Guyana Times Daily - December 31, 2015

GPL workers to get P 6.5% salary increase

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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

3 killed in Carifesta Ave smash-up guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2724

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Page 17

Unverified reports Matthews Ridge man stabbed of terrorist in Guyana – Top Cop to death in bar Police swoop down on NICIL, documents confiscated Page 3

Page 9

Page 7

– SARU Head denies knowledge – Top Cop confirms launch of criminal probe Police ranks loading documents and files from NICIL in Kingston, Georgetown into a vehicle on Wednesday (Marceano Narine photo)

Police promotions deferred until 2016 Page 12

15-year-old gives birth at GPHC Page 2

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

2 more Ministries P2 to be renamed Merry Mansion Reloaded Promotion

Digicel P13 customers walk away with $$$

2 new PUC Commissioners named P12

Electricity only for P11 regularised areas – GPL's acting CEO

Bartica man charged over chopping P11 incident P7 2 parliamentary papers approved ...Govt’s failure to provide answers reeks of incompetence – Jagdeo

2 NEWS

thursday, december 31, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

2 more Ministries to be renamed

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

C

ome 2016, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government will be moving to rename two of its 16 Ministries.

This is according to President David Granger, who told the media on Wednesday there is need to have two of the existing 16 Ministries renamed.

This, he said, is required to emphasise the thrust that the Government will be taking in those two major areas.

While the President did not reveal the exact Ministries that will be renamed, he did disclose that the two entities are

dealing with public telecommunications and natural resources.

However, at this point in time, the new names which have been decided upon, are yet to be announced since the Head of State posited that before he makes these names public, he would need to announce it to his colleagues first.

“We feel that change in name would emphasise the thrust that the Government would be taking in those major two areas; information technology largely and natural resources,” he reiterated.

Meanwhile, there are no structural adjustments expected to be implemented in 2016, the President

stated.

When the APNU/ AFC coalition took office in May this year, President Granger had renamed and merged several Ministries. The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs had been renamed the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry while the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development was renamed the Ministry of Communities.

This Ministry now envelops housing, water and local government.

The Office of the President was renamed Ministry of the Presidency and the Ministry of Social Security was renamed the Ministry of Social Protection. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)

15-year-old gives birth at GPHC

Peninnah and her mother with her newborn

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

A

15-year-old girl who hails from Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) is the most recent teenage mother to give birth at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Peninnah Hunter, who lives in Wax Creek, Region Seven, was rushed to the hospital last week where she gave birth to a bouncing baby girl.

When GuyanaTimes visited the young mother a few

days after delivering her daughter, she explained that she was at a loss as to what to name the baby.

She was unprepared for naming the child, caring for the new born baby and for being a new mother.

However, Hunter’s mother, who was at her bedside, told this publication that she would help care for her granddaughter and teach Penninah the “art of motherhood.”

Meanwhile, Hunter noted that her pregnancy was not an easy one since she often found herself feeling extremely tired and occasionally sick until the time of her delivery.

Additionally, the process of giving birth also drained the young girl especially since this was her first pregnancy, delivery and experience at a hospital under such circumstances.

When questioned about the father and other relatives of the new born baby, the Hunter family was mum; and subsequently shifted the focus of the question by expressing their joy at “having a baby to play with.”

GuyanaTimes understands that Hunter became pregnant when she was just about 14 years of age which means that she was sexually active before reaching the age of consent.

Hunter’s mom appeared oblivious to the fact that Peninnah should not have been pregnant, much less sexually involved at this age, as she excitedly explained that this baby is her first grandchild.

At this point in time, it is unclear whether or not the father of the baby would be charged or dealt with accordingly for being intimately involved with a minor.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton recently told this publication that in cases like these, the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Social Welfare Department would notify the relevant agencies so that they would handle the matter directly.

“This is a situation where obviously they would inform the Police and so on… teenage pregnancy is a big thing in Guyana and it is something we are working hard to try to eliminate… This is why it was necessary for us to have the Social Welfare Department which deals with it directly,” he posited.

