Guyana Times Daily - August 25, 2015

Budget structure flaws exposed by PPP/C

tuesday, august 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Consideration of Budget estimates

Govt dilatory with direct answers

– 6 presidential advisors to pocket over $36M yearly

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

Consideration of the $221 billion Budget commenced on Monday in the Parliament Chambers with many questions left unanswered by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government, much to the dissatisfaction of the Opposition the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Though unable to answer many of the questions during that sitting of the Committee of Supply, promises were made by the responding Ministers to have the information made available to the Opposition at a later date in the name of transparency. Nevertheless, in responding to Bishop Juan Edghill, who now sits on the opposing side of the House, with reference to the six new employees contracted by the Government, Minister

of State Joseph Harmon disclosed that Political Affairs Head in the Ministry of the Presidency Fredrick McWilfred; Presidential Advisor on Sustainable Development, Dr Clive Thomas; Presidential Advisor on National Security,

Brigadier Edward Collins; Presidential Advisor on Youth Empowerment Aubrey Norton; Director of Public Communications Mark Archer; and Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Rear Admiral Gary Best are all being paid a basic salary of

$500,000 each. According to Minister Harmon, the benefits and allowances that are received by the Government officials are not “significant”.

With Bishop Edghill pressing for comprehensive information on the benefits and allowances being provided to these senior officials, Harmon made it clear that the incentives form part of a standard contractual arrangement for advisors that was in existence under the former Government. However, based on the information provided by the Minister, the contracted employees will each be receiving in excess of $6 million annually.

Meanwhile, former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali questioned the increase in funds allocated for the maintenance of buildings under the Office of the President. It was pointed out that there was a significant increase when compared to the previous year, with that line item being allocated approximately $22.4 million in

this year’s budget compared to $9.9 million in 2014.

Harmon, in responding, explained the Castellani House and the Presidential Complex are among buildings that were rehabilitated or identified for rehabilitation. In justifying this allocation to the Opposition, he further explained that the Presidential Complex experienced flooding on two occasions since the David Granger Administration was sworn into Office. According to him, it was important for the Ministry of the Presidency to take the requisite steps that would ensure the “complex represents the highest office of the land.”

Questions were raised regarding the contractual arrangements that have been put in place for the maintenance of these buildings but Harmon requested the committee’s permission for the information to be provided at a later date.

With the Opposition left searching for answers and a promise of a later date, PPP/C Chief Whip

Gail Teixeira expressed her dissatisfaction, noting that when the PPP/C was in office, information was willingly provided by the then Government when a request was made. But in rebutting Teixeira, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman said while the PPP/C members had promised to provide critical information, many of them never fulfilled their promises.

The National Communications Network (NCN) and the Government Information Agency (GINA) were also placed into the spot during the consideration of the 2015 Budget when the matter regarding subsidies and contributions to local organisation was raised under the Office of the President (Administrative Services) to which a total of $563.6 million was set aside in the recurrent budget.

The Opposition Chief Whip and her other supporting members sought clarification on the $80.4 million and $69.5 million allocated to GINA and NCN respectively under the Office of the President (current budget) and the $63.9 million and $27.2 million allocated to those same agencies under the Office of the Prime Minister to which they now fall. Harmon before advising the inquiring members of the committee to wait for the consideration of estimates provided under the Office of the Prime Minister explained that monies spent under the Office of the President were done so during the previous Administration.

The $221 billion Budget was presented to the National Assembly on August 10, by Finance Minister Winston Jordan under the theme “A fresh start: The Good Life in the Green Economy.”

Two charged for Ethiopia Creek Murder

Two men have been charged for the Ethiopia Creek murder committed last April. They were read the charge for the first time on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Rayburn Shivamber, 38, a miner from Sir David Street, Rose Hall Town and Quacy Walker, 25, a farmer from Kimbia, Berbice were remanded to jail after they were officially accused of

murdering Michael Delon on April 25. The duo allegedly murdered the man at Ethiopia Creek, located in Berbice.

Attorney Jerome Khan stood up for Walker. He informed the court that his client had been severely beaten and had only been taken for medical treatment after he had been taken to Eve Leary Police Headquarters. Khan said that he found his client in a deplorable state

and appealed to the court for Walker to be able to access private medical care. He stated that this would return some vitality to his client so his incarceration would not be littered with medical complications.

Magistrate Ann McLennan acknowledged this and ordered the men to appear back in court on September 18 at the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Courts.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon responding to questions posed by the Opposition

Former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali posing a question during the consideration of the 2015 Budget estimates

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Tuesday, August 25 – 13:30h-15:00h and Wednesday, August 26 – 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, August 25 – 12:25h-13:55h and Wednesday, August 26 – 13:35h-15:05h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Heavy

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High

Low

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Budget structure flaws exposed by PPP/C

..."new kid on the block" Finance Minister blunders

TConsideration of the Budget Estimates were delayed for several hours on Monday morning after the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) disclosed that the current structure of this year’s Budget Estimates violates two pieces of legislations that were recently amended by the A Partnership National Unity + Alliance For Change administration – the Constitutional (Amendment) Act of 2015 and the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act of 2015.

These Acts allow for certain state entities to be given Constitutional anonymity and form independent budget agencies in the estimates. As a result of the discovery, the members of Business-Sub Committee were called into a meeting following a letter from the parliamentary opposi-

tent with the two pieces of legislations.

According to Nandlall, following the discussions the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government had accepted that the estimates indeed violates the two pieces of amended laws. Nevertheless, the PPP/C Parliamentarian stated that the ruling administration has undertaken to correct those estimates.

Subsequently, the two parties have agreed to have the constitutional blunder corrected by way of a Consensus Motion that was to be drafted by the end of Monday. Nandlall outlined that this motion will bring the estimates in conformity with the two new pieces of legislation.

Elaborating on the explanation, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira pointed out that while in the begin-

tion to the Speaker of the House and Chairman of the Committee, Dr Barton Scotland.

During a press conference following the meeting, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, explained that after examining the estimates in its current form, it was found to be in violation of and inconsis-

ning government seemed to be reluctant to the PPP/ C’s position, in the end they were able to reach some consensus. “They two sides will work on the motion and it is hoped, that we would be able bring to the house before the end of the Estimates a Consensus Motion to correct and to bring the estimates into conformity

with the Constitutional Amendment Act and the FMA Amendment Act, both of 2015,” she noted.

In addition, the former Presidential Advisor under the PPP/C regime, outlined that they have to clean up the 2003 Third Schedule, where a number of the Rights Commissions were improperly placed under the Ministries. She noted that this will also be part of the motion.

However, Teixeira explained that the Constitution (Amendment) Bill was assented to on July 10th, a month before the budget was presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, while the FMA Act was assented to on August 5th, also before the presentation.

no small part in remedying the situation today. Had Mr Greenidge and Mr Jordan had conversations at Cabinet, where this budget should have been presented before it came here, these things would have been pointed out. Mr Greenidge upfront recognised that there is problem and must be corrected,” Edgehill stated.

Meanwhile, Government was quick to respond, admitting that a couple of the Constitutional agencies were not fully reflected in the estimates.

Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice President, Carl Greenidge, explained that the opposition brought to Government’s attention that tabulation of the estimates did not conform

“You can call him (Jordan) 'the new kid on the block', but certainly these are indications of incompetence or not being advised properly on these issues… these issues were very big issues in the last budget and therefore greater attention should have been paid to making sure that the government and the estimates were in compliance with their own Acts that were brought,” she declared.

Moreover, Nandlall had pointed out that the Finance Minister Winston Jordan had initially maintained he was in compliance with the new laws, however it was Vice President Greenidge, a former Finance Minister under the People’s National Congress (PNC) regime, who accepted that Government had erred.

On this note, former Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edgehill pointed out that it seems as though they Government officials are not working in a cohesive manner, noting that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

“There seems to be a lack of communication because Mr Greenidge played

strictly with the amended laws.

“They brought to our attention that a couple of the Constitutional agencies hadn’t been fully shown in the estimates in the manner that was set out in the Constitutional (Amendment) Act and more importantly, the Fiscal Management and Accountability (Amendment) Act,” he outlined.

Furthermore, questioned by media operatives about the reason behind this blunder, Greenidge sought to justify, saying that “life is a little more complicated than it otherwise appear”. He said “In the course of preparing the tables themselves, there are a couple of places where there weren’t properly reflected”.

Nevertheless, the considerations of the estimates continued in the Committee of Supply on Monday. While the examinations of these Constitutional bodies were deferred, the Committee went ahead with discussing the budgetary agencies. She explained that if completed, Consensus Motion will be laid today and would be considered on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Editor (Ag): Michael Younge

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

The wider role of sugar

The Minister of Agriculture is reported to have said that sugar faces a “rough road ahead” and that its “future” will only be known later this year when the Commission of Inquiry (COI) issues its report. In that case it is very unlikely that the sugar industry will survive in a form recognisable to anyone living today. And this is because the Peoples National Congress (PNC), which is the largest member of the coalition Government has traditionally been opposed to the success of the industry, which it viewed ordinarily from a political lens as a reservoir of support for its arch rival, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

Back in the 1974 when the price for sugar hit a huge peak and brought in billions of U.S. at today’s conversion rates, Bookers, the then British owners had the opportunity to use the windfall to transform the industry in a radical manner so that production costs could have matched lowcost producers such as Brazil. However rather than directing the “excess profits” be reinvested into the industry, the then PNC Government instituted a “sugar levy” that was first used to fund the investment into HydroPower in the Mazaruni and after the failure of that scheme, transferred annually into the Consolidated Funds to be frittered away on various “airy fairy” boondoggle schemes.

This levy was kept in place for over two decades and eventually squeezed the sugar industry drier that the bagasse that was left after cane passed through rollers weighing thousands of tons. In 1992, the industry that was passed on to the PPP was one of the highest-cost producers in the world - especially the Demerara Estates. The industry was also being managed by Booker Tate, which through it carried an old British name, had by them been bought out by a South African firm.

The PPP also inherited the ministrations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from the loans the PNC Government had negotiated in 1989, to bring Guyana’s arrears up to date. The IMF laid down a strict set of “conditionalities” vial which the sugar industry was going to be run. For instance, there were to be no investment in the modernisation of sugar factories and while there was an Agricultural Improvement Programme instituted, the funding constraints ensured that the husbandry practices necessary to bring back yields to those from the 1970’s had to be abandoned.

Then there was the contract with Booker Tate which gave massive incentives to that firm based on production rather than costs. It was of no surprise to anyone therefore that when the industry drafted a strategic plan back in 1998, it recommended the abandonment of much of what up to then had been the guiding principles of sugar production. The major recommendation was to bring down costs of production overall for the country to below US 12 cents per pound, which was a benchmark set by production costs for the largest substitute for sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup or Isoglucose.

The decision on the Skeldon Modernisation was one that anyone concerned with the long term survival of the industry in Guyana would have made. The PNC never opposed that plan on its merits: it’s attacks on sugar was always that labour costs were too high and these must be slashed. Based on the pronouncements of most in the top hierarchy in the Government, it is only a matter of time for the industry to be placed in mothballs.

But this decision will be a matter of cutting the PPP’s nose but spiting Guyana’s face. The entire populated coastland lies in a trench formed by conservancy dams inland and the seawall on the Atlantic. The justification for maintaining the intricate system of drainage for this trench was always the revenues from sugar.

If sugar goes without a crop as viable as it was, the entire coastland will go the way of Georgetown whenever it rains.

Budget 2015 – a 2020 vision, or a lack thereof?

Dear Editor,

The Minister of Finance perambulates at page 15 of the Budget Speech that “…we are all tasked with realizing the common vision of a good life for all who live within our nation. Mr. Speaker, I now want to share with all Guyanese across the length and breadth of our 214,970 sq. km, our vision of the Cooperative Republic in the year 2020”.

After examination, I concluded that if that is the vision that the APNU/AFC has for Guyana, then this nation will certainly stagnate over the next five years.

There isn’t a sentence in the budget speech dedicated to the administration of Justice, or the legal sector. Indeed, those words aren’t even mentioned in the speech.

Experts worldwide have concluded that there’s a strong causal connection between economic development and an effectively functioning legal system.

The justice system isn’t even mentioned in this

Government’s 2020 vision. This wasn’t an omission because in the estimates not a singular allocation is made for any new measure, initiative or project to be implemented for the year 2015.

The Lethem Magistrate’s Court and sub registry and the Family Court will soon be opened; the Deeds and Commercial Registry and the Land Registry will soon move portions of their operations to the former New Building Society Head Office at Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown; the Land Registry will soon move its operations into another new building at New Amsterdam. All of this will take place with much public fanfare, but these are all accomplishments of the PPP/C administration. However, no credit will be given. When this is over, nothing else is either planned or budgeted for the legal sector.

The Attorney General, Basil Williams, in his presentation compounds the problem by not alluding to

a singular new measure for the legal sector. No legislative agenda is outlined and no mention of Legal Aid is made, but an unrealistic commitment is given, not to reduce, but to eliminate the backlog of cases in the judicial system. This commitment alone demonstrates the Attorney General’s failure to grasp the magnitude of the challenges facing the sector.

Economically, the Minister of Finance said at page 15 “…over the next five years, we commit to the maintenance of macroeconomic stability by creating conditions to foster a positive growth trajectory while improving expenditure management and revenue administration, low inflation, stable exchange rate and sustainable debt”.

However, after a mere three months in Government, the exact opposite is the reality; negative economic growth, increased inflation and the exchange rate has moved from G$206 to G$212 for US$1. There

has been massive capital flight and the private sector confidence at its lowest in over a decade, nearly 4,000 persons were dismissed from the public sector and over 2,000 were laid off in the private sector because of negative downturn; no new investment identified.

Two of the largest productive sectors, sugar and rice, were allocated merely one paragraph each in this 2020 vision.

Regarding, sugar, the vision is “we anxiously await the Report of the Commission of Inquiry before deciding on the next steps” (p. 24). But this Commission of Inquiry has already telegraphed its finding. It is to sell out the industry. So that is, effectively, the vision of 2020 for sugar. The reason that will be advanced for selling the industry is that it is not profitable. So the sellers are already telling the buyers that the product that will be sold is no good but will still expect the buyer to buy.

continue to page 5

Compliments to the GMSA’s position on the Rudisa CCJ Award

Dear Editor,

I wish to compliment the GMSA on the position it has taken on the Rudisa CCJ Award and call on Guyanese again to get behind the Government to bring Rudisa back to the table. From my calculations Rudisa would have a net liability in favour of Guyana to the tune of over US$15 million. According to my calculations, penalty for Rudisa’s under invoicing was equivalent to the environmental tax and the penalty under the Customs Act is three times the value of the under

invoicing. Thus this penalty would be USD 18 million. VAT on the under invoiced goods would amount to US$0.96 million and profit taxes on the CCJ Award of US$ 6 million. CIDI is the company that paid the environmental tax amounting to US$2.4 million

As such, Rudisa would owe Guyana a net of US$15.36 million. This could buy 50,000 laptops or give education assistance for two years.

This brings me to the letter of August 13 from Ganesh Mahipaul. I am in

total agreement with Mr Mahipaul, we must honour the CCJ decision. However, the testimony from Rudisa officials accepted they under invoiced which is why I believe that Guyana should not pay a cent to Rudisa because the net effect would be Rudisa/CIDI will owe us.

But I want to remind that our Guyana Consumers Association need to join in and sue CIDI for the same amount of the award.

As for the Guyana Manufacturers, they have to come together and fight manufacturers in Trinidad

and Suriname and any other CARICOM country that subsidise their national manufacturers who sell to Guyana, their energy cost being the area to argue. Serious work needs to be done by the GMSA and they should look at the same treaty and press cases at the CCJ and the CARICOM Competition Commission, unfair competition, third degree price discrimination, under invoicing are all possibilities.

Sincerely, Manzoor Nadir

Performers at the Emancipation Jazz & Soul Concert on Sunday, August 23 at the Georgetown Club (Carl Croker photo)

President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo to blame for racial discrimination

Dear Editor,

I accept that the PPP/C was replaced as the incumbent Government. It is for the Courts to rule on the outcome of the 2015 Elections but as the only Opposition Party, the PPP/C must defend and promote the rights of all the citizens of Guyana.

The ongoing relentless arbitrary if not discriminatory acts of removing large numbers of people of East Indian descent from their positions within the Public Sector certainly isn’t a good sign for Guyanese. Immediately upon assuming office, the Government placed all emphasis on removing employees perceived as being friendly to the PPP/C, a majority of whom were East Indians, from the Public sector. I’m not aware of any of these positions receiving East Indian replacements.

