Guyana Times Daily

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

Issue No. 3094

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, January 14, 2017

PRICE

Presidential term limit

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Lawyers to make written submissions ‒ case adjourned to February 15

AFC supports President on GECOM’s P7 chairmanship list rejection

Page 3

$311M spent on rehab of stellings, P12 wharves in 2016 – T&HD – $294M to be expended this year

P11 More expenses for vendors …to now pay vending registration fee

Fire guts apartment building

NIS robbery

P9

Special Constable under close arrest

Club Privilege manager P8 fined

Page 16

University Off-Campus Lodge on Friday evening went up in flames after a fire suspected to be electrical in origin engulfed the apartment building at Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (Romario Samaroo photo)

…charged for overstaying in Guyana

Granny jailed for narco trafficking Page 13

9 nabbed Ramjattan with date supports Govt’s rape drug, actions …claims Jagan would not have wanted facility ammunition Red House fiasco

Page 9

ECD man sets home on fire P2

Page 2

2 news

saturDAY, january 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

9 nabbed with date rape drug, ammunition

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hree females and six males were on Friday morning arrested after Police swooped down on an illegal operation at Rasville, Georgetown, where several live rounds of ammunition for two different calibres of weapons and a large quantity of ecstasy pills were unearthed.

Reports are Police acting on information conducted a search in several The items found during the raid

Ecstasy, MDMA commonly known as the 'date rape' pill

apartments, during which they found 16 live rounds of different calibres of ammunition and 180 ecstasy

pills.

The Police are working on the theory that the early morning arrest is a di-

rect spin-off with the recent arrest of a Tucville mechanic, who was arrested on Thursday evening with a .45 rifle and one live round of 9mm ammunition.

The suspect, Caesar Gonsalves, of Lot 119 Turn Drive, East La Penitence, Georgetown, was arrested and placed before the courts. He was remanded to prison and will make his next court appearance on January 24.

However, the nine persons in custody following the raid on Friday morning are being questioned and charges are expected to be laid in the new week.

ECD man sets home on fire A

n East Coast Demerara (ECD) man was taken into Police custody moments after setting his house on fire because his reputed wife moved in with his neighbour.

Sunildatt Singh, a father of three of Strathspey, ECD, and his reputed wife separated a few months ago due to his alleged abusive behaviour. Since then, the woman was reportedly staying with her relatives, but it was only recently that the woman and her children moved in with the neighbour.

Ever since this development, Singh threatened to burn down his own home.

According to information received, Singh had accused his reputed wife of being unfaithful and with her moving in with the neighbour, the accusations, he claimed, were correct.

The completely gutted house

It was reported that upon seeing the man and his reputed wife together, Singh went to a nearby shop on Thursday evening and bought a flammable substance then doused the house with the flammable substance and set it alight.

Despite efforts to put out the blaze, the small wooden and concrete structure was

completely gutted within minutes. The Guyana Fire Service was reportedly summoned, but by the time they arrived at the scene, the house had already burnt to the ground.

The man, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, was arrested and is expected to be charged with arson.

Three charged for stealing gold

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hree men, who all reportedly conspired to steal a quantity of gold, were each granted $50,000 bail on Friday when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Steven James, 25, Shemmy Bennard, 20, and

Junior Bascome, 23, all of Soesdyke appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and pleaded not guilty to the offence.

It is alleged that on January 11, 2017 at Aranka Backdam, Cuyuni River, the three men stole four and a half penny-

weights of gold valuing $36,000 property of Prince Bowman.

The court was informed by the Prosecution that the gold was recovered and had no objections to bail.

The case will continue at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court on February 3.

news

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saturDAY, january 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, January 14 – 05:00h-06:30h and Sunday, January 15 –05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, January 14 – 05:45h-07:15h and Sunday, January 15 – 06:30h-08:00h.

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 most of the day, while light rain showers can be expected in the afternoon. Light cloud cover can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 25 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to North-North Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 05:44h and 17:59h reaching maximum heights of 2.65 metres and 2.75 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:32h and 23:58h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.49 metre respectively.

Presidential term limit

Lawyers to make written submissions … case adjourned to February 15

P

arties in the presidential term limit Constitution appeal case were on Friday ordered to have their submissions put in writing and be prepared by February 15.

The case came up for hearing in the Court of Appeal before Justices Carl Singh, B S Roy and Yonette Cummings-Edwards.

The constitutional challenge case was filed by Georgetown resident Cedric Richardson in February 2015.

Richardson had sought the court’s interpretation of the provisions in the Constitution regarding the two term limit for Guyana’s presidency. The case, which was filed by Attorneys Emily Dodson and Shawn Allicock, on behalf of Richardson, argued that Act 17 of 2001 which was passed by a two-thirds majority in the National

Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh

erendum should not have been held, instead of the two-thirds majority in the National Assembly having the powers to decide to limit the number of terms.

In his July 9, 2015 ruling, then Chief Justice Ian Chang in his written ruling said that the purported alteration of Article 90

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Assembly, unconstitutionally curtails and restricts his sovereign and democratic rights and freedom as a qualified elector to elect former President Bharat Jagdeo as the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Richardson had contended that the limit was unconstitutional and illegal. He sought the court’s interpretation to determine whether the amendment with ref-

by the Act No 17 of 2001, in substance and effect, undoubtedly diminishes the democratic rights of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as President.

The court views that Act 17 of 2001 needed a referendum and is invalid and without legal effect for reason of non-compliance, the ruling stated.

The Chief Justice further noted that Act 17 of

Justice B S Roy

2001, which purports to alter Article 90 of the 1980 Constitution, seeks to dilute the pre-existing democratic rights of the electorate to elect a President of their choice. As such, while the Constitution provides for representative democracy, such representative democracy cannot entrench on popular sovereignty from which it derives and which is entrenched by the requirement of the referendum.”

Following the ruling by the Chief Justice, the

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

Government, led by its Attorney General Basil Williams and former National Assembly Speaker Raphael Trotman, had said that it was not satisfied with the Chief Justice’s interpretation of the Constitution and filed an appealed.

On August 7, 2015, the then Solicitor General Sita Ramlall and Attorney Roysdale Forde, filed the appeal on five grounds, including that fact that the Chief Justice blundered in law. turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, January 14, 2017

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

Better measures needed for school league

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wo years ago the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) reintroduced school cricket as part of its calendar of activities. Its re-establishment was a collaborative effort with the Education Ministry and it is called the National Secondary School Cricket League.

In its first year it was deemed a success and currently in its second year it has expanded, with more than 150 teams participating in the League. Chase Academic Foundation won the first edition, fulfilling expectation.

The private school is already North Georgetown Zone Champions in the 2016/2017 season and they so far seem destined to win for a second successive time.

Again, that is expected since Chase has the necessary resources, or it should be known that Chase invests in the necessary resources that other schools do not have or cannot afford.

The GCB introduced the school programme as part of its development plan, however, the event is not being facilitated as such.

It is clear that all the schools participating do not have the necessary resources to win or produce quality players, so the GCB needs to ensure that these schools are provided with playing gears and there must be pre-tournament programmes. This should be done to teach the children the basics of the game, as well as equip teachers with better coaching skills so they could guide the students in the absence of a skilled coach. This could be a long-term plan that could see the teachers develop overtime, thus produce better players.

Secondly, it is clear players cannot develop if they do not know the basics, but what if it is a knockout tournament? Would there be room for development?

Absolutely not. If the best players can fail in a one-off game, then it is harder for those without experience.

The new players are challenged with the task of executing what they have learnt, if they were taught anything at all. Therefore, the tournament should not be run on a ‘loser goes home’ format. There should be scope for players to showcase their abilities.

Maybe three group matches would be ideal for such possibility.

It will be easy for a school with a set-up like Chase’s to be successful, because the school has the players and the method of approach is intact. West Indies youth players and national under-15 skipper Sachin Singh and Ashmead Nedd are their marquee players, while there are other players with inter-county experience and club experience. Most of these players attend this school on sport scholarship, thus it is easy for them to dominate. The school also dominates football, and in 2016 they won their first Digicel Secondary Schools Title.

If the governing board is thinking of development then there needs to be better measures to improve the League to make it more competitive; there must be pre-tournament programmes, each school should be given gears, it should not be a knockout tournament.

Once the League becomes more competitive it will attract club authorities, who will scout for talent for their club. There are also other positives that should emerge.

However, if it remains the same then it is defeating its purpose, the club cricketers will dominate and as a result only a few will benefit.

Tierpark Berlin director Andreas Knieriem holds a male polar bear cub in his enclosure during its first examination in Berlin, Germany.

The cub which as no name yet, was born on November 3, 2016, is 67 cm and weighs 4.6 kg (Tierpark Berlin/Handout via REUTERS)

Honouring Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dear Editor, This year’s holiday in honouring Dr Martin Luther King Jr, coincides with the final week of the presidency of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, and the first African-American to lead the executive branch of the US Government in our 240year history. Despite holding this tremendous honour, President Obama said in his farewell address last week that “race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society. I’ve lived long enough to know that race relations are better than they were 10, or 20, or 30 years ago - you can see it not just in statistics, but in the attitudes of young Americans across the political spectrum. But we’re not where we need to be. All of us have

more work to do.”

Martin Luther King Jr, nearly 50 years after his life was tragically cut short, transcends race and serves as an example of what one person can do when he or she is committed to doing the right thing. He used nonviolent means in the face of what many would call today racist, violent extremists. In his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” Dr King wrote, “I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta [Georgia] and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham [Alabama].

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects

one directly, affects all indirectly.”

The future for Guyana is very bright. The economy has been doing well for a few years and is projected to continue on this path, although there are challenges in certain sectors. The already confirmed petroleum reserves guarantees that Guyana will have the revenue to allow it to develop industries and infrastructure, and create a broad-based economy with true value added, which means jobs and prosperity if done right.

It also means that Guyana will have the money to fund activities that will allow Guyana to be even greener than it already is. In the spirit of Dr King, I pledge to work with all Guyanese to ensure a secure, prosperous, and inclusive Guyana.

The mosaic of races, religions, and people of different ethnic backgrounds peacefully co-existing would make Dr King proud. But, as President Obama says about the United States, all of us have more work to do.

I encourage all Guyanese citizens, and visitors like me who are fortunate to be here, to honour Dr King’s memory today and throughout the year; and commit to acts of service in the community.

Whether it is helping an elderly neighbour, or teaching a child how to read, we can all make a positive difference, and collectively the result will be something we can all be proud of.

Sincerely, Perry L Holloway United States Ambassador

Convenient disregard for our Constitution

Dear Editor, The President of Guyana, David Granger, acted erroneously and outside of the Constitution, the Supreme law of this land, when he rejected the list of nominees submitted by the Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo. It is a strange anomaly that he would have said that the list is unconstitutional and that he was trying to correct an unconstitutional practice since there are numerous precedents to say otherwise and the law itself is pellucid on the said matter.

It is clear that when Section 161(2) speaks of ‘a fit and proper person’ it was meant to offer a solution in the case where the

first qualification is not met, and that is finding a High Court Judge, an Appellate Court Judge or former ones.

The remedy was offered, but the President cast it aside.

Why did he do this? Was he advised wrongly or is it the case where he wants to frustrate the process and appoint a Chairman of his own choice?

The mischief rule of statutory interpretation makes it clear that in this case, the ‘mischief’ that the second option given in Section 161(2) was meant to remedy is the situation if the qualification in the first part is not met.

The lawmakers were not leaving anything to chance so that the nomination and appointment process for GECOM’s

Chairman is frustrated. The AG must know this!

We have thus seen a flagrant disregard for a simple literal interpretation of the laws and the literal interpretation is obscenely dumped just because of this Government’s autocratic tendency to hog powers at all cost. This also happened at the Local Government Elections in the case of the tied NDCs - a simple section of the LGE laws was conveniently misinterpreted to foist its own people into the Chairman and Vice Chairman positions. This is a serious practice and it will mutate later on into more pronounced and blatant forms of dictatorship rule if it is not checked in time. I

will never believe that with all the legal minds in this coalition Government that they are simply misinterpreting the laws.

If the President wants Guyanese to believe that he is a just and fair leader, then he should use the list provided by Dr Jagdeo or give some more plausible reasons for rejecting it! The reasons given cannot hold water!

Only thus can he remove the creeping suspicion that he wants to facilitate the rigging of the next General Elections.

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf (FCCA; MBA) Region Six Councillor

guyanatimesgy.com

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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

Dr Rodney was not fighting to replace PNC with an African government Dear Editor, “But it would also be politically suicidal because it is precisely such an outcome the PPP seeks—I don’t believe sending such a partisan list was accidental. The President must not fall into that trap; he must do everything in his power to resist the temptation to act unilaterally. Unilateralism should be an absolute last (sic) resort,” writes Dr David Hinds on January 11, 2017, in his support for President David Granger’s rejection of the six nominees for GECOM chairman. “I agree with the President’s rejection of the list sent to him by Opposition Leader, Mr Jagdeo. Mr Jagdeo must have known that his list was mostly partisan (sic) and that it flies in the face of the spirit of the Carter formula.” So writes the Afrocentric David, advising his own President David against some Jagdeoliath as if the non-David is someone eyed towering Philistine only fit to be slain-as usual.

When Dr Hinds writes about things “partisan” he is an expert being an unapologetic Afrocentric advocate.

When he speaks on what may be supposedly “non-partisan” one knows exactly where he is coming from. He wants a pawn as GECOM chairman who will be beholden to the PNC to rig the 2020 elections. Already some 3000 birth certificates are reportedly being “manufactured” to advance their ages to make them eligible to vote in the 2020 elections.

Adamant in advocating that they will not criticise the APNU/AFC coalition because that would be undermining an African Government to see it replaced by an Indian Government, the ACDA and

the likes of Dr Hinds forget a few things. ACDA as an unapologetic Afrocentric organisation operates as if it is forever imprisoned in chains of the past. Has it learned its lesson well since 1992? What have we learnt from history?

Dr Rodney was not fighting to replace the PNC with an African Government. He wanted to merge the WPA with the PPP. The AFC secured and delivered the 11 per cent crossover Indian votes in the 2015 elections which brought the Coalition to power. Only two AFC ministers are Indians, while four are African.

GECOM was headed by an Indian, Dr Steve Surujbally, a veterinarian, who presided over the questionable 2015 elections. Unexplained inclusion of fake statement of polls (SOPs), missing and unaccounted ballot boxes, and failure to do recounts after promising to do so occurred in that election under his watch. It took one entire week to declare the results in 2015.

Where is it that Dr Jagdeo was partisan in all these shenanigans? Why must the Indian be always expected to deliver to satisfy partisan Afrocentric demands even as a “last resort” by Dr Hinds’ advocacy - one “David” to another “David” - as in Mr Granger?

Dr Hinds’ mode of operation is so transparent, he forgets we are wiser in the 21st century. Of course he is in favour of the Opposition Leader meeting the President. Why not? Nothing may come of it if it does take place. He advocates that President Granger grant the request. But Dr Hinds does so for crafty reasons. “Mr Jagdeo has taken a good first step in seeking

to meet with the President, something he should be doing (sic) more often. (Shouldn’t Mr Granger be seeking Dr Jagdeo’s counsel more often since he is more experienced?) I see such a meeting achieving two things—a commitment (sic) from the President that he would not act unilaterally and a commitment from Mr Jagdeo that he would send the President a non-partisan list.” Here’s Dr Hinds’ Brer Anancy cunning. He wants Mr Granger to make an empty promise in return for the Opposition Leader to promise -mind you - a concrete promise to send what he calls a “non-partisan list”. What was partisan about the first list anyway?

With the ACDA’s Mr Eric Phillips fulminating from the inception that the list be rejected because the ACDA was not initially consulted by the Opposition Leader, aren’t they trying to have their cake and eat it too? ACDA is not independent from the coalition Government in any way.