The Minister explained

that pregnant teenagers are considered to be “high risk” cases since these young girls are the mothers who encounter more difficulties during pregnancy and childbirth.

He maintained that the Public Health Ministry is “on track” with dealing with such situations because much focus will continue to be placed on teenage pregnancy and underage mothers in 2016.

“For our intention which is to lower our maternal mortality in Guyana, we have to look into this (teenage pregnancies)…” the Public Health Minister said.

Guyana Times was told that in some remote areas, teenage pregnancies have been recorded are now benefiting from doctors and health workers who are tasked with educating the population on this matter.

“They never had doctors, we have doctors in those areas now… they would certainly set up whatever is needed and we find that education is so important… we don’t want to hold the teenage pregnancy clinic but to prevent it from being held,” Dr Norton stated.

While there are some teenage pregnancy clinics already in existence, it is hoped that by intensifying the fight against this scourge, the need for new clinics of this nature would be minimised.

In its mid-year report, the Georgetown Public Hospital had reported that during the period January 1 to July 31, 2015, there were 3125 healthy babies delivered at the Hospital, of which some 657 babies were born to teenage mothers ranging from under 14 to 19 years old.

It must be reminded that earlier this year, a 13-yearold student had given birth to twins. Another case entailed a 14-year-old from the Pomeroon River being hospitalised after she tried to terminate her pregnancy and ended up injuring herself.

According to information reaching this newspaper, the teenager, who was two months pregnant, reportedly attempted to abort the foetus at home.

However, she was unsuccessful in her efforts and developed complications in the process, resulting in profuse bleeding.

She was immediately rushed to the Suddie Hospital where she underwent surgery.

Recently, a 17-year-old mother of three, Nikacia Allen died at the Georgetown Public Hospital, a few weeks after giving birth to her third child.

It was noted that all of her children were delivered via caesarean section. She reportedly gave birth to her first child at the age of 13.

This incident had sent shockwaves across the country while bringing to light the possibility of complications among pregnant teenagers. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

news

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thursday, december 31, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, December 31 – 08:20h-09:50h and Friday, January 1 – 09:10h-10:40h.

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, December 31 – 09:00h-10:30h and Friday, January 1 – 10:00h-11:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Light cloud cover with heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the morning, with light rain showers dominating throughout the afternoon. Cloudy skies and light rain showers are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-Easterly between 4.91 metres and 6.25 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:15h and 20:32h reaching maximum heights of 2.36 metres and 2.35 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:46h and 14:06h reaching minimum heights of 0.78 metre and 0.88 metre respectively.

Unverified reports of terrorist in Guyana – Top Cop P

olice Commissioner Seelall Persaud has disclosed that the Guyana Police Force has “unverified” information of a suspected terrorist in Guyana.

Persaud made this disclosure at the Police Force’s year end press conference on Wednesday. According to the Police Commissioner, there were previous reports of a terrorist, Adnan El Shukrijumah, who was claimed to be Guyanese.

Shukrijumah was shot and killed in Pakistan a year ago.

“There is some unverified data of one other… still unverified, but no other we are aware of,” he revealed.

However, Persaud could not say whether the suspect is in Guyana or is a Guyanese living abroad.

The Police Commissioner further pointed out that there are no reports of Guyanese who have trav-

Dead terrorist Adnan El Shukrijumah

elled to terrorism-torn countries to join the Islamic State (IS) or have returned to Guyana from any of those countries.

Asked about measures in place to deradicalise possible terrorist threats, the Top Cop outlined that while there are currently no documented plans to tackle terrorism, this is being addressed through the highly successful Social Crime Prevention Programme.

“I can’t say we have a

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud

plan that is documented but yes there will be an engagement. I spoke about a lot of initiatives that we are doing right now in the communities and they (Guyanese) can benefit there; as a matter of fact, there will be a dedicated focus (on terrorism prevention),” Persaud told reporters at the press briefing.

