Guyana Times Daily

GPF awards P17 $18M in prizes to outstanding ranks Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3077

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, December 22, 2016

PRICE

Opposition Leader submits names for new GECOM Chairman Page 2

Ramesh Dookhoo

Rhyaan Shaw

Professor James Rose

Christopher Ram

Lawrence Latchmansingh Norman Mc Lean

Border controversy

Guyana is prepared to prove its case in court – Granger

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: D’Urban Park Project scandal

Govt signals intention P9 to rob Guyanese – Nandlall

…urges contractors to file lawsuit over underpayment

Dynamic P14 Airways’ operations under review

by GCAA

Page 15

PSC calls for relaxation of 2 am curfew P7

…fetes GDF ranks at annual Christmas lunch

Son drowns, father’s decomposed body found in house PPP Congress passes resolution to:

Agreements renewed for concessions to miners P15

Page 15

See story 1. Address UNDP’s role in divisive Social Cohesion Ministry on Page 2. Call for IDB to investigate deliberate contract retendering 3 3. Support Govt’s position on Guyana-Venezuela controversy 4. Rally international support for reforms to ensure free and fair elections in 2020 5. Urge international community to speak out against GECOM’s delaying tactics on elections petition

$250B National Budget for P17 2017 passed

2 NEWS Opposition submits names for new GECOM Chairman THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and PPP/C MP Anil Nandlall at a media briefing on Wednesday

T

he Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) on Wednesday submitted names of nominees for the post of Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which will be left vacant following the retirement of Dr Steve Surujbally before the year comes to an end.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday released the names of the six nominees whom he said were submitted to President David Granger after consultations with a wide cross-section of civil society organisations, religious organisations,

private sector and labour unions.

The nominees include Lawrence Latchmansingh, Ramesh Dookhoo, Norman Mc Lean, Christopher Ram, Rhyaan Shaw and Professor James Rose. Jagdeo said a significant number of the nominees were taken from the list proposed by civil society.

Jagdeo at a media briefing on Wednesday said that all of the nominees have demonstrated character traits of persons of integrity.

“I think they all are strong people and courageous people and people who have demonstrated that they are prepared to

serve the country’s interest, not partisan interest so that is my sense. I did not go into any great detail about their management styles or anything of that sort but their names came forward from civil society, reviewed these names, thought that they had some character traits that are necessary…,” he said.

“We believe that all these people have the requisite quality to be a good chairperson of GECOM,” Jagdeo said.

Government last month had said that it was soon commencing the consider-

Lawrence Latchmansingh

Ramesh Dookhoo

Norman Mc Lean

Harmon said President David Granger has already received notices from the

mence the consideration and selection of a new Chairman of the election body.

Rhyaan Shaw

Christopher Ram

Professor James Rose

ation of a new Chairman.

Minister of State Joseph

parliamentary Opposition that it was ready to com-

Once there is no objection to the names, the Head

of State will move ahead with the selection process.

Dr Surujbally last month indicated his intentions to demit office before the end of the year.

The GECOM Chair already wrote to Government about his desire to resign and had recommended a raft of measures of reform. He had told the media that he has been expressing his desire to demit office since 2006. He has been at the helm of the Elections Commission since 2001. The PPP/Civic has repeatedly called for the resignation of Surujbally in wake of their strong belief that he supervised a rigged electoral process in the 2015 Regional

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thursDAY, december 22, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, December 22 – 13:00h-14:30h and Friday, December 23 – 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, December 22 – 11:50h-13:20h and Friday, December 23 –12:45h-14:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, while partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to East South-easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 11:12h and 23:42h reaching maximum heights of 2.20 metres and 2.17 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 04:37h and 17:13h reaching minimum heights of 1.01 metres and 1.04 metres respectively.

wednesday, december 21, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS C

02 05 06 10 13 25 03 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Daily Millions

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

PPP Congress passes resolution to: 1. Address UNDP’s role in divisive Social Cohesion Ministry 2. Call for IDB to investigate deliberate contract retendering 3. Support Govt’s position on Guyana-Venezuela controversy 4. Rally international support for reforms to ensure free and fair elections in 2020 5. Urge international community to speak out against GECOM’s delaying tactics on elections petition

D

uring its recently concluded threeday Congress, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has agreed upon several resolutions that will see, among other things, the Party calling on the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) to look into the coalition Government retendering contracts awarded for projects funded by the financial institution.

These resolutions emanated from several workshops held during the 31st Congress of the PPP held at Cotton Field, Essequibo, last weekend.

According to sources within the PPP, the Party agreed on a “Resolution calling on the Inter-American Development Bank to investigate the deliberate retendering of the institutions’ funded projects and the constant interference of the Government of Guyana in the evaluation process which subvert Guyana’s Public Procurement laws and processes.”

The second resolution is urging the international community to speak out against the repeated legal and procedural artifices utilised by the Chief Elections Officer (CEO) to delay the hearing and determination of the PPP’s elections petition. This, the Party noted, is in contrary to the advice given by certain members of the diplomatic community to the PPP – that they had received assurances from the judiciary that the said elections petition would be heard and determined expeditiously as provided for and in accordance with the laws of Guyana.

Following the May 2016 General and Regional Elections, which saw the PPP/C being ousted from office after 20 plus years, the

Members of the PPP Executive at the headtable during the Party's 31st Congress held last weeked

Party filed the petition on June 24, 2015, in the name of Member Ganga Persaud.

The petition is asking the court to grant a number of orders, including the nullification of the May 11 elections, as well as an order for new elections to be held.

Moreover, another resolution was passed calling upon the international community to support the necessary reforms which would ensure free and fair elections in Guyana in 2020.

For decades now, election observer groups – both internationally and regionally – have been recommending that while the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) purpose for existence is to administer free and fair electoral processes, Guyana should consider reforms that would reduce or eliminate the politicised composition of elections body in order to ensure independence and impartiality.

Additionally, the fourth resolution agreed upon during the PPP Congress is urging the UNDP and other organisations which are offering technical advice and assistance to the Government of Guyana on social cohesion, to desist from collaborating in activities with the Social Cohesion Ministry that subvert, undermine or ex-

clude the Ethnic Relations Commission; the constitutional organ, designed and intended to promote harmony among Guyanese of different ethnic backgrounds.

“From all indications, this Ministry appears to be a slush fund for APNU/AFC’s political activities and has been nothing short of divisive in its outreaches and activities,” Party sources stated.

The Party has been calling for the Social Cohesion Ministry, headed by Government Chief Whip Amna Ally, to be scrapped, with Party General Secretary Clement Rohee saying that the PPP will ensure that the Ministry does not succeed in its divisive manipulative, deceitful and bribe-sharing, divisive efforts to divide Guyanese socially, politically and along religious lines ostensibly for electoral purposes.

“The PPP called for the scrapping of the Ministry

of Social Cohesion since its principal role is to act as a smokescreen to promote racial and political discrimination in favour of the APNU/AFC,” Rohee had stated at one of the Party’s weekly press conferences.

Meanwhile, the other resolutions passed were in relation to racial and political discrimination, the crime situation, alliance politics and political morality.

On the other hand, the Congress of the PPP welcomed the decision of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to continue to pursue an agreement on the controversy in relation to the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy.

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Kimoon disclosed last week that there will be one more year of mediation to make a final determination on the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy. turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, december 22, 2016

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

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

Editorial

State of our oil revenues

A

s we discussed in our editorial “Oil Share” last Sunday, the consortium headed by ExxonMobil – Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) – is moving at deliberate pace on the development of the Stabroek Oil Field, where they struck oil last May with their Lisa 1 well. ExxonMobil is the operator and holds a 45 per cent interest in the Block, Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd, 30 per cent, and the Chinese CNOOC Nexen 25 per cent interest. Subsequently, two other strikes confirmed the large petroleum reserves estimated to be at least 1.4 billion barrels and this November, as required by our law, our Government was “officially” informed of the oil discovery.

However, even though a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) was signed between EEPGL and the GoG, no specific details have been released by the latter on the fiscal regime, even though the resource is owned by the people of Guyana, on whose behalf the GoG is supposed to be striking the best bargain. Petroleum is an exhaustible resource and while EEPGL will be making large capital investments to develop the field, it behooves the Government to make the Guyanese people au fait with the financial details.

Two days ago, EEPGL announced it had awarded contracts to a Dutch company, NV SBM Offshore to design a “floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. What this means is that none of the oil extracted will reach the Guyana shore, 120 miles away, but will be processed, stored and transferred directly to oil tankers from the FPSO to be shipped to overseas markets. According to reports, ExxonMobil indicated the consortium will make its Financial Investment Decision (FID) by the end of 2017, and if this is positive, SBM will proceed with construction, installation and operation of the FPSO. ExxonMobil said that it expects to produce 100,000 barrels of oil per day from a new FPSO for our field. This would cost approximately US$1 billion and take at least two to three years to be on location and ready to extract and process oil.

The question on the minds of most Guyanese is how quickly will petroleum be flowing and how much revenue will be coming into the national Treasury – whether a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) or the Consolidated Fund. Based on information posted on GoInvest’s website, unless the GoG has negotiated different terms with EEPGL, Guyana will be receiving “no less than 50 per cent of profit oil.” What this means is EEGPL will be allowed to recover all expenses incurred in exploration, operations and development – up to “a ceiling of seventy-five per cent of recoverable costs per month.”

This is known as “cost oil” and will be deducted from the price at which the oil will be sold – to arrive at the “profit oil.”

Everything will therefore depend on the price of oil, since as pointed out in our editorial “Oil Share” we have opted to forgo the example of Uganda which imposed a Royalty in addition to a 30 per cent income tax on profits. Royalty comes off “production oil” and would have guaranteed at least some income. Predicting oil prices is of course very treacherous since they are not governed by the normal supply and demand variables of the market. Recently we saw oil plunge from over US$100/barrel to below US$30 simply because US shale oil producers, backed by easy funding, were able to massively increase production at lower costs to face down Saudi production challenges.

With the recent agreement by OPEC and some other producers to curtail production by 1.8 million barrels per day, prices are expected to firm up – but not too much since shale oil will most likely pick up the slack with President-elect Donald Trump’s blessings. Using a price of US$60/bl and expecting EEPGL to utilise its 75 per cent maximum costs, US$15/bl will remain for “profit oil.” The “minimum” 50 per cent of this that will accrue to us will be US$7.50/bl or US$750,000 daily or US$273,750,000 annually. What is the maximum the Government will negotiate for?

With a few more days until Christmas, the city of Georgetown is filled with bargains as shoppers cash in on deals from stores and the vendors who line the pavements

Physical parking meters backward in modern societies Dear Editor, The future Guyana is seeking happened years ago in some countries of the world. The fact remains that as a Third World country modern technologies available in other countries will arrive on our shores years from now clichéd; yet thanks to globalization, we seem to be catching in some area and yet hopelessly falling behind in others. We must never, ever surrender to a Third World mentality, however.

Take parking meters for instance. Let’s take them as a necessary revenue stream in municipal development, we are not leading in any regard but instead play the game of catch up development. Where we have been introduced to parking meters as a physical cumbersome mechanism that is about to destroy the Dutch-FrenchEnglish colonial aesthetics of our National Capital City,

Georgetown, in other places of the world the term ‘parking meter’ is no longer associated with a physical object but a metaphor for a utility that exacts a fee in exchange for the use of a particular space in a city. This utility can be represented by a smartphone app.

Enter ‘Pango+’ Parking, one of thousands of parking apps available worldwide, used efficiently and effectively in countries like Israel.

Pango+, according to literature available online, is “the most efficient, economical and technologically advanced cellular phone parking system in the world, rendering it possible to pay for your parking time on street zones anywhere in Israel, using your cellular phone, a smartphone application or by dialling *4500. Registration is free and requires no membership.”

Pango+ is not limited to

on street parking but also caters for Parking Lots as well.

“Pango+ enables you to pay at parking lots nationwide using the smartphone application or by sending a text message (SMS). The service offers many advantages, as there is no need to use cash or credit cards or search for a pay machine,” or does it need a card vendor.

Our entire parking meter initiative is said to be a US$10 million investment, a sum that has been deemed to be bloated by experts and which could have been easily raised by local investors.

I read with interest that, “The parking ‘pay by phone’ market is heating up in the US, with app developers closing deals with municipalities and counties all over the country for implementation of their parking solution. So far, based on market share, the leader is Israel’s Pango – and as a sign of investors’

faith in the company, and in the business model, Pango several weeks ago locked up an additional round of financing, raising an additional $6.5 million that will enable it to expand its services to additional cities in the US and elsewhere.” (www.timesofisrael.com) No doubt an app-based service would be less costly, reducing infrastructure and other related costs.

Additionally, I have every confidence that domestic start-up companies like IntellectStorm and others already have the capacity to produce the technology necessary for such a future now, and less costly than the current system demands.

Sincerely, Sherod Avery Duncan, LLB, JP Former Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Georgetown

Too many needless deaths on roadways Dear Editor, Once again the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) is pleading with the public to look out for each other and be your brother’s keeper, how can we say we love God, who we cannot see and our brother who we can see we can’t show kindness. The rainy weather is on us, we are pleading with all road users to use the road with extra care, taking all precautions to ensure safety of yourself and others. The year 2016 has surpassed the death rate for 2015. The time for action is now, according to the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, let us all making a meaningful contribution in reduction

death by 50 per cent by the year 2020, as declared by the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Too many needless deaths are happening on our roadways, we need to join hands and tools to destroy this carnage that is plaguing our roadways, taking our children. Mothers are wailing for their babies, fathers are mourning for their sons and daughters, children are grieving for their parents, families are being destroyed, and children are left to fend for their families/themselves.

