarket to death by neighbour – suspect nabbed after attempted beheading – owner estimates losses to be over $40M

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Dead: Bhumattie Delall

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The woman’s body being removed from her home

man is in custody after almost decapitating his neighbour at Belvedere, Corentyne.

Dead is Bhumattie Delall, 53, of 351 Fifth Street, South Belvedere. Reports are that Delall was in her yard, when her neighbour, a cane harvester, armed with a cutlass, went into the yard and dealt her several chops to her neck, almost severing it.

He then calmly walked out of the yard and crossed the street into his yard where he was later arrested. The suspect’s name has been given as Jainarine Balgobin, called "Boyo". Balgobin had allegedly stolen money from a brother-in-law and was detained by Police at Albion.

However, on Monday, his mother settled the matter and he was released.

Neighbours say Balgobin

has a history of physically abusing his mother and on most times, the now dead Delall would go over to make peace.

On Monday, Balgobin allegedly sexually assaulted Delall by fondling her private parts as she was in her yard. About 09:00h on Wednesday, he started to verbally assault her and neighbours. He walked into the yard and left shortly afterwards and went onto the street where he continued his explicit tirade against the neighbours. He then ran back into Delall’s yard and chopped her to death.

The dead woman’s sister, Chandra Kumarie Hussain told reporters that she was at home when she received a phone call informing her of her sister’s death. She said upon her arrival at the

scene, her sister’s lifeless body was lying on the floor amid blood smears.

According to one eyewitness, after Balgobin left the yard, neighbours rushed in and moments later some were seen slowly walking out with their heads bowed.

One villager described the scene as “bloody”.

Some referred to Balgobin as being “mentally unstable” and a frequent user of illegal drugs. Delall was divorced, unemployed and supported by overseas relatives. She took care of a 26-year-old daughter, Purnime Nandram and her two children.

She leaves to mourn two children and two grandchildren, including a two-yearold who witnessed the chopping.

Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) supermarket was early Wednesday morning gutted by fire, resulting in millions in losses.

The fire, which is suspected to have been the work of arsonists, completely ravaged the bottom flat of the two-storey building.

It was reported to Guyana Times that the fire started at the Congenial Super Centre around 03:00h.

According to the owner of the business, Rohan Itwaru, he was awakened by his brother-in-law, who informed him that the businessplace was on fire.

The man relayed that he rushed to the scene as he lives only a few houses away and saw the building up in flames.

“I don’t live too far, I came

Businessman Rohan Itwaru and his wife

ready trying to form a bucket brigade using water and mud across the road,” he explained.

According to the man, from all indications, several persons carried out the act of torching the business, as bars from a number of windows were removed for them to gain entry into the premises.

“The fire investigators

The bottom flat of the store was completely ravaged by fire

here about 3 o’clock after my brother-in-law came and got me , he told me that the place was on fire, I came here and I saw the building on fire. The fire brigade was just behind me, but the locals were al-

told us that it appears to be the work of arsonists because multiple parts of the building were broken into, especially the window; they knocked out the bars to gain entry,” Itwaru added.

He also disclosed that a container of diesel was found on a bread rack in the store, but the substance was not sold at the supermarket.

The devastated businessman estimated his losses to be well over $40 million.

“Right now, I am speechless because the loss is so much and the problem is we don’t have insurance, we were planning to do so in the next couple of months.”

A storage bond being built aback the supermarket was also badly damaged by the flames. The businessman explained that although he might have suspicions as to who may have committed the act, he would leave the investigations to the Police.

The businessplace is located directly in front of the Cane Grove Police Station.

According to the owner’s wife, the surveillance cameras that are located in front of the building facing the Police Station were all turned upwards; hence, nothing was recorded. An investigation has been launched into the incident.

news

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thursDAY, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, November 3, 2016 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, November 4 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, November 3, 2016 – 05:55h-07:25h and Friday, November 4 – 06:30h-08:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Early morning sunshine is expected to give way to heavy and light rain showers that will last until mid afternoon. Sunny weather is expected to return in the late afternoon followed by clear skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 26 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to Easterly and East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 06:12h and 18:22h reaching maximum heights of 2.54 metres and 2.61 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:58h reaching a minimum height of 0.71 metre.

wednesday, november 2, 2016

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NOT GUILTY! − Carvil Duncan fraud charge dismissed

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city Magistrate on Wednesday dismissed a fraud charge against Carvil Duncan, a trade unionist and former member of the Board of Directors of the State-run Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. Duncan was facing a charge which stated that on March 31, 2015 at Georgetown, he stole $984,900, property of GPL. But Magistrate Leron Daly ruled that the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to make out a prima facie case against Duncan, who was charged on January 26, 2016.

Duncan’s Defence Attorney, Glen Hanoman said the Magistrate deemed as inadmissible a photocopied Cabinet decision, and oral testimony by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds about a Cabinet meeting where the decision to pay Duncan was made.

Duncan still faces a conspiracy charge which stated that between May 7 and May 8, 2015, he conspired with then Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of GPL, Aeshwar Deonarine to steal $27,757,547, property of the power company.

He is expected to appear in court on January 4, 2017 to answer to that charge.

Duncan was confident that this charge would also be dismissed.

Duncan was recently suspended from the chairmanship of the Public Service Commission and membership of several other constitutional bodies by President David Granger, who appointed a Tribunal to determine his fate in light of the criminal charges.

Carvil Duncan

Late last month, Duncan had moved to the High Court, where Justice Franklin Holder issued temporary orders to halt the work of the tribunal.

But it is now unclear what implications the dismissal of the charge will have on the Tribunal and Duncan’s suspension.

When contacted, Attorney General Basil Williams indicated that he was in a meeting and could not respond at the time.

Meanwhile, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall in a statement shortly after the verdict, said that the dismissal of the charge vindicates Duncan’s.

Nandlall added that it also gave credence to his argument all along that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and President Granger acted “prematurely, precipitously, capriciously, arbitrarily and unconstitutionally” when they activated a process to remove Duncan from office before the hearing and determination of the criminal charges.

“As it now turns out, they are attempting to remove

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

from office, a high constitutional office holder who enjoys security of tenure of office and who has done no legal wrong that would be considered ‘misbehaviour’ to warrant his removal from office,” Nandlall stated.

Unlawful and unconstitutional

The former Attorney General said that the dismissal of the charge also shows that the Presidential Tribunal was an unlawful and unconstitutional course of action. “The Executive has wasted a lot of time, energy and financial resources in its indecent haste to remove Mr Duncan from office.

In the end, the rule of law and an independent judiciary have prevailed,” Nandlall

President David Granger

reasoned.

He called on President Granger to abandon the Tribunal and immediately reinstate Duncan to his constitutional posts.

“In the circumstances, the President is now obliged to do the decent thing, which is to disband the Tribunal forthwith and to rescind his suspension of Mr Duncan from performing his various constitutional functions,” he stated.

Efforts to contact Minister of State, Joseph Harmon for a comment on the way forward for the Tribunal and Duncan’s reinstatement proved unsuccessful, as calls to his mobile phone went unanswered. (eddyl@guyanatimesgy.com)

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 3, 2016

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

Aerospace Exhibition

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

Editorial

Presidential sweepstakes: Homestretch

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ith less than one week to go for the US elections scheduled for November 8, that horse race is now in the homestretch. Even before the primaries were over, this newspaper went out on a limb and suggested that the rank outsider Donald Trump might go all the way. He went on to win the Republican nomination quite handily and then raised his poll ratings to almost equal those of his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, who has been the very definition of a "Washington insider" that was supposed to "play" the system.

However, late last month, revelations that Trump had made, under the kindest interpretation, some rather tasteless statements about women, saw his poll numbers plunge way below his opponent's and led the pundits to virtually write him off of the race. Women, after all, comprise at least half of the electorate, and the "smart money" presumed most of them would be offended

by Trump's jaundiced view of women. But seemingly inexorably, those numbers began to climb and last week, when the FBI revealed it was reopening a probe into official emails Clinton had stored on a private server, Trump had closed the gap within striking distance.

But it is important to step back and examine the reasons why Trump's numbers started to climb upwards even before Clinton's email scandal resurfaced. As we have pointed out in this space repeatedly, Trump is tapping into some very primal fears in the collective American psyche centred around "nativism" and "American Exceptionalism", and these have not been evaporated away by Trump's gaffe.

Nativism – looking down on immigrants and scapegoating them for what ails the society – has actually increased since Trump entered the political fray.

He has given voice to what had become "politically incorrect" for the "establishment" figures to utter in the post-Civil Rights era in the US and the 1960s’ Enoch Powell rightist rants in Britain. The nativism in Britain resulted in Brexit and whether Trump becomes President of the US or not, there will be no going back to facile assumptions that the US had entered into a "post racial" era after the election of Barack Obama to the American presidency.

Trump may have toned down his explicit anti-immigrant rhetoric as he went into the stretch, but his insistence that a "wall" must be built along the Mexican border (and paid for by Mexico) is a signifier to his base that he "means business".

Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is trapped into the liberal rhetoric of "comprehensive immigration reform" that includes regularising illegal immigrants, which is a red flag to nativists, and about which even most moderate Americans are not very passionate. Trump epitomises the "American Exceptionalism" button – that America is basically superior to other nations because of its unique history and values –- with his swagger, bluster and threats to even put allies in their "place". And here again, while Clinton has of recent began to play this card, it has actually backfired in that some of her "moderate" supporters see the move as "pandering" to Trump.

As the dust is beginning to settle, it can be seen that neither the debates nor the scandals have altered the equation between the two candidates significantly.

Trump's challenge, therefore, might not be at the level of the popular vote, but at the "electoral college", which actually elects the President and Vice President. In the US, every state is allowed a number of "electors" depending on their population – excepting for the smaller states that must have at least three. Forty-eight of the fifty states are treated as a "winner takes all" situation for a total of 538 electors. Because of the lack of total congruity between population and electors, in 2000, Gore lost to George Bush even though he received more popular votes.

With Trump emphasising Clinton's "unsuitability" for the presidency because of what could be serious leaks from her emails, he might still win it all.

J-10 fighter jets from China’s Bayi Aerobatic Team perform at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai (Xinhua/Liang Xu/Barcroft photo)

Award of GPL/IDB project Dear Editor, Questions to the IDB and GPL: The award of the contract for GPL’s Power Utility Upgrade Programme was promised to be awarded by the end of October by both the management of GPL and IDB. This now marks another missed deadline for the

award, can someone please shed some light on why this is? The recent swearing-in of the Public Procurement Commission one thought would have offered some hope in transparency and efficiency. Is this now another group of useless bureaucrats?

This Power Utility Upgrade Programme was touted to bring much relief to GPL’s aging infrastructure by reducing line losses thus saving billions annually. The Government of Suriname is embarking on a similar project, I bet this will get implemented and completed before

ours. Here is to hoping someone keeps their word and we move on with this project or some sort of announcement on a future announcement date and not another extension of the evaluation.

Sincerely, Michael Persaud

Poor condition of Prospect Bridge Dear Editor, On behalf of the senior citizens of Prospect, I wish to bring to your attention for your action, the poor condition of the bridge at Second Street.

The bridge is used by all members of the community, living in the western part of

the village, among them are senior citizens. The bridge is fast deteriorating. One of the beams has already sunk and there are gaps on the broken down bridge, which can cause severe injuries.

Raised nails are also visible.

I would recommend that

your intervention would result in the construction of a new bridge or repairs to this bridge. It is our considered opinion that the new bridge should be built higher so that the main support structures are not easily submerged, as is the case at the moment.

We are hoping that this matter could be dealt with expeditiously and thus prevent injuries to the senior citizens in Prospect.

Yours truly, Trixton Forsythe For the concerned citizens of Prospect

Thieves will drive a Suddie farmer out of business Dear Editor, Rearing poultry and growing a variety of fruit crops in a well fenced twoacre plot of roadside land at Suddie with myself and family domiciled there, helps me financially as a pensioner, but now thieves are depriving me of my full benefits.

During one night, my well secured pen just aback of my house with nine drakes and five roosters was broken into; the biggest one ranging between 8 to 10 pounds was stolen. The padlock was not disturbed and after observing from where

entry was gained, there was a shocking discovery of only the heads from each one of the birds was left inside the pen, with all 14 of their bodies missing. In which case, the birds were beheaded by the robber before they were stolen.

There was evidence to suggest that during a heavy rainfall that night the slaughtering was done right in the pen from the remains of the blood on the ground.

Who could have been the culprit(s)? They remain unknown to me and the Police, but it would seem that a market had to be secured

at some business place that uses this type of meat. It had to purchase the stolen property.

The poultry business will eventually dwindle as it is no longer encouraging to continue after this bitter experience. In broad daylight, a 16-year-old school girl who could well be described as a barefaced thief was caught “red handed” at the top of a tree by my door step picking ripe oranges.

It was only by chance I was able to see her, but she showed no remorse with the Police and when brought before the court. Stealing

seems to be a culture nowadays in this district with me suffering too huge losses from the regular stealing of my fruit crops with the perpetrators remaining unknown.

From my own knowledge, there are many thieves who have never been caught but they should try to keep out of trouble which is easy to get into but hard to come out of. As the saying goes “prevention is always better than cure”.

Sincerely, A concerned small farmer

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thursday, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Anti-sexual harassment campaign launched I

n light of recent reports the organization has received, the Women and Gender Equality Commission has launched an anti-sexual harassment campaign. Chairperson of constitutional body, Indra Chandrapal, on Wednesday announced that the campaign was conceputalised after increasing reports were received, mainly from women, who noted experiences of unwanted advances from their co-workers.

Chandrapal disclosed that many victims are often afraid to come forward. It was explained that suggestion boxes will be placed at a number of strategic points including the National Library, the University of Guyana, the Guyana Post Office Corporation, Giftland Mall and the Georgetown

Public Hospital, where persons can note the details of their complaints.

“We know that sexual harassment at the place of work is happening. We have had reports of these matters; unfortunately when you try to get to the bottom of the issue, those persons who would have come forward are always backing out because they fear intimidation from their employer,” Chandrapal stressed.

It was explained that these boxes will be opened every two weeks, whereby a committee will assess the contents of the issues raised after which an investigative officer will follow through with the requisite actions. “[This will give] those persons who are victims of sexual harassment an opportunity to speak out or

Commissioners holding up draft posters with anti-sexual harassment slogans

represent their issue without fear of intimidation,” the Commission’s Chairperson stressed.

She added that these

suggestion boxes will be extended to all 10 administrative regions of Guyana M e a n w h i l e , Commissioner Vanda

Razdik informed that the body recently hosted seminars and is currently looking at legislation to bring improvement to gender de-

velopment. The Commission stated that it intends to distribute the posters in offices and the body added that associated workshops are planned.

The Women and Gender Equality Commission has a vision to encourage an environment where the rights of women are recognised as human rights. The Commission also seeks to “promote issues related to the enhancement of the status of women, girls and gender issues,” as enshrined in Article 29:1 of Guyana’s Constitution.

Additionally, the body has a mandate to recommend and promote the implementation of legislation and to formulate policies and measures to “enhance and protect the status of women”.

No empowerment of Local Democratic Organs Dear Editor, As is usually the case, when this Government speaks on any issue, the more gullible public feels elated and expects what was said to bear fruit, if not now then later. They mastered this on the 2015 Elections campaign trail and they perfected it during the Local Government one.

