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friday, september 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt to begin work on small hydropower systems

...larger projects on backburner

Although three sites have already been identified as high on Government’s priority list for small hydropower systems, the Administration is still actively seeking other areas for alternative energy such as solar and wind.

This is according to Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who told Guyana Times earlier this week that while Tumatumari, Moco Moco and Kato have been named as the hydropower sites thus far, the initiative is not just limited to these areas. Such plans are being put into place as part of the Administration’s move to lower carbon emissions in Guyana while boosting the power supply.

“Those three are the ones we are working to get off immediately. As you know

Tumatumari has already been there and the other one Moco Moco also, they are the ones we want to get going as soon as possible. Since we want to have alternative energy as soon as possible we may as well start from what already exists and move forward rather than do nothing and wait on a larger scheme,” he said.

He explained that all of the new townships will also benefit from being powered by alternative energy sources and it was expected that Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) , will be the first of the towns in this instance.

Guyana Times understands that it was possible for a 300-megawatt hydropower plant to cater for the

country’s present energy needs as well as to provide for the needs in the near future.

Energy farms

It was further noted that a number of small hydro systems would be constructed at suitable areas throughout Guyana and independent power producers and suppliers would be encouraged to build energy farms and sell energy to the national grid.

Minister Patterson also explained that both Tumatumari and Moco Moco have already had hydropower plants established, but both were currently not functioning and were in dire need of repairs.

Sometime in 2003, the plant located at Moco Moco

was damaged severely b y a landslide and was never repaired. Meanwhile, the hydroelectricity station at Tumatumari was functioning until 1987. However, since that period to date, it has not worked. Presently, a private company is working on this station to rehabilitate it.

Guyana Times was made aware of the fact that as it relates to Kato, almost €1.8 million in funding from the European Union expired in February for the proposed Kato Hydropower Project.

It should be also noted that now the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has signalled its intention to secure new funding.

According to the Administration, with regard to ‘conditional contributions’ for energy, feasibility studies will have to be pursued in collaboration with the Brazilian Government to so as to establish a large hydropower station in the Mazaruni region.

However, at the moment it is not clear as to the size of this proposed structure. Also a specific area for this project in the region has not been identified.

However, no mention has been made of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project which was actively pursued by the former Government.

An access road costing

US$42 million was built and is presently not being utilised. Earlier this year, when the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was still in power, plans were afoot to spend $200 million annually to maintain the road.

Quite recently, the Norwegians, who have been collaborating with Guyana on the Amaila Falls Project, urged the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to reconsider its position as it relates to pursuing the initiative.

Norway wants the Government to consider the merits of the said project as the country will lose over $16 billion which was previously earmarked for the Amaila Falls initiative should it fail to produce a plan for ‘transformational’ renewable energy sources which can be realised in the upcoming few years.

The previous PPP/C Administration had strong support from Norway for the Amaila Falls Project, which was the flagship project of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), that was envisioned to deliver a steady source of clean, reliable, affordable and renewable energy. The 165-megawatt project was expected to eliminate over 92 per cent of Guyana’s energy related greenhouse gas emissions. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Child Rape Centre to be officially opened today in Essequibo

As part of ensuring children are protected from various kinds of sexual abuses, specifically rape, there will be the opening of a Child Rape Centre’ today in Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supernaam).

The official commissioning ceremony will be held at the Shafeek Khan Outreach Centre, Land of Plenty at 10:00h.

Guyana Times understands this event coincides with activities of Child Protection Week, currently being observed in Guyana.

Blossom Inc, a child care and protection group, in partnership with Ministry of Social ProtectionChildcare and Protection Agency, and RIVAH another child rights group, will be operating the Child Rape Centre.

The Centre is designed to house all the agencies involved in advocacy and protection issues of children – investigators, counsellors, legal officials, and others.

With this new development this will prevent victims being exposed to interviews in “full public view” at Police stations, thereby exacerbating the trauma to child victims. It must be noted that child abuse is a national issue which affects countries throughout the world.

There are many unreported cases in this regard mainly due to families being afraid to have their children/wards exposed to ‘outsiders’ or the general public after these acts would have been committed.

It is hoped that with the introduction of such an establishment in the county of Essequibo more cases will be reported and perpetrators dealt with accordingly.

This will also be beneficial to families and/or concerned individuals by reassuring that victims receive the necessary help and counselling which they must badly need. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy. com)

Public Infrastructure

Minister David Patterson

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 25 – 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, September 26 – 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, September 25 – 14:10h-15:40h and Saturday, September 26 – 14:55h-16:25h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

and

4 Police ranks under close arrest for taking $6M bribe – to

spring

bus transporting cocaine, cash

As the Guyana Police Force battles to regain the trust of the public, a Corporal and three Constables were placed under close arrest after senior officials within B Division (Berbice) received word of them allegedly accepting some $6 million to release a vehicle carrying cocaine and cash that was seized during a road block.

According to the Police, an Assistant Superintendent of Police was also implicated in the alleged corrupt act and has been transferred from the Division to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, pending an investigation.

Based upon information received by the Guyana Times, the incident occurred on September 10, but the senior officials in the Division only recently got wind of it and called in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to probe the matter.

Police said in a release, “The Police Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating an alleged corrupt transaction involving a number of police ranks following the seizure of a quantity of cocaine from a motor vehicle along the Corentyne, Berbice, on September 10, 2015.”

When contacted, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that his department is probing an allegation of corruption in B Division, but opted not to divulge information about the incident or the investigation.

However, Guyana Times was told by Police sources that the ranks involved are from the Whim Police Station. According to reports, on the day in question, the ranks, including a female Police

Officer, were conducting a road block exercise at Salton on the Corentyne, when they intercepted a minibus reportedly carrying a quantity of cocaine and large sums of cash.

The ranks reportedly took the vehicle and its occupants to the Station; however, before entering the compound, the officers allegedly negotiated a settlement with the occupants instead of arresting them and took some $6 million cash in exchange for releasing the bus and its occupants. This newspaper was told that the vehicle was reportedly heading to Suriname with the narcotics and cash.

“Shortened”

Further reports indicated that the men went back to the Station where they allegedly informed the Assistant Superintendent about their crime, but instead of taking disciplinary action against the ranks, the senior officer took a portion of the bribe money.

This, the Police source added, reportedly angered one of the ranks as his share was “shortened”, so he began complaining

about it. Word of the incident began spreading and eventually reached acting Commander of the Division, Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, who took the necessary action against the officers involved. This publication was told that Watts was informed of the allegation on Tuesday and immediately alerted his superiors at Police Headquarters. A team from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was dispatched the following day to investigate the matter.

Along with the CID, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is

also probing the matter. Meanwhile contacted for a comment, Senior Superintendent Watts, who is acting in place of B Division Commander Christopher Griffith, pointed out that his office was totally against acts of corruption and rogue cops.

“We are here to fight these things and will not tolerate unprofessional behaviour,” the Senior Officer stated. Watts noted that such despicable acts tend to cause the public to lose trust in the Police and with all the efforts being undertaken to regain the confidence of the public, he would not tolerate such behaviours.

Recently, the acting Commander of B Division has adopted a no-nonsense approach to undisciplined Police Officers. So far this year, several Police Officers have been placed before the courts in Berbice for violation of the law. Some are from the Traffic Department while others are from the Division’s CID section. However most of the ranks before the courts are those referred to as general duty ranks. Additionally, the OPR is also investigating a number of other ranks, against whom reports were made.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that CID is probing the allegation of corruption

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

Plight of the immigrants

While Guyanese celebrated Eid Ul Adha yesterday, thousands of Syrians were deprived of fully exercising this fundamental religious right, due to the ongoing war in their homeland. What’s more, is that their fate now lies in the hands of mainly Europe, a continent which over the recent years, has fallen victim to a growing fear of immigration and Islamophobia, incarnated by the right and extreme right wings.

The “immigration problem” in Europe however, dates beyond the Syrian refugee crisis, and has become a rhetorical argument and justification for the socioeconomic ills of societies faced with high unemployment rates and the weakening of social welfare systems. Immigrants from North Africa, Spain, Italy and Portugal were encouraged to migrate to European countries which had been devastated by the Second World War, and worked mainly in the building sector. This immigration flow reduced significantly in the 1970s but maintained a constant flux. Additionally, those old colonial Empires were faced with new influxes of immigrants particularly from the 1960s onwards, upon the decolonisation of their colonies especially in Africa, the Caribbean and to a certain extent Asia. A significant majority of these immigrants were and still is of Muslim faith. Many invest in small businesses in the food and construction sectors while others work in the lower echelons of society, doing jobs that few Europeans are willing to do. When economic development matured and began to fall under strain, politicians had to find an explanation, and one such was turning the Muslims into the new “Other”. This lead to the empowerment of right wing movements, to such a point where in France in 2003, Jacques Chirac won the national Election with a slight majority against right wing extremist Jean Marie Le Pen. Consequently, the alarm was raised in France, a country that boasts of being an ambassador for human rights but where discrimination attained such heights that the concept of “positive discrimination” had to be promoted in national policies.

The newly invented societal woe of European right wings is how to deal with the steady influx of Muslim immigrants, who pose a threat to the moral foundation of their societies, especially since the birth rates are two to three times higher among immigrants than among European citizens themselves. Muslim immigrants in Europe are now being blamed for a series of social issues ranging from the abuse of the social welfare systems, many of which are faced with growing deficits, to increased crimes and stealing jobs from European citizens. They are blamed for refusing to integrate societies causing social cleavages and growing fear and distrust among nationals. Even as hundreds drown in their flights from war, the immigration crisis in Europe continues to be measured by numbers instead of humanity.

In Guyana, the way we deal with immigration will also be judged by international onlookers. So far, we have developed fruitful bilateral relations on all fronts, including with our Asian, Caribbean and Latin American neighbours, with the recent exception of Venezuela pending the resolution of the border controversy.

However, the stance of the then APNU and AFC Opposition, now in Office, has often been critical towards Chinese and Brazilians immigrants, having given the impression in the past that these investors were taking away Guyanese patrimony and plundering the country. The recent disrespect shown towards eight Indian nationals at the CJIA, regardless of the legality of their situation, also provides an insight into the vision of this Government towards immigration, as it breached basic diplomatic protocol. Additionally, the inefficiency of the Public Security Ministry to implement a structured and aggressive response to contain and reduce crime has contributed to the growing sentiment of insecurity within the immigration community which is not exempt from criminal attacks. One would recall the brutal murder of a Chinese national some weeks ago in the presence of his wife and children.

It is hoped that the apparent signs of indifference of this Government towards immigrants, which includes disregard for the flailing economy, will wither out when it would have definitively adapted to its role of governance and its responsibilities. Otherwise, immigrants will become the new “Other”, adding to Guyana’s already divided society, not quite unlike the European and the Syrians.

Remembering the Syrians on Eid-ul-Adha

Dear Editor,

As Muslims in Guyana celebrated Eid Ul Fitr yesterday, so did millions across the world, from Asia to Europe and Africa to the Americas.

Hundreds of thousands of those who celebrate this holy day are presently caught up in the Syrian armed conflict which has led to the second largest refugee crisis observed since World War II. A significant number of these refugees would not have made it to see this year’s Eid Ul Adha as they would have perished en route to Europe in search of safer grounds, fleeing the turmoil which has ravaged their land.

Many of these victims fell prey to a conflict which has continued to destroy their homes and their land since it first began in 2011, involving belligerents and opportunists from around the world. The Al Assad regime has ruled for forty four years and was caught up in what was labelled the Arab Spring, where regimes in Libya, Yemen, Tunisia and Egypt fell in face of civil protests and uprisings for better socioeconomic, political and human rights. Demonstrations in Syria were met with repres-

sion and resistance from the State. However, the case of Syria as compared to Tunisia for instance, attracted more attention from third parties for several reasons, the conflict having several dimensions.

Besides the people revolting against the regime, the first dimension is perhaps religious, as the Al Assad regime comprised of Alaouites, a branch of Shi’isme acknowledged by the Ayatollah Khomenei of Iran, and the Hezbollah rooted in Lebanon with an important branch in Palestine. This explains in part the support of Iran for the Syrian regime, and has contributed to the rise in arms of Sunnis from across the Middle East against Al Assad. While some might argue that the minority Alaouite regime is of no impact on the country’s peace, this hasn’t stopped Saudi Arabia, a radically Sunni country and close ally of the US, to provide weapons to militias which quickly expanded from nationals to foreign extremist groups fighting on Syrian territory. War waged among Sunnis and Shia. Additionally, this caused the Israelis to prepare for battle, as they felt threatened by the support of the Hezbolla, their

sworn Palestinian enemy, and Iran for the Al Assad regime. While the Hebollah represented an obstacle to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, the Iranians possessed nuclear weapons and equal hatred for the Jewish State as well. Syria, on the other hand, saw a substantial portion of the Golan Mount, predominantly situated on its ancient territory, illegally snatched by Israel. While this represented the main water source for that part of the region, only Israel now benefits extensively from it.