Yet they want it both ways.

The Opposition Leader has absolutely no obligation to consult with the ACDA since it is part of the Government.

The ACDA may be a Trojan horse by all intents and purposes. Why does it want to have its cake and eat it still?

Currently, the PNC-led Coalition has messed up the economy by retrenching hundreds of Amerindians and Indian sugar workers. Now Guyana is headed into a judicial quagmire with the Presidential term-limit case.

Will non-partisanship reign supreme to save Guyana from the APNU/AFC coalition mess?

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

School attendance at Zeelugt dismal Dear Editor, With the recent opening of the new school term, many children can be seen eager to go school. Yet in the community of Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), it is not so. It seems that the children in this community have a tendency of not liking school, therefore their attendance is poor. To come to the conclusion of what might be the factors that hinder their attendance is a mystery in the making.

One afternoon on my

way home from work I stopped and asked some of them the reason why they did not go to school and some of their answers were alarming. Some said that their parents didn’t want them to go, but rather stay home. Some of them said that they have financial difficulties at home.

Being able to attend school should not be a problem here in Guyana since our education system caters for everyone. The habit of being able to attend school keeps our youth out of trouble and from breaking the

laws. If one is to sit and relate where the productivity of the village Zeelugt is heading, it is disastrous.

For most of the years gone by, many of the youth are involved in crimes and negative activities. It’s a matter of urgent concern which needs to be addressed. So I am calling on the relevant authorities whether the Guyana Police Force or the Education Ministry to intervene so as to resolve this matter.

Sincerely, I Becham

Crime Reduction Strategy

Dear Editor, The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), now under the astute leadership of Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and the Investigative team must be complimented for the crime solving strategy which has so far been very successful. What is needed now is a more proactive approach to minimise the commission of crime. This can only be made possible by effective, welltrained intelligence unit capable of: Infiltrating criminal gangs; recruiting and managing informants; and having undercover agents operating in every Police division who are not known to the Police in the division and who use the cover of barbershops, bars, newspaper vendors, insurance salesmen, fishermen, beggars, prostitutes and establishment of a store that buys items with the aim of recovering stolen items.

The major responsibilities of the unit should be to elicit, process and supply in-

formation on criminal matters, advise the Police on issues involving strategic decisions and advise them on issues relevant to tactical decisions. The Intel Unit should also endeavour to expand and reorganise the unit’s base on crime so that it can be manipulated in a variety of ways. First and foremost this will mean the setting up of functional files on businesses, city sectors, travel patterns of known hoodlums and cross-referencing them to existing biographic files.

Employ such specialists as economist, accountants, attorneys and even system analysts. An improvement in analytic potential is not something easily measurable, particularly in a field such as organised crime.

Intel agents should not be recruited from among serving ranks, but from the civilian population.

I recommend that the present Government be approached with the aim of having the MOSAD, the

world’s finest intelligence agency to train Intel operatives.

The modus operandi of the criminal underworld is to outfox and outgun the Police with the aim of causing terror and possibly destabilising the new Government who they see as a threat to their existence.

Intel suggests that the criminal underworld has successfully infiltrated the lower echelon of the law enforcement agencies and through our borders, has managed to smuggle in high powered rifles from Venezuela unchallenged.

It is also common knowledge that the criminal underworld has in their ranks highly trained former members of the GDF Special Forces, Intel and Police ranks, which makes the current situation reasonable and warrants urgent and decisive action in order to eliminate this imminent threat.

Yours respectfully, Allan Robert Gates

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SATURDAY, january 14, 2017

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B

Foundation

Use logical consequences to correct

esides letting natural consequences shape children’s behaviour, you can set up parentmade consequences tailored to have lasting learning value for your child. Here’s a logical consequence that parents in our practice tried: “Our son was four years old, and we had just moved into a new house. He had gotten a new bedroom set and was feeling very proud and grown up, enjoying his privacy and playing with his friends. When it was time for his friends to leave, and our son became angry and kept slamming the door. I asked him to stop and explained patiently why he shouldn’t keep slamming the door. I told him (after 30 minutes) that if this behaviour continued, he would no longer enjoy the privacy of a door: “Brett, if you keep slamming the door, I’m going to take it off. (He got this “Yeah, sure, dad’s going to take the door off” look of disbelief on his face). For the next three days every time he got a little upset, he slammed the door. So on the fourth day our son went out to play, and when he returned he found his door had been removed from the hinges. But he only noticed it when he went to slam it and it was not there. A week later we put it back. Four years have passed, and he hasn’t slammed the door since.”

Our then ten-year-old, Erin, treasured her new bike, but now and then she would carelessly leave it overnight on the front sidewalk. We kept reminding her to put her bike in the garage at the end of the day so it wouldn’t get stolen, but she still often forgot. So one day we hid the bike. When she got up the next morning, there was no bike. “Perhaps it got stolen?” we offered. Erin was heartbroken; she had already had one bike stolen because she left it out.

We gave her time to work through her feelings of loss, guilt, remorse, anger – all the emotions that one has

w h e n you blow it and it’s your fault.

Then we rescued the bike, and Erin. She realised this loss could have been real, and the bike slept safely in the garage thereafter.

For the most learning value, balance negative with positive consequences to help shape children’s behaviour: The child who frequently practises the piano gets the thrill of moving through his books quickly and receiving hearty applause at his recital.

The child who consistently takes care of her bicycle merits a new one when she outgrows it; otherwise, she gets a used one. The child who puts his sports equipment away in the same place each time gets the nice feeling of always being able to find his favourite bat or soccer ball.

In these examples, no amount of punishment could have had the lasting teaching value of natural and logical consequences. With punishment, children see no connection between their behaviour and the discipline. With consequences, the child makes the connection between the behaviour and the results. You plant a lesson of life: take responsibility for your behaviour.(Excerpt from askdrsears.com)

guyanatimesgy.com

PARENTING

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’m not sure if I am on the right path; I’m not even sure where to begin. I am having trouble with my 10-year-old son. He is becoming more difficult to discipline. I have tried grounding him and talking to him. Nothing his father or I say to him fazes him. All their lives, both of my children have had everything they have ever wanted, and I am trying to make them understand that there is value to having things. However, my son does not appreciate anything and thinks that he can do and get whatever he wants at any time.

He also has a social problem at school, and I have tried seeking guidance from the school, but they were no help. He is about to enter middle school, and I don’t know what to do.

Today, when I told him he had to earn something he wants, he said he thinks it’s OK to take it from his sister and he shows no remorse. What can I do? I am very afraid of where this is leading. – Concerned parent Parenting is a tough job, and we sometimes recognise that we have done things along the way that lead to even more difficulty as our children grow and develop.

It is counterproductive to look back and blame ourselves.

It is productive to look back and learn from our mistakes and make changes in our own behaviours.

Children who are given everything without having to earn it often feel as though things are owed to them. They appreciate very few things, and they appreciate the people who provide these things even less. It sounds as though you have reached a point of realisation that things must change.

If you can, sit down and establish clear expectations for behaviours. This includes using social skills as well as chores around the house. Also, plan in advance what can be earned when the child meets expectations and what the consequences are when he fails to meet the expectations.

Start by teaching him some basic social skills:

Follow instructions

Look at the person who is speaking to him Say OK to show understanding Perform the task immediately and let the other person know when the task is finished

Accept consequences

Accept a “no” answer Ask permission Describe these skills step by step to the child, and give him good reasons for performing the tasks the way you are describing. Then, have the child practise.

Let your children know that things must change and it may be uncomfortable for a while, but you are going to stick to it.

When your son is grounded make sure there are no privileges available to him that he enjoys, such as telephone, TV, DVD, iPod, computer, etc...

During the time he is grounded make sure he has things to do, extra chores, learning and practising social skills, helping his parents. He will have to complete these assignments to regain his privileges.

Do not let your son talk you out of sticking to your plan and your consequences. In the situation you described, he didn’t accept consequences, and he took other’s property without permission.

These are both negative behaviours and should be confronted by teaching him more acceptable alternatives and negative consequences for engaging in them.

Boys Town has a parenting program called Common Sense Parenting that teaches the very techniques described above, and more. Parenting education can offer additional strategies and techniques when what you are doing isn’t working. A book by the same name can be purchased at local bookstores or at www.boystownpress.org.

If you feel your son has gotten to the point that he needs to be assessed by a counsellor or therapist, then find one in your area. It is good that you are recognising that his behaviours are getting in the way of his success in the social settings that life will present him with. Time is of the essence. (parenting.org)

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saturday, january 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC supports President on GECOM’s chairmanship list rejection

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he Alliance For Change (AFC) on Friday said it stands in support of the decisions taken by President David Granger on the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) chairmanship, noting that those assessments are very much constitutional.

The situation, as it stands, has seen President David Granger rejecting the list of nominees presented by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, arguing that it was unacceptable.

Jagdeo and former Attorney General Anil Nandlall are considering taking the matter to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

However, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, speaking to journalists at the party’s first bi-weekly press conference for the year, at its Campbellsville, Georgetown office, said the Constitution has clearly laid out that the nominee for the position must be someone that is “acceptable to the President”.

“In my understanding of what transpired in the letter between the President and the OppositionLeader is that he (the President) has found that those first names on that list are not acceptable to him and that is wholly constitutional. You go to a second list and if on the second list the President feels that those six other names are not acceptable, he can say that they are unacceptable and he can proceed to name whosoever he wants of his own volition,” Ramjattan said.

According to the party

President David Granger

leader, the President really does not have to give the Opposition Leader any reason for refusing the names.

There is also no court of law that can compel him to do so.

“It is a political question and the matter is ‘non-justiciable’.” He said the issue of Anil Nandlall and Jagdeo going to the CCJ is not even possible, since any matter has to pass through the High Court and the Court of Appeal before it reaches the CCJ. “It is totally constitutional what the President is doing.” Ramjattan said he understands that the President has found the list of names

submitted unacceptable and he will now await another list of names.

On Thursday, Jagdeo said he strongly believed President Granger was playing politics with the matter and said he was considering having the issue resolved at the CCJ. He contended that Attorney General Basil Williams is erroneous in his assertion that the interpretation of the Constitution is at the discretion of the President.

The Opposition Leader also warned that Government might be setting the stage for a possible rigging of the next General and Regional Elections.

Jagdeo also suspects that Granger is relying on the “Burnham Constitution” – the 1980 Constitution which stipulates that the person

to be appointed as GECOM Chairman has to be a Judge or eligible to be a Judge only to be appointed by the President unilaterally.

The Opposition Leader highlighted that while individuals would have their own understandings, only the courts can make a determination of the most rightful interpretation.

Jagdeo also believes that the AG is wrong in his interpretation of the consti-

son who holds or who has held office as a Judge of a court having unlimited jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters in some part of the Commonwealth or a court having jurisdiction in appeals from any such court, or who is qualified to be appointed as any such Judge, or any other fit and proper person, to be appointed by the President from a list of six persons, not unacceptable to the President, submitted by the Leader of

the Opposition after meaningful consultation with the non-governmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.”

President David Granger initially rejected the six nominees submitted by the Opposition Leader following consultations with civil society on the grounds that they do not meet the constitutional requirement of being a Judge or being eligible to become one.

Lawyers to make...

from page 3

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

tutional provision which allows for the President to unilaterally appoint a GECOM Chairman.

Williams expressed that the Opposition Leader will have to submit the list several times until “he gets it right… failing which the President will be forced to make an appointment.”

But Jagdeo believes that provision is designed to ensure the country moves forward in the event the Opposition party refuses to participate in the process.

The Government and the parliamentary Opposition have differing interpretations of the Constitution regarding the appointment of the GECOM Chairman – a situation that has never occurred before in the country’s history.

Article 161(2) states, “Subject to the provision of paragraph (4), the Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a per-

In the appeal, the Government through Ramlall contended that among other things: The Chief Justice misdirected himself in law when he ruled that the National Assembly, which passed Act No 17 of 2001 purporting to alter Article 90 of the Constitution by way of a twothirds majority vote of all members, was unconstitutional and of no effect as it failed to comply with Article 164(2) (a).

Justice Chang erred when he ruled that the purported alteration of Article 90 by Act No 17 of 2001 in substance and effect “diminishes the democratic rights of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as President by excluding from presidential candidates citizens who have served for two terms as a President.”

Justice Chang erred when he ruled that the Proviso to Article 164 (2)(b) of the Constitution affected the purported amendment to Article 90 insofar as it seeks to “trench on and dilute” the pre-existing democratic right of the electorate to elect as

President a person of their own choice and is invalid and without legal effect for reason of non-compliance with Article 162 (2) (a) and or repugnancy with Article 1 and Article 9, both of which require a referendum for the amendment for any alteration.

Justice Chang erred when he ruled that while the Constitution provides for representative democracy, such representative democracy cannot trench on popular sovereignty from which it derives and which is entrenched by the requirement of a referendum.

Justice Chang erred in law in not satisfying himself that the court had jurisdiction to grant the reliefs sought by the plaintiff.

Prior to Friday’s court proceedings, unprepared Attorney General Basil Williams had written to Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh asking for the hearing to be adjourned until February. As such, when the matter was called on Friday, it was adjourned to February 15 for written submissions.

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saturDAY, january 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Club Privilege manager fined … charged for overstaying in Guyana

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ndre Nicholas Rodgeford, 40, the manager of Club Privilege, Tower Suits, was fined $15,000 by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for overstaying his time in Guyana.

The Trinidad and Tobago national pleaded guilty to the charge, which stated that he failed to comply with the conditions of his stay in Guyana.

The club manager told the court that he intended to apply for an extension of his stay on Monday last, but due to an ongoing Police investigation into an alleged shooting at the night club,

he was unable to do so.

The court was told that the manager was arrested and during the investigation, his passport was examined and it was then Police realised that had overstayed his time in Guyana.

He nevertheless told the Chief Magistrate that he would be applying for an extension.

McLennan suggested to the man that he apply for the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) certificate. The court also heard that the club Rodgeford manages is currently under investigation for a shooting incident which left a number

Andre Rodgeford

of persons being injured.

Reports are Police launched an investigation

into the operations of the entertainment after it was reported that a shooting incident occurred there.

According to investigators, the employees reportedly cleaned up the club after the shooting. This newspaper was told that after a report was made about the incident, Police went down to the club and the only sign of the crime were the bullets holes which were left in the walls.

A number of persons have been arrested in connection with the incident and Police are currently developing video footage from the club.

Rape accused suffers seizure, hearing postponed girl decided to speak out one day after school was dismissed.

She reportedly walked into the probation office a few days ago and confided in the probation officer, who took her to the hospi-

tal where doctors verified that she had indeed been sexually molested.

Family members also confirmed that the young child has been experiencing physical and sexual abuse.

Man charged for Tucville rifle, ammunition find

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Michael Williams

33-year-old Michael Williams of Wismar, Linden, who allegedly sexually assaulted an eight-year-old, was scheduled to appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan; however, as he made his way to the court room, he suffered a seizure.

An officer attempted to revive the accused, but this proved futile and the man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital. His hearing was postponed to a further date.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the eight-year-old

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aesar Gonsalves, the 28-year-old, who was on Thursday afternoon caught by Police in a Tucville apartment with a high-powered rifle, was brought before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Friday, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The man pleaded not guilty to the charge which

Caesar Gonsalves

alleged that on January 12, 2017, at Tucville, he had in his possession one .45 rifle and one live 9mm round of ammunition, without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Gonsalves, of 119 Turn Drive, East La Penitence, Georgetown, who claims to be a manager of a mining company, will make his next court appearance on January 24.

Based on reports received, Police swooped down on the apartment building, where they conducted a search. Initially, the search proved futile, however, one Police rank noticed that the suspect was sitting on a chair in a certain position and requested that a search be conducted on the chair. The man stood in a corner and as the ranks turned the chair over, they discovered the items.

A ballistics test is expected to be conducted on the weapon to determine whether or not it was used in the execution of any crimes.