But many times what is said is just empty rhetoric to beguile the unsuspecting citizens and to get their continued support. A very popular mantra, which is being sung since this Government took office is ‘local government empowerment’, since it is being said that the previous Government was opposed to empowering local communities.

More recently, the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan has also accused the previous Government of ‘hoarding power at the centre while keeping local governments weak’ and once again reiterated the mantra that this Government ‘is committed to empowering local democratic organs so that they can function maximally’. He further said that the extent to which this Government is committed to this empowerment ‘cannot be overempha-

sised’. However, the facts paint an entirely different picture!

The Kilcoy/Hampshire NDC submitted a budget proposal for the 2016 subvention and in that subvention we give details of the streets to be repaired and the amount of ‘crusher run’ which will be required. Our subvention of $4 million was subsequently approved by the Ministry. On September 3, we wrote to the Regional Chairman informing him that a unanimous decision was taken at our statutory meeting with regard to the utilisation of the subvention. We stated that it was the will of the residents to do the necessary work in repairing the streets using the NDC’s machinery and equipment and those which are owned by the residents.

This was discussed when the subvention proposal was submitted. It was also emphasised that we would get more value for money in this manner than if the works were tendered out.

The Chairman agreed to this and it was agreed that we have the capacity to do the works, since we have an extremely hardworking and capable Works Committee. I relayed this to the NDC and they were very happy about

this.

However, on November 1, 2016, we received a curt one-line letter dated October 25 from the Deputy Regional Executive Officer, Claude Henry regretfully informing us that they cannot accede to our request for the crusher since ‘all works were already tendered out’. This is quite strange since we were asked by the RDC as to where we want the crusher run to be deposited! Should we not be informed when the tendering process was taking place? Should we not be involved in the tendering process? Is this the type of ‘empowerment’ which the coalition speaks about?

The coalition through its politically appointed DREO

has illegally removed whatever empowerment is given to the NDCs. Section 21(a) of the Procurement Act, Chapter 73:05 says that “The National Board may, at its discretion, create District Tender Boards for procurement by Neighbourhood Democratic Councils…comprising part-time members as follows: (i) two members appointed by the relevant Regional Board; (ii) one member appointed by the relevant NDC”. It must be submitted that this Section serves to give empowerment to the NDCs where goods are to be supplied to them or works to be contracted or tendered out on their behalf. What is even more worrying is the fact that we do

not know what projects will be done and by whom and at what cost. Is this ‘empowerment’? Why is it that we were given a subvention of $4 million and then we cannot participate in how it is spent? I am sure that more than 50 per cent of the projects we submitted will not be done because of obvious reasons! This is how the coalition empowers NDCs – it delegates the powers to its politically appointed REOs and DREOs so in effect they are the ones who are ‘hoarding power at the cen-

tre while keeping local governments weak’? This is the manner in which they stifles and destroys development at the Local Government level?

If this Government and the Minister of Communities are serious about empowerment, then they must ensure that NDCs are empowered to spend their monies as they see fit.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf Chairman Kilcoy/Hampshire NDC

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thursday, november 3 , 2016

Page

Foundation

The culture of childhood: – children learn the most valuable lessons with other children, away from adults

BY PETER GRAY, PHD

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guyanatimesgy.com

Independence and courage

he ultimate goal of childhood is to move away from dependence on parents and establish oneself as one’s own person. Already by the age of two – the “terrible twos,” when children’s favourite word is “no” – children are clearly on this path. Typically by the age of four or a little later, children want to get away from parents and other adults and spend time with children, where they can try out ways of being that they couldn’t try in the presence of adults.

Children’s cultures often set themselves up as if in opposition to adult culture, often quite deliberately and adaptively. Even young children begin to use scatological, “naughty” words, deliberately flouting adults’ dictates.

They delight in mocking adults and in finding ways to violate rules. For example, when schools make rules about carrying even toy weapons into school, children bring tiny toy guns and plastic knives to school in their pockets and surreptitiously exhibit them to one another, proudly showing how they violated a senseless adult-imposed rule.

The anthropologist Collin Turbull noted that children in the hunter-gatherer group he studied would build their own play huts, well away from the main encampment, and would spend some of their time there mocking the adults by exaggerating their blunders and poorly constructed arguments. To learn adaptively from adults, children must not just absorb the good that they see but must also judge and digest the bad, and they can’t freely do that when

adults are present.

Part of gaining independence is gaining courage – courage to face the challenges and deal with the emergencies that are part of every life. In their play groups, away from adults, children everywhere play in ways that adults might see as dangerous and might prevent. They play with sharp knives and fire, climb trees and dare one another to go higher. Little children, in fantasy play, imagine themselves dealing with trolls, witches, dragons, wolves,

and other kinds of predators and murderers. In all such play, children are learning how to manage fear, a crucial skill for anyone who intends to stay alive and well in the face of the real life dangers that confront everyone at some points in their lives.

In play amongst themselves, children create their own activities and solve their own problems rather than rely on a powerful authority figure to do these for them. This is one of the great values of playing away from adults. In such play they have to, as it were, be the adults, precisely because there are no adults present. Play is the practice space for adulthood. Adults

spoil this large purpose of play when they intervene and try to be helpful.

Creating and understanding the purpose and modifiability of rules A fundamental difference between adults’ games and children’s is that adults generally abide by fixed, pre-established rules, whereas children generally see rules as modifiable. When adults play baseball, or Scrabble, or almost anything, they follow or try to follow the “official” rules of the game. In contrast, when children play they usually make up the rules as they go along. This is true even when they play games like baseball or Scrabble, if there is no adult present to enforce the official rules. This is one of the ways in which children’s play is usually much more creative than adults’ play.

The famous developmental psychologist Jean Piaget noted long ago that children develop a more sophisticated and useful understanding of rules when they play with other children than when they play with adults.

With adults, they get the impression that rules are fixed, that they come down from some high authority and cannot be changed. But when children play with other children, because of the more equal nature of the relationship, they feel free to challenge one another’s ideas about the rules, which often leads to negotiation and change in rules. They learn in this this way that rules are not fixed by heaven, but are human contrivances to make life more fun and fair. This is an important les-

son; it is a cornerstone of democracy.

Practising and building on the skills and values of the adult culture Even while differentiating themselves from adult culture, children import features of that culture into theirs. Children incorporate into their play many of the skills and values that they observe among adults. This is why children in hunter-gather cultures play at hunting and gathering; why children in farming cultures play at farming; and why children in our culture play at computers. It is also why hunter-gatherer children do not play competitive games (the adults in their culture eschew competition), while children in our culture do play competitive games (though not to the degree that they do when adults are involved).

Children don’t just mimic, in play, what they observe among adults. Rather, they interpret what they observe, try out variations of it, and in that way strive to make sense of it. Children’s play is

always creative, and in their play they experiment with new, creative variations of themes derived from adults.

This is how each new generation builds upon, rather than simply replicates, the culture of their parents’ generation.

Children are naturally drawn to the newest innovations in the larger culture around them. Adults are often suspicious of such changes, but children embrace them. This is illustrated today by children’s eagerness to learn how to use the latest computer technology; they are often far ahead of their parents on this. Children’s culture focuses, quite naturally and adaptively, on the skills important to the world they are growing into, not the world as it was when their parents were growing up. Adults in every generation seem to bemoan the fact that their children don’t play the way they played when they were kids.

That’s one more of the reasons why children have to get away from adults to play most adaptively. (Psychology Today)

TO BE CONTINUED

How children learn through play

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oung children are learning and developing quickly. They are playing, learning and experimenting. They are also beginning to get a sense of their own identity and how they may be different from others, such as noticing boys and girls. Some children benefit from being at a nursery or playgroup at this age. Organised activities help develop their learning in an informal setting. In turn, this is preparing them for more formal school life.

Cultural identity is important. Children need to have people around them that they can identify with and who have an understanding of their cultural and ethnic background.

How do young children learn?

Children learn through all their senses by: * tasting, touching, seeing, hearing and smelling * watching and copying people close to them they learn language and behaviour * playing

Learning through play Play is one of the main ways in which children learn. It helps to build self worth by giving a child a

sense of his or her own abilities and to feel good about themselves. Because it’s fun, children often become very absorbed in what they are doing. In turn, this helps them develop the ability to concentrate. Providing children with a range of playthings will help them learn in a number of ways: * Sand and water play can be an early introduction to Science and Maths; for example learning that water is fluid, not solid, and that it can be measured in different sized containers. * Playing with dough, drawing and painting pictures, dressing up, playing with dolls can encourage creativity, imagination and expression of feelings. * Building blocks, jigsaws and shape sorters can help with recognising different shapes and sizes, putting things in order and developing logic. * Playing ball games, dancing, running, climbing all help to develop body movement, strength, flexibility and coordination skills. * Games help with turn taking, sharing and mixing with others. * Singing, playing simple music instruments help to develop rhythm, listening and hearing. (www.familylives.

org.uk)

TO BE CONTINUED

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news

thursday, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

CH&PA's $50B revamped housing programme “backward, nonsensical” – Ali

Special Prosecutions Unit

Govt has no business in prosecutions – Gaskin F … wants initiative challenged in courts

G

overnment’s imminent involvement in prosecutions has escalated to dangerous heights, not only on the basis of its blatant violation of the Constitution of Guyana but also by the deafening silence from key stakeholders who are expected to speak against any attempt to undermine the rule of law.

Prominent political commentator Ramon Gaskin asks if the Guyana Bar Association (GBA), the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and the Transparency Institute of Guyana Incorporation (TIGI) are all muted as Government proceeds to embark on a worrying initiative, then it will inevitably feel fearless with the only disapproval being the voice of the Opposition Members of Parliament (MP).

During an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Gaskin made it pellucid that the Constitution stipulates that the Executive is barred from getting involved in prosecutions and emphasised the need for Governemnt’s decision to be challenged in the courts.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had announced that Cabinet had considered and approved the proposal to assemble a special prosecution team to take legal action against those culpable of wrongdoings in the Pradoville 2 scandal.

The Pradoville 2 matter encompasses the acquisition of house lots by former Government officials in the Sparendaam Housing

Political commentator Ramon Gaskin

Scheme – more popularly known as Pradoville 2 – on the East Coast of Demerara, at costs believed to be below market value.

Commenting on these developments, Gaskin highlighted that the Constitution of Guyana provides only for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to deal with matters involving prosecutions.

“I was quite surprised and alarmed when I read the article because in this country, prosecutions have nothing to do with the Attorney General [AG].

The AG is not involved in prosecutions in this country. The DPP together with the GPF is responsible for prosecutions. The political Ministers have nothing to do with prosecutions,” he remarked.

Article 122 says “there shall be an Attorney General of Guyana who shall be the principal legal adviser to the Government

of Guyana and who shall be appointed by the President.”

Article 116 says “there shall be a Director of Public Prosecutions whose office shall be a public office.”

Article 187 outlines the DPP’s functions which includes to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court and noted that the powers conferred upon the Director shall be vested in him to the exclusion of any other person or authority and that Director shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.

Article 187 also notes that the powers of the Director may be exercised through other persons acting under, and in accordance with, the Director’s general or special instructions.

In these circumstances, there has been no indication whether the DPP granted permission for the Government to establish its own prosecutions unit.

Gaskin suspects Government has confused Guyana’s Constitution with that of the United States of America (USA).

“What I think is happening here is that they are getting a little confused with what’s happening in the United States where the AG is involved in prosecutions in the district attorney offices and all of that, we don’t have that system here [in Guyana],” he presumed.

Gaskin maintained that regardless of the extent of Government’s involvement in the prosecution of per-

sons on the Pradoville matter, the Executive should not, under any circumstances, deal with the prosecution of persons.

“They have no business assembling nothing, they have no business even dealing with it. Prosecutions are the business of the DPP and the GPF. Govt is not supposed to get involved in prosecutions in this country. If such a thing were to go ahead, it would mean Government is acting unconstitutionally. Of course if it were to proceed, it would be dangerous. Any violation of the Constitution is a serious matter,” he asserted, urging stakeholders to take a stand against this flagrant violation.

“The Bar Association made up of trained lawyers, they don’t have a word to say, they should speak out about it, I don’t know why they are so silent… Somebody should go to court and challenge it.

It ought to be challenged.

You cannot let politicians get involved in prosecutions,” Gaskin stated. The commentator opined that nothing is wrong with hiring private prosecutors but this must be undertaken by the DPP and the prosecutors must be working under the instructions of the DPP.

ollowing the announcement by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) that there will be the construction of close to 10,000 housing units under a revamped low-income housing drive with apartment and duplex housing units, former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali has deemed this move as “backward and nonsensical”.

The Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) recently told this publication that the decision was conceptualised without the requisite analysis.

“You can’t move into an

People’s Progressive Civic MP, Irfaan Ali

Party/

The turn-key housing programme was described as overly ambitious by CH&PA Chairman, Hamilton Green

apartment concept without expert analysis and understanding the housing market, without an understanding on the needs of the people [or] the structure of the market,” Ali noted.

He stated that under his watch, there were “experi-

ments with various models” all aimed at developing sustainable housing.

Ali claimed that from analysis conducted in the past, “Guyanese were not willing to move towards apartment units.”

TURN TO PAGE 12

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News

thursday, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

2 nabbed with gun, ammo and ganja at Omai Landing

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wo businessmen were on Wednesday morning nabbed at Omai Landing, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) with an unlicensed shotgun, three live cartridges and a quantity of ganja in separate Police operations.

Based on reports, Police ranks acting on information, swooped down on a grocery shop at Omai Landing and conducted a search during which a 12-gauge shotgun along with three live rounds were found.

The 59-year-old owner who hails from Diamond

Amnesia…

The shotgun, three cartridges and cannabis that were found at Omai Landing, Region Eight

Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, admitted ownership of the firearm and ammunition. He is expected to make his first court appearance by the end of the week.

On the other hand, the Police conducted a search on another shop in the area during which 29 grams of cannabis was unearthed in small zip-lock

packages. The 49-yearold proprietor of the business claimed ownership of the cannabis. He too will make his court appearance shortly.

Essequibo bus driver on bail for resisting arrest

A

minibus driver from Anna Regina Housing Scheme on the Essequibo Coast was on Wednesday granted bail after he appeared before the court for resisting Police arrest. Ally (only name given)

made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on August 24, 2016, he resisted Police arrest at Charity public road. He plead guilty but

based on his explanation, a not guilty plea was recorded.

Ally told the court that he did not touch any Police Officer and that he and his friends were drinking earlier that day. He said also that after he finished social-

ising, he joined a bus and went home. After listening to his story, bail was granted in the sum of $20,000. He is expected to return to the Charity Magistrate’s Court on November 14, for the commencement of trial.

Y

…on housing

our Eyewitness had already rolled his eyes in disbelief when he heard the government - via that venerable ex-Mayor of our Garden City and now head of the CH&PA Hamilton Green OR - was planning to scrap the PPP government's 1000 homes project on the East Bank and replace it with "condominiums, apartments and co-ops".

Now some folks would remember the now 82-yearold Green was Minister of Housing in the 1970's and 80's and was taking care of (or was SUPPOSED to) the "house" part of Founder Leader Burnham's promise to "feed, clothe and house the nation". Well, Green didn't get 1/10th of the job done… but every house in every scheme went to folks with party cards!