Syria however, remained a strategic point in the Middle East, not only for its resources and its old ties with the surrounding neighbours. It is also the main passage way into Europe for gas emanating from Iran and Iraq, as opposed to the already established Arab Gas Pipeline (also supplying to Israel), rejected by Al Assad but supported by predominantly Sunni Arab States. Russia supported the initiative of a Shiite controlled gas pipeline and sought to reinforce its ties with Iran to have this project implemented. Plans to commence a construction site in Syria were made and if all went well, Russia would profit from the

distribution of cheaper energy to Europe through the Mediterranean. This threatened not only the concurrent Sunni Arab Gas Pipeline, but also the US and its allies, which felt threatened by the expansion of Russian power and influence.

Au finale, while democracy and human rights were used as scape goats to overthrow Governments which opposed the West, hidden agendas which included natural resources, ideology and religion were pursued much to the detriment of the very people who believed in the possibility of change.

President Obama as he delivered wishes for Eid – Al – Adha, stated that "Muslim American organisations are among those at the forefront of attending to victims in this refugee crisis." However, we must not forget that the four hundred thousand plus refugees to date are a direct result of the intervention of the US and its allies in a war which initially was civil, but which, after suffering from foreign interference and foreign backed extremism, has taken on an international dimension.

Sincerely,

De Sà

We must have confidence in our President

Dear Editor, Venezuela's show of strength by parading armour at its borders with Guyana is aggressive and provocative. But I do not think President Maduro is reckless enough to go be-

yond that, since he still plays on the world stage and other players are looking on. Maduro's alliance with other nation states is tenuous at best. Maduro is diverting attention from Venezuels's shaky administration and

poor economy. Any attack by Maduro on Guyana will sound his political death knell. But we shouldn't be too worried. We need to have every confidence in our President. He is a military strategist and I am sure that he will outmanoeuvre his Venezuelan counterpart. We have been through Ankoko and the New River Triangle. We will survive this.

Sincerely, Charles Selman

A girl plays with a balloon while waiting for morning prayers to begin during Eid Al-Adha celebrations at a Luneta Park in Manila, September 24 (Reuters)

The Government’s failed promises Government should indicate how new hydro projects will be funded

Dear Editor, More and more surprised are delivered to my fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters by the APNU/AFC Government.

The first was the dismissal of thousands of public servants of certain ethnicities from the Public Service. The second surprise was the replacement of Regional Executive officers by party hacks such as Mr Ramayya an AFC executive in Region 6, Mr Parker, an APNU activist who was dismissed by the Public Service Commission previously, in Region 9.

In Region 5, Mr Roderick Edinboro, a former City Treasurer who was dismissed by the Georgetown City Council “in the public interest” with effect from January 31, 2010, in keeping with the recommendations of a Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of the Georgetown Municipality, was appointed. He was also listed on the APUN top up list for the 2011 elections. All the others REOs are also party hacks and are political activists for the APUN/ AFC. Hopefully, the Auditor General will be checking all financial transitions in

the regions. These REOs already have a history of financial malpractices.

Thirdly, contrary to what was promised, teachers are still waiting to become the highest workers in the public service. Over four months after the coalition Government came into power there has been no word on the increase in salary and working conditions for teachers. Before the election, teachers were encouraged to “work to rule” by the Guyana Teachers’ Union. We are not hearing anything from the Unions these days. All of a sudden most of these organizations have become.

President Granger is doing the oppositie of everything he has promised to Guyanese. Is it that he cannot be trusted on his words? So far, his administration is running this country based on an “animal farm policy” where “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

The APNU/AFC Government needs to treat all Guyanese the same way as was promised in their election campaign.

Raj Persaud

Dear Editor, I observe with interest this Government’s move to abandon the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project, despite having committed to providing "a good life in a green economy" to Guyanese. Indeed, it is rather amusing to now see that after the major green initiative which Guyana aspired to and which was on the brink of being launched was abandoned, the Government is scurrying to find alternatives to fulfill its ambitious promise to the people. This explains investing in old projects which would have failed for one technical reason or the other, such as the Moco Moco hydro.

However, disappointing is the Government’s unfounded explanations for why the Amaila Project was not continued. One such excuse is the quality of the project document itself and the methodology employed, which could have been enhanced if the Government was really keen on moving forward with the project. Another excuse which is demonstrative of the incomprehension and or deceitfulness of this Government, accuses the project of being too expensive for Guyana. But, what the Government is masking from

Guyanese, is that the Amaila Falls Hydro project was allocated US$80 million from the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) revenues, monies earned in exchange for the simple preservation of our pristine rainforest. Unlike the falsity propagated by the Government, the hydro project would not have cost a cent of taxpayers’ dollars, but instead, would have been a symbolic materialisation of the efforts which Guyana invested in developing a green economy. Indeed, the green economy slogan which the APNU/AFC so aimlessly throws about, is no new invention but started since 2007, when the first LCDS talks ensued between Norway and Guyana. But this letter would resist the temptation to scrutinise how this fragile coalition has usurped the achievements of the PPP/C while attempting fruitlessly to reinvent them. What’s even more discouraging for Guyanese, is that this Government would not be able to divert the funds allocated to the Amaila hydro project, as was revealed during the last LCDS stakeholder meeting on August 17, as was the case with the funds attributed to the Specialty Hospital project.

The Government must ex-

plain where it will find the funds to invest in other such projects, considering the extensive work which needs to be done. The Moco Moco hydro plant for instance, requires much work before it is rehabilitated, but also, profound research to ensure that its past failure isn’t reproduced. Understandably, the Government has set out to leave its mark of originality in the country’s political history by destroying the achievements and efforts of the former administration. However, if this means discarding previous investments at the expense of Guyanese, it is only synonymous of an egotistical agenda which has little care for the people who it was elected to serve.

Incidentally, the Amaila hydro project was also part of a wider infrastructural development plan, which consisted in building an access road to the Amaila plant, which branches off from the Georgetown Lethem road. This would have fit into the project to develop a functional road from Lethem to Georgetown, with financial support from Brazil. Such a project would have contributed to the strengthening of our South American partnership especially with Brazil, facilitated market access for

both countries as well as access for Guyanese coastlanders to the interior and vice versa. In sum, it would have boosted national and regional development while enhancing exchanges between the Guyanese coast and the hinterland.

Unfortunately for Guyanese, where this APNU/AFC claims to find fault in initiatives elaborated by the former administration, it simply scraps and moves to create anew. This doesn’t only prove that it is incompetent as it cannot rectify and build on what it inherited, it shows that it has no regard for the principle of continuity in governance. However, the Government of Guyana has not attained the status of a middle income country during the last twenty three years alone, but instead has done so with the input and cooperation of the Guyanese people. Subsequently, this soi-disant coalition Government continues to prove to its electorate that it has no respect for their previous contribution to Guyana’s development. Fortunately, those who didn’t vote for the coalition already know this much.

Sincerely, Stacy Cheong

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Page Foundation

BY CHRISTINE FIELD

Homemaking basics

With all that goes into running a home, it’s important to be proficient in the basic, daily tasks. Whatever my children do with their lives, however God calls them, I want them to know how to take care of themselves and their homes.

I began many of these lessons in the kitchen. I’d let them cook and help prepare food. Even a young child can spread peanut butter with a butter knife or tear lettuce for a salad. There’s also much to learn from meal planning each week based on what foods are in season or on sale. The whole family can get involved in meal planning: Help your children list seven breakfasts, lunches and dinners on index cards, and work together to make a shopping list from this plan.

For older children, give them grocery flyers and a weekly budget, and have them plan the menu for the week. Math comes alive as children make lists, check cupboards, clip coupons and keep a total on the calculator while shopping.

Let your child join you on a shopping trip for an introduction to the factors involved in making food purchases for your family such as quality, price per ounce, nutritional value, budgetary considerations, and so on. This may help your child make the connection as to why snacks from the checkout line may not be the best choice.

sort light and dark clothing. Even a young child can fold small towels. As your child grows, he can be responsible for loading the machines, but not before teaching him about soap and water levels, water temperatures and colors of clothes. As for stacking clothes neatly in drawers – he can do that, too.

Another important lesson is the necessity of a good attitude. When my first two children were young, I gave them a bucket of warm, soapy water with sponges – and then put them in their bathing suits. They had a fabulous time washing the kitchen floor. I plunked them in the bathtub

Healthy habits

Family life is where healthy habits are formed. Exercise as a family, and work together to practice good nutrition. And does your daily communication support a healthy view of the body? Your words condition children in their perception of themselves – positive or negative.

You may also need to remind your children of the basics of health and hygiene. Do they clip their nails? Are they using soap in the shower? Are they changing their undergarments at regular

and mopped up the excess. I had happy children and a clean floor.

When doing the laundry, let your children help you

Of course, not all chores are fun or need to masquerade as something else in order for your children to keep a good attitude. Their outlook on a situation, no matter how unappealing the task, should be positive, a needed skill to develop for the real world.

intervals? These things require regular upkeep, now and always. Don’t let your children get lazy with their hygiene.

As my children grow and go out to explore the world, I pray they will remember our home as a place where we celebrated, worked, fought and trained well.

Decision-making skills

Making good decisions involves discernment. Try these techniques to help your child make better decisions: Look to the future.

Ask each of your children to make a list of all the big decisions they will make over the next 10 to 15 years of their life, such as college, career, car, apartment, city, marriage and children. Discuss together the factors that constitute each big decision.

Stick to the facts.

“I can’t possibly join AWANA this year,” your daughter sighs. “They make you memorize the whole Bible!”

“Do you know that for sure?” you ask.

Look for opportunities to teach your child about getting all the facts. Discourage conclusions based on incomplete information.

Brainstorm together.

Your child needs to choose a science project. He doesn’t know where his interests lie.

On a piece of paper write the word science in a cloud, and as you discuss science topics, draw branches of ideas stemming from the cloud.

As you fill in the major subjects, encourage your child to think of subtopics within those areas. Maybe the study of animals strikes a chord with him, and he remembers a longtime love of guinea pigs. Voila! He now approaches the project with enthusiasm and a sense of ownership.

List pros and cons.

Let’s say your child has to choose between playing soccer and taking ballet lessons. List the pros and cons of each option to help her reach a decision. (www.focusonthefamily.com)

BY MARY O’DONOHUE

Ever have a parenting epiphany? A moment when something just makes you think, “Whoa, wait a minute. I’ve been doing this all wrong! I need to change direction.” That happened to me a few years ago when my daughter Grace was five. I caught her trying to steal a candy bar at the checkout counter of a local store. When I told her to put it back, she looked at me as if to say,

lying?” She was crying at that point. And then it hit me. What had my husband and I taught her about stealing and lying? Clearly, not enough.

And there it was. My parenting epiphany. One of those “teachable moments” between parent and child, but this time, I was the one learning the lesson. I realised that most of the time when it came to teaching my two children about right and wrong, I was coming in after the fact. I was being a reactive

“There’s nothing to see here. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Even as her 10-yearold brother chided, “You’re gonna get in trouble,” Grace just pretended nothing had happened. Of course I insisted she put it back, and I remember putting her into her booster seat in the car afterwards, and asking, “Why did you do that? What have daddy and I taught you about stealing and

parent instead of a proactive one. Though my husband and I were certainly doing our best to lead by example, it was simply not enough. We had to change our approach. It took me a little while but I came up with a plan. I decided to focus on teaching my children 12 values over the course of a year, spending a month at a time on each one, such as gratitude, compassion, respect for others, and integrity. When it came to Integrity Month, I wanted my children to know that integrity is about more than just being honest. It’s about doing what is right for the right reasons. Not for attention, accolades, or rewards - but simply because it is the right thing to do.

And I realized that when my husband and I told our children to “tell the truth,” we were sending an incomplete message. Of course it’s wrong to tell lies. But we as parents can go beyond that. We can teach our children that telling the truth is good, but living the truth is better.

Now, that concept might seem pretty abstract to children - indeed the idea of integrity itself is very abstract. So how do we make it real for our children? I have found that one of the most effective ways to do this is with a simple exercise. So every day during Integrity Month, I ask my children a question designed to help them tap into and develop empathy - the key ingredient in integrity. Exercises like this are particularly effective for children in the 5 - 12 year old age range, though it’s never too late! I encourage you to try this with your children. (www.pbs.org)

TO BE CONTINUED

(CONTINUED frOm ThUrsDay)

friday, september 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt reconstitutes GNBA Government could buy out the Berbice Bridge

...and/or Berbice businesses could buy equity – Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo says the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) will support any move by Government to take ownership of the Berbice River Bridge, stressing that the Party will support anything that benefits citizens. “We are not going to do like they did and cut things in the budget or fight against it.”