Déjà vu…

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…on electoral activities

our Eyewitness has already mentioned that one reason the PNC-led Coalition government’s acting like the proverbial bull in a China shop, is they don’t give a damn about what the PPP says or do since they already have the next elections in the bag. But how can they be so sure? Have they been “wowing” their own supporters so much, they’re absolutely assured of a 2015 repeat performance? Have they bowled the PPP’s supporters over with their outreach and expect a massive “crossover vote”.

Since the answer to both is a resounding “NO!!”, we have to look elsewhere for an answer as to what’s the source of the PNC’s “spunks”. And your Eyewitness falls back on the old Sherlock Holmes maxim: “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” And since it’s impossible for the PNC to know with absolute certitude the outcome of the democratic throw of the dice come 2020, we have to accept what they have in mind is not a “democratic throw of the dice.”

And given the history of the PNC and elections in this country, this “non-democratic” option - or “rigging” - ain’t even “improbable” - it’s almost a certitude. The signs are clear- especially for those who remember how it was in the beginning when Burnham decided to rig himself back into office as early as 1966. The declassified files of the US government says so!.

Burnham decided to establish a National Registration Centre under the direction of - hear this - Minister of Home Affairs, Llewelyn John, and staffed it with all PNC loyalists. Since the voters’ List was supposed to be compiled by the Elections Commission, PPP member Janet Jagan smelled a rat and asserted the voters’ list would be illegally extracted from the National Register.

PNC member Desmond Hoyte stoutly denied this. The Chairman of the Elections Commission went along because he was a PNC loyalist. Déjà vu?

The PNC started acting “big and bad” not caring even for the opinion of its junior coalition partner - the UF. Déjà vu? Janet’s suspicions were confirmed and the new voters’ list - extracted from the National Register miraculously increased in PNC strongholds! By this time the UF knew it was “dead meat” since it’s 12% wouldn’t be needed any longer and pulled out from the coalition!

In the present, now you can understand why the Registration of births and deaths was hived off into a new Ministry of Citizenship Winston Felix - who is the new Llewelyn John. He too will be honoured!

Those who have eyes, let them see. When will the AFC?

…on law school

Your Eyewitness has a problem with this new law School’s that’s been floated, for a host of reasons. Not the least being the memory of a new Medical School that was opened in 2012 in St Lucia by a lot of “big ones” now associated with both parties in the new Government.

The school had to be ignominiously closed down two years later for the usual financial shenanigans. Lots of students - including some from Guyana - were left holding the bag.

But even if the law School was on the up and up, can Guyana absorb the deluge of lawyers that’ll be produced? Folks emphasise that ONLY 25 students from UG automatically enters HWLS. But the remainder can still write an entrance exam and attend. Is money the only hurdle? If the new law school charges fees substantially less that HWLS, isn’t this going to dilute the attractiveness of the profession to attract bright students since the influx will lower salaries?

Do we want to be like Cuba where ill-trained doctors and lawyers are a dime a dozen?

…in crime

With crimes spiking most recently with the blatant armed invasion and robbery of the Cambio dealer in Berbice and now the Pouderoyen NIS office in Demerara, does our Minister of Public Security still feel all is hunkydory in his bailiwick?

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

news

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saturDAY, january 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Red House fiasco

NIS robbery

Ramjattan supports Govt’s actions Special Constable … claims Jagan would not have wanted facility

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eader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan on Friday said founder of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr Cheddi Jagan would not have supported the actions of current Party members regarding the operations and functions of Red House. He said the leader would have condemned the preservation of his documents in “stolen property”.

Ramjattan, who served as Party member under the leadership of Dr Jagan, told journalists that the former President would not have found favour with all that is occurring with the research centre named in his honour.

“I want to say this; Cheddi would have been the first to condemn the preservation of his documents in stolen property, the misappropriated property. And more and more as we study the history, it was intended to be a temporary place for the laying of those documents.”

Ramjattan said the law has to be made applicable, noting in this regard, that no one should violate the law to store some documents of Dr Jagan, whom he said was a “great human being, Statesman and politician of Guyana.”

“To the extent that the law is going to say that that belongs to the State then fine, we will negotiate.” He questioned the reason why the documents of the for-

mer Presidents, including Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Arthur Chung and Desmond Hoyte could not be laid there, as was suggested over a year ago.

“We are not going to be diverted, we are not going to be obfuscated by this attachment to the legacy of (in

Centre Incorporated (CJRCI).

Red House was leased to the CJRCI for 99 years in order for the Research Centre to use the building to promote research into the life and work of Dr Cheddi Jagan.

President David Granger

The Red House which houses the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre

my book), one of the greatest Guyanese ever.” He said the law must take its course.

“We have to make the law applicable and if you violated the law to store Cheddi Jagan’s papers and documents, the law will still apply notwithstanding that great Statesman, politician and human being. This is where the thing is twisted out of context, the emotionalism, the obfuscation.”

The feud continues between Government and the PPP over the rightful ownership and use of Red House, which houses the Cheddi Jagan Research

just over two weeks ago, ordered the revocation of the lease of Red House, based on advice from Attorney General Basil Williams. The Attorney General had argued in a detailed statement the day before that the lease held by the CJRCI was invalid on several grounds, including that there was no evidence that the President of the day had sanctioned it.

However, quick action by the PPP-backed Management Committee of CJRCI saw legal action taken to reverse the President’s decision, with the court ordering that the property of

the CJRCI “not be interfered with or removed until further ordered.”

Following the filing of legal proceedings, workers of the Ministry of the Presidency had invaded the property and hammered down the hallmark sign of the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre.

This followed with former Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence who led a picketing exercise to disrupt a peaceful vigil, which was held by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) outside Red House.

Last week, the new Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, said Government’s approach to the Red House matter should have been less aggressive, in the interest of fostering national unity.

The new Minister in charge of promoting social cohesion, during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times weighed in on the controversy which is believed to have intensified the tension in our multiracial nation.

He explained that the actions taken by the Government were too extreme.

The matter will be heard again on February 20.

under close arrest

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s investigations continue into the armed robbery on the National Insurance Scheme at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD) on Thursday morning, a member of the Special Constabulary is under close arrest.

D Division Commander (West Demerara-East Bank Essequibo), Leslie James when contacted told Guyana Times that the Special Constable was on duty at the time of the robbery. While he did not divulge additional information, he noted that investigations are ongoing and that detectives are working with several leads at their disposal.

The Constable under close arrest was reportedly relieved of his service weapon and six live rounds of ammunition on the morning of the robbery.

However, from the inception, Police were working on the theory that the hit might have been an inside job, where information was divulged to the perpetrators.

At about 02:30h on

Thursday morning, six armed men carted off $6 million after they torched a safe in the NIS building at Pouderoyen. They made their way into the premises by cutting the chainlinked fence at the back, after which they attacked the two security guards on duty – a male and a female.

The perpetrators then disconnected the alarm system, as well as the telephone lines, before forcing their way into the building by kicking down the door.

Based on how they operated, it is believed that they were well briefed about the location of the safe.

Hours after the robbery, the two guards, including the one now under close arrest, alone with a supervisor and a junior employee of NIS, were detained.

Based on further investigations, the male Constable was held under close arrest, while the others were released.

Although Old Age Pension is paid out on the first day of the month, persons who are self-employed were visiting the office to make payments.

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saturDAY, january 14, 2017

News

46 complete Self-Reliance Coomacka strike Workshop in Kildonan Days later, drivers, residents

remain persistent

The 46 women who successfully completed the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop at Kildonan, Region Six. Also in picture are Barbara Pilgrim; Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Yvonne Smith; First Lady Sandra Granger; Deputy Director of the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus Paulette Henry; and Region Six Chairman David Armogan

F

irst Lady Sandra Granger on Friday presented 46 women with certificates of completion of the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop at Kildonan, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

“This is just the beginning of your journey of becoming professional businesswomen. Because we all know education is a constant thing, life must be [about] constant learning. Concepts change, the situation changes, so, to grow and develop and be successful we have to adapt and we have to recognise what is going on around us,” Mrs Granger told the graduating class.

The First Lady encouraged the participants to come together for the benefit their communities, even as she told stories of other

women who had successfully completed the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop in Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and fought for the betterment of their communities.

“There’s nothing like unified action. There’s nothing like getting together and [using] the force of people with their ideas and that vision moving forward to get it done,” Mrs Granger said.

Director of Interweave Solutions Incorporated, Wayne Barrow told the group that he was amazed by the overwhelming response they received from the women during the workshop. He also noted that within the workshop, the women were able to divide themselves into seven groups aimed at

improving their communities in one way or the other.

Meanwhile Deputy Director of the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus and Chairperson of the Lands and Survey Committee, Paulette Henry, who delivered the feature address, encouraged the participants to further develop their skills. “Every woman has the capacity to do, to become, to grow and I know that all of you here are coming out stronger than you were before. You are strong in the first instance.

This is helping to empower you. This is helping to make you to become truly self-reliant,” Henry noted.

Regional Chairman of Region Six, David Armogan, and Regional Executive Office Kim WilliamsStephen were also in attendance.

Residents continue their protest action over the deplorable state of the main access road

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ive days after commencing strike action over the deplorable state of the main access road, drivers operating in several mining areas across Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are continuing their strike until their expectations are met.

The road users who traverse the Coomacka access road are adamant that they will not resume operations until the regional officials complete rehabilitation work from Coomacka to Yaribo. Works should also include the rehabilitation of collapsed bridges in several affected communities, they added.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, Engineers from the Public Infrastructure Ministry and Regional Chairman Renis Morian are expected to meet with protesting residents and drivers on Monday.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, met with drivers

and supporting members of the community on Thursday and promised to assist, through dialogue with the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), as well as to provide assistance with drainage in the community of Old England.

Scores of residents, including school children from Three Friends, Coomacka, Nottinghamshire, Old England and Yaribo were left stranded over the course of almost a week due to the strike action. A resident of Coomacka told this publication that as a result, private vehicles are now being used to transport school children to school, however, only a few students were attending school.

Meanwhile, The RDC and the Education Ministry have provided transportation for teachers residing in the affected areas. Although the community was gifted a school bus via the President’s 5B’s initiative,

it remains grounded due to the state of the community’s access road.

“Just a few children going down to Mackenzie (Linden) with private vehicles. Other passengers are going down the same way, but not much,” one resident told Guyana Times.

“I’m not sure about the attendance at the primary and nursery today (Friday), but yesterday it was just a few children at both schools, mainly from our village (Coomacka),” the resident added.

On Tuesday, a large group consisting of residents, drivers and school children met with the Regional Chairman in front of the office of the RDC in Linden, where they vented their frustration regarding the issue.

According to the Regional Chairman, while work has commenced, the time frame for completion is uncertain.

saturDAY, january 14, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

News

More expenses for vendors

… to now pay vending registration fee

I

n light of the notice that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) will now be charging street vendors a registration fee of $3000 to ply their trade in the city, many vendors on Friday have denounced this move.

Speaking with Guyana Times on this new fee, one vendor, who identified herself as “Carol”, said while this is not the first time vendors have had to register; this is the first occurrence of vendors being obligated to pay a fee.

“I have been a vendor for a long, long time on these streets, and a long time back we had to register to ply our trade, and we got a lil ID card. But never have we had to pay anything! Not a dime!” she said.

Another vendor along Water Street, Georgetown, said that this is now an additional burden for her since she has a family to maintain and she is the sole breadwinner.

According to the mother of five, as a street vendor, she is required to provide a weekly fee of $1500 to

The broken stalls at Merriman Mall

had announced that vendors will not be allowed to ply their trade on the corners of the road, and many persons had been fined for this offence.

Now, the M&CC has indicated the vendors need to register in order to be able to sell on the road.

Moreover, the M&CC has implemented many measures which have had devastating impacts on persons vending in Georgetown.

Additionally, space in the capital city is limited to relocate vendors, as was indicated when the merchants who were

Vendors in the Stabroek Market Square

City Constabulary workers already.

“I done gotta pay $1500 a week to the M&CC and now they want $3000 more! That’s two weeks’ pay from me and my children mouth!”

Other vendors voiced that they are being bullied by the Town Clerk Royston King into complying with his “ridiculous commands” and they are prepared to fight it. However, they did not elaborate as to how they plan to take action.

Efforts to make contact with Mayor Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King on this new fee proved futile.

Meanwhile, last year, Mayor Chase-Green and Town Clerk Royston King

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moved from the Stabroek Market Square to a temporary location South of Parliament Building, and more recently were relocated back to market area.

At the time of moving the vendors, Mayor Chase-Green had stated that “no one will be allowed to ply their trade on the Stabroek Market Square,” as they [M&CC] sought to execute their clean-up campaign.

Only two days ago, the M&CC sought to demolish many stalls in the Merriman Mall, claiming that they were in deplorable conditions.

Prison vehicle slams into Uitvlugt pharmacy ‒ 11 injured

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leven persons, including eight Police Officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and three prisoners are now nursing injuries at the Leonora Cottage Hospital and West Demerara Regional Hospital after the prison vehicle in which they were travelling crashed into a pharmacy.

The incident occurred at around 07:30h on Friday, as the prison vehicle was reportedly transferring prisoners from Essequibo to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where they were all scheduled to be make appearances.

Guyana Times understands that the vehicle was about to pass the Tiwari Pharmacy, located in Uitvlugt,West Coast Demerara (WCD), when it almost collided with a truck coming out from the Uitvlugt Estate.

However, the officer driving the prison vehicle turned to avoid the collision and crashed into the pharmacy, located on the public road.

Most of the passengers sustained minor injuries, with the exception of two Police Officers and one prisoner, who suffered fractured

The mangled vehicle which crashed on Friday

limbs.

According to the Police, no prisoners managed to escape from the vehicle as public spirited persons rendered assistance. The prison vehicle, which had to be pulled out of the drug store, was badly mangled.

The pharmacy was reported to be in a terrible

condition and major repairs will have to be done to have it fixed.However, no one inside of the store received any injuries.

Reports reaching this publication also suggest that the estate truck involved in the accident sped away from the scene; however, this was not confirmed.

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saturDAY, january 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

$311M spent on rehab of stellings, wharves in 2016 – T&HD $294M to be expended this year

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he Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD) of the Public Infrastructure Ministry had undertaken rehabilitation works on various stellings and wharves across the country. These works racked up a bill in excess of $311 million, according to T&HD General Manager Marcelene Merchant during a presentation on the Department’s performance.

She noted that a $58.9 million contract for the rehabilitation of the “Goods Wharf” was awarded to M Sukhai Contracting Service.

This entails the construction of an administration building for which forty 65 feet piles were driven at the western side of the wharf. All deck planks and 6x12 beams were replaced and 15 existing timber piles were encased subjacent to the scope of works carried out to the northern section of the bond in order to facilitate the admin building.

For the first time a fender system was also constructed.

These works were completed within the stipulated four months.

Meanwhile, the T&HD Director noted that following the July 6, 2016 collision of MV Sabanto into the floatation unit and cluster piles at

T&HD General Manager Marcelene Merchant

the Supenaam Stelling causing extensive damages, rehabilitation works were executed by the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) to the tune of $17 million. The corrective works included the removal of damaged cluster piles, driving of new cluster, changing of damaged components and re-aligning the span to its correct position.

Additional works scheduled for the Supenaam Stelling are the rehabilitation of the side loading system where three piles were replaced; defective galvanise safety rails and lamp poles were re-installed; defective curb walls were re-casted,

and sections of the driveway to be covered with asphalt.

These works are ongoing for a sum of $7.8 million.

Further critical works slated to be carried out on the stelling include salvaging and removing collapsed mooring structures from river; construct and reinstall a mooring platform; reconstruction of mooring cluster, which entails driving of seven 70 foot piles; reconstruction of timber catwalk; repairs to mooring dolphins number one and two; and rehabilitation of fencing. These works that were budgeted for in 2016 to the tune of $10 million are still pending and expected to commence soon.