Of recent, there have been reports of several citizens from Trinidad and Tobago who have travelled to Syria and other countries to support ISIS. But according to the Police Commissioner, there is no information of any Guyanese travelling to or from Syria. He noted that this is an area the Police Force is constantly being updated on.

Persaud also pointed out that at the local level, Guyana is linked to an information sharing system attached to the Caribbean through the Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre (RIFC), the International Police (InterPol) and American law enforcement agencies.

The Commissioner explained that RIFC collects intelligence from not only Member States but other countries in the region, before interfacing with Interpol and US databases.

“They do analysis and send it out,” he stated.

Additionally, the Top Cop

further outlined that theJoint Regional Coordination Centre also monitors everyone who buys tickets to come to the Caribbean. These persons are checked against a data base and if there is a ‘hit’, the destination country is informed before that person arrives.

Locally, Persaud said the

Abdul Kadir

Immigration Department is kept abreast with any such developments through intelligence provided to them from both the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force.

While there has been no proven terrorism activity on local soils, Guyana has often found itself in the midst of various terrorismrelated controversies. Back in 2007, a former Member

of Parliament in Guyana, Abdul Kadir, was among four wannabe Muslim terrorists, who were intercepted during a plot to firebomb the John F Kennedy Airport in New York.

Then in February 2014, Caribbean Airline Limited (CAL) had strengthened its security procedures after one of its flights from Guyana to New York was allegedly threatened. Investigations had revealed that the call to the Airline Company emanated from Barbados.

Moving a bit forward to December last year, Pakistan’s military had killed leading Al Qaeda militant, Adnan ElShukrijumah, who is believed to be of Guyanese parentage.

Shukrijumah was wanted by the United States over a 2009 plot to attack the New York subway system.

A senior rank of the Guyana Police Force had confirmed that the wanted man’s father was reportedly a Guyanese, originally from Berbice. The officer further stated that they had reasons to believe that Shukrijumah might have visited Guyana.

However, there were no records at the Chief Immigration Office which indicates that the wanted man was issued with a Guyanese Passport. Nevertheless, the Police official had confirmed that the now dead man was on the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ (FBI) most wanted list.

Shukrijumah, a Saudi, was the head of Al Qaeda’s Foreign Operations Council and the most senior Al Qaeda member ever killed by the Pakistani military.

Quite recently, the FBI offered a US$5 million reward for the capture of the 39-year-old Saudi national, who was wanted for conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and to commit murder in a foreign country, through a plot to launch bomb attacks on the New York subway six years ago as well as other attacks.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

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thursday, december 31, 2015

Views Editor(ag): Michael Younge Tel: 225-8697, 225-6695, 225-5634, 225-8696, 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

End of the Year: Just politics

T

he curtains fall on 2015 today: it was an eventful year dominated, as usual, by politics. The year began with the Parliament of Guyana being prorogued by President Donald Ramotar, after the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition threatened a “NoConfidence Motion” that would have precipitated General Elections within three months. The British High Commissioner threatened “Commonwealth sanctions” unless the prorogation were lifted – which was clearly a bluff, since the President was using a constitutional power just as the “No- Confidence Motion” was a legitimate option of the Opposition. It was politics.

The President had identified several pressing matters such as the Telecommunications Bill and the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering of Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill that they would have liked to be passed before elections, since they were critical to the development of the country.

The Opposition, however, refused the breathing space offered, to act in the nation’s interest. It was not surprising, therefore that these bills were among the first to be tabled when they acceded to office. It was politics.

After years of fervent, if implausible denials, Khemraj Ramjattan admitted his AFC was willing to coalesce with the People’s National Congress (PNC)/APNU, even though he worried they would become “dead meat”. Negotiations were launched and on Valentine’s Day 2015, the terms of the political marriage were announced as the “Cummingsburg Agreement”. Forgotten was the AFC’s claim it was formed to work outside the two major parties so as to nudge them in a “national” direction by voting for either of them depending on their stance on the issue under consideration which contributed to the national weal. It was politics.