Jagdeo was at the time engaging the Berbice business community at the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) office at Rose Hall Town on Wednesday.

While not referring to the issues which currently surround the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) over the Government-proposed reduction in tolls, Jagdeo said the Administration could purchase the necessary shares.

The equity for the Bridge is $400 million. This is the sale of an ownership interest to raise funds for business purposes. The remainder was financed by debentures.

The former President said Government could put in place a different structure which could allow for the equity to be increased, which could see the equity doubling thus allowing pro-

viding funds to pay bondholders and the preference shareholder which is the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

He noted that Berbice businesspersons can also invest in the project which would cause the equity to be reduced and immediately cut some of the overhead expenses of the BBCI. That, he added, will be a win-win situation for all including Government, investors, and users of the Berbice Bridge.

“This will maintain support for Public-Private Partnership and you have a fair solution for everyone and people own part of the Bridge and this is perfectly feasible and I am sure peo-

ple will want to do something along those lines, even the current equity holders of the bridge.”

The former Head of State said the issues surrounding the BBCI were being politicised. “We want the suggestions to come from the people. I don’t want to get involved personally, but like I have said, anything that will bring down fares on the Berbice Bridge I am supportive of, once it is fair to all of the shareholders.”

Jagdeo, in explaining how Government got involved and invested in the BBCI, said during the 1990s Government secured a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for

improvement to the Berbice crossing. This money, he said, was used to construct the access road to the bridge on both sides of the River.

“The IMF did not want the Government to invest in the Bridge so the Government used some money that it had in shares from RUSAL; they had some money for us from the privatisation of the bauxite industry. We told them to invest the money that they owe us in the bridge. Then we went out with a prospectus to all the institutional investors.”

He noted that only the New Building Society did not buy into the proposal.

“We went through a transparent process by issuing a prospectus. On the finance side, when you look at the traffic flow that should over the years give the investor a return and still not over time increase the tariff too high.”

Jagdeo said the PPP/C was supporting Government’s attempts to reduce the bridge tolls, “but there are ways of doing so, you can buy out the bridge so that the investors’ money is secured and the Government could reduce the toll to whatever they want. That is an option available to the Government.”

The former President,

Government on Wednesday confirmed that it has officially reconstituted the Guyana National Broadcast Authority (GNBA) Board following discussions with a few stakeholders.

The new Board is headed by Leonard Craig who confirmed that the new board members would have a series of issues to discuss in the interest of dealing with core matters under its remit.

He gave no confirmation that one of the priority areas would be revoking licences that were granted by the former People’s Progressive

who ended his three-day outreach to Berbice with the business community meeting on Wednesday, addressed the bridge issue at several meetings during the three days. According to the Opposition Leader, Government took a unilateral decision to reduce the bridge toll by $300 for vehicular traffic without any consultation with the BBCI.

Speaking at the meeting at Number 48 Village he explained why Government found itself committed to reducing the Bridge toll.

“It was campaign promise, yet they put $36 million to subsidise the Bridge and $62 million for Nagamootoo

Party/Civic Administration.

The new Board includes veteran broadcaster Vic Insanally, Professor Rovin Deodat, former People’s National Congress Reform Member of Parliament and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member Anthony Vieira, Attorneyat-Law Abiola Wong-Iniss, Sherwood Lowe and Jocelyn Josiah.

The previous Board was headed by Bibi Shaddick and included Margot Boyce, Captain Gerry Gouveia, Retired Major General Norman Mc Lean, Charles Ramson Jr, and Dr Dindyal Permaul.

[Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo] to fix the house and to buy a vehicle for him. What kind of priority is this?”

“Money is there to buy over the bridge,” Jagdeo said.

“We [the PPP/C Administration] left a revenue base: that is why there is a $221 billion Budget…..” He added that the Government would be receiving $165 billion annually in revenue, $800 million in loans for various projects, $180 million in a grant from Norway, with US$35 million in reserves, while there was an additional $850 million in Line of Credit from the Chinese Government.

Region 2 paddy farmers in massive protests

...prices cannot even cover expenses

Hundreds of rice farmers throughout Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Wednesday staged yet another rice protest. This time the massive crowd pressed for proper representation from the Administration and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), for fuel and vehicle concessions, lucrative market for rice and fair prices.

The protest commenced at 09:00h with farmers gathering in front of the GRDB and Region Two Administration. The common cry was for proper representation and prompt payment.

The protest was organised by the Guyana Rice Producers, Association (GRPA) and led by its General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj. It attracted more than 350 rice farmers who voiced their concerns about the current state of the rice industry.

Seeraj is demanding that the Government answer for the $23 billion which it claimed was for rice. He said rice harvesting had commenced throughout the Region and millers were not paying fair prices. The RPA General Secretary said it was not fair to farmers and called on the David Granger-

led Administration to represent the country’s rice farmers.

The farmers were armed with placards which read, "RPA wants Govt to explain the loss of the Venezuela Market”, “RPA demands the removal of all dishonest people from GRDB”, “RPA say do not cripple the hands that feed the nation”, “Rice too big to go”, “RPA demands the $23B allocated in budget speech be made available to pay farmers”,” RPA demands Government interventions into the payments for farmers”, “RPA demands full payment to farmers within 42 days”, “We demand Government to live up to its campaign promise of $6000 per bag”, and “We want vehicle concession and on fuel".

Concessions

Another RPA representative Rabindranauth Mohan said rice farmers needed concessions on vehicles and fuel.

He explained that rice farmers over the past months have raised several concerns about issues affecting the rice industry. Guyana Times was told that these issues were communicated to the relevant authorities in Government, but to date no one has visited or informed rice farmers about the current situation of the industry.

“Rice is in problems and farmers need proper price; rice control the Essequibo economy and if rice down, everything else down" Mohan asserted.

Rice farmers have repeatedly voiced frustration, complaining that harvesting was in “full swing” and there was not any “proper price out as yet”.

According to those affected, some rice millers are paying $1900 for Grade A paddy and this is unfair since it cannot offset their cultivation expenses.

As such, the farmers are calling on Government to intervene and use the $23 bil-

lion that was mentioned in the budget speech to offer rice farmers better prices.

Guyana Times was further told by Mohan that some rice farmers are still owed millions of dollars for harvests sold during the last crop.

Unfair

Rice farmers told this newspaper they will not stop protesting until their needs are met. Contracted rice farmers are also facing serious problems.

Guyana Times was told they could not accept anything less than the $6000 per bag as was promised during the election campaign.

One rice farmer, Suresh Narine said he sold his paddy to a miller without even knowing the price. He said, however, he saw millers putting out prices that ranged from $1500-$1800 and maintained that this was not even covering expenses. Leading up to the crop, rice farmers were faced with paddy bug infestation, among other challenges, which forced them to incur additional expenses.

Orwin Oswald, another rice farmer, living in Devonshire Castle said he sustained his family by cultivating rice. Oswald still owes the bank and said if the prices continue to be that low,

he was unsure how he would pay the bank.

"It’s a very serious situation. We invested more than what we will be getting and this is not fair. We need a more profitable international market and it is important that the Government come in and save the industry," Oswald noted.

Millers who do not have international markets for rice are purchasing rice in small quantities for local consumption only. They have set prices ranging from $1800 for a bag of Grade A paddy.

Farmers are again calling for an explanation as to why the Venezuelan market, which was a lucrative one, was lost and asked what system was being put in place to assist in the marketing process. To date, no one from the new Government has visited Region Two to inform rice farmers about the current situation.

The formerly vociferous organiser of the Alliance For Change (AFC) for the "rights of paddy farmers" against the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, and head of the Essequibo Paddy Farmers Association who was just appointed to the GRDB Board has been conspicuously silent.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Rice farmers protesting in front of the GRDB office at Anna Regina

friday, september 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

GuySuCo CoI

Chairman says Commission compiling data gathered

With less than a week left before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) ends, the panel is busy wrapping up their work in order to make the September 30 deadline.

Speaking to Guyana Times, CoI Chairman Vibert Parvatan said the panel members are still working and having discussions on the information gathered. He stated that all information have been gathered and they are working in sub-committees to sort them out, that is, summarising, analysing, and preparing their final recommendations based on data gathered. He said each committee has a specific area they focus on, including agriculture and marketing.

“We will harmonise all these information into one report because we can’t go without any of them; they are all integral to our work,” he explained. Asked whether the Commission will be able to meet next week’s deadline, Parvatan noted that he was not sure but was pushing to ensure that they do.

“I’m hoping to do so but can’t be definitive,” the Chairman cautioned.

In a previous interview ear-

lier this month, Parvatan pointed out the Commission was at the stage where it has completed taking submissions and carrying out its visits to sugar estates. He explained that the process over the past two months have been very time consuming, whereby several organisations and individuals gave evidence. These included the main buyer of Guyana’s sugar, Europe’s Tate and Lyle.

The England-based multinational agribusiness, which specialises in the manufacture of sugar-based food ingredients, recently presented evidence before the Commission.

Some of the issues raised included the impact of the industry over the next few years, particularly with the current world price of US11.3 cents per pound of sugar and the current European Union price in the region of US15 cents; the company’s relationship with GuySuCo and its continued relationship going forward. The company also related its long productive relationship with the Corporation.

Other organisations testifying included the Private Sector Commission (PSC), represented by its Chairman, retired Major General Norman Mc Lean; Earl

John, former Human Resources Director of GuySuCo; Keith Gordon formerly of Caricom; Dr Oudho Homenauth of the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI); John Ireland, Associate Director of Czaraizow Group Limited of the United Kingdom; Rawle Lucas and Christopher Ram.

Added to that, Chairman Parvatan had stated the Commissioners have been meeting with the heads of all estates countrywide, along with the heads of each department within those estates. Those responsible for field and factory operations and human resources held meetings with General Managers, department managers and several workers as they examined the preparatory work for the next crop in this, the outof-crop season.

After assuming office in May, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government was forced to inject some $3.8 billion to bail out GuySuCo, which had no money to pay staff. Subsequently, the Commission was established and the probe commenced into the industry on July 1.

Government said the objec-

tive was to develop a plan to bring the state-owned enterprise, which has been operating since 1976, back to profitability, and assure its long-term environmental and economic sustainability.

The Commissioners, who are tasked with developmental planning for this purpose, are mandated to, “Investigate and inquire into the current state of cane cultivation, production, and marketing of sugar, molasses and other by-products, including power”.

The team was also tasked with investigating the human resources department, research and development, diversification of the industry, community obligations, weather events, marketing, financing, procurement, and overall factory management and performance.

Moreover the Commission, during its investigation, is expected to develop a 15-year plan aimed at bringing the sugar industry back to profitability. The APNU/AFC maintains that GuySuCo has been, “Sinking further into debt due to ineffective operations both at the financial and production levels” at the hands of the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

Growth...

...conundrum

There is a very learned discussion going on between some economists in the newspaper letters column on why is it that our economy hasn't grown much more that it did, in the last fifty years after independence. Now your Eyewitness isn't qualified to enter such a discourse in what it's practitioners call "the queen of social sciences" (it's supposed to be closest to the experimental and empirical methodology of the "natural sciences").

But one thing he knows is that after all these "queens of the social sciences" type were yelling "full speed ahead!!" as the Masters of the Universe on Wall Street and the "City" of London slammed their neo-liberal economic ship into the financial iceberg in 2008, their reputation and the reputations of the field really took a beating. One of the problems with these fellas is that they refuse to understand- or can't understand - that humans and human consciousness aren't comets whose velocity and position , say, we can predict with some high level of accuracy now and into the future.

So they spend scads of time creating models built on data from the past that predict what happens if those conditions were ever to be replicated. Trouble is, the future - or even the present - is never exactly like the past, is it? What was it that fella Zeno said? You can never put your foot into the same river? It's always flowing and always changing. And didn't one of their own, named Lucas, make the point in their own jargon?

So we have these Ivory-tower types wondering why even though Guyana's "investment levels" were comparatively high, we haven't been giving Singapore a run for its money. But with all the numbers they kept spewing, they forget a bit of advice offered some time ago by old man Keynes - who knew a thing or two about "growth" and "recessions." The influence of "animal spirits" in making of economic decisions and investments.

"Most, probably, of our decisions to do something positive....can only be taken as the result of animal spirits – a spontaneous urge to action rather than inaction, and not as the outcome of a weighted average of quantitative benefits multiplied by quantitative probabilities." (161-162) – J.M.Keynes, General Theory)

The problem in Guyana is that our business classesforeign and domestic - don't have the confidence to go "full steam ahead" into the kind of investments that will give us double digit growth. They're always seeing the iceberg called "PNC".