The Prime Minister is clearly muzzled and dares not oppose his President as not only did he fail miserably in "bringing 11 percent of the East Indian votes" to the APNU/AFC coalition, he has also failed on every other promise

he made to all Guyanese during the Election campaign. He has not once come out in defense of the actions of his partners in Government or in objection to the ethnic discrimination currently ongoing. This is a man who swore to uphold the Law and fight for justice but seems to be a failure. It is clearly unacceptable to use derogatory words to anyone but to do it in Parliament and not be sanctioned by the Speaker is what East Indians in Guyana need to take note

of and be very worried. If this can be acceptable to the House of Parliament then it is definitely going to form a precedent in the country’s history.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo and President Granger are both to blame for this current level of racial discrimination as they are by their absolute implicit actions, creating an incendiary device to be lit under their watch.

Sincerely, Faoud Khan

Congratulations to the Guyana Cricket Board

Dear Editor,

I would like to first of all congratulate the Executives and Members of the Guyana Cricket Board as well as the players and management of the senior 4-Day team, the Under-19 team and the Under-15 team.

For the second year these youngsters have proven that Guyanese cricket talent when properly managed, can achieve miracles.

To the Executives of GCB, despite the many challenges faced from within and under the previous Government, you were able to stay focused and deliver good enough teams to win in 2014 and ably defend your titles in 2015.

Also, after almost 20 years, you were able to capture the Regional 4-Day title now called the WICB Professional Cricket League. Kudos to all involved and I do hope that the Georgetown Cricket Association and East Coast Cricket Association can see the light and join

with you guys. It has been four years since these Associations have participated in any competitions of the GCB. I must thank Mr Anil Persaud and Mr Gavin Nedd for ensuring that the young people on East Coast and Georgetown participated in and were selected to national youth squads.

I do hope that with the formulation of a National Sports Policy (not the controversial Cricket Bill), the Government can assist

those successful sports associations to enhance their performance. Those associations that performed creditably should be awarded appropriately to encourage the men and women that volunteer their services.

Once again, congratulations to the Guyana Cricket Board.

Sincerely,

Anand Dyal

Residents of Patentia grateful for parliamentary representation by the PPP/C

Dear Editor, Sometime back I have written about the condition of the Patentia Main bridge which needs urgent repairs. I have noticed the article carried in the Guyana Times of August 21 captioned: “MPS debate regional development, alleged neglect” in which PPP/C parliamentarian

Mr Komal Chand, who represents Region Three made reference to the access bridge at Patentia and how it needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

The citizen of Patentia wish to thank MP Komal Chand very much in representing our interests in Parliament, as he gives importance to the much nec-

Budget 2015...

In terms of rice, we are told that new markets have to be found. Every rice farmer knows this. The questions are, how, where and when. These are not answered in the 2020 vision.

Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) is identified as the key sector to drive economic growth. The reality is that the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Programme was scrapped by this Government though it envisaged the distribution of over 90,000 computers throughout the country. Some 54,000 have already been distributed. It has been replaced with an initiative of 9,600 computers to be distributed to teachers. These 9,600 computers were already purchased by the PPP/C administration and are en-route from China.

Under the heading “Governance” at page 55, there is a commitment to govern “in a transparent; efficient; inclusive and decisive manner; paying due regard to respecting and upholding the rule of law and the rights of all the citizens of Guyana”.

essary rebuilding of a new bridge at Patentia.

We, the residents of Patentia, call on the Honorable Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, and the Regional Chairman to take note.

Respectfully, Pt. Chandrecca Persaud

From page 4

However, in addition to the 4,000 persons unlawfully dismissed by the State over the last three months, there are many documented instances of racial and political discrimination, a constitutional wrong. The Public Security Minister the legal right of citizens to be at entertainment places after 2:00 am. Forensic Auditors have been handpicked in violation of the Procurement Act and the Constitution. The crime wave has skyrocketed. Minister Simona Broomes has been found guilty by the Constitutional Court for violating the Constitution by giving political directions to the Public Service Commission, an independent constitutional body, just after two weeks in Government. A constitutional reform body has been established by the Government with no consultations with or input from the Opposition or indeed, anyone else, in complete disregard to the Constitution which provides for a standing committee to be established in the National Assembly to deal with constitutional re-

form. Ministries and institutions have been renamed without any consultation. On the other hand, this Government already committed to increased remuneration packages for Ministers and four Vice Presidents. Each Minister appears to have at least two bodyguards and a driver. Each Vice President appears to have three bodyguards and a driver. The Prime Minister seems to have six security personnel surrounding him at all times. Each Minister has advisors and the Ministry of Presidency has severalall of them being members and supporters of AFC/ APNU, lending to the inference that they are hired not for their skill and competence, but as a form of political patronage. I predict that the situation will only get worse with time, and while we suffer a stagnant economy, we’ll continue to have a parasitical and bloated Governmental bureaucracy luxuriating off scarce taxpayers dollars.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP

President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo

Page Foundation

Do it now! Tips to get ready for

By Cynthia EwEr, author of Complete IdIot s GuIde to GettInG orGanIsed

Move over, summer – a new school year is coming! With the start of school, families face new organisation challenges. School bells ring – and so do early-morning alarm clocks.

Paper piles swell as hand-outs and homework stream into the house.

Shorter autumn days bring a hectic round of sports, activities and events, and calendars fill with cryptic notes. Can the holidays be far behind?

Get organised now for the best school year ever! Use these ideas to prepare your home and family for the busy days ahead.

Ease the family into a school year schedule

The first day of school is no time for a drastic adjustment of household sleep schedules. Instead, ease children back into a school year routine gradually. During the last two weeks of summer, re-introduce a school year bedtime. Begin waking late sleepers earlier and earlier, closer to the hour they’ll need to rise when school begins.

Don’t neglect mealtimes!

Younger children, in particular, need to adapt to new meal routines before the school day demands it of them. Plan meals and snacks to accustom little ones to rituals of the school day before the school year begins.

Create calendar central

Each school year floats on a sea of schedules. School functions. Lunch menus.

Scout meetings and music lessons. What do you do when you’re drowning in paper?

Nothing calms school year chaos like calendar cen tral: a centralised site for all family calendars and schedules. You’ll need a family event calendar to track after-school activities, school programmes and volunteer work. Add specialised calendars and schedules, and you have it: a one-stop shop for family time management.

sales month for clothing re- tailers. Back to school clothing sales begin as early as July! Are you prepared to run the school clothes gauntlet?

* An informed shopper is a savvy shopper, so prepare before you shop.

Form is less important than function. A paper calendar with large squares lets you enter information easily. Pre-printed white board calendars are easy to revise when necessary. Colour-coding entries by family member helps keep busy lives straight.

Paper planner fans dedicate a planner section to serve as Calendar Central, while tech-savvy cybergrrrlz store the info in a smart phone or tablet and sync with multiple computers. Choose a calendar format that works for your family.

Post the family event calendar in a public place near the telephone. Use magnets to attach the calendar to the refrigerator, or tack it to a bulletin board.

Add other calendars to calendar central: school lunch menus, class assignment sheets, sports practice schedules. When the room mother calls for field trip volunteers, you’ll know at a glance whether you’re free to join the group on the bus that day.

Plan before you shop August is the second-big-

* Take an afternoon and assess each child’s clothing needs.

* Empty drawers and closets of outgrown or wornout clothing, and either store or donate the discards.

* Working with your child, clean and organize clothing storage before new garments are added – and cut down on school morning calls of “Mom! I don’t have any clean...”

* Develop a wardrobe needs list for each child. Check for possible handme-downs from older siblings as you make your list. If you discuss the needs list and the family budget with your children before you shop, you’ll avoid in-thestore tantrums.

Similarly, ask the school for classroom supply lists before shopping for school supplies. Forewarned is forearmed ... and helps protect the family budget.

Do shop early! With back-to-school sales beginning in mid-July, tardy shoppers have a tough time locating needed supplies among September’s Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations. (www. organizedhome.com)

Tired of fighting? 3 ways you can embrace children’ screen time

Having grown up in the ‘70s, my natural default as a parent has been to rip the electronic devices out of my children’s hands and send them outside to play. Surely if I do this often enough, I will find them creating magical moments together building a fort, perfecting a soccer juggle or drawing sidewalk chalk masterpieces, right?

Wrong. Expecting my children’s childhood to mimic mine defies common sense – the world changes for each parenting generation. The biggest difference today – and the one challenging parenting norms – is the complete and total proliferation of media that permeates our jam-packed lives. It’s truly everywhere, and I know my default reaction to say “no screens” or “turn it off” is falling on deaf ears as my children get older.

offers a world of new opportunities and even health benefits to children – just like vegetables.

I recently learned about a concept being pioneered by Australian Psychologist Jocelyn Brewer called “Digital Nutrition.” As

ly may not seem so bad. But the hours and hours of digital media children consume, across different platforms and devices, certainly do add up.

So, what does this mean for parenting? How can we create a symbiotic, even positive, relationship with the digital media that surrounds us? Here are three things we’ve done recently that have changed the game in our household:

1. Take a new mindset

As simple as it sounds, it starts with changing the way you think about media and technology. I had previously thought of digital media consumption as dessert for my children: it’s bad for you, but you can have a little. After learning more, I now believe that technology

Brewer says, “Imagine if activities we use technology for... came with nutritional labels to help us understand their impact.” The team at Common Sense Media is on this as well – assigning insightful ratings to help parents make media choices for their children. Clearly, it’s not the medium of technology that can be healthy or unhealthy, it’s the messaging, the content and our usage. Which brings me to my second point:

2. Own the content in your household

It’s all about the content –the messages being delivered directly to our children’ impressionable minds in subtle and not so subtle ways. Similar to how a single paper cut would hardly ruin your day – but a thousand paper cuts certainly would – the messaging in much of the media content for children today, taken individual-

And guess what? Children prefer the equivalent of “junk food.” It’s no surprise that apps, games and movies that are mindless, crude or exceedingly silly hold great appeal to children. Cheetos are delicious, too, but we’ve let the bad stuff proliferate in such a way that we’re essentially feeding our children garbage. This is what really got me thinking, if negative media has such a massive impact, what about the power of positive content? The idea that we could actually inspire our children by curating the content they consume has been so powerful to me, in fact, that I’ve created a company called SmartFeed to help parents do just that. It is a huge part of our job as parents to own the content our children consume. Make it powerful and inspiring, and we’ll make our children strong and inspired.

3. Raise good digital citizens

(Parenting.com) TO BE CONTINUED

The concept of digital citizenship is not new, but it has not proliferated in the way that it should. Digital citizenship goes beyond just teaching your children about cyberbullies and the “forever” nature of everything posted. It also should include learning to self-regulate and to set limits on how we use technology. Going back to Digital Nutrition, it’s not healthy to overeat, nor is it healthy to be staring at a screen 24/7. Learning to choose to put devices away and connect as real live humans is a critical skill. It’s something we work on actively in our house. We started with a window every evening where all electronics are off limits – to the children and the adults.

We’re seeing more magical moments of the new media kind in our house with our newfound commitment to screen time done right. My children are inspired to get out and try trampoline tricks they saw on YouTube. They want to learn about other cultures from unique documentaries. We’re all motivated to connect as a family from the world of great content we are discovering.

Looking back, it’s easy for me to romanticise my childhood. In reality, there were probably a lot more moments riding my bike around in a circle, totally bored. If only I’d had a tablet handy to watch “how to do a perfect wheelie.” I could have been a pro –maybe even an Olympian – with a little inspiration.

tuesday, august 25,

St Francis celebrates 29 years...

SFCD vows to cut ties with some organisations

… many “community leaders” have no interest in the people, says Foster

The St Francis Community Developers (SFCD) is celebrating its 29th anniversary in the month of August. The organsation which started as the St Francis Xavier Youth Club; later changed its name in 1995 to St Francis Community Developers, to reflect the work which the organisation has been doing since its existence. The organisation proudly sports a record of never been involved in a scandal, and in the process, has won the admiration of its beneficiaries.

In acknowledging the 29th anniversary, President of the organisation Alex Foster boasted that SFCD is the only organisation in Guyana in the field of community development which can stand and say with authority that it is the only civil society organisation which has been able to embark on multimilliondollar projects in every single Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

“We worked in Moraikobai, Orealla and Siporita, Baracara… We worked in every NDC and also the municipalities. I am happy to say as St Francis celebrated its 29th anniversary and the beginning of out 30th year of existence, that we have completed these projects in grand style because we have the members of the community supporting us all along the way,” Foster said.

As SFCD moves into its 30th year, the organisation’s

President says there is nothing left for SFCD to win since over the past 29-years, it was won every available award in Guyana for accomplishment at the local level and in the Caribbean, as well as the Commonwealth, thus establishing its self as the most outstanding organisation in the 54 countries that make up the Commonwealth.

Awards

In 1992, 1994 and 2000, SFCD won the Commonwealth Service award which is presented annually to five outstanding organisations in the Commonwealth. The SFCD has also been honoured by the United Nations (UN) Millennium Development Goal for showing tangible progress towards the eradication of hunger and poverty. “To our friends and even our enemies we say thanks for making us what we are; our

enemies are our biggest supporters because they keep us inline and help us to recognise our faults and limitations.”

SFCD currently work with more than 150 social service providers from the Private Sector, civil society, faithbased organisations. “One of the things that we will be doing as we begin our 30th year, is to stop working with some of the organsation that we are working with because they are like ropes around our neck, only keeping us down; they are not ready for development.” Foster referred to members of those organisations as a group of selfish people who hold on to positions and masquerade as community leaders seeking personal gains.

According to Foster, as the organisation enters its 30th year of existence, it will become a bigger advocate for the voiceless. “That is the people who cannot turn up at functions to speak, yet we who gain status trampling on their pride, dignity and finances, enjoy a fantastic life.”

“For the next year, I will be on a campaign to attack everybody who claims they are in community development, misusing public funds and preventing others from serving because the people they claim to be representing continue to suffer.”

Pretenders

According to the SFCD head, many who claim to be community leaders have no interest in the people who they claim to represent. He

noted that several organisations have constructed huge buildings at Babu Jaan on the Corentyne to assist the underprivileged. He noted that one of the groups had gone to great lengths to prevent another from getting a lease to construct the building. “Hypocrites,” he called them.

“The amount of money that is spent in this country on HIV and AIDS; if everybody who is affected by HIV and AIDS was given that money directly they would have been millionaires… Yet some people, who

are HIV positive, never see a dollar. Some of us are travelling all over the world to attend seminars, workshops and receive training. We are too busy; we do not have time to do what we ought to do.”

Among the major successes of the SFCD, Foster told this publication, is being able to keep St Francis alive for the past 29-years. “Developing the best team of human resource across Region Six and introducing the Early Childhood Development project with the assistance of

UNICEF [United Nations Children’s Fund] to establish play schools across the region. We now have 12 play schools we are working with.” SFCD also boasts that is has been able to maintain a relationship with its partners and Friends of St Francis to tackle poverty in 23 communities. “We have also been able to maintain a unique relationship without major donor agencies with the number one being Food For The Poor (FFTP) Guyana Inc.

New Central Advisory Board for Education announced

ANational Advisory Council will be established to advise on the Education Ministry’s Vision 2020 Education Policy for the growth and development of the sector. This is according to Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

In addressing the House on Friday, Minister Roopnaraine explained that through the Council and other stakeholder consultation mechanisms, the Ministry intended to construct and implement an evidencebased strategy for the development of the sector. He said that the strategy would have as its basis a strong monitoring and evaluation component to guide both the sector’s success and failure, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Education

The Council will advise on a number of other core tenets including a broad multifaceted strategy framework for national education reform and development, reconciliation with existing in-

ternal policy and operational strategy and external consultancy recommendation. He said that particular focus would be placed on how technology could be used in the education sector for the management and delivery of service to advance hinterland education reform.

“We need all stakeholders on board,” Minister Roopnaraine said, explaining that the advisory council would be open to former Ministers and Advisers.

He explained that his policy was that only through meaningful consultations with experts and stakeholders, in developing programmes, would the Ministry initiate projects with an inherent monitoring and evaluation component.

SFCD President Alex Foster

Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

tuesday, august 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Visiting Guyanese collapses after remanded for weed possession

ACanada-based Guyanese on holiday could not control herself further after learning on Monday that she will not be allowed to go home to her son after being remanded to jail.

Rushelle Gittens, 45, who was residing at Charlestown since July 3 when she arrived from Canada for a month of holidaying with her son, collapsed in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts when Magistrate Ann McLennan refused her bail.