Elections were duly scheduled by President Ramotar for May 11, and the PNC/APNU/AFC coalition made a strategic decision to launch their 2015 elections campaign in Linden. It allowed APNU/AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger the opportunity to present to an almost homogenous AfricanGuyanese audience a coalition that had explicitly declared it’s raison d’être as healing racial divisions and bringing unity to our ethnically and racially fractured polity. It was politics with some promise.

At Babu Jaan, the inheritors of Jagan’s vision for a united and prosperous Guyana were on view as they launched the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) campaign on Jagan’s death anniversary. Veterans Donald Ramotar, the Presidential Candidate; and General Secretary of the PPP, Clement Rohee were joined by the youthful and former two-term President Bharrat Jagdeo. After a rough and bruising campaign, the Guyanese people went to the polls. It was politics being tested.

Finally, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) made its official announcement on the results of the General and Regional Elections. It declared the APNU/AFC coalition secured 50.3 per cent of the vote worth 33 seats as against the 32 seats of the PPP/Civic, awarded from their 49.2 per cent. Guyana had a new Government – with the National Assembly and the Presidency both controlled by APNU/AFC. It was politics consummated.

In a foreshadowing of what was to come, this newspaper wrote, “The APNU/AFC coalition had adumbrated a desiderata of what they hope to achieve in the next 100 days. This should offer the Guyanese people a yardstick for measuring their performance in the near term. Unfortunately, many of the promises were of a populist nature and premised at doling out money without specifying where that money will come from. One suggestion, based on their past rhetoric, would be to reduce the salary of the President and have the new Vice Presidents replacing Ministers, on the latter pay scale.”

However politics prevailed.

Almost none of the “first 100 days 21 promises” were fulfilled and rather than the “substantial raise” promised to Government workers, the five per cent paled in comparison to the 50 per cent bump of the Ministers and Vice Presidents.

The concession by President Granger that the “six sisters” of the Guyanese economy had collapsed was the coup de grace that brought a very bleak year to its close.

It is our hope that 2016 will not be just politics.

Children enjoying themselves at the Georgetown seawall

Disappointed with President’s decision to release prisoners Dear Editor, In the face of rising crime and more blatant crimes committed, President Granger’s decision to continually release prisoners makes me uneasy.

Giving young people a second chance is a noble deed, but appropriate policies must be adhered to if such a sentiment would result in the benefit of individuals and the country as a whole.

Crime, in the opinion of many, is the number one problem in Guyana.

Releasing more and more

prisoners does not send a good message to criminals or the law-abiding society.

The public ought to know about the prisoners who have been released – their crimes, ages, gender, and of course, names, if necessary. What programmes are in place to help the released – are there officers who monitor their progress and whereabouts? Are these unconditional releases – what if these offenders re-commit these or other crimes?

After 23 years of the People’s Progressive Party, I thought Mr David

Granger might be the best person at the helm of the country. I felt that a person of his military and security background would be ideal to deal with the crime craze in the country – and prayed for his election! Instead, it is sickening to read in the media about the goings-on with (the easy access to) gun brandishing. It seems crimes and criminals have spiralled with his leadership.

With Mr Granger’s planned regular release of prisoners, I can see young people saying or thinking,

“leh ah do a lil ting like stealing somebody’s cellphone with a toy gun… ah young, and there’s a very good chance “our” President Granja would let me free if ah get ketch”!

Yes, other leaders of other countries extend this privilege to their citizens, but for President Granger to let go so many is probably another dubious record for the country of Guyana, considering the size of its population.

Yours truly, Devanand Bhagwan

Jagdeo should share climate change knowledge with Govt Dear Editor, In a media letter of December 29, 2015, writer Edward Gonsalves expressed the view that former President Bharrat Jagdeo and now Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition has a deep understanding of the problems facing Guyana due to the rise in sea level. Therefore, the knowledge and experience Jagdeo has acquired during his Administration should be made available to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to alleviate the negative impacts climate

change/sea level rise will have on Guyana’s drainage, irrigation and sea defences (DISD) systems.