Call it gut feeling or weighing political risks...with an Opposition that was instinctively anti-profit - and now the government of the day, Guyana is in some choppy economic waters.

...industry

Even though the economy (the real economy, as the economists would say) has been taking a nosedive, there's one bright spot - the auditing field!! If ever an occupation was in demand, it is auditing. Right now it's hot!! hot!! hot!! Here it was, auditors were chugging on sedately - as auditors are wont to do - without must ado - and suddenly, they become then biggest thing since Madonna. (and that's been a while, no?)

There isn't a department of the government - including autonomous entities like the GRA, that isn't been audited. Now this Eyewitness doesn't think the government's so daft as to believe these auditors find any smoking gun or widespread looting of the treasury to nail any big fishes. What the government's doing is to give a stimulus to the economy -one that's so big it's bound to jumpy start it. After all, Auditors don't come cheap - ask the grandaddy of them all, Lalloo Ram.

You think it's cheap to buy all those suspenders?

...of army confidence

Now if it's one time we must come together as a nation, it's now. And we have to get behind those brave souls who're in the frontline defending us against the dastardly Venezuelans.

Forget the what you heard. Size really doesn't matter.

Case of the “missing twin” in Berbice

...investigation launched by Health Ministry

In a rapid response to arrive at the truth, the Health Ministry on Wednesday launched an investigation into a peculiar incident that sent shockwaves through the country whereby a 37-year-old Berbice mother who expected to give birth to twins woke up to one baby at the Anamayah Memorial Hospital in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Omawattie Samaroo of Number Two Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was repeatedly told by doctors she was pregnant with twins. Medical records evidently also confirmed the mother was carrying two foetuses. However, following her caesarean delivery on September 12, Samaroo was

currently waiting on her to make the formal report before the in-depth investigation can begin.

“We are really hoping she does make a complaint,” the Minister said, noting that the case is really interesting.

If the family does not make a complaint, the Minister admitted that a probe can still be launched; however, it would have to be a general probe into the practices of the Hospital.

Fire alarm at GMR&SC track

only given one baby and told the doctors made a mistake during the interpretation of the ultrasound images. The Hospital said it was a case of “mirror artifact” in that the ultrasound showed a highly reflective image creating the illusion of a twin.

Despite this explanation, the new mother insisted she was carrying twins. She strongly believes her baby died and the Hospital is trying to cover it up.

During an interview with Guyana Times on

Thursday, Health Minister Dr George Norton said a probe has already commenced into the matter. He said several health officials visited the Hospital and family on Wednesday to gather information relating to the matter. From data received, Dr Norton conceded that the situation could indeed be a case of “mirror artifact”, but he acknowledged the plight of the mother, who is adamant she carried twins, especially since twins were common in her family.

Before a comprehensive probe is launched however, the Minister said the family would have to file a complaint. Dr Norton said health officials have already briefed the mother on her options and they are

Lawmen come under gunfire

...in search for illegal drugs in NWD

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force came under gunfire on Wednesday evening after they attempted to search a house at Five Star Backdam, North West District (NWD). The incident occurred around 20:30h.

According to Police, the ranks received information about armed men spotted at the Powis Landing Area, Five Star Backdam, and acting on this report, went to the area. As they were ap-

proaching a house, they came under gunfire, which they returned. During this, a number of men managed to escape from the building. Attempts by the Police to apprehend them were futile.

The officers subsequently conducted a search on the premises during which they discovered 550 grams of marijuana and 40 grams of a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine. An investigation has been launched.

The Minister indicated that it was premature to pronounce on possible sanctions the hospital could face. He did note that from all indications, it appeared that the radiologist was not academically qualified for that position.

When contacted for a detailed explanation, owner of the medical institution, Dr Ryan Anamayah insisted these cases are “normal” in the medical field, although he assured that nothing of this nature previously occurred at his hospital. (devinas@guyanatimesgy.com)

Fire tenders rushed to the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) on Albert Street, Georgetown on Thursdays afternoon after a fire began on the racing track. The incident occurred sometime after 15:00h.

According to reports reaching Guyana Times ,

someone had lit a fire in the compound to burn weed cuttings at the ground. However, the fire was lit a bit too close to the track, and the tyres around its border caught fire.

The flames started to spread along the line of tyres, but a quick response from the Guyana Fire Service saw them be-

ing contained from further spreading to the pavilion in the compound. Persons in the area were alarmed by the thick black smoke that filled the air and could be seen for blocks The Fire Service was assisted by the Guyana Prison Service’s tender, which went to the scene with a tank of water.

Dr George Norton

Omawattie Samaroo

Thick black smoke filled the air as fire fighters put out the flames

300+ businesses to participate in Business Expo

More than 300 businesses are set to participate in the firstever Business Exposition, an initiative launched by the Business Ministry this year in the place of GuyExpo – one of the most highly successful trade fairs in the country.

During the launching ceremony of Business Exposition, slated for the Sophia Exhibition Centre from November 27 to 29, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin underscored the importance of this event in developing local small and medium size businesses.

The objective of the Exposition is to create awareness and open new markets for local products.

Speaking at the launch, Gaskin acknowledged the importance of GuyExpo, particularly in the small business sector and since the mega event was impossible this year, the Ministry

moved to host the Business Expo.

A statement from the Business Ministry had explained that GuyExpo was cancelled this year to accommodate the 50th anniversary celebrations of Guyana’s Independence in May 2016.

Already, Government has announced the postponement of another mega-event on Guyana’s national calendar – the grand Mashramani Float Parade, also to facilitate the 50th celebrations.

Meanwhile, the Business Expo is designed to be slightly different from the traditional trade fair since its primary focus would be on the small business sector and not entertainment, Gaskin said. He alluded to the fact that over the years, the entertainment aspect became the major focus of GuyExpo, while the exhibits were mere “side shows” and for that reason, thought more emphasis

should be placed on the real reason for the fair – developing businesses. Nonetheless, he assured there will still be entertainment but in the form of cultural activities.

Also speaking at the launch was President of the Guyana Manufacturing Services Association (GMSA) Ramsey Ali who pointed out that the Expo will be significantly beneficial to small businesses, since the larger companies will be assisting smaller producers to market their products.

He noted, for example, that the GMSA – the main partnering entity in organising the hosting of the Expo – will be taking small producers under its umbrella to help market their products. Additionally, he stated he was looking forward to seeing more local products on display rather than international entities dominating the trade fair.

Meanwhile, some participating businesses in the first-ever Business Expo include Guyana AgroProcessors Association, Guyana Aquaculture Association, Guyana Arts and Craft Producers Association, Guyana Beekeepers Association, Fashion Designers, Children Funland owners, cooperatives, and tourism operatives.

The theme is “Guyanese Products and Services – Our Gateway Forward”.

Microsoft to help with E-Governance in Guyana

Technology giant Microsoft will be assisting Guyana with its E-governance Project geared towards centralising key services and licensing for Government Ministries and agencies, as the Administration moves to recommence the stalled project.

Adviser on E-Governance Floyd Levi recently met with regional representatives of Microsoft and Cisco Corporations to discuss support for Government’s planned Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives.

Levi informed the group that government agencies would soon consolidate Internet access and email services for Ministries which would see email addresses for these agencies being moved to the gov.gy domain.

The discussions were held among several Information Technology Executives including Senior Systems Engineer at Cisco Systems Inc, Garfield Gordon; Territory Business Manager (Trinidad and the Caribbean – Cisco Systems Inc), Richard Doldron and Corporate Territory Manager for Microsoft Trinidad & Tobago, Jonathan Jagai.

Meanwhile, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said the first phase of the project will see the placement of fibre-optic cable in Georgetown heading all the way to Linden. According to

the Minister, the entire project will be reorganised in a more “effective” manner.

The E-Governance Project was initiated by the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration to the tune of US$32 million amid harsh criticism from the then Opposition A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change.

Many questions have been raised about the new Government’s commitment to this project since its ascension to office, particularly in light of the firing of Project Manager Alexi Ramotar,

who had advised that the Project be shelved since repairs would cost US$20 million and the removal of the Dax Contracting Services, which was tasked with rehabilitating and maintaining the fibre-optic cable that suffered heavy damage.

Minister Harmon said Dax Contracting Services would be returning the cable and checks would be made to see if it was still viable. He further stated that the consultations with the regional representatives of Microsoft and Cisco were part of a series of interactions with several international companies.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin unveiling the theme for the 2015 Business Exposition

From right: Senior Systems Engineer at Cisco Systems Inc, Garfield Gordon; Territory Business Manager (Trinidad and the Caribbean – Cisco Systems Inc), Richard Doldron; Adviser on E-Governance Floyd Levi and Corporate Territory Manager for Microsoft Trinidad & Tobago, Jonathan Jagai

Current Guyanese diplomats to be replaced – Harmon

… fails to announce names of new appointees

By Akeem Greene

Government has announced that it is taking active steps to recall several serving Guyanese diplomats and Ambassadors with the intention of replacing them.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Wednesday while speaking at the post-Cabinet media briefing confirmed that all Guyanese diplomats, inclusive of Ambassadors, Consul Generals and High Commissioners have been notified that they were likely to be replaced in the upcoming weeks.

“Notices have been served and the replacements and removals will occur by the end of October,” the Minister reported.

Just after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) formed the Government, they issued a statement saying Guyana’s Ambassador to Suriname, Keith George and the Permanent Representative to the United Nations, George Talbot would be retained by the new Administration and new envoys were to be appointed to the United States, United Kingdom and Canada among other places.

However until now, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has not confirmed any of the new Heads of Missions except for the newly-appointed Ambassador to Venezuela, career diplomat Cheryl Miles. Miles is to replace Ambassador Geoffrey Da Silva. This

Shipping Association of Guyana celebrates World Maritime Day

The World Maritime Day theme for 2015 is “Maritime education and training”. This year’s theme is even more fitting at a time when the Shipping Association of Guyana (SAG) is zooming in on its advocacy for the shipping industry in Guyana, especially as it relates to modernisation of the ports in Georgetown.

The theme was adopted to focus attention on the wider spectrum of maritime education and training, in particular its adequacy and quality, as the bedrock of a safe and secure shipping industry, which needs to preserve the quality, practical skills and competence of qualified human resources, in order to ensure its sustainability. The day is used to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and

the marine environment, and to emphasise a particular aspect of International Maritime Organisations’ (IMO) work.

SAG in the past has endeavoured to focus attention on the importance of maritime safety and security, and to emphasise the development of linkages within the local commercial sector.

The Shipping Association believes that education and training are essential for the long term sustainability of the sector, both at sea and on-shore. It is with this in mind, that the Association has placed some emphasis on its own training programmes over the past year.

Maritime security is a top agenda of SAG as the increase in armed robberies at sea continues to affect the industry. Education and training becomes even more critical at this juncture and

the Shipping Association of Guyana will continue to engage various stakeholders to develop effective strategies to deal with this dilemma.

The United Nations Secretary General in his Message for World Maritime Day 2015 highlighted that, “Today, shipping is a modern, highly technical, professional discipline that requires a great deal of skill, knowledge and expertise from the maritime workforce. The mariner of today cannot learn the skills required for success simply through work experience or learning on-the-job.”

He posited that a safe, secure and clean shipping industry can only be built on effective standards of education and training.

The International Maritime Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations with 168

Member States and three Associate Members. The IMO was established by convention in 1948 and held its first meeting in1959. IMO’s main task has been to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping that includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical co-operation, maritime security, and efficiency of shipping

As Guyana joins with the rest of the World in observance of this year’s World Maritime Day, the Shipping Association wishes to recognise the significant gains of the industry, especially its professionals who remain committed to delivering at the highest level and training. The difficulties faced today could be significantly reduced in the very near future.

appointment has been “frozen” by the Maduro Government as the border controversy between the two countries grows.

When quizzed about who will serve as Ambassador to the US and the Consul General in New York, Harmon was reluctant to answer or provide the media with the name of the person or persons being considered.

Bayney Karran who was Ambassador to the US and to the Organisation of American States (OAS) recently vacated that post.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, who was previously outspoken about the appointment of Ambassadors, had declared, “If you are a political appointee in a foreign service you know you have to go at the end of that Administration’s term; they all know that.”

Although the recall of Ambassadors and subsequent replacements by new Governments is a normal feature in the system of international relations, it is not clear in Guyana’s case whether those being recalled could be appointed elsewhere or would have their services completely terminated.

