Dec 1, 2016

$150M to set up 4 P11 hinterland radio stations

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

Issue No. 3056

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, December 1, 2016

PRICE

GRA’s access to bank accounts

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Top Cop P17 announces changes for promotion

Instigates fear, insecurity in taxpayers – PSC

Page 2

… no longer needs recommendations of Commanders

Guyanese, another killed in BVI smash-up

…says counterproductive to plastic society

1 dead, 4 injured in Mahaicony smash-up Page 12

$80 vat included

Duncan to challenge Green for Page 3 mayorship

Jagdeo consultations for new GECOM Chairman Page 13

P7

P9 Jordan deceptively gives with one hand, takes more with the other ‒ economist

P9 Vendor critical after beaten by businessman

The Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo provided an opportunity for citizens’ participation through their respective organisations in the process of the nomination of individuals to be submitted to the President for selection of the new Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), in keeping with Article 161 (1) (2) of the Constitution of Guyana. Jagdeo, along with People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C ) parliamentarians Irfaan Ali and Juan Edghill, consulted with representatives of the Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities along with labour unions representatives at the Parliament Building. These consultations will continue today (Carl Croker photo)

Bandits P12 bound, rob Berbice teen

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA’s access to bank accounts

Instigates fear, insecurity in taxpayers – PSC … says counterproductive to plastic society thority is a major cause for concern when the repercussions of such a move are examined.

He opined that the Private Sector does not support persons bypassing on paying their taxes; however, he indicated the procedures enforcing tax collection must include mechanisms that do not drive apprehension among the population.

“I don’t think the power to GRA to garnish your bank account without a court order should be done

move will be dire as persons, out of fear, will move to withdraw their monies from the banking system.

“The ramifications of it or what I think would happen as it relates to persons in the banking system, persons in the Diaspora; these people will find ways to take their monies out of the banking system for fear that their monies will be garnished without proper regulations…It gives the feeling of insecurity, if there is no court order,” Boyer explained.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

F

ear and insecurity in depositing monies in bank accounts will flourish with the empowerment of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) to garnish funds held by taxpayers who have outstanding tax arrears, says President of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Eddie Boyer.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan announced on Monday that provisions of section 102 of the Income Tax Act Chapter 81:01 will be revised to provide authority to the GRA to access any taxpayers’ bank account in order to ‘garnish’ monies it claims to be owed.

Boyer, in an invited comment to Guyana Times, said this power bestowed upon the country’s tax au-

Guyana Revenue Authority Headquarters

by… If they have a court order, fine, that would give check and balance,” he noted.

The PSC Chairman explained that the consequences of such a

According to the PSC Head, such an outcome would be counterproductive to the Government’s efforts and vision to promote a society that is not heavily dependent

on cash-based transactions.

Last month, Government had announced that it will take a major step along technological and digital lines, encouraging through legislation the use of cards to transact financial businesses.

Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes had said she hopes to take to Parliament next year a draft legislation to support such a paradigm shift, noting that discussions are already ongoing with the Bank of Guyana Governor Gobind Ganga in this regard.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had also expressed utter shock over Government’s inclusion of such a measure in the budget, noting that it was “unbelievable”.

On the other hand, the Finance Minister, in his budget presentation, explained that such a measure “would assist to improve compliance with demands issued by the GRA for outstanding payments.”

The National Budget 2017 also empowers the GRA further by preventing persons from leaving the country until outstanding arrears are settled. GRA will no longer be required to secure a court order in order to enforce this provision, according to Minister Jordan.

Jordan announced too that the GRA will be looking to put in place an “Excise Stamp Programme”, based on an Agreement with Canadian Bank Note (CBN).

An excise stamp is a type of

PSC Chairman Eddie Boyer

revenue stamp affixed to excisable goods to indicate that the required excise (and other) taxes have been paid on the product.

“This will see the stamping of alcohol and tobacco products with high-security stamps, which can be read by barcode scanners,” according to Jordan.

He used the opportunity to announce too that the Commissioner General of GRA will no longer be allowed to provide extensions for the payment of VAT. Explaining his rationale, Jordan told the House, “VAT is funds held in trust, no such right should be given to taxpayers regarding payment… therefore this provision will be repealed.”

NEWS

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, December 1 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, December 2 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, December 1 – 05:05h-06:35h and Friday, December 2 – 05:40h-07:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, followed by partly cloudy weather in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Duncan to challenge Green for mayorship A

s the mayoral elections get underway, Deputy Mayor of Georgetown Sherrod Duncan has announced that he will be contesting for the position of Mayor of the City of Georgetown.

In Anna Regina’s November 29 election, Mayor Rabindranauth Mohan and Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud were re-elected to their posts.

The Lethem Municipality is scheduled to hold its

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.91 metres.

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Deputy Mayor Sherrod Duncan will battle for the top post

High Tide: 05:18h and 17:28h reaching maximum heights of 2.56 metres and 2.67 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:03h and 23:28h reaching minimum heights of 0.67 metre and 0.54 metre respectively.

Ganesh Gangadin

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS N

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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Daily Millions

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

In an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Duncan said that a special statutory meeting is expected to be held before December 12, during which either sitting Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen will be re-elected by the City Councillors as Mayor, or a new Mayor will put into office.

Duncan explained that even though Chase-Green has not been in power for a complete year, the election is being held to come into conformity with the Municipal and District Council Act. “The Act says that elections for Mayor must be held by December 16 of every year, that is why the election will be held so soon,” the Deputy Mayor told this newspaper.

Chase-Green has held the post of Georgetown Mayor from April 1 of this year, after serving many years as second in command after former Deputy Mayor Robert Williams died.

Both Duncan and Chase-Green contested on the A Partnership for national Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) ticket, but the two, howev-

er, seemed to be at odds on many occasions as they have held opposing views on the management of the capital city.

In July, reports surfaced that the Deputy Mayor was

Communities Ministry in a statement on Wednesday announced that eight of nine municipalities have already submitted their dates for internal elections. This was led by the

Rabindranauth Mohan

Darshan Persaud

not provided with the benefits the Mayor and Town Clerk received. This included transportation and Duncan claimed that he was forced to utilise a bicycle as a means of reporting to from the office, whereas the Mayor and Town Clerk were appointed a vehicle and driver.

Chase-Green had stated that this was so because she was not granted these luxuries in her position as Deputy Mayor. However, it was opined that this scenario was a way of “punishing” Duncan for his stance against the installation of parking meters in Georgetown.

Meanwhile, the

town council of Corriverton which held its elections last week Thursday that resulted in a tie between current Mayor Ganesh Gangadin and Deputy Mayor Krishnand Jaichand. New elections are scheduled for Friday.

Krishnand Jaichand

elections today, followed by Rose Hall on December 7 and Linden on December 8.

Meanwhile, New Amsterdam and Mabaruma have scheduled elections for December 14, while Bartica’s election is slated for the December 15. All elections are expected to be completed by December 16, as stipulated by Chapter 28:01 of the Municipal and District Council Act. The Communities Ministry also announced that so far, eight of the nine municipalities have submitted their approved budgets and noted that work programmes for 2017 were expected to be submitted to the Ministry by December 15 for notification purposes. (Shemuel Fanfair)

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thursday, december 1, 2016

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

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

Editorial

No growth Budget 2017

T

he dust has not settled on the reactions to Budget 2017, but the dominant sentiment appears to be one of disappointment. This was exacerbated when Finance Minister Winston Jordan confirmed during his budget speech what he had strenuously denied up to then: economic growth had ground to a halt and only increased production in gold allowed an adjusted growth rate of 2.6 per cent to be projected for 2017. This is a far cry from the double-digit growth rate needed over at least a decade for a near-term significant rise in standards of living.

Ever since the Great Depression of the 1930s, Governments in mixed economies have generally followed the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes, who proposed specific Government interventions to smooth out the regular business cycles or the deeper ones that result in depressions. They accomplish this through the revenue and expenditure measures of annual budgets in tandem with monetary policy that influences interest rates.

But in the postwar era, with the challenge of the Soviet Union’s socialist model of Government interventions to deliver targets for growth in the various sectors of the economy via “five-year plans”, it became expected that Governments of mixed economies would follow suit in their annual budgets.

From this perspective, the three traditional functions of mixed-economies’ budgets – allocative, distributive and stabilisation, were now deployed to deliver targeted growth rates. And it is this imperative that seemed to have escaped the Finance Minister in crafting Budget 2017.

Take for instance, the allocation of resources between “public goods” – those, such as infrastructure – bridges and sea walls – that are essential to the citizenry, but are not provided for by the markets, and private goods. The Government announced it would be looking for private partners to construct the highway between Linden and Mabaruma, and also would be issuing bonds to embark on other infrastructural projects. Both of these measures will have the Government competing with private investors for funds and reduce the overall efficacy of investment decisions through what is called the “crowding out effect” because of higher interest rates.

The Government, on the other hand, has steadfastly refused to consider the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHEP) that was totally funded by loans and grants and which would have been serviced by payments that presently go to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL). This winwin situation was scuttled by the parties in Government when they were in Opposition and they have obdurately not heeded the calls of the domestic and international business community.

For the distributive function of the budget, the Government uses its taxation and expenditure (fiscal) policies to assist in a fair distribution of income to the population as a whole. But what the Government has done is to increase the tax burden on the relatively minuscule middle class and this is giving them either a disincentive to work harder – since the marginal income earned will be taxed at the higher rate – or an incentive to cheat on their taxes. Either way, the economy will not grow as fast as it could have.

In its stabilisation function, the Government can use its influence over monetary policy to stimulate growth of the economy by setting macroeconomic targets for, say, job creation and savings rather than just keeping inflation down. For Governments such as ours that are seeking to stimulate growth, inflation rates of two per cent are simply ridiculous and betray a tendency to stick to a course of action that has long been discredited.

Another area where the Government has not shown enough creativity in crafting its budget is to, on one hand, complain that the price of sugar on the international market is set by players such as Brazil and India that heavily subsidise their producers and on the other, to declare that we cannot subsidise ours. They ignore the fact that when we close down half of the sugar industry, as they have decided, the economy will shrink and workers will be pushed on the breadlines.

GTT rewards customers: GTT held its first Christmas drawing for its end-of-year promotion on Wednesday which featured a number of select and impromptu winners. The winners were given back their full amount of cash that they spent on any handset or device. In photo: Representatives of GTT along with Head of Marketing, Allison Dundas and Public Relations Officer, Nadia De Abreu pose for a photo with the winners

Jordan’s inability to rebalance growth poles (Pt 2) Dear Editor, The Granger Administration continues to live in that misconstrued world that oil drilling will end all the nation’s woes when it happens in 2021, but they are dead wrong on this score. Oil will be a curse for Guyana until and unless we construct an oil refinery and there is no mention of this in the 2017 Budget.

Clearly, it is not even on the Minister’s radar. So this is a clear case of the blind leading the blind in EXXON's world, making very easy for them to run away with the cream of this oil well by refining the raw oil in Texas, USA. There is, however, one bright spot – solar farms.

With the infrastructure, especially in the electricity sector in such disrepair, it is difficult for business houses in Guyana to compete with their counterparts in the Caribbean and further afield. Thus, this G$1 billion renewable energy expenditure in the hinterland is most welcomed. But it

is not enough. What about the economic centres of Guyana; the coastal plains?

One of the key ingredients to catapulting Guyana into the modern age is low cost and reliable electricity supply on the coastal plain and this is clearly not happening in 2017.

This is what has been holding up the expansion of the Private Sector, especially the manufacturing sector. You cannot run a factory efficiently without low-cost and reliable electricity. We need Amaila, we need Hope Beach Wind Farm, we need solar farms on the coast and it has to happen soon.

The next sector that is impeding Guyana’s growth is the shipping sector. The backward state of Port Georgetown is an inhibitor to the export trade.

For years the Minister has been saying that he will develop Port Georgetown and he has said it again in this 2017 Budget. Why should we believe him today? When we see it, we shall believe it. The elec-

tricity and shipping sectors are Guyana’s principal Achilles heel but yet for the third budget, the Finance Minister is lost at sea on how to strategise for these important sectors in the main economic centres – the Demerara area.

Unfortunately, the Finance Minister has failed to seize yet another opportunity to transform the economy, by outlining clearly what he is going to do for the Private Sector in the Demerara area, especially on timely and measurable deliverables on the electricity and shipping front.

For me, the heaviest pain point is the docility in how the Value Added Tax (VAT) was approached.

There was a VAT reduction for al,l including the drug dealers, but a VAT imposition on the poor and the working class on their electricity and water bills.

How can Moses Nagamootoo, a man who claimed he was in the trenches with the working class, sit in Cabinet and allow the poor and the work-

ing class to be battered this much with this oppressive VAT imposition on electricity and water? Only an outto-lunch policymaker will not know that even those in one bedroom rented apartments pay more than $10,000 per month in light bills.

This is a clear act by the Minister of sparing the drug dealers two per cent on the VAT and penalising the poor with this VAT imposition on electricity and water to pay for that two per cent tax break for the drug dealers.

What I am observing in this 2017 Budget clearly illustrates that the good life for the ordinary people is a very long way off once we have Winston Jordan in charge, save and except if your name is Hamilton Green.

As I dig in, I will be carefully analysing the infrastructure sector since this is what concerns me the most in this 2017 Budget.

Sincerely, Sasenarine Singh

Increased hardship on Guyanese Dear Editor, People are looking in vain, expecting to find something that would inspire confidence and renew hope in the 2017 APNU/ AFC Budget.

Even as the economy continues along its downward path, even as violent crimes continue to rise, we are yet to see the proactive measures to arrest this downturn and point us in the direction of the

good life that was obviously intended only for a few.

This 2017 Budget will inflict more hardship on the Guyanese people. To those that have much, more is being added. For those that have little, even that little shall be taken from them by the Government, by way of taxes, by of the criminals and by way of increased violent crimes. I ask the Government: what about plans to create wealth and

jobs and for fair and equitable sharing of this additional wealth and jobs if indeed they materialise?

What about the hundreds of young professionals whose only crime was supporting the PPP? They were victims of political and ethnic discrimination.

Young people are still waiting. They were enthused by your encouragement that they continue to attend the tertiary institutions which

the PPP/C Government had provided them and that they study diligently and qualify themselves for the many jobs you promised them. Well many of them have since qualified themselves; more recently from the University of Guyana.

What about jobs for them?