The woman had relatives and friends rushing to her assistance as they condemned the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for not doing their work

and arresting an innocent woman. Her supporters told all who were willing to listen that Gittens could not be guilty of being in possession of 1.550 kilograms of cannabis sativa (marijuana) with the purposes of trafficking the narcotic, since she is a “sweet girl.”

Gittens was charged for the offence with her boyfriend, 45-year-old Hubert Nathaniel Bartholomew.

However, Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that the illegal drug was found on August 22 at Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. He stated that the Police were acting on information when they busted the couple. He objected to bail profusely, stating

that Bartholomew was caught throwing the illicit substance over a wall.

The couple pleaded not guilty and was represented by Attorney Peter Hugh who stated that Police had brutalised the couple physically and emotionally. The Attorney said that money, jewellery and other items were also stolen from the defendants when the Police conducted their search.

Even so, Magistrate Ann McLennan refused bail to the couple. She ordered that they return to court on September 14. Other matters against the couple, such as disorderly behavior and resisting arrest were transferred to Court 10, for Magistrate Alex Moore to oversee.

2 jailed, 2 remanded for Oko Backdam robbery

Two men were sent to jail to face

3-year sentences on Monday while another duo was refused bail for a charge of robbery under arms in Oko Backdam, Cuyuni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The four men – Donston Fraser, 27, of 369 Anns Grove, East Coast Demerara; Deon Giddings, 24; Franklyn Adolph, 27; and Fabian Mars, 25, of 3068 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

All four defendants were marched into Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to face a robbery under arms charge which stated that on August 17, they robbed Reginaldo Mariho of his unlicensed Taurus Pistol and 20 pennyweight raw gold, all valuing $700,000. They were allegedly armed with a gun.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones gave the court the details of the robbery, stating that on the day in question at Oko Backdam, the defendants entered the mining camp of the Virtual Complainant (VC), a Brazilian Dredge Owner and licensed firearm holder. Jones further related that the men identified

$100,000

Athemselves as Policemen from the Bartica Police Station who had come to conduct a raid. It was at this time that the men relieved the VC of his firearm and his gold before making good their escape.

Giddings was the only one of the quartet who pleaded guilty to the charge, stating that they had not gone with the intention of robbing Mariho.

Magistrate Ann McLennan, presiding in Court Two, sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment while the others were refused bail. Their case was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for September 2. However, this was not the end of the matter for Fraser. The court had three other charges to read against the accused who was sentenced to five years imprisonment for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, corresponding ammunition and illicit drugs.

In detail, he admitted to being in possession of 2.32 ammunition on August 22 at the Tamakay Backdam, Middle Mazaruni River, Cuyuni, Region Seven. He also

pleaded guilty to being in possession of Mariho’s .23 Taurus Pistol without being the holder of the firearm license and 132 grams of cannabis sativa for the purposes of trafficking.

For this matter, Prosecutor Jones stated that it relates to the first where the Brazilian miner’s gun was stolen. He said the Police were acting on information when they raided the Tamakay Backdam and found Fraser acting suspiciously. He was picked out and a search conducted, revealing the illegal and unlicensed items he was in possession of.

Magistrate McLennan sentenced him to three years imprisonment for the possession of cannabis, with a fine of $198,000. He was also sentenced to one year imprisonment for the ammunition he admitted to having and another year for the unlicensed gun. Each garnered $5000 fines.

However, Magistrate McLennan relieved the burden, telling the man that he will be serving these sentences concurrently.

bail for suspected thief

n alleged thief paid $100,000 for his pre-trial liberty on Monday after pleading not guilty to the charge in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Johnny DeAndrade, 19, of Kwakwani, Berbice River, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) was put before Magistrate Ann McLennan af-

ter he was accused of stealing a motorcycle valued $80,000 between August 17 and August 21 while in Kwakwani, Berbice. The bike belonged to the Virtual Complainant (VC), Sidwick Conway. The charge was indictable. However, Prosecutor Deniro Jones asked the court to apply the

Budget structure flaws...

On today’s date, the Committee is expected to scrutinize the Budget Estimates for the 10 Administrative Regions. Asked whether the three days period would be extended given the four hours delay on Monday, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo maintained that they will not ex -

tend the allotted three days for the consideration of the estimates.

“We had given now, in the three days, enough hours – 10 and a half hours – that has literally rolled over into a full day, which was what the opposition was calling for. So I don’t see us going beyond the Sub-Committee’s recom -

Administrative of Justice Act which enabled the matter to remain in one of the Magistrate’s Courts. He objected to bail, stating that the court had other pending matters against DeAndrade. The matter was transferred to the Kwakwani Magistrate’s Court for September 18.

from page 3

mendation at this point in time,” he said.

However, Nagamootoo added that given Monday’s half-day delays, he is unsure of how the system can be tweaked to allow for the full consideration of the estimates.

Eyew tness Lowering the standards...

...to raise grades!!!

No wonder we have so many problems with our educational system when it comes to preparing our little darlings for facing the challenges of life. Seems that the philosophy of this Government is if your performance stinks, don't try to do better - just lower the standards!! And declare you're getting all "A's"!!!

After all, this is what the Government just did when they awarded themselves an "A" for their performance on the 21 promises they vowed they'd complete in 100 days of office. Well, 100 days passed over the weekend - and even one of their most fervent and rabid booster - the Stabber News - had to announce in screaming headlines "Half of 100-day pledges still incomplete"!! And for getting only half of whatever you're doing right, you get an "A"??? Talk about grade inflation!!

And really, if you really examine the Government's actual performance, the Stabber was being very kind. Too kind. If you were to weigh the promises in terms of their importance to the people, then the pass rate is just about 25%. And in your Eyewitness' book...that's a big, fat "F". Take the first promise the coalition made to induce Berbicians to vote for them: REDUCTION OF THE BERBICE BRIDGE TOLL!!

We all know what happened, don't we? The Government reduced the $2200 tolls for cars and buses by $300 and announced they've kept their promise!! Can you believe it?? That's like throwing a twig to a 250 lb fella who's drowning in the Berbice River!! As he goes under for the proverbial "third time", he's most likely be cursing the twig-thrower out something fierce!! The Government is getting a good "cuss down" from Berbicians!

The second promise was to give "significant" salary increases to "Government workers" in a whole host of categories like "education; security personnel; and civil servants on the traditional payroll." All this Eyewitness can say is it's clear that the word "significant"' has a different meaning for Government workers than to the Government. Workers got the same percentage that the PPP used to give them - and they used to condemn it as "chicken feed", But with the APNU, even the "chicken feed" was cut by half, since the increase only kicks in from July 1 and not Jan 1st like with the PPP!

Finally the biggest whopper was the promise to introduce a "phased reduction of VAT" from the 16% and the exception of some "essential items".

Citizens got Larwah on VAT and exemptions on Mayonnaise!!

And for that the Government gave itself an "A"!!

Look at their noses growing!

...in Parliament

This Eyewitness has already expressed his disappointment (but not surprise) at the actions of the APNU/AFC Government on their traducing the norms of that noble institution just to void being scrutinised by the PPPand especialły Bharrat Jagdeo. To look at them scrambling to avoid the former President you'd thing the Government benches were filled with vampires and Jagdeo had a stake to strike their hearts!!

But this time, we have to move from the violation of the "forms" - the rules of parliamentary engagement - to the substance - or what the Government benches actually contributed. And when you do that you really have to cry for Guyana. How can you have a Finance Minister not understand that pulling out $30 billion from the banking system will not be "counter cyclical"?

To break it down...taking out this money means banks have less to lend ...and businesses have to spend to tide them over or make investments they just won't be able to borrow at a low rate.

But even a technocratic Minister had to sing for his supper!!!

...on feeding

In these days of sensitivities on ethnic slurs and all that, why would the Muckraker, invoke images of "Feeding off the crumbs from the masters table"??

Are they getting ready to launch another war of attrition?

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

Nat'l Stakeholders Suicide Prevention Conference

NGOs, religious groups drafting Action Plan

Following the successful one-day stakeholders’ conference on suicide prevention, which was hosted by The Caribbean Voice (TCV), local Non-Governmental Organisations and religious groups have pledged their commitment to shy away from the individualistic approach and to address the issue of suicide as a collective.

The Conference, which was held on Friday at the Cara Lodge, saw representatives from Red Thread; The Indian Action Committee (IAC); the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) and Help and Shelter among others in attendance. Each organisation made valuable contributions through suggestions and recommendations to aid in the reduction of the high suicide rate in the country.

TCV Vice President Bibi Ahamad told the Guyana Times on Monday during a phone interview that members were currently analysing the data that came out of the Conference and were in the process of drafting an Action Plan to combat suicide.

“Presently, we are putting together a report about the proceedings of the Conference. We have decided to form a working group to take suicide

prevention awareness forward. Everyone who was there have agreed to be a part of this group and we will work together to develop initiatives and conduct outreaches in communities to address the issue and educate people,” she explained.

Ahamad noted that there were numerous recommendations coming out of the forum and these would all be included in the Action Plan.

She noted also that the groups were trying to get the Government more involved in the process.

“We are hoping that the Ministry of Social Protection – we will talk to Minister [Volda] Lawrence on this – for her Ministry to be actively involved in this group so that Government has a big input,” Ahamad

stated.

Also, she said the group would reach out to the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board inviting it to join the collective, given the fact that the majority of suicide cases in Guyana were as a result of individuals ingesting agriculture-based poisons like gramoxone.

Disquieting

Guyana’s suicide rate has evolved into a disquieting epidemic in the country, affecting almost every single person regardless of age, religion or ethnic composition.

Often, articles are reported about various groups conducting various sessions on suicide, in a commendable effort to combat the problem, but, arguably, the effect they

Bandits wreaking havoc on West Coast

– Tuschen woman robbed in public bus

Sherwin Lewis, of no fixed place of abode, was on Monday remanded to prison after pleading not guilty to a series of armed robberies committed against several persons during the course of the past two weeks. Guyana Times understands that the man has been creating havoc on the West Coast of Demerara and other villages along the East Bank of Essequibo (EBE) and has managed to elude the authorities for some time now, until he was apprehended on Saturday night.

His latest victim was Gangadai Persaud, a businesswoman of Tuschen, EBE. This newspaper understands that on Friday, August 21, Persaud boarded a minibus in Georgetown on her way home to Tuschen. She happened to sit right next to Lewis in the minibus, whom she later learnt is a known bandit.

Reports indicate that as Persaud was about to exit the minibus to make way for

another passenger to disembark at Anna Catherina, the man snatched her handbag which contained a quantity of cash, a Guyana passport, which contained a valid US visa, and other personal items and made good his escape.

Eyewitnesses say that the man made a dash for an area where there are huge bushes and canals which would have made his escape easier. Even though a relentless chase by public spirited citizens in the area proved unsuccessful, the Police were able to apprehend the man on Saturday night as he was hiding out in another village. A public spirited citizen found the bag containing the personal items, minus the cash, and has since turned it over to the Police. However, the bag along with all its contents was soaked as a result of the bandit jumping into the canals and trenches in a bid to escape. “Sherwin” as he is popularly known, is set to make another court

appearance on September 18, for this and a series of other armed robbery matters.

Persaud related that even though the amount of money stolen is considered a huge sum, she is more concerned about her Guyana passport which also contained a valid US visa, both of which are now damaged by water. She said that she now has to start the process of reapplying for a new passport and also a US visa.

Meanwhile, residents in the area are calling for the Police on the West Coast of Demerara to take a more proactive approach to fighting various forms of criminality, as for several weeks now; bandits have been creating havoc in various villages, especially the new housing schemes. They are also calling for faster response times from law enforcement whenever they receive reports of crimes being committed in their communities.

have does little to reduce the high rate of suicide in this country.

TCV is of the view that Guyana needs to take a more hands-on and proactive approach to address the issue, noting that this will require the collaboration and involvement of all NGOs to deliver a more lasting impact.

Guyana is ranked first in suicides per capita worldwide. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) 2014 report, Guyana suffers

44.2 suicides per 100,000 persons per year. In effect, there are about 333 suicides per year in a population of about three quarters of a million. It is also estimated that at least 25 per cent of suicides go unreported. This would mean that there are at least 425 suicides per year in Guyana. However, empirical evidence reveals that unreported suicides are higher than 25 per cent, thus actual suicides could well be higher than 425 annually.

Windsor Castle rice farmer commits suicide

– was frustrated by rice industry

A53-year-old largescale rice farmer of Windsor Castle village on the Essequibo Coast ended his life tragically on Monday morning after he became frustrated with the challenges he was facing with his business.

Dead is Bisnauth (only name given) aka Mighty who was a father of three.

According to information received, the rice farmer consumed a large quantity of poisonous substance early Monday around

04:00h. He was discovered by relatives but by the time efforts were made to take him to the hospital, he succumbed on the way.

He was later pronounced dead by doctors at Suddie Public Hospital.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that the rice farmer was the owner of 200 acres of rice land and had owed the bank. The instalments were piling up and with the current situation in the rice industry, he became

frustrated and confused. The rice farmer was said to still be owed for paddy sold to millers and he was not getting money from other sources.

He leaves to mourn his three children and reputed wife. Like Bisnauth many farmers are frustrated over the current situation and lack of markets for the rice crop. Many families on the coast depend on the cultivation of rice for their sustenance.

National Stakeholders’ Suicide Prevention Conference at Cara Lodge on Friday

Colin Welch appointed interim GPL CEO

Amid much controversy, Deputy Chief Executive Officer

(CEO) Colin Welch has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc following the dismissal of Bharat Dindyal some few weeks ago.

Renford Homer, Senior Divisional Director of the Commercial Services and Information Technology, has been designated interim Deputy CEO (DCEO).

These appointments will remain in place until the new Board of Directors of the GPL is announced and installed by the Government.

Meanwhile, Welch’s appointment comes in light of accusations that he abused his power as DCEO when he instructed two Senior Managers to go on leave.

This act by the then DCEO had sparked anger among staff in the entity, as unease and discomfort continued to escalate at the utility company, and with Welch being appointed as CEO, this development does not sit well with staffers.

According to the then CEO Dindyal, the regulations of GPL clearly state that it is the Human Resources Director or the

CEO who are authorised to send staffers off.

Earlier this month, Welch, accompanied by Police ranks, had visited the company’s Loss Reduction offices located on Sheriff Street where he instructed Senior Loss Reduction Manager Loaknauth Singh and Senior Investigator David Kaladin to go home, stating that there was an investigation ongoing involving “wrongdoings”.

Guyana Times understands that upon receiving the letters, the Managers contacted Dindyal, who arrived at the office shortly

after.

After being briefed on what transpired, Dindyal ordered that the two senior officers remain on duty, citing that the letters had no evidence or rational reasons supporting the dismissal.

“When you accuse people of wrongdoings and take a decision to send them off, evidence needs to be produced to justify this,” Dindyal had explained.

To date, no evidence has been provided.

In the meantime, advertisements to fill existing vacancies in the GPL’s executive management structure will be published.

Dindyal’s dismissal

Government on August 14 took a unilateral decision to end its engagement with Dindyal who served as the CEO of GPL for a number of years.

Dindyal had explained that his contract had officially ended on December 31 last year, but he continued to serve in the post of CEO as part of an ‘understanding’ between the then Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and himself.

He explained that he had relayed information to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

that he still intended to part ways with GPL, but was prepared to remain as CEO for an interim transition period. However, calls and even emails went unanswered when Dindyal sought the direction and advice of Minister Patterson as to the way forward, the former CEO told this publication. Therefore, a letter with such short notice that he was being relieved of his duties without any direct dialogue between himself and the subject minister was nothing short of a surprise, he noted.

“A lot left hanging” Dindyal also explained that there was “quite a lot left hanging” at GPL as there are a number of major projects/programmes ongoing at the power company. “There was no termina-

tion of my contract, if the Government didn’t change and it was still the PPP [People’s Progressive Party] Administration, I would have already left in June. I had wanted to leave in June,

but nobody told me anything,” the former CEO said. He further explained that after serving at GPL for more than half his life since it was called the Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC), he did not want to see the company in turmoil. Hence, he stayed on as CEO for the interim transition until a suitable person could be found to head the power company. In a press release from the Ministry of the Presidency, it was stated that Minister Patterson thoroughly examined these “pertinent facts” along with Dindyal’s intervention in matters relating to staff and his performance appraisal and other relevant information. On the basis of his assessment, he advised Cabinet of the decision to conclude Dindyal’s engagement with GPL.

President Granger calls on Pomeroon farmers to add value to products

– says stop the importation of canned items

President David Granger has called on Pomeroon farmers to add value on products coming out from the Pomeroon River in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam). Granger said farmers must move away from exporting raw materials alone and add value instead.