These deaths don’t have to happen if road users adhere to all road traffic rules and signs. Signals and safety indicators ensure that if we

use proper safety helmets, seat belts, etc correctly and all safety engineering measures are in place you can save life and injuries in some cases by 75 per cent.

The Council would like to send out condolences to all families who lost their love ones our countries roadways; we sympathised with you and encourage you to join the GNRSC in the campaign to reduce death and injuries by 50 per cent by the year 2020.

Every voice counts if you save one life that is very important.

Once again we continue to call on the Public Security Ministry to fast-track the High Security Number Plate system to assist in speed

management, the GNRSC is confident that the High Security Number Plate system will reduce speed and a lot of other road traffic issues, licencing system etc.

Also the demerit point system on the DUI and other related charges.

Again, we plead with you all to use the road with Care, Caution, Courtesy, Consideration and Common Sense. REMEMBER: LIFE DOES NOT HAVE A RESET BUTTON. DRIVE SAFELY. Don’t Drink and Drive.

Designate a driver, call a family, call a sober friend.

Sincerely, The Guyana National Road Safety Council

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

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

Stop payback and focus on “good life”!

Dear Editor, I read with some dismay in the Guyana Times of the Hamilton Greene Pension Bill. I was shocked at what was outlined as the contents of the bill. There were some questions that came to mind after reading the article.

1. What were the benefits he enjoyed after demitting office in 1992 after serving for eight years as a Prime Minister?

2. What was his pension after 1992?

3. What are the present assets of Mr Green and its value?

4. Mr Green is 82 years old, if he lives to be at least 92 (or more) the National Treasury will be paying out $205,800,000 to this one old man alone! If he is already living a life of luxury, what will he do with all this money in another ten years?

Now here are my thoughts on the issue. First of all, I must say that I support some form of a package for this gentleman, something that will make him live a comfortable life, however this package should not make him a millionaire in one year at the expense of the tax payers. His assets should have been valued and maybe a percentage of what he has now could have been given to him to make his life better, bearing in mind this is an 82-year-old, way past the heyday of his life.

I could be wrong, since I do not know what were the benefits he enjoyed as a former Prime Minister, but I am certain whatever pension he received then (post 1992) would have been liveable, I am sure the government of his day would have made provisions for a liveable allowance for their top personnel after they would have demitted office. If that was not something the then government had thought about, it is not fair that 24 years later, the present government is going all out to ensure that this individual gets the same pension (7/8 of the annual income) that the present Prime Minister will receive when he demits office.

All of that being said, here is why I have my reservations about this pension bill; Mr Green would have had a long and fruitful life. He has certainly done his part. Was there any time in his life that he

was not paid for what he did? As a teacher, my annual income is $1,120,956 without tax, when taxed; it will not even reach a million dollars per year. It is the same tax that drops my annual income to below one million dollars that helps to build this 82-year-old gentleman’s pension and other benefits to over twenty million dollars per year! Where is the fairness in this?

Mr Minister, this situa-

tion makes me think of the scenario of the rich taking away from the poor to get richer. May I remind you that my vote helped to put you and the Government in Office? I think it is time you stop playing payback and focus on providing us with ‘the good life’ that swept me off my feet in May of 2015.

Sincerely, W Moore

Squibs and the upcoming holidays Dear Editor, Christmas and New Year’s are a few days away and it will be open season for the thousands of sadists in our midst to embark on their mad campaign to terrorise animals, particularly dogs, and to generally make the lives of the elderly and babies a literal hell. And with the assistance (yes, assistance) from the Police and the GRA and all the agencies which allow these loud explosive devices to enter into this country and to be sold openly on the pave and in shops and by foot-sellers.

On last Diwali night, my dog broke its leg in four places and suffered a displaced joint.

It was driven mad by the thunderous noise from (are they?)

SQUIBS. My dog’s leg is still in bandages. What did it do to

have to suffer as it is? What did I do to have to spend $20,000 at the vet? I am sure that my experience is not singular.

Some people’s dogs were killed during the Diwali night massacre. Cows broke their fences to escape.

Our crime? We live in Guyana where these thunder sticks can be set off right under the nose of the Police, if not by the Police themselves. I know; I live two houses from the Enmore Police Station. We live in Guyana where the law prohibits the sale and use of these explosives, but they can still be sold openly without charges being laid. We live in Guyana where the GRA and the Police refuse or cannot work together to maintain some humaneness in our society. We live in Guyana!

It seems that with every major holiday, bigger and louder squibs enter this country.

Some of these explosives are louder than shotguns. They vibrate a radius of over 50 yards.

And NO ONE in this country can stop the abuse by irresponsible citizens and greedy businesses.

Editor, I am hopeful that my letter triggers off a set of protests against this sadism. It is only those who have no sense of feeling or guilt who will have “fun” torturing people and animals, as is happening these days.

Police, GRA: Start your campaign against the sale and detonation of these thunder sticks! It is the least you can do.

Yours sincerely, Taajnauth Jadunauth

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

Page

Foundation

Are gender neutral toys really better for children?

– expert weighs in on whether making toys more gender neutral is more beneficial for children

By Melissa Willets

T

he US company Target recently decided to remove gender-based labels on toys, saying the decision is a response to concerns from parents who found signage like “boys’ blocks” unnecessary.

Instead, Target has begun organising its toys by categories, like dolls and building sets, to create a gender neutral shopping experience for kids. But is blurring the lines between pink and blue really better for our children?

“Pink and blue aren’t the problem, it’s the meaning people attach to those colours that become problematic,” Katie Hurley, LCSW, a child and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting expert, and author of the new book, “The Happy Kid Handbook” told Parenting.com.

Parents, not children, are the ones who think things like, “Barbies are for girls, and Hot Wheels are for boys.” Kids just love to play.

Period. “Play is both the business of childhood and a window into their souls,” says Hurley.

It’s when we bring our feelings into the mix that we risk changing the innocent way in which children view

guyanatimesgy.com

toys. For children, “dolls can be anything, not just babies to care for,” Hurley says.

Any parent who has witnessed their child feeding a toy truck or using pretend food to make a phone call can attest that kids direct the play. It’s all about imagination! Toys are just a vehicle for expressing thoughts and feelings, and learning about the world.

So it seems Target may be onto something in its avoidance of labelling girl and boy toys.

Hurley encourages parents to do the same and simply let a child explore his or her own interests: “To direct a child to play a certain way based on gender is to send a very negative message to

that child.”

Instead, she suggests, try to understand the individual needs of your son or daughter: “Some kids prefer quiet play; s o m e h a v e specific preferences, like space or saf a r i a n -

imals; s o m e like things that make noise; and some mix everything together.

Giving children the freedom to play without judgment is more important than dissecting what they choose to play. Step back, make room for play and avoid judging your child. Try not to overthink it. Kids like to try on

new roles. Let them. It’s how they learn.”

So, if your daughter shows an interest in Star Wars action figures, you needn’t discourage her, and likewise if your son is drawn to My Little Pony figures.

Besides, children’s interests can quickly shift, so overanalysing their preferences for play is hardly a worthwhile venture.

Hurley recommends simply providing toys and time: “You want your kids to get lost in their imaginations and think creatively.”

In her experience, the best toys are indeed gender neutral wooden blocks, animals, people and vehicles.

Leave the rest up to the children, who can do amazing things with just a few supplies.

“We can’t teach kids to embrace differences if we stick them in a box and tell them what to play,” says Hurley. “Target sent a clear message to consumers: make your own choices; be you. That’s a solid message for little kids.” (parenting.com)

The miracle of gratitude

By Julie K Hersh

D

ec 15: Unexpectedly, Donna showed up at my house this morning to wrap gifts…. I had written this blog a few days ago and was wondering if I could catch her before the holidays to get her approval to talk about her story.

A few weeks ago at Eatzi’s, I bumped into my friend Donna, who has a brain tumour. My husband had planned a Sunday gathering with friends (translation: he invited friends over and I got to plan everything).

After a few minutes of snarling under my breath, I decided to not be mad, not to cook and just pick up fun food at Eatzi’s.

I entered the store to be met with clear voice of a tenor and tasty samples of sweet potatoes and stuffing.

Then, I saw Donna. She told me she felt lucky. The surgeon removed most of the tumour in a risky operation that might have left her dead, blind or with facial paralysis. Her struggles weren’t over; they could not remove all of the tumour. This growth within her head was something she’d have to monitor and manage. Yet somehow, she’d found new purpose in comforting people who had brain tumours. Her brown eyes widened with joy as she posed the question: “Do you ever consider your disease a blessing?”

Five years ago, if you asked me this question, I would have answered with a definitive NO. This summer’s relapse, only six months after the previous relapse, burdened me. I wore a weird cloak of embarrassed/defeated rage. In January I’d defiantly stood down one young psychiatrist who insisted I needed more electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). They suggested 12-18 treatments, I insisted six would do.

When I lay on the gurney to receive ECT less than six months later, this same psychiatrist administered the treatment. “Well, this is embarrassing,” I relented.

She smiled, no I told you so lurking at the corners of her lipstick.

“I just want to see you well,” she said.

Once again, I’ve sprinted back to wellness, my ability to bounce back lending credence to the idea that God only gives us what we can handle. As I relish my wellness, my friend Donna’s question stuck with me. What can I be grateful for another depressive break?

In my vulnerability, a space for friendship opened.

I also know without my illness, I would not have been able to see, once again, an outpouring of care and compassion from my family and husband. And this time, my children, now adults, showed a level of loyalty, strength and sensitivity that I suspected they had, but had not been put to the test.

Am I grateful for this relapse? Donna, that’s a strange question, but I have to say YES. I feel blessed.

Sometimes only our worst moments can reveal the most brilliant miracles. (Excerpted from psychologytoday.com)

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thursDAY, december 22, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

PSC calls for relaxation of 2 am curfew

Investigation ongoing into CAL-Fly Jamaica crash

T

I

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

he Private Sector Commission (PSC) has requested that Government relax the 02:00h curfew over the holiday season.

A letter sent to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and signed

by PSC Chairman Eddie Boyer, appealed to the Minister for him to relax the time restriction to allow overseas-based Guyanese an opportunity to have fun.

According to Boyer, the PSC has had several meetings with operators from the entertainment indus-

PSC Chairman Eddie Boyer

try about the curfew.

“These operators have booked overseas artistes to perform during the season and face significant difficulties if the curfew is kept in place,” the Chairman said.

“We are, therefore, appealing to you for a relaxation of the curfew from Christmas Eve to New Year’s as was done for the holiday season last year.

This would not only relief operators, but would also allow revellers, especially Guyanese and tourists who are visiting from abroad to fully enjoy the experience.”

While the Minister has pronounced on holidays during the season, he has not communicated any plans to relax the curfew as was done in 2015.

Ever since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition took office in May 2015, it enforced the legally stipulated curfew, which has faced a barrage of criticisms, with many persons describing it as anti-business.

However, Minister Ramjattan argued that the curfew was part of his crime-fighting strategy.

PPP Congress passes ...

If, however, the Good Officers process fails to do so by the end of 2017, then the matter will be taken to the International Court of Justice for a final decision.

According to the Party, “The PPP remains resolute in its support of and for any process intended and designed to protect the territorial integrity of our country.”

Meanwhile, the PPP in a statement on Tuesday, outlined that its Congress, held under the theme “Strengthen the Party, Defend Democracy, Onward

to Victory”, was one of the largest in terms of the participation of delegates and observers.

It noted that one of the highlights of the Congress was the presentation of the Central Committee Report, which formed the basis for spirited and robust discussions at the several workshops. The main issues and recommendations from the workshops were presented to the plenary sessions for further deliberations, adoption and implementation.

Additionally, a new

35-member Central Committee and five-Candidate members were elected by secret ballot.

The Party added that the discussions both at the plenary and workshop levels centred on strengthening the Party politically and organisationally in order to win the next General and Regional Elections with an overwhelming majority.

“The Congress ended on a high note of optimism and confidence in the capacity of the Party to defend the democratic and economic gains

The damaged tail end of the Fly Jamaica aircraft

nvestigations are still ongoing into the minor crash between the Caribbean Airlines aircraft and the Fly Jamaica plane, which occurred last month at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

The incoming Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) aircraft had clipped the tail of the parked Fly Jamaica plane.

CAL flight BW527 was coming in from New York, while the Fly Jamaica plane was being prepared for boarding when the incident

occurred.

Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Egbert Field told media operatives on Wednesday that

from page 3

of the Guyanese people in the ongoing struggle against the anti-people policies and programmes being implemented by the Granger-led APNU/AFC regime,” the statement from PPP outlined.

GCAA Director General Egbert Field

the Accidents Investigation Group was currently spear-

heading the probe, but noted that he was no longer close to the investigation.

According to the Director General, moves are afoot to delink the Accidents Investigation Group from the GCAA in keeping with recommendations made by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The group will now be reporting directly to Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson, who has responsibility for the aviation sector.