During 2017 you have plans to stimulate the economy through major infrastructural works. continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, december 1, 2016

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

Guyana’s economy at crossroads Dear Editor, It is obvious that sugar as a traditional pillar of the Guyana economy is now at its cross roads. Hopefully not the end of the road. I write because of the heated conversation now taking place regarding the past, present and future of this historical commodity which featured prominently in our social history, our economic survival, even our political development.

At a recent meeting held between the Management of GuySuCo and the three unions representing the employees, NAACIE, GLU and GAWU, made my view that Guyana, because of politics and international control, is once again heading down a very dark financial path. I am totally aware that sugar would have been the first significant economic venture on a massive scale to bring foreign capital to Guyana’s economy centuries ago.

Naturally, Guyana’s sugar also sustained positive economic development in other countries including Britain which continued to be great because of this colonial crop.

I know that small producers worldwide were forced to get rid of exchanging raw sugar for hard currency for various reasons, but the decision by the European Union in 2007 to Arbitrarily revise

the Cotonou Agreement and reduce export of sugar from the ACP Sugar Producing Countries, while also reducing the price they pay for the commodity would have caused a great burden on countries that could not get rid of the commodity for other hard currency earners.

Guyana included.

My conviction is presently with the announcement made by the authorities about preparing to “live without sugar” which has placed the Managers of the Sugar Corporations in a different mode to the point of destructive behaviour. My own view is that the ailing industry is being positioned into a place whereby we will not be able to purchase machinery, not only for sugar, but for other employment and whereas we once again restrict basic goods and services as in the unholy late seventies, early eighty’s. The cold war and its repercussions for our own policies and economic stagnation are long over.

The September 29, 2016 meeting between the sugar corporation and the three unions in my view portrayed fear and anxiety for the administration by persons whose lives depended on sugar production and sale.

The message to the workers (again my view) should be that we all are in this togeth-

er and we all have to live or die together. We do not have enough money, and where will we get the money from, should encourage reasonable discussions. It will be wrong for me not to suggest a way out, especially knowing that this situation is a result of the decisions by the European Union affecting the Cotonou Agreement and coupled with the administration actions to deal with it.

Where we are looking for an alternative for the receipt of foreign currency through labour, we should give the sugar corporation assistance, through Government, for a chance to work. The billions that the 18-month-old APNU/AFC Government has had to inject into the industry are indeed a significant sum from tax payers. But I, as a representative Unionist, am directly impacted, and as a tax payer and patriotic citizen, call for added assistance from the Government for many reasons. This includes the fact that a sugar levy once bailed us all out.

And any sudden immediate demise of the sugar industry will cause a national economic chaos that will engulf us all. Those funds could be found if much more scientific scrutiny would be paid to the bleeding of revenues from our gold through smuggling, through bauxite earn-

ings and through foreign employers who alone set prices claiming international market realities.

GuySuCo’s workers might be underpaid and underperforming because of low morale born of the Government’s dire predictions and actions. We will certainly be spending much more to bring in less foreign exchange if this trend is not stopped urgently.

Incidentally, has the Foreign Service thrust at economic diplomacy started? Are diplomats marketing and selling our rice, sugar and timber aggressively as yet? Make the only decision necessary Mr President, find finance to keep a reformed industry alive and refreshed.

I see no ready agricultural alternatives, except in urgent talks. Besides finance, programmes must be launched to create ‘new day farmers’ provided with land technical assistance and technology.

Meanwhile, I look forward to see a re-oriented GuySuCo sending committed managers into the fields and factories among the workers.

The Unions stand ready to play their part. It is certainly decision time.

Sincerely, Kenneth Joseph General Secretary NAACIE

Edwards’ opinion of minuscule value

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to a letter written by Mr Maxwell Edwards, Attorney-at-Law, and published on November 28 and 29. Mr Edwards’ letter is a response to mine in which I examined what responsibility, if any, does a Member of Parliament has to produce a document to which he refers during the course of a speech in the National Assembly.

My conclusion was that a Member of Parliament who is not a Minster is not obliged to produce a document to which he refers during the course of a speech in the National Assembly; on the other hand, a Minister must produce a document to which he refers in a speech in the National Assembly.

I did not arrive at these conclusions capriciously or vacuously. I consulted the Standing Orders and leading texts on Parliamentary Practices and Procedures in the United States of America, the Union of India and the United Kingdom.

In my letter, I named these texts.

These authorities are predicated upon profound research, authored by highly qualified persons in the field and have withstood the test of longevity and critical scrutiny by millions who consult them. Indeed, they are regarded as the conclusive authority on

Parliamentary matters in the respective jurisdictions.

Mr Edwards takes umbrage to my aforesaid conclusions and expresses an agreement with the Speaker. While mine were based upon the venerable authorities to which I have referred, Mr Edwards grounds his contention thus, “My reasoned agreement is based on three grounds- fairness, illogicality and unwritten rules.” He cites no authority in support of his contention.

In short, Mr Edwards is asking your readership to disregard the intellectual experiences propounded by those respectable authors and accept his ‘ipse dixit’ on the matter. I say so with the greatest of respect because Mr Edwards has no known training in the field of Parliamentary matters and he certainly did not allude to any, while he is entitled to an opinion on these matters every rational mind, will advise that his opinion must yield to those trained in the field. That is a fact of life.

Mr Edwards may not be aware that our local Standing Orders provide that where it is silent of any matter, reference can be made to the Parliamentary Practices, Usages and Procedures of the House of Commons (UK), in force at the time, for guidance. Erskine May’s

Parliamentary Practice is regarded as the premier authority of what the Parliamentary Practices, Usages and Procedures of the House of Commons are, at any given time. Hence my heavy reliance on this text.

In the course of his letter, Mr Edwards took vehement objections to the differential in obligation which devolves upon a Minister when he refers to a document in the course of his speech in the House and that of a Member who is not a Minister. In my letter I highlighted this difference with a direct quote from Erskine May’s. Mr Edwards castigates me for this differential in treatment, labelling me “Orwellian”.

However, it was Erskine May’s, and not me, who adumbrates the difference. Unfortunately for Mr Edwards, one of the privileges of being the leading authority in any specific field is that the authority’s opinion declares and determines what the position is on any principle in that field. So Mr Edwards’ opinion on the matter is of miniscule relevance or value when compared with Erskine May’s.

Lastly, Mr Edwards and I are clearly from different philosophical schools on the issue of freedom. I am of the view that a person is free to do anything unless prohib-

ited from doing so by some known or recognised legitimate rule, regulation, order or law.

On the other hand, Mr Edwards believes in fettering freedom by his concept of “fairness, illogicality and unwritten rules.” Applying my philosophy, I am free to refer to any document in the course of my speech in the House, without having the restriction of being obliged to produce that document unless some known or recognised and legitimate rule, regulation, order or law mandates me to do so.

On the other hand, Mr Edwards is of the view that although no known or recognised legitimate rule, regulation, order or law obliges me to do so, I am still obliged to produce a document to which I refer in a speech in the House because according to him, his concept of “fairness, illogicality and unwritten rules” so dictates.

I will never subscribe to such a philosophy. It is inherently undemocratic.

Freedom is too fundamental to modern civilization for it to rest upon such whimsical and capricious footing.

Yours faithfully, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

Increased hardship... from page 4

How would you ensure that the procurement procedures are followed and contracts for the supply of goods and services will not, by your own design, find their way in the hands of a particular set of Guyanese?

How do you plan to ensure that companies based on insider information available to the Government will not be formed specifically with the intent of bidding for contracts for specific projects?

I am particularly concerned about the young professionals. They too want jobs and money in their pockets. They too want to experience the good life. The 2017 Budget does not specifically and in any depth address their concerns.

If your 2016 performance is anything to go by: dismal economic performance, poor agriculture returns; tell me on which of your 2017 Budget measures do I premise any renewed expectation or revived hope of a better life during 2017? The Budget does not encourage or facilitate the creation of investment opportunities in the private sector.

The Government boasts of the largest Budget ever for Guyana. But a budget size means nothing unless the projects to be funded by that budget and the concomitant benefits are of such significance and create such economic impact by reaching and benefitting a significant number of the Guyanese people across our country. Can Budget 2017 guarantee that or even move us in that direction?

The Government has criticised the PPP/C’s budgets. Have you ever exam-

ined our budgets carefully?

The PPP/C’s budgets aimed at promoting growth and reducing poverty; at closing the development gap between the rich and the poor, between the hinterland and the urban/rural communities of our country. PPP/C Budgets were not merely a reflection of the views and wishes of a few selfish politicians with their own selfish political agenda. Are you proud of the $800 per month addition to our pensioners? So while you reduce VAT by 2 per cent, you place it on utilities, via water and electricity. How does this help property owners and businesses? Will it not result in increased prices of some goods as a result of increased electricity and water costs?

I ask of you readers; having perused the 2017 Budget, do you see yourselves being better off by the end of 2017 as a result of the measures the Government plans to take to improve living standards during 2017?

Do you see the measures set out in the 2017 Budget stimulating growth and moving you in the direction of the good life? The Government’s focus on increasing revenue through mainly taxation is ultimately at the price of increased hardship for the people. Budget 2017 could have at its best been presented under the theme: “Abuse of public trust, confidence and State resources, the way to the good life.”

Sincerely, Norman Whittaker Former Local Govt Minister

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016

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Foundation

The protection, education and empowerment of Guyana’s children and youth Rights of the Child Chairperson Aleema Nasir’s Speech at the CRC Anniversary Workshop, Herdmanston Lodge, November 21, 2016

T

oday’s workshop is intended to observe the anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child adopted by the United Nations on November 20, 1989.

The UNCRC, signed and ratified by Guyana in 1991, has been incorporated into the fourth schedule of the Guyana Constitution, thereby making it a component of our supreme law.

The CRC contains a body of articles falling into the categories of survival, protection, development and participation rights, which together seek to establish and enshrine the best interest of the child in all signature countries. In the RCC’s constitutional mandate, the dissemination and monitoring of this international instrument is specifically contemplated and articulated.

It is a mandate the RCC has taken seriously. In the execution of this constitutional mandate, the RCC has sought to simultaneously engage the widest cross section of stakeholders whose work relate to the protection, education and empowerment of Guyana’s children and youth. Such stakeholders include inter alia: those in education, health, juvenile justice and social protection, indigenous affairs, Police and media practitioners.

The most recent engagement entailed a collaboration with the Office of Prime Minister involving the training and orientation of the new corps of broadcasters attached to the new radio stations in Lethem, Annai and Mabaruma in the advocacy and championing of children’s rights using the medium of radio. The new broadcasters were exposed to the letter and spirit of the CRC, as well as, how they can use the principles of development support communication to serve as advocates for the implementation of the Convention. Thus, in Annai, the broadcasters will translate the Convention into the local language of Macushi. This is perhaps the first time in the history of our country, the letter and spirit of the CRC is made accessible in the original symbols of Guyana’s indigenous peoples.

The RCC’s community development engagements in the indigenous communities across the map of Guyana

guyanatimesgy.com

How to stop over-eating:

Lessons from brain science ut our brains into the modern food environment, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Our brains are hardwired to crave calorie-dense foods, this craving no doubt arising from our evolutionary time spent on the Tundra where calories were often scarce. But our modern food environment surrounds us with calorie-dense foods, forcing us to deplete limited willpower trying to keep our cravings from turning into over-consumption.

Fortunately, brain science hints at several ways to reduce this pattern of craving and consumption.

Let’s start with a part of the brain called the left dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, a region important for helping restrain ourselves from engaging in unwanted behaviours. Do something to disable the dlPFC (as the cool kids call it), and you will lose self-control or willpower.

For example, psycholo-

Stroop Task, but they are also more likely to consume large amounts of unhealthy food. In addition, they crave these foods more, suggesting that craving is a function of self-restraint. At the same time, however, dlPFC interaction does not increase consumption of healthy food.

Willpower depletion does not lead to over-consumption of all foods, just unhealthy ones. Finally, the amount of food people consume after dlPFC inactivation is strongly predicted by how well they do on the Stroop task.

It’s hard to overestimate the importance of willpower.

What can all of us do to build-up our willpower?

Researchers still debate this question. (Truth be told, we researchers like to debate pretty much every question. It’s often our prickly, disagreeable natures that makes us successful scientists.) Some experts believe aerobic exercise can build-up willpower.

Exercise leads to better performance on the Stroop

gists often measure self-control using something called the Stroop effect, in which people are asked to quickly state, say, the colour of a series of fonts. This seems like it should be pretty simple.

Ball = red (use red font) Bat = green (use green font) Horseradish = purple (use purple font) In the Stroop task, however, every once in a while people get something like the following: GREEN (put in red font) When people see this word they are supposed to say “red” because the word is in a red font. But many people blurt out “green” instead, unable to inhibit the impulse. As it turns out, when researchers use a clinical stimulator to zap the dlPFC, people’s performance on the Stroop task declines.

Here, in case you are interested, is a picture of one of these stimulators – don’t let a stranger persuade you to place one on your head!

What does this brain zapping and Stroop tasking have to do with food?

Well, when researchers disable the dlPFC, not only are people more likely to fail the

task, and to more restraint around calorie-dense foods.

So if you want to control your weight, you have another reason to exercise. Exercise not only helps burn calories, but might make it easier for you to resist unneeded calories. Not into exercise? Then the best bet for you might be to dampen your cravings by doing what you can to avoid visual or olfactory cues. In other words, the sight or sound of unhealthy foods might be more than your willpower can handle. In fact, when researchers “prime” people to think about, say, pizza, those people are less able to resist the urge to eat unhealthy food.

This is isn’t shocking. Why else does Cinnabon work so hard to get the smell of its food to waft across the mall?

It’s not always possible to avoid cues that trigger cravings for unhealthy foods – Cinnabon smells and fast food ads are often unavoidable. But if you do what you can to avoid such cues, while also working to build your willpower, at least you will stand a chance of surviving in the modern food environment with your waistline intact. (Psychology Today)

BY PETER A UBEL MD

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have served to reinforce and consolidate the strengthening of indigenous village councils and communities in relation to the well-being and welfare of children. Specifically, the community development engagements in Yarakita in Region One; St Monica, Kabakaburu and St Deny’s Mission, Tapakuma in Region Two; Santa Mission in Region Three; Waramadong in Region Seven; Paramakatoi in Region Eight and St Ignatius in Region Nine have brought to these communities, in a manner, respectful of their history and culture, the letter and spirit of the CRC. The principal diagnosis of these engagements is that the fruition and enlivening of the articles of the CRC is tied closely to the addressing of the many social ills prevalent in these communities.