The fundamental problems hindering Guyana’s development of its DISD systems to meet the challenges of sea level rise/ climate change are lack of resources (financial, technical, managerial, etc). During the PPP Government, the European Union financed much of the work on sea defence, and the Hope Canal Project to relieve flood water from the East Demerara Conservancy was financed largely from

a PetroCaribe Fund, while coastal drainage pumps were purchased from a Government of India loan.

Grants and loans urgently needed to finance needed improvement and development works on DISD projects will be hard to access in the foreseeable future and, therefore, Guyana will have to generate its own resources to fund needed repairs, upgrading and the development of DISD works. Can it, given the many competing subsidies being demanded by various sectors of its economy?

Apart from sea level rise and loss of gravity drainage

time, another major problem facing the sea defence is subsidence of its earth dams which will adversely affect flood water discharges through the sluices.

The sea defence will have to be built/strengthened/ repaired where it is most needed and would have the greatest impact to protect the people and the country’s economy.

After all, sea defence protection does not come cheap and its construction must be economically viable.

Yours faithfully, Charles Sohan

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, december 31, 2015

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2015 would go down as 2016 should be the start of democracy historic year for Guyana for Guyana’s future Dear Editor, Whether you laughed, cried, celebrated, mourned, embarked on new ventures and projects, got married or had a baby, took over the reins of Government or gave up same, 2015 would go down as a very eventful year in Guyana’s history.

It would certainly be remiss of us to allow another calendar year to close without doing some introspection on our lives and all that has happened over the year and shape better life choices for 2016.

Most notable, perhaps, is the change of Government that came about as a result of the May General and Regional Elections. I am excited and would be keenly watching the decisions and policies that would be made in the coming year, starting with the budget in the next month.

I felt disenfranchised and pretty much robbed in 2015. People you trusted and had hopes in did not keep their word. After doing much work for the former Administration and their political party, myself and at least one New Amsterdam Television Station with whom they partnered for hosting live programmes of Government Ministers being interviewed during election time have still not been paid – people for whom I stood up and eventually lost my job at

the nation’s top-selling newspaper; that was a very sad day.

Today, the McCoys and Jaffarallys, even the Hassans of a certain State-owned media, are all silent about that meeting at the Office of the President last January about these programmes in Berbice. Several letters too were sent to the current Administration – the Ministry of the Presidency, both to Permanent Secretary Omar Shariff and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon – which have merited not a single acknowledgment or reply.

I am surprised at the Minister’s non- acknowledgement of my letter, which enquired how myself and the TV station would be paid and by whom.

In 2015, I had to stop doing what I loved with all my heart to do. Even though I still write for a little newspaper in the Catholic Church, my journalistic pen has pretty much been put down for now. Clash of egos is destroying Guyana. Every person feels he or she is too ‘big’ for the other person. At the top of the list are our politicians, who make themselves very hard to be emulated.

Let’s forget past hurts and move bravely into the coming year. Out with the old and in with the new as they say, right?

It’s never too late to start afresh. We have passed

through a very tough election year, but heading into another year where there will be elections at the local Government level. Let there be maturity and less mud-slinging.

Let there be talk about issues and not personalities. Guyanese cannot afford to be further divided and polarised as they are at the moment. The current Administration needs to strengthen its bonds with the section of the population that voted for the Party which is in current opposition.

These are my sanguine thoughts and sentiments as 2016 dawns. And before I go, please permit me, Editor, to recognise veteran nursery educator Berbician Ingrid Warner, who gave most of her life to nurturing young minds of Manchester, Alness and other nearby villages. These special persons among us bring the hope we all expect and hope would inspire each and every one of us for 2016 and beyond. Thank you.

Happy New Year!

Sincerely, Leon Suseran

and not politicians

Dear Editor, Guyana has never seen democracy played out in its truest form that benefits the people since independence. We saw our country became a rigged system for 28 years and even though the People’s Progressive Party/Civic fight for and brought some democracy and prosperity, it also suffered from a few greedy and egotistic people that held the Party ransom and ultimately led to its loss of power.

And now we are seeing that the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is simply reactionary and fragile in its leadership.