The Director General noted too that a legislative framework would soon be put in place to govern the operations of the Accidents Investigation Group outside of the GCAA. Nonetheless, he said the aviation authority would continue to provide expertise to assist in any investigations undertaken.

8

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

Teen charged Driver slapped with for having causing death charge a spliff Hampton Court accident

N

andram Jaisingh, called Tony, of La Belle Alliance, Essequibo Coast, was on Wednesday slapped with two charges when he made an appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

He was charged for causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence (DUI).

It is alleged that on December 15 at Hampton Court Public Road, he drove motor car PJJ 5803 in a dangerous manner causing the death of Bhajnauth Samaroo, called Suresh.

Following the accident, a breathalyser test was conducted and it revealed that Jaisingh was above the legal limit. Reports are about 18:35h the motorcyclist was proceeding north along the western side of Hampton Court Public Road, while the driver of the motor car was proceeding in the said direc-

Exposing…

O

The damaged car

tion behind the 60-year-old man, when the driver attempted to overtake the motorist, but lost control and collided with him. Suresh was picked up in an unconscious state and immediately rushed to Suddie Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In court on Wednesday, Jaisingh pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Police Prosecutor did not object to bail, and as such, he was released on $600,000 bail for the causing

death charge and $50,000 for the DUI. As a condition of his bail, Magistrate Scarce ordered that Jaisingh lodge his passport and report to the Anna Regina Police Station every Saturday at 09:00h. In issuing a stern warning, Magistrate Scarce made it clear in court that relatives of the driver had made several attempts to contact his family and him about the case. He informed Jaisingh’s Attorney that he would not entertain such attempts.

J

avid Mohamed of Richmond Village, Essequibo Coast was on Wednesday granted $10,000 bail pending trial for the possession of narcotics.

He made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecution’s case contended that on December 17, 2016, the teenager had in his possession a quantity of seeds, leaves and stems, which when tested turned out to be cannabis.

In court on Wednesday, the teen in a bail application on his own behalf, told the court that he has never had any brushes with the law, and contended that the Police are trying to “frame” him.

He told the court that he was with eight other friends sitting on a koker at Anna Regina when they were approached by Police.

According to the teen, after the drugs were found, one of the Policemen slapped him and that is why he said admitted at the time that it belonged to him.

After listening to the teen’s explanation, the Magistrate released him on $20,000 bail. However, the teenager told the Magistrate that the bail was too high and pleaded for a reduction. As such Magistrate Scarce reduced it to $10,000 on condition that he reports to the Anna Regina Station Sergeant every Saturday at 09:00h. The case will continue on January 18.

…the Deep State

ver in the US, no one other than General Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower, who moved from being the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in WWII to running the White House and supposedly the country, complained about the “military industrial complex” (MIC). They were the ones who really called the shots as to what really went down in the land of the free and the home of the brave. While Ike worked on his golf swing!!

There are those who still swear it was members of this group that took out Kennedy when he tried to buck the tide. But that was dismissed as the rantings of the foaming-at-the-mouth conspiracy fringe. While your Eyewitness isn’t a card carrying member of that union, he’s got to concede the phrase “deep state”- which was what the MIC had morphed into - hasn’t become so popular in the US by happenstance. Truth will out!!

Back in 2013, the New York Times (NYT) defined the deep state as “a hard-to-perceive level of government or super-control that exists regardless of elections and that may thwart popular movements or radical change.

Some have said that Egypt is being manipulated by its deep state.” This, of course, after the deep state had been unmasked in Turkey in 1995.

But as a bona fide member of the US deep state, you would notice the NYT carefully suggested that the deep state existed in foreign climes. That was to be expected, but it didn’t mean that the misdirection wasn’t based on reality. In fact, by the nature of dictatorial regimes – including those in the Third World, the institutions intended to keep the dictator in power were tailormade for the creation of ‘deep states”. It wasn’t even ironic that the leaders of the central institution that kept these dictators in power – the army – were often trained in the US. By the US operatives in the US deep State!

And so it was in Guyana. The Burnhamite dictatorship created its deep state explicitly in Guyana.

The revelations of the Rodney Commission of Inquiry were simply scratching the surface. Not everyone in the army, for instance, knew which officer had just returned from the US when the bomb literally blew up in Rodney’s face. Why was anyone surprised that the PPP couldn’t govern effectively throughout its twentythree years? And had to resort to “buying out” some?

Or worse?

Today, with the PNC back in power – was APNU even a fig leaf? – some elements of the deep state are simply rising to the surface. But don’t be fooled. Just like an iceberg, more than three quarters lie beneath the surface.

And you thought Hamilton Green was being rewarded for his boyish good looks?

…the Putin mystique

There are a lot of folks who’re quite flummoxed by the nexus between the white Christian right wing in the US, Donald Trump and Putin in Russia. What’s going on?

Some have pointed to possible business interests of Trump in Russia and the need to stay on the good side of Putin. The CEO of ExxonMobil Tillerson - tipped to be Secretary of State in the Trump administration - has been cited as an example of this relationship with Putin that’s already paid off handsomely.

Well, the business links might be there – but where does the alt-right evangelicals fit in? A little-known fact is that Putin had radically moved to shore up relations with the Russian Christian Orthodox Church that he’s practically the patron saint of that Church in the postCommunist era. Over 25,000 churches were restored during Putin’s regime.

But it’s not just the Christian faith that holds the altright in thrall to Putin and the Russian Church – it’s the latter’s very conservative stance on a host of issues – homosexuality and nationalism.

White nationalism.

…self-interests

There’s an interesting – if personal – debate going on between Tacuma Ogunseye of the WPA and Sase Singh, recently of the AFC – both partners of APNU. What a change a year can bring!

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

news

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thursDAY, december 22, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

D’Urban Park Project scandal

Govt signals intention to rob Guyanese – Nandlall

…urges contractors to file lawsuit over underpayment

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall

G

overnment’s unapologetic move to underpay contractors is a clear signal of its intention to rob citizenry, according to former Attorney General Anil Nandlall.

He was commenting on Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s outburst that contractors would most likely be underpaid for works done on the D’Urban Park Project, and that they can either “take it or leave it”.

“It is now clear that apart from being robbed every day by bandits, the Government has now signalled an intention to rob the Guyanese people, as well. This must be an unprecedented approach for a government to take in the modern world,” Nandlall posited, as he expressed utter shock over the Finance Minister’s position.

He is encouraging contractors to sue the Government, the private company responsible for the Project and its directors/ shareholders, which include Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.

“The corporate veil will not protect directors and shareholders who have

fraudulently and deceptively withheld from the public that they were dealing with a private company, but in fact deliberately led them to believe that they were dealing with the Government of Guyana,” Nandlall explained.

He surmised that “Ministers of this Government continue to exhibit a reprehensible aura of arrogance, bullyism and a ‘wrong and strong’ approach in their public outpourings”.

He asserted too that “this is the same Minister, who in his budget speech only two weeks ago said that this Government is committed to the rule of law and will respect the constitutional and legal rights of the people of Guyana”.

Nandlall highlighted that the posture adopted by the Finance Minister came on the heels of Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman’s statement that Guyanese need to stop lamenting the heavy tax burdens imposed by the budget and “get busy”, as well as their outright refusal to meet with the Private Sector Commission and the

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

labour movement to discuss the 2017 budgetary measures.

At his year-end press conference on Monday, Jordan said the company – Homestretch Development Inc (HDI), which was clandestinely established with the purpose of collecting monies for the Jubilee Park Project, still owes approximately $298 million to contractors.

Government on December 14 approved an additional $500 mil-

lion to be paid out from the Consolidated Fund to HDI, to pay a number of contractors and other persons owed varying amounts for works done on the D’Urban Park Project.

Jordan maintained that Government would not be releasing any more monies and, therefore, contractors were likely to be underpaid.

“Government indicated that it can only accommodate the $500 million as the full and final settlement. What that means is that HDI will have to pay some apportionment relative to the debts owed. This is a ‘take it or leave it’ situ-

ation.

If you were owed $2 million by HDI, and it works out that you will only get paid $1.2 million, then you could either accept $1.2 million as the full and final settlement or you could sue HDI,” the Finance Minister explained.

The Minister refused to expand on his proposal for the disgruntled contractors to file a lawsuit against the company, shutting down further questions on the matter.

“I don’t want to answer any more questions on this,” he expressed, noting that he would only disclose information relative

to the financial aspect of the D’Urban Park scandal.

It is assumed that the company does not generate its own revenue since it relied on monies from donations and from the public purse for the construction of D’Urban Park.

President David Granger had described HDI as a “special purpose” company, set up with the sole purpose of overseeing the D’Urban Park development.

It is, therefore, puzzling who would finance legal proceedings if HDI is sued for underpaying the contractors.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, december 22, 2016

News

Parking meters to become active in January … as installation commences

Christmas Spirit

BY RAMONA LUTHI

D

espite obvious protests against the of implementation parking meters throughout the streets of Georgetown, the City’s Town Clerk, Royston King, has announced that by January 9, 2017, all parking meters will be fully installed and working.

This was disclosed on Wednesday during the parking meter launch, when the Managing Director of Smart City Solutions, Amir Oren and his Public Relations Officer (PRO) Kit Nascimento, in the company of King and other City Hall representatives met with members of the public and the media.

Prior to this, it was disclosed that the parking meters will be completely installed around the city by the end of December; as such, the controversial meters are now installed on a few streets in Georgetown, namely Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street, among others.

King expressed happiness towards the implementation of the parking meters, which he described as a “bold initiative.”

“This project has utility in three areas. First of all, the environment and sustainability, the other area is infrastructural development, and the third area is city economics,” he said.

The Town Clerk went on to announce that the funds garnered from the initiative will be re-invested to upgrade roads and similar facilities, including the de-

W Town Clerk Royston King; Managing Directors of Smart City Solutions, Amir Oren and Simon Moshevilli and other City Hall representatives at the launch of the meters

velopment of cycling lanes and also to introduce, install and operate the “City transit system, particularly for senior citizens and children.”

King stated that for now, though, some parking meters are installed, and no one will pay for parking until next year, adding that he hoped persons will become acquainted with the electronic device.

Managing Director of Smart City Solutions, Amir Oren asserted that the introductory period for the parking meters will be launched as of January 9, 2017, and members of the public will be taught how to use the machines.

“The system is very easy to use. As I’ve said many times before, Georgetown is not the first, nor the last to introduce a system like this which is very important, not only to parking but mobility,” he posited.

He expressed confidence that those who are against the parking meters present-

ly will be much more receptive of it once they become acquainted.

The parking meters will be charging a fee of $50 plus Value Added Tax (VAT) every 15 minutes of parking along the streets of Georgetown. This will also be mandatory to public transportation, until preparations are made for alternative parking spaces.

Recently, Oren had said that the implementation would be divided into two phases, adding that the first phase of the parking meter project will occupy 3237 parking spaces in Georgetown, utilising 157 parking meters.

The machines will be stationed close to all the commercial hubs in Georgetown. The meters, intended to regulate traffic, will be situated along Quamina Street, Water Street, Hadfield Street, Camp Street, Church Street, North Road, Robb Street, Regent Street, Charlotte Street, South Road, Croal

Street, Brickdam, Avenue of the Republic, Wellington Street and King Street.

From its genesis, the parking meter project was rejected by citizens and the Private Sector. However, the “shady” contract was endorsed by the Government, which after scrutinising of the contract, stated that no illegalities were found, and so the project was given the “go ahead”.

At that time, the project was being spearheaded by Kamau Cush, who was named the Director of Smart City Solutions.

However, just a few weeks ago, the company’s PRO stated that Cush was only a shareholder of the company and was no longer operational.

The company’s PRO also stated that the parking meters would be operational from 07:00h to 19:00h Mondays to Saturdays.

However, parking is free any time before 07:00h and after19:00h, on Sundays and holidays.

1300 GDF ranks received military training in 2016

I

n light of Guyana’s ongoing tensions with Spanish-speaking neighbour Venezuela, Army Chief-of-Staff George Lewis announced that in 2016, 1300 ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have received additional military training.

In the breakdown of the numbers, Brigadier Lewis revealed that 100 officers and 1200 other ranks were trained in military courses.

He made the disclosures at the hosting of Soldiers’ Day at Camp Ayanganna on Wednesday afternoon.

It was disclosed that the 1300 total reflects a 30 per cent increase in comparison to the number of ranks who were trained last year.

Additionally, the Chief-ofStaff also remarked that the year 2016 also saw 100 GDF officers and other ranks being trained at tertiary institutions, including

Army Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier George Lewis addressing his junior ranks on Wednesday at Army headquarters, Camp Ayanganna

the University of Guyana (UG).

Brigadier Lewis, while noting that the Army has had an excellent year, also pointed out that its 2016 initiatives have brought the Force closer to achiev-

ing its mandate of “providing territorial security”.

The Brigadier also disclosed some of the other measures that the Force executed in 2016 to boost its military capacity.

“Soldiers [were] de-

ployed to our borders and performed their duties in a professional, efficient and effective manner. We also conducted a number of other heightened security operations throughout Guyana in preparation for Local Government Elections (LGE). We also successfully executed Exercise Home Guard, which is a field tactical exercise to test our proficiency in the Ituni, Tacama areas,” the Chief-of-Staff explained.

The Brigadier added that the Army was continuing to enhance its accounting systems and operations in keeping with Government regulations.