Social ills that are invariable symptoms of a chronic underdevelopment. The recent workshop held with the Toshaos of Guyana at the last NTC sought to establish that critical relationship with the leaders of Guyana’s indigenous communities. It is a relationship the RCC is hoping will help to strengthen the governance structure and capacity in indigenous communities.

The RCC views the violations of this Convention as serious as Constitution violations, as, I indicated earlier, the Convention is incorporated in our written constitution. Thus, the RCC is alarmed

that the health centre in Paramakatoi is yet to receive the Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine (BOPV) since the switch to this vaccine in March of this year. Article 24 of the CRC is very explicit in establishing that the child has the right to the best health care possible and the State must honour its obligation to avail this right.

The RCC’s engagement of the health sector has been guided and inspired by this article. The engagements of the Regional and District hospitals at Suddie, West Demerara, Fort Wellington, New Amsterdam and Mahdia have sought to engage the medical practitioners in a critical partnership pursuant to the realisation of Article 24.

Another significant engagement of the RCC critically linked to the protection rights of Guyana’s children is the MoU and road map agreed with the Guyana Police Force. The role of the Police, both in the area of Juvenile Justice and in cases of abuse and neglect is indispensable to these protection rights. The MoU and training provided to the Police in Suddie, Georgetown, Bartica and Lethem is a recognition of the salience of the stakeholder. Ideally, the RCC aspires to establish a viable channel of communication with every station in every division. This will allow the investigative department to adequately monitor individual cases of abuse and neglect. (To be continued)

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Interpol still to Guyanese, another killed arrest mastermind in in BVI smash-up Corentyne murder

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Wanted: Marcus Bisram

Dead: Faiyaz Narinedatt

lmost one week after the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) issued a red notice for the arrest of Marcus Brian Bisram, who is wanted by local law enforcement officers for murder, the accused is still at large.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that while he cannot give detailed information about the joint collaboration to arrest Bisram, he has confirmed that no arrest has been made thus far.

Bisram became the central point of the investigation after he was fingered

in the murder of 26-year-old Faiyaz Narinedatt by several suspects who had already confessed to the murder and were subsequently charged. It is believed that the now wanted man might have made sexual advances towards Narinedatt but was blatantly rejected.

It was due to the embarrassment of being rejected that he ordered his bodyguard and others who were at a party to get rid of the carpenter. The carpenter was snatched and beaten into an unconscious state then his body was dumped on the roadside and run over with a car to make it

Vendor critical after beating by businessman

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dog food vendor is now in critical condition after he was mercilessly beaten by a businessman with a piece of 2x4 wood at Main and Chapel Streets, New Amsterdam.

The injured man is Osarin Stuart of Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canje, Berbice.

Based on reports, the businessman and the now injured man had an argument over him selling food in front of his Chinese restaurant.

The argument subsequently developed into an altercation between the two men during which the victim armed himself with a piece of wood, but soon after dropped it and was in the process of walking away when the Chinese man picked up the wood and dealt him several blows to the head and left leg.

The injured man was picked up and taken to the

New Amsterdam Hospital where he was treated, but, owing to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted. The 33-year-old restaurateur was arrested, and was now assisting Police in their investigations.

appear as if he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident.

It was reported that the now dead man and the mastermind were friends, leaving persons in the community surprised. Meanwhile, seven persons, including the mastermind’s mother and sister, were charged in connection with the murder.

The two women were accused of offering $4 million as bribe to members of the Major Crime Unit (MCU) who had taken up the case after it was believed that Police ranks on the Corentyne were covering up the evidence that proved the carpenter’s death was a homicide and not a hit-andrun accident.

The body of Narinedatt was discovered about 03:45h on November 1, 2016, along the Corentyne Highway at Number 70 Village, at a scene which appeared to be that of a hitand-run accident.

Police had initially treated the incident as a hit-andrun, but reopened the investigation after relatives of the dead man kept calling for Police to further investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

tions indicated that the two men were travelling from a place called the Valley to a commercialised area when the accident took place. The bodies were pulled from the wreckage by public-spirited citizens.

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) told an online media outfit: “The vehicle was found approximately 150 feet downhill of the cliff, which overlooks the Savannah Bay Beach. The bodies of the two were found

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Dead: Dexter Cottoy

Guyanese was one of two people killed following a vehicular accident in the vicinity of Savannah Bay Beach, British Virgin Islands on Sunday evening.

The Guyanese has been identified as 31-year-old Dexter Cottoy, also called “Decky”, formerly of West Coast Berbice, while the second victim is Calvert Brown, also known as “Buju”, of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Reports are the bodies of the two men were found in their wrecked vehicle, which presumably plunged some 150 feet downhill.

Preliminary investiga-

inside the vehicle.”

Police Officers of the Virgin Gorda along with Fire and Rescue Services, medical personnel from the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic, Rasta Trucking, L&S Garage, employees of Yates and Associates and officers of the BVI Port Authority were all in attendance and assisted at the scene following the accident, the Police stated.

An investigation has been launched.

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thursday, december 1, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Ganja “leisure” user remanded A n unemployed man, who said that he just used marijuana as a hobby but also sold it, was sent back to prison by Magistrate Judy Latchman on Wednesday.

Lewis Byas, 40, of Lot 356 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of narcotics.

It is alleged that on November 26, at East Ruimveldt, he had in his possession 105 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The prosecution contended that

Police Officers found the defendant cutting Ziploc bags to seal the narcotics and, as such, conducted a search of his premises. The cannabis was found on a table in his home.

The court was also told that the defendant confessed to the crime, telling them “Officer I does smoke weed, which is my hobby. I ain’t getting work and I does buy the weed to sell too.”

He was remanded to prison until December 13.

Lewis Byas

Port Kaituma man remanded on attempted murder charge

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oyston Jones, 57, of Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with attempted murder on Wednesday.

The accused denied the

charge.

It is alleged that on November 28, at Naim Road, Port Kaituma, Essequibo, he inflicted grievous bodily harm on Andel Edwards with intent to murder.

The prosecution objected to bail, pointing out that the Virtual Complainant

was still in critical condition. Police Prosecutor Sean Gonsalves also expressed fear that the accused might not return to court to answer to the charge against him.

As such, bail was denied and Jones was remanded to prison. The case will continue on December 13.

Murder accused: Royston Jones

Teen remanded for father’s murder

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he 17-year-old resident of Barima, North West District (NWD), who allegedly killed his 44-year-old father was slapped with a murder charge and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts be-

fore City Magistrate Dylan Best.

The hearing was held in-camera, and the prosecution alleged that on November 23, 2016 at Barima, the teen murdered his father.

He was remanded to

prison and was expected to return to court on December 6.

Reports are on the day in question about 18:40h, the teen and his father were engaged in a heated argument after which he armed himself with a knife

and stabbed him to his stomach.

He then fled the scene of the crime, but was later apprehended.

The accused’s father was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mabaruma Regional Hospital.

Budget benefits…

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…on VAT for water

t's not easy to stand on your feet and ramble on for three hours like Finance Minister Jordan had to do when he delivered his Budget Presentation. And this was the third time he was doing this within eighteen months!! You get thirsty and you get light headed. Initially, your Eyewitness thought Jordan thinking about a "vat of water" that he could put away, when he announced he was applying "VAT to water".

Now, who in his right mind would think of taxing water in this land we call "Land of Many Waters"? You do remember that this is the meaning of "Guyana", didn’t you dear reader? Is the government trying to fulfil the Ancient Mariner's warning about "water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink"? But today, he saw in the press, there was a method to the seeming madness of taxing water. The goodly Minister Jordan explained he really applied the 14 per cent VAT tax on water - and for good measure also on electricity for our own good! That's right… just for us!!

Isn't it great that we have Ministers who're only paid a measly $780,000 monthly and drive around in dingy, duty free, new SUV's to think about OUR welfare? The Minister elaborated that by being forced to pay the taxes on those utilities, we'd be forced to conserve. And since in this age of "going green" conservation of good, this will allow us to feel VEERRRY virtuous! One wonders why he didn't maybe go the whole hog and apply, say, a 100 per cent tax on these items. This way we could've conserved even more… and feel even more virtuous. Maybe some of us could've even start spouting hovering halos over our heads!

Your Eyewitness, who lives on the coastland, was also pleased that the Minister was also more concerned with ensuring that only wealthier coastlanders get to feel virtuous.

"Wealthier" because only those who use more than $10,000 electricity monthly would be taxed. And "coastlanders" because our sisters and brothers who're using an average of $27,000 in electricity monthly in Linden will be forced to pay nothing as they have done for the last three decades.

Isn't that terrible? Not only they won't get to feel virtuous by paying the 14 per cent VAT on electricity… they are forced to feel totally shitty by not having to pay at all!!

Ahhh… the iniquity of it all! Just goes to show how elitist we coastlanders really are!! But your Eyewitness wonders if the Minister and his comrades in Government will get an opportunity to feel virtuous?

Will they be paying VAT on their water and electricity bills?

…in bridging gaps

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who'd been accused of "bungling" the defence of the first budget back in 2015, was as loquacious as ever to show he's the man in charge of government business in the house. After all, he's a very important man, isn't he?

After the Finance Minister's presentation, Nagamootoo was reported to have said: “the budget was geared towards bridging the gap between hinterland and coastal settlements." When he heard this, your Eyewitness was intrigued. After all even since they started to keep statistics on these things, our hinterland folks were always the poorest. So he examined the budget. Government workers, who never got their promised "significant" raise, were now told they were shiftless and lazy, and so no bonus this year!

Ditto for sugar workers who were not only NOT getting their Annual Production Incentive (API), but about half of them are going to be thrown on the breadline!! ...is the Government "equalizing" things between the Coast and Interior by making coastlanders as poor is hinterlanders?

…and airline competition

We know the competition's heating up in the coming Christmas season between Caribbean Airlines and Fly Jamaica.

But wouldn't it have been more appropriate for the former to "clip the wings" of the latter rather than "cut their tail"??

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

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thursday, december 1, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jordan deceptively gives with one hand, takes more with the other – economist to Singh, “after establishing in his first two budgets, a reputation for fragmented policy document without a comprehensive economic framework, Winston Jordan has not failed to surprise.”

According to the economist, the Minister continues “this deceptive strategy of giving with one hand and taking more with the next hand, and again it is the poor and the working class that will feel the most economic pain, thanks to Budget 2017.”

budgeted at GY$31 billion actually came in GY$10 billion short because of the meagre draw-down on the international grants.

He also zeroed in on the 14 per cent Value Added Tax on electricity consumption of more than $10,000 per month.

No choice

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

T

he Guyana Government through Finance Minister Winston Jordan, continues to give with one hand and take more with the other – this time, through the reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) by two per cent and reapplying it to a sleuth of goods and services, including utilities such as electricity and water.

This is the conclusion of former Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive Member and Economist, Sasenarine Singh.

The former AFC top man was invited by Guyana Times to proffer an initial analysis of the 2017 $250 billion Budget that was presented by the Finance Minister on Monday last, and according

Presented under the theme, “Building a Diversified Green Economy,” Singh told Guyana Times, “this document will clearly fail to take the average man any closer to the good life.”

He noted that although there has been much talk of a four per cent growth rate, “reality finally dawned on the Minister as he had no choice but to reveal that the actual growth rate for 2016 will be 2.6 per cent which is a reflection of two previous budgets that were poorly constructed, implemented and monitored.”

He recalled too that the Minister himself admitted that the Public Sector Investment Programme performed poorly and this can be mirrored by the fact that the capital receipts that were

spare change for sweet for the children.”

The economist’s scathing remarks also extended to other tax measures announced by the Minister, one such being the announcement of the need for businesses to now be keeping dual accounts.

According to the Singh, “the measure that the Minister claims are aimed at spurring growth is too convoluted and complex to reap the intended deliverables…

Why can’t the Minister keep things simple?”

Dual taxes

According to the economist, Minister Jordan ”wrong-footed the nation by implementing three budgets that are all designed to tax and spend, but the brunt of all new taxes are falling on the small man.”

VATABLE

Explaining his case, Singh used as example, the penalty for the small man for not painting his particulars on a horse cart in 2017 which has moved from $150 to $10,000.

According to Singh, “This is clear evidence of giving the workers with one hand with an increase in the tax threshold from $55,000 per month to $60,000, which should be able to put $1500 per month in new cash into the pocket of a worker that earns $60,000, but then if that worker has a light bill of $10,001 per month, they have to pay $1400 per month in VAT, leaving them with net increase in wealth of $100 per month… That cannot even buy a sweet drink in Guyana and certainly there will be no

He posited, “If you are giving the Private Sector a 27.5 per cent corporation tax rate, give it to them… There is no need to complicate the matter and then claw back some of the benefits with a convoluted system called a dual tax rate system for the companies.”

Singh has since adumbrated the position, “This measure clearly illustrates that the Minister does not clearly understand what drive value in the Guyanese economy and does not competently understand the critical challenges that are inhibiting Guyana’s growth…"

He told Guyana Times, “In the final analysis, this budget does have some major economic risk that can undermine the 2017 growth rate from materialising…

Former AFC member Sasenarine Singh

On the whole, the package of measures will stall, rather than accelerate, economic growth.”

Singh suggested that to grow the 2017 Guyanese economy, key growth centres like agriculture, manufacturing and housing have to be better supported with complimentary economy activities being driven in a significant manner in renewable energy, ICT, and eco-tourism.

The economist is adamant that “reducing VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent – while a campaign promise – is an ill-advised position… In the final analysis, this is a mixed budget that is unfair to the poor and the working class.”

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thursday, december 1, 2016

News

Govt courts judiciary to reduce punitive sentencing for minor crimes

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he Guyana Government has set aside $80 million to fund the hosting of several rounds of consultations in 2017 aimed at garnering input to inform the ongoing constitutional reform process, even as it moves to get the judiciary to reduce punitive sentencing measures for minor offences.

This was announced by Finance Minister Winston Jordan on Monday when he presented to the nation a $250 billion Budget for 2017.

In announcing the allocations for the consultations on constitutional reform, the Finance Minister sought to impress on the House that “the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is the bedrock of governance and serves to secure the fundamental rights and establish the rule of law for all Guyanese”.