Moreover, Merchant noted that the entire stelling at Wakenaam is being rehabilitated with 30 piles driven.

All beams and deck planks were replaced and fender system was constructed.

Additionally, works were also done in the passenger waiting area, while the lavatory blocks and clerks booking office were rehabilitated as well. The contract was awarded to S Maraj Contracting Service to the tune of $11.8 million for labour since the materials were provided by the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s works services sec-

Bartica stelling

tion.

On the other hand, Merchant noted that several projects from 2015 were rolled over to last year. These include works on the Parika Stelling, which entails the reconstruction of 180 defective timber catwalks and the reinforcement of existing Pile clusters with 38 piles driven. A fender system was also constructed alongside mooring dolphins and the construction of steel gantry system, as well as repairs to link span-steel hinged support mechanism.

Works on the Leguan Stelling were also brought over to 2016 and included driving of timber piles in the carriage way area and southern section for fender system.

Replacements of the north-

Stakeholders urge Lindeners to develop tourism product

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ocal tour operators have urged the Linden community to develop their tourism product, which could then be used as a marketing tool to unlock the community’s true tourism potential.

The tour operators were given a first-hand look at the Linden community recently, as they visited several sites during a reconnaissance visit organised by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

Representatives from the GTA were actively involved in the visit to various areas in Wismar and Mackenzie; stakeholders included Salvador de Caires of Wilderness Explorers, Jamal Thomas of Evergreen Adventures and Mark McCal of Tours are Us. The Tourism Authority’s Product Development Officer, Hadoc Thompson, explained that the aim of the visit was to gauge the potential of the Linden community and to encourage tour operators to organise community tours.

During a discussion at the Watooka Complex, following the tour of the community, the visiting team engaged in a lively discourse about the town’s potential.

In his address to the gathering, which also included Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, Regional Vice Chairman Elroy Adolph and members of the Region 10

From right: Tour operators Salvador de Caires, Mark McCal and Hadoc Thompson along with members of the GTA at the Watooka Complex in Linden

(Upper Demerara-Berbice) Tourism Development Association, Salvador de Caires explained that before the trip, he was uncertain the potential of the mining town as a tourism destination.

He explained, “I do believe you have a product. I don’t believe it’s ready for market. I think we have to do a little work to get it ready for market.”

Alluding to the highlights of the visit, he referred to the Watooka Complex, where the meeting was held, as “magnificent” and a “gem”.

“I could sell this just as it is now. There is no other hotel or place that you could stay in the whole of Guyana that is like this place. This building needs to be preserved… whatever needs to be done to keep this go-

ing, needs to be done,” the Wilderness Explorer’s representative announced.

He suggested that some work be done to “spruce up” the Linden Museum; De Caires was impressed with the waterwheel and the drive along the river at Wismar.

The potential also exists for the promotion of canoeing, water skiing, fishing and community-based tourism, which will incorporate the Amerindian culture.

Meanwhile, Jamal Thomas of Evergreen Adventures said he too was impressed, and he expressed interest in returning to see what more can be done in terms of packaging. As it relates to marketing, however, Thomas opined that Linden was not yet ready. He noted that the waterwheel needs to be preserved, to make the

spectacular site into a tourist attraction.

“I am very impressed with Linden, in terms of the garbage situation. It is remarkable here. It is very clean. I love it,” he said.

In addition, Mark McCal from Tours are Us urged the community to work on developing community-based tourism.

He pointed to the development of trails and the training of tour guides, noting that it would be cheaper for him to take someone to Linden to do climbing instead of the Rupununi, which takes a longer time.

He also encouraged boat operators to develop a tourism package utilising the boats and river. Tours to the bauxite company, he noted, would also be interesting for tourists.

Mayor Holland, in his address, said Linden has a lot more to offer and pledged his support for the development of tourism in Linden, working in tandem with the community.

“On our trip to China, we were blown away, when we realised that Linden is on the WTF site as a prospective world top tourist destination… so we have the potential but we need to package it,” Holland said.

The GTA is planning a similar trip to Kwakwani; they were encouraged to conduct a similar trip to Rockstone.

ern six-pile cluster, defective pile, cap beams, decking beams and decking planks with newones, were also done along with the reconstruction of lavatory block. There were also repairs and painting works to superstructure, where 52 piles were driven.

In addition, Phase One of the Bartica Stelling project also spilled into 2016. These include the re-construction of the entire northern high ramp, the replacement of defective beams and planks onlow ramp. Repairs were also done to the timber roof valley and the supervisor’s office, as well as the northern fender system. Forty-six piles were driven during these rehab works.

Moving forward this year, Merchant noted that some

$294.2 million has been budgeted for upgrade works on stellings across the country.

She outlined that some $20 million will be expended for rehabilitation works on the Morawhanna stelling. Works will be carried out on the bond and wharf, while the fender system will be reconstructed.

This facility was last rehabilitated in December 2005.

Moreover, the T&HD General Manager added that another $10 million will be spent on rehabilitation works at the New Amsterdam and Rosignol stellings. Among the areas works are expected to be conducted at are; the lavatory block for staff and passengers, office space, lunch room and a few deck planks to be replaced.

Supermarket robbery

Duo charged, remanded

T

Daniel Grant

Shawn Thompson

he two men who robbed a Corentyne, Berbice Chinese supermarket were on Friday remanded on several robbery charges when they appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court.

Shawn Thompson, 23, of Market Street, Rose Hall Town; and Daniel Grant, 20, of Lot 55 First Street, Williamsburg, a spray gang operator attached to the Albion Estate, were slapped with a total of seven charges.

It is alleged that Thompson on December 31, 2016, at Nigg Village, Corentyne, Berbice, while being in the company of another and armed with a firearm, robbed Devendra

Narine of a cellphone.

Grant is accused of robbing Permaul Latchno of one Jialing motorcycle valued at $160,000, a DVD player and one cellular phone at Nigg Village on December 31, 2016.

Thompson is also charged with robbing 36-year-old Huang Jun Xiong of Good Life Supermarket, located at Lot 23 “B” Belvedere Public Road, Corentyne on January 10, of $500,000 in cash.

Grant, on that same day, is alleged to have robbed 36-year-old Zhang Bi Hang of Good Life Supermarket of one gold chain, one gold hand band and Digicel phone cards, totalling $1 CONTINUE ON PAGE 13

news

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saturDAY, january 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Granny jailed for DHBC apologises for narco trafficking extended bridge closing

A

58-year-old grandmother of New Amsterdam, Berbice, was on Friday jailed for attempting to traffic a prohibited substance into the New Amsterdam Prison.

Ramraji Deonarine, a security guard of Lot 257 Mayor and Town Council Scheme, New Amsterdam, pleaded guilty to a charge, which stated that on January 12, she interdicted narcotics into the prison.

Deonarine had six grams of cannabis concealed in a bar of soap which she was taking to a convicted prisoner, Anthony Persaud.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph told the court that on Thursday, Deonarine requested to visit the convicted prisoner and at

Ramraji Deonarine

the time had a bag containing several items she was taking for him. The prosecutor explained that Prison Officer Jennifer James, during an inspection of the

items, discovered that a part of the soap was dug out and the drug inserted and then covered with a piece of soap from the same bar.

According to Deonarine, she met Persaud while working as a guard at St Theresa Primary School one year ago, but he was jailed for three years. According to her, over the past year, she had been visiting Persaud in prison.

She said that on the day in question, someone met her at the prison door and asked her to take the bag to him. She said she was unaware of what was in the bag.

Magistrate Marissa Mettelholzer imposed a three-year jail sentence and fined her $15,000.

Government buildings to have free WiFi W

ork will begin in the first quarter of 2017 to install Public Internet Access Points (PIAPs) at public buildings, including Government Ministries, with over 600 buildings identified to benefit from the initiative.

An estimated $114 million has been allocated for this project in the 2017 National Budget.

Presidential Advisor on e-Governance, Floyd Levi, said that the initiative will increase the opportunities and channels through which thousands of individuals will access online resources.

He said it is part of the Government’s aim to reduce the digital divide and increase digital interaction with Government.

“When you get there you will have access to the Internet… this project will be started in the first quarter of 2017 and continue to expand for the remaining of the year,” Levi explained.

Additionally, the eGovernance agency will continue to roll out the WiFi projects in schools in the first quarter of 2017.

Levi said that this project will make learning for students a lot more fun and interactive. He explained that there will be limits as to how much time students will be allowed to use a computer system to access the WiFi network.

Levi said that there is also security software in the network that will prevent students from accessing malicious content and inappropriate websites.

He told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that the entire Government network is filtered with the security

Presidential Advisor e-Governance, Floyd Levi

on

software that will block access to harmful and inappropriate websites.

Noting that Government agencies need to communicate with each other, Levi said the way to do that is through the network. He pointed out that the e-Governance agency is responsible for the network and will provide a wide area networking facility for all agencies budgeted for by the Government.

“In 2016 we started that process and in 2017 we will continue that process and… every year, keep adding Government agencies to our network,” Levi said.

Among the Ministries and agencies that have already been added to the e-Governance networks are: Natural Resources, Agriculture, Public Infrastructure, and Legal Affairs Ministries; the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA); the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA); Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); Parliament Office, among others.

Meanwhile, an estimat-

ed $90 million will be used to provide Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n s Technology (ICT) access for Hinterland and remote communities throughout Guyana.

Community ICT hubs and PIAPs will be established in Masakenari, Annai, Lethem, Waramadong, Paramakatoi, Aishalton, St Cuthbert’s Mission, Linden, Bartica, Mahdia, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, and Kwakwani, in addition to at least 24 more pilot communities across Guyana.

Levi explained that the agency will be using a local telecommunications company and a private circuit to reach the targeted communities. “We will be using data services that are available at the communications company to take us to those locations very quickly, so in this instance there will be no need for us to run cables to those locations,” Levi explained.

Additionally, reaching the remote areas we will be done in two sections – one through the network using the privately circuit and the second way will be by using satellite-based Internet services to reach communities that are even farther off from the targeted communities.“In all of these communities we will be provided and established with ICT hubs,” Levi added.

Meanwhile, 17 post offices will be ICT ready in 2017. Kamarang, Acquero, Mabaruma, Ituni and Aurora are some of the post offices that are cited.

There are 64 post offices throughout the length and breadth of Guyana.

In 2016,10 post offices were made ICT ready.

The post at Span 37/38 of the Demerara Harbour Bridge which needed repairs

F

ollowing some two hours of built-up traffic along the East Bank Demerara highway heading to West Demerara, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC) has explained that the closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic was to facilitate emergency works.

Maintenance Engineer attached to DHBC, Christopher Grannum, said routine maintenance was being carried out on the bridge on Thursday when they realised that extended work was needed. This resulted in the maintenance taking longer than scheduled.

“Due to the critical nature of the work we carried out yesterday (Thursday), we encountered some difficulties and we would like to apologise for the problems on the East Bank road, but it was regular maintenance work that escalated to critical works,” Grannum explained to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

The Maintenance Engineer noted that when an inspection was carried out on Wednesday, it was realised that work had to be carried out to prevent a section of the bridge from collapsing.

An additional welding team was called in to complete the works. He added that if this was not done,

then it would have resulted in the bridge being out of operation for days.

“We found that the post at Span 37 and 38 of the

DHBC Maintenance Engineer Christopher Grannum

bridge was damaged. It had various problems. The eyes of the post were enlarged and it had a crack so we had to change it due to the severity of the situation. While changing the post yesterday (Thursday) we encountered some difficulties in extracting and installing the post so that’s why we went over the time limit,” Grannum underlined.

Meanwhile, the night retraction which restarted last November is expected to re-

duce the amount of traffic on the bridge during peak periods. This would result in less maintenance.

Grannum said it is too soon to determine whether the night retractions would have actually resulted in a decrease in traffic at peak period. He said efforts are intensifying to ensure that the traffic is reduced to decrease the amount of retractions and maintenance.

Nevertheless, the Management of DHBC is apologising to commuters for the extended opening of the bridge which saw persons travelling to West Demerara being affected. Long lines of traffic also affected people travelling along the East Bank of Demerara.

In December 2015, the Government received expressions of interest for the undertaking of a feasibility study and design of a new bridge across the Demerara River from 23 companies.

Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson revealed that during the first six months in 2017, the final study on a new bridge will be completed by the Lievense CSO, an engineering firm from The Netherlands.

Thereafter, the tender process for the construction of a new bridge will commence.

Duo charged...

FROM PAGE 12

Further, Thompson on June 6, 2016, at Market Street, Rose Hall, made use of threatening language towards Gary Batson.

Magistrate Marissa Mettelholzer placed him on a one-year bond to keep the peace after he pleaded guilty to that charge.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Orin Joseph objected to the two men being granted bail based on the gravity and nature of the offence. He told the court that the Police are still searching for the firearm which was used in the two robberies.

According to Joseph, both Grant and Thompson were positively identified from CCTV footage

obtained from Good Life Supermarket.

He also said that one of the victims in the Old Year’s Day robbery at Nigg Village knew the accused for most of his life and identified him at an identification (ID) parade.

Joseph argued that the court should refuse bail to both accused since the Police were able to recover a DVD player and a motorcycle which can be linked to the accused.

He requested three weeks to begin the trial. As such, Magistrate Mettelholzer remanded the men until January 30.

According to reports, at about 20:30h on Tuesday, the two bandits entered the

Good Life Supermarket situated at Belvedere Village, Corentyne and carried out a daring robbery.

At the time of the robbery, three Chinese nationals who operate the supermarket were on the premises. Four customers were also in the supermarket when the bandits entered. They took away $400,000 local currency and US$1000, along with cellular phones and other valuables.

Meanwhile, Thompson, who had appeared in court previously as a juvenile and was found guilty on a break and enter charge, was sent to the New Opportunity Corp to serve time. (Andrew Carmichael)

14

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, january 14, 2017

Regional

Holness invites Israeli Prime Brazilian state declares emergency after yellow Minister to visit Jamaica

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rime Minister Andrew Holness has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make an official visit to Jamaica, following a meeting on Thursday in Jerusalem.

The two men discussed possibilities for cooperation in water, agriculture and domestic security. “Jamaica, like Israel, is a strong democracy, and we have long admired the advances that Israel has made in technology, particularly in cyber security and in agriculture, and in other areas. The potential for cooperation between our two countries is great and Jamaica is very interested in exploring those

Prime Minister Andrew Holness (left) greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

areas of cooperation,” a Jamaica House release quoted Holness.

A day without murder

No one is killed in El Salvador for first time in 2 years

E

l Salvador, one of the world’s deadliest countries, has recorded a rare day without a single homicide.

The national civil police commissioner, Howard, Cotto said on Thursday that no murders were reported the previous day in the gang-plagued little Central American country.

The last time the country went a full day without any killings was January 22, 2015, accord-

ing to records kept by the Associated Press. It also happened once in 2013 and on two days the year before that.

Killings peaked at 104 per 100,000 residents in 2015, the highest rate for any country not in open war that year.

Homicides fell by about 20 per cent last year, but it was still one of the most violent countries with 81.2 murders per 100,000 residents. (The Guardian)

“The Jamaican people and the Caribbean region is a zone of peace, and we wish

peace for all the peoples of the world. And we do extend our sympathies to the people of Israel for the very unfortunate attack on your soldiers recently.

“We would want to also pursue with Israel economic cooperation. I believe that in building strong economies we can build a peaceful world,” Holness said.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, in welcoming Holness, said it is the first visit ever by a Prime Minister of Jamaica to Israel, so “it has a double significance for us”.

Just last month Israel called for deeper relations with the Caribbean Community. (Excerpt from Jamaica

B

razil’s second most populous state has declared a 180-day state of emergency after eight people died of yellow fever.