“I believe that when we look at our successes against our challenges that the Guyana Defence Force had an excellent year; we are proud of ourselves and commit to performing better in 2017,” Lewis stressed.

ith all the moneymaking holiday fads that invade our year from January through to December, Christmas can be the ultimate in commercialism, advertising, spending, over-eating and stretching finances to the limit; validating the resounding lamentation that we have lost the real essence of the season.

If we are to ask the question Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal literally ‘has Christmas lost its meaning? , some are sure to raise the details about the true origin of what was once a pagan festival with no links to religion or goodwill. However, the issue here is that the age old tradition we all know as Christmas was adopted by Christians as a time to celebrate the birth of their saviour Jesus Christ.

Others are likely to mention that, admittedly according to the chronology of the history books, Jesus was not actually born at this time of the year. Religious or not and precise dates aside, the basis of this season was to share peace, love and hope. Our secular society may have hijacked the celebration, arguably returning it to a more pagan event, but as long as we make every effort to ensure the sentiment of Peace and Joy remains at the heart of the festivities, all is not lost.

If you are part of the Christian religion, this time will be of utmost importance and the celebrations will go way beyond the commercial capacity it has evolved into. Your faith will be strengthened and you will be part of one of the most significant commemorations of your faith. Perhaps alongside the worship and thanksgiving, will be a time to partake in the more commercial aspects of the season as the exchanging of gifts, traditional Christmas tree, dinner and festivities are shared with loved ones, but no doubt the thread that runs through this time will be centred on your beliefs.

For others, the focus may be more on spending hours choosing gifts, decorating houses, cooking and baking more than is necessary, in a bid to celebrate the season. We will visit family and friends, some of whom we have not seen for the better part of the year. Most of us will enjoy the partying and socialising, the merriment and indulgences that are on the seasons agenda with little thought to the Christian implications, whether due to being a non-believer or thoughtlessness. For most of us the spirit is still a positive one that we extend to those around us.

Many will unfortunately be unable to celebrate in any lavish manner, or in any manner at all for that matter. Too many will be lonely and feel it amplified by the merriment around them. For some, the financial pressures felt in order to keep up with their neighbours and family leads to a new year of debt and struggles.

Thankfully many will take time out to reach out a charitable hand to those less fortunate than themselves and try to ensure there is some joy, no matter how small, infused into each person’s life this holiday. It is a season where literature has influenced even the meanest spirited with its narration of ‘Scrooge’, encouraging and highlighting the unrivalled satisfaction of charitable behaviour.

Whatever your standing belief or persuasion, irrespective of the shift from the true meaning, it’s important to remember to make this a positive time of year for those around you, as well as yourselves.

This year take the time to remember what Christmas should be. Think about what you have and how precious the time is that is spent closely with family and friends. Try not to let your gatherings escalate into the clichéd family rows and dramas that happen year after year in many households.

Reach out to family, friends, a stranger, someone alone or someone in need and use the season as a reflective time to show the human kindness that is in the hearts of most.

The best thoughts for the season are that the giving is wonderful, Christmas cheer and charity is to be embraced and memories are made to cherish. Acknowledging perhaps the real worry; that the things that need to shift in this present society are the expectations, the perceptions of what constitutes a real gift and the attitude with which we receive them. Time and love are the most precious gift you can offer and receiving those with love, gratitude and humility is the best way to appreciate what has been offered to you.

Merry Christmas to each and every one of you, may you find the true meaning of giving, loving and hoping.

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thursDAY, december 22, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

G

inger beer is another traditional Christmas time favourite. Every family has their own way of making the spicy beverage, but below is one family’s recipe Ingredients 1 lb ginger 1 gallon water 2 cinnamon stick 8 cloves 1 orange or lime sugar to taste handful of rice

S ing.

orrel is a traditional Christmas beverage, enjoyed by young and old. The drink is full of flavour, with a soursweet-tangy and cinnamony taste that’s quite refresh-

Ingredients 1 bag of fresh sorrel (deseeded) 8 cups water 1 cinnamon stick 2 pieces of dried orange peel 4 cloves sugar to taste *Note: The strength of the final product made from this relative of the hibiscus can be varied by increasing or decreasing the amount of water or sorrel used .

Boil the water in a large pot. Add sorrel and all the other ingredients except sugar, cover pot and turn off flame.

Sweeten. Serve warm or with ice

Method Clean, then finely grate ginger. Add ginger to water in large stoneware or earthenware jug (any large container can be used if these are not available). Mix in spices and sugar to taste, then squeeze the juice of the orange or lime into the mixture. Add handful of rice.

Let rest overnight, then strain the liquid the next day. Serve chilled or with ice.

12

thursDAY, december 22, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Moscato Rosé

I

taly has a storied heritage of producing some of the best wines in the world and Bartenura’s feature in that list. From our Bartenura Moscato in its

iconic blue bottle to our classic Bartenura Ovadia Estates Chianti DOCG, Bartenura wines are sourced from all over Italy's greatest wine-producing regions for

you to enjoy.

Benefits of drinking wine

Those who drink moderate amounts of alcohol, including red wine, seem to

Light rose colour, with a delicate fragrance and sweet taste.

Serving Suggestions: Goes well with fruit, cheese and desserts. A splendid, festive wine to complete a meal. Best served chilled Alcohol 7.5%

Moscato

Crisp and refreshing, semi sweet, with lingering pear, tangerine, nectar and melon flavours on the finish Serving Suggestions: Perfect with dessert or fresh fruit, or sipping poolside.

Alcohol 5% have a lower risk of heart disease.

Wine keeps your memory sharp.

Wine drinkers have a 34 per cent lower mortality rate than beer or spirits drinkers.

The polyphenols in red wine can help prevent gum disease.

Drinking wine can reduce the risk of depression.

Bartenura Wines are imported and distributed by Best Warehouse

Deals, 236 South Road, Lacytown, Georgetown.

Bartenura tip

Want your glass of Bartenura Moscato to stay cold and never get watered down? Make a tray of ice cubes with Bartenura Moscato and add them to your drink – just that simple.

O

rchard now has the flavours you know and love. This household name in juices is now packaged in new on-the-go bottles so everyone can refresh themselves with an Orchard Orange Drink, Apple Drink and Apple Cherry drink, anywhere!

Recently, Orchard reduced its sugar content to offer healthier, tastier drinks for all consumers; Orchard cares about your health.

Top 10 reasons to drink Orchard * Heart disease prevention * Cancer prevention * Immune system boosting * Maintaining healthy skin * Constipation prevention * Weight loss * Lowering high cholesterol * Preventing birth defects * Lowering blood pressure * A great ingredient in Christmas dishes Orchard is distributed by Beepats and available nationwide. consumption on-the-go!

Now everyone can refresh themselves with Orchard Orange, Apple and Apple Cherry, anywhere!

13

thursDAY, december 22, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

14

thursday, december 22, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

INGREDIENTS 4 egg yolks 1/3 cup sugar, plus 1 tablespoon 1 pint whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 3 ounces bourbon 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 4 egg whites*

DIRECTIONS • Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan, and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.

• In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar.

Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.

• Stir in rum, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg.

• Refrigerate overnight before serving.

INGREDIENTS 2 sticks butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon, ground 1 1/2 tablespoons nutmeg, ground 1 1/2 tablespoons clove, ground 1 1/2 tablespoons allspice, ground 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon salt Brown rum black tea

DIRECTIONS

• Add first ten ingredients to a mixing bowl and blend with an electric mixer.

• Refrigerate batter until ready to use.

• When ready to serve, prep mugs by filling with hot water to warm them. Let stand for a minute or two, and discard.

• Add one tablespoon of batter to prepped mug.

• Top with two ounces hot tea, and stir to mix.

• Add one ounce of each rum, and then top with two more ounces hot tea.

• Rum will form a 1/4 inch cream over the top of the drink.

• Garnish with a whole star anise.

INGREDIENTS

2 large sweet potatoes 1 gallon water 2 cups sugar 1/2 cup whey, from cultured dairy 2 lemons, zested and juiced 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. ginger 1 eggshell, cleaned and crushed

DIRECTIONS

• Grate sweet potatoes using the coarse side of a box grater. Rinse in a sieve under cold water to remove starch.

• In a large non-reactive container combine grated sweet potatoes, water, sugar, whey, juice and zest from the lemons, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and crushed eggshell. Stir, cover, and allow to ferment at room temperature for around 3 days, or until fermented.

• Strain through a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth and bottle into airtight bottles. Refrigerate and serve.

thursday, december 22, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

News

Son drowns, father’s decomposed body Guyana is prepared to prove found in house Border controversy

its case in court – Granger …fetes GDF ranks at annual Christmas lunch

P

resident David Granger on Wednesday said that Guyana welcomed the decision by United Nations Secretary General Ban Kimoon to identify a definitive deadline to the Good Offices Process for the resolution of the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy.

Declaring that Guyana has worked hard to bring an end to the claim on its sovereign territory, the President said that the country was ready to prove its case in the International Court of Justice at the end of 2017, should the Good Offices Process maintain the current stalemate.

The President, who was at the time addressing officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at the Annual Christmas Lunch at Base Camp Ayanganna, said that Guyana has already waited too long for a resolution to this matter.

“Last Friday, for the first time in 51 years, the Secretary General has decided that that 51-year-old claim by Venezuela will go to the world court at the end of 2017 if the two countries, Guyana and Venezuela, do not agree to make some other arrangements. Well, we have already decided that we have already waited 51 years too long. It is our territory and we will go to court to prove that it is our territory and you are there to back me up, aren’t you?” the President said to loud cheers and shouts of “yes” from the

members of the Force.

He noted that the country has put in significant effort and work to place the border controversy at the top of the international agenda, lobbying the UN Secretary General and gaining support from the Caribbean Community (Caricom), the Commonwealth Nations and nation states. He added that it was satisfying that the work of the administration has not been in vain.

“We worked hard for it… I am satisfied that the Secretary General has discharged his responsibility to the Geneva Agreement of 1966. So we are very grateful he has made that decision. We have waited 50 years and we understand that the Secretary General has been very deliberate and very cautious in approaching this matter. International issues cannot be resolved in a sudden or spontaneous fashion and we understand that under the circumstances the Secretary General did what was his duty under the Geneva Agreement,” the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces said.

The President expressed gratitude to the servicemen for their commitment and dedication during the past year, noting that Guyana would not have been where it was had it not been for the Force.

Meanwhile, Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier George Lewis said that the Force has enjoyed an “excellent” year, in which its successes were

Officers and ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at the annual Christmas lunch at Base Camp Ayanganna

more than its challenges and, therefore, it looked forward to an even better year in 2017.

The lunch marked the last of a series of lunches, referred to as ‘Soldiers’ Day, held by the GDF in recognition and celebration of its ranks, during the Christmas season. There have been Soldiers’ Day activities at Lethem, Kaikan, Eteringbang, Mabaruma, the GDF Floating Base, New Amsterdam, Camp Stephenson, Camp Seweyo and Camp Jaguar.

With Guyana on the verge of becoming a lucrative oil-producing nation, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree in May last year purporting to claim the majority of Guyana’s waters off Essequibo.

The decree was seen as a flagrant violation of international law and was inconsistent with the principle that all states should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states.

In an effort to defend its

sovereignty, Guyana made it clear to the Venezuelan Government that the Essequibo and its offshore waters belong to Guyana, and strengthened its push for judicial settlement of the issue, as the Good Offices Process had yielded little result.

The border between the two countries was settled by an international tribunal in 1899, in an award the parties, including Venezuela, had agreed would be the final settlement. Since the belligerence from Venezuela, moves have been made by the international community, including the UN Secretary General, to push for a peaceful resolution of the issue.

The Guyanese leader and President Maduro had met with the outgoing UN Secretary General for the first time in September last year to discuss the controversy. The meeting was dubbed fruitful as both Heads pledged to mend the bilateral relationship, while attempts are being made to resolve the border controversy.

A

s relatives returned home from the postmortem examination of a man who drowned in East Canje, they were greeted with the news that his father’s decomposed body was discovered in a house in another part of East Canje.

On Monday, Bhognarine Isbarran, also called “Gaga”, 40, was fished out of a trench in the backlands of Cumberland, East Canje. The man had gone fishing.

According to his mother, Niniwattie Persaud, called “Nado”, the former cane harvester left home to go fishing and never returned. A search party went in search of Bhognarine, who was an epileptic, and discovered his body partly submerged in a trench.

Persaud explained that

Dead: Budhram Isbarran

his face was in the water and the rest of his body out of the trench.

Bhognarine, who had separated from his wife a few years ago, became ill and stopped working as a cane harvester. He did odd jobs in the village to earn an income.

An autopsy conducted on the body on Wednesday confirmed that he drowned.

Dead: Bhognarine Isbarran

After the results of the autopsy were given to family members, Persaud received news that her former husband was found dead in a house at Reliance Settlement.

The partly decomposed body of the elder Isbarran, was discovered lying on the floor of his Lot 47 Second Street, Reliance Settlement home, partly nude.

The 67-year-old was last seen on Monday. Reports are that neighbours heard him groaning on Monday evening.

One of his nephews told this newspaper that on Sunday, Isbarran complained of feeling unwell and did not go into the backdam to attend to the cattle.