So when the incidental matter of money for the CH&PA's new plans were announced at $50 BILLION, your Eyewitness knew the Artful Dodger was up to his old tricks. But they did say you can't teach old PNCites new tricks, didn't they?! But you'd think that some of the sixty-plus year old younger fellas (as compared to Green!!) that now populate 80 per cent of the government's top echelons would know in retrospect it wasn't such a good move.

What happened is Green basically recreated the American experiment to place inner city folks - who were generally African Americans - into apartments called "Projects". Pretty soon these descended into the worse slums in the history of America - a position they still occupy. Right now those projects are basically maximum security prisons under 24/7 electronic surveillance to ensure the rapes and murders and drugs are kept WITHIN the Projects.

So Green wants to replicate this on a grander scale in Guyana? Your Eyewitness is tempted to ask, "What did PNC voters do to this man to deserve such a fate?"

Was it because they allowed Desmond Hoyte to kick him out of the Party and then neuter him? So that three different female Town Clerks could bitch-slap him silly?

Every study in every developed country that tried to provide housing for low income folks has shown that you can't herd them like rats into cages. Inevitably they'll become stir crazy and start going after each other. The PPP government had the right idea… give people house lots, arrange with banks to give them low interest loans, give them tax write-offs so they earn their own homes…

But for goodness sake don't give them "free houses" in what will definitely become ghettos.

They'll just be free to destroy themselves.

...on sugar CoI

So there it was… highlighted in the Chronic… the "future" of sugar was being discussed. The Chairman of GuySuCo was there… and he gave his two cents worth.

The CEO was there and he gave his one cent worth.

(CEOs are worth less than Chairmen and so are their speeches). But then Prezzie spoke and pretty much delivered the requiem for the sugar industry.

The question that troubled your Eyewitness, however, was what the heck happened to the CoI Report into the Sugar Industry?? After all, the people of Guyana shelled out some $52 million for the consultants! Or is it the Chairman of GuySuCo who was also the Chairman of the CoI, spoke from both sides of his mouth?

Prezzie knocked the Skeldon Factory as the "worst investment in the history of Guyana". Wow!! Hindsight is 20/20, isn't it? Didn't all the experts- including Tate and Lyle, hired by the PNC - agree that Skeldon Factory had to be modernised to bring down costs?

But then we all have collective amnesia now, don't we?

...on African roots

Your Eyewitness was intrigued that for the celebration of the heritage of our pioneering village of Victoria, it was announced that there will be an "Indaba" or "conference". Now this is a Zulu or Swazi word, from where none of our ancestors came.

Shouldn't we use the Swahili word, "Mkutano?

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

news

9

thursday, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Suspected bandit shot Dataram under investigation dead in foiled robbery for money laundering

C

− accomplice apprehended

A

suspected bandit was shot and killed by a miner during an attempted robbery on his Lot 724 5th Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara home in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. His accomplice, who escaped, was eventually captured by Police who responded to the call.

The identity of the dead bandit was unknown up to press time, but Guyana Times understands that he was shot twice to the neck and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. He was clad in a three-quarter pants and a black armless vest.

Based on reports received, the 38-year-old miner was awoken by a loud noise emanating from the lower flat of his house and upon investigating, saw two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

They were attempting to gain entry into the house through a door.

He immediately raised

The house where the shooting incident took place

an alarm and thereafter discharged his firearm in the direction of the two men.

One of them reportedly fell to the ground while his accomplice, who was carrying the firearm, managed to scale the fence and escaped.

He was subsequently arrested by Police who responded promptly to the report.

The apprehended bandit has been identified as a 27-year-old man from West Ruimveldt, Georgetown. He is assisting Police in their investigations. On the other hand, the body of the

dead man is at the Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting identification.

Meanwhile, when contact was made with the owner of the house, he was reluctant to give any information. He told Guyana Times on several occasions to return the call. Upon doing so, he then related that the incident did not occur at his home and that he cannot give any information due to security reasons after which he disconnected the call.

The Police are continuing their investigations.

Corentyne man busted with cocaine

A

Corentyne man was on Tuesday arrested following the discovery of a quantity of cocaine and close to $1 million in local and foreign currencies.

Based on reports received, Police in ‘B’ Division received a tip-off and went to the home of a popular businessman at Lot 16 Rose Hall Town where a search

was carried out.

Based on information, the businessman was not at home at the time of the raid but one man who spotted the Police reportedly ran into the house and it was then the Police thought something was amiss.

The several Police ranks however, made their way into the yard while a few

surrounded the house.

During the search, a Police rank broke a PVC pipe and the cocaine was unearthed.

In addition, 85 bricks were found in the house.

The Police also found $651,260 in local currency and a sum of US dollars. The man who was arrested is expected to be charged shortly.

onvicted drug lord Barry Dataram is now being investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for possible involvement in money laundering.

Dataram is already serving an eight-year sentence for trafficking in narcotics and escaping sentencing. A source explained that members of the Unit commenced their investigation into the assets owned by Dataram.

It is believed that Dataram might have been involved in money laundering and other financial crimes and as such, immediate relatives will also be questioned during the investigations.

Dataram was sentenced to 60 months in absentia after he was found guilty of being in possession of 129 kilograms of cocaine, which was discovered in his Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home April last.

He was also fined $164 million. However, he fled the country one day before the court handed down the decision. After three weeks on the run, he, along with his reputed wife, Anjanie Boodnarine, was nabbed in Suriname and was subsequently handed over to lo-

after he pleaded guilty to forgery, evading penalty and illegal departure. His reputed wife was remanded to prison and was due back in court shortly.

Meanwhile, attempts to contact the head of SOCU, Sydney James proved futile.

Convicted drug lord Barry Dataram

cal law enforcement.

At the time of their arrest, it was proven that both Dataram and Boodnarine used bogus passports to enter that country. However, the passports, while they seemed authentic, were not issued by the Central Immigration and Passport Office. It was later discovered that at least one of the passports was reported to have been stolen.

The passports bore the names David Persaud and Christine Persaud, with the year of issue being 2013 and 2016 respectively. Upon his return, Dataram was given an additional four years

10

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 3, 2016

News

Bartica Massacre trial

Accused men caused terror with wanton disregard for life – State Prosecutor

A

fter nearly four weeks of delays and over eight years after the brutal slayings, the trial for the three co-accused of carrying out the Bartica massacre proceeded just before 10:00h on Wednesday morning after one of the defence attorneys indicated that he was held up in traffic.

State Prosecutor Diana Kowlessar presented the State’s case, which stated that on February 17, 2008, while residents were engaged watching a 20/20 cricket match on television, Mark Williams, Dennis “Anaconda” Williams, and Roger Simon “struck terror with wanton disregard for life”, resulting in the deaths of 12 persons, including three Policemen.

Prosecutor Kowlessar informed the 12-member mixed jury of their role in the High Court trial that is expected to last for the next several weeks. At Wednesday’s hearing, legal arguments were heard after which a witness testified in a preliminary trial.

The trial was able to proceed after the three accused pled not guilty while two others pled guilty on a lesser

count. Celbert Reece – one of the five men charged with the February 2008 massacre – on Tuesday pleaded guilty to manslaughter; his guilty plea came just one day after co-accused Michael Caesar had also pleaded guilty to 12 counts of manslaughter.

Caesar on Monday claimed that after the boat docked, he was dressed in a soldier’s uniform and carried an AK47 and two handguns.

Justice George ordered a probation report for the two accused and they will make their next court appearance on December 16 for sentencing. Over 30 witnesses are expected to testify in the High Court trial.

The five, allegedly being part of the Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins gang attacked the town and shot dead the 12 persons; namely Police Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne.

Additionally, Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, Abdool Yasseen, Errol Thomas, and Baldeo Singh were the civilians killed.

The matter continues before Justice Roxane George.

Man who shot reputed wife in mouth surrenders

O

ne month after shooting his reputed wife, Shevon Harry, in the mouth during an argument at her John Fernandes Housing Scheme, Georgetown home, the suspect turned himself into the Police on Wednesday morning.

The 27-year-old suspect of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, surrendered to ranks at the Brickdam Police Station. He is accused of shooting Harry on October

Shevon Harry

1 and has since been in hiding.

It was reported that Harry, 26, a security guard attached to the Alliance Security Service, and the suspect shared a rocky relationship due to jealousy and mistrust. Both parties were reportedly jealous of the other and neither of them could have kept friends as they wished.

The rocky relationship turned tragic when the suspect discharged a round in

the woman’s mouth after she accused him of impregnating another woman.

After being shot, the mother of two reportedly ran out of the house and collapsed on the dam while the suspect escaped. She was picked up by a neighbour and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was admitted.

Police are continuing their investigations and charges are expected to be laid shortly.

Lethem Town Clerk to focus on attracting investments – says accountability is paramount

N

ewly appointed Town Clerk of the Lethem Municipality, Keisha Vincent has promised to channel all her energies towards attracting much-needed investments that can propel the border town’s tourism prospects and augment the human resource capital in the region.

Vincent, who took up her appointment on Monday, October 31, explained that her ultimate goal is to see Lethem transformed into a bustling hive of economic activity.

Vincent believes that Lethem has a huge potential to capitalise on the Government’s green agenda as it embodies the very essence of pristine, unspoiled beauty.

“If you’re talking about green economy, Lethem is the perfect example. It’s quiet here. It’s not congested with traffic. The crime rate is

Newly appointed Town Clerk of the Lethem municipality, Keisha Vincent

low. The people are friendly and sociable and regardless of the political differences, we work together,” the Town Clerk said.

She pointed out that her dream is to see Lethem flourish as Brazilian businesses have shown a keen interest in the local economy.

A bilingual Vincent, who was schooled in Brazil and is fluent in Portuguese, revealed that the Council intends to capitalise on the fact that Lethem is a border town.

“Region Nine [Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo] is the biggest region and Lethem is Georgetown’s equivalent of Stabroek in terms of the shopping experience, so we must use this to our advantage in order to generate enough revenue.

The potential is there. We just need the push and guidance,” Vincent said.

She added that with the recent introduction of a radio station, the town is now displaying some semblance of life. Since the major economic activity in Lethem is farming, Vincent related that her focus would also be to organise and promote a Local Market Day that can attract Brazilian and Venezuelan shoppers.

“They come over here to do a lot of shopping, especially when it’s a holiday in their country,” the Town Clerk said of Guyana’s southern and Western neighbours.

With regards to accountability, the Town Clerk said she has no intentions of bending the rules, stating that she stands firmly on

principles of ethics and has a strong belief in fairness and accountability.

“We need to show accountability and so I don’t do backdoor stuff. I believe in doing things the right way.”

Addressing the issue of education, Vincent said Lethem is in dire need of a technical and vocational training centre where young people and school drop-outs can have an opportunity to further their education without leaving the town.

“There’s too much teenage pregnancy here. We need to focus on giving these young girls the opportunity to go further. They are brilliant and talented, but the options are limited.”

Her goal is to improve and build on the successes of the township and working with the Council in the interest of all who reside there.

She detailed that the working relationship between Councillors is commendable and her hope is to get along with everybody regardless of age, race, religion or political affiliation.

thursDAY, november 3, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

200 farmers ordered off farmlands, seek Govt’s intervention

By: Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal

Crime: Everybody pays

D

espite reports that crime rates have fallen, and indeed statistics are showing this to be the case, as we approach the Christmas season it is more apparent than ever that the economic situation for many is leading to crime spates that are leaving neighbourhoods feeling vulnerable and filled with anxiety. For many residents, sleepless nights abound and the disruption of everyday lives is increasing stress levels; a consequence that is often underestimated and one which is affecting both young and old members of households.

There seems little point in dwelling on the accuracy of statistics; it is clear that there are very clever ways of presenting figures and manipulating categories while remaining within the realms of legality. The bottom line is that whether higher or lower, the current rate of crime is a crisis that is causing the migration of our people and affecting the quality of life of so many of our citizens.

Police are under-resourced and seem unable to tackle the problem for a variety of reasons; this may be an indicator of the reluctance of some to report crimes, in turn affecting statistics. So justifiably highlighted is the fact that without the much-needed revenue from taxes, the resource capabilities of law enforcements is unlikely to improve. In which case, the very people that are in need of protection must ensure that their civil responsibilities are upheld and that their contributions are in order if they hope to experience real institutional development.

Until such a time, in desperation and frustration neighbourhoods are pulling together in an effort to curtail these occurrences in a united way. The vigilante culture has been ignited as the only option. In this instance, social media is playing a positive part in the immediate sharing of information and the recording of criminals and their delinquent behaviour.

Without apprehension of the perpetrators or support to do so, little progress is being made.

Although potentially dangerous and the high probability that resultant activity will be unlawful for some group members while these groups police their own areas, it is an understandable response. How can hardworking people, many struggling to maintain a decent lifestyle in this present climate, stand by and accept that their livelihood and the safety of their families are being threatened?

Frightened people are talking of the days of old when special squads were dishing out on-the-spot justice and cleaning the streets of these menaces, but can we really condone a system that fails to adhere to its citizens’ rights? Once you legitimise the practice of allowing unqualified judges in highly stressful conditions to pass irreversible death sentences on individuals without a fair trial, there is no telling where chaos will reign.

Many may wish to return to such a system until one of their own family ends up caught in the midst, either innocently or otherwise, and is forever taken from them without question, understanding or reason.

Weighing up the cost against the gain will forever be an uneven debate for those who are personally touched by tragedy and those who are looking from the outside in.

However, there is no denying the fact that in a country where the prison conditions are so poor that the question of whether the severity of punishment for these criminals is enough of a deterrent need not be asked, the dilemma is, what punishments and deterrents would be enough?

The cost of crime on Guyana as a country, its society and its individuals is sky high. The way forward seems sketchy and unclear. Citizens will no doubt continue to try to fight it by any means necessary in a bid to protect all that they hold dear, and the criminals on the streets, whether there through drug addiction, mental illness, desperation or sheer evil will, will no doubt continue to plague the nation.

The responsibility of protection weighs heavily on the shoulders of an ill-equipped entity with strong convictions for change, but limited means to implement. Only time will tell which direction the future takes and we must all look at our own responsibility to the process; whether that be setting up lawful neighbourhood watch schemes in conjunction with community Police personnel, paying our dues in the form of taxes to enable development and committing to instilling a culture of work ethics in our families.

Parallel to this are the responsibilities of the Government and NGOs who can contribute to creating a better economic environment to lift many out of poverty and support the reduction of crime by getting to the root of the problem and looking at the socialisation of our young people, mental health and drug abuse that are strong contributors.

S

ome 200 cash crop farmers are seeking Government’s intervention after they were ordered off a plot of State land they have been occupying since 1989 for agricultural purposes.

In a letter dispatched to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, the farmers pleaded to keep the land since it is their only means of earning a livelihood and justified why it is in the country’s benefit for arrangements to be made for them to continue their cultivation.

Guyana Times understands that the cash crop farmers of Hopetown and Bath Settlement, in Berbice, have expended huge sums of money in cleaning, clearing and draining the 30 acres of land for over 27 years.

Some of the farmers are even living on the land.

One of the farmers pointing to some of the crops

They plant a wide variety of cash crops, including bananas, bora, lettuce, celery, eschallot, peppers, ochroes, among others while some are into aquaculture.