As such, the Minister observed that “in a young democratic society such as ours that is still evolving, constitutional and parliamentary reforms will continue to attract the attention of this Administration”.

He said in the new year, the Government would

work assiduously to accelerate the constitutional reform process.

“In this regard, an administrative secretariat will be established to manage the reform process and support the consultations, which are scheduled to begin in 2017.”

He said consistent with the broad tenets of participatory democracy, the Constitutional Reform Commission would hold consultations in all 10 administrative regions.

“Over 100 communities will be engaged in consultations and hearings and the entire process is expected to last for at least two years…

A sum of $80 million has been set aside for this process, in 2017.”

Less than two weeks ago, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo announced that he was seeking some $80 million to establish a secretariat for a Constitution Consultative Reform Commission.

Judiciary

Meanwhile, as it relates to the judiciary and its sentencing policies for minor offences, Minister Jordan said this too would be stra-

tegically addressed in the coming year.

He announced that through the “Support for Criminal Justice System Programme”, the Government would reduce the burden on the prison system by implementing a comprehensive institutional strengthening pro-

native sentencing options such as probation, community service, restitution, and fines,” the Minister said.

According to Jordan, “the Government continues to place the highest priority on the maintenance of a strong justice system, given its role in upholding our

gramme, aimed at influencing the use of penal and rehabilitation policy and law.

“Ultimately, we intend to reduce the use of pre-trial detention for persons accused of minor, non-violent offences by aggressively promoting the use of alter-

civil liberties and maintaining the rule of law.”

He said, to this end, “key areas that have been earmarked for strategic interventions, in 2017, include strengthening legislation to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism, review of

pre-trial detention policies, use of alternative sentencing, and constitutional reform.

The security sector is slated to receive a substantial chunk of the Budget – $29.1 billion “to restore public confidence in our security sector”.

Among some of the initiatives targeted by the Public Security Ministry is increasing the recruitment of Police by approximately 20 per cent, to boost the presence of law enforcement as a deterrent to crime.

Jordan, in making the announcement on Monday, said too that the monies would also be used to equip the Police with vehicles and specialised equipment aimed at improving mobility and response times to reported crimes.

He said too that the allocations would go towards expanding patrols in key areas to deter criminal activity, for which over $740 million has been budgeted, complemented by expansion of the mounted branch in key hinterland locations.

The Minister spoke too of re-establishing and operationalising the 911 service to restore public confidence

in the response capability of the security services.

Jordan further said in order to offset the overcrowding of the Georgetown Prison, the complex at the Mazaruni Prisons would be expanded in 2017 at a cost of $2.2 billion, of which $369 million was budgeted, and would see the expansion of offices, inmate living facilities, staff and family living facilities, training facilities, as well as the construction of a school, daycare centre and places of worship.

He announced too that for the first time, a fireboat will be added to the fleet of fire vehicles, at a cost of $250 million, to service Port Georgetown.

“In addition, expanded fire protection services have resulted in $49.4 million being allocated for two water tenders in Leguan and Wakenaam, as well as two ambulances to augment the integrated 912 and 913 emergency services to improve response time.”

Jordan also announced that three new fire stations, costing about $77.5 million, would be constructed at Mahdia, Mabaruma, and Melanie Damishana.

New evidence surfaces in Berbice fisherman’s killing

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olice have gathered new evidence in the murder of a Corentyne fisherman at Number 60 Village, Corentyne. Law enforcement gave the possible motive for the killing of Ravi Kumar Sharma, 25, of Number 60 Village, Squatting Area, Corentyne, as annoyance, since the now dead man was annoyed the suspect was involved in a relationship with his mother.

The 28-year-old and Sharma were said to be close friends for years.

Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendant Errol Watts told Guyana Times that the suspect told Police that

he and Sharma had a fight over a portable DVD player.

However, Police could not locate the alleged DVD player.

Sharma’s body was discovered by his mother at their Number 60 Village, Squatting Area home in a pool of blood in the yard at day break. The body bore multiple lacerations.

Reports are the suspect went to the Number 51 Police Station and reported that he had “broadsided” his friend.

However, he was later taken into custody after it was found that the fisherman was murdered.

The suspect allegedly told Police that he went to the

deceased house on Tuesday evening and later they had an exchange of words which escalated into a heated argument. It was during the argument that the now dead man reportedly struck the suspect on his head and in retaliation, he picked up a cutlass and severely “broadsided” his friend.

Police however are working on a theory that Sharma vented his disgust over the fact that the suspect, his best friend, was having a relationship with his mother, who is more than twice his age.

Police are continuing their investigation. (Andrew Carmichael)

NEWS

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$150M to setup 4 hinterland radio stations

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Why are you late?

utting aside the cultural claim that Guyanese are never expected to be on time; when you are late, what does it say about you?

Basically that your time is more important than the other persons. Now you may be quite willing to admit that is the case in many circumstances, but the person or people waiting on you are going to hear that sentiment loud and clear and their opinion of you will be Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal formed accordingly.

Everyone is late now and then, of course, but there are many who habitually arrive after an event has started or after the designated time for meeting someone; never seeming to even leave the house until after the time they're supposed to have arrived at their destination. It is likely that if you are not that person, you certainly know that person!

Most of us, although certainly not enough of us, recognise the significance of the need to be on time for professional arrangements, as well as social ones. The consequences of tardiness in the work place are obviously more detrimental than being late for a social gathering, but there is usually a trend in people’s tendencies to organise themselves efficiently enough to turn up on time. The fact there is generally an acceptance of the importance of professional punctuality that does not always carry over into the social arena is a statement about the worth placed on the people we are meeting, and the statement is not always an admirable one when we fail to adhere to arrangements.

Indeed we live in a busy time where many of us are juggling a hundred things each day, but what it comes down to is priorities. Whatever we are doing that we fail to stop in order to be on time must be accepted as a priority above where we are supposed to be. When we chose to continue with our current activity despite the effect it will have on pre-arranged meetings, we are making a decision about the level of importance of each option. Indeed, most times we make the call based on real need, but there are many who fail to weigh up options and arrogantly dismiss the worth of others’ time.

When exploring the possible reasons behind unnecessary tardiness, one avenue of thought is the enjoyment of the attention gained from making an entrance and eagerly describing to an assembled group the reasons for the detainment on this occasion. Perhaps the late entrance ensures a needy person is noticed.

There is also the possibility that such people are simply indifferent to the effects of making others wait for them, whether through an egotistical standpoint where they are caught up in their own needs and preferences and fail to take on the perspective of others, or through genuinely underestimating the value of their presence.

Putting aside unforeseen occurrences, the bottom line is that those who are persistently late are unable or unwilling to take steps to avoid being late. Are they incapable of checking the clock ever so often, particularly when they know there's a deadline approaching, unable to estimate how much time they'll need to get wherever they're going and thus what time they'll need to leave where they are, and incapable of gauging what they have time to finish doing, setting a deadline and adjusting behaviour accordingly?

From a professional perspective, if they are incapable, who would chose to employ them? Who would want to rely on someone with such a lack of discipline? Time is money in the world of business and the cost of tardiness to the economy is huge. Missed opportunities, missed deadlines, lost contracts, lost customers, disrupted schedules and general poor productivity are all consequences of poor timekeeping.

If they are simply unwilling, this is a great indicator of character. As a friend it may be accepted as a flaw that can be compensated for, but the time will come when a missed movie, a lost dinner reservation or a wasted ticket becomes annoying.

So the next time you decide not to get up on time, hasten your pace, adjust your day to ensure you are on time for that meeting/arrangement, consider that the person you are to meet did get up, did hasten and did adjust and is now waiting on you, wasting their precious time. Consider that and make an effort to take responsibility to honour your commitments. We can all excuse unavoidable delays, especially if accompanied by a courtesy phone call where possible, but inconsiderate behaviour is becoming tiring.

Indigenous Peoples' Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

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adio stations will next year be established in four hinterland communities to the tune of $150 million, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has announced.

During his budget presentation to the National Assembly on Monday, Jordan said these radio entities would stimulate communication and information sharing in native languages.

“Our Government intends

to do its utmost to preserve the cultural richness of our indigenous peoples even as we pursue accelerated development of the hinterland,” he said.

The communities that will be benefiting from radio stations are: Moruca and Santa Rosa in Region One (Barima-Waini); Orealla in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and Aishalton in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), according to Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock during an interview with Guyana Times on Wednesday.

He explained that Government would establish the stations and hand them over to the communities to take charge, noting that one of the aims of the initiative was to create employment opportunities for locals.

The Minister explained that in the fullness of time, Government hoped these hinterland radio stations would transmit information to those residing on the

coastland.

Allicock pointed out that currently, persons living on the coastland were unable to tune into the radio frequencies of the radio stations in the hinterland.

stations in the hinterland communities of Lethem in Region Nine and Mabaruma in Region One. So far, Radio Lethem and Radio Mabaruma are being transmitted through

Radio Mabaruma

However, he noted that the feasibility of the frequency exchange would be up to technical persons to determine.

Government has already commissioned two radio

the State-owned National Communications Network (NCN).

It is Government’s hopes to train a corps of broadcasters who would be able to produce their own programmes.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

1 dead, 4 injured in Mahaicony smash-up

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three-vehicle collision at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD) has reportedly left at least one person dead and four others injured.

The accident occurred about 11:00h on Wednesday.

Dead is Esmee Rockliffe, 61, of Lot 6 L Enterprise, Mahaicony. The retired Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO) of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) was reportedly heading home from Berbice when the accident occurred.

While details remain sketchy, Guyana Times understands that the collision involved two minibuses and a car, and might have been caused by reckless driving on the part of one of the drivers. One of the minibuses reportedly toppled several times before coming to a halt.

The now dead woman was tossed from one of the minibuses and landed on the roadway where she sustained severe head injuries.

Dead: Esmee Rockliffe

The injured persons were taken to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital where they were admitted.

Nyasha Rockliffe, the eldest daughter of the now dead woman, told Guyana Times that the accident occurred about 11:00h, but they received the news about 13:20h.

She, along with other relatives, rushed to the hospital, where they saw her

Two of the vehicles involved in the accident

mother lying on a bed with blood on her head. The grieving daughter noted that her mother took her last breath around 14:00h. The now deceased woman left home about 08:00h to accompany another daughter to transact some business at New Amsterdam.

“She was heading back home when the accident occurred… we don’t know

which vehicle she was in, all we got is a call and we rushed to the hospital,” the daughter noted.

Traffic Chief Dion Moore confirmed to Guyana Times that the accident involved three vehicles, while noting that several persons were injured.

Rockliffe leaves to mourn her five children, among other relatives. The drivers of the two minibuses were de-

tained by the Police, while the driver of the car was admitted to the hospital.

Only recently, the Guyana Police Force revealed that analysis showed seven fatal accidents between September 15 and October 20, 2016 across the country, compared to 12 in 2015; 25 serious accidents compared to 37 during the same period in 2015; 35 minor accidents compared to

44 during the same period in 2015; and 42 accidents where damage was incurred compared to 56 in 2015.

In addition, 821 persons were charged for tinted vehicles, driving unlicensed, private hire, using cell phones while driving, failing to wear seat belts, failing to wear safety helmets and breach of traffic light signals.

Bandits bound, rob Berbice teen

A

teenager operating a hire car, PTT 6559, had the vehicle hijacked at gun point in New Amsterdam on Tuesday night.

Relating the terrifying incident, Kallicharan Sookchand, also called ‘Amid’, told Guyana Times that the men bound his hands and threw him in a clump of bushes.

According to Sookchand, at about 20:00h he dropped off the owner of the car and at the corners of Main and New Streets, New Amsterdam, when he was stopped by a man.

“Then the man say he got to go he got to go and pick up two girls in the scheme, so I say ‘aright leh we go.’ When we reach ah had to wait fuh about five minutes and the two other man come in the car.”

He explained that the initial passenger directed him to Angoy’s Avenue and stopped at the junction of Angoy’s Avenue and Post Office Road where the two men boarded the vehicle before taking control.

“One of them put a gun

Car driver: Kallicharan Sookchan

to me and one of them start choke me from at the back.

And they tape down me mouth.”

Sookchand was taken to Savannah Park where he was relieved of his cellular phone valued at $55,000 and $2000 cash, along with the car.

The car is valued at $2.8 million and is owned by Shawn Nandalall of Sheet Anchor, East Canje.

According to the 17-yearold, two of the men left with the car while the third bandit guarded him. He related that the bandit then received a phone call and based on what he heard, the bandit was in-

structing the person on the other end of the line on how to open the gas tank.

“The cable for the gas tank not working so you have to use the key and open it, but by is a new model car they think that must by some button to open it. He pull the duct tape from my mouth fuh me to tell him how to open the gas tank.

I holla fuh help and he fire a shot and ask me if I want he to do it the easy way or the hard way,” the teen related.

With mud still covering most of his body, the frightened teenager said it was three hours after the initial encounter that the man who was with him said he was leaving and removed the duct tape from Sookchand’s mouth. He further told him not to try and loosen the duct tape from his hands until after 15 minutes.

Sookchand complied with the request even as the bandit made good his escape.

The matter was reported to the Police and immediately there was an all-station alert, but despite searches in and around New Amsterdam, there was no trace of the car.

(Andrew Carmichael)

NEWS

13

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Consultations

Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition Bharrat Jaggeo engaged members of the Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities along with labour unions on Wednesday at Parliament Building as part of a consultation process to select a list of six persons to be considered as eligible for chairmanship of the Elections Commission

14

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, deceMber 1, 2016

Regional

Chapecoense plane crash

Investigation launched ‒ victims to be honoured with mass wake

T

he victims of one of the worst disasters in South American sporting history will be honoured at a mass wake inside the football stadium of the Brazilian club at the centre of the tragedy.

Seventy-one people were killed on Monday night when a plane carrying Chapecoense, a team from Brazil’s first division, crashed shortly before it was scheduled to land in Medellín, Colombia.

Among them were nearly all of Chapecoense’s squad and management team as well as 20 journalists who had been tasked with covering the team’s clash with Colombian side Atlético Nacional in the final of the Copa Sudamericana, South America’s answer to the Europa League.

There were only six survivors: three players, two Bolivian crew members and

Rescue teams work in the recovery of the bodies of victims of the LAMIA airlines charter

one Brazilian journalist.

Citing an official investigation, Colombia’s El Tiempo reported that four planes had been approaching Medellín’s airport in the lead-up to the crash.