A check was made on Wednesday at Isbarran’s home and the discovery was made. “After I went out all day Monday and Tuesday looking for the cows, I send over one of the workers to go over and check on he because is since Sunday he leave and say he going in the market and I ain’t see him… the boy come back and say when he push the door, he see him swell up on the floor.”

A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted on the body today.

Dynamic Airways' operations Agreements renewed for under review by GCAA concessions to miners

D

ynamic Airways was ordered to submit a report to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) regarding the most recent incident in its long list of disruptions in flights which left passengers stranded for hours, for the regulation entity to consider the most effective way forward.

Director General of the GCAA told a news conference on Wednesday that the entity will be reviewing the report, which is yet to be submitted, and then consider options pertaining to the operations of the controversial airline.

“We have asked Dynamic to submit a report to the Authority so we can further review the operation and how we move forward from here… To give a definitive answer as to what will take place until we have a look at the re-

port,” he explained.

Holiday travel plans for hundreds of passengers in Guyana and New York were majorly disrupted as air carrier Dynamic Airways over the weekend cancelled at least two flights – one out of Guyana and the other from the John F Kennedy (JFK) International Airport in the United States.

The cancellation even resulted in a Guyanese bride missing her wedding; however, Dynamic has since agreed to offer a free honeymoon package to the couple as compensation.

The company’s local representative, Captain Gerry Gouveia had explained that there were two jumbo jet aircraft placed on standby by Dynamic Airways in case of an emergency with the primary aircraft.

But he said a ground handling truck at the JFK Airport crashed into the

airplane and damaged its engine shell, while the other aircraft had mechanical problems. In August, a Caribbean Private Sector Investment Agency – Invest Caribbean Now (ICN) – had urged the Guyana Government to launch an investigation into the services offered by the airline.

In December 2014, the airline was slapped with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over one such incident.

Captain Gouveia had previously explained to Guyana Times that all airlines have their challenges and that flight delays are not unique to Dynamic Airways alone.

Meanwhile, in relation to the airline’s recent disturbance, Gouveia said aggrieved passengers would be compensated in accordance to the company’s legal obligations within air transport laws. (Devina Samaroo)

S

mall and mediumscale miners will continue to benefit from fuel and concessions on mining equipment parts as the contracts were renewed today by the relevant Ministries and associations.

The Finance and Natural Resources Ministries, and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association (GGDMA) renewed two contracts for concessions relating to the mining industry. Small and medium-scale miners will now benefit from duty-free concessions on imported equipment and a 10 per cent tax reduction on fuel.

The agreement provides for eligible gold miners to be exempted from the payment of customs duties on fuel, matting, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), jackhammer drills, flex hoses, expanding metals, pumps, pump housing, impellers, shaft and engines.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan and GGDMA President Terrence Adams shake hands after signing two agreements. Also in photo is Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman (centre)

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said Government is happy with gold declarations and the commitment of miners. He pointed out that the Government has no desire to hinder, frustrate or even close down the industry as some would suggest.

He added that while concessions are given, with every benefit comes responsibility. “We expect better declarations, we still believe that despite the high declarations that an amount of our gold, a significant amount of our gold Turn to pg 17

16

thursday, december 22, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Stacyan’s Fashions – the willpower to succeed S tacyann Beckles is a young and motivated entrepreneur working hard for her success. At only 30 years old, Beckles owns a very successful fashion design company that caters for models and a few organisations.

She works form home at Corriverton, Berbice. Beckles was a school dropout and did part-time work with a nearby seamstress whose son had an interest in her. “All I use to do was to put on button and hem…”

It was only until she was embarrassed for her lack of education that Beckles decided to open a business of her own.

“Ah day she came home and saw me talking to a boy, but it wasn’t anything and she start to cuss and say that I am stupid and uneducated, she told me that I would not be good for her son, because he was going to UG then…”

The young woman left embarrassed and with tears in her eyes and made a decision to prove ‘Miss Audrey’ wrong.

It was not long after that there was a course in dress

if I want to come back and work, but I really wanted to say to her that I will be starting my own business ,but the way I wanted to say it to her I couldn’t do it at

she was able to rake in was that of altering a few dresses.

“A friend told me that they wanted somebody to make shirts for the staff in the store. It

Stacyann Beckles

making being offered by the Social Protection Ministry and sponsored by the United Nations . The young woman grasped at the opportunity with the sole aim of proving that she can become a seamstress. Three months later, she received her certificate and as fate would have it, it was ‘Miss Audrey’ who was asked to present Stacyann with her certificate.

“That was the first time I talk to her since then and she ask me

the graduation.”

It is all history now as Beckles invested the $30,000 which she was given and bought some of the equipment that she needs.

The idea of going big came one afternoon while chatting with a friend on the road; prior to that ,the only business that

was too big for me, but I needed the money and when I thought of ‘Miss Audrey’ asking them who made the shirts and they say that is me…”

She took the job and from

FLOW in trouble with customers in Jamaica after publishing private numbers

okia Corp said on Wednesday it had filed a number of lawsuits against Apple Inc for violating 32 technology patents, striking back at the iPhone maker’s legal action targeting the one-time cellphone industry leader a day earlier.

“Since agreeing a licence covering some patents from the Nokia Technologies portfolio in 2011, Apple has declined subsequent offers made by Nokia to licence other of its patented inventions which are used by many of Apple’s products,” Nokia said

Business News

F

irst it was the cover, now it’s the contents of the 2016-2017 Yellow Pages telephone directory that is creating problems in Jamaica.

The telephone numbers and other information of hundreds of FLOW Jamaica customers who have been paying J$2400 (US$18.63) per year to keep their numbers private, has been released in the directory, a month after controversy surrounding the de-

piction of scantily clad women dancing with men in a dancehall street session, on the front of the publication.

Some senior Government Ministers and top business leaders are among those affected.

In a statement to the Jamaica Gleaner, FLOW Jamaica said it “regrets the inclusion of the private listing of some customers in the 2016-2017 telephone directory”.

“We unreservedly apologise for this,” the company said. “We wish to assure our customers that we value their privacy and are taking all the necessary steps to address this as quickly as possible and prevent a recurrence.”

Ian Neita, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Directories Limited, the publishers of the directory, declined to speak to the newspaper and directed all queries to FLOW. (Caribbean360)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, December 21, 2016

Selling

USD

$1134.40

GBP

$256.10

$259.36

Gross

$219,217

CAN

$153.98

$155.76

$205.98

$208.44

Net

$203,872

USD

$ 214.24

$217.00

EURO

Indicators as on December 21, 2016 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$46.04

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$206.58/ton

London Sugar

$492.60/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

+0.78 Change %

-0.90 0.00 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1131.20

$1132.20

Low/High

$1129.40

$1137.70

Change

-0.10

-0.01%

Business Concept – Margin 1. Banking: (1) Difference between the market value of a collateral and amount of the loan advanced against it. Also called haircut. (2) Percentage added to a market rate of interest, or subtracted from a market rate of deposit, to provide a return to the bank.

2. Commerce: Difference between the cost price and selling price of a product.

3. Commodity trading: Difference between the spot price and forward price quoted for a commodity. (Business Dictionary)

then on sought other big jobs.

“My aim was pageants and weddings. Now I get most of my orders from overseas; when people come home, they always come to me to make dresses, “she said.

In March 2013, Beckles renamed her company which was called Fabric Designs, Stacyan’s Fashions. She says anybody can create a successful business if they have the willpower. Contact: 6615204

Nokia sues Apple for infringing patents, industry back on war footing

N

in a statement.

Apple on Tuesday had taken legal action against Acacia Research Corp and Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc, accusing them of colluding with Nokia to extract and extort exorbitant revenues unfairly from Apple.

Apple, Acacia and Conversant did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Nokia was not immediately available to comment on the Apple lawsuit.

The legal action by Nokia

and Apple appear to mark a revival of the “smartphone patent wars” that began five years ago, when Apple filed a series of patent infringement cases against Samsung Electronics around the world, with wins and losses on both sides.

Apple’s lawsuit against Acacia, Conversant and Nokia was filed only one day after Ottawa-based Conversant named Boris Teksler as its new chief executive. He had worked as Apple’s director of patent licensing and strategy from 2009 to 2013. (Reuters)

Investors’ Guide

Wall Street loses ground after Trump rally

U

S stocks fell on Wednesday, with healthcare and real estate shares losing ground a day after the Nasdaq Composite and the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit record highs.

The Dow briefly rose to within 15 points of 20,000, a level it has never reached, but relinquished that gain and spent most of the session at a loss.

US stocks have rallied since the November 8 election, with the Dow up nine per cent and the S&P 500 gaining six per cent on bets that Presidentelect Donald Trump’s plans for deregulation and infrastructure spending will boost the economy.

Some investors worry that the so-called Trump rally has made stocks expensive and are concerned that legislators may resist strong tax cuts and other policies that could widen the federal deficit. The S&P 500 is trading at about 17 times expected 12-month

earnings, well above the 10-year average of 14, according to Thomson Reuters Datastream.

“People are taking a pause and they want to see what’s going to happen,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Cornerstone Financial Partners. “In his first 100 days in office, it will be interesting to see what legislation they can get through Congress and what regulations they will repeal.”

Providing the market with a degree of support this week, expectations of lower capital gains tax rates under Trump gave investors an incentive to not sell stocks until January, according to Zaccarelli as well as to Randy Frederick, Vice President of trading & derivatives at Charles Schwab.

“If you can hold back on capital gains for two weeks, why not?” Frederick said.

“There’s just no incentive

to sell right now.”

So far in 2016, the S&P 500 has risen 11 per cent, topping the eight per cent gain for the year that strategists predicted on average in a Reuters poll 12 months ago.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.16 per cent on Wednesday to end at 19,941.96 points and the S&P 500 lost 0.25 per cent to 2265.18. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.23 per cent to 5471.43.

The healthcare sector dipped 0.60 per cent and the real estate sector lost 1.32 per cent.

Accenture shares fell five per cent after the consulting and outsourcing software services provider’s revenue forecast missed estimates.

The stock was the biggest drag on the S&P 500.

Twitter fell 4.69 per cent after its Chief Technology Officer said he would leave the social networking company. (Reuters)

17

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

$250B National Budget for 2017 passed A

fter more than two weeks of gruelling debates and examination of estimates, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) proposed $250 billion 2017 National Budget was passed in the National Assembly.

This comes even as the Private Sector Commission

calls by the Opposition, both Finance Minister Winston Jordan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo disregarded continuous calls by major stakeholders for an urgent meeting on Budget 2017.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira had described the development as “phenomenally important” and

Finance Minister Winston Jordan presenting Budget 2017 to the House

(PSC) joined forces with two chief labour movements – the Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) – in calling for an imperative multistakeholder forum on some of the worrying contents in Budget 2017.

However, despite similar

lambasted the Government for ignoring the public’s concerns.

Meanwhile, the examination of the 2017 Estimates and Expenditures for the various Ministries concluded, where the sum of $24.940 billion was considered and approved by the Committee of Supply for the Finance

Ministry.

Over the past two weeks, all Government agencies’ budgets were examined by the Opposition Members of Parliament, who questioned each Minister intensely on how the monies will be spent.

Key sectors include education, which was allocated $43.1 billion or 17 per cent of the National Budget; agriculture with an allocation of $20.6 billion; and public health with an allocation of $31.2 billion.

Coming under scrutiny from the Opposition were the allocations for Office of the Prime Minister – $882 million; Parliament – $1.5 billion; Office of the Auditor General – $755 million; the Guyana Elections Commission – $2.030 billion; Ministry of the Presidency – $6.004 billion; Social Cohesion Ministry – $90.1 million; Business Ministry – $1.7 billion; Communities Ministry – $5.9 billion (regional allocations not included); Finance Ministry – $24.9 billion; Foreign Affairs Ministry– $5.164 billion; Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry – $2.463 billion; Natural Resources Ministry – $798 million; Public Infrastructure Ministry – $34.6 bil-

lion, Social Protection Ministry – $16.6 billion; and Telecommunications Ministry – $2.3 billion.

The reading of the Appropriation Bill 2016, Bill Number 24 of 2016, by the Clerk of the National Assembly was facilitated three times so as to have all Budget Estimates approved and passed as printed by the Parliament Committee of Supply.

Throughout the Budget debates, the Opposition maintained that the measures highlighted in Budget 2017 will create hardships for Guyanese, pointing to the reduction on Value Added Tax (VAT) and then the swift announcement on the extension of VAT payments on water and electricity bills.

Leader of the Opposition Bharrat Jagdeo had remarked that the Budget will kill the Private Sector and unleash untold hardships on the nation, describing it as the “worst budget” in the history of budgets.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, before the National Assembly was adjourned, Leader of Government business, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Member of Parliament Juan Edghill along with

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo shakes the hand of Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland at the conclusion of the Budget debates

the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland all culminated the session by wishing each other, the media and the Guyanese public best wishes for the season.

Opposition MP Edghill said, “On behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, and all of our MPs of this side of the House, the PPP/C and all of our supporters countrywide to extend to you, Sir (Speaker), the staff of the Parliament Office, and to our colleagues on the other side of the House, the me-

dia and by extension all of Guyana ‘Merry Christmas’.”

The Speaker in closing the session said, “Christmas is a time for giving and loving, a time for togetherness and not separation. It is a time for appreciating what we have, giving thanks for it, and be willing to share it with others, that’s my humble appreciation of Christmas and so I wish that for all of us.”