According to the correspondence, the farmers said the Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Five

(Mahaica-Berbice) Ovid Morrisson placed notices in front their farms, warning them that all trespassers will be removed.

The farmers say the REO wants to use the land to embark on a mix-farm project.

They explained in the letter that the Regional Democratic

Council (RDC) had a 50-year lease on some 50 acres of land but never occupied it and so the MMA/ADA repossessed the land.

“The MMA/ADA were informed about our farming project and on several occasion assisted us with excavators to de-silt internal drainage and irrigation channels, they also on two occasions did occupational surveys and also gave some members letters of occupation to source help from funding agencies to enhance our farming activities, etc,” a section of the correspondence reads.

The farmers said they were also assisted by the Canadian Ambassador (CIDA Programme) and the Social Impact & Amelioration Programme (SIMAP)-IDB Funding. turn to page 17

12 news

thursDay, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

“I will not bury my daughter” – father pleads for help to save daughter from cancer

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hirteen-year-old Mikelle Brutus was diagnosed with a brain tumour that is progressively paralysing her body and without the $50 million treatment required, her situation will eventually become life-threatening.

Mikelle is already having difficulties using her right hand and her right leg is practically deformed because of the rare brain tumour known as Glioma. Based upon professional advice, she needs to undergo radiology and chemotherapy treatment, which will cost approximately $50 million, but her family has only succeeded in raising $3 million. Her father, Michael Brutus, during an interview with the Guyana Times, pleaded with kind-hearted citizens and corporate Guyana to help save the life of a person who has only now started to live. “(Hers) is an innocent life under siege by this virus, this killer, this monster virus,” he noted. The teenager was diagnosed with the tumour in July last, and since, her parents have been engag-

Mikelle Brutus and her father, Michael Brutus

ing various neurosurgeons on possible treatment plans or surgeries to save their eldest daughter’s life. They consulted with the Caribbean’s Chief Neurosurgeon, Dr Ivor Crandon who advised that the tumour was inoperable.

The family was subsequently contacted by a team of neurosurgeons from Miami and Puerto Rico who recommended radiology and chemotherapy to get rid of the tumour, which is very aggressive and dangerous.

The surgeons pegged the cost of the surgery at approximately US$172,000, but cautioned that the fee may be

inflated. Taking into consideration travelling expenses, accommodation and meals, as well as unforeseen expenses, Brutus rounded the overall cost to about $50 million.

He reminded that time was of the essence and implored everyone to contribute to saving his little girl’s life.

Brutus has already raised $3 million, of which $1 million came from the Government through the Public Health Ministry. But he was extremely disappointed with their support. “Even though they have a policy for which $1 million is allotted for medical cases, I do believe they

should take into consideration extreme cases because $35–$50 million is a very tall target,” he explained.

He was also heartbroken that some multibillion-dollar commercial entities and religious organisations that preach the message of love turned their backs on helping to save a life. Nonetheless, Brutus is not discouraged and is adamant in doing everything in his limited powers to save his daughter’s life. “I gotta be strong for my daughter and I intend to be. I declare every day that I will not bury my daughter. In my old age, my daughter must bury me,” he expressed. As for young Mikelle, though saddened by her condition, she is handling the situation very bravely.

“Well, I am a little sad…

I am sad for not getting to ride a bike like my sisters and brothers, not getting to write properly like my sisters and brothers… but I know Jesus will heal me,” she said.

The family can be contacted on 694-6500 or 231-5545 or funds can be transferred to their Republic Bank Account, 2653475.

CH&PA's $50B revamped housing programme... from page 7

“What is the bank going to hold as collateral, did the ministry work out a level of financing with the bank… the concept does not take into consideration the concept of equity value. When you develop a land that is sold for $500,000 and you put in infrastructure, immediately that parcel goes up to $6-$7 million; how are they going to build these units

in [areas] where you have mixed forms of housing – gated, middle, low income,” the former Housing Minister queried.

Ali then challenged the statistics regarding occupancy rate as posited by the CH&PA and opined that over the years, a high occupancy rate of house lots was recorded.

“There is an increase in

occupancy over the years: in some areas, you had 65 per cent occupancy; some had 70 per cent occupancy… the number of persons applying for loans over the years grew,” he outlined.

It was announced that the new housing project will cost some $50 billion. This was revealed by Chairman of the CH&PA , former Mayor

Hamilton Green, through a Ministry of Communities release on Tuesday when he explained that the previous Government’s housing drive was “overly ambitious”, which he reasoned resulted in a low occupancy rate. It was explained that just over 28,000 of the 66,000 lots developed were currently occupied.

According to Green, the difficulties in accessing financing and the challenges associated with undertaking construction led to the poor occupancy rate. Green was particularly scathing of the 2011-2015 period where the 38 housing areas developed yielded 20,015 lots, but 16,273 are unoccupied, representing more than 80 per cent. “The programme also promotes inclusivity and good planning practices, since it focuses on improving the living conditions of both coastal dwellers and hinterland Indigenous households. It incorporates an urban renewal component to restore and beautify open spaces/reserves through the relocation and re-settlement of squatters living under disastrous and unsafe conditions to liveable and wholesome communities,” an excerpt from Green’s statement noted. The CH&PA Chairman said that based on the current applications, 17,851 out of 25,000, are classified as from low-income households. As such, he indicated that the Authority had revamped the current lowincome housing programme, which will see the construction of approximately 50 per cent of the 10,000 housing units (apartments and duplexes) inclusive of infrastructural works which will amount to $50 billion. Additionally, he said that another $60 billion would be needed to complete infrastructural works in existing schemes.

War Against Women in Guyana

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hot, hacked, beheaded, stabbed, burnt, strangled, drowned, mercilessly beaten, chopped like fish… Guyana’s women are being brutalised and murdered and there is a little more than a ripple from the political establishment or the movers and shakers of society. These women are victims of “crimes of passion”, home invasions, sexual assaults, alcoholic rages, misplaced macho mindsets and isolation/neglect by families and society.

Guyana’s Second Periodic Report to Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women (CEDAW) concludes that “violence against women is widespread in Guyana,” and cites a 1998 survey of 360 women in Greater Georgetown as evidence. The survey found that, “Out of more than 60 per cent of women who were

involved in a relationship or union, 27.7 per cent reported physical abuse, 26.3 per cent had experienced verbal abuse and 12.7 per cent experienced sexual violence. Approximately half of the surveyed women responded that one of the likely causes of their abuse was jealously (55.4 per cent) or “hot temper”. Nearly four of every five respondents perceived violence in the family to be very common in Guyana (76.8 per cent). More than one in three knew someone who was currently experiencing domestic violence (35.5 per cent).

Between January and September 2006, Help and Shelter handled 297 cases involving spousal abuse directed against women. They reported, 306 cases involving spousal abuse directed against women.

In 2009, they reported 544 cases of domestic violence. A disturbing 61 per cent of these cases were spousal abuse. Also, the organisation reported 300 cases of domestic violence for the period January 1, 2010 – June 30, 2010, 48 per cent of which were spousal abuse cases.

At the end of 2008, the Guyana Police Force confirmed that it had received and investigated 2,811 reports of domestic violence in the policing divisions throughout the country. Of this number, only 579 persons were charged and placed before the courts, while 299 cases were referred to the Probation and Family Welfare Department of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security. The Police also stated that in 1,609 cases, persons were “warned” at the request of the victims. Investigations were said to be continuing in other reports. What is heartbreaking is that the actual level of domestic violence will never truly be realised, as many cases of violence against women go unreported and undocumented. According to the Stabroek News (Jan 17, 2012) “…domestic violence, and particularly the abuse of women by their male partners, is among the most common and dangerous forms of gender-based violence. Women become targets by virtue of their relationship to the male abuser and the violence is inflicted on them usually, but not exclusively, within the home. Media reports also place the domestic violence rate as anywhere between 50 per cent and 66 per cent but some activists argue that it could even be higher given that domestic violence continues to be seen as personal, private or a family matter with its purpose and consequences often hidden. Besides, domestic violence is frequently portrayed as justified punishment or discipline in what is still a male-centric society Against this background there is the urgent need for a serious action plan to counter what the Minister George Norton rightfully termed a human rights issue. These should include: * encouraging education, including directing professional development towards helping teachers to better support diverse learning styles and levels of academic preparation, provide vibrant and diverse opportunities for girls’ leadership, frame learning experiences within projects that strongly incorporate individual inquiry, teamwork, and concrete, real-world applications and address behaviours that reflect intense personal challenges; * eliminating poverty and introducing equitable investment in programmes and support for girls and young women; * eliminating the conditions that have led to Guyana’s exceedingly high rate of maternal deaths; * ensuring that all medical institutions have adequate amounts of rape kits, as well as conducting timely DNA tests; * continuing to focus on trafficking in persons and applying the full force of the law on perpetrators; * engaging females as co-authors of solutions to the challenges they face in their lives and developing gender-specific and gendercompetent programming to meet their needs; * expanding school-based sexual education programmes to provide better options and support to girls whose situations put them at particularly high risk of coerced, unwanted, or premature pregnancy and parenting.

Tackling gender-based violence must remain an ongoing endeavour that must gradually incorporate all stakeholders. In this respect TCV and the almost forty partners, urge all stakeholders and activists to raise the focus on gender-based violence as we embark on Voices Against Violence Anti-Domestic Violence Month in November.

To be involved, please email caribvoice@aol.com, IM us on our FB page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/suicideepidemic) or call us at 718-542-4454 (USA) or in Guyana at 644 1152/646 4669 (Nazim) or 662-2161/ 677-3597 (Sixtus).

news

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thursday, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

TAM 2016 activities

Roraima Airways seeks GTA hosts first of several stronger Guyanahospitality workshops Cuba relations

R

T

Over 40 persons participated in the training programme

he Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) on Wednesday morning hosted the first of several workshops aimed at increasing and elevating the level of service and standards provided by the hospitality workers in Guyana.

As Tourism Month kicked off under the theme “Tourism for all – Partnership for Tourism Development”, the GTA hosted the training programme as part of the celebration.

The GTA is mandated to provide training for the sector and as of October 2016, training was provided for over 650 persons in various areas of specialty.

The training focused on frontline staff, as this is seen

as a critical aspect of operations for the tourism business.

Alluding to the importance of this training, Director of the GTA, Indranauth Haralsingh explained, “All of you work on the front lines, and the front desk play a very important role. It’s the first impression, the face basically of an organisation”.

He reminded participants that they are the faces of the organisation in which they work. “One of the first things that people will see when they enter your business place is you and so you should have a smiling face, so let us not forget to smile because that is one of the key things that is required of you

behind the desk, it conveys so much,” he said.

The Director emphasised that the GTA is committed to service excellence and part of the training on Wednesday morning was to assist trainees in delivering that.

Haralsingh said, “Today’s [Wednesday’s] training programme is to reinforce the knowledge and skills that you already have, at the end of this training today, you will each receive a certificate so that certificate will be good on paper, but you must deliver. What counts is what you do behind the front desk.” As the workshop continues, much more training will be provided to persons in an effort to boost tourism in Guyana.

oraima Airways is seeking to increase air lift capacity to accommodate passenger and cargo flow to Cuba through the services of Dynamic International Airways; this is the ultimate aim as Roraima Airways participates in the Havana International Trade Exhibition. This exhibition comes at an opportune time as Easy Sky, Roraima’s newest travel partner, began its shopping tourism flights into Guyana on October 5 which has seen positive results. This is according to Roraima’s CEO, Captain Gerry Gouveia.

The trade show is schedule to run from October 31 to November 4.

In addition to seeking this new arrangement, Roraima Airways forms an integral part of the Guyana delegation to the Havana International Trade Exhibition as the lone tourism, hospitality and aviation company to promote Guyana’s tourism products and services at this international event, a release from the company stated.

Roraima’s CEO, Captain Gerry Gouveia

The other Guyanese companies and Government agencies which form the Guyana delegation are; Edward B Beharry and Sons, Gafoors, Banks DIH Limited, Global Seafood Distributors, Go-Invest and Guyana Rice Development Board, with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin as leader of the delegation.

After the opening ceremony of the Havana International Trade Exhibition on Wednesday, Minister Gaskin, accompanied by Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba,

Halim Majeed, met with Cuba’s Foreign Trade and Investment Minister, Tourism Minister and other officials within the Tourism Ministry, with the aim of strengthening economic relations between the two nations.

Today Minister Gaskin is expected to meet with Orlando Hernandez Guillen, President of the Cuban Chambers of Commerce, among other official meetings. At the opening ceremony, Guyana was one of the countries which received special recognition for its official diplomatic delegation presence at the trade show from Cuba’s Commerce Minister Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz.

On Saturday, October 29, a four member team, including Captain Gerry Gouveia; Director of External Relations, Wesley Kirton; Marketing Executive, Dellon Murray; and Tourism Superintendent, Priscilia Ramcharran departed Guyana with the delegation.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thurSday, NOVEMber 3, 2016

News

Govt establishes board to probe MoPH procurement allegations

F

ollowing revelations of fraud within the procurement process at the Ministry of Health Public (MoPH), government has sought to establish a one-man board of inquiry to probe the allegations.

This newest inquiry launched by the State will be headed by Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Winston Cosbert, who was presented with the Terms of Reference (TORs) on Wednesday by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.

Cosbert will be looking into the allegations of unauthorised disclosure of information, mismanagement and malpractices in the procurement of pharmaceuticals at the Public Health Ministry.

The move to launch the investigation was triggered by allegations of staffers of

the Public Health Ministry passing inside information to bidders seeking lucrative drug procurement contracts.

During the handing over of the TORs, Minister Harmon said that Government eagerly awaits that Report and the findings, so that appropriate action can be taken.

“I have the confidence in your ability; I have seen your work before and you have done inquiries before. I look forward to the report. This is an important inquiry… and when you have to go after these things, you have to have evidence and facts [because] Government cannot act on innuendos and hearsay.

We have to have an investigation and based on that, the Government acts,” the Minister said.

facts surrounding such unauthorised disclosure; the facts surrounding the allegation that Ms Kandasie Aaron, without prior consent from the Ministry of Public Health, divulged any information on the procurement of pharmaceuticals; to what extent this specific disclosure is an isolated incident and if not, does it represent a more general practice at the Ministry of Public Health.”

It is also expected to investigate the procedure which exists to identify and control the unauthorised disclosure of price sensitive information in the procureRetired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Winston Cosbert ment of pharmaceuticals being presented with the Terms of Reference (TORs) by Minister and how and when did the of State, Joseph Harmon Ministry of Public Health become aware of these disand findings to the Minister The Board of Inquiry (BoI) will commence its of State on or before closures and what actions, work today and is expected November 30, 2016. The if any, were taken by the to render its written report Inquiry is expected to take Ministry.

After the investigaplace at the Department of Public Service and at any tion and findings, recomother place in which the mendations must be made for measures that could Commissioner deems fit. information The Board is expected strengthen management systems withto investigate, examine and report on the “procurement in the Ministry to improve and management process- the handling of protected es by which the Ministry of information and deter any Public Health awards con- unauthorised disclosures; tracts for the procurement and remedial actions, or of pharmaceuticals, servic- any other actions, against es and supplies to bidders; staff who are found to have whether there were unau- acted improperly in the disthorised disclosure of any charge of their public duinformation on the procure- ties and those persons who ment of pharmaceuticals have benefited from the by the staff of the Ministry actions of the public offiof Public Health and the cials and for criminal pros-

ecution or other actions, if any, against any such person found to have been engaged in criminal or improper conduct.