Given the posture of the new Government, there is also a high possibility that the Ambassadors and other heads may encounter difficulties accessing their benefits and entitlement especially if the Government has issues with those who were appointed to serve in various areas.(akeemg@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

friday, september 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Muslims gathered at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) on Thursday, as they did across Guyana, to celebrate Eid-ulAdha in remembrance of Ibrahim and his willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to God

Maulana Badrudeen Khan addressing Muslims gathered for Kurbani celebrations

Muslim women and children were part of the commemoration

Former Member of Parliament Manzoor Nadir greets a fellow worshipper at the CIOG Eid Programme

Eid Mubarak. Sisters exchange greetings on the auspicious occasion

Members of Hasene, an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation which operates in 83 countries through its various projects and campaigns, pose for Guyana Times cameras at the site of the sacrifice. Their poster urges the faithful to share the meat of the sacrificed animals (qurban) with those in need as is customary

Muslims observe Eidul-Adha countrywide

Thousands of Muslims on Thursday observed the Festival of Sacrifice Eid-ul-Adha, commonly called “Kurbani” at their various mosques, reflecting on the message of the festival. Muslims were seen as early as 06:00h converging at their place of worship in their best garb redolent of perfume for the congregational Eid prayer, which is customarily said before noon.

Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Zul-Haj

and commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God’s command, before God then intervened, through his angel, and instructed that a sheep be sacrificed instead.

In remembrance of Ibrahim’s obedience, Muslims offer a sacrifice, usually in the form of a bull, on the day of the celebration. The meat from the sacrificed animal is often divided into three parts. The family retains one third; another third is

given to relatives, friends and neighbours; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy.

Eid-ul-Adha is the second of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It is an occasion on which Muslims everywhere were encouraged to make every kind of sacrifice for the spiritual, moral, social, and economic uplift of mankind and especially their own.

On Thursday, during a visit to several mosques,

it was observed that Muslims were engrossed in their prayers. After the Eid Prayer, the Imam delivered a two-part sermon reminding Muslims about their duties followed by a prayer chant.

Over in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), the Anna Regina Masjid served as a central sharing hub for most families who killed animals.

The Imam of Anna Regina Masjid, Shazad Aleem, said the Festival, which is observed on the

10th, 11th and 12th of ZulHaj, fosters unity, togetherness and the spirit of sharing among Muslims.

The Imam related that families would come together and purchase an animal (only these animals can be sacrificed – cattle, camel and sheep\goat) and then later share it to family, friends and the less fortunate. At home, families were involved in the preparation of special dishes. The day is ended with families visiting each other and exchanging greet-

ings. Aleem clearly stated that it must not be seen as a “blood sacrifice” for the atonement of sins, outlining that God Almighty in the Holy Quran stated that it was not the meat or the blood that reaches him, it is the individual’s God-consciousness, and their willingness to obey his commandment as Ibrahim did.

Eid-ul-Adha also marks the completion of the pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslims.

Eid-ul-Adha scenes

In the spirit of Eid-ul-Adha, the meat is distributed among the faithful and their neighbours, particularly the less fortunate

The Anna Regina Masjid welcomed the faithful

Persons from the community waiting outside the mosque in Anna Regina to collect their meat

Muslims leave the Mosque after they complete their

Eid-ul-Adha prayers

Deaf Awareness Week... Digicel visits 4 special needs schools

Digicel on Wednesday paid a visit to four special needs school in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-

Colombia peace deal with FARC rebels ‘within six months’

Colombian President

Juan Manuel Santos and the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group have set a sixmonth deadline to sign a peace deal.

President Santos and the rebel leader known as Timochenko shook hands in Cuba, where the two sides have been holding peace talks since 2012.

On Wednesday, they reached agreement on how to punish human rights abuses committed during the conflict. The issue had been seen as one of the biggest hurdles on the road to peace.

“We’re not going to fail! This is the chance for peace,” President Santos said.

Berbice) in observance Deaf Awareness Week whilch runs from September 20-26. These schools all cater for deaf students in one way or another; most of which have classrooms specifically for hearing impared students with dedicated teachers.

The schools visited were Diamond Primary (Deaf Class), New Amsterdam Special School, Linden Special School and Tuschen Deaf School. Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacqueline James and other members of staff visiting with the children of the aforementioned schools.

Special needs is an area that Digicel believes greater emphasis should be placed and the company is committed to leading the way in this venture as a corporate entity.

Danny Glover for UWI forum October 5

Danny Glover, celebrated American actor, film director, political activist, and champion of reparatory justice, will be the guest speaker at a public forum at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on Monday, October 5, titled “Conversations with Danny Glover at UWI”.

He will be presented by Vice Chancellor of the UWI, Sir Hilary Beckles.

Glover, well-known for his performances in movies like “The Lethal Weapon” series, “The Colour Purple”, and “Predator 2”, and television shows “ER” and “Brothers and Sisters”, is an active supporter of various humanitarian and political causes. In 2005, he co-founded Louverture Films dedicated to the development and production of films of historical relevance, social purpose, commercial value,

and artistic integrity. Glover has gained respect for wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts with particular emphasis on advocacy for economic justice, access to health care and education services in the Unites States and Africa, and serves as a UNESCO Ambassador focusing on issues of disease, poverty and economic development in the Caribbean, Africa, and Latin America.

“Danny Glover has a lot of insights to offer not just in navigating the landscape of Hollywood as a black actor, but through his many experiences, travels and achievements, he has a perspective on so many issues that are relevant to Jamaica today and can inspire our students and faculty and the general population,” Sir Hilary said on Wednesday. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

UNC slams Prime Minister Rowley on murder rate

Opposition Leader Kamla PersadBissessar has questioned the “deafening silence” from Prime Minister Keith Rowley – Chairman of the National Security Council –about the country’s spiralling murder rate.

She spoke about the situation after Wednesday’s launch of the 11th Parliament. Up to Wednesday, 30 murders had been reported since September 12.

about the crime situation, saying, “We as a people cannot, in good conscience, sit idly by while entire communities are under siege. You have only to open the newspapers, and some of us, our doors, to see and feel the debilitating effects of crime on our society.

The guerrilla group also agreed to surrender its weapons within 60 days of a final accord being signed.

US Secretary of State John Kerry hailed the deal as “historic progress” and expressed his “deep apprecia-

“On 23, March, 2016, we will be bidding farewell to the longest-running conflict in the Americas,” he added. “Let’s join efforts to achieve peace,” FARC leader Timochenko later posted on the rebels’ Twitter feed.

tion to Pope Francis for his moral leadership and the Vatican’s good offices in the quest for peace”.

During his visit to Cuba, Pope Francis had alluded to previous failed peace negotiations between the two sides and warned them that “we can’t allow another failure on the road to peace and reconciliation”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Chile laments World Court decision to hear Bolivia sea dispute

Bolivia won the first round of its battle against Chile to gain unfettered access to the Pacific Ocean, as an International Court of Justice decision went in its favour, disappointing Chileans who had hoped the case would end on Thursday.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, said on Thursday it will continue to hear the case brought by Bolivia against Chile, which seeks to force its neighbour to enter negotiations to grant it a corridor to the Pacific Ocean.

Chile had argued that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the case because of a 1904 Peace Treaty that fixed its border with Bolivia. But on Thursday the court rejected Chile’s argument, saying that Bolivia’s claim that Chile has an obligation to negotiate “sovereign access” to the Pacific is not dealt with in that treaty.

“The matters in the dispute are not matters already settled by arrangements between the parties... or governed by treaties in force,”

Presiding Judge Ronny Abraham of France said,

reading the 14-2 decision by the international panel of judges in The Hague.

But the dispute is far from over. The decision does not address the merit of Bolivia’s case. It only means that the case will continue. The court did not say when it would make a ruling, and neither side has advanced its actual arguments.

Bolivians gathered outside the court cheered the finding, and a beaming President Evo Morales said he was “enormously satisfied” with the result. (Excerpt from Reuters)

President Anthony Carmona, in addressing the ceremonial opening of the new Parliament, also spoke

“It is easy to lay blame at the doorstep of the incumbent Government or the past Government but we are all responsible, in more ways than one. There is a spirit of inhumanity that is sweeping through our nation, marked by a callous disregard for the sanctity of human life.”

Persad-Bissessar, who holds the national security portfolio in the Opposition PP shadow Cabinet, speaking to the media after the function, said: “The murder rate is tremendous cause for concern for all of T&T. “But what I find very strange is the deafening silence on the part of the Prime Minister who is the Chairman of the National Security Council, and also, indeed, from all of them on what plans do they have on this – if at all they have a plan – and what they would do to stem the tide of murder.”

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Maduro visits Dominica, St Kitts with promises

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro visited Dominica and St Kitts on Wednesday with messages of solidarity and offers of support.

Even as another Caribbean Community (Caricom) nation, Guyana, remains at odds with the South American leader, Maduro travelled to St Kitts where he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which paves the way for bilateral relations in a number of areas, including housing, infrastructure, law and order, education and training, agriculture, energy, technical assistance and health. In the area of health, it is expected that locals with various eye diseases will be able to access specialist medical treatment from Venezuela through the Miracle Mission programme.

Maduro said the support for St Kitts and Nevis,

of

continued support

which is primarily facilitated through the Petrocaribe agreement, is in keeping with the vision to “create a new world based on equality, solidarity and peace for all”.

Maduro added that new goals needed to be set in order to strengthen trade and the economy between the two diplomatic allies, and he spoke about expanding cultural ties through poetry, music and other areas.

Prime Minister Timothy Harris thanked Maduro for his support, including donating the EC$16 million (US$5.9 million) to pay former sugar workers who did not receive compensation or the full amount owed to them when the industry closed in 2005. During his visit, Maduro participated in a ceremonial handing of cheques to some former sugar workers. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Cuban president Raul Castro, centre, seals the handshake between Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, left, and the head of the Farc Timochenko, right, on Wednesday

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro (L) and Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit

Seaon Jackman, Retail Sales Executive of Digicel with students and teachers of the New Amsterdam Special Needs school

Saudi Arabia orders probe into deadly Hajj stampede

Prince Mohamed bin Nayef, who chairs the Saudi Hajj committee, ordered the probe during a meeting on Thursday with senior officials responsible for the pilgrimage in Mina, where the stampede took place, killing more than 700.

The findings of the investigation will be submitted to King Salman, “who will take appropriate measures” in response, the Saudi Press agency said.

The Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry says the crush of Muslim pilgrims appears to have been caused by two waves of pilgrims meeting at an intersection.

Ministry Spokesman Major General Mansour alTurki said high tempera-

tures and fatigue might also have been factors in the disaster, the deadliest event to afflict the Hajj pilgrimage in more than two decades.

However, the head of Iran’s Hajj organisation, Said Ohadi, said that, for “unknown reasons”, two paths had been closed off near the site of a symbolic stoning of the devil ritual where the stampede occurred.

“This caused this tragic incident,” he said on state television, according to the Associated Press news agency.

Ohadi said the path closures had left only three routes to the area where the stoning ceremony was held.

Mina houses more than

160,000 tents where people spend the night during the pilgrimage.

Al Jazeera’s Basma Atassi, reporting from Mina, said the incident took place in a street between pilgrim camps.

“The street where it happened is named Street 204.

“During and after the stampede the pilgrims continued to flock into Mina to perform the devil stoning ritual.”

Amateur video shared on social media showed a horrific scene, with scores of bodies - the men dressed in the simple terry cloth garments worn during Hajj – lying alongside crushed wheelchairs and water bottles. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

S African troops pulled out of DRC for violations

The South African military has said it is withdrawing about 50 peacekeepers from a United Nations mission in Congo to face a court martial because they violated disciplinary codes, a military spokesman said.

The violations included leaving a base after curfew, Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said on Thursday.

Around the world

Pope Francis calls for end to death penalty

Pope Francis has called for the global abolition of the death penalty in his address to a joint meeting of the US Congress in a first for the leader of the Catholic Church.

“The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development,” Francis said in his speech to the Congress.

“This conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced that this

way is the best, since every life is sacred.”

The 78-year-old Argentine Pope also addressed the issue of immigration, which has sharply divided politicians in the US, with many Republicans advocating antiimmigration policies.

“We are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners. I say this to you as a son of immigrants,” the 78-yearold Argentine pope said on Thursday.

“Building a nation calls us to recognise that we must constantly relate to others, rejecting a mindset of hos-

tility in order to adopt one of reciprocal subsidiary,” Francis said.

Referencing the refugee crisis in Europe as well as the United States’ own struggle with immigration from Latin America, Francis summoned politicians “to respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal.”

“We must not be taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best as we can to their situation,” Francis urged. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Grandchildren win India royal Gayatri Devi’s riches

The grandchildren of one of the last queens of India have won a long legal battle to inherit her properties.

Gayatri Devi, once described as one of the most beautiful women in the world, died in July 2009 at the age of 90.

Her stepchildren had challenged her will in court, arguing that she had been “misguided” by her grandchildren in the later stages of her life.

her grandchildren, Devraj Singh and Lalitya Kumari, and other descendents of the former maharajah. According to her will, her two grandchildren would be the sole inheritors of her properties.