The National Assembly is expected to have its next sitting on January 5, 2017.

GPF awards $18M in prizes to Agreements renewed outstanding ranks for concessions to miners D etective Corporal Prem Narine from the Criminal Investigations Department’s Major Crime Unit who was named overall Best Cop received $250,000 prize money, at the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Award Ceremony held on Wednesday at the Tactical Drill Square, Eve Leary.

The Police issued $18 million worth in cash, trophies, certificates and plaques to its best performers for the year 2016.

This end of year award ceremony saw ranks from the various policing divisions across the country receiving some $18 million in cash and prizes for their bravery and outstanding performances in carrying out their duties.

While there are several other incentive schemes in the Force, this particular award ceremony is especially anticipated by many Police Officers, since it is held just before the Christmas holidays.

As usual, ranks from all seven Police Divisions were awarded in the areas of crime fighting, anti-narcotics exercises, traffic control and services to the communities. However, two ranks outshone their colleagues at this year’s award ceremony.

With 14 years of service under his belt, Narine was awarded for his commit-

ment and contributions in the area of criminal investigations. He has solved a number of serious crimes, including 19 cases of murder, two cases of accessory to murder, seven cases of armed robberies, three cases of simple larceny, four cases of human trafficking, two cases of illegal firearm and ammunition possession, and one case of corrupt transaction by agent.

Narine was presented with a plaque and $250,000

by Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud. He was also awarded with a round trip to New York for him and his family as well as a trip to Arrow Point Nature Resort from the Roraima Group of Companies along with a dinner for two at Duke Lodge and a trophy.

In addition to Best Cop, he was also named the CID Best Cop for which he was rewarded with a plaque and $150,000. In brief remarks, Narine noted team work and support from family as the factors that fuelled his achievement of the awards.

“These awards are not only for the achievement we’ve made in terms of our work, but it’s also a symbol of the amount of work our families, our wives, our children would have put in to support us to come and do this work the way we did… For me, the awards I receive didn’t come with me working independently,

FROM PAGE 15

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud and Assistant Commissioners David Ramnarine and Brian Joseph, along with some of the top performing ranks who were awarded, including Best Cop Prem Narine (blue shirt) and Runner-up Best Cop Herbert Henry (grey shirt)

it was always teamwork,” he posited.

Narine went on to point out that under the leadership of Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum at CID Headquarters and Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, there has been a difference in the management of the Guyana Police Force, which he added is the reason behind its successes.

Meanwhile, the Runner-up Best Cop was CID Detective, Sergeant Herbert Henry of the Brickdam Police Station, who received a plaque along with $200,000 cash.

He was also named the Best Cop for A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) and was awarded with a plaque and $150,000. Sergeant Henry was also given a trip for two to Arrowpoint Nature Resort on behalf of the Roraima Group.

Among the other awardees on Wednesday were Divisional Best Cops, the Forces’ outstanding athletes and sport personalities, as well as those rankswho did excellent work throughout the country in solving cases and making arrests in high-profile matters. They were all rewarded with monetary prizes.

Moreover, several senior officers within the Police Force including A Division Commander, ACP Clifton Hicken, Force Training Officer ACP Paul Williams and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum were recognised for their “Outstanding Service” in the Force.

In addition, Community Police Groups and Rural Constables in each policing Division were acknowledged for their assistance to the Police Force.

Recognition was also paid to members of the Force’s Cops and Faith Network.

is not being declared.

These two agreements will not be signed and implemented, simply because you are a miner you shall be entitled; with the entitlement comes some responsibilities, and one such responsibility is good stewardship of what you have been given,” Minister Trotman explained.

The Minister further said that the country is transitioning into a green economy, so unsafe mining, unhealthy and bad environmental practices will not be condoned.

Additionally, Minister Trotman said that the Government will not overlook miners who demand from the Government and do not give back (taxes).

“Roads have to be built, security has to be provided, airstrips have to be maintained and these require costs that Government bear,” Minister Trotman noted.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan in brief remarks said that the agreements will be valid for one year. He said that the gold industry is supporting the economy at the moment and that the Government of Guyana will continue to assist it in any way it can.

Minister Jordan further stated at the Government will never be interested in “killing any industry.”

“Taxes are very impor-

tant to a country; we all use the roads, whether you are a miner, farmer or public servant, we all uses the roads. We use the lights, we use electricity. If we don’t want to pay our taxes, then a small section of society will forever be burdened with the taxes, and this is not something that the Government will countenance, and this is something that the Government will not shy away from, ensuring that everybody pays their fair share of taxes,” Jordan said.

President of the GGDMA, Terrence Adams highlighted that there is a lot of work to be done in executing the contracts, Adams said that the Association will be working along with the Ministries in the coming year to ensure that relevant persons pay their taxes.

The GGDMA’s President said that he is hoping that a meeting can be held before year end or early next year, so that a consensus can be reached to ensure that the small and medium-scale miners pay taxes.

Other officials present at the renewal of the contracts were representatives from the Guyana Energy Agency, and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

ARCHIE

Make romance and your health and children priori(March 21- ties. Your actions will be what April 19) count when it comes to your personal life. Don’t take on responsibilities that don’t belong to you.

ARIES

Don’t feel the need to take TAURUS on too much responsibility (April 20- over the holiday season. You May 20) owe it to your family to spend some downtime with them.

Set your priorities straight.

DILBERT

Tie up unfinished busiGEMINI ness.

Stay focused on build(May 21June 20) ing strong relationships with the people who can influence your future. Make romance a priority. A commitment or an offer looks promising.

Socialising with friends is encouraged, as long as you (June 21- aren’t indulgent. A discussion July 22) with a personal or professional partner will turn sour.

CANCER

PEANUTS

Express your feelings and do something special. Make travel plans or engage in something unique that will enlighten you and bring you closer to making an important decision.

Take care of any year-end VIRGO tasks that an older relative is (Aug. 23- having trouble doing. It will Sept. 22) end up being fulfilling for you, and the thanks you receive will be worth your while.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Keep your life simple and LIBRA refuse to overspend just to ap(Sept. 23pease someone. You cannot Oct. 23) buy love or forgiveness. Truth, affection and genuine concern will be what win someone over to your side.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Offering your time to help SCORPIO a cause you believe in is fine, (Oct. 24but don’t feel you have to pay Nov. 22) for others’ problems or mistakes. Charity begins at home.

Make changes at home SAGITTARIUS that will add to the year-end (Nov. 23- festivities. Aim to bring joy to Dec. 21) the people you love through gestures of kindness and small offers of gratitude.

YESTERDAY'S

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Moderation will be imporCAPRICORN tant.

Whether shopping, so(Dec. 22cialising or engaging in roJan. 19) bust conversation, keep in mind that life is simple until one opts to make it complex.

A personal or physical AQUARIUS change will turn out better (Jan. 20than anticipated. Make prepFeb. 19) arations that will help you head in the best direction possible. Express your feelings with affection.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES You can mix business with (Feb. 20- pleasure in order to form betMarch 20) ter alliances with your peers.

Engaging in open discussion and familiarising yourself with what others like or expect will help you advance.

guyanatimesgy.com

M

19

Pollard fails with bat, shines with ball in Strikers slim loss

arshalled expertly by Brendon M c C u l l u m , Brisbane Heat held their nerve to storm Adelaide Oval and deny the Strikers in a high-scoring Big Bash League shootout in front

road to a tally of more than 200 on a pristine batting surface, before the visitors persevered through a blistering opening stand by Ben Dunk and Jake Weatherald to constrict the Strikers middle order and walk off

Kieron Pollard

of a hefty pre-Christmas crowd.

McCullum and Jimmy Peirson set the Heat on the

the victors.

The Heat showcased a useful recruit of their own when the former Striker

Red Force paying for preparations – Davis F

thurSday, DECember 22, 2016

ormer West Indies batsman, Bryan Davis, has slammed the preparation of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, after the national franchise lost their third game in four outings in the Regional Four-Day Championship on Monday.

The 76-year-old, who played four Tests in 1965 against Australia, said the trial games which had been used in the lead up to last month’s start of the tournament had been inadequate in getting the side ready for the longer format.

“I don’t think the team for the last three years has

been a well prep a r e d t e a m , ” Davis told the NewsDay here.

“I don’t like t h e

whole preparation aspect, the trial matches how it is played, it is too lackadaisical, it does not seem to be following any definite order.

“When you reach this level of cricket, this level of cricket is one step away

Alex Ross tailed off the Heat’s innings with a series of telling blows, but it was Dunk’s pyrotechnics at the start of the Strikers innings that stuck in the memory. Though he was dropped twice, Dunk also produced a series of exceptionally clean blows, the best of which was an inside out cover-driven six off Samuel Badree that comfortably cleared a teal wall of fielders on the off side.

Dunk was able to pull along the promising lefthander Weatherald in his slipstream, and the pair now look likely to be one of the more dangerous opening combinations in the tournament. Dunk’s own hitting was to be placed in perspective by the struggles of the batsmen that followed him, quickly turning a gettable equation into a favourable one for the Heat.

Badree is of course one of the world’s leading T20 exponents, and he did not let 15 runs from his first seven balls fluster him. Only two more singles could be taken from the remainder of that second over, and when returning in the 10th over, Weatherald and Dunk still flying, Badree was able to tie up the younger batsman with a trio of dot balls that were the first sign of any momentum being lost. from Test cricket. I think it is preparation. We are not properly prepared for fourday matches.”

Red Force started the tournament strongly when they defeated Windward Islands Volcanoes by nine wickets at Queen’s Park Oval here.

Their form declined drastically since then, however. They slumped to a 292-run loss to Barbados Pride at the Oval, drew with Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the third round before suffering back-to-back defeats to Jamaica Scorpions and reigning champions Guyana Jaguars.

In their most recent defeat at the National Stadium in Georgetown on Monday, Davis said he had witnessed a side lacking in motivation.

“They have talented players there but I looked at some of the cricket [during the last game] through the computer and men walking around with their shoulders

Samuel Badree

Recalled to the attack to twirl the ball down at the new batsman Travis Head after Weatherald was finally dismissed, Badree produced the rarest of T20 gems - a maiden. In his recent ODI appearances for Australia, Head was a batsman of almost perpetual motion, but he was unable either to muscle or finesse Badree. The Strikers’ required run-rate leapt up by more than a run in the space of that over, and from there McCullum was able to use his other bowlers to keep that rate climbing.

Another area in which Badree’s influence could

be seen was in how the other legspinner Mitchell Swepson responded to his own difficult start. At a time when the Strikers needed boundaries, he conceded only four singles and a two, while also dismissing Head with a hard-spun delivery that the batsman could only top edge to, you guessed it, Badree running around from short third man.

The Adelaide Oval’s crowds have been the most consistently bounteous of the BBL since the ground was redeveloped, and those on the short square boundaries have gotten quite used to trying to catch the many

sixes hit in their direction.

The first six of the night, a typically rasping cut over point by McCullum, was expertly caught by one man in the members, who promptly threw it back up in celebration.

Later, Jake Weatherald hammered a pull shot to straight midwicket where another catch was neatly held. But the most notable effort was the most nonchalant of takes behind square leg by a security guard posted on the fence. Joe Burns’ hook shot arrowed towards him, and he held it without even getting up from his seat. Three sixes caught from among a crowd of 38,011 was an impressive effort.

Brisbane’s signing of McCullum as far back as BBL01 had to be done with one eye on the time they would be able to utilise him full-time, and his international retirement last season means he will now be available for the entirety of this competition. Not only did the Heat benefit from his lead-off hitting before the Adelaide sun went down, but his composure and confidence in the field radiated in a way that helped the Heat’s players keep their heads while the Strikers gave up a handsome position in the chase.

Some members of The Trinidad and Tobago Red Force team at the Queen’s Park Oval. Captain Yannick Ottley is in the middle with folded arms

down and they don’t look like if they happy,” said the Trinidadian, who played 112 first class games including two seasons for Welsh county Glamorgan.

“They are playing the game but they look like a losing bunch of players. So somehow they are not motivated, and a team is only motivated when they feel they’re good.”

Davis believes Red Force’s fortunes may bene-

fit from a change in the captaincy. Currently, Yannick Ottley has charge of the squad but Davis argued the responsibility was too much for the 25-year-old.

“I think it is very unfair to put Yannick Ottley as captain of the team because I don’t think he has that experience and I don’t think he has that knowledge,” Davis said.

“He might develop it and I hope he does, but certainly

he is far too green a cricketer to put into that situation.

I think it is tough on him, I am not blaming him, but all this comes back to selectors.

Red Force lie bottom of the six-team standings at the half way stage as the teams enjoy the Christmas break before donning the coloured uniforms in the Regional Super 50 from January 24 to February 18. (windiescricket.com)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

THURSday, DECember 22, 2016

Du Plessis loses appeal against ball-tampering verdict F

af du Plessis’ appeal against his ICC conviction of ball-tampering has been rejected by judicial commissioner Michael Beloff.

The newly confirmed South African Test captain remained guilty of breaching Law 42.3 and the sanction initially imposed on him by match referee Andy Pycroft - 100% of his match fee from the Hobart Test and three demerit points - stood. Du Plessis escaped the more serious sanction of a match ban.