Landing priority was given to a plane from the Viva Colombia company, which had said it was running low on fuel, while the other three, includ-

ing the flight carrying the Brazilian team, were told to go into a holding pattern.

Meanwhile, Flight experts have begun investigating what brought down a plane in Colombia, killing 71 people on board including most of a Brazilian football team.

Both of the doomed flight’s black box recorders have been recovered and

are already being examined by experts.

British investigators are to help authorities in Latin America because the plane, a British Aerospace 146, was manufactured in the UK. The charter flight crashed late on Monday in bad weather, coming down in a mountainous area on the approach to Medellin.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

HIV+ Jamaican who had unprotected sex with women to face charges in Canada

A

n HIV-positive Jamaican man has lost a legal battle to prevent his extradition to Canada to face numerous sex crimes.

George Flowers failed in his bid when the Court of Appeal struck out his notice of appeal recently.

Flowers, who is wanted by the Canadian Government, is being extradited to face 12 counts of aggravated sexual assault.

He has been accused of engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse with

four women, knowing that he was HIV-positive and without informing them of his HIV-positive status.

Three of them subsequently contracted HIV. According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Jamaica, on March 21, 2013, the Government of Canada asked the Jamaican Government to extradite Flowers, who had fled to the island.

An October 2012 story on the Globe and Mail website reported Toronto

Police as saying that Flowers worked in the entertainment business and met the women in bars and other venues.

In its release, the Office of the DPP said Flowers was arrested and committal proceedings were conducted before a magistrate who, on August 22, 2015 ordered that Flowers be committed to custody pending his extradition to Canada.

But Flowers challenged the order of committal by applying for his release by

way of a habeas corpus application, which was heard by the Full Court of the Supreme Court on January 11 and 12, 2016.

“On November 16, 2016 the Court of Appeal upheld the DPP’s application and struck out George Flowers’ notice of appeal, paving the way for him to be extradited to Canada,” the DPP’s statement said. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Colombian Senate backs new FARC peace deal

C

olombia’s Senate has approved a revised peace accord with the country’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The first agreement was narrowly rejected in a referendum last month.

President Juan Manuel Santos says the new proposals are stronger and take into account the changes demanded by opponents of the scheme.

Those opponents, led by former President Alvaro Uribe, say the revised deal is still too lenient on FARC

leaders.

The revised agreement now goes to the lower house of Congress for approval.

The peace accord is aimed at ending an armed conflict that has killed more than 260,000 people over five decades.

The two sides reached an agreement earlier this year after four years of talks in the Cuban capital, Havana.

Before beginning their session, senators held a minute’s silence for those who died in a plane crash near the city of Medellin on Monday. (BBC News)

Ruling party wins Local Government Elections in Jamaica

T

he governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has won the Local Government Elections, which were held on Monday.

Preliminary results indicate that the JLP won nine of the municipal corporations, while the People’s National Party (PNP) won three.

There was a tie in St Thomas, with both parties taking five divisions.

The corporations won by the JLP include Kingston and St Andrew (KSAC), Portland, St Mary, St Ann, Trelawny, St James, St Elizabeth, Clarendon, and St Catherine.

Those won by the PNP include the parishes of Hanover, Westmoreland and Manchester. As it relates to the tie in St Thomas, director of elections, Orrette Fisher, said the party with the popu-

lar vote (the JLP) will select the mayor, while the PNP councillors will select the deputy mayor.

In the Portmore Municipality, voters were given the opportunity to select the mayor directly. Leon Thomas of the PNP won with 12,939 votes, while the JLP’s Keith Blake got 11,182 votes.

Addressing supporters at the JLP’s headquarters in Kingston, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said their commitment to the party has resulted in victory.

“The victory will not be taken for granted,” Holness said.

Holness further noted that the victory is also an indication that the government is on the right path to transform and grow the country.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Moise says he’s ready for tests Antigua gives US new deadline facing Haiti’s next leader to end gaming dispute

T

he Antigua and Barbuda Government has given the United States until the end of the year to settle the long running dispute over internet gaming amid claims in excess of US$200 million.

The Gaston Browne Administration, which earlier this year dismissed a proposals by the United States to end the dispute, has given Washington until the end of next month to agree to a set-

tlement or face sanctions.

A statement posted on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) website noted that St John’s has warned that “if a settlement was not reached before the end of 2016, Antigua would have to resort to the suspension of copyright on the sale of US intellectual property…”

Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders

in an interview with Observer Media, said “if they put something on the table that is reasonable [then] that would remove the end-of-year deadline, because then we would have something we could actually look at favourably. So far that has not happened”.

In 2005, the WTO ruled that Washington had violated international trade agreements by prohibiting operation of offshore Internet gambling sites. Antigua claimed that it lost US$3.4 billion a year due to the US action, but the WTO awarded the island US$21 million.

But in its final ruling, the Geneva-based WTO allowed Antigua and Barbuda to suspend certain concessions and obligations it has under international law to the United States in respect of intellectual property rights.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Jovenel Moise (L), presidential candidate of the PHTK political party, speaks following preliminary results in the first round of Haiti’s presidential election on November 28, 2016 in the commune of Petion Ville, in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince

R

epeating their stance from last year’s annulled election, Haitian voters appear to have reached outside the intrigue-heavy political class to pick a first-time candidate to steer the deeply divided country as President for the next five years.

Jovenel Moise, an entrepreneur who routinely sticks to an optimistic tone,

said Tuesday that he is looking forward to the challenge of building consensus with lawmakers and helping fix a political culture perpetually at war with itself.

“I am working hard to be close with the Parliament because there’s no way a president can work without deputies, without senators,” Moise told The Associated Press in his first interview

with an international news agency since officials issued preliminary results indicating he won a Nov. 20 election redo in a landslide.

If the preliminary results withstand challenges by three of his closest rivals in coming weeks, Moise earned the presidency with 55 per cent of the votes in a field of 27 candidates. He got 385,000 votes more than his nearest competitor, Jude Celestin, who had 19 per cent of the vote.

Haiti’s electoral council will not certify the preliminary results until all challenges are resolved by a special tribunal. Electoral winners are to be certified December 29.

The 48-year-old father of three said Martelly would be an adviser when he becomes President, and he wants to study his predecessor’s successes and mistakes. Other previous presidents will also serve as advisers, he said.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Let women drive, says India to raise awareness on adoption after Saudi Prince ‘heinous’ baby smuggling racket uncovered

A

n influential Saudi prince has called for an “urgent” end to his country’s ban on women driving saying it is a matter not just of rights but of economic necessity.

“Stop the debate: Time for women to drive,” Prince Alwaleed bin Talal said on his official Twitter account.

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal is an unusually forthright member of Saudi Arabia’s extensive royal family.

He holds no political posts but chairs Kingdom Holding Co that has interests including in US banking giant Citigroup and the Euro Disney theme park.

He is a longtime advocate of women’s rights in the conservative Islamic kingdom, which has some of the

world’s tightest restrictions on women and is the only country where they are not allowed to drive.

“Preventing a woman from driving a car is today an issue of rights similar to the one that forbade her from receiving an education or having an independent identity,” Alwaleed said.

“They are all unjust acts by a traditional society, far more restrictive than what is lawfully allowed by the precepts of religion.”

He also detailed the “economic costs” of women having to rely on private drivers or taxis, since public transit is not a viable alternative in the kingdom.

Using foreign drivers drains billions of dollars from the Saudi economy,

I

Prince Alwaleed bin Talal attends the traditional Saudi dance known as ‘Arda’ in 2014

Alwaleed said. He calculated families spend an average of US$1000 a month on a driver, money that otherwise could help household income at a time when many are making do with less.

ndia plans to launch a public awareness drive on adoption procedures to curb the buying and selling of children after the police found stolen babies and infant skeletons during raids on charities, clinics and homes for the mentally ill and elderly.

Thirteen babies have been rescued, and the remains of two other infants uncovered, in a series of raids in the eastern state of West Bengal over the last 10 days, as police investigate a suspected international human trafficking racket.

Eighteen people, including doctors, midwives, own-

ers of charities and clinics in North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts have been arrested, suspected of stealing babies from women who delivered at clinics, but told they were stillborn.

The babies were then smuggled by road in cardboard biscuit boxes and kept in homes for the elderly and disabled until they sold for adoption within India and overseas, say Police.

India’s Women and Child Ministry said on Wednesday the discovery had prompted Women’s Minister Maneka Gandhi to take action to stem the crime of baby

smuggling.

The social media post also included photographs of the some of rescued babies, all under 10 months old, lying in the intensive care unit of a local hospital, where they are being treated for malnutrition, skin and respiratory infections.

Reports of human trafficking in India increased by 25 percent in 2015 compared to the previous year, with more than 40 percent of cases involving children being bought, sold and exploited as modern day slaves, Government crime data showed. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Coca-Cola opens 1st factory Donald Trump claims he is leaving in Gaza Strip (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

his business interests ‘in total’

D

onald Trump has announced that he will be stepping away from his business interests “in total” in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest once he enters the White House.

The President-elect, who has been criticised by constitutional lawyers and ethics counselors for refusing to give up ownership of his business empire, said in a series of tweets on Wednesday morning that he would hold a press conference two weeks from now to discuss the plan, but provided little detail.

“While I am not man-

no way have a conflict of interest with my various businesses.”

He added: “Hence, legal documents are being crafted which take me completely out of business operations.

The presidency is a far more important task!”

The 70-year-old property tycoon is estimated to be worth billions of dollars and Trump is a recognised brand name around the world. The Trump Organisation owns hotels and golf resorts and businesses including a winUS President-elect Donald Trump ery and modeling agency.

The holdings are unprecdated to do this under the law, I feel it is visually im- edented for an incoming portant, as President, to in American President. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Nigeria joins African Union campaign to end child marriage

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omen’s rights activists on Wednesday urged Nigeria to accelerate efforts to end child

tice system to punish perpetrators, becoming the 16th country to join the AU’s campaign.

At least four in 10 girls in Nigeria are married off before they turn 18, while almost a fifth are wed before they reach 15, according to the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF)

marriage after it joined an African Union (AU) campaign to eliminate the practice.

Nigeria launched this week a nationwide drive to end child marriage by pushing for policies that protect girls’ rights and help the jus-

The government made child marriage illegal in 2003, but only two-thirds of the country’s 36 states have implemented the law.

At least four in 10 girls in Nigeria are married off before they turn 18, while al-

most a fifth are wed before they reach 15, according to the United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF).

Early marriage deprives girls of an education, increases the likelihood of sexual violence and HIV, and puts them at risk of serious injury or death during childbirth, experts say.

“These (childbirth) complications are a leading cause of death among adolescents girls in countries like Nigeria... this is unnecessary and unacceptable,” said Mohamed Fall, UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria.

Rates of child marriage vary widely across Nigeria, with figures as high as 76 percent in the northwest, and as low as 10 percent in the southeast, said campaign group Girls not Brides.

Women’s rights group Donor Direct Action said the campaign to end child marriage was another positive step after a law banning female genital mutilation (FGM) was passed last year.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

C

oca-Cola has formally opened its first factory in the Gaza Strip, the company announced Wednesday, in a move that could create hundreds of jobs in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave.

The bottling facility had been partially open for several months but began full operations after a ceremony Wednesday.

The US$20 million (€19 million) investment is the company’s first plant in Gaza and will create around 120 jobs immediately, a statement said, with an

eventual expansion to 270.

“The opening of our first Gaza plant is an important milestone,” Zahi Khouri, said the founder and chairman of National Beverage Company (NBC) responsible for CocaCola in the Palestinian territories.

“Our new Gaza plant shows our ongoing commitment to investing and supporting progress in communities around the world,” Muhtar Kent, CocaCola CEO, said in a statement.

There are three other NBC bottling facilities in the

West Bank but the new Gaza plant could be a bonus for the struggling enclave’s economy. Between 2008 and 2014, the Gaza Strip, ruled by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, has gone through three wars with Israel.

The Jewish state maintains a crippling blockade on the Palestinian enclave which it says is necessary for security reasons. The unemployment rate in the coastal territory is over 40 per cent, with close to two-thirds of young people out of work. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

5 miners dead, 3 missing after tremor hits Polish copper mine

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escuers were searching for three missing miners in southwestern Poland on Wednesday after an earth tremor caused rockfalls deep underground in Europe’s largest copper mine, killing five, the mine’s operator KGHM said.

The tremor hit the Rudna copper mine at 2009 GMT on Tuesday, KGHM said, causing extensive damage, but the mine remained mostly open.

Sections of tunnels hundreds of meters below the

surface were blocked by rocks, preventing access to the missing miners, company officials said.

“The body of the fifth miner has been found,” director of the mine, Pawel Markowski, told a news conference broadcast on local television.

This means that none of the five miners that were inside a collapsed machinery chamber survived.

“At the moment we still have three miners down there and the rescu-

ers are doing everything to get through to them,” Markowski also said expressing hope that the conditions in where the three miners are trapped could have saved them.

The epicenter of the tremor was 1500 meters below the surface with a magnitude of 3.4, state news agency PAP reported.

Markowski said it had been the first time in KGHM’s history that such a distant tremor had caused such extensive damage. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

16

thursday, december 1, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Brad “Dave” Singh: digital adventurer B

rad Singh, popularly known as Dave, the founder of local e-commerce and trading hub G-Bay Deals, is one of the new wave of Guyanese digital entrepreneurs, using the opportunities created by new technology to help buyers find products and services and sellers make money, without a fee attached.

The 24-year-old, who is also the owner of cellphone store Cell Point, has grown his 13-month-old Facebook-based business into a network of more than 28,000 local daily users, and today takes his next step to truly becoming the E-Bay of Guyana with the launch of his website and app. Users of the website and app have access to many features, whereby they can obtain their own virtual store and build a reputation for themselves and business in the near future.

G-Bay Deals developed

organically out of Singh’s need to do market research for his cell phone store. “…it was always time-consuming, difficult and costly to outreach to as many persons at the same time when doing a market research; I decided to create the local market as a bypass to do easy market research before making an investment. After doing so, I’ve foreseen many different ideas in enhancing it and making it what it’s becoming today.”

The young business owner with a taste for “adventuring out in the wild….fishing and hunting”, in describing G-Bay Deals, said: “It’s the first online marketplace where individuals could buy, sell or trade locally; whether it’s used or new items. It has developed into a living business network: persons are now able to work two jobs and still earn that side income. It even gives the young entrepreneurs the advantage of

becoming business orientated as it offers them an open playfield with all options.”