The President was at the time speaking at the handing over of a school boat at Charity, on the Essequibo Coast last Friday. Speaking to the large gath-

ering, President Granger said the Pomeroon River is blessed with the abundance of coconuts, stating that the "Pomeroon has the king of coconuts, why import coconut water when you can produce your own, you need to become self sufficient and stop depending on Government jobs".

He called for Region Two to become more involved in agro processing and for value to be added to products such as rice crisps, coconut oil and

sugar cake. The President said that Region Two is blessed with fertile land and persons must venture into agriculture and produce for themselves. "You need to become entrepreneurs, produce and export. You will get more money," the Head of State said. Granger also said that most of the items Guyanese import as canned food items can be produced in Guyana, which in turn would result in revenue earned.

OPR to investigate accusation against Mahaicony ranks

In light of a recent article that was published in the Guyana Times newspaper, which stated that Police ranks at the Mahaicony Police Station were accepting bribes in connection with a fatal accident, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud has instructed that an investigation be launched by the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

The accident, which reportedly occurred on July 12, at Now and Never, East Coast Demerara, left Ramdass Rayan Singh, 25, dead.

Two sets of brothers – Rawle and Richard Chichester and Rawle and Quacy Shepherd – would have sustained injuries as a result of the accident.

Vanessa Singh, wife of the deceased, blasted the Police for their unprofessional conduct. She claimed that to date, no Police ranks visited her home to take a statement and every time

she calls at the station to enquire about the investigation into her husband’s death, she is given the royal runaround.

The grieving wife claimed that one day after the accident, Rawle Chichester who was reportedly the driver of the vehicle when the accident occurred, visited her home to enquire whether

or not he can tell the Police that her husband was driving the car at the time of the accident.

On the night of the accident, she recalled her husband going into the back seat of the car with Richard Chichester and Rawle Shepherd. Her husband was seated in the middle, she stated.

She further stated that Quacy Shepherd was the front-seat passenger while Rawle Chichester was in the driver’s seat. The woman claimed that after she refused to conspire with them, they have since stopped talking to her family.

Another young man who was in the car also claimed that he was approached by the Chichesters (money in hand) to implicate Singh as the driver of the motor car. He said that he refused. The young man also alleged that a sum of money was collected by Police ranks from the Chichesters as a bribe to not pursue the matter.

Former GPL CEO Bharat Dindyal

Interim GPL CEO Colin Welch

Dead: Ramdass Rayan Singh

Sol lowers fuel prices

…as oil settles below US$39 per barrel

Joining the competing Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil), Sol Petroleum Guyana also nipped fuel prices at the Shell Gas Stations across the country, thus contributing to the lesser burden of high fuel prices on the Guyanese populace.

Just five days ago, Government lowered the prices for fuel at the Guyoil Gas Stations, given the

slumping prices for oil on the world market.

At the Shell Gas Stations, one litre of gasoline costs $201.9, while one litre of diesel costs $171.9. The previous prices were $222.9 and $176.9 respectively.

At Guyoil Gas Stations, the price for one litre of gasoline is $199 down from $210, while diesel will be retailed at $168 down from $174.

During a phone inter-

view with the Guyana Times on Monday, Sol Country Manager Orlando Boxill explained that the company had to take into consideration numerous factors affecting its daily operations before reducing the prices, noting that Sol did not solely drop its prices owed to Government’s decision.

“We have to review various elements and factors before we make a decision and

these decisions are based on long-term or medium-term plans,” he explained.

The slump in the price for oil continues to accelerate at a rapid pace, with experts predicting a grim future for the commodity in the coming months.

Oil prices drastically dropped to below US$39 per barrel on Monday, the lowest it has been since February 2009.

Oil prices have been under severe pressure for several months owing to its oversupply which is a result of the slowdown in the Chinese economy and its impact on global markets and energy demands.

Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Dookhoo had indicated that cheaper fuel was exactly what Guyana needed to aid in stimulating the economy.

Also, Guyanese are hoping that the cheaper fuel prices will not be a fleeting

experience like the last time a reduction was announced.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had pointed out that with schools slated to be reopened next week, the reduced prices should enable the transportation fees for students to be lowered. International prices for oil have been on a steady decline since late 2014. Then

in May, it began to climb, only to drastically fall again in July.

Oil prices have since been tumbling lower and lower, taking many nations by shock when it crashed to below US$42. Then on Monday, oil crashed even lower, to below US$39. Experts have already dubbed this pattern as “epic times in the oil market”.

Govt gives itself "A" for completing 1/2 promises ...PPP gives it an "F"

On Monday, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition completed 100 days since it was elected into office, and has since expressed satisfaction with its efforts in fulfilling its 21-point promise, which was supposed to be delivered within its first 100 days in office.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo, said that his Administration more or less kept its promises, adding that areas where they failed to make the fulfilment was as a result of challenges.

“Today I wish to report, that we have in fact on the 100th day today kept those promises and we are continuing to deepen the implementation of all those promises,” he stated. According to the Prime Minister, never in his 53 years in politics has he seen a political party bold enough as the APNU+AFC coalition to put in writing their intension to do certain things within 100 days.

“That credit must go to the character of this Government, that it is nononsense in terms of its approach and will get things done even though we had been almost challenged by unforeseen circumstances – two episodes of floods, a escalation of threat from our western neighbour, the escalating crime situation, that occupied quiet a lot of our attention,” he high-

lighted, while stating that his Administration remains undaunted and determined to continue fulfilling promises made to the Guyanese people.

The APNU+AFC regime has also come in for much commendation from various section of the Guyanese Society on the work and efforts they have put into fulfilling their promises made on the Elections Campaign trail.

A failing grade

However, the same reviews did not come from its main opponent, who was quick to criticise the Administration on the fulfilment of its promises. The

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition has stated that the coalition Government has done nothing laudable in the execution of its 100-day plan.

At the Party’s weekly press conference, General Secretary Clement Rohee, disclosed that of 21-point promises, only a mere seven were completely delivered via the budget, while eight are in progress, another four in advanced progress and two partially completed.

According to Rohee, he would give the Government an ‘F’ Grade on the fulfilment of the 100-day plan as opposed to the ‘A’ Grade Minister of State Joseph Harmon said Government

would give itself.

With approximately 15 of those promises having been accomplished, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said his Administration would give itself an ‘A’ Grade for the success achieved so far. “We have considered it and based on our own checklist, we are extremely comfortable with the work we have done and the accomplishments we have made under that plan”, he told Journalists on Friday.

“The ludicrous claim by Harmon that his Government deserves an ‘A’ grade for delivery on its 100-day promises is most a presumptuous statement. Nagamootoo’s update… will in no way bring any relief or satisfaction to the Guyanese, who will undoubtedly give the Coalition an ‘F’ grade,” the PPP/C General Secretary stated.

He went on to outline that none of the actions contemplated have been fully implemented, expect for the holding of the rice and sugar conferences, which he referred to as “talk shops” along with the two pieces of “questionable” legislation, which he said will not bring any immediate relief to the suffering and hard working Guyanese.

Among some of the promises fulfilled by the APNU/ AFC Administration are: the reduction of the Berbice River Bridge toll, which was slash from $2200 to $1900 for minibuses and passenger cars along with a 10 per cent reduction on the toll for all

other types of vehicles. The revised tolls will take effect from September 1.

Additionally, the Administration increased the Old Age Pension by some $4000; however the increase has taken place of the $15,000 subsidy for electricity and water. As promised, a task force on crime and security were established while a Code of Conduct for all parliamentarians, and officials holding public offices was introduced.

The coalition Government also sought to host the Indigenous People’s Rights and Resources Conference, the National Rice Farmers Conference and the Cane Farmers Conference. Government

has also announced significant increase in salaries for public servants, reduction of President’s Pension and other benefits, waving of duties on equipment for small scale miners, passing of the Anti money Laundering and Countening the Financing of Terrorism Act, return of television stations licenses to Linden, establishment of investigative commissions on corruption among others. However, fixing a date for the early holding of Local Government Elections, liberalisation of the telecommunications and Information and Communications Technology sectors, among others are yet to be accomplished.

Sol lowers fuel prices at Shell Gas Stations

“Epic times in the oil market”

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

tuesday, august 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt assigns separate flags for each region

...plan undermines national sovereignty – Opposition Leader Jagdeo

Giving each of Guyana’s 10 administrative regions its own flag to represent independence could very well put the country’s sovereignty at risk and reinforce Venezuela’s attempts to win its claims over the Essequibo. This was the view preferred by former President and Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo during his Budget debate on Friday last.

Jagdeo urged Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge to raise these concerns in Cabinet and advise his Government against pursuing this decision, as it could very well spell doom for Guyana’s future, especially in light of Venezuela’s aggression to win over the Essequibo and its recent pronouncement to commence the issuance of Venezuelan

identification cards (ID) to the people of that section of the country.

The Spanish-speaking country even went to the extreme of having eight of its Members of Parliament (MPs) present a special bill in the Venezuelan National Assembly and for the creation of a new Essequibo state called “Esequivo”.

Jagdeo explained that that move could send the wrong impression to the Venezuelan authorities.

“Please do not allow them to introduce a flag for Essequibo or Region Two... That is where they will start undermining the unity of a symbol we all respect... one flag, one anthem,” the former President advised.

Regional independence

Recently, Government announced its intentions to assign each administrative region with its very own flag as a representation of independence. This move complements the Administration’s effort to implement a decentralised governing system in

the country.

Minister of Communities

Ronald Bulkan said the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration’s vision is to have each region dictating to Central Government where their developmental priorities lie and thereafter, Central Government would provide the capacity and ability needed to achieve those goals.

This is to allow each village and community to be empowered and be self-sustainable and self-sufficient, and capable of efficiently and effectively utilising its resources to develop its district.

And to give the feeling of independence, the Government believes assigning each administrative region with its own flag would be a step in that direction.

However, Jagdeo emphasised that this would only put Guyana in a vulnerable position and would seek to empower Venezuela to take control of that area.

Designs drafted

Meanwhile, Government already drafted the designs for each of the region’s emblem.

Region One’s (BarimaWaini) emblem is a turtle against a green and gold background. The turtle represents the leatherback turtle found on Shell Beach and the colours represent the two main economic activities in the region: forestry and mining.

Region Two’s (PomeroonSupenaam) emblem is a rice stalk against a white and green background. The rice stalk represents the main economic produce of the region while the colours represent the many waterways and the farming activities respectively.

Region Three’s (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) emblem is a fer-

Tourism Ministry makes $3M donation to Rupununi Arts and Music Festival

The Tourism Ministry says it remains committed to the development of tourism and continues to support local efforts to aid in this process.

The organisers of the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival were on Monday presented with a sponsorship cheque of $3 million by Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes.

The festival, established in 2014, was described as an interesting adventure by the organisers. It provides visitors with many opportunities to explore Guyana’s interior before and after the festival weekend.

From bird watching to fishing, walking to riding, it is an exploration of a beautiful country, an eco-oriented event and the musical experience could start from anywhere! The weekend offers ‘a window’ into the rich variety of the world’s music for everyone.

The focus of the festival is to create a pleasant campsite in a wonderful setting, where great people with their families and friends can gather and enjoy music that maybe you would never hear on the radio. It is an outdoor, camping music event and will take place at Rock View Lodge, Annai from September 1820. The festival itself takes place over three days, but the camping area will be open from Thursday until Monday.

ry against a white, black and green background. The ferry represents the Ferry MV Sabanto and the colours represent the water resources, endurance of the people and the rich agricultural activities.

Region Four’s (Demerara-Mahaica) emblem is the Stabroek Market against a red and black background. The Stabroek Market is a representation of the region’s economic activity and the colours represent the zeal, strength and endurance of the people.

Region Five’s (MahaiceBerbice) emblem is a rice farmer planting rice. The colours are black and green which represents strength and agriculture.

Region Six’s (East Berbice-Corentyne) emblem is a rice stalk. The colours are red and green and it represents the zeal of the people and the rich agricultural heritage.

Region Seven’s (CuyuniMazaruni) emblem is a porkknocker and the colours are yellow, white and green. They represent the mineral wealth, the water resources and the vast forest.

Region Eight’s (PotaroSiparuni) emblem is the Majestic Kaieteur Fall. The background colours are green, black and gold and they represent the abundant forest, the resilience of the people and the mineral resources.

Region Nine’s (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) emblem is the harpy eagle and the background colours are red, green and white. They represent the zeal of the people, the forests and the waters.

Region 10’s (Upper Demerara-Berbice) emblem is bauxite against a gold and black background. This represents the regions mining activities. The gold represents mining while the black represents strength and the ability to overcome challenges.

Out-of-control crime spree… Grove man shot during robbery on Sheriff Street

An East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident is nursing a gunshot wound to his left foot at the Georgetown Public Hospital following a robbery on Monday while on Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

Rajendra Singh, 28, of Grove, EBD, was reportedly in the company of a few friends when he was held at gunpoint by two men, one of whom was armed with a hand gun.

According to information received, as the two men pounced on Singh, one of them placed the gun to his neck and demanded the gold chain he was wearing, along with money and other personal valuables.

Singh reportedly put up a fight and it was at this time that one of the men pulled the trigger, shooting Singh in his left foot. The men then ripped the chain from his neck and made good his escape on foot. The injured man was left bleed-

ing but was subsequently picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted.

Guyana Times understands that at the time of the robbery, the man had just come out of a popular night club and was heading to his vehicle. From reports received, he might have been under the influence of alcohol, and as such, the men took advantage.

The Police have launched an investigation into the shooting incident and ranks are presently reviewing CCTV footage obtained from the night spot. Over the past few weeks, serious crimes have increased by 10 per cent.

Earlier in the month, 30-year-old Hua Kang Huang, a Chinese national of the Wisdom Supermarket was shot to his thigh after gunmen invaded his Better Hope, East Coast Demerara business.

On the night in question,

two men walked into the Wisdom Supermarket and held up the owner, demanding money, but the owner refused to cooperate. In retaliation, one of the men shot the owner to his left thigh and relieved Huang of about $100,000 in cash. As they were leaving, the perpetrators collected 2 bottle of Skyy Vodka and made good their escape. The Police were summoned and several road blocks were erected along the East Coast Highway, but no one was arrested.

Meanwhile, Police stated that armed robberies where firearms were used have decreased by three per cent, while there was in increased of armed robberies where other instruments other than firearms were used. In addition, the Police also stated that they have recovered 74 illegal firearms, include a sub-machine gun, 43 pistols, 18 revolvers, five shotguns, six rifles and a pen-gun.

Honorary Consul General of France to Guyana passes on

Knight of the Honour Legion and Honorary Consul General of France to Guyana, Pierre Saint Arroman has passed away after an illness in Paris on August 22. He was 69.

Saint Arroman moved to Guyana in 1983 where he founded Amazon Caribbean Guyana Ltd (AMCAR), Ermina Guyana Inc and International Standard Systems Inc.

He had served as the Honorary Consul of France

to Guyana from August 12, 1991 to August 22, 2015. Inspiring creativity and dedication among others was his life-long goal.

Saint Arroman is survived by his wife Yola and son Eric. Condolences will be received at the French Consulate from today until September 4, from 08:00h to 12:00h and from 13:00h to 16:00h.

All are welcome to attend and celebrate the life of Knight of the Honour Legion and Honorary Consul General of France to Guyana.

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan

A member of the organising committee receives the sponsorship cheque of $3 million from Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes

Pierre Saint Arroman

President Granger leaves for business in TT without giving notice

– PPP/C wants Nagamootoo blocked from Parliament until his return

Over recent weeks, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government has come in for much criticism on the secrecy behind President David Granger’s overseas trips; however, the coalition regime seems not to be bothered as once again, the Head of State has left Guyana without any public notice.

During a press conference on Monday at the Parliament Committee Room, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo revealed that the President went to Trinidad and Tobago. He told reporters who had posed several questions about President Granger’s visit to the twin island republic that the Head of State departed on Sunday and was schedule to return on Monday.

Further questioned about the purpose for the President’s trip, there was some reluctance by Foreign Affairs Minister and Vice President Carl Greendige, to say. “He is in the (Caribbean) region and he is on formal business but not on official business… He is not on State business… it is other than state business,” Greenidge stated.

It was promised to media operatives that the Ministry of the Presidency would send out a statement with the details of the President’s trip; however, the Prime Minister eventually disclosed that it was a private visit.

“I don’t want to leave any room for speculation and so the answer, I said I would provide you is that the President has gone to Trinidad and it is one pri-

vate. He left yesterday (Sunday) morning,” he informed reporters.

In the meanwhile, with the Prime Minister acting as President, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has raised concerns about the presence of the acting President in the National Assembly, which commenced the consideration of the Budget estimates on Monday.