This decision to establish a BoI comes just over a week after Public Health Minister Dr George Norton submitted the proposal at the last Cabinet meeting for a commission of inquiry to be launched.

Nevertheless, during a recent interview with the Guyana Times, Dr Norton said he is extremely concerned about the country’s procurement system and therefore wants the probe to commence as early as possible.

“I want to investigate the entire procurement system because we were given assurances that we have enough medication to last until the end of the year and beyond, but that is not the case and we want the information we have at hand to be more accurate and more precise. I might have been using information that is not necessarily too accurate and that must stop,” he explained.

Norton added measures should be put in place now to ensure the drug procurement process has adequate checks and balances in place to avoid incidents of corruption and malpractice.

“We can’t wait for it to blow up in a way we can’t handle,” he opined.

thursday, November 3, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

News

5 Bs’ programme

Minister Ally, First Lady distribute bicycles, footwear to Kwakwani students

S

ocial Cohesion Minister Amna Ally, was today joined

by First Lady Sandra Granger in distributing 50 bicycles and 400 pairs of shoes to school children in Kwakwani, Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region Ten), under President David Granger’s “Boats, Buses, Bicycles plus Breakfast and Books” (‘Five Bs’) programme.

In her address, Minister Ally said that education continues to be among the Government’s top priorities. She noted that the Government is committed to providing equal access to education for children across the country in keeping with President Granger’s vision to transform Guyana into “an education nation”, a release from the Ministry of Presidency stated.

“Access to education is fundamental to the development of our human potential and to effectively participate in any democratic society, such as ours, everyone has the right to education, re-

gardless of where you live, your race, culture or geographic location,” Minister Ally said.

The Minister also said that the ‘Five Bs’ initiative has started a new chapter in the education system and the nation. “These investments that are being made will have valuable and positive long-term impacts to our human capital,” she stated.

Minister Ally then commended the sponsors who continue to give wholeheartedly towards the initiative in order to realise the President’s vision. “Because of [your] generosity we have distributed a total of 13 buses, 10 boats and hundreds of bicycles to schools throughout Guyana,” she said.

The Minister then reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring “inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all… We as a Government will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that supportive measures

[are] in place to facilitate your education,” she said.

The students also benefited from 400 pairs of shoes donated through the First Lady’s Shoes that Grow Initiative. “These are all donations from Guyanese, at home and in the diaspora and from our Caribbean neighbours. [The shoes] have been distributed in Regions One and Nine, Region Ten - Kwakwani is the first to get these shoes in this region and it all ties in with [the importance that] Government [has] placed on education,” Mrs Granger said.

Several sport groups who were at the presentation ceremony also benefited from sporting gear from the Ministry.

The event was also attended by Regional Chairman, Mr Renis Morian; Mr Jermaine Figueira Member of Parliament; Ms Sandra Adams, Director of Community Development and Regional Democratic Councillor; and several other representatives from the region.

Barack Obama delivers stinging critique of FBI: "We don’t operate on leaks"

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arack Obama has criticised the way the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) revealed a new investigation of emails possibly linked to Hillary Clinton’s private server, a move that has rocked the US presidential election in its final stretch.

Opinion polls show the race between Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump tightening since FBI Director James Comey’s bombshell announcement last Friday.

One even gave Trump a one-point lead, though the Democrat remains the clear favourite.

In his first public comments on the controversial decision, Obama told the online outlet NowThisNews: “I do think that there is a

Barack Obama has been more active on the campaign trail than previous sitting presidents in a bid to protect his legacy

norm that when there are investigations, we don’t operate on innuendo. We don’t operate on incomplete information. We don’t operate on leaks. We operate based on

concrete decisions that are made...”

Comey said it was unclear whether the emails – reportedly found on the laptop of Clinton aide Huma Abedin’s estranged husband Anthony Weiner – are significant. His letter to Congress triggered a fierce backlash from Democrats and even some Republicans.

Obama said Clinton made an “honest mistake” by using a private email server as his secretary of state, something that was now “being blown up into just some crazy thing”. New voters hear “all that noise” and wonder whether they should be worried about Clinton’s conduct, he added, but he said he had absolute confidence in her. (Excerpt from

A

paper said all the bodies had been pulled out of the Jinshangou mine and were being identified. Two miners escaped alive.

Mine accidents are common in China, despite efforts to improve safety.

The cause of the explosion is not clear, but such incidents are usually caused by a spark igniting gas re-

China and Malaysia agree on military cooperation in South China Sea

C

hina and Malaysia have said their navies will cooperate more in the politically sensitive South China Sea in an agreement signed on Tuesday during a visit by Malaysia’s leader, Najib Razak.

The Prime Minister hopes to use his visit to Beijing this week to woo new investment and boost his image as he is shunned by western leaders over the 1MDB financial scandal, which has prompted a US Government investigation, analysts say.

He was given a warm welcome on Tuesday by his Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang. After meeting at the Great Hall of the People, they oversaw the signing of agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation.

China’s premier, Li Keqiang, escorts Malaysian PM Najib Razak at a parade in Beijing on Tuesday

Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said: “We have not touched upon the details of our cooperation. Mostly we are focusing on naval cooperation.”

Because China and Malaysia are both South China Sea coastal nations, “we need to enhance our naval cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the

leased from the earth.

Local authorities have ordered an investigation into the incident and ordered smaller coal mines in the region to close temporarily. China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of coal. The Jinshangou mine is licensed to produce 60,000 tonnes of coal a year, local media said.(BBC News)

South China Sea and enhance our mutual trust,” he said.

Beijing asserts that virtually all the South China Sea is Chinese territory, but an international tribunal ruling in July invalidated those claims. China has ignored that ruling. (Excerpt from

The Guardian)

South Africa: Jacob Zuma report points to possible corruption

A

n investigation into South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has found evidence of possible corruption at the top level of his Government.

In the report, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommends Zuma establish a judicial commission of inquiry within 30 days.

Zuma is accused of an improper relationship with wealthy businessmen.

He had tried to block the release of the report, but

dropped his court bid on Wednesday.

The President and leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC) has been dogged by corruption allegations for more than a decade, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Police fired water cannon to disperse protesters who marched on Zuma’s main office in Pretoria to demand his resignation. The 355-page report by former anti-corruption chief Thuli

Madonsela is entitled “State of Capture” and is illustrated on its front page with a hand strung with puppet wires.

Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas is quoted in the report as saying that businessman Ajay Gupta offered him 600 million rand (US$44.6 million; £36.2 million) last year, “to be deposited in an account of his choice”, if he accepted the post of Finance Minister.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Bhopal jailbreak: Questions raised over Police killings

The Guardian)

Chinese mine confirms 33 dead after Jinshangou blast

ll 33 miners trapped in a coal mine in China by an explosion have been found dead, report state media.

Rescuers had been working round the clock to reach the miners since the blast on Monday morning in the south-west Chongqing region.

The People’s Daily news-

15

Authorities in the state of Madhya Pradesh said on Monday that the men, suspected of being members of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), were shot dead on the outskirts of the city of Bhopal

T

he Police killing of eight prisoners after their alleged escape from a high-security jail in central India was “a coldblooded murder”, according to their lawyer, while Opposition leaders and activists said the encounter between the inmates and the security forces may have

been “faked”.

Authorities in the state of Madhya Pradesh said on Monday that the men, suspected of being members of the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), were shot dead on the outskirts of the city of Bhopal. They had slit the throat of a guard and es-

caped the high-security Bhopal Central Jail by scaling the facility’s walls with knotted bedsheets, according to officials.

Yogesh Choudhary, Bhopal’s Inspector General of Police, initially said that the men were unarmed but were killed after resisting efforts to be returned to custody. Choudhary later changed his account and told reporters that “they had weapons and cross-firing took place”.

Indian newspapers also questioned the veracity of the police version of events, and asked how eight “unarmed” prisoners managed to escape from a high-security facility with over nine metre high walls and a multilayered security system.

No answers were offered by officials on how the prisoners got past the surveillance and why the cameras in the prison were not functional at the time of the jailbreak, they said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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thursday, november 3, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Jenelle Blackman, growing an Urban Oasis

D

riven.

Passionate.

Focused. A go-getter.

Jenelle Blackman is a nail technician extraordinaire, who has levied her technical skills and drive to excel and provide great service into a salon, where you are not simply a customer but part of a community, the Urban Oasis Beauty Salon and Cosmetology School community.

The vibrant entrepreneur’s path to her profession which she elevated into a business was not an easy or simple one and involved much personal angst, but now she would not trade it for the world. The 29-year-old confessed that doing nails was not something she envisaged doing as a child, citing the common misconception that it was something that mostly school dropouts and people with no other options resorted to.

“I did my first year of CAPE (at President’s College) and was at home for two years not getting any job…This was after I did my SATs and did well…I planned to migrate but the sponsorship did not come through – so I decided that I am not going to wait on Government to give me a job…. I saw an ad for cosmetology training – a nail course – and I applied. After I got my certificate, I said ‘ok’ I am going to get a job’.”

But her first experience as a nail technician was trying. “I hated doing nails. I wanted to quit… I never saw myself as a nails person: I saw myself as a professional person.” After eight months, Blackman quit her job and went back home, where she stayed for a few months, but her desire to make something of herself had the Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara native trying the cosmetology field again. “I was living at Paradise then, but it really didn’t work out. I find that East Coast people rather come to Georgetown to get it done than do it right on the East Coast,” Blackman said.

But she was not prepared to give up. “My thing is that I challenge myself to be better than I was the day before.”

One day as her mother was walking along North Road, she

related, she saw that Nicanie’s Salon has stations for rent and told the ambitious youngster, who although she was scared of going out on her own grabbed the opportunity and started building her brand as a professional nail technician.

Five years later, Blackman was ready to move on. “I find in the cosmetology industry, they

comfortable— regardless of your status in society.”

From all accounts, the former Annandale Secondary School student has succeeded in doing this, as persons from various walks of life enjoy her services, but the level-headed perfectionist is far from done.

“I am far from where I want to be, but I plan on getting there…

be, you can spend on yourself without any adverse effects.”

This lack of business acumen is why Blackman believes more training in proper management is needed for entrepreneurs. “I was very lucky to have someone who owns a business since most learn by trial and error and by then it’s too late.”

Hands-on intensive business mentoring and help accessing financing are also critical, she noted. “It is very difficult to get loans from the banks when you are a small business. They want so much that you don’t have and the interest is so much.”

But that should not deter anyone from following their dreams. In final words of encouragement, Blackman urged: “Whatever your dream, dream about it all the time – not only when you are sleeping, but when you are awake, in the bathroom, when eating... Keep it in front of you all the time. Work to achieve it and with persistence, you can achieve it. You can’t just dream, you’ve got to work.”

Contact: 235 South Road, Georgetown; 691-1512, 2312058; https: facebook.com/ Urban-Oasis-Beauty-Salon

Mobile adverts boost Facebook profit

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have a culture of disharmony.

I hated doing nails for a while, but whilst I was doing it, I was doing it to the best of my ability.

They (most cosmetologists) limit themselves; generally, most people don’t strive for standards. So I decided to move on and (nearly three years ago) got a place of my own. A place where anyone would be

Cambio Rates

I want my customers to feel that they are a part of my salon, that they are part of its foundation, they are part of a community,” Blackman, who sometimes works until two in the morning, said earnestly. “I cherish my customers and try to show them my appreciation as I could not be where I am without them. I feel that I am in my baby stage,

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Buying

and cherished, she lauded her fiancé (Mr Jones), saying their combined efforts were responsible for the success of the business. She also praised her family for always being supportive. “We work as a family,” she explained, adding that her brother, Travell, was responsible for the beauty salon’s paintings and images as well as its Facebook page.

Questioned about the effect of the present economy on her business, the plainspoken cosmetologist said there have been no negative effects, as she tried to stick to a budget, taking into account the likely down periods, while maintaining her standards and managing her three employees. “I think the main problem is people live beyond their means.”

She added that the most important trait for entrepreneurs was being conservative. “It’s easy when you don’t have a proper plan to spend willynilly. You spend more than you earn; then, you find yourself in problems and most times you can’t get yourself out of the problem. Most people start spending on themselves rather than spending on developing the business. Spend on the business and when it’s where it needs to

Business News

Market statistics Cur

but I am still comfortable with my efforts.”

Quizzed about her business role models and how they might have contributed to her pragmatic outlook, Blackman was emphatic: “I really believe in you being your own person.

I know where my strengths and weaknesses are. I work on my weaknesses. There will always be people better than you, but I don’t think you should compare yourself to anyone as you can become bitter.” Rather, she counselled, work to the best of your ability; then look at what people are doing that works for them and adapt those concepts to suit yourself. In fact, her advice to budding business owners is: “In whatever you are doing, put your best foot forward and you can only get the best result.”

“I don’t think success is a measure of material wealth.

I think success is a measure of balance in terms of your happiness, your relationships, your health and your finances… it makes no sense having one without the others,” she later mused.

As Blackman works to grow Urban Oasis into a “topof-the-line, go-to-salon” in its own building where all strata of society can feel welcomed

Calculated at 94% purity, November 2, 2016

Selling

USD

$1295.83

GBP

$253.57

$256.79

Gross

$250,417

CAN

$154.16

$155.95

$205.98

$208.44

Net

$232,888

USD EURO

$ 228.50

$231.43

Indicators as on November 2, 2016 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$48.33

Price

USD

Change %

+0.06 Change %

Rough Rice

$213.18/ton

-1.67

London Sugar

$567.20/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1297.80

$1298.80

Low/High

$1290.40

$1308.50

Change

+1.30

Business Concept – Null hypothesis

+0.10%

A proposition that undergoes verification to determine if it should be accepted or rejected in favour of an alternative proposition. Often the null hypothesis is expressed as “There is no relationship between two quantities.” (Business Dictionary)

acebook increased quarterly profits by 166 per cent compared with a year ago as revenue from mobile adverts grew.

The social network reported profit of US$2.4 billion in the July to September period,

slightly ahead of analysts’ expectations, Most of Facebook’s revenues came from adverts, of which mobile accounted for 84 per cent, up from 78 per cent in the same period last year.

“We had another good quarter,” said Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Facebook shares dropped three per cent in after-hours trading straight after the results came out, before recovering. (BBC News)

Investors’ Guide

S&P 500 ends down for 7th straight session

T

he S&P 500 ended lower on Wednesday for a seventh straight session, its longest such streak in five years, as the Federal Reserve signalled it could hike interest rates in December and the uncertain US election continued to cloud the market’s outlook.

The US central bank held interest rates steady, but said the economy had gained steam and job gains remained solid, expressing more optimism that inflation was moving toward its two per cent target.

The decision was broadly in line with expectations of investors, who have been discounting a hike at this meeting, but generally bracing for one in December.

It was the last Fed decision before next week’s presidential election between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, a race that has rattled markets as it has appeared to grow closer in the past week.