Minas Gerais Governor Fernando Pimentel on Friday announced the decision, giving him more leeway to manage resources to battle the outbreak in the state’s northeastern region.

Pimentel said there are more than 150 cities in the region where the state of

emergency will be valid, but only 21 have suspected cases of yellow fever.

So far there are 48 suspected yellow fever cases in Minas Gerais and laboratories have confirmed eight deaths caused by the disease.

Several cities in Minas Gerais state’s northeast declared a state of emergency earlier this week.

Minas Gerais is alos experiencing a severe financial crisis that has affected investment in basic services.

(Jamaica Observer)

Guy Philippe: Former Haiti coup leader pleads Small aircraft crash not guilty in US court lands on Barbuda

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our people escaped injury on Thursday morning, after the plane they were travelling crash-landed at the airport on the isle of Barbuda. “No passengers were injured and me neither,” 25-yearold Christopher Greaux, of St Barth, who piloted the plane, said.

The pilot, along with 29-year-old Jimmy Greaux, 27-year-old Marcel De LaMotte and 27-year-old Mathias Aubin are all reportedly surfers from St Barth.

Greaux said the “plane is out of the runway and it is secured and everything is ok.” The Police and the Fire Department are investigating the crash landing of the single engine aircraft.

According to a press release, the red and white

Observer)

Piper, called Cherokee Warrior, crash-landed around 09:40h. The aircraft arrived in Antigua at VC Bird International Airport around 07:48h, and then left for Barbuda around 09:07h.

According to a STRATCOM release, the pilot fell some 14 feet short of the runway, which caused the nose wheel of the aircraft to collide with the edge of the concrete runway strip.

The impact reportedly dislodged the front landing gear, forcing the aircraft to veer off to left of the strip, where it came to a halt. The incident forced airport authorities to close the airport temporarily. No major damage was reportedly done to the runway, and normal operations resumed in the afternoon. (Antigua Observer)

Repeal of ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy leaves Cubans stranded far from home

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undreds of Cubans who sold their homes and belongings in pursuit of an American dream that now lies in tatters have been stranded in Central America and Mexico on Friday after Washington abruptly ended a lenient immigration policy.

Barack Obama on Thursday repealed a measure granting automatic residency to virtually every Cuban who arrived in the US, whether or not they had visas, ending a longstanding exception to US policy.

The end of the “wet foot, dry foot” policy, which allowed any Cuban who reached US soil to stay, but returned any picked up at sea, took effect immediately. Cuban officials had long sought the change, arguing it would discourage people-

fever deaths

cy unless the Cubans presented a better deal, but it was not immediately clear if he would try to bring back “wet-foot, dry-foot”. (Excerpt from

The Guardian)

Philippe (left) is an ex-soldier and Haiti’s former Police Chief

A

Haitian former coup leader, Guy Philippe, has pleaded not guilty in a US court to drug trafficking and money laundering charges.

Philippe, 48, was arrested after appearing as a guest on a radio programme in Port-au-Prince last week.

He was flown to the US to face the long-standing charges. Dozens of his supporters attended the hearing in Miami, demanding his release. Philippe was recently elected to his country’s senate, “We are here to support Senator Guy Philippe.

We all feel like he is innocent,” said Haitian Senator Evince Francois. “We are here to let him know we stand up behind him. We think this is all politics,” he

told the Associated Press news agency.

Until last week, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) listed Philippe as a wanted man on charges of conspiracy to import cocaine and money laundering. His arrest, on January 5, came days before he was due to be sworn in as a senator, which would have given him some immunity from prosecution.

Campaign group Human Rights Watch has accused him of overseeing extrajudicial killings. Philippe, Haiti’s former police chief, denies any wrongdoing.

He took part in the 2004 rebellion that removed President Jean Bertrand Aristide from power. (Excerpt from BBC News)

IDB signs agreement to authorise partial use of Jamaica’s national procurement system People look on at a Cuban migrant boat that brought 12 people and a dog to the beach in September 2015. Cubans will no longer be able to take advantage of the ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy to emigrate to the US

trafficking and dangerous journeys.

Some expressed dismay that Obama, who is popular in Cuba for punching holes in the US economic embargo and reinstating diplomatic relations, had taken a measure they saw as hurting or-

dinary Cubans.

Washington has unveiled a flurry of last-minute agreements to try to prevent Trump reversing the 2014 detente with Cuba, one of Obama’s flagship policies.

Trump has said he would scrap Obama’s Cuba poli-

T

he Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) during the week signed an agreement with the Government of Jamaica to authorise the partial use of the national procurement system. The agreement effectively means that procurement can be undertaken by executing agencies, using the government’s procurement guidelines, rather than the IDB’s, once this change is outlined in the loan and grant agreements

of either current or impending operations.

In her remarks at the signing ceremony at the Finance and Public Service Ministry, Therese TurnerJones, the General Manager for the IDB’s Caribbean Country Department, said that the signing is a major step for the country “since it indicates that Jamaica has made several significant strides in modernising its public procurement processes, and therefore, only one

set of rules will apply as it pertains to procurement for IDB-funded projects.”

The signing of the agreement can also be viewed as the first formal step in a series of steps toward the full endorsement of Jamaica’s public procurement system and related policies to govern procurement processes that are classified under the national competitive bidding procurement methodology in IDB-financed operations. (Excerpt from BBC News)

saturDAY, january 14, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Protest after Modi UK students push for more non‘replaces’ Mahatma white thinkers on courses Gandhi in calendar S tudents at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) have launched a campaign to include more African and non-European thinkers on their courses.

The “Decolonising SOAS” campaign aims to address a dearth in non-European thinkers on the institute’s curriculum and to more critically examine European thinkers and their ideas on race.

W

orkers from an Indian government department have protested against a decision to replace Mahatma Gandhi in their official calendar with pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Staff at the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) said that they were “pained” by the decision. It supports village-level industries, which Gandhi passionately promoted.

The KVIC said it used Modi’s photos because he had also been a big supporter of village industries.

Khadi, which is hand-spun cotton, was used by Gandhi as a symbol of self-reliance and protest against British rule.

The commission traditionally uses Gandhi’s pictures in its official calendars and stationery. The decision to not include Gandhi this year has caused anger, despite a statement saying that he could “never be re-

Protesting workers say that nobody, including Mr Modi, can replace Gandhi’s legacy

placed”.

Some workers on Thursday refused to accept the new stationery and held a silent protest in the KVIC headquarters in Mumbai.

“We are not against inclusion of Modi’s picture on the dairies and calendars, but are pained not to find Gandhi’s picture,” the PTI news agency quoted a work-

er as saying. “We simply want to know why Gandhi has not been given the space here? Is Gandhi no more relevant for khadi industry?”

But the KVIC has defended the new calendar, which shows Modi emulating Gandhi in a classic pose, spinning cotton at an oldfashioned wheel. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Assad linked to Syrian chemical attacks for first time

I

nternational investigators have said for the first time that they suspect President Bashar al-Assad and his brother are responsible for the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict, according to a document seen by Reuters.

A joint inquiry for the United Nations and global watchdog the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had previously identified only military units and did not name any commanders or officials.

Now a list has been pro-

duced of individuals whom the investigators have linked to a series of chlorine bomb attacks in 2014-15 – including Assad, his younger brother Maher and other high-ranking figures – indicating the decision to use toxic weapons came from the very top, according to a source familiar with the inquiry.

The Assads could not be reached for comment but a Syrian Government official said accusations that Government forces had used chemical weapons had “no basis in truth”. The Government has repeatedly denied us-

ing such weapons during the civil war, which is almost six years old, saying all the attacks highlighted by the inquiry were the work of rebels or the Islamic State militant group.

The list, which has been seen by Reuters but has not been made public, was based on a combination of evidence compiled by the UN-OPCW team in Syria and information from Western and regional intelligence agencies, according to the source, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

UN chief prepared to meet US lawmakers amid push to cut funds

U

nited Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is prepared to meet with US lawmakers, a UN spokeswoman said on Friday, as some US senators push to cut funding to the world body over a Security Council resolution that condemned Israeli settlements.

The United States abstained from the December 23, 2016 vote, allowing the 15-member Security Council to adopt the resolution with 14 votes in favour. Israel and US President-elect Donald Trump had called for Washington to wield its veto.

On Thursday, Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham introduced legislation to cut UN funding until the President certifies that the Security Council

United Nations SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres addresses a news conference after the Conference on Cyprus at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, January 12

has repealed the resolution.

However, the legislation

stands little chance of advancing in Congress, where it would need Democrats’ support and even some Republicans consider the move as too extreme.

“The Secretary-General very much welcomes an opportunity to discuss any issues with US lawmakers,” UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko said. “We’re always eager and available to meet with US lawmakers as needed.”

She said the United Nations would closely monitor the progress of the U.S. legislation. The United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations, paying 22 per cent of the US$5.4 billion core UN budget and 28 per cent of the US$7.9 billion UN peacekeeping budget.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Administrators at the college, which is part of the University of London, have welcomed the drive to review the content on its programmes and are working with academics and students to look at what changes can be brought in.

“We’re called the School of African and Oriental Studies, so it makes sense that we include more thinkers from the regions we teach,” said Ali Habib, co-

President at SOAS students’ union and one of the activists leading the campaign.

“In one course, Introduction to Political Theory, we had 28 thinkers and philosophers, of whom only two, [Mahatma] Gandhi and Frantz Fanon, were not white,” he added.

The campaign has broad backing from students, with up to 900 attending events in support of the initiative.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

Chinese school allows students to borrow marks from ‘grade bank’ to pass tests

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any of us have been there: hopelessly unprepared for an exam, wishing we had studied more and certain of a failing mark. Now for students at one school in China, success is guaranteed, but it comes at a price.

A high school in eastern China has set up a “grade bank”, where students who would normally fail a test can borrow points to push them over the line into a passing mark.

But nothing in life is free, and students must repay their borrowed grades with even higher scores on a future exam. Students can also do extra work in the form of lab experiments or public presentations to repay the bank.

China’s education system is heavily dependent on just a few major exams, with entry into college almost entirely determined by one test in the final year of school. Students are under so much pres-

sure to perform, many attempt increasingly hi-tech methods of cheating. Spy cameras and radio devices have been found hidden in jewellery, spectacles, wallets, pens, rulers and underwear.

The “grade bank” at Nanjing No. 1 High School is currently only in the pilot phase, and so far only available for advanced students in the international department. (Excerpt from the Guardian)

16 news

saturDAY, january 14, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Fire guts apartment Communities Ministry addressing “lethargic” project building implementation, management By: Vahnu Manikchand

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ozens of University of Guyana and Texila University students, including Indian nationals, were on Friday night left with just the clothing on their backs as their Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown apartment building went up in flames.

The fire started sometime around 20:45h on the ground floor of the ‘University Off-Campus Lodge’ located in Third Street, Cummings Lodge.

The building reportedly has some 30 apartments, all of which were occupied.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the fire started in one of the western apartments on the ground floor of the building. One of the occupants of the building told reporters that he was

The heads of agencies and departments at the senior staff conference

The ‘University Off-Campus Lodge' located in Third Street, Cummings Lodge engulfed in flames

fire service arrived, firemen took some time before they began tackling the inferno. “There was no water when they came and they just stand up looking at the fire. But if they had

A view of the apartment building from a neighbour's yard

in his apartment when he started to smell something burning and upon investigating, he observed smoke emanating from ground floor apartment.

The young man said that he alerted another man, who was out on the road at the time and they kicked down the door to the apartment.

“No one was home so we kicked the door down and that’s when we saw the wire sparking and smoke everywhere,” the young man related.

Another person, who lives in another apartment building just next door, explained that he was in his quarters when he heard someone screaming “fire”.

“When I came out, there was heavy smoke coming from the building and the fire was now starting up,” the man related.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that the blaze quickly spread and within minutes engulfed the entire upperflat of the two-storey building, which had a wooden top and concrete bottom.

According to persons on the scene, when the

tackled the fire from the time they got here it won’t have spread and gotten so big,” one man noted.

Another witness related to this publication that the fire fighters quickly ran out of water and so they could not have com-

rest of the building would have been saved. There was a fireman at the back of the building standing on a tank with the hose and no water inside, and the building just burning,” the witness explained.

At the scene, many of the occupants of the apartment building stood as they watch the fire engulf the entire building, destroying everything inside.

The foreign occupants studying at the Texila American University, were traumatised and in a state of confusion as they contemplated their next move. One of them was heard asking the Police Officers at the scene, whom were trying to maintain order among members of the public who rushed to witness the inferno, about getting back their travel documents, including their passports.

Another one of the occupants, whose apartment was still untouched by the blaze after some 45 minutes, vented his frustration at the fire service saying that his living quarters could have been saved if

T

he various Heads and Programme and Project Managers of the Communities Ministry have been urged to improve their performances. The call was made on Friday, during the opening of the ministry’s first senior staff conference.

The conference was held under the theme, “Improving Management for reliable Community Services in pursuit of the Green Economy.”

Addressing the senior staff, Communities Minister, Ronald Bulkan, explained that the conference is aimed at addressing the malaise affecting project implementation and management, that Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, spoke of during his presentation of the 2017 National Budget. Minister Bulkan

on Friday noted that the Ministry has not been immune from the malaise to which the Finance Minister referred. He said that the ministry has however, commenced taking proactive steps to address the situation within its various departments, projects, programmes.

Minister Bulkan noted that in December 2016, the ministry successfully held an action-round table for regional development. He explained that the activity was designed to enhance coordination and understanding among regional managers of national policies and programmes and to promote, expand and improve the regional procurement system.

The minister said that the senior staff conference is a continuation of the pro-

cess towards addressing the lethargies within the ministry. He explained that the conference will focus on such topics as Earned Valued Management (EVM), tool.

The EVM tool provides for management of project within the framework of result based management.

According to the minister, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary and planners have been charged to come up with an appropriate way for implementing the EVM in the portfolio of the ministry’s projects.

The senior conference also addressed promoting stronger community participation in programme, projects and activities and aligning these with the government’s overall Green Economy agenda.

$100M “green energy” system commissioned in Berbice

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo assisting with the cutting of the ribbon to commission the Green Energy System

A

$100 million Green Energy System was on Friday commissioned at Tain, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

The project was com-

per hour.

Director of NPIC, Rajendra Persaud, explained that the company has already started to use the renewable source of energy and has also made the ex-

The apartment building sign

pletely put out the blaze.

There were also no fire hydrants in the area.

“The fire wasn’t all that big but the fire tenders didn’t have enough water.

If they had enough water, I think the back and the

efforts were taken to douse the fire.

Meanwhile, two hours after the fire started, firemen were still struggling to contain the blaze since the availability of water was limited.

The 720 solar panel roof at NPIC on the Corentyne

missioned at the Nand Persaud International Communication Inc Centre (NPIC) and will see the call centre utilising 720 solar panels to produce 220 kw

cess available to the Guyana Power and Light but there is no system in place to measure the amount being sent to the national grid and thus attach a fee to it.

Speaking at the simple ceremony on Friday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in lauding the initiative said the time has come for Guyana to seek alternative sources of energy.

Despite the prospects of fossil fuel being produced by Guyana, the Prime Minister said the country should not be totally dependent on oil.

Meanwhile, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin thanked the company for its contribution in realising Government’s prospects of making Guyana a green economy.

Region Six Chairman David Armogan reiterated the need for renewable energy by highlighting that the cost for fossil fuel is rising, while its acquisition and use has many devastating effects on the environment.

saturday, january 14, 2016

guyana-times.com

News

Kidnapped baby found alive 18 years later

A

newborn baby who was kidnapped from a Florida hospital 18 years ago by a woman pretending to be a nurse has been found alive and well in South Carolina. The mystery of Kamiyah Mobley became a national sensation when she was taken from her mother’s arms at the University Medical Centre in Jacksonville in July 1998.