This matter was raised in the Business SubCommittee. According to Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, during a meeting they brought to the Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland’s and the Clerk Sherlock Isaacs’ attention that based on the ruling of two previous speakers, Ralph Ramkarran and Raphael Trotman, which states that the Prime Minister or any other Minister acting on behalf of the President while he is overseas, cannot be in the

House or sit in any committee.

She pointed out the PPP/C when in Government during those the 9th and 10th Parliaments, they had complied to those rulings.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue, Prime Minister Nagamootoo indicated that his role as acting President does not affect that of his substantive post as Prime Minister, as a result of which he was elected into office.

“I am here as Prime Minister of Guyana and as leader of Government’s business in the National Assembly, who has been assigned additional functions of the President. I’m still the Prime Minister of Guyana, Brigadier General David Granger is the President of Guyana so I’m here not as acting President but as Prime Minister performing the functions of the Office of President,” he outlined.

However, Nagamootoo admitted to Guyana Times that he was officially swornin to assume presidential responsibilities before the Head of State’s departure. He said “on all occasions, when I’m required to perform the functions of the President, there would an instrument to be executed by the President and there has always been, and there has been, a swearing ceremony”.

Nevertheless, while the Prime Minister said at the time he was contemplating whether he will attend the sitting of the Committee of Supply, he was absent during most of Monday’s session.

Critchlow Labour College

failed to account for previous subventions – PPP/C

While pointing out that the return of the subventions for the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) and the Guyana Trades Union Congress is a “good gesture” by Government, People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Gillian BurtonPersaud, stated that if the intended goals were to be realised then some grey areas must be addressed by Parliament.

During her Budget debate presentation last week, the Opposition member posited that although the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration highlighted that these subventions were withheld by the PPP/C when it was in power, the present Government failed to mention the reasons why this occurred.

“It must be clarified that the withholding of the subvention was not done by mere whims and fancies, but rather that this was as a result of the inability of the said institution to provide accountability for the subventions allocated for many years. This issue to which I speak is also known by some Honourable Members on the Government’s side of the House. I was dismayed at the comments of the Honourable Member Basil Williams on this issue of which he is very much aware of,” Burton-Persaud expounded.

She went on to say that Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine who was at that time the Principal had to endure “nightmares” and more while trying to resolve this issue owing to the “stubborn and obnoxious” attitudes of some of the offi-

cials at the institutions.

According to the PPP/C parliamentarian, it is very important that upon returning the subvention for the CLC that there must be the insistence for the provision of accountability of expenditure and scrutiny of the Board of Trustees, its composition and accuracy.

Burton-Persaud further stated that there must also be the scrutiny of the policy as it relates to composition of the Board of Governors as it relates to Trade Unions’ composition.

“So irrational, unprofessional and disrespectful were their (officials at the institutions) attitude that anyone who did not support their position was in the most demeaning way dismissed from the College. They were exempted from Board meetings or forced to resign as in the case of the Honourable Member, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine… The allocation of a subvention to registered trade unions to assist with local

training is complimentary; however, it must not be overlooked that the issue of accountability rears its head once more this time in the sense that Unions must be sensitised that the submission of their accounts for auditing is the number one criteria in this instance so as to qualify,” Burton-Persaud emphasised.

According to the PPP/C parliamentarian, the implementation of the granting of a subvention to the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and to other registered Trade Unions will go a long way into ensuring that there was enhancement in the work of these Unions.

She is hopeful that the APNU/AFC coalition Government will find it possible to offer assistance by utilising its team of Audit specialists since such an exercise is very costly and many Unions have not had their accounts audited for many years.

Guyana observes International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Abolition

The Education Ministry’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, in collaboration with the Museum of African Heritage, on Monday, observed the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Abolition at the museum in Bel Air Park.

In observance of this day, a documentary about reparations was screened at the museum.

Deputy Chairman of the Guyana Reparations Committee, Jonathan Adams, shared with guests that “today marks a very important commemoration of significant development in world civilisation”. He added that the history of Africans is often seen filled with nothing but oppression, but many seemed to miss the stories of

faith, hope, glory and victory that stem from African history, and that particular aspect needed much more focus.

Adams noted that it has been a long road for reparations, but added that all the trials faced down the road to reparations were reflections of the great struggle fought by Cuffy in 1763, Quamina in 1823 and Damon in 1834, and just for that, Africans should pay great respect to African history, as “we have flourished greatly over the years”.

The Caricom Reparations Commission has said the effects of the slave trade, which spread between the 16th and 19th Centuries, have contributed to the economic crisis currently experienced in Caribbean countries. For restitution, the Commission

has set out a 10-point action plan for discussion with the former slave trading nations and owners and plans to send an official invite to these leaders for them to come to the bargaining table. If, after consultation, a favourable decision could not be made, the final move

will be in the direction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Caricom Reparations Commission has asserted that the European Governments have been owners and traders of enslaved Africans; instructed genocidal actions upon in-

digenous communities; created the legal, financial and fiscal policies necessary for the enslavement of Africans; defined and enforced African enslavement and native genocide as in their ‘national interests’; refused compensation to the enslaved with the ending of their enslavement; compensated slave owners at Emancipation for the loss of legal property rights in enslaved Africans; imposed a further 100 years of racial apartheid upon the emancipated; imposed for another 100 years policies designed to perpetuate suffering upon the emancipated and survivors of genocide and refused to acknowledge such crimes or to compensate victims and their descendants.

Caricom Reparations Commission Chairman, Sir Hilary Beckles had said that

the plan was also to set out areas of dialogue with former slave-trading nations including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The claims are being channelled through the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and processed with the help of the London law firm Leigh Day. The UN International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is observed on August 23 annually to remind people of the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade. It gives people a chance to think about the historic causes, the methods and the consequences of slave trade.

President David Granger

PPP/C Member of Parliament Gillian Burton-Persaud

Deputy Chairman of the Guyana Reparations Committee, Jonathan Adams

Cuban doctors fleeing “shortages and mistreatment” in Venezuela protest for US visas

Deteriorating conditions in Venezuela are causing increasing numbers of Cuban medical personnel working there to immigrate to the United States under a special US programme launched in 2006 that expedites their applications.

For geographical reasons, neighbouring Colombia is a favoured gateway for Cubans fleeing Venezuela, whose leftist Government is struggling to rein-in runaway inflation, widespread shortages of goods and services and rising social unrest.

And on Saturday, the exodus reached critical mass when about 100 Cuban doctors, who deserted a medical mission in Venezuela and have been stranded in Colombia for months awaiting entry into the US, staged a protest to draw attention to their plight.

Brandishing their diplomas, the Cuban health professionals congregated in a plaza in Kennedy, a working-class neighbourhood built in the 1960s with funds from John F Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress.

Opposition candidate in Trinidad gets two bullets

An Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Candidate had to be taken to the hospital for medical treatment after he received an envelope with two bullets at his campaign office.

Police are investigating who is behind the threatening message sent over the weekend to Fabien Assie, who is contesting the Fyzabad constituency in the September 7 general elections for the ILP.

Assie reportedly found the small, brown envelope with the words “This is for Fyzabad candidate Fabien Assie” inside the doorway when he went into his office on Saturday around 17:00h.

He contacted police who went to the scene and took away the items.

Assie, who is hypertensive, was traumatized by the incident. He was admitted to the Gulf View Medical Centre later in the night after experiencing chest pains and rising blood pressure.

ILP leader Jack Warner posted a photo of the bullets and envelope after the discovery and said his party would issue a statement in due course. Meantime, ILP chairman Rekha Ramjit has not only condemned the threat to Assie, but called for increased security for all candidates ahead of the elections. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Several described how punishing working conditions and widespread shortages of food and basic necessities, compounded by meagre pay and mistreatment in Venezuela is leading many to sneak across the border seeking a new start in the United States.

While they say conditions in Colombia are better than Venezuela, the cost of living is higher, and many say they have had to borrow money from strangers and have been surviving on a single meal a day. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Bodies found on Ecuador volcano could be French

climbers

Officials in Ecuador are trying to determine if three bodies found on the Chimborazo volcano are those of French climbers who died in an avalanche two decades ago.

Mountain guides found the frozen remains during a climb on Saturday. They were still wearing their backpacks and investigators hope a camera found nearby may yield clues about their identity and what happened to them. Chimborazo is Ecuador’s highest mountain at 6268 metres (20,565 feet).

The bodies were found under layers of ice at a height of 5650 metres.

In 1994, seven French climbers and three

Ecuadorean guides went missing on the Chimborazo volcano after an avalanche. Ecuadorean officials have asked relatives of the missing French climbers to come forward to help determine the identities of the bodies.

Investigator Fernando de la Torre said the bodies would have to be left to defrost naturally before they can be examined. Forensic experts say they want to avoid damaging clothing on the dead climbers, which may yield clues as to who they are and when they died.

Chimborazo, a dormant volcano, is popular with climbers, but avalanches and melting snow and ice can make it risky. (BBC News)

Bahamas megaresort liquidation ruling

expected September 4

Bahamas Supreme Court Justice Ian Winder will rule on September 4 whether to approve the Government’s request to appoint a provisional liquidator to manage the affairs of bankrupt megaresort Baha Mar.

Winder heard submissions on Friday from James Corbett QC, who appeared on behalf of Baha Mar. Corbett challenged the Government’s argument for appointing a provisional liquidator.

He said the Government has suggested that it is seeking only to appoint a provisional liquidator to reach a compromise or agreement with Baha Mar’s contractor and lender, but

not necessarily to wind up Baha Mar.

“After all, the application is called a winding up,” he said. “We should be cautious in proceeding and con-

servative in any powers granted to provisional liquidators if approved.”

Corbett said there has been no plan presented by the Government on how the

appointment of a provisional liquidator will complete the project. He said the liquidators would have to start cold, as they have not been involved in the Baha Mar issue, and would have to find $600 million to get the project completed.

He said in that regard it is not within a wing and a prayer of meeting that objective.

But Peter Knox, QC, who appeared on behalf of the Government, said every day that passes places Baha Mar’s creditors and the interest of the public at risk.

He said the potential of a Bahamas credit downgrade by credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s looms. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Brazil to cut Government Ministries, costs to show austerity

Brazil’s Government announced on Monday it will slash the number of Ministries and reduce its spending, in an effort to show commitment to austerity that could be politically costly for President Dilma Rousseff.

Planning Minister Nelson Barbosa said the administrative overhaul aims to make the state more efficient, but did not specify how much the Government could save. Barbosa added the Government will cut 10 of its 39 Ministries and that more details of the measure will be unveiled on August 31.

Brazil’s ruling Workers’ Party has been criticised for bloating the size of Government. Since it took office in 2003, the number of ministries in Brasilia

has ballooned from 26 to 39, more than double the 15 the Cabinet-level departments used to govern the United States.

The distribution of Ministry jobs has been crucial for the Workers’ Party to secure coalition partners needed to govern. The reduction in the number of Ministries will likely deepen dissatisfaction among Rousseff’s allies, mainly the PMDB party which is preparing to abandon the coalition to launch its own presidential candidate in 2018. It was “clearly designed to demonstrate commitment to austerity to financial markets,” said Neil Shearing, chief emerging market economist with Capital Economics in New York. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Colombia decries increase in deportations by Venezuelan Government

Venezuela has intensified deportations of Colombians since President Nicolás Maduro ordered the closure of two border crossings last week, Colombia’s migration office said on Monday, in some cases separating children from their parents.

Expulsions, deportations and repatriations of Colombians from Venezuela have more than doubled this year to 3800, officials from Migration Colombia told Reuters, from 1820 in 2014.

Since the border crossings were closed last week, 661 Colombians have been deported and 124 minors have been repatriated, sometimes being separated from their parents. Legally, children cannot be deported, so their movements are described by authorities as repatriation.

Maduro closed the crossings after a shootout between smugglers and troops left three soldiers wounded. He later declared a 60-day state of emergency in five border municipalities.

“We demand that before applying deportation methods, each family situation is analysed to guarantee the union of parents and children,” Colombia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

Some five million Colombians live in Venezuela. Dozens of them returned to Colombia voluntarily over the weekend, according to officials and news reports. The porous 2219-kilometer (1379 mile) border shared by the two countries is frequently traversed by smugglers and illegal armed groups. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Cuban doctors show their diplomas during a protest to draw attention to their plight to get US visas on Saturday

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro gestures while he speaks during a meeting with Ecuador’s acting Foreign Minister Xavier Lasso, at Miraflores Palace in Caracas August 20

Baha Mar as viewed from golf clubhouse

Around the World

South Korea talks tough amid heightened tensions with North

South Korean President Park Geunhye demanded on Monday that North Korea apologise over recent landmine blasts, even as the bitter rivals held marathon talks to defuse tensions that have brought the peninsula back to the brink of armed conflict.

Park said anti-North propaganda broadcasts would continue unless Pyongyang took responsibility for landmine explosions early this month that wounded two South Korean soldiers in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two countries.

North Korea denies it laid the mines. Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically in a state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, rather than a peace treaty.

The landmine blasts escalated into a crisis that saw both sides exchange

artillery fire on Thursday and ramp up their military readiness. The United Nations, the United States and the North’s lone major ally, China, have all called for calm.

While North Korea often makes threats, prompting tough talk from the South, the two sides have always stopped short of a return to

Universal flu vaccine comes closer, scientists say

Researchers say they are closer to developing a vaccine to give life-long protection against any type of flu, after promising trials in animals.

Two separate US teams have found success with an approach that homes in on a stable part of the flu virus.

That should remove the problem with current flu vaccines which must be given anew each year because they focus on the mutating part of the virus.

The proof-of-concept work is published in Science journal and Nature Medicine.

Studies are now needed in humans to confirm that

the method will work in man.

In the meantime, experts say people should continue to receive an annual flu jab because vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself against infection.

Conventional flu jabs target molecules on the surface of the flu virus, but these are constantly changing.

Imagine the flu virus as a ball with lots of lollipops on stems sticking out.

The lollipops change year to year, but the stems remain the same.

It is the stems that scientists are now focusing on as a target for a universal flu jab. (Excerpt from BBC News)

war, although dozens of soldiers have been killed over the years. Analysts expect current tensions eventually to ease.

“We need a clear apology and measures to prevent a recurrence of these provocations and tense situations,” Park told a meeting with her top aides, according to a statement released by

her office. “Otherwise, this Government will take appropriate steps and continue loudspeaker broadcasts.”

Seoul and Washington were reviewing the possibility of bringing in “strategic” US military assets, South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said, without elaborating.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

France honours Americans, Briton who disarmed train gunman

French President Francois Hollande on Monday awarded France’s highest honour, the Legion d’honneur, to three US citizens and a Briton who helped disarm a machine gun-toting suspected Islamist militant on a train last week.

“Faced with the evil called terrorism there is a good, that’s humanity. You are the incarnation of that,” Hollande told the four men.

The suspect’s lawyer said on Sunday the man named by intelligence sources as Ayoub el Khazzani, 26, of Morocco, is “dumbfounded” they had him down as a suspected Islamist militant. She said he told her he only intended to rob people on board because he was hungry.

Spencer Stone, a 23-yearold US airman travelling with two friends on the train from Amsterdam to Paris

on Friday, told reporters on Sunday how he plugged the blood-spurting wound of another passenger with his fingers after himself being wounded by the attacker.

“I just stuck two of my fingers in the hole, found what I thought to be the artery, pushed down and the bleeding stopped,” he said at a news conference alongside his friends, student Anthony Sadler, also 23, and National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, 22.

The man Stone helped, a Franco-American Hollande named as Mark Moogalian, remains hospitalised. US Ambassador to France Jane Hartley said he was “doing pretty well”.

Chris Norman, a 62-yearold British consultant who lives in France, was also decorated by Hollande on Monday.(Excerpt from Reuters)

Deadly clashes between Nepali Police and protesters

At least six Police Officers and three protesters have been killed in western Nepal in clashes during demonstrations over a proposed new constitution, an official has said.

Government Administrator Raj Kumar Shrestha told the AP news agency that protesters in Kailali district had attacked police enforcing a curfew.

The official said thousands of protesters attacked the officers with spears, knives and stones.

The wounded have been taken to the regional hospital and the death toll is expected to rise.

The AFP news agency put the death toll of police officers killed at seven.

A new national Constitution presented in

UN says 4.5 million Ethiopians will need aid after rains fail

The number of Ethiopians who will need food aid by the end of this year has surged by more than 1.5 million from earlier estimates due to failed rains, United Nations agencies have said.

Ethiopia needs an extra US$230 million from donors to secure aid for a total of 4.5 million people now projected to require assistance this year, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN children’s agency UNICEF said in a statement on Monday.