“With the Fed meeting, basically they just teed it up

for an increase in December, so there was really nothing unusual ... This market right now is more on the election and any technical indicators,” said Alan Lancz, President of investment advisory firm Alan B Lancz & Associates in Toledo, Ohio.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 77.46 points, or 0.43 per cent, to 17,959.64, the S&P 500 lost 13.78 points, or 0.65 per cent, to 2097.94 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 48.01 points, or 0.93 per cent, to 5105.57.

The S&P 500 closed below 2100 for the first time since July 7.

“Any material drift from there might bring on further weakness and technical selling,” Lancz said. “We’re getting in an area now where the market needs to see some support.”

In another negative technical sign for the market, the combined number of 52week lows on the NYSE and Nasdaq jumped to the most since June and significantly outpaced the number of new

highs.

The Fed’s increasing confidence that prices were moving higher was reflected in its view that “inflation has increased somewhat since earlier this year” and the removal of its previous reference to inflation remaining low in the near term.

In September, Fed Chair Janet Yellen said that a move before year’s end was likely as long as US employment and inflation continue to strengthen.

“The market may be wondering if there’s enough evidence of a stronger economy to warrant a rate hike versus a belief that Chair Yellen needs to replenish her toolkit in the event of a weakening economic backdrop,” said Quincy Krosby, market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey.

The biggest sector decliners were utilities, real estate and telecommunications companies, which are high dividend-paying groups thought to be vulnerable in rising rate environments. (Reuters)

news

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thursday, november 3, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Brazil, Guyana to strengthen 6 fined $20,000 or 6 weeks imprisonment military relationship for possession of explosives

President David Granger engaging the Military Commander of the North of the Brazilian Armed Forces, General Carlos Alberto Neiva Barcellos, during their meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency

M

ilitary Commander of the North of the Brazilian Armed Forces, General Carlos Alberto Neiva Barcellos, on Wednesday, paid a courtesy call to President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.

General Barcellos was

accompanied by Chief-ofStaff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier George Lewis; Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana, Lineu Pupo De Paula; Colonel Oswaldo Benedito Romao DaSilva and Colonel Emerson DaSilva; both of the Brazilian Army, and

Major Meer Khan of the GDF, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a press statement.

During the meeting, several areas relating to security and territorial integrity, as well as the existing areas of cooperation between the two countries were dis-

cussed.

Brigadier Lewis in an invited comment said the Brazilian team is in Guyana for discussions with the GDF in areas of cooperation, in an effort to build a stronger, friendlier relationship between the two military organisations.

Roraima Airways “treats” GPHC paediatric patients the courage to smile even though they may not be so well.

The 7th annual Roraima Children’s Halloween Party is set for November 5 at the Roraima Duke Lodge.

E

mployees of Roraima Airways have once again brought smiles to the faces of young patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s (GPHC) Paediatric wing during a special Halloween treat on Tuesday.

This initiative saw the company’s Human Resources Manager

Glenis Archer, Marketing Representative Colwyn Abrams and other members of the Roraima team dressed in costumes to surprise the children.

The much elated patients were treated to snacks and sweets provided

by Sueria Manufacturers and Banks DIH. This event is held ev-

ery year for children at the GPHC to bring them joy, and the hope that they will get better soon.

Although Roraima Airways has its annual Halloween Party planned for next week, the staff chose to take an early party to the children of the GPHC, as a reward for their bravery and having

200 farmers ordered...

FROM PAGE 11

Additionally, they said two of their young farmers received $2 million from the Small Business Bureau of the Business Ministry to cultivate crops under the shade house system – demonstrating drip/sprinkler irrigation system – to combat the effects of climate change while another farmer received support from the UNDP for a Climate Smart Project (Drip Irrigation on Cash Crops).

The farmers also highlighted that a women’s group from Hopetown received a $4 million grant from the

Communities Ministry to manufacture green seasonings on the same land.

They reminded that President David Granger, during his visit to Fort Wellington to hand over two buses, encouraged residents to get involved in agriculture as a means of sustainable livelihood and capitalise on micro-financing available to farmers.

The farmers were confused as to why the REO would issue such a directive for them to be removed from their farmlands, especially

since there are some 15 acres of unoccupied land in the same area where he can execute his project.

The farmers also pledged their willingness to assist in the project.

“We shall be grateful for your intervention and we are ready to pay our fair share of taxes/rents to develop the agriculture sector in our region and Guyana. We believe in farming, because we believe that it is one of the most honourable ways a man can earn his living on this planet,” the farmers pleaded.

S

even persons living in various villages across Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica), who were caught with explosives during Diwali festivities, appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

They were charged with possession of explosives without permission.

Pleading guilty to the offence were Bissoondyal Narine, 56, of Somerset and Berks, Essequibo Coast; Alameen Yussuff, 16, of Meten-meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara; Ricardo Forde, 38, of Block X Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Zocan Albert, 26, of 26 Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast; Kevin

John, 23, of 34 David Street, Kitty, Georgetown; and Muneshwar Chan, 34, of Lot 16 Columbia, Essequibo Coast. They were fined $20,000 or spend an alternative of six weeks imprisonment.

One vendor Bhagwandat Jones, 69, of Cotton Field, pleaded not guilty and his case was postponed until November 15.

According to information reaching Guyana Times a total of 14 shops and stalls were searched and a total of 280 boxes of illegal fire crackers – squibs and mini ‘channa bombs’ – were unearthed at various locations. The fire crackers were said to be of different brands. All seizures were conducted

by Police Officers attached to G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands).

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 3, 2016

ARCHIE

Get moving and stay active. Do your own thing and (March 21- avoid interference. Celebrate April 19) your accomplishments with a loved one. A romantic gesture will improve your personal life.

ARIES

Going on a day trip or takTAURUS ing on an intellectual chal(April 20- lenge will encourage you to May 20) add to your qualifications. Live within your means in order to ease your stress. Don’t let uncertainty weigh you down.

dilbert

You can bring about GEMINI change if you are passionate (May 21and dedicated to a cause you June 20) believe in. An interesting relationship will bring additional opportunities your way.

Romance is featured.

You can mix business with pleasure in order to improve (June 21- your relationships all around.

July 22) Take any opportunity you get to share your ideas and promote something you want to pursue.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

A trip or retreat will do you good. Take your health into your own hands and make a point to get fit and improve your diet. Romance is highlighted.

Rely on your knowledge, VIRGO expertise and skills to help you (Aug. 23Sept. 22) make an important choice. A partnership will require special attention and compassionate words. Emotional deception is apparent.

Calvin and Hobbes

Live and learn. Test the waLIBRA ters and try something that has (Sept. 23always been of interest to you.

Oct. 23) Don’t give someone a false impression. Put more time and effort into personal change instead of trying to change others.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Bring about change inSCORPIO stead of waiting for it to come (Oct. 24to you. Set the standard and Nov. 22) don’t stop until you are satisfied with what you have accomplished.

You’ll be tempted to brag SAGITTARIUS and make promises that you (Nov. 23- won’t be able to keep. Take Dec. 21) a step back and rethink your motives and strategy. Aim to finish what you start.

Deal with your responsiCAPRICORN bilities as best you can before (Dec. 22you embark on an adventure.

Jan. 19) You’ll have a better time if you’ve taken care of business.

solution for Last Published Puzzle Lending a helping hand AQUARIUS will also give you the upper (Jan. 20hand. Bring about positive Feb. 19) changes that will make your work less stressful. Invest in yourself and in new beginnings.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Benefits will result if you (Feb. 20- have the courage to make the March 20) changes that are necessary to achieve your goal. Use your intelligence to win favors.

Refuse to argue.

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thursday, november 3, 2016

19

Sri Lanka beat time to Young Windies players will fear speaking up overcome Zimbabwe G

raeme Cremer soaked up 175 balls and 121 dots to lead another lower-order rally and raise Zimbabwe’s hopes of saving their 100th Test, but Sri Lanka dug deep into their reserves to secure a hard-earned victory with 45 balls to spare.

When the last hour began, Zimbabwe needed to bat out 15 overs with Cremer on 41 and No. 10 Carl Mumba on 3. Both batsmen played close to their bodies with a straight bat, blocking single-mindedly, and leaving Sri Lanka on the tenterhooks. They negotiated four more overs before Cremer jumped out of the crease and attempted an injudicious flick against the turn, off Rangana Herath, and was stumped for 43. He had faced 351 balls across both innings, the secondmost by a No. 8 in a Test behind Wasim Akram’s 363, which incidentally came against Zimbabwe in 1996.

Nineteen balls after the key wicket of Cremer, Dilruwan Perera knocked out Chris Mpofu’s off stump to wrap up Sri Lanka’s 225run victory.

Cremer entered the fray at 100 for 6, seven overs after lunch, after Zimbabwe had lost their last five wickets for 32 runs. He first added 39 for the seventh wicket with Sean Williams in 19.4 overs before marshalling Mumba in a 38-run ninthwicket stand that lasted 19.1 overs.

Cremer endured a nervy moment when he padded up to a straight delivery from Herath, but umpire Ian

Kieron Pollard

D Sri Lanka secured victory with 45 balls left in final session of the final day © AFP

Gould turned down the bowler’s appeal, with balltracking backing up his decision, indicating the ball would have missed off stump. Cremer shook that o f f and sol-

Graeme Cremer followed his hundred in the first innings with a dogged 43 © Associated Press

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka 1st innings 537 Zimbabwe 1st innings 373 Sri Lanka 2nd Innings 247/6 dec Zimbabwe 2nd innings (target: 412 runs) TMK Mawoyo lbw b MDK Perera 37 BB Chari b Kumara 10 H Masakadza lbw b Lakmal 20 CR Ervine lbw b MDK Perera 0 SC Williams c de Silva b Herath 40 MN Waller lbw b Lakmal 0 PJ Moor† lbw b Kumara 7 AG Cremer* st †MDKJ Perera b Herath 43 DT Tiripano lbw b Herath 0

CT Mumba not out 10 CB Mpofu b MDK Perera 0 Extras (b-5, lb-13, w-1) 19 Total (all out; 90.3 overs) 186 Fall of wickets 1-31 (Chari, 16.4 ov), 2-68 (Mawoyo, 29.1 ov), 3-74 (Ervine, 31.3 ov), 4-74 (Masakadza, 32.3 ov), 5-74 (Waller, 32.5 ov), 6-100 (Moor, 42.6 ov), 7-139 (Williams, 62.4 ov), 8-145 (Tiripano, 68.1 ov), 9-183 (Cremer, 87.2 ov), 10-186 (Mpofu, 90.3 ov) Bowling: RAS Lakmal 24-6-432, HMRKB Herath 30-13-383, CBRLS Kumara 19-3-45-2 (w-1), MDK Perera 15.3-4-343, BKG Mendis 2-1-8-0

diered on. His first boundary came off his 53rd ball when he drove a Suranga L a k m a l half-voll e y through extra cover.

It was Williams who laid the groundwork for Zimbabwe’s fightback. He showed restraint, taking 21 balls to get off the mark, before unfurling his range with paddle-sweeps and even reverse-sweeps against the spinners.

Williams went onto make 40 off 92 balls, before Herath struck with the fourth ball after tea, getting him to nick to slip.

Herath sensed an opening and broke through six overs later when he had Donald Tiripano lbw for a 21-ball duck. It was a dubious decision from Gould, though, with replays detecting an inside edge onto the pad. He should have been out off the previous ball he faced - a Herath arm ball struck his front pad in front of middle and leg - but Gould did not budge.

The cloud cover that had built up during tea moved off and Sri Lanka then strained every sinew. Herath brought out the carrom ball from wide of the crease, and even tried to shake things up with part-time legspinner Kusal Mendis. The second new ball ultimately snuffled out Zimbabwe’s dogged resistance.

In the morning Lakmal swung the first new ball and teased Zimbabwe’s openers in the channel outside off after Sri Lanka had declared overnight, keeping in view the rain threat and setting Zimbabwe a target of 412 in

98 overs. Brian Chari struggled to even put bat on ball in the early exchanges, failing to get fully forward or go fully back against Lakmal’s awayswingers and Herath’s arm balls. To compound his woes, Chari attempted to sweep Herath against the turn, but the top edge did not carry to fine leg or deep square leg.

It was the extra pace of teenage debutant Lahiru Kumara that ended the tentative 31-run opening partnership. In his first over, an inducker at 141kph burst through Chari’s defences and sent the off stump cartwheeling.

Once the swing faded, Lakmal briefly peppered the batsmen with short balls from around the wicket with a leg slip, forward short leg, and square leg placed halfway to the boundary, but it was reverse-swing with the old ball that provided him the breakthroughs. In the space of three balls, he coaxed a couple to veer back into Hamilton Masakadza and Malcolm Waller to trap both lbw.

It came after Dilruwan had struck twice in nine balls to remove Tino Mawoyo for 37 and Sean Ervine for an eight-ball duck. Mawoyo was adjudged lbw by Simon Fry, though the slider from Dilruwan was comfortably missing leg stump with the angle from over the wicket.

Ervine, though, was pinned plumb in front by a full delivery that drifted in and then turned away.

Zimbabwe lost four wickets for only six runs and later Herath worked his way past Cremer and the tail to give Sri Lanka their first away Test win after seven matches, on captaincy debut. (ESPNcricinfo)

iscarded West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard believes future stars of the regional team will be afraid to speak their minds after what he deems to be unfair treatment meted out to senior players in recent times.

Pollard, joined former captain Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy as been among those axed from the squad in recent months. All three were senior members of the team during the 2014 tour of India and Sammy was critical of the board following the team’s triumph in this summer’s Twenty20 World Cup. The outspoken coach Phil Simmons also found himself among that number after the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) citing “cultural” difference between itself and the manager. Simmons who only lasted 6 months on the job was constantly at loggerheads with the board regarding team selection policy.

“They won’t say it, but they are. Because what you have seen, there’s a trend, right? Darren Sammy was regarded as one of the best leaders we have in the Caribbean. Sammy, for the first time, came out and spoke against the board. Sammy was sacked. Phil Simmons wanted different mechanisms to get his job done better. He spoke out against the board, got himself sacked,” Pollard said in a recent interview with Espncricinfo “Dwayne Bravo has been in trouble with the board.

Pollard has been in trouble with the board. Chris Gayle has been in trouble with the board for speaking out. So if the younger players have seen that trend, they’d rather just stay quiet. They are learning what not to say because of what the outcome is going to be.” (Sportsmax)

Jamaica: Core of local Reggae Boyz called for rescheduled Suriname clash

Jamaica Reggae Boyz

S

everal locally based players have been called to camp

by Jamaica’s national senior team head coach Theodore Whitmore as Jamaica begins preparations for their Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Caribbean Cup qualifier against Suriname on November 13.

Ladale Richards, Dwayne Ambusley, Allan Ottey, Dino Williams, Ewan Grandison, Andrew Vanzie, Rosario Harriott, Dicoy Williams, and Rohan Richards are the players called to camp that trained on Tuesday for the first time.

The full squad of 25 players will be assembled by November 7. Suriname is set to arrive on November 10.

Jamaica’s match with Suriname had been postponed because of the threat of Hurricane Matthew in early October.

Jamaica defeated Guyana 4-2 on October 11 in a match that went into extra time. Jamaica, the defending champions, rebounded from being two goals down to send the match into extra time before pulling off the win.