But her step children argued that she made the will when she was elderly, frail and unable to talk properly, and that they should have a share of the estate.

On Wednesday the Supreme Court upheld an earlier judgement by the Delhi High Court in favour of the grandchildren, saying they had been deprived of their rightful share in the properties.

The statement said the personnel compromised the security of other South African troops and would face prosecution.

It said they violated not only the South African military conduct codes, but also those of UN peacekeepers, the Associated Press news agency reported.

South African forces have been involved in peace efforts in Congo over the years. In 2013, South Africa

The troops were deployed in eastern Congo as part of a unit with a mandate to fight rebel groups, according to a South African military statement.

announced it would contribute 1345 troops to the UN’s “intervention brigade” in Congo.

The UN force’s strengthened mandate to fight rebels was credited with helping the Congolese army oust a rebel group known as M23 from the country’s embattled east.

UN peacekeepers first arrived in Congo in 1999 to observe a ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign troops. (Al Jazeera)

Greek ‘Twittergate’ shows perils of Tspiras balancing act

The resignation of a Junior Greek Minister hours after his appointment has exposed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to fierce criticism and highlighted the challenge he faces to keep a fractious coalition together. With the ink barely dry on Wednesday’s Cabinet appointments by the newly re-elected Prime Minister,

deputy Infrastructure And Transport Minister Dimitris Kammenos was asked to resign in a furore over offensive postings he was alleged to have made online. Kammenos is a lawmaker with the right-wing Independent Greeks party, who are junior coalition partners with Tspiras’s leftist Syriza. The two parties make uneasy bedfel-

lows, but Tsipras needs the Independent Greeks’ 10 MPs to give the Government a slim majority of 155 seats out of 300.

The lawmaker denies the allegations of anti-Semitism and homophobia, saying his social media accounts had been tampered with and most of the alleged postings falsified. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The fashion icon and former MP was the third wife of the maharajah of Jaipur, in northern India.

Her death sparked a court battle over her fortune – including palaces that now operate as luxury hotels –which the local media valued between US$200 million and US$400 million.

Gayatri Devi’s death triggered a showdown between

“All these years my sister and I have only been asking for our father’s shares in the family company and nothing beyond that,” AFP news agency quoted Devraj Singh as saying after the ruling. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Police make 19,000 triad arrests in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong

Nineteen thousand suspects have been arrested in a drive against organised crime in China, State media said.

A three-month operation led to the arrests in Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province. Police said triad gangs were increasingly expanding into mainland China.

The crimes involved in-

clude drug dealing, gambling and prostitution.

Triads are transnational crime groups, often based in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, but operating globally.

“The message we want to send out to the public is that Police have zero tolerance for organised crimes and any other illegal activi-

ties,” Au Chin-chau, Chief Superintendent of Hong Kong police’s Organised Crime and Triad Bureau told Journalists. Illegal loans were also found to be a new source of income for the gangs, he said. Reports said 4343 people, 1177 of them from mainland China, were arrested by Police in Hong Kong, where more than 7500 properties were searched.

In Hong Kong, Police seized $102 million Hong Kong dollars (US$13 million) in cash, along with drugs, pirated DVDs, weapons and contraband cigarettes worth HK$67 million. In neighbouring Guangdong province, more than 11,000 suspects were arrested. And in Macau, almost 4000 people were picked up by police. (BBC News)

The Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry says the crush of Muslim pilgrims appears to have been caused by two waves of pilgrims meeting at an intersection

Gayatri Devi was one of the last queens of India

Police say they are increasing cross-border cooperation in a bid to counter the gangs’ own growing reach

friday, september 25, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Concerns on paedophiles and disabled children

...addressed

The Police have been instructed to proceed with charges against persons accused of sexual offences against children and not to wait until investigations are completed and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) gives the go ahead.

Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) Director Ann Greene made the disclosure on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ workshop at the St Francis Community Developers in Port Mourant, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). The event was part of a series of activities being held to observe Child Protection Week being held under the theme, “Strengthen Families to Protect Children”.

Greene, in acknowledging that the Police only have 72 hours to hold an alleged perpetrator of a sexual offence, said they must go ahead and place the accused before the court and not utilise the three months which the law allows, and the DPP takes. “You do not have to loose the perpetrator, charge and then ask the court ... [for] the 90 days to get the rest of the evidence,” Greene said.

At the time she was responding to one of the concerns raised by a group at the workshop which looked at legal issues surrounding sexual offences involving children.

The workshop was attended by representatives of NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), the Police, orphanages, religious organisations, and the legal fraternity; social workers; personnel from the National Psychiatric Hospital; nurses; university students; teachers and School Welfare Officers.

In Guyana so far for the year, there has been 334 cases of sexual abuse, of that number 256 occurred in Region Six. Greene noted that it was just the tip of the

at child protection meet

iceberg, as child abuse was a hidden crime.

Social services

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence, responding to the concern of a group which focused on governmental services, said all children with disabilities countrywide who were taken off the list to receive social assistance would have their names put back on the list.

Ministry will be going high tech come 2017.”

She added that a bill was soon to be tabled in Parliament to ensure that in every Government agency at least two disabled persons are employed.

Also of concern to stakeholders was a lack of specialised counsellors to deal with victims of sexual abuse. The Minister said efforts were being made to attract special-

Addressing the issue of the lack of a juvenile holding centre in the region, the Minister noted that children should not be in holding centres. “Our children should not be at a holding centre, they should be at home... I agree with you that we will have children in our society who we will have to straighten out. We have to ensure that Georgetown don’t become the hub of everything, so we have

In the past, such persons received Government’s social assistance for six months and were then re-evaluated before their names were again placed on the list. “Persons who receive social assistance will no longer receive a six months book and for the year 2016 they will be receiving a public assistance booklet for the entire year,” Minister Lawrence said, adding that disabled persons would no longer be required to visit the Ministry’s offices. “I want to say that 2016 will be the last year for booklets, the

ised counsellors, but they were not the ones who were coming forward.

“Because we do not have persons within the system to deal with the various areas of ailments, we need specialised people not only to deal with our children but to deal with our street people and also the elderly. This is something the Ministry is working on and we are looking to collaborate with international agencies for funding or donations towards being able to attract these skilled people,” the Minister said.

to decentralise services. So that will be coming, but it will not come as fast as you want it to become because it entails money.”

Lawrence challenged St Francis Community Developers President Alex Foster to find a building which could be used as a holding centre for delinquent children. “So that we can work in collaboration with Minister [Khemraj] Ramjattan to have such a centre in this region to take care of those children who will fall between the cracks.”

Guyana seeks assistance from China to deal with border controversy

Acting President Moses Nagamootoo has requested assistance from China on matters of territorial integrity, citing the longstanding bilateral relationship, given recent Venezuela aggression towards Guyana.

“...Guyana expects the support of our friends for our national sovereignty and territorial integrity, especially at this time when fresh threats are raised against us,” Nagamootoo said on Wednesday evening, at the celebration of the 66th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the Chinese Embassy.

After congratulating the Chinese Ambassador on China reaching such a milestone, Nagamootoo recalled that Guyana was the first English-speaking Caribbean country to establish diplomatic relations with China on June 27, 1972, after which Guyana had consistently supported the One China policy, a support based on principles of the United Nations Charter, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China.

The acting President added that Guyana also fully respected the rights of all countries to choose their own development path and has consistently advocated the right to self-deter-

mination and the pursuit of social, economic and cultural goals within secured borders.

He also noted that this year, Guyana and China are to celebrate 43 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations and added that over the years, the two counties have deepened bilateral relations and increased trade and investment.

“The opportunity must now be taken to reflect on our achievements and move powers to increase cooperation,” Nagamootoo stated. In his address, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Zhang Limin focused on the long-standing relations between the two countries. He stated that the development of relations between Guyana and China has been fully supported by successive administrations of Guyana. He noted that over the 43 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, “No matter how the international situation evolves, China-Guyana relations have maintained sound and stable development.”

He added the new Administration has made new plans to improve infrastructure and develop a green economy for the country, which he believes will create more opportunities and greater space for the future cooperation between China and Guyana.

Child Protection Week

President Granger calls on parents to perform their duties responsibly

President David Granger

In light of Child Protection Week, being observed this week under the theme “Strengthening Families to Protect Children”, President David Granger is calling on all parents and household leaders to ensure children are being brought up in a safe and secure environment, as they are obligated to ensure that children have a sense of security at home.

In a press release, Granger stated: “The protection of children must begin in the home. Children should be nurtured in an environment characterised by love, understanding, kindness, compassion and respect for their dignity.” He posited that every child is worthy of being raised in a happy, secure home, free from fear and abuse.

The President reiterated that it is the responsibility of the family to ensure children are provided with a safe and caring environment which does not subject them to any sort of abuse, be it emotional, sexual or physical. He explained that abuse damages children psychologically as they will carry the scars of that abuse throughout their lifetime.

He stated it has been proven that children who are abused are most likely to abuse their children in the future, creating a vicious cycle which must be broken at all costs: “Homes must be sanctuaries of happiness, children must look forward to being at home… children must be happy at home.” He emphasised that children must feel secure at home, and it is the duty of parents to ensure their children respect them, not out of duty or obligation, but because they experience the love their parents show to them and each other, which will lead to them reciprocating that love.

He encouraged citizens to be mindful of their duties toward children and their safety as children are the future and it is the duty of the entire country to protect children and ensure that their future are free of violence and abuse.

A section of the stakeholders’ workshop on child protection

Sustainable Development Summit begins

Guyana to adopt new Development Goals

At the Sustainable Development Summit, which begins today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Guyana will join its global counterparts in formally adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The agenda, aimed primarily at eliminating poverty globally, protecting the planet and promoting peace and partnerships, includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, tackle climate change, fight inequality and injustice by the year 2030.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin said: “These Sustainable Development Goals, as they are called,

will be the new goals that we will have to work on achieving. One of these specifically pointed out is to promote sustained, inclusive and economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.” The Minister also posited that programmes such as these can safeguard the country’s economic future.

The Goals replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which the UN in September 2000 rallied the world around, in a common 15-year agenda to tackle poverty and hunger, deadly but treatable diseases, and illiteracy. This new development agenda applies to all countries, promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, creates better jobs and

tackles the environmental challenges of our time – par-

ticularly climate change. The objective was to pro-

duce a set of universally applicable goals that balance

the three dimensions of sustainable development: inclusive economic growth, sound environmental stewardship, and fair and transparent governance.

The 17 Goals as agreed by all 193 member states of the UN cover a 15-year timeframe to 2030 and include 169 targets. The majority of Governments seem happy with the proposals, but a handful of member states believe an agenda consisting of 17 goals is too unwieldy to implement or sell to the public, and would prefer a narrower brief. Or so they say. Some believe the underlying reason is to get rid of some of the more uncomfortable goals, such as those relating to the environment.

Betany Amerindian village celebrates their heritage –

urged to preserve their culture

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

Hundred of Amerindians from the Amerindian community of Betany, located six miles up the Supenaam Creek in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) celebrated their heritage day on Tuesday, in an atmosphere of togetherness, brotherhood and love.

The village which can be accessed via boat on the Supenaam creek was the second village to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Day in the Pomeroon-Supenaam region this year.

The celebration was held under the theme “Preserving our culture and traditions” and attracted a large gathering of residents who journeyed from as far as Mashabo, on the Essequibo Coast and from Georgetown.

Representing the Region Two Administration was Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson, along with other officials from the various departments within the regional adminstration.

National development

Regional Chairman Ramdatt during his address, brought greetings on behalf

of the Region Two administration. He said he believe that Indigenous people are just very important as any other ethnic group of people who would have contributed towards the development of Guyana. Ramdatt pledged the region’s support towards the further enhancement of the Betany community, stating that he will be working with the REO to ensure that the services offered on the Essequibo coast are made available to communities in the hinterland locations.

REO Hopkinson shared his hopes and desires with the members of Betany, saying Amerindians throughout Guyana are part and parcel of the Guyana’s development, noting that most of the great leaders are of

Amerindian descent.

Representing the Hinterland Department of the Region Two administration was Victorine Allicock Norton. She called on her fellow Amerindians to preserve their culture, adding that residents at Betany should reflect on the village’s achievements and work along with the Village Council in moving the community forward.

A resident of Betany, Jenny Richmond, displayed hand crafted items as part of the day’s celebrations. She had many items on display for sale, as persons flocked her display to purchase items.

The days’ programme featured skits, poems, dances, calypso and talks from residents in the village.