The country of 96 million people is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, but failed rains have devastating consequences for food supplies.

“The belg rains were much

worse than the National Meteorology Agency predicted at the beginning of the year,” said David Del Conte, UNOCHA’s acting head of office in Ethiopia, referring to the short, seasonal rainy season that stretched from February to April.

“Food insecurity increased and malnutrition rose as a re-

sult.”

Areas normally producing surplus food in the Horn of Africa country’s central Oromia region were also affected by shortages, the statement said, adding lack of water had decreased livestock production and caused livestock deaths in other pastoralist areas. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Protesters say the new constitution will discriminate against historically marginalised communities [Reuters]

Parliament on Sunday aims to restructure Nepal as a federal state made up of seven provinces.

The protesters argue that the new borders will discriminate against historically marginalised communities.

Monday’s violence erupted as members of the Tharu ethnic minority had demonstrated to demand their own separate province.

Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam said the Government would send troops to the area to try to bring the situation under control, and appealed for calm.

“At a stage when we are heading to a new era ... we must call on people to not be involved in activities that disturb social harmony and ignite ethnic hatred,” Gautam told politicians.

He said the area had been declared a “riot-stricken zone” and the Army deployed.

Nepal’s main parties struck a breakthrough deal on the charter in June after April’s devastating earthquake helped end years of wrangling that had left the impoverished Himalayan nation in political turmoil.(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China stocks suffer biggest one-day loss in eight years

China’s stock market has fallen by its biggest margin in eight years at the end of trading, defying the Government’s multibillion-dollar effort to stop a slide that has wiped out the gains of this year’s price boom.

The plunge on Monday in China’s equities followed last week’s losses of 11 per cent, and hammered stock prices

across Asia, as fears grew that a slowdown in China could send the rest of the world into a recession.

It doesn’t seem that they are prepared to really put in a big package of measures, but would rather put in dribs and drabs along the way. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 8.5 per cent to close at 3209.91 points, its biggest

one-day loss since an 8.8 per cent decline on February 27, 2007. The index is down 38 per cent from its June 12 peak.

Analysts blame the fall on both weak onshore performance and investors moving money out of yuan-denominated assets after a surprise devaluation in the Chinese currency earlier in August. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Five killed as Indian train hits lorry

Five people have died as a train hit a lorry on a level crossing in India, local media report.

Four compartments of the Bangalore-Nanded express derailed in the incident in Andhra Pradesh early on Monday.

in Andhra Pradesh

Karnataka politician Venkatesh Nayak was among the dead, as well as the driver of the lorry.

The incident comes weeks after two express trains derailed on a flooded bridge in Madhya Pradesh, killing at least 24 people.

“The level crossing was manned and had a red light on. The lorry overshot the speed breaker and rammed through the level crossing gate before crashing into the train”, Sanjeev Agarwal, the divisional railway manager of Bangalore told BBC Hindi. (BBC News)

While North Korea often makes threats, prompting tough talk from the South, the two sides have always stopped short of a return to war

tuesday, august 25, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

ExxonMobil second-quarter earnings plunge by half

United Statesbased oil and gas Exploration Company ExxonMobil has announced a 2015 second-quarter earnings of some US$4.2 billion, or US$1 per diluted share, compared with US$8.8 billion a year earlier.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rex W Tillerson said the company was delivering on its investment and operating commitments across its integrated portfolio.

“Our quarterly results reflect the disparate impacts of the current commodity price environment, but also demonstrate the strength of our sound operations, superior project execution capabilities, as well as continued discipline in capital and expense management,” the CEO said recently.

ExxonMobil, which recently left Guyana’s waters after discovering oil off the Essequibo, over the period had produced some four million oil-equivalent barrels per day, an increase of 139,000 barrels per day, or 3.6 per cent. Liquids volumes of 2.3 million barrels per day increased 11.9 per cent, benefiting from new developments in Angola, Canada, Indonesia and the United States.

During the quarter, the corporation distributed US$4.1 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and share purchases to reduce shares outstanding. Dividends per share of US$0.73 increased 5.8 per cent compared with the second quarter of 2014.

Higher downstream and chemical earnings were more than offset by the impact of weaker upstream realisations and lower asset

of

management gains.

Earnings decreased by US$4.6 billion or 52 per cent to US$4.2 billion from the second quarter of 2014.

Earnings per share, assuming dilution, were US$1, a decrease of 51 per cent.

Capital and exploration expenditures were US$8.3 billion, down 16 per cent from the second quarter of 2014.

Oil-equivalent production increased 3.6 per cent from the second quarter of 2014, with liquids up 11.9 per cent and natural gas down 5.8 per cent.

Cash flow from operations and asset sales was US$9.4 billion, including proceeds associated with asset sales of US$629 million.

Production at the company’s Kearl oil sands expansion project in Alberta, Canada, started ahead of schedule, doubling gross capacity to 220,000 barrels of bitumen per day.

Bitumen production began on schedule at the Cold Lake Nabiye project expansion in north-eastern Alberta, Canada. The expansion is producing about 20,000 barrels per day and volumes are expected to reach peak daily production of 40,000 barrels later this year.

A significant oil discovery was made in Guyana on the 6.6-million acre Stabroek Block that is located 120 miles offshore. The well was safely drilled to 17,825 feet in 5719 feet of water and encountered 295 feet of high-quality oilbearing sandstone reservoirs.

After exploring here for some three months, ExxonMobil withdrew its “Deepwater Champion” oil rig from the coastal waters of the Essequibo region, currently a subject of controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, but continues to

analyse the data collected after discovering a major oilfield, the company has said.

The vessel left the area in June, but is still evaluating additional potential on the Stabroek block.

The company began exploring the Stabroek block in March, the start of a US$200 million initiative expected to be executed over a 10-year period.

The century-old boundary controversy between Guyana and Venezuela took on new urgency on May 20, when the ExxonMobil subsidiary announced the major oil find.

A week later, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree purporting to assert his country’s sovereignty over Guyana’s waters off the coast of Essequibo, a resource-rich area of 167,839 sq kilometres or some 64,800 square miles, the largest county in Guyana.

Police ranks trained as certified physical training instructors

Two ranks of the Guyana Police Force attached to the Tactical Services Unit have successfully completed a Physical Training Education and Instructor’s Course held at the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies, Trinidad.

The two Police ranks are Corporals 17045 Lambert Peters and 21335 Winston Williams. Over the duration of the course, which ran January 6-August 15, 2015, the ranks were involved in first aid; combat and physical training that included obstacle crossing, endurance training, river crossing drills, rappelling, orienteering and combat swimming; physical training education that included aerobics, nutrition, gymnastics, sociology in sports, injury rehabilitation and strength training among other activities.

The modules included Concepts of Fitness, Diet and Performance, Sports Medicine, Sports Management, Sports Officiating, Teaching Practice and Skill Analysis.

US Embassy welcomes first Fulbright Scholar to Guyana in 20 years

The United States Embassy in Georgetown has welcomed Fulbright US Scholar Jennifer Hoyte to Guyana.

According to a release, US Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt met with Hoyte on Wednesday, August 19, 2015, and expressed his appreciation to the Fulbright Programme for the reactivation of the programme in Guyana after a 20year hiatus.

Hoyte holds a Master of Science in Computer and Information Science from Ohio State University. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education at Florida International University. As part of the Fulbright US Scholar Programme, Hoyte will be teaching Philosophy and Issues in the Teaching of Mathematics at the University of Guyana for the first semester of the 20152016 academic years. The course will focus on how teachers can be more reflective and will cover topics such as Classroom Management, Pedagogy, and Enrichment activities for the secondary school mathematics class-

room.

The Fulbright US Scholar Programme sends US scholars and professionals abroad to lecture or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.

The Fulbright Programme is the flagship international educational exchange programme sponsored by the US Government and is designed to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries”. With this goal as a starting point, the Fulbright Programme has provided almost 300,000 participants – chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential – with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

The Fulbright Programme was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by late Senator J William Fulbright of Arkansas and is sponsored by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

UNESCO SG says knowing history can remove racism

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

Director General Irina Bokova said the teaching, communication and transmission of the history of the slave trade can reinforce the rights and the dignity of people of African descent and, together, fight against all forms of racism and discrimination.

Her comments came as the UN joins in the celebration of International Day of the Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

human rights, symbolised by the uprising of the slaves of Santo Domingo on the night of August 22 and 23, 1791. She noted that the message and the spirit of the day, dovetailed with the Decade's goal to promote knowledge of and respect for the contribution of people of African descent to cultural diversity and the development of societies.

“Through its Slave Route Project and General History of Africa, UNESCO is striving to reveal the reality of slavery and the slave trade to help all people to learn from this chapter of history,” Bokova said

“The crime of slavery has forged irreversible bonds between peoples and continents, and reminds all peoples of the world that their destinies are linked, because their histories and identities were partly made across the seas, sometimes even on other continents,” declared Bokova in her message on the Day, which is marked annually in August.

The two ranks are expected to bolster the Police Force’s Wellness and Physical Fitness programme that commenced earlier this year in a significant way.

The Physical Education Training Course was organised by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, and was attended by over 70 members of the Defence Force, Police Force, Prison Service and Fire Service from Guyana, Trinidad and other Caribbean countries.

This year also coincides with the beginning of the International Decade for People of African Descent. Bokova said the history of the slave trade is that of a battle, and eventually a victory, for freedom and

And indeed, the International Day for the Remembrance is both a tribute to every victim and their resistance against slavery and a call for truth, justice and dialogue between peoples. Moreover, faced with the permanent dangers of racism and extremism, UNESCO is taking action to ensure that memory and history are forces for dialogue, tolerance and mutual understanding.

“By promoting the diversity inherent in nations, through the experience of slavery and the slave trade, we can better understand the world's diversity and find the road to peace,” she said.

The discovery

oil off the coast of Guyana by the “Deepwater Champion” oil rig has been a highlight for ExxonMobil

Fulbright US Scholar Jennifer Hoyte meets US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt

Corporal Lambert Peters (left) and Corporal Winston Williams are expected to bolster the Police Force’s Wellness and Physical Fitness programme in a significant way

Miss Guyana India Worldwide 2015 plans to work with orphans

Newly-crowned

Miss Guyana

India Worldwide 2015 Lieve Blanckeart is quite passionate about children and so will be taking on improving the lives of orphans as her platform for the international pageant to be held in India in a few months.

ents when they get home from school, but when orphans return to their homes, there is just one or two adults who would have to manage many of them, so the entire oneon-one concept is lost.

She said she has been planning to set up a mentorship programme where young people can volunteer their time to sit and teach these students, so that they can boost their grades. She believes that with the new title, she would now be able to push her dream a bit further.

Although Blanckeart is just 17 and about to tackle the Miss India Worldwide 2015 Pageant with over 40 beauties of Indian descent from around the world competing for the crown, she is confident that she will do well. Blanckeart believes that age is not the only determining factor of one’s capabilities as it also has a lot to do with experience.

Classrooms empty in Gaza as strike by UNRWA staff bites

Thousands of educational staff employed with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have taken to the streets of Gaza City on the first day of the school year, to strike over what they said was dwindling resources being provided by the United Nations agency which looks after Palestinian refugees.

The employees, who were joined by supporters on Monday, said they were protesting against a decision made last month by UNRWA to stop paying teachers for their annual leave days due to the financial hardship the agency is facing.

posal.

He also said that the possibility of raising the number of students to 50 was considered by UNRWA due to financial trouble, but added that eventually the number of students in each class will not exceed 41 students.

Emergency programmes threatened

Despite its financial hardships, UNRWA opened its 245 schools in Gaza as scheduled on Monday but many classrooms remained empty in light of the protests.

for about five million registered Palestine refugees in besieged Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Jordan, as well as in Lebanon and Syria.

The agency had said it required US$100 million to begin the 2015-2016 academic year in about 700 UNrun schools for half a million students across the Middle East.

In an exclusive interview with TVG’s Morning Times , the 17-year-old says she loves children and as a result of this, her platform deals extensively with education and orphans.

She noted that she has been receiving overwhelming support from family, friends and wellwishers over the past few months.

The School of the Nations student, who describes herself as down-toearth and kind, says that many are privileged to have that one-on-one relationship with their par-

Blanckeart will begin her preparations for her talent piece from today. She will be performing a dance number choreographed by Apsara’s Chandini Rambalack, featuring a blend of flamenco and belly dancing.

The protesters also demonstrated against UNRWA’s decision to raise the number of students in each classroom to 50 per teacher, which they say will harm the quality of teaching and learning and leave many teachers unemployed.

However, Sami Mshasha, an UNRWA spokesperson in Jerusalem, said the demands of the protesters had already been met.

Mshasha said that the agency sent letters to 30,000 employees on Sunday, cancelling the unpaid leave pro-

The agency announced earlier in August that it only had funding until the end of this month, when the school year was due to start in the Palestinian territories and Jordan.

It raised the possibility of laying off some of its staff for a year due to a lack of contributions from international donors.

New financial support allowed UNRWA to freeze those plans, but its employees were demanding that they be dropped entirely.

UNRWA, which began its operations in 1950, provides assistance and protection

More than a US$1 billion had been pledged by governments by the end of 2014, and UNRWA has urged donors, many of whom have still not fulfilled their commitments, to act immediately.

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon called on all donors to urgently ensure adequate and sustainable financing for vital services was made available as soon as possible.

The agency had also said it only had enough money to maintain its services to protect public health - including immunisations for children, primary healthcare, sanitation and some emergency programmes - through to the end of 2015.

15 startups from Region to participate in Demand Solutions programme

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has announced 15 startups from Latin America and the Caribbean, founded by innovators 18 to 35 years old, that have been chosen to take part in Demand Solutions. The finalists were selected from a pool of 200 applicants from 19 countries, with the help of expert judges in areas including entrepreneurship, innovation and crowdfunding.

A co-founder from each selected startup will travel to Washington, DC to take part in Demand Solutions and the associated Venture Night competition, where they will pitch their start-

ups to the audience and a group of judges.

The selected startups will also participate in four days of activities with innovators, media, entrepreneurs, and investors.

In addition to the 15 startups, Guillermo Castelli,cofounder of QuadMinds will participate in Venture Night. He was selected through the Red Innova competition sponsored by the IDB in Argentina.

The co-founders of the startups will have the opportunity to work with Fly Garage, a Mondeléz International innovation incubator, as well as with +Castro and Contagious, in activities designed to

boost their entrepreneurial creativity and keep enhancing their work and impact. Fly Garage gathers people in a physical and

intellectual space to work together for two days. A multidisciplinary team of collaborators, experts, entrepreneurs, innovators

and students, all join in the “Garage” to address a challenge and build a solution in an intense process of learning and creating.

IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno will inaugurate the event and introduce the selected startups.

Demand Solutions is being held for the third straight year at the headquarters of the IDB together with the Blum Centre for Developing Economies of the University of California, Berkeley. Other partners are Agora Accelerator, IE Business School, Red Emprendia of Banco Santander, and Telefonica. The call for startups was managed via NEXSO, a platform

developed by the Bank’s Multilateral Investment Fund that manages competitions and offers a space where organizations can share their projects.

This year, Demand Solutions will be held on September 29 starting at 9:00h EDT. Those interested in attending the event in Washington, DC or watching it via Livestream (in English, Spanish or Portuguese) can register at http://goo.gl/1Z6jwt. “Demand Solutions: Ideas for Improving Lives in Cities” aims to bring together creative minds offering innovative solutions to urban challenges around the world.

Miss Guyana India Worldwide 2015 Lieve Blanckeart moments after she was crowned last week at the Guyana Marriott Hotel

Several thousand teachers, assistants and administrative personnel protested in front of the headquarters of UNRWA [AP]

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER

Frustration will develop if you allow others to take control of your thoughts or actions. For safety’s sake, all money matters and financial deals should be dealt with personally.

You have to be wary, or your trusting nature will end up being a liability. Don’t dive into a joint venture until you have researched the background of your potential partner.

Slow down, because making a move prematurely will work against you. Listen and observe what others are saying or doing before you charge ahead. A self-improvement project will be fruitful.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Difficult people will pose a challenge for you. Don’t let insecurity or self-doubt hold you back. Compromise and patience will help you deal with disagreements.

Brooding at home won’t help you get over the blues. Plan a fun activity and try to get out and enjoy life. You might learn something in the process.

A creative project will help distract you from an upsetting personal problem. Try to see your situation rationally rather than emotionally in order to find a viable solution.

Make plans to travel. The information you gain along the way will aid you in achieving your professional goals. Don’t get drawn into a battle of wills with an overbearing family member.

Be true to yourself and fight for what you believe in, no matter what others say or do. Don’t let fear of reprisal hold you back. Moneymaking opportunities are evident.