Du Plessis was originally found guilty of altering the condition of the ball on November 22, during South Africa’s tour of Australia, after video footage revealed he used his saliva to shine it while also sucking on a mint.

He announced his intention to appeal immediately.

The hearing was held on Monday in Dubai, with du Plessis participating via video link. It lasted twoand-a-half hours and Beloff, chair of the ICC’s Code of Conduct commission, reserved judgement until Wednesday afternoon.In a 14-page judgement, which outlined the arguments made by du Plessis’s legal counsel and the ICC, Beloff found that du Plessis had “applied the substance to the match ball and did so intentionally” and he “endorsed” the guilty verdict. Beloff found no need to alter the sanction. He took into consideration du Plessis’ 14 years of experience as a first-class cricketer, that he was a role model and that he had already suffered damage to his reputation when considering whether to amend the punishment. Beloff did not buy the argument that there was uncertainty over the balltampering law itself. CSA had asked the ICC to clarify the

Faf Du Plessis

words “artificial substance” and several South African players pointed out that they take the field with various things - from energy drinks to biltong - in their mouths and would therefore be applying residue from that to the ball throughout the match.

Although Beloff acknowledged that the law itself does not define the word artificial, he cited a dictionary definition of it, which du Plessis accepted.

“As to what is an artificial substance, neither Code, Law nor Guidance define it.

The adjective ‘artificial’ is ordinarily used as the opposite of natural. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as ‘made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally’ which the Appellant was prepared to accept. There is nothing in the regulatory context to require, in my view, any alternative or different definition.” Beloff concluded du Plessis had applied an artificial substance to the ball because his saliva had come into contact with a mint. “The saliva/mint or the combination thereof was an ‘artificial substance’ (although the saliva per se is not). If the drinking of gin is prohibited it is not a

defence to say that it was mixed with tonic.” Beloff also did not distinguish between ballshining and ball-tampering, as du Plessis had suggested, and ruled any artificial substance applied to the ball changed its condition. Since du Plessis did so “intentionally”, he was found guilty.

“The consequence of his [du Plessis’s] action was to alter the condition of the ball (or was likely to do) in the relevant sense, that is to say, it altered the status quo ante of the match ball (i.e. its condition prior to the polishing). Whether that can be described as maintenance (i.e. restoring the ball to its pristine condition) or enhancement, (i.e. improving its condition from what it was prior to shining), matters not,” Beloff wrote.

The ICC welcomed the decision after CEO David Richardson earlier expressed his “disappointment” that du Plessis had decided to appeal.

Richardson laid the initial charge against du Plessis when video evidence emerged after the window for the umpires to report any wrongdoing had passed.

“It is the duty of the ICC to ensure fair play on the cricket field,” Richardson said.

“Although it was not picked up by the umpires at the time, when the incident came to our attention subsequently, we felt it was our responsibility to lay a charge in this case because the ICC can’t let such an obvious breach of this Law pass without taking any action. We are pleased that both the Match Referee and Mr Beloff QC have agreed with our interpretation of the Laws and hope that this serves as a deterrent to all players not to engage in this sort of unfair practice in the future.”

Richardson was open to a discussion on whether more guidelines were necessary to define ball-tampering but stressed the law was clear in its current form. “It goes without saying that we will be reviewing the outcome to determine if any additional guidelines are needed to provide further clarity to the players and umpires around this type of offence. However we are satisfied that the Law is clear and is implemented consistently.”

The outcome has left Du Plessis one demerit point away from missing a match. Any Level 2 offence - ranging from dissent to public criticism of a match-related incident - could lead to him facing suspension.

Despite CSA’s vocal backing of du Plessis, they accepted Beloff’s ruling even as they continued to call for a review of the laws.

“We are satisfied with the matter being given due consideration by a person independent of the ICC. Both CSA and Faf believed that this appeal was imperative considering the important principles at stake. In our view, the fact that Mr Beloff deliberated for some time after hearing complex legal arguments from both sides demonstrates that this matter does indeed require further consideration and clarification from the ICC and the MCC,” Haroon Lorgat, CSA chief executive said.

“Notwithstanding the outcome of the appeal and Mr Beloff’s helpful rulings on the matter, we hope that further reviews of the Code of Conduct and the laws of the game takes place as players will no doubt continue to seek clarification as to what is or is not permissible in the light of this case.”

(ESPNcricinfo)

Gayle, Bravo lead 9 Windies players into next season’s IPL

― Holder, Taylor overlooked

C

hris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo are the biggest names among nine West Indies stars, who will be part of next season’s cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

Gayle and Bravo, will be joined by T20 World Cup hero Carlos Brathwaite, Samuel Badree, Dwayne Smith, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, and Kieron Pollard.

Gayle and Badree will turn out for beaten finalists, Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Bravo and Smith have retained their positions with the Gujarat Lions. Brathwaite is all by his lonesome with the Deli Daredevils, while the Kolkata Knight Riders will

boast Russell and Narine.

The Kinght Riders, though keeping two West Indies players, also offloaded Jason Holder.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians will be using the duo of Simmons and Pollard in the hopes that lightening strikes twice.

The Indians have dropped fast bowler Jerome Taylor.

(Sportsmax)

Dwayne Bravo gets a look in with the Lions while Knight Riders let go of Jason Holder

Cricket Australia bans Russell’s black bat

Andre Russell scored 9 off 7 balls with a black bat in the Big Bash League opener

C

ricket Australia has banned Andre Russell’s black bat from the Big Bash League, having previously approved its use during the Sydney Thunder’s first match of the tournament.

Russell used the black bat on Tuesday as the Thunder lost to the Sydney Sixers. Cricket Australia said at the time that players could use a coloured bat subject to CA approval - provided it was either

ouration of the match ball, they will be permitted to do so subject to Cricket Australia being satisfied that the bat won’t compromise the integrity of the game, which we believe discolouring the match ball does.”

Chris Gayle had used a gold coloured bat in last year’s BBL, produced by the same bat manufacturers, Spartan.

A MCC spokesman confirmed that the rele-

Ashar Zaidi’s version of the black bat was also outlawed by the ECB

black or the same colour as the team’s uniform and that Russell’s bat had been approved ahead of the BBL. However, CA has now withdrawn its approval after discovering that the bat left visible marks on the ball.

“The match officials provided feedback to Cricket Australia that the bat used by Andre left black marks on the match ball,” Anthony Everard, the head of the BBL, said.

“As a result, we have decided to withdraw our approval for Andre to use the bat that was used last night as the colour solution used by the manufacturer was discolouring the ball.

“Should Andre, or any other BBL or WBBL player for that matter, wish to use a bat with a different colouring solution to the one used last night that doesn’t result in the discol-

vant Law is 6.6(d) which states: “The surface of the blade may be treated with non-solid materials to improve resistance to moisture penetration and/or mask natural blemishes in the appearance of the wood. Save for the purpose of giving a homogeneous appearance by masking natural blemishes, such treatment must not materially alter the colour of the blade.”

Cricket Australia are empowered to introduce playing regulations to overwrite this, although they seem merely to have given approval in an individual circumstance, now withdrawn. The ECB banned Ashar Zaidi from using a bat adorned in rudimentary fashion with spray paint in the NatWest Blast last season because it flouted their own regulations which disallow colouring below the top nine inches of the blade.

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Metro Office and Computer Supplies Chief Executive Officer Avia Lindie (fifth from right) hands over the sponsorship cheque to President of KMTC, Retired Justice Cecil Kennard sixth from right

T

he "rich legacy" continues when President of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC), Cecil Kennard received a hefty sponsorship from Metro Office and Computer Supplies Chief Executive Officer, Avia Lindie, in the entity’s boardroom at Quamina Street, Georgetown.

A sum of $1.2 million was handed to Kennard by Lindie to mark the 11th year of sponsorship from Metro for the KMTC Boxing Day Horse Race Meet. A rise

in sponsorship by $100,000 from 2015.

The prize money will go to the winner of the B and Lower W/ A winner, who will run the track for a distance of nine furlongs or 1 1/8 miles.

According to Lindie, the sponsorship is just the continuation of the rich legacy between the two entities, Metro and KMTC, which dates back to almost four decades. That legacy has evolved over the years thus Metro sees the need to continue with its support for

the sport of horse racing at the KMTC. Kennard praised the company for its contribution as he lamented about his relationship with Metro which he says dates back to decades ago. He also dubbed the Boxing Day event as the ultimate thriller on KMTC sport calendar.

KMTC Boxing Day Meet is in its 44th year and this year is expected to be a very competitive and exciting event featuring eight races.

WICB/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day League

Scorpions lead at halfway stage ― Hamilton, Miller ahead on players’ aggregate

A

t the halfway stage of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)/ Professional Cricket League (PCL) Digicel Regional FourDay Tournament 2016-17 it is Jamaica Scorpions who sits atop of the point standings.

The leaders are currently on 67.6 points from five matches with three wins, a loss and a draw. Their campaign was not off to the best start with a heavy defeat to Guyana by 181 runs at Guyana National Stadium. However, they recovered to win their second game against Windward Volcanoes by 41 runs, drew with Barbados Pride in the third round and won against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by 132 runs in the fourth round and defeated Leeward Hurricanes by an innings and 73 runs in the final match before the break.

Scorpions are three points ahead of second placed Jaguars, who sits on 64.6 points with two wins, one loss and a draw. Pride is a in a distant third on 47.2 points followed by Volcanoes (41.6), Hurricanes (39.4) and Red Force is in the cellar position on 35.6. The top two teams, Scorpions and Jaguars will highlight the sixth round clash when the season re-

Jahmar Hamilton

Nikita Miller

sumes on March 10-13. They will meet at Sabina Park in Jamaica while in the other two matches Volcanoes will take on Red Force at National Cricket Stadium, Grenada and on March 11 to 14 Pride host Hurricanes at Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Meanwhile wicket keeper batsman Jahmar Hamilton of the Hurricanes and left arm spinner Nikita Miller of the Scorpions lead the players’ aggregates at the midway stage. In the batting department Hamilton has so far amassed 485 from five matches and are one of five batsmen that have more than 400 runs from the same amount of games so far this season. He has registered two centuries and as many half centuries to set him on track with the bat.

Trailing him are Anthony

Alleyne (Pride) 451 runs, veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Jaguars) 447 runs, Kyle Hope (Red Force) 410 and John Campbell (Scopions) 408 in that order to round off the top five.

Miller has mesmerized batsmen to date to become the first bowler this season to capture 30 scalps. He currently sits with 30 victims to his name and atop the bowling list. Behind him are Veerasammy Permaul (Jaguars) 27, Rahkeem Cornwall (Hurricanes), Damion Jacobs (Scorpions) 24 and Imran Khan (21).

The top five bowlers are all spinners. The top three leading fast bowlers are Keon Joseph and Raymond Reifer from the Jaguars with 16 wickets apiece while Mervin Matthews of the Volcanoes have snared 13.

FRANCHISES

PTS

M

W

L T

I

A

DP MR

BAT BOWL PB

1. Jamaica Scorpions

67.6

5

3

1 0

1

0

0

0

10

15

3.6

2. Guyana Jaguars

64.6

5

2

1 0

2

0

0

0

12

15

7.6

3. Barbados Pride

47.2

5

1

0 0

4

0

0

0

7

10

6.2

4. Windwards Volcanoes

41.6

5

1

2 0

2

0

0

0

3

14

6.6

5. Leewards Hurricanes

39.4

5

1

2 0

2

0

0

0

5

12

4.4

6. T&T Red Force

35.6

5

1

3 0

1

0

0

0

4

12

4.6

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursday, december 22, 2016

HERO Caribbean Premier League 2017

Smith returns home to Tridents from Amazon Warriors

T

he Barbados Tridents have announced the transfer of prolific Barbadian opening batsman Dwayne Smith from the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

In his one season with Guyana, Smith was the third highest scorer with 279 runs (best of 62) and helped the Warriors reach the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final where they lost to Jamaica Tallawahs.

With the ball, Smith picked up just one wicket in the 12 matches played.

Smith returns home to the Tridents, where he was a member in the first three editions of the Hero CPL and was instrumental in the Tridents winning the 2014 championship and making the finals in 2015.

In 2014 Smith had his best season in the Hero C P L , amass-

Dwayne Smith will add more depth to the already imposing Tridents batting

ing 353 runs at an average 44.12, highlighted by two memorable centuries at Kensington Oval, against St. Lucia Zouks (110*) and the Amazon Warriors (104*).

Commenting on his return Smith said, “It’s great to be back with the Tridents.

I’m sure the fans will be also. Let’s hope the runs are plenty like 2014.”

In 29 matches as a member of the Tridents, Smith has scored 782 runs at an average of 30.07.

“It is great to have Dwayne back with us,” said

Tridents Captain Kieron Pollard.

Smith’s return will not only boost the already stacked Tridents batting line up which includes Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik, rising star Nicholas Pooran and Pollard but his presence is expected to bring fans back to Kensington Oval.

Pollard said, “Dwayne has been instrumental in our best performances and he will be crucial in our plans to win the championship in 2017.” (CPLT20.com)

Johnson soars in American TT tournament

O

ne of Guyana’s Table Tennis prodigies Elishaba Johnson continues to impress and this time in the United States of America, as he won won the under 2000 division of the annual Westchester Open invitational.