Jacksonville Police have since revealed the teen found out on Friday morning that the woman who has raised her in Walterboro is not her mother, reported the Daily Mail. Gloria Williams, 51, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and interference with custody.

S

More than 90% of children reaching Italy’s shores are separated or unaccompanied – UNICEF

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Kamiyah Mobley (a composite created by Police) was kidnapped by a woman pretending to be a nurse (centre) 18 years ago. Gloria Williams, 51, (right) has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and interference with custody

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams said she will be extradited back to the city.

The sensational news shuts a cold case that accumulated more than 2,500 leads and tips and captivated both the city and the

country for a decade.

It was a tip last year that led Jacksonville police to South Carolina, where they found an 18-year-old woman with Kamiyah Mobley’s birth date but a different name.

They soon found out that

fraudulent documents had been used to establish her identity. A DNA sample from the teen was taken and submitted to a crime lab, where it was matched with the original newborn DNA taken the day Kamiyah was born. (New Zealand Herald)

Jamaican stakeholders learns about sea water air conditioning takeholders from the Private and Public Sectors in Jamaica now have a better understanding of how sea water air conditioning (SWAC) technology can help reduce electricity costs. At the end of 2016, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) collaborated with New Leaf Power to host a study tour of Canada.

During the trip, the group of 12 observed and learned about the operations of two alternative energy and eco-friendly air conditioning systems: the Toronto Deep Lake Water Cooling District and Emera Inc.’s

17

cooling system in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Stakeholders from Public Sector organisations, including environmental agencies, collected information about the potential and challenges of the technology.

Participants from Private Sector companies learned more about the system’s reliability of supply and the financial advantage of having a centralised district cooling network.

In the Caribbean, air conditioning accounts, on average, for 50 per cent of the total energy consumption in commercial buildings, including hotels, offic-

es and commercial shopping enterprises. SWAC is estimated to reduce electricity consumption for air conditioning by up to 90 per cent.

Robert Wright, Managing Director of Jamaica-based New Leaf Power, noted that the study tour was another important step towards introducing this technology in the Caribbean.

In the Caribbean, a SWAC system might draw cold seawater from a depth lower than 800 metres to a cooling station. This chilled water is then used to absorb heat from buildings and then returned to the ocean, usually at a shallower

depth. Several buildings can be connected to the chilled fresh water loop, a process that replaces conventional air conditioning.

The study tour was financed by CDB from the Canadian Support to the Energy Sector in the Caribbean Fund and the Canadian High Commission in Kingston and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation offices in Kingston and Toronto provided logistical support. The visit will be followed by a regional workshop on SWAC during the first quarter of 2017. (Excerpt from

Caribbean News Now)

oting that the number of children arriving in Italy by themselves via the sea in 2016 more than doubled over the previous year, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Friday called for urgent and special measures to protect them from trafficking, exploitation and abuse.

“These figures indicate an alarming trend of an increasing number of highly vulnerable children risking their lives to get to Europe,” said Lucio Melandri, the Senior Emergency Manager at UNICEF. In 2016, some 25,800 unaccompanied or separated children arrived in the European country – compared to the 12,360 who arrived in 2015. These children, arriving by themselves, also accounted for a staggering 91 per cent of all the 28,200 children who reached Italy’s shores last year as refugees or migrants.

A majority among of such arrivals were from Eritrea, Egypt, Gambia and Nigeria. Adding to the complex challenges, the Central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy also has an incredibly high ratio of unaccompanied and separated children among the refugees and migrants.

Compared to other routes, only 17 per cent of the child refugees and migrants who arrived to Greece by sea in 2016, came without adult family members or guardians.

“The presence of so

many unaccompanied or separated children along the central Mediterranean route is unprecedented,” said Melandri. “It is obviously clear that we have a serious and growing problem on our hands.”

Girls most at risk

According to UNICEF, though most of the children were boys aged 15-17 years, younger children and girls were also among the arrivals. Girls are at a particular risk of sexual exploitation and abuse, including commercial sexual exploitation by criminal gangs.

It further stated that several of the girls who were interviewed by its staff earlier this year in Palermo, the capital of the Italian island of Sicily, reported that they were forced into prostitution in Libya as a means to ‘pay off’ the cost of the boat travel across the Mediterranean.

Most of the boys spoke of being forced into manual labour.

In addition to protecting child refugees and migrants – particularly unaccompanied children – from exploitation and violence, UNICEF urged stopping the detention of refugee or migrant children; keeping families together; providing quality, learning, healthcare and other related services to all refugee and migrant children; addressing underlying causes of large-scale movements; and combating xenophobia, discrimination and marginalisation. (un.org)

Insurance coming for Region’s fisherfolk Icy weather in Europe causes

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risk insurance facility for fishers in the Region is in the works.

The Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) said the Caribbean Ocean Assets Sustainability Facility (COAST) insurance scheme will “offer an opportunity for countries to buy insurance to help protect their fisheries sector, and hence their food security, from severe weather while promoting resilience to a changing climate and encouraging the conservation of marine environments.”

According to Julia Duncan, who serves in the Secretary of State’s Office of Global Food Security, COAST will provide 180,000 fisherfolk and associated industries in the Caribbean access to insurance for losses from severe weather.

She said Jamaica has already expressed interest in COAST, which is also supported in principle by

the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Ministerial group, and the Caribbean Network of Fisherfolk Organisations (CNFO), in addition to the CRFM. The COAST initiative is being implemented within the context of the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy (CCCFP), which provides a useful framework for considering the requirements for country-led, climate-smart food security strategies in the fisheries sector.

Ahead of the implementation of the insurance facility, the CRFM hosted a twoday working group meeting at the Ramada Belize City Princess Hotel this week.

When fisheries ministers from CRFM member states met in the Cayman Islands in October last year, they re-

more hardship and chaos

M

Officials meeting in Belize ahead of the implementation of the insurance facility

viewed the progress made towards the activation of COAST. This week’s working group meeting, which the CRFM is facilitating in collaboration with the US Department of State, aided in the selection of a representative sample of Caribbean countries in which the initiative will be piloted.

The purpose of the meet-

ing was to chart the steps necessary to qualify a pilot country (or pilot countries) to purchase the COAST insurance product from the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility Segregated Portfolio Company (CCRIF SPC) before the start of the hurricane season on June 1, 2017.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

uch of Europe continues to be hit by icy weather with strong winds and powerful storms causing traffic chaos, power cuts and travel delays. Electricity supplies to nearly 350,000 homes in France were temporarily cut, while severe flood warnings are in place on England’s east coast.

As Germany prepares for more heavy snow, forecasters say the worst of the weather is heading eastwards. Freezing conditions continue in the Balkans and Turkey.

The World M e t e o r o l o g i c a l Organisation (WMO) said the cold weather was responsible for countless road accidents and school closures in addition to cancelled flights.

It also warned about the

impact of the cold weather on the homeless and migrants.

Officials are especially worried about the plight of these groups of people in Greece and Serbia.

Thousands of migrants in the Balkans live in tents with little heating.

The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, earlier said several migrants had died from cold and exhaustion in Bulgaria.

Some countries are suffering some of the heaviest snowfall in many years, with the Danube river and Bosporus sea strait closed to shipping. “Montenegro, Serbia, the republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria were much colder than normal, with temperatures as low as -15C over five consecutive days,” the WMO said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, january 14, 2017

ARCHIE

Take a short trip or sign up for an event, activity or re(March 21- treat that is sure to give you April 19) plenty to consider. Be prepared to take advantage of what’s being offered.

ARIES

Network with peers and TAURUS look over personal financial pa(April 20- pers, legal matters or contracts.

May 20) Set your goal and put together a proposal or plan that will ensure you get what you want.

Romance is featured.

dilbert

Personal relationships GEMINI are highlighted.

Discuss your (May 21June 20) thoughts and plans in order to bring about worthwhile change that will improve your life as well as important partnerships.

Meeting, sharing information and collaborating with (June 21- people most affected by whatJuly 22) ever change you want to make will help you make good decisions that will benefit everyone, including you.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Reconnect with someone from the past. Seamlessly implement old ideas back into your life. Melding the old with the new will help you gain perspective on how to move forward successfully.

Take care of your domestic VIRGO responsibilities before some(Aug. 23Sept. 22) one complains. If you use intelligence and imagination, you will find a solution that works for everyone involved.

Calvin and Hobbes

Demanding people will use LIBRA persuasive tactics and pres(Sept. 23sure to try to get you involved Oct. 23) in ventures that will not benefit you directly. Concentrate on personal gain, not on helping someone else advance.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Networking events will SCORPIO raise your profile. Don’t (Oct. 24be shy; if you express your Nov. 22) thoughts and ideas, you will meet someone who can use what you have to offer.

You should gather facts SAGITTARIUS and information that will al(Nov. 23low you to make changes at Dec. 21) home that will support a moneymaking project. Protect yourself against mishaps and minor accidents.

THURSDAY'S

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Question anything that CAPRICORN leaves you feeling uncertain.

(Dec. 22Decisions or actions should Jan. 19) not be impulsive or based on what others do. Learn by observing, not by making an unwise choice.

Get serious about what AQUARIUS you want personally and pro(Jan. 20fessionally, and how to get it.

Feb. 19) Team up with people who can contribute to your lifestyle and goals. Change will lead to greater stability.

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

Figure out what you want PISCES (Feb. 20- to accomplish, and get movMarch 20) ing. Bring about personal change that will give you the confidence to stand up for yourself. Express your needs.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, january 14, 2017

19

Shakib 217, Mushfiqur 159 Shakib Al Hasan lofts one straight past the bowler

grind New

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maiden double-century from Shakib Al Hasan and 159 stately runs from Mushfiqur Rahim drove New Zealand into the ground on the second day in Wellington.

Along the way, they recorded the highest partnership for Bangladesh in Test cricket 359 - their second highest total away from home - 542 for 7 - and endless smiles on the faces of fans back home staying up through the night.

The theme of play on Friday made it seem like Basin Reserve was a farmer’s market. It was bathed in sunshine but the Northerly was nowhere to be found, clearly it didn’t like what was being sold. “Time for runs,” said the sign posted over the

pitch. “Fair enough,” said Bangladesh’s two most experienced players and batted 82.2 overs in each other’s company. Shakib’s 217, at a remarkable strike rate of 78, was the highest individual score by a Bangladesh batsman in Test cricket, while Mushfiqur only just missed out on batting through the entire day.

“Patience for wickets?

Lovely, darling patience for a pretty packet of wickets?” tempted the old gaffer who kept following Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Colin de Grandhomme. The New Zealand bowlers bought into the deal initially. They targeted left-handers from around the wicket, placing the ball in the off-stump corridor and one of them snatched Mominul Haque’s edge in the third over of the day. It was the 44th instance that caught Watling bowled Southee featured on a scorecard, going past caught Smith bowled Hadlee. New Zealand didn’t quite keep their end of the bargain from the middle session onwards, leaking 273 in 61 overs at a run-rate of 4.47.

Zealand

Mushfiqur had to deal with a spate of bouncers early in his innings, copping blows to his fingers while awkwardly fending the ball away. But he wouldn’t give in. This pain was nothing compared to what he would have to endure if Bangladesh collapsed from a position of strength, again.

Coming back from a hamstring injury, Mushfiqur relied on his guts to survive. It was clear he was fuelled by the desire to show that the team he leads can do well outside their borders. He waited for the full deliveries to come and when they did, put them away gracefully. Lashes through cover, a push past mid-off, a stunning on-drive for four and excellently controlled glides through point fed his fourth Test century, which he celebrated by drawing out what looked like a coin from his pocket and raising it aloft. Shakib, meanwhile, had far fewer moments of discomfort because he was able to pick the bouncer early. He was happy to leave an over that was packed with them from Wagner, who plays on batsmen’s egos to hustle

them out. But the moment the short ball failed to rise high enough, he was onto it, pulling and cutting with no half-measures. With 128 of his runs coming behind the wicket, he moved to second place among Bangladesh’s top-run getters in Test cricket. He eventually fell with ten minutes to go for stumps, chopping on to Wagner’s bowling.

New Zealand would rue the catches that they couldn’t hold on to. Mushfiqur, on 28, flailed at a wide delivery from de Grandhomme, a very thick outside edge flew too quickly for Jeet Raval leaping up at second slip. He could only get fingertips to it. While that was a very difficult chance, on the first day Mitchell Santner dropped a straightforward one off Shakib when he was on 4.

The second new ball presented the chance for wickets and Boult was particularly effective in making it swing.

He squared Shakib up with a full delivery from wide of the crease and the angle made the batsman opt for a flick. A little swing away took the leading edge but there was no

atthew Wade performed a commendable salvage operation for Australia to put up a total that proved well beyond the reach of Pakistan in the first ODI at an enervating Gabba.

Defeat may be particularly ruinous for the visitors given an apparent hamstring tear to the captain Azhar Ali, who must now be in grave doubt for the rest of the tour.

Azhar suffered the injury early in Pakistan’s ultimately doomed pursuit, and did it no favours when coming back out to bat at the fall of the sixth wicket. Brisbane’s hot and humid weather also claimed an Australian casualty, with the debutant Billy Stanlake appearing in some distress and unable to add to his initial three overs.

Fortunately for Australia’s captain Steven Smith, he had plenty of other bowling options to call upon, including the exceptionally-tidy Travis Head.

Regular wickets down the order to James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins meant Pakistan were always short of what was required. Azhar’s injury will create a leadership conundrum for the tourists, as the vice-captain Sarfraz Ahmed has returned home for personal reasons. The day had begun more promisingly for Pakistan.

Unbalanced by Mohammad Amir’s dismissal of David Warner and Smith in consecutive balls, the newly-promoted Head and Chris Lynn were unable to go beyond cameos. Glenn Maxwell played sensibly for his 60 but Wade was left to accompany the tail through the later overs to notch his highest ODI score and third international century to ensure a decent target on a pitch that played a little more trickily than appearances suggested.

That impression was strengthened when Pakistan batted, as a series of mistimed strokes prevented the pursuit from developing any momentum. After the long break forced

by Azhar’s injury, Sharjeel Khan shelled Faulkner to midon, before Mohammad Hafeez followed a delivery going across him and was well held by Wade.

An offcutter bouncer from Mitchell Starc accounted for Umar Akmal, and a swifter delivery from Pat Cummins was guided unerringly into the hands of Smith at slip by Babar Azam. Mohammad Rizwan was held on the juggle by Marsh, and Mohammad Nawaz bowled by a hint of inswing from Starc before Azhar’s vain effort to revive the innings.

Azhar called upon Hafeez to bowl the second over of the innings after his return from

third slip to capitalise on it.