At the end of the cultural programme, villagers showcased traditional Amerindian dances. They danced to the tunes of “Matape” and “Amerindian people”. Many persons were seen enjoying Amerindian delicacies and partaking in the consumption of indigenous beverages, such as Piwari and Fly. Persons were also involved in entertainment and sport activities such as the fish eating competition, volley ball and tug-of-war.

The people-centred Sustainable Development Goals will apply globally, as against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which were seen as applying principally to developing countries

Dancers from Betany perform a traditional dance

Some of the craft items on display during heritage day celebrations in Betany

A section of those gathered at the heritage day celebrations

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

Your love life will blossom. Making money and getting ahead will boost your confidence. Don’t rely on secondhand information. Research prospective deals and make an informed decision.

Participate in events or activities that will help sharpen your people skills. With a professional, confident attitude, you will make an excellent impression that will promote your prospects.

Not everyone has your best interest at heart. You will be coerced into doing something against your principles if you aren’t careful. Be wary of people with questionable motives.

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)

Overspending or overindulging will have negative repercussions, adding stress to your life. Make home or personal improvements, but stick to a set budget. Love and romance will be your saving graces.

Take on a new challenge in order to move forward. Financial rewards are available if you work hard. You have what it takes to turn a negative into a positive.

Self-discipline will enable you to turn your dream into a reality. Getting involved in a group, organization or club will bring influential contacts. Your eye for detail will be an asset.

You are responsible for your future. Make a change to your current situation that is in your best interest. Working from home will be a viable option. Discretion will be required.

Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Someone will try to take advantage of your generosity. Look out for someone in a vulnerable position; your help will be appreciated.

Important information is being withheld. Devote your energy to finding out what steps you need to take to achieve your goals. The extra effort will pay off. You have the energy and the ability to take on extra duties that will lead to increased earnings. Keep your business and personal lives separate if you want to avoid gossip.

Romantic and social events will turn out to be intriguing. You can make a move if you keep your expectations realistic. Favorable results will ensue if you apply past experience.

Don’t make impulsive or emotional decisions. Change requires careful thought and planning. Someone will try to get ahead by leading you astray. Don’t share secrets. Be discreet and diplomatic.

CANCER

GEMINI

Peanuts

Calvin and hobbes

dilbert

arChie

Stag Elite League…

Alpha, Slingerz remain winless as Pele FC top standings

By TreisTon Joseph

With one half of Round Two of the Stag Elite League in the books, Pele FC stand atop the League with a one point advantage while powerhouse teams Alpha United and Slingerz FC remain winless after Wednesday night’s action at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda, Georgetown.

Pele FC and Alpha United stole the show in the second game of the evening when Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson met his former club Alpha United in a 2-2 draw.

When the dust settled between the two sides, Alpha United probably might be wondering why they chose to let the versatile Richardson walk from the club.

Richardson notched a double for Pele with goals in the 10th and 87th minutes, while Daniel Wilson in the 29th and Sherwin Skeete in the 38th were the scorers for Alpha United.

The game was definitely

a contest in which is seemed like the two side had something prove as both seemed bent on scoring Richardson was not the only person facing his former club as Travis “Zorro” Grant also suited up for Pele against the club he made history with in Alpha.

With both teams looking to score, Richardson showcase the type of firepower, Alpha United is missing with a strike that rocked the net in the 10th minute of the game after receiving a pass from the right side of the field.

As both teams jockeyed for position in the game, exchanging possession in the midfield, Wilson swooped in from the left side of the field to bury a shot in the right corner of the net to equalise in the 29th minute for Alpha.

Nine minutes later, Alpha took the lead from a Skeete strike in the 38th minute to end the half leading 2-1.

On resumption of the second half both teams had

near opportunities but never really found their finishing touch.

However, with three minutes to go and Alpha on the verge of claiming their first win of the League, former club member Ricardson spoiled any realisation of a win with a strike that rocked the right side of the net in the 87th minute to draw the game.

Meanwhile, in the opening fixture, Slingerz FC was held to another nil all draw as the West Side outfit has not only failed to win a game in their last two fixtures but also failed to score as well.

The GFC side played better defence that they did in their first game against Pele and made it tough on a Slingerz side that has a lot of firepower.

The sub-par showing by the Slingerz side against a GFC side that is considered to be a developing team is definitely concerning for the side that has pronounced they will win the tournament a few weeks ago. (josepht@guyanatimesgy.com)

Mobile Wizards 10/10 set to bowl off on September 27

By Akeem Greene

West Demerara is set to come alive with the Mobile Wizards 10/10 softball extravaganza billed for the September 27 at the Leonora ground, West Coast Demerara.

be opened by Regional Chairman Julius Faeber and Guyana Softball League (GSL) President Halim Khan.

The opening of the softball extravaganza will feature a female match between Wellwoman and a combined team from Linden, Region 10. This game is geared to give the West Demerara females a glimpse of the challenges that they will face in the future.

a collaborative effort between the West Demerara softball body and the GSL will be a round hand competition and will feature grounds from Leonora to Parika and also some grounds on the West Bank of Demerara.

The ever present rivalry between West Coast and West Bank will be renewed as

zone in the GSL in the zonal championship.

Based on reports, the tournament has so far attracted some 15 teams and will be played on a round robin basis, as this is the start of a new era in West Demerara softball cricket.

The team that wins this tournament will be representing West Demerara in the upcoming zonal tournament by the League.

The tournament which is

there will be two zones in both divisions of West Demerara. The female teams should see this tournament as an opportunity to showcase their talent and are being encouraged to take full advantage of the tournament.

There are incentives totalling some $100,000 dollars in prizes; an additionally incentive will be the decider to determine which team represents the West Demerara

The Mobile Wizards company will be showcasing their line of phones and services to the general public and persons can expect giveaways. West Demerara residents are asked to come out and support the various matches in their respective areas. The event is a family oriented one and Police presence is expected. Additionally teams still wishing to be a part of the competition can contact the following persons to uplift registration forms: Selena Azeez on telephone numbers 646-0568 and 268-2458; Amiel Azeez on telephone number 629-0844; Asif Azeez on telephone number 657-2220; Ravendra Ramgobin on telephone numbers 276-1381 and 693-2429; Mobile Wizards (Parika) on telephone numbers 260-4967/655-0767. Completed forms can be handed to the aforementioned persons and also at Wolf’s Furniture Store at Leonora. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

BLUTC horse race meet billed for November 1

The Bush Lot United Turf Club (BLUTC) in collaboration with the Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Racing Stables has scheduled a one-day horse race meet for November 1.

The event is slated for the club’s track at Sea View Park, West Coast Berbice. Eight races are slated for the day, with prize monies totalling over $5 million in cash, trophies and other incentives up for the taking.

Organisers have indicated that the feature race will be for animals classified E1 and Lower and four-year-old horses for a winning purse of $600,000 over a distance of one mile.

The co-feature event is for three-year-old West Indies bred animals. The race will also run over a distance of one mile, with the top prize set at $400,000 and trophy.

There is a race for two-

year-old West Indies bred animals over six furlongs for a winning prize of $300,000 and trophy.

The remaining races are all six and half furlongs, with the owner of the winning horse in the G1 and Lower race set to receive $300,000.

The H1 and Lower race has a first prize of $250,000 and trophy; the winner in the I1 and Lower race has a

top prize of $200,000, while the winners in the J1 and Lower and K and Lower races have a winning tag of $150,000 and $100,000 respectively. For further information contact can be made with coordinator Nasrudeen Mohamed Junior on telephone number 6544060. Race time is 12:00h. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy. com)

Slingerz have yet to score a goal in the Stag Elite League

Horse racing action returns to the Bush Lot United Turf Club (BLUTC)

Rugby World Cup…

New Zealand cruise past Namibia

Defending champions New Zealand made it two wins out of two in Pool C with an efficient victory over a determined Namibia at London’s Olympic Stadium.

Namibia are the lowestranked side in the World Cup, meaning damage limitation was always going to be the aim against the All Blacks.

New Zealand scored five tries before the break, before adding another four tries in the second half.

The highlight for the African team was a fine second-half try by Johan Deysel.

All Blacks maintain fine pool record

The All Blacks have not lost in 26 matches in the group stages of the World Cup - a record stretching

back to the inaugural tournament in 1987 - and remain on target for a likely quarter-final clash with either Ireland or France.

But Steve Hansen’s side might be slightly disappointed with their performance against Namibia, as they were often matched at the breakdown and did not produce the avalanche of tries many had predicted.

New Zealand, who beat Argentina in their tournament opener, face Georgia in Cardiff next Friday, while Namibia, who are yet to win a World Cup game in 16 attempts, play Tonga next Tuesday.

New Zealand start imperiously

Once number eight Victor Vito had opened the scoring for the All Blacks after six minutes, strolling over in the left-hand cor-

ner after a break by Julian Savea, the writing was on the wall for Phil Davies’s side.

And not even Namibia’s captain and Saracens legend Jacques Burger, who threw himself into the fray with typical abandon and spent most of the game receiving treatment, could stem the All Blacks tide.

Man-of-the-match Nehe Milner-Skudder crossed twice before the break and there were also first-half tries for centre Malakai Fekitoa and fly-half Beauden Barrett.

Savea scored his first try of 2015 just after the restart, before Namibia, whose side is a mix of amateurs and professionals, dug in and made life difficult for the All Blacks, especially at the breakdown. (BBC Sport)

Ganguly to take charge of CAB

The decks have been cleared for Sourav Ganguly to take charge of the Cricket Association of Bengal, with the state’s chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, announcing on Thursday that the association’s senior officials had taken the decision. He will replace Jagmohan Dalmiya, who died on Sunday, and whose son Avishek will succeed Ganguly as secretary.

All of this will have to be officially approved by the CAB governing body but, given that the decisions have Banerjee’s blessings, the approval should be a formality. Ganguly has been joint secretary of the CAB from July 2014. He has been involved in several administative roles in the Board including being a member of the three-man cricket advisory committee

Sourav Ganguly

along with his teammates Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman and also is a part of the IPL Governing Council.

His elevation to the top post also queers the pitch in the race to fill the BCCI president’s position, also held by Dalmiya. Ganguly

Beckham: I was never world-class

David Beckham insists he took no offence when Alex Ferguson did not include him on a list of “worldclass” Manchester United players.

David Beckham says that he agrees with Alex Ferguson in regards to Manchester United only ever having four “worldclass” players at the club during the Scot’s tenure at Old Trafford.

Speaking at the launch of his latest book, ‘Leading’, earlier this week, Ferguson said that Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo were the only world-class players that he managed in his 26 years at the club.

And, when asked if he was offended by being left off the list, Beckham insisted that he agreed with his former manager.

“I don’t take it as an insult at all, I played for the greatest manager of all time for the amount of time that I did,” the former England captain told BBC Sport.

“I was lucky to have played with the players

that I did, and the team that I did and be successful with the club that I loved and still love.

“I tend to agree with the manager. There were certain players that I played

with that were world-class, but I’m proud to have been successful as a player, and I’m proud that, as a fan, we have the best players at the club.”

Blatter says failure to back reforms would be betrayal

Outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter told his scandal-plagued federation’s 209 member associations on Thursday that failure to support reform would amount to a betrayal of millions of soccer fans.

Blatter’s comments came as FIFA’s executive committee began a two-day meeting where it was due to discuss a request to provide greater transparency around investigations into allegations of corruption.

The committee also will be given an update on the second of two reform processes which have begun since FIFA was plunged into the worst crisis in its 111-year history in May.

been taken over by his deputy Markus Kattner.

will probably control two votes in the East Zonethose of the CAB and the National Cricket Club - and could become a lightningrod for the other zonal associations, who had earlier gravitated to Dalmiya. If that happens, it will make him a more powerful player in BCCI politics.

Replacing Dalmiya, Ganguly said, would leave him with “big shoes to fill”.

“Anything in life is a new challenge,” Ganguly told reporters. “I am particularly happy that Avishek is coming into administration as it is a very emotional time for him. Myself, Biswarup [Dey, the treasurer], Subir [Ganguly, the joint secretary] would all work together and there won’t be any problems. We have [121] members and we will decide the way forward.” (Cricinfo)

Soccer’s governing body has been in turmoil since 14 sports marketing executives and soccer officials, including several from FIFA, were indicted in the United States on bribery, money laundering and wire fraud charges.

Seven of those accused were arrested by Swiss police in a dawn raid on a luxury Zurich hotel on May 27, two days before the FIFA Congress where Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term.

As pressure mounted on FIFA, Blatter made a shock announcement in early June that he would step down at an extraordinary Congress which will take place on Feb 26 in Zurich.

Last week, the problems took another twist when FIFA put secretary general Jerome Valcke on leave and requested a formal investigation into allegations against him. His duties have

“I expect all member associations to fully support this reform process at the Extraordinary Congress in February,” Blatter wrote in his weekly column in FIFA weekly.