The match against Suriname is set for the National Stadium at 18:00h

20

Logie pinning hopes on youth

Jon-Russ Jagessar

T

rinidad and Tobago Red Force coach Gus Logie is hoping that the work done with the young players during the pre-season will roll over into the Regional Four-Day tournament which starts next week.

The Red Force will open their four-day campaign against the Windward Islands at the Queen’s Park Oval in a day/night match bowling off on November 11.

Several of the young batsmen in the TT setup made a name for themselves in the practice matches and Logie is keenly anticipating the start of the season.

“We’ve had four practice games and they all went pretty well.

We had some batsmen coming into their own, we had five centuries scored in that time. We had quite a few five-wicket hauls from bowlers so I would like to think that most of the players have shown good form, they have shown good fitness and we look forward to the start of the season,” he said.

Akiel Cooper (104), Jyd Goolie (107 not out), Jeremy Solozano (103 not out), Yannick Ottley (101) and Isaiah Rajah (127 not out) all made centuries in the trial matches. Of the century makers, only Ottley has been a regular starter on the team over the past few seasons which creates competition within the team. Logie explained that Jason Mohammed and Kyle Hope scored centuries for the West Indies A team recently and will boost the team when they line up for TT this season.

Grabbing five-wicket hauls during the practice matches were spinners Ricky Jaipaul and Khary Pierre, while Imran Khan, Bryan Charles, Kerwin Sirju, Jon Russ Jagessar and Kavesh Kantasingh (all spinners) had fourwicket hauls.

Logie added, “I think it is good (to see young players scoring runs). It is good to see young players grabbing the opportunity with both hands and addressing the selectors.

I think we had a century from Yannick Ottley as well so that’s good to see and if they can take that into the four day game and beyond that will be quite pleasing. I think a lot of work has been put in pre-season with some of those players and it is nice to see them rewarded with runs on the board and wickets as well.” The TT batting has been below par in recent times and Logie is hoping his batsmen will spend time at the crease.

“The format calls for that (occupying the crease.) It calls for patience. At the end of the day we’ve talked about that, the players have the skill. It’s about them having the will to succeed. I do feel we have the quality to really and truly give a good shot at the four-day championships.

In the end we have committed ourselves to winning both championships (four-day and 50-over) and having a record-breaking season and we are not going to deviate from that.” The spinners will be instrumental in TT’s bowling attack this season but Logie believes the team has a balanced attack.

“We are going to be playing some of our games overseas and sometimes the conditions do not always dictate that the spinners take charge, but certainly we have seen spinners really and truly doing well in our regional competitions, the pitches are conducive to it.

“But as I said before, we also need to have a varied attack and I think we have a varied attack this season, once utilised properly we should be able to reap rewards.”

The TT coach also expects Jamaican fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell and all rounder Roshon Primus to make an impact in their first season with the Red Force.

(Windiescricket)

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursday, november 3, 2016

Rohit, Rahul and Dhawan to miss 1st 2 England Tests

I

ndia are missing three major batsmen - openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, and Rohit Sharma because of injures for the first two Tests against England. Allrounder Hardik Pandya has been included in the Test squad for the first time in his career.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma returned to the 15-man squad after missing the Test series against New Zealand because of an illness. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered during the second Test against New Zealand but was not picked because he had not played a first-class game since.

Rohit sustained an injury to his upper thigh during the ODI series against New Zealand, and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, and might need surgery too. That put him out of the series. There was no like-forlike replacement for Rohit, which could mean a debut for Karun Nair or Pandya in Rajkot unless India play five specialist bowlers.

Gautam Gambhir, who scored a second-innings fifty in his comeback Test against New Zealand in Indore, was set to continue as the opener for the first Test at least. He had returned to the Test squad because of the injuries to Rahul and Dhawan. Rahul missed the last two Tests and the ODIs against New Zealand because of a hamstring injury, and Dhawan was ruled out for the third Test and the limited-overs contests because of a thumb injury.

Fast bowler Shardul Thakur was dropped from the squad after coming in as a replacement during the Tests against New Zealand. That he would concede his place once Ishant regained fitness was expected.

What was not expected was the selection of Baroda’s Pandya, who has played just 16 first-class matches and taken 22 wickets at an average of 33. He has already played four ODIs and 16 T20 internationals. He featured in the 2016 World T20, and was the Man of the Match on his ODI debut.

MSK Prasad, the chairman of selectors, saw Pandya bowl on India A’s tour of Australia, a tour that first paved his way into the ODI side and now into the Test squad.

“Pandya’s pace has increased, he is moving the ball, his batsmanship has improved,” Prasad said. “And he has mellowed down as a person. He is one allrounder we thought is an equally competent bowler and batsman.

And a good fielder too.

“Rahul Dravid has worked hard on the mental side of his game. Now Anil Kumble is guiding him. We have three allrounders - Stuart Binny, Hardik Pandya, Rishi Dhawan. In this particular series, he scores ahead of Binny. Much quicker and better bowler than Stuart. With form and fitness, Hardik is a better option.”

India are presently the No. 1 ranked team in Tests, following their 3-0 victory against New Zealand. The first Test against England is in Rajkot from November 9, and

Rohit Sharma

Gautam Gambhir

Lokesh Rahul

the second in Visakhapatnam from November 17.

Squad Virat Kohli (capt.), R Ashwin, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Mohammad Shami, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Karun Nair, M Vijay, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav. (ESPNcricinfo)

Miller is right man for the job N

ewly-appointed coach Robert Samuels believes spin bowler Nikita Miller is the right person for the position of captain of the Jamaica Scorpions heading into the new-look regional four-day Digicel SportsMax WICB Professional League.

A consistent performer for the national team since making his four-day debut 16 seasons ago, Miller replaces young batsman Paul Palmer Jr. “Nikita has proven himself to be a leader on and off the field,’’ said Samuels of the 34-year-old, who earlier this year led the team during the regional oneday NAGICO Super50 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Right man for the job

“Sitting in the dressing room and listening to Nikita talk about cricket and talk to the players, and how the players relate to him, I

think he is the right man for the job at this time,’’ he declared.

The previous selection of the now 24-year-old Palmer Jr, a former national Under-19 captain, but whose ascendancy to the post came as somewhat as a surprise last season, was made by the then Wavell Hinds-led national selection panel.

The selection panel also included Robert Haynes, Wayne Lewis, Delroy Morgan and Cleveland Davidson.

However, coinciding with the re-election of Jamaica Cricket Association president, Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven earlier this year, the panel has been changed.

The selection panel now consists of three standing members with outgoing national coach Junior Bennett the new chairman, and returning selector Ephraim McLeod, as well as Samuels

Nikita Miller

being the other members.

Different approach

This change in personnel, according to Samuels, has since taken a different approach to the selection of a leader with merit of a place in the team being an important barometer.

“The first thing one should do is select a leader that can command and demand a position in the team first and foremost,’’ said Samuels.

“Nikita has commanded and demanded his position in the team over the years, is an avid performer season after season, and for this the players have the utmost respect for him.’’

Jamaica, having failed to finish in the top three for the past three regional four-day seasons are set to open their account against two-time defending champions Guyana Jaguars at the Providence Stadium next weekend. (Windiescricket)

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― Chandrika, Ramdin miss out

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he West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) now has 12 men and 15 women who have all signed central contracts for the West Indies for the period up to September 30, 2017. Alzarri Joseph heads a list of newcomers to the retained list of men; while the number of women increased from 11 to 15.

Three male players have notified the Selection Panel they are declining the offer. They are top-order batsmen, Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo and allrounder, Carlos Brathwaite.

Brathwaite was recently appointed T20 Captain following the sacking of Darren Sammy. To date, he has lead the regional side in five matches losing all three in the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan while winning one against India in Florida in August while the other ended as a no result also at the Central Broward Regional Park in Fort Lauderdale. The

trio are currently in the Test Team playing against Pakistan in the UAE. Meanwhile, the Barbadian pair of fast bowler Miguel Cummins and batting allrounder Roston Chase are included for the first time.

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Six players who were contracted for the period 2015/16 have missed out this time. They are out of favour Guyanese opener Rajendra Chandrika, discarded Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor who has recently announced his retirement form Tests and Sheldon Cottrell and Kemar Roach who have gone off the radar.

The central contracts for women range from US$12,000 to US$30,000; while the contracts for men r a n g e from

Tremayne Smartt

US$100,000 to US$150,000. The contract for the period is based on performances from October 1, 2015 to September 2016.

The WICB also has 90 additional players on contract for the six franchises and their salaries range from US$15,600 to $30,000.

Those players are part of the first-class set-up. The 4-Day Professional Cricket League begins next Friday, November 11 with matches in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and St Kitts. The Super 50 is scheduled for January to February 2017.

Separate arrangements are on offer for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) the region’s Twenty20 domestic league and those packages

Alzarri Joseph

range f r o m US$5,000 to US$160,000.

West Indies will play in a Tri-Nation One-DayInternational series with Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.

The series, scheduled for Zimbabwe, is due to start Wednesday, November 16.

The full lists of players retained for 2016/17 read; Men - Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Leon Johnson, Alzarri Joseph and Jomel Warrican.

Women Merissa Aguerilla, Shermaine Campbelle, Shamilia Connell, Britney Cooper, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Kycia Knight, Kyshona Knight, Hayley Mathews, Anisa Mohammed, Shaquana Quintyne, Shakera Selman, Tremayne Smartt and Stafanie Taylor.

In 2015/16 the 15 men that were retained were; Jason Holder, Kraigg Brathwaite, Rajendra Chandrika, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin, Devendra Bishoo, Shannon Gabriel, Jermaine Blackwood, Jerome Taylor, Sheldon Cottrell, Shai Hope, Shane Dowrich, Leon Johnson and Kemar Roach.

Guyanese-UK veterans throw challenge to Everest Masters

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he Guyana Overseas Cricket Club (GOCC. UK) consists of mature Guyanese club cricketers based in the United Kingdom (UK) have thrown out a challenge to the Everest Masters in a 35 overs a side game. The highly talented and confident Everest Masters have accepted the challenge and will host the visitors tomorrow from 11:00h.

The game will be played using standard One Day International rules.

Everest Masters batting will revolve around veteran batting ace Shivnarine Chanderpaul and includes Looknauth “King” Persaud and Hafeez “Mr. Rockaway” Ali while the visitors will be spearheaded by Maurice Sukul, Joey Birke and Richard Locke.

Everest Masters will

Sahadeo Hardaiow (left) and Hafeez Ali recently walked out to bat against St Cuthbert’s Mission

come from; Rajesh Singh (Captain), Sahadeo “Fines” Hardaiow, Hafeez Ali, Hemraj Garbarran, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Saheed Mohamed, Rohan Sarjoo, Saeed Khan, Prakash Balgobin, Johnny Azeez, Rakesh Gangaram, Ronald Jaisingh, Basil

Persaud, Ishwar Singh and Looknauth Persaud.

GOCC (UK) squad reads; Maurice Sukul (Captain), Rabi Sukul, Khamechand Persaud, Roopnauth Sharma, Joey Burke, Krish Nath, Richard Locke, Anand Persaud, Isaac Chung, Saeed Gopie and Lee James.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursday, november 3, 2016

WI need 39 to avoid whitewash ― Holder bags 5, Brathwaite holds firm

fter subsiding for 208 to set West Indies a target of 153, Pakistan took five wickets to leave the Sharjah Test tantalisingly poised at stumps on day four.

But, just 39 runs away from claiming their first win of the UAE tour, West Indies held the edge thanks to Kraigg Brathwaite’s immovable presence at the crease.

Brathwaite, who had carried his bat through the first innings for 142, was at the crease on 44, having seen his side through a startling wobble that had left them 67 for 5. He looked calm and solid throughout his knock, assured in defence and adept at rotating the strike. Shane Dowrich, who kept him company in an unbroken 47-run sixth-wicket stand that saw out the day, was less convincing early in his innings, playing Wahab Riaz with feet rooted to the crease and stumps exposed. Nonetheless, he settled in to hit some telling boundaries towards the end of the day and tilt the balance back in West Indies’ favour.

That West Indies found themselves with the upper hand was thanks in no small part to some loose cricket from Pakistan. In a tragicomic collapse after lunch, Pakistan lost five wickets for 33 runs, including 3 for 4 in the space of 18 balls, to be bowled out for 208.

The slide began in the seventh over after lunch, when legspinner Devendra Bishoo had Mohammad Nawaz caught at short leg. He landed the ball on a good length in the rough outside the lefthander’s off stump and extracted just enough turn to pick up an inside edge to Leon Johnson, who stuck out his left hand to take a sharp catch. Bishoo’s next wicket came four overs later, when Azhar Ali, batting on 91, gift-

Pakistan celebrate the dismissal of Leon Johnson LBW to Yasir Shah to trigger a familiar collapse

West Indies Captain Jason Holder celebrates his maiden fivewicket haul after trapping Yasir Shah LBW for a duck

ed his wicket away. Seeing a liberally flighted delivery, Azhar started shaping for a sweep, before realising the ball was too far outside off stump for the shot. Instead of leaving the ball alone, Azhar then offered a limp drive and only succeeded in guiding it to Darren Bravo at first slip.

Thirteen balls later, Mohammad Amir perished to one of the most entertaining run-outs conceivable to leave Pakistan in even greater trouble. Wickets were now falling at increasingly short intervals; the next one came after four balls when Wahab Riaz turned a Holder delivery to Johnson, who took a remarkable reflex catch at short leg, off the face of the bat.

Zulfiqar Babar then chipped in with a six and a

SCOREBOARD Pakistan 1st Innings 281 West Indies 1st Innings 337 Pakistan 2nd innings Sami Aslamc Joseph b Holder 17 Azhar Ali c Bravo b Bishoo 91 Asad Shafiq c Bravo b Holder 0 Younis Khan c †Dowrich b Holder 0 Misbah-ul-Haq* c Bishoo b Chase 4 Sarfraz Ahmed† c Bravo b Bishoo 42 Mohammad Nawaz c Johnson b Bishoo 19 Mohammad Amir run out 8 (Chase/Holder) Wahab Riaz c Johnson b Holder 1 Yasir Shah lbw b Holder 0 Zulfiqar Babar not out 15 Extras(b-2, lb-1, w-6, nb-2) 11 Total(all out; 81.3 overs) 208 Fall of wickets 1-37 (Sami Aslam, 14.1 ov), 2-41 (Asad Shafiq, 16.6 ov), 3-41 (Younis Khan, 18.5 ov), 4-48 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 21.1 ov), 5-134 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 54.2 ov), 6-175 (Mohammad Nawaz, 72.4 ov), 7-189 (Azhar Ali, 76.5 ov), 8-192 (Mohammad Amir, 78.6 ov), 9-193 (Wahab Riaz, 79.4 ov), 10-208 (Yasir Shah, 81.3 ov) Bowling: ST Gabriel 15-1-36-0 (nb-2, w-1), AS Joseph 14-3-41-

0 (w-1), JO Holder 17.3-5-30-5, KC Brathwaite 1-0-5-0, RL Chase 15-1-47-1, D Bishoo 19-2-46-3 West Indies 2nd innings (target: 153 runs) KC Brathwaite not out 44 LR Johnson lbw b Yasir Shah 12 DM Bravo c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 3 MN Samuels c Zulfiqar Babar b Yasir Shah 10 J Blackwood b Wahab Riaz 4 RL Chase c Mohammad 2 Nawaz b Wahab Riaz SO Dowrich† not out 36 Extras (lb-2, nb-1) 3 Total (5 wickets; 36 overs) 114 To bat: JO Holder*, D Bishoo, ST Gabriel, AS Joseph Fall of wickets 1-29 (Johnson, 7.3 ov), 2-35 (Bravo, 9.5 ov), 3-57 (Samuels, 19.1 ov), 4-63 (Blackwood, 20.6 ov), 5-67 (Chase, 22.4 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 8-029-0 (nb-1), Wahab Riaz 8-0-30-2, Yasir Shah 13-430-3, Zulfiqar Babar 3-1-3-0, Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-20-0 Position: West Indies require another 39 runs with 5 wickets remaining

four in a seven-ball 15 that took Pakistan past 200 and their lead past 150. But Holder trapped Yasir Shah in front for a duck to conclude a breathless passage of play and collect figures of 5 for 30. It was Holder’s first fivewicket haul in Tests and put his team within sight of their first Test win under his captaincy. Having left the door wide open for West Indies, Pakistan then proceeded to give them encouraging nudges towards the threshold. Off the fifth delivery of the chase, Amir found Johnson’s edge only for Misbah-ul-Haq to put down a regulation chance at third slip. Amir’s frustration was compounded in his next over, when Sami Aslam, at first slip, made a total hash of another chance off the same batsman.