Don’t get involved in gossip or reveal information that will cause others to talk about you. A tumultuous relationship will improve if you are attentive and understanding. You can make progress, provided you don’t let greed or emotional issues cloud your judgment. Be realistic about your goals and go after what you feel is right for you.

Revisit an idea you shelved due to a lack of time. Don’t choose sides in a battle between feuding relatives unless you want to alienate both parties. Remain neutral.

A new partnership is likely. Find a reliable person to help you cultivate an innovative project. You will receive support and encouragement from the crucial people in your life.

Peanuts

Calvin and hobbes

dilbert arChie

Successful Fruta Conquerors football camp concludes Local volleyball making positive steps

Fruta Conquerors Football Club (FCFC) recently wrapped up its eighth annual football camp, with another batch of young aspiring footballers from the community of Tucville and surrounding areas being tutored on the basics of the sport.

In a ceremony to close off proceedings at the threeweek activity, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones delivered the feature address to the beaming participants.

Jones encouraged the young boys and girls to be the “next big deal” in society. He also urged them to stay positive and be great role models for others in

their respective communities.

The participants who made a minimum of 50 per cent attendance were given certificates, which were distributed by President of the FCFC, Wayne Forde, and Jones.

The camp was graced by a number of facilitators, who covered various topics ranging from anger management techniques, conflict resolution skills, nutrition and healthy lifestyles, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, public speaking and dealing with the media.

The executive committee of the FCFC would also like to express thanks to all

those who facilitated the various sessions that were held.

Among them were Wayne De Hart, Britttany Braithwaite, Renuka Anandjit, Stanley Lancaster, Nakasi Fraser, Dale Erskine, Vanessa Williams, Rhonda Hamilton, Carolyn Walcott, Dionne Frank, Andrea Hall, Calvin Allen, Rodwell Jemott, Chavez Hescott, Odetta Maxwell and Troy Peters.

The Club would also like to thank the following sponsors: Scotiabank, National Milling Company, Guyana Beverage Company, Guyana Football Federation and Prudential Tech.

George runs national record but fails to advance

Olympian Winston George broke Guyana’s national 400 metres record for the second time this year when he competed at the 15th World Athletics Championships currently ongoing in Beijing, China.

The previous record of 45.31s held by George was eclipsed by the 400 metres specialist to 45.25s during his preliminary round of the 400 metres at the Championships.

While this was George’s and Guyana’s best time over the quartermile distance, George finished fifth and was unable to advance with the race being very fast, missing a chance to compete in the semi-finals.

However, George’s effort was definitely commendable given the fact that he arrived in Beijing practically two days before running his heats.

The talented athlete will now head back to the drawing board in hope of preparing for the 2016 Olympics set for Brazil.

George

Local volleyball has been getting a muchneeded boost recently and has been making moves in the right direction to soon be recognised as one of the premier sports locally.

Through its affiliation to the CSV (South American Volleyball Confederation) and under the stewardship of its President, John Flores, the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) has been benefiting from a number of international engagements and has been showing that volleyball can become a sport to help bring recognition to Guyana on the international scene.

On the heels of a recently-concluded South American Beach Volleyball tournament held in Ecuador where Guyana was represented by two teams and managed to pull off an upset victory against a much-higher rated Peru team, the local men are now in preparation for the CSV male indoors championship to be held in Maceio, Brazil, from September 27-October 5 this year.

In preparation for the upcoming international engagement to be hosted by volleyball giants Brazil, the national selectors, lead by long-standing senior and junior national coach Levi Nedd, have shortlisted 21 players from Demerara and Berbice.

The players commenced preparation on Monday under newly-appointed Assistant National Coach Ian Wills, who will conduct practice sessions for the Demerara-based players, while the Berbice players will go through their

paces under the guidance of Nedd.

Nedd, on expressing his pleasure with the recent successes volleyball has been seeing at the international level through its men teams, indicated that plans were in place to commence looking at the female players to begin preparing them for international battle.

He also pointed out that even though the initial preparation of the male team for the upcoming games will be done separately owing to geographic constraints, both the Demerara and Berbice groups will be undergo-

ing similar training, as the two coaches will be guided by the same coaching plan, which was drafted by Nedd.

As a result of this, Nedd expects that when the entire team unite for encampment, all the players would be at the same level of preparation.

The complete squad is as follows: Wendell Austin, Corwyn Richards, Trevlon McRae, Quacy Matheson, Jamal Duncan, Shemroy Ross, Creston Rodney, Ian Bagott, Jason Seelochan, Beepaul Bandoo, Akeem Bowling, Adriel Moore, Errol Fingal, Luen David, Devendra Latchman, Vance Harding, Khemraj Singh, Xavier Lambert, Joshua Jagmohan and Samuel Fraser.

Flores expressed his satisfaction with the direction in which volleyball has been going recently as he pledged his commitment to continue utilising the relationship that the local federation has developed with the CSV for the benefit

of the development of the sport locally.

Flores informed that in keeping with his drive for introducing and developing the game in a more nationalistic framework, his federation has recently donated volleyballs and a net to the Plaisance Sport Club and the next village expected to benefit from this drive is Buxton.

At the presentation of the balls to the Plaisance Sports Club, Flores pledged his commitment to assist them with the introduction and development of the sport within their club as he emphasised the importance of exposing children to the sport.

The Federation also announced that preparation is underway to host a Volleyball Cooperation Programme sponsored by the FIVB (Federation of International Volleyball). The course will be facilitated by Julio Morales, a FIVB international coach out of the USA.

The course will be held from September 5 to 9 at the National Gymnasium, and is aimed at introducing and developing young players who are interested in the game. Interested persons can contact Nicholas Fraser, Secretary of the

GVF, on phone number 698-4328 to register. Flores is scheduled to attend the South American Congress next week in Peru, where he intends to continue strengthening the already fruitful relationship that GVF has with the South American body, as he has indicated that it has offered to help bring the local federation up to a level two status.

Partnering for football! FCFC President Wayne Forde and Director of Sport, Christopher Jones shake hands, while the participants of the camp proudly display their certificates

John Flores

Ian Wills

Levi Nedd

Winston

Ashwin takes 5 in commanding win

It had been more than a year since India last won a Test match, at Lord’s in 2014, but the final lap of their long wait zipped past quicker than anyone would have expected. Seven balls after lunch on the fifth day, Dushmantha Chameera padded up to an Amit Mishra googly. Mishra spun around in appeal; Rod Tucker’s finger went up immediately.

With that, the series was level. Sri Lanka had lost their last eight wickets for 62 runs. Worryingly, for a side that is losing perhaps its greatest-ever batsman to retirement, the collapse only continued a trend: they had lost their last seven wickets for 65 runs in the first innings.

If there were any furrows on Virat Kohli’s brow while he chased his first win as India’s Test captain, they weren’t caused by a Sri Lankan batsman. If they appeared at all, they did so only when rain fell with the last pair at the crease to bring the covers onto the field and hasten the lunch break by 10 minutes.

For the second time in the match, India’s attack refused to release the pressure on the batsmen. R Ashwin, who had taken the first two Sri Lankan wickets on the fourth evening, picked up his 12th five-for in Test cricket, but the other three specialist bowlers contributed significantly as well.

Angelo Mathews, first-innings centurion and 23 overnight, loomed as the biggest obstacle in India’s path to victory, but they saw his back at the earliest possible moment. Umesh Yadav had

troubled him right through the first innings, opening him up constantly with his away movement from a good length. But while he had survived those deliveries by playing inside the line, his hands followed the ball this time, and KL Rahul dived to his right to pouch him behind the stumps. Amit Mishra was the next bowler to get on the scorecard. Dinesh Chandimal had made 15 in his usual manner, which spans the spectrum from busy to edgy, before the legspinner’s drift undid him. Shaping to sweep, he ended up playing down the wrong line as the ball swerved down the leg side and turned sharply to hit leg and middle stumps.

Lahiru Thirimanne had looked entirely at sea against Ashwin. In the 12th over of the morning, he beat him twice with his offbreak - once when the batsman was on the back foot, with a slow, loopy delivery; once on the front foot with a quicker, flatter ball that turned just as much - and nearly had him lbw when he played back to his arm ball. He wouldn’t be denied for

too much longer. In his next over, Thirimanne stepped out to Ashwin, didn’t get to the pitch of the ball, closed his face too early, and popped a catch to silly point.

Ishant Sharma was the next Indian bowler on the scorecard. He had jagged one back four overs ago to hit Dimuth Karunaratne’s pad - height saved the batsman - and that may have prompted Jehan Mubarak to poke nervously at a ball angling away from him. Virat Kohli, standing a couple of steps closer than normal at second slip, took a good low catch.

Karunaratne had struggled against Ashwin all through the fourth evening, but having survived that spell was looking likely to carry his bat - particularly when Dhammika Prasad, the most capable of the tailenders, holed out slogging at Ashwin. That didn’t materialise, however, as he went back to another of Ashwin’s arm balls, misreading the length of it. It hurried through and bowled him off the pad.

The end looked near when Mishra had Tharindu Kaushal - who had been bruised on the glove by an Umesh bouncer in the previous over - lbw with a googly. It could have been all over next ball, when Dushmantha Chameera prodded forward uncertainly to another wrong ‘un, but this time umpire Rod Tucker judged that the ball may have missed leg stump.

A drizzle had already begun, and intensified rapidly over the first three balls of the next over. Off went the players, and on came the covers. India would have to wait just a little longer.

(Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

India 1st innings 393

Sri Lanka 1st innings 306

India 2nd innings 325

Sri Lanka 2nd innings (target: 413 runs)

JK Silva c Binny b Ashwin 1

FDM Karunaratne b Ashwin 46

KC Sangakkara c Vijay b Ashwin 18

AD Mathews* c †Rahul b Yadav 23

LD Chandimal† b Mishra 15

HDRL Thirimanne c sub (CA Pujara) b Ashwin 11

J Mubarak c Kohli b I Sharma 0

Powell “very disappointed” with 100 metre performance

Asafa Powell

Former 100 metres re-

cord holder Asafa

Powell says he was “very disappointed” that he was not among the top three finishers in the finals of the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China on Sunday.

Powell finished seventh in the event as his countryman Usain Bolt stormed back from a poor start to eclipse American rival Justin Gatlin at the tape to take the top honours.

Powell was never in the race and eased through the final metres when it was clear he could not win, clock-

ing 10.00 seconds.

“I am very, very disappointed because I should have been in the top three, but I just didn’t pull it off,” the Jamaican sprinter said.

“That’s how it goes, disappointments, disappointments”.

Powell was drawn in lane eight with Gatlin to his left but he was unable to see his countryman Usain Bolt in lane five during the race.

He told reporters that his race was affected by a poor start and lack of finishing power.

“I just didn’t have the

legs to finish the race. I didn’t get a good start. I just need to go back and focus on getting my start back. I lost that and just didn’t have the legs to finish,” he said.

“I’ve been having a great season and expectations were very high for me at this World Championships and I didn’t pull it off tonight. It is one more disappointment added to the disappointments before. I just need to go back to the drawing board and run the full race”.

Powell, 33, has been dubbed the sub-10 king, with a personal best of 9.72.

He has been enjoying an impressive season but his performance in the finals is the latest in the series of major championship titles which continue to elude him.

“It is one more disappointment added to the disappointments before. I just need to go back to the drawing board and run the full race,” he admitted.

“I hope I can move on from that. It has been going on for a while now, and I definitely have to move on and see if I can pull it off”. (CMC)

Mo Farah subject of Andy Vernon barb

Andy Vernon has reopened a feud with Mo Farah after the Olympic champion won World Championship gold in the 10,000m.

European 10,000m silver medallist Vernon was not

fused to shake his hand after a Diamond League meeting in Lausanne. That followed a disagreement in February, when Somalia-born Farah claimed 29-year-old Vernon had said he did not deserve his 2014

selected for the event, with Farah Great Britain’s only runner.

5 PVD Chameera lbw b Mishra 4

Extras (lb 4, w 1, nb 2) 7

Total (all out; 43.4 overs; 199 mins) 134

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-33, 3-72, 4-91, 5-106, 6-111, 7-114, 8-123, 9-128, 10-134 Bowling: R Ashwin 16-6-42-5, UT Yadav 7-1-18-1, I Sharma 112-41-1, A Mishra 9.4-3-29-3.

Performance director Neil Black has said the pair’s past disputes were not factors in the decision, but Vernon’s latest barb appeared to challenge that.

“Great to hear you love to represent your country,” he tweeted. “Thank you for stopping me do the same.”

Farah and Vernon’s most recent dispute came in July, when Vernon said Farah had sworn at him and re-

European 10,000m gold because he was not European.

The dispute escalated on social media, with Farah calling his rival an “embarrassment” before following up with the comment: “Taylor Swift can probably run faster than you.”

When the pair raced in at last month’s Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, Farah won the 5,000m in 13 minutes 11.77 seconds with Vernon finishing 15th in 13:47.97. (BBC Sport)

Blatter: there is no corruption in football

Sepp Blatter has issued a passionate defence of FIFA following allegations of corruption earlier this year.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter says the organisation is not corrupt and that he stepped down from his position so as to protect the sport’s governing body.

Blatter has served as president of FIFA since 1998, but his tenure has been marred by repeated allegations of corruption even prior to the arrests of FIFA officials by Swiss and American authorities in May.

The Swiss was re-elected president in the midst of the scandal, but announced his intention to relinquish his mandate as president on June 2 – less than a week after nine FIFA officials were indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy and corruption.

Blatter’s replacement will be elected at an Extraordinary Congress in February and the current incumbent was unequivo-

cal in his response to suggestions that FIFA has been tarnished by the recent allegations.

“That’s not true, this has been created. The institution is not corrupt – there is no corruption in football,” he told BBC Sport.

“There is corruption with individuals, there is not a general organised corruption.

“It is with people, the institution FIFA is not corrupt. It’s not the institution,

that’s why I can’t understand why the world’s media say FIFA is corrupt.”

In a lengthy interview, Blatter also offered his reasoning for stepping down, adding: “I did it because I wanted to protect FIFA.

“I can protect myself. I am strong enough.

“I know what I have done, what I have not done, I have my conscience and I know I’m an honest man. I am clean. I am not a worried man.” (Digicel Sportsmax)

KTGD Prasad c Mishra b Ashwin 0 HMRKB Herath not out 4

Mishra

R Ashwin registered his 12th five-for in Tests

Mo Farah

Sepp Blatter

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Fraser-Pryce continues dominance over 100m, James advances to 400m final

Shelly-Ann FraserPryce made it another Jamaican night of celebrations as she retained the 100 metres title at the IAAF World Championships here in Beijing on Monday.

Fraser-Pryce, who followed Usain Bolt’s victory on Sunday night, was never challenged for the title and powered her way to 10.76 seconds and a third world championship gold medal.

Dafne Schippers set a Dutch record of 10.81 for the silver and American Tori Bowie took the bronze in 10.86 with Veronica CampbellBrown of Jamaica finishing fourth in 10.91.

The diminutive Jamaican plans to run faster.

“I’m getting tired of 10.7s,” Fraser-Pryce said. “I just want to put a good race together and hopefully in the next race I get the time I’m working for.

“I definitely think a 10.6 is there. Hopefully I will get it together. I just trust in God, work hard and focus on executing. I am happy and proud to defend my third world title in a row.”

Michelle-Lee Ahye (10.98) and Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.01) of Trinidad & Tobago took the fifth and sixth positions respectively. Natasha Morrison of Jamaica (11.02) and Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare (11.02) held the back of the race.

Earlier, Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada advanced to the final of the Men’s 400m scheduled for Wednesday.

James, who crossed the finish line in 44.16 to win the first semi-final heat, will at-

tempt to regain the world title he first won in Daegu, South Korea in 2011. Luguelin Santos followed James as the only two qualifiers from the first semi-final and in the process a Dominican Republic record of 44.26.

The world leader and African record holder Isaac Makwala of Botswana advanced with the fastest time of 44.11.

“I just tried to control the race and congrats to Santos (Luguelin) for running a nice little record,” James said.

“I am just happy to get through to the final, get some rest, make sure my body is right and just try to make it a very competitive race.”

James will have to battle with the reigning world champion LaShawn Merritt of the United States and South African Wayde Van Niekerk, the only man to beat James this season. The other finalists include Yousef Ahmed Masrahi of Saudi Arabia, who posted 43.93 in the preliminaries, Machel Cedenio of Trinidad & Tobago and Britain’s Rabah Yousif.

Jamaicans Kaliese Spencer and Janieve Russell are also through to the final of the Women’s 400 metres Hurdles.