“To fail to do so would represent a betrayal of our institution, of football and of the millions of fans around the world that rightly expect the highest standards from those managing the game.

“Our goal must be to give FIFA, the institution, the opportunity to move forward next year and to build on the progress we have achieved in staging competitions and developing football around the world since 1904,” he added.

“If we do not act now, we will be putting all of that work at risk.”

Domenico Scala, head of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, presented an eight-point plan at the last executive committee meeting in July, which he hoped would

be approved and put to the extraordinary Congress in February.

Instead, it was decided to set up a second reform committee under Francois Carrard, a Swiss lawyer and former director general of the International Olympic Committee, which met for the first time earlier this month.

Allegations of corruption are investigated by FIFA’s ethics committee, which is only allowed to report its final decisions and cannot name people who are under investigation.

Critics have regularly lambasted the in-house watchdog, and questioned its independence from the FIFA leadership, for refusing to give names and other data, even linked to well-known and widely reported cases.

However, the ethics committee has said it is following the code of ethics, which it has asked to be changed, a request which is expected to be discussed under the item “approval of amendments to the FIFA code of ethics.” (Reuters)

(Digicel Sportsmax)

Julian Savea scored a try for New Zealand (Getty Images)

David Beckham

Sepp Blatter

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Narine back for Windies

Mystery spinner Sunil Narine is back in the West Indies set-up after being included in the limited overs team for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour.

The Trinidadian found himself at the centre of controversy over the past few months after being called for an illegal bowling action at the World T20 tournament in Bangladesh last year, and at the Indian Premier League earlier this year.

Following remedial bowling work the player was called to the West Indies World Cup earlier this year, but later withdrew from the squad. The player instead opted to take a self-imposed exile from international cricket, while he worked on his bowling action.

During the period of exile from international cricket, the Queen’s Park player has been actively involved in ODI cricket for the Red Force and T20 cricket for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The exclusion of all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Keiron Pollard who have been overlooked for ODI cricket, since the aborted tour of India last October, continues.

Dominica’s sport suffers in aftermath of Tropical Storm Erica

The state of football in the Dominica has been left in shambles as a result of damage done to the island’s infrastructure by Tropical Storm Erica.

In addition to damage to the facilities and playing surfaces the passage of the storm has left several roads impassable, which hampers the abilities of the teams to travel.

President of the Dominica Football Association Glen Ettiene confirmed to Dominica Vibes on Monday that it was the current conditions that had led to a delay in the start to the season.

“Tropical Storm Erika has definitely given us a big blow in terms of football because some of the playing fields are badly damaged,” Ettiene said.

“We have teams from the North the South, South East and we have to take into considerations the travelling of the various teams and that itself was not permitted.”

The football governing body hopes to also consider the use of the stadium facilities for some of the games.

“That will help us greatly in addition to the field at Portsmouth and Dublanc. We still have Point Michelle, but there is an ongoing project at that field and it might be a setback for us.”

World’s fastest man accepts challenge from centenarian

wonder

World record holder’s Usain Bolt and Hidekichi Miyazaki, ‘Golden Bolt’ could be on course for a showdown popular entertainment website TMZ has reported.

Miyazaki recently entered the Guinness Book of World Records after clocking a blistering, well for the amazingly ripe old age of 105-years-old anyway, 42.22 over the 100m distance. Bolt’s world record of 9.58 may be a tad bit quicker, but it seems the Jamaican could still be interested in the race.

After clocking 38.35 seconds Miyazaki had thrown down the challenge to Bolt two years ago, but the showdown never got off the ground.

The centenarian had also hoped to meet the world’s fastest man the

last time he visited Japan, but expressed regret at reportedly missing the call the last time the Jamaican was in town. He may, however, still get his chance. According to the athlete’s agent Ricky Simms, Bolt would love to meet Miyazaki.

“Usain would be delighted to accept the challenge and meet Mr. Miyazaki the next time he is in Japan,” the website quoted Simms as saying. It also claims the sprinter has stated that he is not afraid of any challenges. May the best man

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A section of a flooded football ground after the passing of the storm

Sunil Narine

Guyana Open Golf Tournament… Deo confident of retaining title

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Defending champion in the female category, Joann Deo eyes another magical run at her title defence when the Guyana Open Golf Tournament opens on October 31 and concludes on November 1 at Guyana’s lone golf course at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.

The 25-year-old created one of the biggest upsets last year by unseating top female golfer Christine Sukhram.

Memories of her career breakthrough are still etched firmly in Deo’s mind and she is optimistic that she can revive them as she chases her second title at Guyana’s most prestigious tournament on the local golf calendar.

“I’m looking forward to playing the tournament again. I think last year was breaking the ice, so now I am more confident than I was last year.

“It will be my first time defending a big title, so I’m taking positives from last year and we shall see what happens. I just hope to go out there and enjoy myself,” Deo told Guyana Times Sport during an exclusive interview on Thursday.

While admitting that this year is going to be more challenging than previous years, Deo is still motivated and confident of retaining

Unveiling of table tennis table in National Park tentative for Wednesday

Ther title.

“I need to be on top of my game, but the consolation I have is that I am the defending champion, but haven’t said that, as a player you may enter the tournament in a rich vein of form, but you never know what could happen when the actual competition starts,” she added.

Apart from her fitness regime, the soft spoken champion is hoping that the hours spent working on her game will also pay off.

Last year, Deo made an array of focused shots to register a Net of 141 for the big win.

Shanella Webster finished second with a Net of 146 while the 2013 champion Sukhram fell all the way

to third with a Net of 149.

On the distaff said, Avinash Persaud was easily the top golfer, winning the event for a fifth time.

Persaud led from start to finish, relegating his sibling Avinda Kishore, who was the 2013 winner into second place, after finishing with a superior overall Gross of 144.

Kishore occupied the second spot with an overall Gross of 153, while Rishi Suknanan finished third with an overall Gross of 160.

Meanwhile, apart from the usual categories: First Flight (0-9 handicap), Second Flight (10-18), Third Flight (19-28) and Ladies Flight, the club has decided for the first time in its history to introduce a Senior

Flight.

Like the previous years, the overall champion in the Men’s division will be judged by the player with the Best Gross, while on the distaff side, the winner will come from the person with the Best Net. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

able Tennis will receive a boost once concrete tables are unveiled in the National Park with a scheduled opening set for Wednesday.

Technical Director of the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Linden Johnson in a telephone interview with Guyana Times Sport noted that the opening of the tables “should” happen on Wednesday but noted that the day is not set in stone as yet.

Johnson highlighted that move to have tables in public places is to hopefully produce a spike in the sport as well as to scout for talent.

Johnson also noted that the more concrete table will be in place in places like Splashmins Fun Park and other public places.

Table Tennis has been one of the growing sports in the nation and has produced top stars such as Chelsea Edghill, Shemar Brittion and Kaysan Ninvalle to name a few.

While Guyana has been

a consistent country on the regional level with a top five rank in the Caribbean, the country has been finding it a tad difficult to break the mold at the international level.

However, with more grass root programmes such as these, Johnson sees a possible rise in table tennis for the future. (josepht@guyanatimesgy.com)

Mahaicony turf to host Gymkhana, horse race meet on Sunday

The Anjue and Hamlet Park’s race track will come alive this Sunday with a grand oneday Gymkhana and horse race meet for the lower class horses at the club’s track at Branch Road, Mahaicony.

A number of races are carded for the day’s programme with millions of dol-

lars up for grabs, including cash trophies and other incentives.

There are expected to be races for J, K, L and lower categories of horses. There will also be races for cart horses, cow horses (horse trained to work with cattle) among other exciting events.

Persons interested in having their animals participate in the day’s proceedings are asked to make contact with Amernauth Kirtipaul on telephone number 623-1009 or at the Arjune and Hamlet race track, Mahaicony Branch road. Race time is 12:00h. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy. com)

CAC Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships… 5-member Guyana squad confident ahead of prejudging today

Guyana’s five-member team is confident of medalling at the 43rd edition of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships set to start today at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in The Bahamas.

After the weigh-in on Thursday, Guyana Times Sport was able to speak with Emmerson Campbell who will be competing in the Men’s Physique competition.

“I think everyone is confident on going out there tomorrow (today) and putting their best foot forward to get the job done and bringing home the bacon… we are all confident of medalling in the championships,” Campbell stated.

With prejudging set for today and the finals on Saturday, Campbell also pointed out that the time for talk is over.

“Right now preparation is more mental and nutritional supplementation… the work has already been put in… it’s just up to us now to put on a show and impress the judges,” Campbell highlighted.

While Campbell will be competing in the Men’s Physique, the remainder of the team will be participating in the bodybuilding aspect of the championships.

With over 2000 officials and athletes at the event, Guyana has a strong squad to pose a threat in the tournament. The squad will feature Campbell, Alisha Fortune, Devon Davis, Sylvester Andrews and Kerwin Clarke.

Some of the confirmed countries competing in the competition are The Dominican Republic, Jamaica, French St Marrten, St Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, Bonaire, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the US Virgin Islands, Aruba, El Salvador, St Martin, St Marrten

Devon Davis

Dutch, Colombia, Haiti and Bermuda. The event is expected to end on September 27 with a banquet for the athletes.(josepht@guyanatimesgy.com)

Joann Deo in action during a previous tournament

Linden Johnson

By tReiston joseph

Seebarran leads Speed XI to win over Media

Played in the spirit of camaraderie that was befitting of the ‘gentleman’s game’, Guyana Media XI and Speed XI engaged each other in a rather fiercely competitive friendly softball match on Wednesday evening at the world famous GCC ground, Bourda,

of 4-30 off four overs, as the Media XI elected to bat upon winning the toss, managing 171 off 19.4 of the allotted 25 overs.

Speed XI responded with 174-5 in 21.4 overs.

Opening the batting, Seebarran struck 30 (2x4s) to ignite the run-chase,

Georgetown.

When the dust was settled and the floodlight towers were switched off, the result column on the scorebook read: Speed XI won by five wickets.

The outcome was due largely to an outstanding all-round performance from businessman Kamal Seebarran, who ripped through the Media XI’s middle-order, before returning to score a solid 30.

Bowling some juicy ‘round arm’ deliveries, Seebarran lured many of the opposition batsmen to go aerial, and while most of them got elevation, the distance did not bring the desired result.

The experienced softball player also used the heavy grass surface effectively, spinning his way to figures

sixes and three fours, ended on an even 50, while Orlando Charles was unbeaten on 29 when victory was achieved.

Imran claimed 2-26 from four overs.

Earlier, Media XI skipper John Ramsingh called correctly at the toss and im-

while solid contributions came from Ramo Malone and former Magistrate Tagenarine Ramroop.

Opener Ramroop, who made 43 (3x4s, 2x6s), and Seebarran had given Speed XI a solid, but slow start as runs were hard to come by.

The Media XI bowlers were extremely miserly up front and were in the ascendancy for the better part of 15 overs.

Although he did not claim a wicket, debutant Shantanand Anude was the most impressive Media XI bowler, conceding just 22 runs from five overs.

With 43 required off seven overs, the match could have gone either way, but Malone sealed the deal by taking 17 runs off Shahrukh Imran in the 20th over.

Malone, who struck three

GCA cricket tournaments continues this weekend

Play in the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) first and second division cricket tournaments continues this weekend with several games across the capital city.

On Saturday, Police will play Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at Malteenoes Sport Club in the Carib Beer first division T20 tournament from 13:00h. The umpires are Cyril Garnath and Javed Persaud.

On Saturday, in the New Building Society second divi-

sion 40-over tournament; UG will travel to Everest, GCC will host Diplomats, GYO will tackle MYO at Demerara Cricket Club, Guyana National Industrial Company Inc (GNIC) will entertain Third Class and Sophia will journey to GDF.

On Sunday, Sophia will battle Transport SC at GNIC, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, and Ace Warriors will travel to Malteenoes. All second division games start at 10:30h.

mediately decided to take first strike.

Guest player Wallack Joseph and Ravi Persaud gave the team a solid start, one which the middle and lower order failed to capitalise on.

Joseph made 46 (3x4s, 2x6s) and Persaud scored 28 (4x4s), while Ramsingh (19), Deeraj (17) and Avenash Ramzan (10) were the other batsmen to reach double figures.

At a presentation ceremony which followed, Seebarran was quite rightly named Man-of-the-Match, while Speed XI received a trophy for the win. The trophies were donated by the Trophy Stall, Derrick Auto Spares and Ray’s Auto Sales.

The two teams will meet again shortly.

Kamal Seebarran (left) receives his Man-of-the-Match trophy saved as speed XI

Members of Speed XI pose with the winner’s trophy

From left; Kerwin Clarke, Emmerson Campbell and Sylvester Andrews at the weigh-in on Thursday

Alisha Fortune