In the final Johnson came from behind after trailing by two sets to defeat Anthony Capasso 5-11, 5-11, 13-11, 11-6, and 11-5.

In the semi-finals Capasso defeated Sho Miyazaki while Johnson defeated John McDermott.

Elishaba Johnson

In the quarter-finals Capasso defeated Lynda

Annor; Sho Miyazaki defeated Gabriel Angers; Johnson defeated Xin Li; John McDermott defeated Raymond Yen. Meanwhile, at the CCCRF tournament Johnson reached the semifinals of the 2200 division before losing to Benjamin Zhang 7-11, 9-11, 7-11.

Zhang lost in the final to Len Yang 3-0.

Guyanese Rondell Jordan lost to Len Yang 1-3 winning the first game 12-10 before losing the next three at 5-11, 11-13 and 6-11.

Yusuf stars for Fishermen XI in win over Better Hope U niss Yusuf had a good catch for Fisherman’s XI against Better Hope on Sunday when the Better Hope Community SC centre hosted a feature T20 softball fixture.

Yusuf struck a scintillating 109 as Fisherman’s XI totaled 209-4, batting first after the game was reduced to 15 overs due to rain. Openers Ramo Malone and Kennard Luke set the tone with 47 for the first wicket before Malone was caught behind off Satro Seeraj for 12. Luke then shared in a second wicket stand of 38 with Yusuf.

Following Luke’s demise for 47; Yusuf proceeded to

Uniss Yusuf

dominate the opposition attack as he blasted five fours and nine sixes before being caught off the last ball of the innings. Seeraj finished with 1-23.

Better Hope innings was shattered early as they lost three quick wickets, but Manoj Arjune and Seeraj steadied the innings in a fourth-wicket stand of 65.

Arjune struck four fours in a top score of 47 while Seeraj hit two boundaries before he fell for 27.

Subsequent to their departure, Better Hope slumped further and were bowled out for 141 in 11.3 overs. Extras contributed 21.

Troy Ramsaywak picked up a hat trick to finish with 3-0 while Yusuf returned with the ball to snare 2-10 and the Man-of-the-Match prize.

Stag Nations Cup KO Football

4 teams rush for 2 spots at Grove Playfield tonight T

he final day of roundof-16 action in the Stag Nations Cup knock-out football championship is set for the Grove Playfield today with what is anticipated to be a fierce double header kicking off from 18:00h.

Home team Grove Hi Tech, winners of the threeassociation format of the what was the Stag Super 16 in 2014/15 and 2015/16 will be matching skills with Berbice top club New Amsterdam United for the final quarter final spot that would be up for grabs.

This feature clash will no doubt be keen as both teams will want to be in the reckoning for the top prize of 2 Million dollars and they are also the only teams left standing form their association’s quota of three and four teams, respectively.

Already walking the plank for the East Bank FA are Kuru Kururu Warriors and Herstelling Raiders while for Berbice FA, Mahaicony Thunders, Cougars and Rosignol United were booted which makes this match a must win for either side and a must see for the fans.

What the sides also share in common is that they are both the #1 clubs in their respective associations.

Nicholai Matthews

on the services of Captain Adrian Adams, Leonardo Adams, Jason Drakes, Quinn Hazel, Rei Joseph, Delroy Dean, Jamal Butts, Jeremy Samuels, Dexter Allen, Julian Success, Garfield Millington, Shkeel Grant, Ron Lyken, Omari Bentham, Jovano Dos Santos, Keon Williams, Dwayne Alleyne, Graham Thomas, Joshua Wilson, Ray Reddock, Sion Bacchus and Steffon Boucher to bring another win their way as well as a quarter final berth.

Grove Hi Tech is hoping to, apart from home advantage, bank on the experience and collective

on-field skills of Teshawn Blackman, Dexter Archer, Seon Thompson, Orson Francois, Sherman Doris, Trevor Jones, Clive Matthews, Kevin Padmore, Akel Forde, Delroy Dodson, Moses Fraser, Shane Singh, Antony Stanton, Nicholai Matthews, Denzil Crawford, Joel Dick, Mervin Squires, Devon Joseph, Akeem James, Alwyn Haynes, Jermaine Benjamin and Ronaldo Romelho to take them one step closer to the top prize and a possible third title.

Tonight’s curtain raiser will be intriguing as well with East Demerara’s Ann’s

Denzil Crawford

NA United won an intense Grove locking horns with and nerve racking playoff the West Side’s Den Amstel. match 4-3 on sudden death Like Grove Hi Tech, this will kicks from the be Ann’s Grove’s penalty mark first match of the against Golden championship Stars to get and they will be into the roundhopeful of stepof-16. ping over this Their coach first hurdle as revealed that they have done it was the first successfully in real competithe past two tourtive match for naments. the year for the Winning this club and it is match will be imleft to be seen portant to the how they will East Coast unit stand up to the as they have succhallenge of cumbed in the taking on the past two finals pride of the to Grove Hi Tech East Bank.

New Amsterdam United’s advance largely depends on their top five players; from left, and would want They will Leonardo Adams, Graham Thomas, Jovano Dos Santos, Steffon Boucher and Shkeel to set that right again bank Grant this time around

but would first have to get past a tough Den Amstel which won their playoff match against Kuru Kururu Warriors, 4-2.

Gavin Graham and Kevaughn Ward who netted a double each for Den Amstel in their win over KK Warriors would be aiming to transfer that form into tomorrow’s match to produce another win for their team.

They will have support from Maurice Charles, Kerwin Ward, Clevon Pryce, Travis Hilliman, Akimbo Henry, Joseph Payne, Wycliff Simon, Derron Wilson, Alista Lynch, Keon Marcus, Ryan Hunte, Prince Payne, Kevin Murray, Colin Benn, Jamal Perreira, Kerry Harvey, Welton Jordon and Anton Jackman.

Ann’s Grove will be featuring, Ryan Seales, Quincy Barry, Quincy Johnson, Antonia Jackson, Anil Hernandez, Steve Francis, Daniel Francis, Kevon Barry, Daniel Pellew, Andri Francis, Phillip Williams, Levon Adams, Jermaine Clarke, Mervin Hardy, Gerald Sobers, Odel Gulliver, Travis Allen, Maxton Adams, Navado Denny, Oswald Duke, Nickose Denny and Jamain Rogers as they go after win number one, this year.

guyanatimesgy.com

thurSday, december 22, 2016

Turbo Energy Drink U19 Academy League

Conquerors, Santos, GFC, Uitvlugt seal semi-final spots

T

he Turbo Energy Drink sponsored Fruta Conquerors U19 Academy League has hit its semi-final rounds with host Conquerors, Santos, Georgetown Football Club (GFC) and Uitvlugt sealing their place to the final four.

T h e semi-finals w i l l t a k e place on Friday at the Tucville ground with Zone-A winners Fruta Conquerors opposing Zone-B runners-up Santos while Zone-B victors GFC will tackle Zone-A runners-up Uitvlugt.

The grand finale is slated for December 27.

Needing a draw to ensure their place in the final four, Fruta Conquerors defeated Black Pearl FC 5-2 under soggy conditions at the Tucville Community ground, in what was a mustwin encounter for Black Pearl.

Delroy Holligan netted a hat-trick on either side of

the interval, scoring in the 27th, 51st and 57th minute while Randy Layne fired in a second half double in the 68th and 86th minute.

For the losing team, Danielle Francis and Kevin James were on target in the 17th and 64th minute respectively.

Fruta Conquerors now tops Zone-A standings with 12 points while Black Pearl remains in

third position on nine

points.

Meanwhile, Santos sealed their place in the semi-final section after battling to a 1-1 result with Buxton United.

Needing only a draw to progress, Santos fell behind in the eighth minute via a goalkeeping error as a Maurice Barnes right foot effort from the top of the box, slipped under the body

of the custodian and into the net.

Buxton’s lead was shortlived as Ryan Dowding grabbed the equaliser two minutes later. Latching onto a left side cross inside the right of the box, Dowding duly fired his shot into the lower right corner.

Santos was presented with the perfect opportunity to take the lead in the 73rd minute when they were awarded a penalty kick.

However, Jobe Caesar blasted his powerful right foot shot onto the crossbar much to the disappointment of his teammates.

S a n t o s eventually held on in the dying moments to seal their berth in the elimination round.

Santos ended the Zone-B group stage in the second position on nine points while Buxton ended in third position with eight points.

23

West Indies hold on to 8th for Christmas

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The West Indies team during their recent tour of the United Arab Emirates

mbattled West Indies will spend Christmas at number eight in the ICC Test team rankings.

In the most recent rankings released on Tuesday, the Caribbean side were still languishing on 69 ratings points in the nether regions of the tables – a position they have occupied for most of the year.

They are only four points clear of minnows Bangladesh in ninth.

The year was another dire one for West Indies as they won just one of their eight Tests, while suffering four defeats and four draws.

They went down 2-0 in a four-Test home series against India and lost 2-1 to

Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

The other game was the drawn third Test against Australia in Sydney – a series West Indies lost 2-0.

Once the dominant side in the game’s longest format, West Indies have struggled badly over the last two decades and their last success over a major Test-playing nation came when they defeated England 1-0 in a fivematch series seven years ago in the Caribbean.

In Tuesday’s rankings, India stormed to 120 points following their crushing innings victory over England in Chennai, guaranteeing themselves top spot at the end of the year.

They are 15 points clear of Australia with Pakistan third on 102 points and South Africa fourth on 102 points. England, who started the series against India tied for second, have slipped to fifth after losing the fivematch series 4-0.

Latest rankings: 1 India

2 Australia 3 Pakistan 4 South Africa 5 England 6 New Zealand 7 Sri Lanka 8 West Indies 9 Bangladesh 10 Zimbabwe

120 105 102 102 101 96 96 69 65 05

Jaguars Franchise League 50-over postponed

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Dave’s Pharmacy supports KPL fundraiser

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n the second day in the New Year a grand softball competition, the KPL fundraising softball tournament, is set to get started and Dave’s Pharmacy of Albert and Sixth Streets Alberttown Georgetown is one of the businesses that have decided to support the tournament.

The entity recently presented trophies to organizer Samuel Kingston for the event which will get underway at Carifesta Sports Complex from January 2.

The tournament will be contested in the Male Over-40 and Open categories with an entrance fee of $20,000 per team in each division. The competition has been organised to help raise funds for organising secretary of the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc, Kingston, who has to under-

he Jaguars Franchise League 50 over segment which was scheduled to start today has suffered a setback due to the inclement weather and is now set to commence on Tuesday January 3, 2017.

This is according to information out of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) which states the Board wishes to commence the 2016 Jaguars One Day 50 Overs League on Tuesday 3 January, 2017.

According to the GCB re-

lease, to

the league is scheduled c o n clude on Sunday January a n d b e to pre-

15, 2017, shall used pare players for t h e 2 0 1 7 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Super 50 tournament, which runs

from January 24 to February 18, 2017 in Barbados and Antigua.

According to Territorial Development Officer (TDO) of the GCB, each of the eight teams will play against each other, then the top team at the end of the round stages will go straight to the final on January 15 while on January 13 there will be a playoff between the second and third place teams to see who will progress to the final.

Sexual assault charges against T&T official false

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Samuel Kingston

go an operation on his right eye.

Kingston was struck on the eye during a recent match at the Gandhi Youth Organisation ground. The operation which will be done in Trinidad and Tobago in February 2017 will cost US$5,000.

The white big ball will be used for the over 40 category which will be of 20 overs duration while the open segment will be played with the supreme balls and will lasts for 15 overs a side. The winning teams will be given trophies and medals.

charge of sexual assault brought against a T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) official by a young cricketer has been dismissed.

In a press release convened to address the issue on Tuesday, Chief Executive of the TTCB Suruj Ragoonath revealed the findings of a twoman committee appointed to investigate the issue.

The player has since confirmed that issue had been not been one of sexual abuse as had been erroneously reported.

In stating the facts of the case, Ragoonath revealed that upon the Under-19 team’s

return to the island from a tournament held in St Vincent, Kerwin John, the manager of the team, submitted a complaint of improper conduct filed against a team official.

In keeping with procedure, the official was informed of the complaints and suspended while the issue was investigated.

Ragoonath reported that the findings that came from the committee were as follows: “The player was interviewed in the presence of his mother and subsequently sent a letter to the committee verifying that the matter is not one of sexual abuse, as is

being reported by the media and other factions within the cricketing fraternity.

“The team official was interviewed and he indicated that he needed to seek legal advice with respect to the matter and he subsequently communicated with the committee through his attorney denying the allegations.

“It came to the attention of the committee via the misrepresented publications and discussions that a complaint was made to the Children’s Authority. This was not so, as the player is over 18 years old.” (Sportsmax)

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

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

HERO Caribbean Premier League 2017

Smith returns home to Tridents from Amazon Warriors

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Dwayne Smith picked up just one wicket in 2016 which was against the Tridents in Fort Lauderdale

Yassin returns as GOA President T

he Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday evening at the Association’s headquarters at Liliendaal with long-serving President KA Juman Yassin being re-elected to the top position. Following the election process the following executive body was unveilded and will serve the next four-year term: from left, Yassin, Hector Edwars, Garfield Wiltshire, Charles Corbin, Dr Karen Pilgrim, Godfrey Munroe, Tricia Fiedkou and Dion Nurse. See full report in a subsequent edition of the Guyana Times

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