If like Singh, you concentrate better after hours, www.gbaydealsgy.com offers many part-time business opportunities that could be developed into fulltime work or businesses. It also gives the traditional stores a place to

Business News GCCI hosts awards ceremony today

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he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) today will host its signature event of the year – the Annual Gala Dinner & Awards Presentation

2016. This special event will be hosted on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown from 19:00h, under the theme “The Development of Guyana’s

Oil & Gas Sector”.

The event allows the Chamber to give recognition to outstanding businesses and individuals in Guyana.

Oil jumps over 10% as OPEC finalises output cut deal

O

il soared more than 10 per cent on Wednesday to over US$50 a barrel and its highest in a month as some of the world’s largest producers agreed to curb production for the first time since 2008 in a bid to support prices.

Crude prices rose nearly five per cent for the month. However, they are unlikely to skyrocket further in reaction to the deal and the rally may even be short-lived, traders and analysts said.

The Organisation of the

Petroleum Exporting Countries, which accounts for a third of global oil supply, agreed to cut production from January by around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), or over three per cent, to 32.5 million bpd.

The cut will put production at the low end of a preliminary agreement struck in Algiers in September, and will reduce output from a current 33.64 million bpd.

The group’s de facto leader Saudi Arabia said it would take the lion’s share of cuts – reducing output by

almost 500,000 bpd to 10.06 million bpd – to get the deal done.

Iraq, OPEC’s second largest producer which had previously resisted cuts, providing a hurdle to a deal, agreed to reduce output by 200,000 bpd to 4.351 million bpd.

Non-OPEC member Russia, which had long resisted cutting output and pushed its production to new record highs in recent months, agreed to cut output by 300,000 bpd. OPEC will meet with non-OPEC producers on December 9. (Reuters)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, November 30, 2016

Selling

USD

$1187.40

GBP

$256.39

$259.65

Gross

$229,459

CAN

$154.10

$155.89

$205.98

$208.44

Net

$213,397

USD

$ 219.21

$222.03

EURO

Indicators as on November 30, 2016 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$46.38

Price

USD

Change %

-4.01 Change %

Rough Rice

$211.42/ton

+0.26

London Sugar

$525.20/ton

0.00

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1171.50

$1172.50

Low/High

$1181.30

$1191.00

Change

-1.50

-0.13%

Business Concept – Commission 1. Mutually agreed upon, or fixed by custom or law, fee accruing to an agent, broker, or salesperson for facilitating, initiating, and/or executing a commercial transaction.

2. Formal body comprising of one or more experts formed on an ad hoc or continuing basis to address, debate, and/or exhaustively investigate matters within the expertise of its members or within the scope of the commission’s mandate. Unlike councils, commissions may have advisory, quasi-judicial, or regulatory powers.

(Business Dictionary)

reach customers 24 hours a day, complete with an online payment system, without the added hassle of setting up your own website.

Expounding on some of his goals for the e-commerce business, the ‘techpreneur’ revealed he “would like to capitalise on the local market; strictly all Guyanese. As we expand, I would like us all to grow together. Especially the young entrepreneurs who don’t have access to any physical location, this is a start to raise that capital, build your own clienteles, etc. Creating your own image for yourself, all it takes is a spark”.

He added that with the launch of the website and app, he was aiming for “maximum public support since it’s all free and it’s been assisting persons tremendously…In the near future, we can expand to have a physical showroom to enhance opportunities for members.

After we have built a reputation in connecting buyers and sellers in the local market, we can then think about moving on to online shopping, with hopes that we could create more services than what is being offered presently.”

The Bel Air resident noted that working on G-Bay Deals, which is serviced by eight admins who work around the clock as a team on its various platforms, has taught him different marketing strategies in dealing with the public, and also given him the chance to venture into different businesses.

“Anyone who is starting their own business, I would advise them to always believe in themselves, never get discouraged, no matter how tough it gets. Business isn’t always easy and success doesn’t come overnight, but with hard work and dedication, you can move mountains,” were his

words of advice to those who wish to follow in his footsteps.

The Business School graduate, who has been putting his commerce- oriented schooling to good use, stressed that staying determined was the most important quality for any entrepreneur.

Drawing inspiration from his parents who he lauded for giving him nothing but the best and shaping him into the person he is today, Singh said: “Success comes from selfmotivation and for me, the source of self-motivation is learning new things and doing things perfectly. It’s not about being the best but about always getting better, SUCCESS is not a DESTINATION, it’s a continuous JOURNEY that never ends.”

Contact: Cell Point 120 Regent Street, Lacytown Tel:226-3950, email:Gbaydeals@gmail. com www.facebook.com/ gbayonline/

Small Business Bureau creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs

T

he passage of the Small Business Act of 2004 paved the way for the establishment and operations of the Small Business Bureau (SBB). This semi-autonomous agency, which falls under the purview of the Business Ministry, opened its doors to the public in 2010, with oversight being given by a Small Business Council, which currently comprises representatives from Private and Public Sector bodies, in addition to small entrepreneurial groups.

The SBB, through particular strategic partnerships with both Private and Public Sector agencies, has been actively involved in providing support services to small businesses through: the implementation of interventions to facilitate

access to business financing, entrepreneurial training, providing support to efforts of small businesses to access Government procurement, coaching and mentoring and other areas of support.

The MSED Project allowed the Bureau to address its mandate in the areas of access to finance. With respect to business development services, the GRIF-funded MSED Project allowed for enhanced outreach in this regard.

Within the past three years, the Bureau has made significant strides in achieving its mandate, as boosted by funding provided under the GRIF MSED Project, the first phase of which concludes December 2017. Financial and other support services have

been expanded, as a result of access to these funds. To date (2014 to August 2016), a total of 80 clients have accessed loans to a total value of US$1,503,617, while 211 clients have accessed grants totalling US$301,270.

These translate to a total of approximately 600 jobs being sustained and/or created.

Among the priorities of the SBB for the rest of 2016, early 2017, in collaboration with other MSED Project stakeholders, is an independent evaluation of the performance of this phase, with a view to informing the proposed phase 2.

The Small Business Bureau’s office may be contacted on 225-3276/2271439.

Investors’ Guide

Wall St posts sharp November gains; S&P 500 flat

U

S stocks ended with big gains for November on Wednesday thanks to a sharp post-election rally, but the S&P 500 finished the day flat as drops in utilities and technology offset energy’s surge.

Energy shares jumped with oil prices after OPEC agreed to cut production. US oil prices rose 9.3 per cent, while the S&P energy index jumped 4.8 per cent.

Bank shares also jumped after comments by Steven Mnuchin, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for US Treasury Secretary, told CNBC that tax reforms and trade pact overhauls would be top priorities of the new Administration. Bank of America gained 4.5 per cent.

But top dividend payers

likes utilities and telecommunications companies, whose stocks tend to fall as interest rates rise, declined as bond yields jumped. The S&P utility index was down 3.2 per cent, while shares of AT&T fell 2.2 per cent.

“This is related to anticipation that if, indeed, energy prices continue to rally ... it’s going to benefit the US energy industry, which is a significant part of our economy,” said Tim Ghriskey, Chief Investment Officer of Solaris Group in Bedford Hills, New York.

“That pressures other high-income plays, because as the economy accelerates there’s a greater possibility the Fed might increase their pace of interest rate hikes,” he said. “It could be a reallo-

cation of capital.”

Investor expectations are high that the Federal Reserve will raise rates at its meeting this month.

For the day, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 1.98 points, or 0.01 per cent, to 19,123.58, the S&P 500 lost 5.85 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 2198.81 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 56.24 points, or 1.05 per cent, to 5323.68.

For the month, the Dow was up 5.4 per cent, the S&P 500 was up 3.4 per cent and the Nasdaq was up 2.6 per cent.

All three indexes hit record highs this month.

Investors expect Trump’s election will lead to higher spending on infrastructure and simpler regulations. (Reuters)

NEWS

17

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Top Cop announces changes for promotion … no longer needs recommendations of Commanders

W

eeks after having voiced concerns over several ranks that were promoted during his vacation, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has announced changes in the way junior officers can move up the ranks.

This revelation comes against the backdrop that in late October, Police ranks who were promoted by Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine in Persaud’s absence feared that their promotion would have been withdrawn since there was controversy about who had powers to make promotions within the Force. However, a few days later, Minister of State Joseph Harmon advised that the promotions will remain intact.

Speaking at the unveiling of a Police gym named in his honour on Wednesday, Persaud suggested that the promotion board unit will play an even more active role in the elevation of ranks,

cases. So it’s not only limited any longer to a recommendation of a Commander but individuals themselves can make their case and those cases [will be] considered,” Persaud told the gathering which included several senior ranks.

He further explained that the board is chaired by Assistant Commissioner of Police Administration and noted that the board will include all divisional and branch commanders.

Donation

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

leading to less reliance on the word of Commanders.

The Commissioner further disclosed that any rank who feels that he or she is suitable for upward movement can express their justifications via letters to the board.

“Matters that are con-

sidered for promotion were recommendations by those Commanders only [but ranks who think that they are desirous [and] are eligible for promotion [could] make their case in writing and the board has been instructed to assess all those

Guyana launches SEACOP to tackle maritime trafficking

G

uyana has joined 26 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Seaport Cooperation Project (SEACOP), which aims to clamp down on maritime trafficking.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday signed the MoU on the implementation of SEACOP in the presence of the European Union (EU) Ambassador Jernej Videtič and Ms Karen Clarke, Regional Coordinator for the SEACOP programme.

SEACOP is a programme to train and equip interagency units to identify, search and interdict all forms of maritime trafficking.

SEACOP improves the capacity of law enforcement agencies in monitoring maritime trafficking and detecting illicit maritime cargoes onboard suspect vessels.

Access to databases and regional and inter-regional networks of partners is designed to move law enforcement towards an intelligence-led approach that will help reduce the trafficking of cocaine.

The Seaport Cooperation Project will run until December 2018 with a budget of €6 million and will cover selected countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

During the first two phases which began in 2010, the project was focused on West Africa, where it set up a network of Joint Maritime Control Units (JMCUs) in strategic seaports.

Intercepting drug and other illicit cargoes is a criti-

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan was present to hand over a donation to the Police Force of 18 tint meters and 15 decibel meters to measure noise levels.

Ramjattan announced that the donation was provided by the Chinese Embassy and further disclosed that the equipment came along with the necessary batteries and chargers. Speaking with media on the sidelines, the Police Commissioner informed that the Police will carry out several assessments to determine where the equipment will be deployed. He however disclosed that the requisite testing will get underway in time for first use of the equipment by next week Monday.

Persaud further noted that the visibility will be key when Police will assess the amount of darkness the tint carries. (Shemuel Fanfair)

3 in custody for East La Penitence execution

T

he Police have arrested two new suspects in connection with the execution- style killing of 31-year-old Paul Rodney, called “Shirts”, which occurred at East La Penitence, Georgetown.

This latest arrest has brought the total to three persons who have now been implicated in the murder and the Police are still hunting the prime suspect.

Commander A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara), Clifton Hicken told media operatives that the Police are working on leads to apprehend the main perpetrator at the earliest opportunity, based on information received from those in custody. He noted that it was through diligent work that the Police were able to arrest the men.

The first suspect was arrested a few days after the shooting incident at his Warlock home. Upon his arrest, he was reportedly nursing a bullet wound to one of his legs which suggested that he might have been shot during the shooting incident.

However, the Police are also working on the theory that the now dead man might have been killed with his own firearm.

It was reported that Rodney, who is a known character to the Police, was beaten mercilessly by

his attackers during an altercation following an argument over a deal that went sour.

The confrontation started at a party in East La Penitence and ended at Avocado Avenue, where Rodney’s body was found with at least seven gunshot injuries. He attempted to escape, but was shot to one of his feet and collapsed.

Well placed sources revealed that it was at this time that his assailants walked up to him and pumped several other bullets to his abdomen and chest. The now dead man reportedly begged for his life when he was cornered but his murderers did not spare him.

On the other hand, Police in a statement related that at about 02:55h on Monday last, a mobile patrol on Mandela Avenue, heard several loud explosions and went to investigate. Upon arrival, a group of men was observed running as they discharged several round into the air.

Upon checking the area, the Police noticed Rodney lying on the roadway and covered in blood. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The three men in custody will be grilled as Police continue their hunt for the prime suspect.

GRC commences 3-day silent auction Guyana launches SEACOP to tackle maritime trafficking

cal component of the Cocaine Route Programme, a series of interconnected programmes funded out of the EU Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace. Drug traffickers are continuously modifying their routes in response to law enforcement activity.

Having established effective units in West Africa, the project is now extending into a number of new countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Guyana, to reflect continuous changes in trafficking routes.

The first SEACOP specialised training event in Guyana will take place from March 6-10, 2017, and will see nine law enforcement officials from Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard being trained.

The training will be conducted by experts from the UK Border Force Agency and the course will focus on delivering advanced search techniques for a range of vessels. This will establish a multi-agency Joint Maritime Control Unit (JMCU) in

Guyana, dedicated to the search of vessels. In addition, the project will donate specialised equipment and search tools to the JMCU. A series of mentoring events will follow in subsequent years.

A second course is planned to be delivered jointly with Jamaican officers in late March 2017 in Jamaica. This course will be conducted by UK National Crime Agency maritime experts and it will be delivered to four vetted officers from Guyana and four vetted officers from Jamaican law enforcement agencies.

This course will be focused on advanced maritime intelligence training, providing access to key international partners. The course will create a Maritime Intelligence Unit (MIU). Officers participating in this course will be invited to attend an annual mentoring event,which will be attended by all MIUtrained teams participating in the project, with a view in promoting trans-regional working practices. An annual conference will also be convened to promote trans-regional networks.

T

he Guyana Relief Council (GRC) on Wednesday commenced the first of three days of silent auctions at the Pegasus Hotel in aide of persons who have suffered unfortunate disasters.

The GRC which was founded since 1994, continues to bring relief to victims across the country despite minimum funding from the State over the years.

Chairwoman of the organisation, Yvonne Hinds, speaking to Guyana Times stated that the three-day silent auction will be the organisation’s last fundraising activity for this year.