In the same over, Boult, going around the wicket, used seam movement to trouble Mushfiqur, to the extent that he inside-edged on to the leg stump but the bails, weighted in light of the winds usually prevalent in Wellington, did not move. Boult eventually got his man for 159, as a little bit of reverse swing away from the bat took the outside edge

through to Watling behind the stumps. A wicket off the final ball of the day - Mehedi Hasan for 0 - rang a little hollow for New Zealand, but they should not lose hope yet. The pitch had flattened out, there were no signs of deterioration, and the outfield was lightning. There were more runs to be scored at Basin Reserve.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Bangladesh 1st innings Tamim Iqbal lbw b Boult 56 Imrul Kayes c Boult b Southee 1 Mominul Haquec †Watling b Southee 64 Mahmudullah c †Watling b Wagner 26 Shakib Al Hasan b Wagner 217 Mushfiqur Rahim*† c †Watling b Boult 159 Sabbir Rahmannot out 10 Mehedi Hasan Miraz c Southee b Wagner

0 Extras (b-2, lb-6, nb-1) 9 Total (7 wickets; 136 overs) 542 To bat Taskin Ahmed, Subashis Roy, Kamrul Islam Rabbi

Fall of wickets 1-16 (Imrul Kayes, 3.4 ov), 2-60 (Tamim Iqbal, 14.2 ov), 3-145 (Mahmudullah, 37.5 ov), 4-160 (Mominul Haque, 43.3 ov), 5-519 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 125.5 ov), 6-536 (Shakib Al Hasan, 131.5 ov), 7-542 (Mehedi Hasan Miraz, 135.6 ov) Bowling TA Boult 31-4-1212, TG Southee 31-5-144-2, C de Grandhomme 20-2-65-0, N Wagner 36-6-124-3 (nb1), MJ Santner 15-2-60-0, KS Williamson 3-0-20-0 New Zealand team JA Raval, TWM Latham, KS Williamson*, LRPL Taylor, HM Nicholls, C de Grandhomme, BJ Watling†, MJ Santner, TG Southee, N Wagner, TA Boult

Wade, Faulkner give Australia 1-0 lead SCOREBOARD M Australia innings (50 overs maximum) DA Warner b Mohammad Amir 7 TM Head c †Mohammad Rizwan b Imad Wasim 39 SPD Smith* c †Mohammad Rizwan b Mohammad Amir 0 CA Lynn c †Mohammad Rizwan b Hasan Ali 16 MR Marsh c †Mohammad Rizwan b Imad Wasim 4 GJ Maxwell c Mohammad Hafeez b Hasan Ali 60 MS Wade† not out 100 JP Faulkner c Mohammad Hafeez b Mohammad Nawaz 5 PJ Cummins run out (Umar Akmal/Mohammad Amir) 15 MA Starc b Hasan Ali 10 B Stanlake not out1 Extras (lb-1, w-9, nb-1) 11 Total (9 wickets; 50 overs)268 Fall of wickets 1-13 (Warner, 4.3 ov), 2-13 (Smith, 4.4 ov), 3-52 (Lynn, 9.2 ov), 4-67 (Head, 12.6 ov), 5-78 (Marsh, 16.2 ov), 6-160 (Maxwell, 30.6 ov), 7-170 (Faulkner, 33.6 ov), 8-212 (Cummins, 42.5 ov), 9-235 (Starc, 45.4 ov) Bowling Mohammad Amir 10-054-2 (w-3), Mohammad Hafeez 7-0-23-0 (w-1), Hasan Ali 9-0-653 (w-2), Wahab Riaz 6-0-42-0 (nb1, w-3), Imad Wasim 10-0-35-2, Mohammad Nawaz 8-0-48-1

Pakistan innings (target: 269 runs from 50 overs) Azhar Ali* c Warner b Faulkner 24 Sharjeel Khan c Maxwell b Faulkn er 18 Mohammad Hafeez c †Wade b Faulkner 4 Babar Azam c Smith b Cummins 33 Umar Akmal c Head b Starc 17 Mohammad Rizwan† c Marsh b Cummins 21 Imad Wasim c Warner b Marsh29 Mohammad Nawaz b Starc 1 Mohammad Amir c Maxwell b Fa ulkner 8 Wahab Riaz c Starc b Cummins6 Hasan Ali not out 1 Extras (b-4, lb-5, w-5)14 Total (all out; 42.4 overs) 176 Fall of wickets 1-38 (Sharjeel Khan, 8.1 ov), 1-39* (Azhar Ali, retired not out), 2-47 (Mohammad Hafeez, 10.1 ov), 3-79 (Umar Akmal, 16.5 ov), 4-109 (Babar Azam, 25.5 ov), 5-129 (Mohammad Rizwan, 30.1 ov), 6-133 (Mohammad Nawaz, 32.5 ov), 7-158 (Imad Wasim, 38.3 ov), 8-163 (Azhar Ali, 39.6 ov), 9-171 (Mohammad Amir, 41.4 ov), 10-176 (Wahab Riaz, 42.4 ov) Bowling MA Starc 8-0-34-2 (w2), B Stanlake 3-0-13-0 (w-1), JP Faulkner 7-1-32-4, PJ Cummins 8.4-0-33-3 (w-2), TM Head 100-28-0, MR Marsh 6-0-27-1

Debutant, Chris Lynn creams a drive through cover

remedial work on his bowling action, and the gambit contributed to a subdued start by Warner and Head. Amir was duly permitted to calibrate his radar, and responded with the sweetest of late outswingers to confound Warner, then a delivery angled nicely across Smith for a first-ball edge behind.

Lynn, appearing at the scene of so many BBL feats for the Brisbane Heat, was able to connect with one powerful blow over straight midwicket, but fell victim to a presumptuous heave at a Hasan Ali slower ball to sky a catch. Head peppered the cover boundary off both front and back foot, but was less successful when he tried to drive Imad Wasim and was well held by Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps. Rizwan claimed another fine catch to account for a hesitant Marsh, and Wade arrived at the wicket without a half century in any format since

October. Initially he played in Maxwell’s considerable slipstream, the allrounder contributing well on his return to the XI, but after he also offered a high catch from a miscue and then Faulkner snicked to slip, Wade took control.

Fighting fatigue, he added 42 with Cummins, 23 with Starc and a hectic unbroken 33 with last man Stanlake to give Australia’s bowlers a chance under lights. Wade’s desire to get every last run was summed up when he turned little more than half a run into two with madcap running between the wickets to ensure he was on strike to reach a richly deserved three figures from the final ball of the innings.

Wade then proved his durability by keeping soundly throughout Pakistan’s failed chase, despite the heat; not just the Man of the Match, the iron man too. (ESPNcricinfo)

in

20

saturDAY, january 14, 2017

South Africa

27

control after 11 wickets tumble on day 2

Nuwan Pradeep claimed four wickets for one run in the space of 18 balls at the Wanderers

A

t least one Sri Lankan enjoyed himThe first session was nevertheless one to saself at the Wanderers. The third Test vour for the tourists, arguably their best durfollowed a largely predictable path as ing a difficult series, as Pradeep's interventions South Africa went about trying to secure a 3-0 caused South Africa to tumble from 364 for 4 series whitewash by following up a first-in- to 378 for 8 in a rambunctious 30-minute penings score of 426 with four top-order wickets riod of play. before the close of the second day but Nuwan South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis - who Pradeep's ferocious four-wicket burst at least was hit several times during his stay at the gave Sri Lanka something for their tour diary crease - may have spent lunch reflecting with as the Wanderers lived up to its billing as one of satisfaction on his decision to get runs on the the premier arenas for fast bowling. board first. This surface looked like only getting South Africa maintained a grip on the more treacherous to bat on. match despite losing their last seven wickets for Du Plessis, who had been worked over by 88, with Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada several blows to the body, enjoyed a let-off on picking up a brace apiece to take their com- 1 but was taken at the second time of asking bined tally in the series to 31 at 15.03. Bad light by Mendis when Pradeep had him fending brought an early close to the evening session, at a back-of-a-length delivery. Two balls latwith Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal er, Temba Bavuma reached for an ill-advised having battled through several overs of insis- drive only to see Silva snap up a sharp, overtent probing as the clouds closed in above the head chance at third slip, extending a poor ground. Sri Lanka's hopes of respectability will series for South Africa's No. 6. De Kock and lie with their two senior batsmen.

Wayne Parnell chanced their arm to good effect They needed their top order to show steady in adding 46 for the ninth wicket to stave off a heads after Pradeep and his whirling limbs had complete collapse and take South Africa past brought Sri Lanka back into the contest by tak- 400. Pradeep was denied a maiden Test fiveing 4 for 1 in 18 balls before lunch but Philander for when Karunaratne, the lone slip, could not reinforced South African conviction that they hold on to diving chance to his left with Parnell had established a match-defining position on 21 but he was dismissed in the following with his first over with the new ball. Dimuth over when he carved a square drive off Kumara Karunaratne survived a review for caught be- straight to deep point. De Kock then fell in simhind to his third delivery but made certain of ilar fashion two overs later, slicing a cut with his fate two balls later when some seam move- only Rabada for company. (ESPNcricinfo) ment from Philander's immaculate line drew a clearly discernible edge to Quinton de Kock.

Kaushal Silva and Kusal Mendis survived the odd streaky 426 (de Kock, 124.1 ov) Stumps - Day 2 moment to reach tea but both Bowling RAS Lakmal 30-8-81South Africa 1st innings fell soon after to Rabada after SC Cook lbw b Mathews 10 0, N Pradeep 27-8-78-4 (w-2), a 47-run stand. Next to go was AD Mathews20-6-52-2 (nb-1), D Elgar c Karunaratne b Dhananjaya de Silva as Sri CBRLS Kumara 25.1-2-107-4 Kumara 27 Lanka subsided to 70 for 4. (w-2), HMRKB Herath 14-0HM Amla c †Chandimal b Prade Success for the home 67-0, DM de Silva 8-1-22-0 ep 134 quicks was not unexpected afJP Duminy c Mendis b ter Pradeep had gamboled in to Kumara 155 Sri Lanka 1st innings cause havoc during the mornFDM Karunaratne c †de Kock b D Olivier c †Chandimal b Math ing. South Africa's position was Philander 0 ews 3 already bulwarked by the 292JK Silva c †de Kock b F du Plessis* c Mendis b Prade 13 run stand between JP Duminy ep 16 Rabada BKG Mendis c Duminy b and Hashim Amla but any T Bavuma c Silva b Pradeep 0 Rabada 41 hopes they had of batting on at Q de Kock† c de Silva b DM de Silva c Bavuma b their leisure disappeared amid Kumara 34 Philander 10 a clatter of wickets in the secVD Philander c †Chandimal b Pr AD Mathews* not out 11 ond hour. adeep 0 LD Chandimal† not out 3 De Kock was the only South WD Parnell c Tharanga b Africa batsman to make a notaKumara 23 Extras (lb-2)2 ble contribution to the scorecard K Rabada not out 0 Total (4 wickets; 28.4 overs)80 To bat WU Tharanga, HMRKB after the two first-day centuriExtras (b-11, lb-8, w-4, nb-1)24 Herath, RAS Lakmal, CBRLS ons and he was last man out as Total (all out; 124.1 overs)426 Kumara, N Pradeep the persevering Lahiru Kumara Fall of wickets 1-45 (Cook, Fall of wickets 1-0 (Karunaratne, also finished with four wickets.

15.3 ov), 2-45 (Elgar, 16.2 0.4 ov), 2-47 (Silva, 14.5 ov), 3-337 (Duminy, 88.4 Following a slide of 4 for 14, ov), 3-62 (Mendis, 20.2 ov), ov), 4-346 (Olivier, 97.5 ov), with Pradeep on the rampage, 4-70 (de Silva, 21.4 ov) 5-364 (du Plessis, 103.3 De Kock's 34 helped swell the Bowling VD Philander 9-3-23-2, ov), 6-364 (Bavuma, 103.5 total to still-daunting proporWD Parnell 6.4-1-16-0, D Olivier ov), 7-367 (Amla, 107.2 ov), tions: only once in home Tests 6-2-13-0, K Rabada 7-2-26-2 8-378 (Philander, 109.2 ov), have South Africa lost after 9-425 (Parnell, 122.1 ov), 10making 400 in the first innings.

F

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

local coaches now CONCACAF certified

ollowing the CONCACAF Goalkeeping and D. License Coaches programme held in October and November, 27 coaches who have successfully completed received their certificates on Saturday.

This presentation was made in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Boardroom by President of the GFF, Wayne Forde and Technical Director, Ian Greenwood.

Greenwood congratulated the candidates and informed them that the Federation will explore more technical courses in 2017 to build capacity of the coaches in Guyana, both nationally and at the Association level.

“We’re looking to have a lot more courses throughout the year (which will be) CONCACAF based, FIFA-based (and) from the GFF…we’re looking at developing the coach education structure at the GFF (and) linking it (to) the Coach’s Association as well. So throughout the year, there will be a structured calendar where there will be seminars, courses and development plans for you as individual coaches” he stated.

Additionally, a coaches’ data base will also be developed and employment opportunities will be made available. “We’re looking to employ TDOs (Technical Development Officers) in the local Associations; we’re looking to employ youth coaches as well in the Association,” Greenwood said. He also mentioned the possibility of national coaches being involved in international study visits.

Meanwhile, President Forde noted that the Executive Committee will place much emphasis on coaches’ education and infrastructure development in the New Year.

This will see an annual investment of approximately US$750,000 in infrastructural development. However, he underscored the

Eon Deviera receives his D License from Wayne Forde

need for self-development of the coaches to complement the formal training being provided.

“Apart from the training that Mr. Greenwood and the GFF will expose you to, you need to take some responsibility to develop yourself; you need to read, you need to research and (use) every opportunity you have to exercise your craft. If there is a school within your district, if there (are) a few kids within your neighbourhood that you can bring into the sport, if there is a club that you should be aligning yourself with, by all means take the initiative …” Forde stated.

KPL Fundraiser bowls off on Sunday at Everest

SCOREBOARD

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oftball teams were busy with preparations for the long awaited KPL softball tournament which was delayed by the inclement weather. Teams will be happy to know that this Sunday eight matches will be played at the ‘Mecca’ of softball cricket, the Everest Cricket Club from 9:00h.

Dave’s Pharmacy of Albert and Sixth Street have contributed in a healthy way to the tournament which is being used to raise funds for the Organizing Secretary of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League (GSCL), Samuel Kingston. Dave’s have donated trophies to Kingston.

Kingston was hit in the eye while playing a game at the Gandhi Youth Organization (GYO) ground on Woolford Avenue and as a result is expected to undergo surgery on his eye.

The operation which will be done in Trinidad and Tobago next in February 2017 will cost approximately US$5,000.

The tournament will be played in the over-40 and open categories with an entrance fee of $20,000 in each division. The big white ball will be used in the Over 40 category which will be of 20 overs duration, while the Open segment will be played with the supreme balls and will be 15 overs a-side.

In the Masters’ Category, On Pitch One at 10:00h, Mike’s Wellman open against Regal Masters while on Pitch Two, Wolf Warriors battle Ariel Masters. In the afternoon, the teams will be back in action again with Mike’s Wellman taking on Wolf Warriors at 13:00h on Pitch One while Regal Masters take on Ariel Masters on Pitch two.

In the Open Division, new comers Pigeon XI open their campaign against powerhouse Regal All-Stars at 9:00h followed by Super Stars versus Herstelling Raiders at 11:00h then Pigeon XI against Super Stars at 13:00h. The final match of the day will be between Regal All-Stars and Herstelling Raiders at 15:00h.

At the conclusion of the tournament the winning teams will receive trophies and medals.

21

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Crosse.

Presently Roopnarine Ramgobin is 33 years, but he is all but forgotten within the local fraternity. Ask a present youth cricketer

bright and he was regarded among the best, however, he faded quickly and never made it to the senior team.

His disappearance is viewed as unimaginable, unbeliev-

Roopnarine Ramgobin

able and disappointing.

Danny Narayan was a leg spin bowler, who was very capable with the bat.

He was destructive with his extremely slow big turning leg break deliveries. At the inter-county youth tournaments, Narayan collected several 10 wicket hauls and scored a few half centuries.

Subsequent to U-19 cricket, Narayan strung some outstanding performances for his club Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) as his batting overshadowed his bowling.

His batting developed at such a rapid rate that during a senior inter-county trial match in 2009 he scored an unbeaten half century but was unfortunate to be knocked out of the trials.

Ever since, Narayan has been in and out of cricket but recently he played for East Bank in the Jaguars Franchise League and was one of his team’s leading scorer. He also played professional cricket in Trinidad and Tobago.

Former Guyana youth skipper and West Indies youth player, Kwame Crosse seem to have loss his ability to score runs.

Like Narayan, Crosse recently participated in the Jaguars League but for the Georgetown Franchise.

However, his batting was not reminiscent of his dominant days as a teenager.

Crosse is a regular professional in Trinidad’s league but at 24 his cricket seems to be falling away slowly.