However, during this time, I have seen a revolution of the minds, especially the young minds who want something better than what exists; they are seeing Guyana not moving forward as much as it is swinging from side to side. It is time for progressive young

minds to rise up and be heard, we understand the modern world better to lead our country, we have that rare ability to forgive and unite our country for the greater good and we know how to work together.

There is a longing desire in our hearts and minds for prosperity and peace to come to our land. We are the generation that is free from the colonial curse of divide and conquer; a strategy that kept us in poverty and violence for far too long. We must demand that our political parties change the way things are done by beginning to listen to the people more and find solutions for prosperity instead of using our resources to fight their personal wars and raise their salaries.

Let 2016 be the start of a revolution that sees people being represented fairly in politics and their needs met. Let’s see the Government of the day lead objectively and not filling their pockets and providing only for their voters. Guyana deserves the right to prosper; we have enough resources to have a good life. But that good life will never see the light of day, unless we start opening our minds and removing the veil from our eyes.

Let’s continue to liberate our minds and dream for a better Guyana.

Freedom of social media must become stronger and a game changer.

Sincerely, Malcolm Watkins, CSCP

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thursday, december 31, 2015

Page

BY JEANNE SAGER

I

’m not sure when it hit me just how hard it would be to talk to my daughter about her period.

Was it the first time I found her playing with a pile of (unused, thank God) tampons on the bathroom floor as a toddler, gleefully twirling them around by their strings like little helicopters? Or maybe later, when we walked up to the cash register manned by a teenage boy at the local grocery store and I plunked down a package of overnight pads only to see his face bloom as red as the roses growing near our driveway?

Or was it when a presidential candidate tried to shame a member of the news media for a condition that affects every woman in America?

When did I realise that the period talk could be just as hard as the sex talk — if not harder?

Oh, not the technical end of it — that’s been pretty easy.

Since she was old enough to ask “whatcha doin?” when she spotted me in the bathroom with a tampon, I’ve been feeding her info on what they are (and pads too), and what it is that makes a woman bleed once a month. We’ve purchased — and read — several different books on puberty and a girl’s changing body, and she knows that one day she too will have a menstrual cycle.

But what about the rest of it? All the things that make getting your period the true curse of womanhood? These are the things I haven’t said to her yet, because I’m still figuring out how…

1. Boys are going to try to make you feel ashamed You shouldn’t be. But

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation boys – especially hormonal, uncomfortable, jerky teen boys – have a tendency to say really mean things about girls’ changing bodies. Unfortunately, only a portion of said boys grow up to become the sort of mature, sensible guy who deserve to date you (should you be interested in members of the male persuasion, that is). Others may share an office with you,

may be faced with that one girl who scoffs at you because “OMG, you are still using an applicator to put your tampon in? What are you, a prude?”

It may sting in the way that all girl-on-girl hate stings.

Remember these four words: your vagina, your choice.

3. It might just be painful as hell (then again, it might not) Up until puberty, bleeding

where they will take great glee in responding to simple requests that they replenish the copier paper tray if they empty it with cries of “Somebody’s on the rag again,” and great guffaws. Don’t be afraid to report them – be it to your high school guidance Counsellor or your company’s human resources department.

Harassment is harassment. And you don’t have to take it.

2. Girls will too We may all be blood sisters, but any woman who hasn’t entirely blocked the middle school years from her memory, Spotless Mind style, can report that the girl who gets her period first is often ridiculed. Of course, so is the girl who gets it last.

The girl who first begins using tampons. The girl who uses a pad longer than some arbitrary time period determined by said middle school’s queen bee.

Somehow even in college, you

has always been associated with something hurting. It’s meant a fun Band-Aid and probably something cold with a cartoon on it pulled out of the freezer because Mommy doesn’t like seeing you hurt. So, when telling you that you’re going to bleed for days on end, I can only imagine what you’re going to think. I want to tell you that it’s temporary and nothing like that time your cousin bit you and you complained that it hurt for a week. But the truth is, I don’t know. Nearly half of all women experience pain with every single period. Forty-one per cent experience it during some. The amount of pain varies among them all. Some feel slight twinges during that “premenstrual” time. Others are hugging the porcelain throne and crying out for codeine for days on end. I’m afraid to scare you… but I’m just as afraid of

you one day thinking there’s something wrong because you’re “not like the other girls.”