“This is the Guyana Relief Council’s final fundraising for the year; we also have a table where we sell, we also call it a cash and carry. But the silent auction is where we place a bid sheet on the items with the minimal bid so persons can bid upwards,” stated Hinds.

She further explained that the successful bidders will become aware of their status on the third day of the silent auction.

In addition to the silent auction, a cash and carry

Patrons at the GRC event at the Pegasus Hotel

table is in place for persons who wish to purchase and go.

Hinds continued that the motto of the organisation, which is “caring and sharing”, is practiced all through the year and not only during the Christmas season.

“Our motto is caring and sharing, so we do that throughout the year, we do not wait for the Christmas season to do the caring and sharing thing. The Council throughout the year helps people who have disasters or who are homeless or who

have become poor due to a disaster,” Hinds stated.

The Chairwoman further added that the organisation’s intervention is customised to suit individual or family needs.

Meanwhile, Hinds is seeking the public’s help in lending support to the Council to assist the needy.

“When you help the Council, you are helping persons in need and we ask you that when you are donating please donate things that are ready to use, not to wash and stitch,” said Hinds.

18

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2016

ARCHIE

Your emotions may prevent you from making a good (March 21- decision. Don’t jump to conApril 19) clusions or get all worked up over something that will set you back instead of helping you get ahead.

ARIES

Use your ingenuity and do TAURUS what you can to initiate a con(April 20- versation with someone who May 20) may have something to contribute to your plans. Travel may be necessary, but it will not be easy. Expect delays.

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You must use caution GEMINI when dealing with contracts, (May 21June 20) legalities, health or financial issues. Promises will be made, but you should nonetheless get things in writing or ask for a second opinion.

An emotional connection with someone quite dif(June 21- ferent from you will develop July 22) into something very special.

A partnership will encourage you to follow your dreams.

Romance is in the stars.

CANCER

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Networking, doing things with people you love or making positive alterations at home that will encourage you to take on a new project are featured. Keep busy and stay focused.

A unique partnership will VIRGO develop.

Use your intuitive in(Aug. 23Sept. 22) sight to select the best route.

Expect interference from someone close to you regarding your decisions or choice of friendships.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Taking part in activities LIBRA that allow you to show off your (Sept. 23skills, experience and knowlOct. 23) edge will interest someone who has something to offer.

Communication will lead to a promising partnership.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Let past personal experiSCORPIO ence dictate how you move for(Oct. 24ward. Choosing a unique way to Nov. 22) live that satisfies you mentally, physically and emotionally will encourage success and happiness. Romance is highlighted.

Stick to the facts and don’t SAGITTARIUS make promises you cannot (Nov. 23- keep. It’s important to move Dec. 21) forward at a steady pace and without conflict in order to avoid interference.

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An emotional plea will inCAPRICORN spire you to voice your con(Dec. 22cerns regarding certain situJan. 19) ations. Speak up and share your point of view as well as your suggestions, solutions and alternative plans.

Open talks with someAQUARIUS one who you feel can help (Jan. 20you reach your goal. His or Feb. 19) her suggestions will help you make significant changes to the way you move forward.

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 A creative idea will bring (Feb. 20- you recognition. Don’t let March 20) someone’s jealousy stop you from following through with your plans. Believe and trust in yourself and your ideas.

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THURsday, DECember 1, 2016

19

Don’t need to pre-announce Hafeez allowed to bowl again retirement – Misbah

M

ohammad Hafeez, the Pakistan allrounder, can resume bowling in international cricket after his action was found to be legal.

Hafeez, an offspinner, had been suspended from bowling for 12 months in July 2015 after he was reported during the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, the second time within 24 months he had been reported.

Misbah: “It’s tough to regather ourselves but we have to and we will” © AFP

P

akistan’s Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said he is still undecided about his retirement plan and it is a decision he will take on his own, not with the PCB, after deciding his utility as a captain and as a player for the team. He also said he did not have to announce his retirement beforehand and could end his career whenever he wanted, as he was not looking for a farewell.

In April this year, Misbah had marked the upcoming Australia tour as possibly his last, with Pakistan playing series against England, West Indies and New Zealand before that. His fitness helped him play all those series, though he recently missed the Hamilton Test against New Zealand following the death of his father-in-law - he had also been given a one-match suspension by the ICC for his side’s slow over rate in Christchurch.

He is set to depart from Lahore on Saturday to join the squad in Brisbane ahead of the three Tests against Australia.

Misbah, 42, understands that age is catching up with him but his fitness and passion for the game are intact. “I am at a certain stage of my career where I only think what I can give back to my team,” Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. “I am thinking but haven’t reached any conclusion, but my whole thought process is all about the team - if they can move on without me or not. And how I can do more as a senior to inspire and make this team stand on its own.

“I do believe these boys have the capability to take responsibility and can deliver. So I am actually thinking if it’s a good to leave at this stage. But this is a decision I want to take on my own and

I don’t think I need to preannounce it. I don’t think that it is necessary for me to mark any series my last but I can take it any time without even having a farewell.

I don’t have to make my retirement plan a big issue by beating drums all over.”

Misbah was reportedly requested by PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan to continue playing beyond the Australia series but he quashed any such propositions and said it’s eventually his own decision. The PCB made Azhar Ali, who has been playing under Misbah since 2010, the vice-captain, but he seems to have lost favour among board officials, who now want Misbah to continue until they identify another successor.

“Both Azhar and Sarfraz Ahmed are good choices but the former’s batting suffers whenever he leads the side,” Khan said recently.

“Allrounder Imad Wasim can also be a candidate as he has impressed the PCB with his ability to handle pressure at crucial stages of matches.”

Pakistan became the No. 1 ranked Test team earlier this year but soon slipped to No. 4, due to the defeat against West Indies in Sharjah and the 2-0 whitewash in New Zealand. They next tour Australia, where they have never won a Test series in 52 years. In their last three outings to Australia, they lost all three Tests in each of the series, in 1999, 2004 and 2009.

Misbah believed that the set of players selected for the Australia tour formed a “winning” squad. “The alarming situation is that our main batsmen are out of form. Otherwise these boys have beaten England in their own conditions,” he said. “In New Zealand, we were not able to get time

to adjust and the pitches were all in favour of bowlers. Even the New Zealand batsmen struggled most of the time because conditions were unplayable. But in Australia, you have a lot of opportunities to score runs and you either get out or play your strokes.

“It’s not like we are not capable enough to compete against Australia in Australia. We are. Yes, we are low on confidence after losing three straight Tests and it’s tough to regather ourselves but we have to and we will. Our batsmen have done it in the past, our bowlers are good but they need to be pushed hard and they have to take responsibility.

So, overall this team has everything you need to win a game and I am sure we are very much capable.”

Pakistan recently moved Azhar from the No. 3 position, his regular batting slot where he has batted in 45 of his 54 Tests. He averages 44.32 at No. 3 with 10 hundreds. Similarly, Asad Shafiq was displaced from the No. 6 spot, where he played 45 out of 50 Tests.

Misbah realised that moving Shafiq cost Pakistan’s lower order but with Babar Azam coming in, the No. 3 conundrum could be solved.

“For the sake of team requirement we had to move him [Azhar Ali] up as we needed to have an experienced hand in the opening slot,” Misbah explained. “So we moved Asad, but it was never a long-term prospect as we now have Babar Azam building up for No. 3 position and he has shown the promise.

We also realised that we were missing out muchneeded partnerships between Asad and Sarfraz so now he can go and bat at his regular number.” (ESPNcricinfo)

Although he was eligible for a retest during the tour of England a knee injury had hampered his chances to prepare so it was delayed.

He spent over a month undergoing rehabilitation before deciding to take the official ICC assessment.

Beforehand he underwent informal testing in PCB’s biomechanics lab at LUMS University i n

Lahore to make sure his flex was within allowable 15-degree limit.

O n November 17, Hafeez underwent the reassessMohammad Hafeez

ment at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane where it was revealed that the amount of elbow extension for all

his offspin deliveries was within the level of tolerance.

Hafeez has always believed that his bowling is an integral part to what he can bring to a team, although the Pakistan selectors have continued to consider him a batsman first with the offspin as a useful addition.

He was dropped after the third Test against England, at Edgbaston, and has not featured in the recent series against West Indies and New Zealand. He is not part of the Test squad for Australia but now that his bowling has been cleared he could come into contention for the limited-overs leg in January.

The umpires are still able to report Hafeez if they believe he is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action from the reassessment. To assist the umpires, they will be provided with images and video footage of the bowler’s remodelled legal bowling action. (ESPNcricinfo)

Vitori reported for suspected illegal action, again

Brian Vitori took 3 for 52 in the tri-series final against Sri Lanka © AFP

Z

imbabwe’s left-arm fast bowler Brian Vitori has been reported for a suspected illegal action during the tri-series final against Sri Lanka on Sunday, which the hosts lost by six wickets .

The match officials handed over their report to the Zimbabwe management, citing concerns about the legality of Vitori’s action during the final. He bowled nine overs in the match for fig-

ures of 3 for 52 in his first ODI since July 2015.

Vitori had been suspended from bowling in international cricket in February this year after he was reported for a suspect action during a T20 against Bangladesh in January.

He underwent assessment in Chennai and found all his deliveries exceeded the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under ICC’s regulations. His action was lat-

er found legal in June, after remedial work and a re-test performed at the University of Pretoria. The tri-series final is the only international match he has played since then.

With Vitori being reported again, he will be required to submit to further testing within 14 days. He is, however, permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.

(ESPNcricinfo)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

THURSday, DECember 1, 2016

Morale of lawmen to be boosted

…as Seelall Persaud Fitness Centre commissioned

Pakistan fined, fall in ICC rankings

By D elvon McEwan

F

itness among local police should not be much of a concern anymore, at least for those in Georgetown and surrounding areas as Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan yesterday commissioned the 27 million dollars Seelall Persaud Fitness Centre in the compound of the Felix Austin Police College, EveLeary.

According to Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud the objective of the facility is to improve the health and wellbeing of the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan unveils the persons that use it as plaque to officially open the modern facility well as to boost the mo-

Police Commisioner Seelall Persaud receives tint and sound level meters from the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

rale of lawmen.

“In 2014 the Force’s management team, having considered that morale in the Force was extremely low, they decided on a range of initiatives to rebuild morale in the Force. The fitness centre was one of those initiatives dating back to 2014 that was realized at its commissioning yesterday,” detailed the Commissioner.

In addition the Commissioner stated that the completion of the facility was only possible because of the support of successive governments-the previous and current.

The driving force behind the initiative was the Finance Officer and Assistant Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, who recognized the need for such a facility to ensure that lawmen are at all times fit.

According to Hoppie the total cost of the project is $27,279,579.

However, the contract was initially signed in December 2014 to the tune of $21,064,597 and executed by contractors Navin and Sons Construction.

Building commenced in 2015 and concluded in the said year according to the Finance Officer.

The following is the breakdown of the contract; Preliminary works $361,000, Excavating $795,000, Super Structure work $12,114,405, plumbing, construction of sauna and acquisition of pumps $2,881,692, Electrical works including installation of AC units $2,369,350, painting and finishing touches $2,543,150 and further $6,215,000 was allocated in the 2016 budget to equip the fitness centre.

Minister Ramjattan said the facilities that are going to be offered to the police force are going to be expanding because the government feels, that indeed, for the happiness of Guyana and its country men there will require good, competent, healthy, fit policemen.

He added that is important for people to understand the need for a police force that is going to execute its function that it be fit. Subsequently, he thanked all who were a part of the organization and those who administered the initiative up until its (completion) inauguration yesterday.

The fitness centre is open to all members of the Guyana Police Force as well as all retired members.

Those who have been dismissed from the Force or resign at an early time will not benefit from the centre.

Pakistan were all over the West Indies in their recent series in the UAE but missed out miserably in New Zealand

P

akistan are going through a patch that they would love to forget. Just recently they were the highest ranked Test team and have now suffered a drop in rankings which follows a huge collapse in Hamilton, while players are fined for over rate offence Pakistan’s 2-0 series defeat in New Zealand has been compounded by the news that the entire team has been fined for maintaining a slow over rate in the second Test in Hamilton. The tourists lost their last seven wickets for just 31 runs on Tuesday as New Zealand claimed a 138-run win at Seddon Park and secured their first series win over Pakistan since 1985. Things

got worse for Pakistan later in the day with news that stand-in skipper Azhar Ali had been fined 100 per cent of his match fee and his teammates 50 per cent after they were ruled to be five overs short of their over rate target.

ICC Match Referee Richie Richardson imposed the sanction in accordance with the ICC’s Code of Conduct, and it was accepted by Ali. Incredibly, regular skipper Misbah-ul-Haq had been suspended for the Test after he was also found guilty of maintaining a slow over rate during the first Test in Christchurch. The series loss to the Black Caps has also seen Pakistan slip from second to fourth in the

ICC’s Test rankings, dropping seven points to be tied with South Africa but ahead on decimal points.

Despite losing their recent series to the Proteas, Australia have moved up a spot and are on 105 points, level with England, whose defeat to India in Mohali on Tuesday saw them slump to a 2-0 series deficit with two Tests to play. Pakistan, who were crowned world No.1 earlier this year for the very first time, have fallen even further behind India, who have a 10-point lead at the top of the standings.

Pakistan will now head to Australia for a three-Test series, starting in Brisbane on December 15. (ESPNcricinfo)

Samuels take Comilla to 3rd win C

omilla Victorians giving Rajshahi a sniff. But Darren Sammy in the 12th dented Rajshahi Ahmed Shehzad and Marlon over, reducing them Kings’ charge to- Samuels held sway thereto 59 wards a last-four finish, after, adding 90 off 69 for for 6. beating them by eight wick- the second wicket. Shehzad ets with eight balls to spare. struck four fours and a six in his 45-ball 46, while Young allroundSamuels hit two fours er Mohammad Saifuddin and four sixes in took three what was his Comilla second fifty wickets to captain of the comhelp restrict petition.

Mashrafe Rajshahi to Mortaza 124 for 7 bepicked up fore Marlon two wickets Samuels struck while Nabil an unbeaten 55 Samad and off 41 to complete a convincRashid Khan ing chase. took one each.

The win took O n l y Comilla to six J a m e s Franklin, points on the tamaki n g ble, still well behis first hind Rajshahi, on 10.