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Danny Narayan right and Tevin Imlach cross for a single during a century partnership in last year’s Jaguars Three Day League

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

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GCB assisting with blind cricketers world cup dream

ational wicket keeper batsman, Anthony Bramble and the Chanderpauls; Shivnarine the father and Tagenarine, the son highlighted the final practice match for the Guyana Jaguars ahead of the Regional Super 50 which begins on January 24 in Barbados. The match which was played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence in good weather saw the Jaguars prevailing by 90 runs over the rest team.

Batting for the Jaguars, Bramble blasted the top score of 95 from 67 deliveries and the elder Chanderpaul showed his class with a solid 87 from 115 deliveries while Tagenarine steadied the rest team with a respectable 85.

Batting first, the national team scored 289-8 in 50 overs thanks to

Bramble and Shiv who consolidated after the innings was in tatters following the loss of three early wickets including that of skipper Leon Johnson for naught.

However, it was Bramble’s big hitting that saw him reached the boundary seven times and cleared it on five occasions that eventually set the mammoth total. Christopher Barnwell found form to score 56 and shared in 130 for the fourth wicket with the former West Indies Captain.

The ever impressive Romario Shepherd, who was surprisingly omitted from the national team for this season, claimed 4-62 from seven overs and was the best bowler for the Rest Team. Sherfane Rutherford, one of the players recalled by the Guyana

Cricket Board (GCB) from playing for Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in the University of the West Indies (UWI) T20 Tournament to participate in a final practice match with little or no merit to him, Royston Crandon and Gudakesh Motie claimed a wicket apiece.

In their turn at the crease, the Rest Team could only manage 199 before they were dismissed in 45.4 overs.

Tagenarine was the top scorer while Vishaul Singh 49, Jonathan Foo 20 and Chandrapaul Hemraj 13, were the other players to reach double figures.

Left arm spinner Anthony Adams and seamer Raymond Reifer snared three apiece while Barnwell and Veersammy Permaul got one each.

Tevin Imlach drives Veerasammy Permaul during his brief stay at the crease

Split captaincy doesn’t work – Dhoni M

S Dhoni has revealed that his reservations with split captaincy were a factor in his decision to give up the role of India's limited-overs captain. Speaking at his first press conference since stepping down as India's ODI and T20I captain last week, Dhoni said he had waited for his successor, Virat Kohli, to settle in as Test captain before making the decision.

"Right from the start, when I left Test captainship, I knew split captaincy doesn't work in India, doesn't work in our setup," he said at a press conference in Pune, where the first ODI against England will be played on Sunday. "I was waiting for the right time. I wanted Virat to ease into the Test format. With so many games, I feel he is right there. With this kind of decision, there is no wrong decision in it. It is just the timing. I feel this is the time.

"And specially Virat, starting from Champions Trophy, to win the Champions Trophy in England. I felt it was the right time to move on. If I would've stayed till the Champions Trophy, nothing much changes."

Kohli had taken over as Test captain from Dhoni in December 2014, after Dhoni retired from the format during India's tour of Australia in 2014-15.

Dhoni explained that the rationale behind quitting Test cricket midway through the tour was to give someone like

Wriddhiman Saha, who was being groomed as the second wicketkeeper, greater exposure.

"A lot of people were like why did I quit mid-series in Australia, but you have to look at the bigger picture, what is more beneficial," he said. "One more game into my numbers, it doesn't make a lot of difference.

But, since Saha was there, he gets a chance to play one more game in Australia. And if everything goes well, he will be the person to be going on foreign tours, so he has that ex-

is always a vice-captain of the side irrespective of whether he is announced vice-captain or not," he said. "One thing is the field setting is usually given to the vice-captain or the wicketkeeper. In this scenario, I will have to keep a close eye as to what the skipper really wants, as to what are his preferential field positions.

"The main job is to make sure that whatever is the potential of the player, he is performing to 100%," he said.

"Usually if you can achieve something between 90 to

Dhoni, "I think the wicketkeeper is always a vice-captain of the side irrespective of whether he is announced vice-captain or not”

posure. And Virat also has the same kind of exposure."

Dhoni said he would continue to be a de facto vice-captain in Kohli's team by virtue of being the wicketkeeper.

From his position behind the stumps, Dhoni felt he was wellplaced to give the new captain counsel whenever required.

"I think the wicketkeeper

110%, you know you've done really well.

"You can't really get 150% performance from a player who is 80%. That's where you have to be very practical, very honest. There are different ways to handle everyone: for some it is a kind word, for some it is a harsh word. For some it may be just an expression with

your eyes. At times it may be the false confidence you give the guy because that is what is really needed at that point of time. You have to be clever enough to evaluate as to this is what is needed at that point of time.

Dhoni said he did not have any regrets during his tenure, or in life - "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" - and stated there were several moments, good and bad, which brought a smile to his face. High on the list was how the team handled the period of transition following the retirements of Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. "When I started there were a lot of senior players in the side and as we progressed there was a time when the senior players had to leave and we had to make sure the transition is smooth," he said. "The only good thing is over the period - once the seniors left us and the juniors came into the side - it is the same juniors who have started to do well. "We invested in them and over the period they started proving they are the ones who will take the legacy forward when it comes to Indian cricket, so that was a very satisfying thing to see.

Overall it was a journey I really enjoyed and it is something that brings a smile on your face whether it is the tough periods or the winning periods. Overall it is the journey that is more important." (ESPNcricinfo)

GCB president Drubahadur (left) presents the cheque to GBCA President Cecil Morris in the presence of players Ganesh Singh (centre) and Leroy Phillips (second right) while Melinda Bishundyal Chaitram of the GCB looks on

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Friday morning answered to the call of the Guyana Blind Cricket Association (GBCA) for financial assistance for three of the country’s cricketers to travel to India as part of the West Indies team in the Blind T20 World Cup. At a simple ceremony at the board’s Regent Road office, GCB President Drubahadur presented a cheque to the Guyana Blind Cricket Association’s head, Cecil Morris.

Ganesh Singh, Leroy Phillips and Kevin Douglas were selected as part of the West Indies team to the Blind Cricket World Cup following outstanding performances in the regional tournament last year.

While they have raised the airfare from Guyana to New York, they still require another $1.1 million of the $1.8 million budget to cover the air travel from New York to India. The GCB donated $250,000 to the association, which would now mean they still have to raise another $850,000.

“In the past we’ve always been there once they make the call, and we will continue in the future once all remains stable. I sincerely hope that this little token will go a far way in assisting you guys,” Drubahadur said.

President of the GBCA, Cecil Morris, expressed elation at receiving such support from the board, noting that it will give the players hope that the trip will eventually become a reality.

“This token will take us a far way in making the trip more possible for the three guys who are going and represent the West Indies.

Blind cricket has been a great catalyst for our people and we really appreciate once anybody can come onboard and give the kind of support that the Cricket Board has been giving us over a number of years,” Morris explained.

Earlier this week, Singh related the possibility of the West Indies team not making it to the tournament if the budget for the Guyanese trio is not met.

“The three of us who are

going from Guyana, two are B1’s (total blindness) and one is a B3 (partial sight). If Leroy and myself, who are B1’s, do not go to this tournament, it would be impossible for the West Indies team to play. Reason being, they only have three B1’s from Jamaica and Barbados that are already travelling and you need at least four B1’s to play,” Singh explained.

He continued, “Leroy is undoubtedly, at this point, the best B1 batsman in the Caribbean. I consider myself as veteran in the game, but I’m still considered one of the better, if not the best B1 bowler in the Caribbean. So the two of us are critical components of the whole West Indies Blind Cricket make-up.”

Since the West Indies Cricket Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired is in no position to assist financially, the players have to seek their own funding.

It is understood that the budgets for all the other players from the different territories in the West Indies team are already covered.

The Blind Cricket T20 World Cup, to be held in multiple cities in India, will start on January 28 and end on February 17.

It will feature 10 teams; Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies.

The West Indies squad reads: (B1)Anthony Cummins, Jason Ricketts, Marlon Cole, Ganesh Singh and Leroy Phillips; (B2)- Ricardo Manning, Kci Ward Ryan, Gregory Stewart, Caneel Graham, Alvin James, and Mark Goddard; (B3) Haldene Forde, Dennol Shim, Lo-Shane Myles, Mark Sweeney and Kevin Douglas The management team comprises Stevenson Evelyn (Manager), Glendon Coke (Coach) and Carrison Henry (Physio).

Meanwhile, persons desirous of assisting the players can call the Guyana Society for the Blind on 226-4496.

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, january 14, 2017

President of Wayne Forde

the

GFF,

S

lingerz FC General Manager, Colin “BL” Aaron has opened up on the issue surrounding the “high handedness approach” of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President, Wayne Forde. This is in relation to Slingerz FC and Alpha United FC not being allowed to participate in the Caribbean Club Championship 2017 after finishing first and second respectively in the first stanza of Stag Elite League.

“BL” recalled the chronological order in which the events unfolded from the period when Fifa intervened in local football matters during the Christopher Matthias era, which resulted in Fifa installing a Normalization Committee (NC), to the current state of affairs.

“These were businessmen who have no knowledge of the game and they came and rebuild the sport from administration wise right down to the field, start and implement the league, everything up and running, phase one we had no issue, everyone real energetic including the public and corporate Guyana. Then as soon as we have a new administration Mr. Forde want change everything. He want undo everything the NC put in place” the General Manager heatedly stated.

Aaron articulated that when Forde assumed office, his approach to the governance was one of the reasons that saw Technical Director at the time, Claude Bolton tendering his resignation.

“The first person that ran was the

R

CAC accredited judge, Franklin Brisport-Luke

23

Slingerz General Manager, Colin “BL” Aaron

Technical Director who had a big hand in the turning around and the framework of the football, Mr. Claude Bolton.

This is Mr. Bolton letter to Mr. Forde that he resigned because he got to allow the people who got their own vision and direction to charter their course. So it means while Mr. Bolton was going to the left; Forde was going to the right.”

This, according to “BL”, started to have a chain reaction in the GFF, “We start changing employment we have a dormant finance department and it is now controlled by Forde and the General Secretary at the time it was Morrison [Jones], he left they knock off the woman [Diedre Davis] Fifa put to train under Mr. [Richard] Groden. Up to now no one knows why she got knock off. So the man is not answerable to the members so now when we hold him to accountability we in bad standing so Mr. Forde should just do and say as he likes.”

The Slingerz General Manager made it clear that this “will not happen with the people who are managing these clubs and have knowledge of the rules, regulation

ecently accredited Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding judge, Franklin Brisport-Luke has missed one of the biggest chances to elevate himself as a judge and more so continue to fly the Golden Arrow Head high. acBrisport-Luke quired the qualification at the CAC 2016 championships in the Dominican Republic (DR) but noted that sponsorship to make the trip was a very hectic process. This is also a problem that many local athletes who are looking to make a name for themselves on the international scene have faced.

“The trip to CAC was very hectic in terms of sponsorship and is hindering the development of sports” Brisport-Luke said.

The 49-year-old Lindener said based on his excellent performance at the CAC examinations, he was invited to take the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) examination in Curacao in December of 2016, however due to lack of sponsorship, Brisport-Luke was unable to become the nation’s second IFBB qualified judge. But what was particularly devastating for the judge was

that he did not get the support from his hometown as he was expecting.

Brisport-Luke said, had it not been for his place of employment, the Demerara Harbour Bridge Incorporated and the President of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson sponsoring him, he would have not made the trip to the DR either.

Brisport-Luke has since urged the business community in Linden, particularly the Mayor and town Council, the regional Democratic Council and BOSAI, who are the three major investors to invest in talents that are brewing.

While the former bodybuilder did not indulge in calling names, he highlighted that there is a trend in Guyana of sponsoring only a particular group of sports while forcing the others to salvage whatever is left of sponsors and this should not be, seeing that bodybuilding in 2016 had recorded by far Guyana’s best performance in the sport.

The next major international hurdle, Brisport-Luke pointed to was the Arnold Classic where he is hopeful of getting permission to write the exam as well as four other shows he has ear marked including Mexico, Curacao and Suriname.

The CAC Judge related that the athletes of Guyana who go abroad are all ambassadors of the country and are working beyond what is required to put Guyana on the map and this is already becoming the reality of bodybuilding with the likes of Kerwin Clarke, Emmerson Campbell, Alisha Fortune and Bruce Whatley.

and the constitution. We will stand up for the right and the good of the game because look at the jaguars position and the president said he pleased with the performance of the jaguars and the jaguars had no preparation but he is pleased,” asking the question, “Where are we taking this football?”

Aaron highlighted too, that recently, Forde tried to “tweek the goal project that Fifa installed,” noting that “we going backwards all the time under this presidency,” Sharing the opinion that this is an issue of targeting persons while trying to undo all that was accomplished.

He made a point saying that “a president who was in all the meetings and consultations, came in to just dictate the sport, we aren’t objecting to changes but let’s do it together, if u want change it call we back to the table but you want do it alone. This is not going to happen.”

By looking at the larger picture, Aaron predicted that this is not only going to affect the club teams but the sport on a nationwide level.

“It will affect Guyana football because he will come and hand pick a team. If u want

expand there [are] rules and regulations inside the constitution and he handpicked the teams,” BL stated.

According to the official release from the GFF, “CONCACAF ruled that because the clubs are not in good standing with the GFF, in accordance with Section 111 art. L, of the Caribbean Cup Championship Regulations, and with the aim of properly safeguarding the integrity, smooth operation and running of the competition, (we inform you that) Alpha United Football Club and Slingerz Football Club are not eligible to participate in the 2017 edition of the Caribbean Club Championship.”

It noted that the genesis of this development began when Alpha United FC and Slingerz FC, along with two other clubs, objected to the expansion of the Elite League.

“Subsequently, the GFF engaged in extensive consultations and negotiations with the clubs in question in an effort to address their concerns. These consultations proved futile and the GFF reached out to CONCACAF who then provided comprehensive constitutional guidance that confirm the GFF’s authority to draw up regulations governing the conditions of participation and staging of competitions organized by the Federation. This interpretation by CONCACAF, sent to the Clubs on November 24, 2016, was acknowledged by the clubs but not contested.”

I

n an effort to encourage the playing of Fustal in the East Bank Football Association (EBFA), owner of the German’s Restaurant, Clinton Urling, made a donation of balls to the association.

Additionally, Urling handed over several high quality futsal balls to the Football Coaches Association of Guyana.

According to a release by the German’s Restaurant owner, this contribution is to assist the association in administering training programs in the 5 a-side version of the game.

Urling presented the balls to President of the Coaches Association, Wayne Dover and Vice-President Sampson Gilbert.

As it pertains to the beautiful game on the East Bank of Demerara, Urling noted that he has been following the progress of football in the association over the past three years and is encouraged by the collective work of the association’s executive and the clubs in their desire to ensure that players at all levels are active.

“You guys have been doing an admirable job by playing tournaments at the youth

Clinton Urling handing over Futsal balls to Franklin Wilson

and senior levels consistently and with the donation of these balls, I am challenging you to start looking at this small sided version of the game that can attract more players and even assist with sharpening the skills of current players.”

EBFA President, Franklin Wilson in accepting the donation from Urling thanked him for recognising the work that is being done in the association and noted that the clubs and the association executive has a working relationship and is always looking for

ways to improve and advance the sport in the association.

Wilson also informed that the association is working on brining all the clubs in line with updated constitutions and elections, Herstelling Raiders FC already falling in line with Circuit Ville Jaguars of Yarrowkabra on the Linden Soesdyke Highway expected to follow shortly.

Wilson promised that the association would be looking shortly at introducing Futsal in the association.

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

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Bramble, Shiv & TageHighlight Jaguars’ final practice match

Pg 22 Tagenarine faces premier left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul during his to score of 85 for the Rest Team

Pg 20

27

local coaches now CONCACAF certified

The 27 awardees along with President of the GFF Wayne Forde (second from left front row) and Technical Director Ian Greenwood (second from right)

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