4. It might make you lose your mind About three million women experience some form of PMS in the few days before their period – mood swings, bloating and a whole lot more. That’s unpleasant in and of itself. But you could easily be one of the three to eight per cent of women who experience Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a “significant premenstrual mood disturbance,” with often uncontrollable feelings of anger, depression, irritability and a whole lot more. The worst part? The feeling of a total and complete inability to do anything about it.

5. It’s going to hold you back Those tampon ads are great, aren’t they? The women out jogging and hanging out on the beach, having the time of their lives? Fun. Normal. Periods don’t have to change your life, just change your tampon! (Wait, did I just make a catchy jingle?

Call me, Always!).

When you were a little girl, I taught you that “commercials are just trying to sell us something,” and when it comes to menstrual supply ads, what they’re trying to sell you is a load of crap.

You could go swimming with a tampon, but you’re probably not going to want to worry about whether your tampon string is hanging out when you’re hitting the surf. And that camping trip you were planning with your girlfriends? Let’s just say that three days in the wilderness without bathroom facilities will hit the bottom of your list when you’ve got to change a super flow every three hours, lest you risk your underwear. (Yahoo! News)

A mother is speaking out this week to warn others after her daughter’s devastating death due to toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

D

iane Roberts’s 13-year-olddaughter, Jemma-Louise, began feeling ill while on a family vacation and was originally diagnosed with a stomach bug, according to the Manchester Evening News. After the British teenager’s health continued to deteriorate, her family brought her to a hospital where she was diagnosed with TSS, caused by bacteria related to tampon use.

Jemma-Louise, a competitive swimmer, had reportedly begun using tampons not long before her illness because they allowed her to continue training throughout her menstrual cycle.

A week after her diagnosis, in March 2014, Jemma-Louise died of a brain bleed while on a heart and lung machine, according to the paper. Blood tests before she died showed evidence of the staphylococcus bacteria, linked to TSS and sepsis.

In spite of the fact that TSS warnings are on every tampon box and a TSS pamphlet within, teens and young women are developing tampon related Toxic Shock Syndrome and many are dying from it.

Most women are more familiar with the myths about TSS than the facts.

Myth #1: Tampon related TSS only occurs when tampons are worn well over eight hours.

Reality: While longer wear time increases risk, TSS can occur even if you change tampons frequently.

Myth #2: Girls and women are only at risk for tampon related Toxic Shock Syndrome if they use high absorbency tampons with the super, super plus or ultra rating.

Reality: While higher

absorbency increases risk, TSS can occur even if you only use low absorbency tampons with the light or regular rating.

Myth #3: All tampons (or all tampons of a given absorbency rating) carry equal risk for TSS. Reality: Dr Philip Tierno, a Professor of Microbiology and Pathology at New York University School of Medicine, has been involved with tampon related TSS research for over 30 years. He finds that viscose rayon is now solely responsible for tampon related TSS. In contrast to the many cases of TSS associated with traditional tampons containing viscose rayon, there has never been a case of TSS associated with the use of a 100 per cent cotton tampon. 100 per cent cotton tampons are now available at many health food stores, some pharmacies and online.

Know the facts

Toxic Shock Syndrome develops when the common bacteria, Staphylococcus Aureus, produces a toxin which is absorbed into the bloodstream.

The toxin rapidly overwhelms the immune system and attacks the major organs, leading to kidney failure, collapse of the lungs and in severe cases, cardiac arrest.

Symptoms of TSS

* Sore throat * Aching muscles * High temperature; over 102 degrees F * Vomiting * Headache * Watery diarrhoea * Red rash * Confusion * Dizziness * Very low blood pressure Only one or two symptoms may occur. They do not necessarily occur all at once and may not persist.