All four Jamaican competitors qualified for the semi-finals of the women’s 400m. Stephenie McPherson, Shericka Jackson, Christine Day and Novlene WilliamsMills were automatic qualifiers and will join the former world junior and youth 400m champion Shaunae Miller of the Bahamas.

Kineke Alexander of St

Vincent and the Grenadines, who finished sixth in the opening heat in 52.24, didn’t advance to the semi-final round.

“I did what my coach told me but I struggled a bit in the last 200m,” Jackson said. “Yesterday, it was a big kick off for me to see my teammates at 100m. I am so glad that Usain (Bolt) did it well.” Tyrone Smith of Bermuda was the only Caribbean qualifier in the Men’s Long Jump with 8.03 metres while Damar Forbes of Jamaica only managed 7.62m which wasn’t enough to carry through the next round.

But in a surprised result, Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago failed to advance in the Men’s Javelin Throw.

The Trinidadian athlete managed only two legal throws of 75.16 metres with his best effort of 76.83.

Walcott entered the championships as one of the preevent favourites with a personal and season best of 90.16m but has been battling an ankle injury.

“I just went out there, tried to perform well but it was just a bad competition,” he said. No other explanation, just a bad competition. Of course, I expected better throws but I do not know what was going on.”

Kimberly Williams had a season best 14.45m but was fifth in the women’s triple jump won by Caterine Ibarguen 14.90. Shanieka Thomas, also of Jamaica finished 11th with a best effort of 14.08m. (CMC)

GSSF launches Archery...

Torres onboard

During the past week, Torres was hosted in Guyana by the GSSF to conduct various seminars for members of the Federation, the focus of which has been Archery safety, the fabrication of PVC bows and teaching the correct form for target Archery.

in four countries, namely Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay and Guyana.

The second phase involved members receiving expert coaching in the correct form of Archery and safety instructions using the newly-fabricated bows at both indoor and outdoor facilities.

Natural fit Sport

The seminars were geared to give participants the knowledge as to how to further develop this longstanding Olympic sport by making lowcost bows, which would then be used for training and local competitions. Shooting practice sessions were also scheduled to ensure that members practise the fundamentals of the sport of Archery from the beginning.

The first phase of the seminar, which concluded last Wednesday, saw participants instructed in hands-on fabrication of PVC target Archery bows, complete with stabiliser system.

Members were trained in the safe use of power tools and handling chemicals in order to shape and assemble the lowcost Archery tools. This phase produced several PVC bows for use by the members of the GSSF.

Nineteen individuals took part in this phase and are now able to continue the project, which is now present

Persaud said the progress made by Guyana has already received international attention, which could ultimately prove beneficial to the country.

“I am further delighted to inform you that this project initiated by the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation has put Guyana on the world map. Our activities have been reported in the bulletins and newsletters of World Archery and World Archery Americas. This exposure in the internationally circulated publications provides a real prospect for the boosting of sports tourism in Guyana,” Persaud informed.

She added, “On behalf of the Board of GSSF, I wish to thank the members for the support given to the Federation and is committed to upholding the mandate of World Archery. I am positive that Archery Guyana will rise to the highest level through the collaboration and commitment of interested members and local organisations.”

Permanent Secretary Alfred King, congratulated the GSSF for the bold initiative, noting that the sport was a natural fit for Guyana, given the vast use of the equipment used for Archery by the Amerindians. He urged the GSSF to spread the sport throughout the 10 administrative regions, thereby widening the pool of archers who would be available to the national grid.

With the ultimate aim being to have representation at the Olympic Games, King pointed that the GSSF could run the risk of not having the best persons represent the country if the sport is restricted to Georgetown.

Torres, who also spoke at the launch, said he was impressed with how receptive the Guyanese were to the sport, noting that participants over the past week were able to make significant progress. Archery Guyana has already been embraced by the Department of Sport of the Education Ministry and the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, with the latter being instrumental in having scores of Amerindians attend Monday’s launch.

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Jones urges participants to take advantage of ECCB’s academy

expert cricketers

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones urged participants of the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) academy to take advantage of the opportunities being offered to them during the five-day programme.

Jones was at the time delivering the feature address as the Board convened its 15th cricket academy for aspiring cricketers on Monday morning at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara.

“I would like you to take this very seriously, take full advantage of the academy because programmes like these are the stepping stone – this is where you learn how to become an expert cricketer,” Jones pointed out.

The Director of Sport, while applauding the ECCB for organising such an academy, said he was heartened that the academy has attracted the presence of aspiring female cricketers.

Jones also voiced the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Government of Guyana’s support for the further development of sport locally.

“The National Sport Commission is committed in sport development in every discipline, and academy like this we at the NSC will always like to lend our support,” he said.

Finally, the Director of Sport urged each participant to be disciplined, since it plays an important role in becoming a better individual.

ECCB President Bissoondyal Singh, during

his address, stated that the academy would aid in the improvement of each participant and also the general standards of Guyana’s cricket from the youth level to the senior cricketers.

“I don’t want at the end of this academy you have a certificate on your wall to show your friends that you attended the ECCB academy. We want to ensure that each of you become better citizens who can make a contribution to our beautiful country,” Singh stressed.

Singh indicated that cricket now was not only a game, but big business where millions were invested and at the same time, numerous job opportunities created.

The ECCB President also pointed out that some 23 participants who have attended the annual acad-

emy over the years went on to represent Guyana with distinction.

In brief remarks, ECCB Public Relations Officer Davteerth Anandjit told the young cricketers that they were fortunate to be part of such a programme.

He told the participants that the academy would teach them skills outside of being a good cricketer, adding that the content of the programme is good and urged the youngsters to take advantage of what would be offered to them.

Twenty-five participants turned out on Monday, inclusive of national youth players, Amanda Persaud, Tameshway Motiram and Robin Williams.

Meanwhile, this year’s summer camp will be held under the theme “Cricket – Professionalism and

“Teach Them Young” cycling camp wraps up Saturday

Another group of aspiring riders will this weekend graduate from the annual “Teach Them Young” cycling programme, organised by long-serving national coach Hassan Mohamed and funded by the National Sports Commission (NSC). Held for the 39th year in succession, the six-week camp, which commenced on July 7, will wrap up with an evalu-

ation 11-race programme sponsored exclusively by the NSC.

Young boys and girls, who attended the camp, which was held from 09:00h to 11:00h on weekdays at the inner circuit of the National Park, were exposed to a packed programme, which focused on delivering to them the basics of the sport.

Mohamed said the camp was initial-

ly affected by inclement weather, but he deemed it a general success, as a lot was achieved when the weather permitted the outdoor training. A total of 39 youths registered for the programme.

On Saturday, the participants will have an opportunity to showcase their new-found knowledge, as several age group races are carded for the day. They include the BMX 6-9, 9-12, 12-14 and Open categories, as well as the BMX Boys and Girls race.

After the youths have completed their races, the senior riders will take centre stage with rivalry in the Junior/ Juvenile, Mountain Bike and Veteran categories, as well as the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational.

Last year’s main race was won by Marlon Williams in a time of one hour, 16 minutes, 04.46 seconds (01h: 16m: 04.46s), while some of the other category winners were Jamal John (Junior/Juvenile); Jaikarran Sookhai (Veterans Under-50); Emmanual Gayrol (Mountain Bike) and Rakheem Blair (BMX Boys and Girls).

Saturday’s events will commence at 09:00h and will be attended by officials of the NSC, who will witness the races and later assist in the presentation of prizes.

Healthy Lifestyle” and is for children 12-17 years of age.

Organisers have revealed that participants will enjoy interactions with senior and former national cricketers.

While there, the seniors will introduce the youngsters to the technicalities of the sport while sharing their experiences on the national field.

Several resource persons will entertain thought-provoking discussions on cricket-related and other topics during the proceedings. They include a statistician, who will speak on the history of West Indies cricket.

Anandjit will discuss the laws of cricket and umpiring, while a qualified book scorer will deal with the intricacies of the scoring system.

Officers from the Cove

and John Police Station will tutor the aspiring cricketers on road safety practices, while former executive of the Guyana Cricket Board, Ronald Williams, will discuss careers in cricket and discipline. The participants will also be exposed to information on drugs and sports (facilitated by Darshanand Rampersaud) and the Importance of Education (facilitated by former school senior master Judister Rampersaud). Other topics will include Leadership and Sportsmanship, HIV and Teenage Sex, Food and Nutrition, Social Etiquette/ Grooming and Discipline. The academy will conclude on Friday when the participants will be presented with certificates of participation.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Referees Assistance Programme (RAP) will open today at the National Racquet Centre in Georgetown, attracting 21 of Guyana’s top officials over the next five days.

FIFA Referee Instructor Peter Prendergast and FIFA Referee Fitness Instructor Alan Brown will be conducting the RAP, which includes simulations, fitness test, a written test and evaluation.

The RAP is designed to help professionalise the en-

vironment in which referees work and develop by pairing referee development officers with instructors from around the world.

The main goal of the RAP is to unify the way the laws of the game are applied throughout the world, a process that all the FIFA instructors agree is crucial. Instructors and other officials will be guided by the FIFA representatives through classroom sessions as well as practical exercises, since they allow the instructors to put what they have learnt into action.

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones during his feature address

ECCB President Bissoondyal Singh making a point during Monday’s launching of the Board’s 15th cricket academy

Hassan Mohamed Marlon Williams

Ramdhani out of CAREBACO International U-19 Championship

The Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation

(CAREBACO) International Under-19 Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic came to an end on Saturday for Guyanese player Narayan Ramdhani.

The Guyanese was beat-

en by Angel Marinez Ulloa of Dominican Republic in the quarter final.

Ulloa won the first game 21-18 before Narayan came back strong in the second game winning 18-21.

The third game Narayan was in the lead at 20-16, but owing to four wrong

line calls in favour of the Dominican Republic player by the hosts’ line judges, Narayan lost the game and match at 23-21.

A report was made to the Chief Umpire and Tournament Director about the issue and an investigation was done resulting in the Umpire being disciplined and restricted from umpiring for the rest of the tournament.

The Under-19 CAREBACO team tournament commenced on Monday with Guyana in Group B with Puerto Rico, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago. Group A consists of Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Suriname and Panama.

Guyana will play Barbados and Puerto Rico on day one.

The team tournament will be a good warm up for Guyanese players in preparation for the CAREBACO Individual Championships which start on August 27.

Bolt describes 100 metre win as

“hardest race” of his career

Usain Bolt has described his comefrom-behind victory in the 100 metres of the IAAF World Championships on Sunday as the “hardest race” of his scintillating career.

Bolt powered back to edge controversial rival Justin Gatlin on the line, after a shaky start, to secure victory in a season-best 9.79 seconds.

“This was definitely my hardest race,” said the 29year-old Jamaican who was out of action for six weeks

this year with pelvic joint pain.

“I’ve been through a lot this season and Justin’s been running great and showing up fast times”.

Bolt entered the meet struggling for form after battling injuries all season and only managed a few competitive times while Gatlin has been producing several fast times this year.

The win was Bolt’s ninth world title as he broke Gatlin’s 28- race winning streak and paid homage to his German-based doc-

Burnham Memorial Basketball Tournament...

VVR stuns Ravens – Pacesetters ease past Raiders

By TreisTon Joseph

The Victory Valley Royals (VVR) held the Dynas Ravens to just nine points in the final quarter to take what turned out to be a comfortable 7049 win when the Burnham Memorial Basketball Tournament continued on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

With the game already a low-scoring defensive encounter, VVR applied a higher volume of defence to hold the usually offensive explosive Ravens to just nine in the fourth period while scoring 25 points to blow the game out of the water.

The game was 45-40 heading into the fourth when Ravens mentally collapsed and their offence dried up for one of their most atrocious quarters in

the last three years. Lawrence DaCosta led the fourth-quarter binge with eight of his 17 points, while Orlan Glasgow scored seven of his 16 points and Harold Adams netted five of his 22 points.

Ryan Stephney top scored in the match with 13 points for the Ravens, while Ryan Gullen assisted with 10 points in the staggering loss.

Meanwhile, in the opening game of the night’s action, the Trinity Grid Holding (TGH) Pacesetters clinched their berth in the semi-final round by defeating the Retrieve Raiders 7949.

Royston Siland top scored in the win with 13 points, while the next best scorer with 12 points was Jaleel Duke. Neil Marks was the best scorer for the Raiders with 10 points.

Pacesetters took control of the game from the opening buzzer, setting up a double-digit lead by the end of the first only to have the Raiders battle back in the second quarter.

However, the Pacesetters continued to play within their system to open a lead they never relinquished from the third quarter.

The Pacesetters will now face the Half Mile Bulls in the semifinals, while the Colts will battle VVR.

The winner of the tournament will walk away with $100,000 and the championship trophy, while the second-place side will pocket $60,000. The third-place finisher will receive medals and $40,000. Awards for the Most Valuable Player, Best Uniformed Team and Most Disciplined Team will also be handed out.

tor, Hans-Wilhelm MullerWohlfahrt, for his recovery, describing him as “a lifesaver”.

“I’ve learned over the years that when Justin Gatlin comes to a championship, he always shows up. I knew that if I came here to win I’d have to run a great race,” Bolt added.

“I’ve been struggling up and down, so for me to come together at the right time, it’s a great victory. “It’s definitely number one when it comes to competition.”

Gatlin, unbeaten since August 2013, have been a controversial figure having served a year’s ban in 2001 and then sat out 2006- 2010 after a positive testosterone test.

Bolt was quick to sidestepped reporters’ questions about the significance of his victory over Gatlin in the fight to stop athletes from using illegal drugs.

“That’s for you guys to write,” he told reporters.

“For me, I came here to add to my legendary status and to win and continue my championship rise”. (CMC)

Royston Siland explodes to the rim for the Pacesetters (Treiston Joseph photo)

Narayan Ramdhani

Guyana’s Under-19 team currently participating in the CAREBACO team tournament

Usain Bolt

GSSF launches Archery Guyana

– Guyana becomes permanent member of World Archery Federation

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Since ancient times, Guyanese have been known to be proficient users of the arrow and bow, with the indigenous Amerindian population in particular using this age-old practice as a means of survival in the hinterland communities.

Now, with the establish-

ment of Archery Guyana, a sub-group of the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF), Guyana stands on the cusp of making major steps in the Olympic sport of Archery, which employs the use of customised arrows and bows to hit stationary targets.

Archery Guyana was officially launched on Monday with much fanfare; with the GSSF using the opportuni-

ty to showcase what it has achieved, following a foundation course conducted by international archer/coach, Diego Torres, of Colombia.

GSSF President Vidushi Persaud, who has been instrumental in the establishment of Archery Guyana, said the move to have a system in place to allow for structural growth and development of the sport here has been rec-

FIFA rejects GFF’s appeal

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has denied the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) appeal against the Disciplinary Committee’s ruling that no further action be taken against the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation for allegedly fielding an ineligible play

er during World Cup 2018 qualification matches.

According to a GFF press release, the world’s governing body for football cited its decision on technical and procedural grounds reiterating that Guyana was not “a party to the relevant proceedings before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and would therefore not be eligible to appeal”.

FIFA further added that an appeal was lodged against a letter issued on July 29 by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and not against a decision of the Committee.

The GFF will explore all options on how to proceed with the matter and is currently seeking legal guidance.

ognised by the world governing body.

“In keeping with the objectives of establishing sports shooting and solid foundations and promoting the growth of the sport, the GSSF on July 31 was accepted as a permanent member of the World Archery Federation,” she announced to the gathering at the launch at the Carifesta Sports Complex.

Persaud added, “The 51st World Archery Congress was opened on that same day in Copenhagen where Guyana was among a handful of na-

tions unanimously accepted to permanent membership, and this is all due and thanks to the representation and efforts put forward by the GSSF, thus ensuring the expansion of the various disciplines of sport shooting for our country.”

Persaud, an Attorney-atLaw, said the GSSF was delighted at the prospects of introducing an Olympic sport to Guyana and thereby setting the stage for the country’s second Olympic medal.

“I am further enthused at the total commitment to the promotion and development of sport and recreation amongst the respective ministries and Guyanese as a whole. That commitment draws its strength from our knowledge that sport and recreation are indispensable ingredients for nation building. They are an essential part of our efforts to raise the quality of life of all Guyanese citizens, whether they were victims of deprivation, physically challenged, residing in remote areas or whatever,” she explained.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce raises her hand in triumph upon winning her third world title

Using their personally built bows and arrows, members of a few Amerindian communities were on hand to showcase their skills on Monday

Using their personally built bows and arrows, members of a few Amerindian communities were on hand to showcase their skills on Monday