But shortly after tea, West Indies lost 5 for 38 in a period of play that brought Pakistan roaring back. Yasir got the first three of those wickets. Johnson, looking to pull a shortish delivery, was hit in front when the ball did not rise as much as he expected. Bravo was set up beautifully by four legbreaks before Yasir slipped one in that did not turn as much and took the outside edge. Marlon Samuels went for an irresponsible loft with long-off in place and holed out to Babar.

Then Wahab bowled Jermaine Blackwood when the batsman brought down an angled bat to a ball that honed into the stumps from around the wicket. When Roston Chase flicked Wahab in the air to midwicket, West Indies were tottering.

Perhaps fittingly, West Indies’ recovery was engineered by a man who had hardly been off the field throughout the match. With Dowrich for company, and Holder and Bishoo still to come, Brathwaite can expect decent support as he attempts to steer his team to their first win in 14 Tests. (ESPNcricinfo)

Sponsors buying in to Guyana Softball Cup 6

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he sixth edition of the annual International Softball tournament organised by the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) bowls off tomorrow across various venues in Georgetown and just recently W.J. Enterprise of Regent Road has renewed their sponsorship with the prestigious tournament.

The three day tournament will have 10 Open Male teams and 14 Male Masters teams competing over three days for championship glory.

Teams from Canada, New York and Florida are expected to match skills with the locals for softball cricket supremacy in the Americas.

Faithful partner, W.J. Enterprise, under the popular Croxley brand is pleased to endorse the international tournament for the third consecutive year as was revealed by Nasheena Naraine at the handing over ceremony. Also at the ceremony at the distribution centre for the popular brand of stationery products was Organising Secretary of the GFSCA, Wayne Jones who said that everything is in place for a successful tournament and reminded patrons heading to the finals on Sunday at DCC to keep their lucky half tickets.

This year, more than two million dollars in cash and incentives are at stake and on the finals day an admission price of $1,000 will be charged at the gate while children 13 yrs and below will be admitted free. Friday and Saturday matches around Georgetown do not attract any admission fee.

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Nasheena Naraine is all smiles as she proudly hands over the sponsorship cheque to GFSCA President Ramchand Ragbeer while Vice President Rickey Deonarain and Organising Secretary Wayne Jones look on

Four persons may each win all expenses paid trips for themselves and a partner to Baganara (1 night), Kaiteur/Orinduik Falls (1day), Arrowpoint (1 night), and Aruwai Resort White H20 (1 night). While there are many other instant prizes to be won including 10 beautiful hampers and goodies from the sponsors including Stag, Rubis Guyana, Trophy Stall, Survival Group of Business, Steve Jewelery, Clear Waters, Busta Soft Drinks, Rohan Auto Spares, A&R Jewanram Printery, W.J Enterprise and Mikes Pharmacy.

The first ball is at 9:00h tomorrow in 11 games simultaneously across the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Base Camp Ayangana ground, the Guyana Police Force Sports Club ground at Eve Leary, Malteenoes, Demerara Cricket Club

(DCC) ground and Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) ground. The second round of 11 games starts at 13:00h at the same venues.

On Saturday morning at 9:00h, the final 11 preliminary games will be played while at 13:00h two semifinals will be played simultaneously at Eve Leary.

Over at the DCC ground, one semi-final also starts at 13:00h followed by the other at 17:00h. On Sunday at the DCC Ground only, will be the Masters and Open Finals as well as three exhibition female 10/10 games.

The female teams are Mikes Wellwoman, Trophy Stall Angels, 4R Lioness and Blue Divas who will begin the final day action with semi-finals from 10:00h.

Regal made a sweep of the titles last year winning the Masters and All-Star categories.

Grudge matches to light up Everest on Saturday night

our softball teams, two tape ball teams and two hardball teams will feature in specially arranged grudge matches on Saturday evening under the floodlights at Everest Cricket Club for trophies and bragging rights. The high intensity matches will begin from 17:00h with the softball and tapeball games followed by the feature hardball match between Rockaway XI and Hyde Park from 20:00h.

In the opening fixtures, Maj X1 will take on New Doctors Clinic and Factory Price will meet Omesh X1 in the underhand, softball games while Telco Solutions and Outlaws will battle it out in the tapeball match bowling overhand.

The feature game is expected to bring lots of competition and excitement with some known names looking to make their presence felt. Hard hitting Hafeez “Mr. Rockaway” Ali will lead the star studded Rockaway team with former national youth players included. They will face stiff

Hafeez Ali (left) and Timothy Andrews were on opposite sides but will team up on Saturday night at Everest against Hyde Park

competition from the underdogs, Hyde Park who are lead by Imtiaz Sahik and include Ricardo Adams and Sase Narine.

Rockaway X1 will come from; Hafeez Ali. (Captain), Balram Airon, Sharaz Ramcharran, Safraz Esau, Hemraj Garbarran, Saheed Mohamed, Ishwar Singh, Imran Khan, Krishna Singh, Rayon Austin, Timothy Andrews, Balchan Baldeo, Zaheer Mohamed and Chanderpaul Hemraj.

Hyde Park will come from; Imtiaz Sahik

(Captain), Sase Narine, Youghistir Bachan, Ucil Armstrong, Inshan Mohamed, Gibron Mohamed, Azim Mohamed, Mark Braithwaite, Ricardo Adams, Nicholas Chinku, Brian Herbert, Radman Nandkishore and Quincy Jones. Lall Bachan is the Manager.

Trophies for the entire event are sponsored by Factory Price of King Street, Georgetown, Trophy Stall of City Mall and on South Road and the Rockaway Group of New York.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, november 3, 2016

Digicel Guyana Open Hooper’s 5-76, Chanderpaul’s will be biggest

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Guyana Jaguars 4-day warm-up match

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74 highlight day 3

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erbician off-spinner Eon Hooper took 5-76 while veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 74 to impress on the third day’s play of the Guyana Jaguars 4-day Warm up match between Vishaul Singh’s XI and Christopher Barnwell’s XI at the Everest Cricket Club.

Vishaul’s XI resuming the day on 181-3 in response to Barnwell’s XI first inning 325, with allrounder Raymon Reifer and Chanderpaul at the crease on 68 and 49 respectively, Reifer only added one this overnight score which brought an end to the 136run partnership for the fourth wicket with the score on 190-4.

Chanderpaul continued to bat merrily, as he passed the half-century mark but Hopper got a delivery to take the outside edge and he was taken behind by wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach for a wellplayed 74 (5x4s; 3x6s).

Eon Hooper

Shivnarine Chanderpual

Akshaya Persaud 35 (4x4s), Anthony Bramble 30 (4x4s) and Sherfene Rutherford 27 (5x4s) were also among the runs as their team were bowled out for 368, securing a 43-run lead; Hooper who followed up his exceptional season in the Jaguars Franchise League where he was the leading wicket-taker bowled 57.4 overs of which 26 were maidens to achieve his feat.

When Barnwell XI took to the crease for their sec-

ond innings, they reached 36 when they lost opener Robbin Bacchus for 13, followed by Kevon Boodie for 6 to be reeling at 44-2.

K a n d a s a m m y Surujnarine and Chanderpaul Hemraj then consolidated to ensure no further damage was done before stumps were drawn at 63-2 with a slim lead of 20.

The final day’s play will begin today at 09:30h.

GCB/National Secondary Schools Cricket League 2016...

Tutorial High dethrone St Joseph’s in East Georgetown championship

or the eighth consecutive year, the twoday Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic will be played at the Lusignan Golf Course and tee-off will be on Saturday from 04:55h.

This announcement was made on Wednesday at a press conference at the Golf Club, where President of the club Oncar Ramroop revealed that a large overseas contingent is expected to participate in the classic.

In fact 25 of 57 registered players are foreign based players and that the total number they are seeking to achieve is 80.

Ramroop’s posited that the increased number of participants attending is due to the classic evolving over the years.

Commenting on the support of the Telecommunication giants over the years, Ramroop stated that “I consider them the epitome of what corporate sponsors should, they continue to provide support for sports in Guyana.”

The club President further stated that this year,

Grand Coastal Hotel will also be pumping sponsorship into the event.

Meanwhile, Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James encouraged all to attend the event while stressing that her company continues to be committed to sport in Guyana.

“We remain committed to the development of youth and sports in Guyana; we want our youths to get involved in a sporting activity and not just sit at home and watch, it is a lovely atmosphere here [ golf course] and we would like the everyone to come out and play,” James convened to the gathering.

According club Captain, Chatterpaul Deo, the format will be the same as last year, with the addition of the seniors flights which did not occur last year due to the lack of participants.

Deo explained that the men’s championship will adjudged by gross while the ladies by net.

Last year, Avinash

Persaud a n d Shaunella Webster were the male and female champions respectively b u t

Persaud is expected to face tough challenge from Jaipaul Suknanan while female contingent from Suriname could pose a threat to Webster.

The green seems to be in great condition and the organisers are urging all participants to be fully hydrated due to the prevailing humid weather.

Britton, Greaves reign supreme at Titans Gold Cup

– Lodge, Charlestown book final date in South Georgetown Zone, Parika Salem thump Everest Academy

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hampions are being crowned and previous champions are being dethroned as the 2016 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary Schools Cricket League heads to the business end. One team that will not repeat as champion is St. Joseph High who were stunned by Tutorial High at Bourda on Wednesday.

Tutorial won the toss and asked St Joseph High to take first strike who went on to score 144/9 in their 30 overs. Asif Daniels top scored with 47 off 63 balls hitting five fours as he held his team’s innings together. Ameer Singh chipped in with 25 off 32 balls as the defending East Georgetown zone champions put up a respectable total. Bowling for Tutorial, Zion Gray took 2-27 and Joel Spooner took 2-29.

In reply, the destroyers, the Tutorial batsmen held their nerves to complete the chase with three wickets in hand. Number three batsman Devon Allen led the way with a responsible knock of 37 while Osapho Green was the other main scorer with 29 as the two batsmen were instrumental in their team crossing the line even though they

Parika Salem’s Wazim Mohamed hit a superb 95

lost seven wickets in the process. The target was achieved with 7.3 overs to spare.

Over at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Tucville notched up 112 all out with Godfrey Phillips smashing 47 with five fours as he was the main scorer for Tucville. Akeemo Marques had terrific figures of 7-32 while Akeem Williams took 2-36.

Lodge in reply batted smartly to get to their target of 113/6 in 21.2 overs.

Turston Gordon top scored with 35 while Akeem Williams returned with the bat to score 32 to lead their team to victory. Bowling for Tucville, Romeo Brown had 2-22. Lodge Secondary will now face Charlestown in the South Georgetown

zone final after the latter defeated Central High in their semi-final encounter.

Over at Tuschen, Parika Salem Secondary crushed Everest Academy on the back of a superb all-round performance by Wazim Mohamed. Batting first, Parika rattled up 262/7 in 26 overs with Wazim Mohamed smashing 95. He struck 13 fours and one maximum during his innings. Bashker Baldeo made 32 and Loochnaninl Rambharat scored 22. Bowling for Everest Academy, Azim Mohamed bagged 5-17.

In reply, Everest Academy were routed for 57 in just 12.4 overs. Real Austin score 30 of those runs. Wazim Mohamed completed his fine all round performance by claiming five wickets for just 15 runs which included a hat trick.

In more action today, Lodge Secondary and Charlestown Secondary will contest the South Georgetown Zone final the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Bourda from 10:30h while Enmore Secondary tackles Golden Grove Secondary in the East Coast Demerara Zone final at the Enterprise ground from 12:00h.

The various prize winners at the conclusion of the tournament pose with their spoils and President of the Guyana Table Tennis Association, Godfrey Munroe (2nd from right)

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ational table tennis players Shemar Britton and Precislla Greaves took centre stage in the in the second annual Titans Gold Cup over the weekend at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Looking to win his first championships, Britton had to contend with the experienced Colin France in the men’s singles final.

The talented Britton proved too strong for France taking the game in three hard fought straight sets 11-9-11-8 and 11-9.

Britton, who is one of Guyana’s Olympic prospects explained that he was simply hungry for success.

“It was an excellent performance, I put in a lot of work for this gold I especially wanted to win the men title cup I lost the last two times and I really wanted to

rectify that so I made sure I put in the work,” the player stated.

He added, “I had to make sure I was scoring my shots and putting in the easy balls while making sure I play a strong back hand stroke and then the game opened”.

Britton also got the better of Elishaba Johnson in the under 18 before going on to beat Miguel Wong for the under 21 title.

Similarly, Greaves who was also at the top of her game, got over the hurdle of Selenas Jackman to take the under 18 title before going on to overcame a field of Jackman, Naveh Clarkson and Abagail Martin in a round robin final to take the women’s open crown.

Grreaves touted fitness as the reason for her ascension to the top of the heap locally.

“I recently started back training because I had CXC so I was on a break, we had Inter-Guiana games so I started training for that and basically this upcoming tournament so that brought back my touches,” the young player stated.

Jackman took the girls under 15 title and Jamal Nicholas took the boys the under 15 category and second place in the B class open .

Other winners included Shanesh Persaud in the 9 and under category, Krystian Sahadeo in the 11 year and under , Niran Bissu who beat Isaiah Layne to the boys under 13 category while Martin also got the better of Clarkson for the under 13 title.

The three-day tournament also featured a team from Jamaica.

thursday, november 3, 2016

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

guyanatimesgy.com

WI need 39 to avoid whitewash ― Holder bags 5, Brathwaite holds firm

Jason Holder and Devendra Bishoo lead West Indies off the field after combining for eight wickets in Pakistan’s second innings

Pg 22

West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite's love affair at Sharjah continues with another responsible knock

Digicel Guyana Open will be biggest

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Lusignan Golf Club President Oncar Ramroop (third from left); Digicel’s Communications Manager Vidya Sanichara and Marketing head Jacqueline James along with other club officials and players

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