B P L appearWith Ahmed Shehzad and Marlon Samuels take a single during their 90-run stand for Comilla Victorians against Rajshahi Kings in the Bangladesh ance, t w o stood rounds of Premier League 2016-17 in Dhaka © BCB o u t matches Shehzad was dismissed among the Rajshahi batsto go, Rajshahi will be engaged in a closely-contested with 19 runs left for victo- men, making an unbeaten battle with Rangpur Riders, ry, but Samuels and Khalid 44 off 31 that included two also on 10 points, and Latif steered the chase home fours and three sixes. He struck two of those sixes Khulna Titans, on 12 points, with no further losses. as the race for semi-final Earlier, Saifuddin re- in the last over, bowled by berths tightens. Comilla moved the dangerous Samit Shahadat Hossain, that cost opener Imrul Kayes holed Patel in the ninth over be- Comilla 24 runs. In the end, out to deep square leg in fore dismissing Mehedi even that late charge proved the fourth over of the chase, Hasan and Rajshahi captain too little for Rajshahi.

(ESPNcricinfo)

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he Trinidad and Tobago Karate Federation (TTKF) Congress took place at Maloney Indoor Sport Complex on Saturday November 26 and the new Directing Committee was elected for the next four years.

The coming year will be a busy year as Trinidad

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21

sports

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Part of the opening night action at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac

T

he exciting Guinness Greatest of the Street Futsal tournament continues tonight at Demerara Park with eight more tantalizing games. The winning teams from tonight will join the winning teams from the opening night on Monday in the round robin stage beginning this Saturday at the Burnham Court. The opening night at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac saw eight highly competitive games with eight teams advancing and eight leaving disappointed.

The highly anticipated Guinness Greatest of the Street Futsal Tournament is in the sixth stanza and this time it has attracted the highest number of participating teams and as a result the public support has grown as well with more teams brining out more fan base.

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The fixtures for tonight are as follows; Mat. No., Time, Teams 09 19:00h Alexander Village vs Up Like Seven 10 19:30h North Ruimveldt vs Jamoon Drive 11 20:00h Albouystown A vs Upsetters 12 20:30h Back Circle vs East Front Road 13 21:00h Broad Street Ballerz vs Howes Street A 14 21:30h North East La Penitence vs Island All Stars B 15 22:00h Albouystown B vs West Back Road 16 22:30h West Front Road vs Stevedore Ballers

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursday, december 1, 2016

― fast bowlers are main architects

R

eigning champions Guyana Jaguars regained the lead at the end of the third round of Digicel Regional Four Day tournament.

Despite a four wick-

Keon Joseph

et loss to Leeward Islands Hurricanes and a draw with

days.

At the end of the second day, the Volcanoes were 90-4 with a small lead of 63 and six wickets intact and the Jaguars sniffing a win after they had made 219 in reply to 192 made by the hosts in their first innings.

The Jaguars started the third round in third position behind (then) leaders Barbados Pride and Hurricanes but gained three points for the draw in addiChristopher Barnwell tion to three bowling bonus points, one batting bonus before the close and with fapoint and 2.2 points for wick- vourable conditions prevailets taken by fast bowlers. ing he was expected to continIt was by every means the ue along the same path.

Jaguars best fast bowling disThe fast bowlers’ perforplay since the Professional mance also coincided with League started in 2014. The what the Jaguars head coach pacers led the way with 13 of Esuan Crandon said about the 14 wickets to fall in the the assistance offered to incomplete encounter with fast bowlers by the pitch at Man of the match Raymond the Daren Sammy National

Franchies

Pts

M

W

L

T

A

I

DP

Guyana Jaguars

33.6

3

1

1

0

0

1

Barbados Pride

33.4

3

1

0

0

0

Leewards Hurricanes

29.4

3

1

0

0

Jamaica Scorpions

28.6

3

1

1

27

3

1

17.6

3

0

T&T Red Force Windwards Volcanoes

Windward Islands Volcanoes on the road, the Jaguars will return home after two away matches at the helm of the point standings with 33.6 points from three matches.

In their most recent encounter they were sensing a possible victory until rain washed out the final two

drawn encounters due to rain in Jamaica where the host tackled the Pride while in Trinidad in the Hurricanes and Red Force clashed.

Barbados Pride are second on 33.4 points while the Leewards Hurricanes are third followed by Jamaica Scorpions a n d Trinidad and Tobago Red Force.

MR

BAT

BOWL PB

0

0

5

9

4.6

2

0

0

4

7

4.4

0

2

0

0

2

8

1.4

0

0

1

0

0

2

9

2.6

1

0

0

1

0

0

3

6

3

2

0

0

1

0

0

1

9

4.6

Reifer leading the way with career best figures of 6-82 in the first innings while Keon Joseph and Christopher Barnwell supported with five and two wickets respectively in the match. Joseph was on fire towards the end of the second day where he had already collected three wickets

Cricket Stadium. He opined that it would probably play the best into the fast bowlers’ favour.

Meanwhile, the Volcanoes managed eight points from the game but are still at the bottom of the table.

The other two matches in the third round were also

The Jaguars will start their next match, another Day/Night encounter against Barbados Pride in the top of the table clash at Providence from December 9 while Red Force will travel to Sabina Park to take on Jamaica Scorpions and the Hurricanes and Volcanoes will face off at Windsor Park Dominica.

Better Hope hosting East Coast Jubilee Fiesta softball cricket

MVP Keemo Paul accepts his award

Wayne Jones

Softball cricket is considered ‘The People’s Game’ and it’s still the most popular type of cricket in Guyana

A

ll roads lead to the Better Hope Community Centre ground on Sunday December 11 for East Coast Jubilee Fiesta cricket competition. The softball cricket action will be the highlight of day two of the weekend of music and sport organized by the B.E.S.T. Family Entertainment along with Craby and the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA).

There will be two categories of competition; males and females with $300,000 cash up for grabs plus trophies. The male winners will pocket $150,000 and the

A

robust unbeaten 42 from Keemo Paul was enough for Noitgedacht SC defeated Sans Souci by nine wickets in the final of the inaugural Banks Beer T20 festival at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground last weekend.

Sans Souci batted first in a game which was reduced to 10 overs and walloped to 83/6 with Wayne Osbourne scoring 21 and Seon Venture 19 as Jamaul Hartman snatched 2-18.

Noitgedacht SC replied with a quick fire 84/1 in 7.2 overs. Neil Ramalho supported Paul with an equally brilliant innings of 26 not out.

In the eliminator, Sans Souci overcame G Square Cavaliers by six runs in a high scoring scorcher. Sans Souci took first strike and scored a mammoth 106/4 from their allotment of 10 overs with useful knocks along the way. Cleon Venture blasted 36 while Kiron Kumar blazed the trail to 26. Romario Stephens took 2-14.

In reply, Cavaliers were always in with a chance but fell six short when their overs expired. In the total of 100/4, Jaggernauth Manbodh stood tall with 66 and was

winning trophy with $75,000 going to the losing finalist. The female champion team will receive $50,000 and a trophy with $25,000 going to the runner-up team.

Interested teams must contact Wayne Jones on 6856908 or 650-1790 for registration and rules of the competition. All male teams will pay an entrance fee of $15,000 while the female teams will pay $5,000.

After the cricket finals the organizers have a massive closing party planned with performances from Kwesi ‘Ace” Edmondson and Poonam Singh and music by some of the country’s top music sound systems.

held up by Osbourne who took 3-16 for Sans Souci.

As a dress rehearsal for the final, Noitgedacht beat Sans Souci by 67 runs in their preliminary match.

Batting first, Noitgedacht posted 152-1 in 10 overs with the inform Paul plummeting 11 huge sixes in an unbeaten 85 while Leon Higgins made an even half century.

Sans Souci never threatened the target and were limited to 85/5 in reply. Seon Venture scored 29.

In other preliminary round action, Cavaliers got the better of Maria’s Pleasure by 12 runs. Cavaliers batted first and got to 146/8 off 15 overs. Kamal Khan hit the top score of 66 and Manbodh 23. Kennard Lewis had 2-28. Maria’s Pleasure managed 134-7 in reply. Kennard Lewis made 50 (7x4; 1x6) as Chandrika Ragnauth had 2-22 and Satnarine Sahadeo had 2-24 bowling for Maria’s Pleasure.

Sans Souci beat Sans Souci Jaguars by eight wickets. Jaguars took first turn at the crease and got to 1376 in 15 overs. Zameer Zaman made 43; Tavin Budram captured 3-20. Sans Souci scored 140-2 in 13 overs in reply. Osbourne struck six fours and three sixes in 62.

Noitgedacht overcame Good Success by 105 runs.

Noitgedacht rattled up 221-1 in 15 overs, batting first.

Paul slammed 21 sixes in a robust 156. Good Success who were without one of their key all-rounders Nazeer Mohamed due to an injury made, 116-7 in reply. Imran Khan scored 20; Matthew Chung had 2-14.

For winning, Noitgedacht received a trophy and $100,000 while sans souci received a trophy. Keemo Paul was given the Most Valuable Player spoils for his brilliance.

thursday, december 1, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

23

Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

Alleyne, Cornwall lead batting and bowling aggregates at break

E

merging Barbados Pride opening batsman, Anthony Alleyne and

Leewards Hurricanes burly all-rounder, Rahkeem Cornwall, lead the West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League Digicel Regional Four Day Tournament 2016-17 batting and bowling departments respectively at the end of the third round.

Alleyne, a rookie of 12 first class matches have so far amassed 443 runs at an average of 88.60 with one century (186), made against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the second round at the Queen’s Park Oval and three half centuries.

The 23 year

Barbados Pride player has been well ahead of the other batsmen since the second round, he is currently 165 runs ahead of the next batsman and another West Indies u-19 graduate Jamaica Scorpions’ opening batsman John Campbell.

Rounding off the top five in the batting department after the first three rounds are Red Force’s Kyle Hope, who hails from Barbados and has 255 runs, discarded Test batsman Rajendra Chandrika (224) and former West Indies u-19 skipper Shamarh Brooks (208), in that order.

Last season’s leading run scorer, Guyana Jaguars’ Captain Leon Johnson is currently 14 on the list Anthony Alleyne with 146 r u n s at an aver-

old, who also represented West Indies under-19 and bowls occasional medium pace started the season with 369 runs from nine matches.

Those runs prior to this season came at a n

av-

erage of 20.5 since making his first class debut in 2013 for the Combined College and Campuses.

So far the

age of 29.20. He has just one score over fifty since the 2016/2017 season started, 69 against the Jamaica Scorpions at Providence in the opening round.

Meanwhile, with outstanding returns of 19 victims at an average of 23.68 and already two five-wicket hauls, Cornwall is the bowler that is causing all the trouble. The all-rounder was instrumental in his team’s surprise win against the Guyana Jaguars when he captured eight wickets in the match, including 6-87 in the first innings.

Trailing Cornwall are left arm spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Nikita Miller with 14 and 13 wickets respectively. Tied on 11 wickets in fourth are fast bowler Keon Joseph and another left arm spinner Gudakesh Motie. Joseph looks a different player from previous season and is bowling fast and with immaculate control.

The Jaguars are leading the point standings with 33.6 points followed by Pride on 33.4, Hurricanes on

29.4, Scorpions on 28.6, Red Force on 27 and Volcanoes on 17.6.

The next round is scheduled to commence on December 8 with Jamaica Scorpions hosting Trinidad and Tobago Red Force at Sabina Park while the remaining two matches will begin a day later. On December 9, at Providence the Guyana Jaguars will host Barbados Pride in the top of the table clash in the pink ball day/night fixture of the round and the Leeward Islands Hurricanes will travel to Dominica to take on the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Windsor Park.

Rahkeem Cornwall

GFF’s Grassroots Festival set for triple play ― CONCACAF Coach-Educators Programme opens today

T

hree venues in respective Member Associations will host this Saturday’s Guyana Football Federation Inc.’s (GFF) Grass Roots Festival including the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora; Scottsburg Community Centre Ground (Berbice) and Wisburg Secondary School Ground (Linden) from 10:00h to 14:00h.

While the participants of two events will be drawn from the general populace, the event at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora will cater for approximately one hun-

dred children from ten (10) schools located in Region Three and will be jointly facilitated by the GFF and CONCACAF. As a lead up to the programme in Region Three, twenty-six (26) teachers will participate in a CONCACAF-facilitated “Coach-Educators” programme from today (Thursday) to Saturday.

This programme, led by Lenny Lake – CONCACAF Instructor – will seek to build the capacity of the identified teachers to introduce the game of football to children six to twelve (12)

years old through a variety of activities. All participants of the programme will be awarded the CONCACAF “E” License upon completion.

This is the fourth, fifth and sixth in a series of Grass Roots Festivals, the last being conducted in the Essequibo and East Bank Demerara Football Associations respectively. Franklin Wilson, President of the East Bank Demerara Football Association (EBDFA), said the Association was happy to partner with the GFF. “We’re very happy to

All participants received certificates after engaging in the Grassroots Festival

work with the GFF…we’re very grateful to the parents and the guardians who have seen it fit to get these youngsters out here to get involved and to get a little understanding of what the beautiful game of football is all about. Kudos to the GFF and the new team, as well as the Executive, for seeing the need for such a programme.” He committed to his Association’s sustainability of the programme.

Renea Hunt, a participant, shared her thoughts about the programme and football. “It’s making your life change a lot and I think

people should focus on that more but focus on your school work (as well)…football is all about having fun, it’s all about practicing to challenge one another.” In an invited comment, Coach Leevice Brathfit shared her thoughts about the benefits of the programme. “I know that this group session that we have – the Grass Roots festival – will benefit the youths in the future, working on their technique, developing basic skills and (I) know that they will improve, once they love the game they will keep coming and they will get a very good

nursery…”

The objectives of the festival are; To promote and increase participation at Grass Roots level of both male and female; To introduce family members to the beautiful game in a positive environment and To act as a catalyst for GFF 2017 Grass Roots Coaching programme.

The festivals cater for children six to twelve (12 years); parents and caregivers are encouraged to accompany their children to the festivals. Admission to all events is free.

thurSday, december 1, 2016

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 22

Raymon Reifer

Jaguars retain lead after rain-affected 3rd round

― fast bowlers are main architects Groundsmen worked feverishly to enable play at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in St Lucia

GFF’s Grassroots Festival set for triple play Pg 23

― CONCACAF Coach-Educators Programme opens today The GFF Grassroots Festival is targeting a higher female participation and they were not disappointed with the turnout on the East Bank of Demerara

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