What you should do?

* Remove the tampon (save it if possible) * Seek IMMEDIATE medical attention * Inform the doctor that you have been using tampons * Take a TSS information leaflet with you

To reduce the risk of TSS

* Only use tampons made of organic cotton * Use the lowest absorbency needed at each stage of your period * Avoid using tampons continuously during a period.

Alternate with sanitary pads at night so the toxins have time to dissipate * Use a pad at the end of your period * Change tampons every 4 to 6 hours * Don’t use tampons if you’ve had any unusual discharge * Wash your hands before and after use and handle the tampon as little as possible * Alert your family and friends to the symptoms and emergency action required * Read and keep this information and/or the leaflet inside each box of tampons * If you’ve had TSS never use tampons again. (www.bepreparedperiod.com and Yahoo! News)

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thursday, december 31, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Police swoop down 2 parliamentary on NICIL, documents papers approved ...Govt’s failure to provide answers reeks confiscated of incompetence – Jagdeo

– SARU Head denies knowledge – Top Cop confirms launch of criminal probe

P

olice Officers were on Wednesday afternoon observed loading piles of documents belonging to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) into the back of pickup trucks.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud confirmed that the Police Officers have commenced investigations into the controversial entity; however, he did not elaborate on the probe.

Two individuals, believed to be plainclothes Police Officers, were seen fetching documents out of NICIL’s Headquarters in Kingston.

However, when contacted, Crime Chief Wendall Blanhum said he was unaware of ranks being given an order to remove documents from NICIL. “I am not aware of that,” Blanhum said.

The State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU), which has been playing a role in investigations of this nature, also denied having any knowledge of documents being carried away.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. I just left office, SARU has not removed anything,” SARU Head, Dr Clive Thomas said.

Two individuals, believed to be plainclothes Police Officers, were seen fetching documents out of NICIL’s Headquarters in Kingston

State Minister Joseph Harmon had announced that Government would be handing over the NICIL forensic audit report to the Police to further investigate the contents of the report.

He explained the forensic audit conducted by Anand Goolsarran into NICIL

proved that there was sufficient information for the matter to be transferred to the Police.

To facilitate this, NICIL Executive Director Winston Brassington and his Deputy Marcia Nadir- Sharma proceeded on leave.

A

s tempers flared in the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon during consideration of several supplementary financial papers dating back to 2011, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said the inability of Ministers of the A Partnership for National Unity /Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government to answer a series of questions put to them on the various line items in the supplementary allocations “reeks of incompetence”.

Ministers continuously refused to answer questions put to them by fellow Government Ministers as well as Opposition Members of Parliament, prompting People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) MP Juan Edghill to question why the Ministers were not equipped with the necessary information to provide the answers or be assisted by their technical staff, which is a normal practice when financial papers are being considered.

However, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman responded by stating that the current financial papers were not those from the current Government, but rather from the previous Administration, thus making it an extraordinary situation where approval was now being sought for

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

monies spent since 2011.

The Opposition Leader said the lack of answers from the Government reeked of “gross incompetence”.

“Regardless of changes in Government, there are some time-honoured rules in the house and it is expected that people will follow those time-honoured rules which clearly state when a supplementary paper is presented that the Ministers responsible are prepared to answer those questions, they can choose to withhold information, but to say you are not prepared, it’s incompetence,” Jagdeo said.

He pointed out that the Financial Papers had to first go to Cabinet before

reaching the House; therefore, the subject ministers should have been at least equipped to answer some of the questions.

He said while he can accept the Finance Minister not being in a position to answer all the questions put, other Ministers not answering claiming that it was as a result of change of Government is incompetence.

After a plethora of questions, the House approved the two Supplementary Financial Papers.

Supplementary Financial Paper No 1 of 2015, totalling over $3.2 billion, covered the period October 25, 2011 to December 31, 2014, while Supplementary Financial Paper No 2 of 2015, totalling $6.45 billion, covered January 1, 2012 to June 16, 2014.

These Supplementary Financial Papers were brought to the House before by the PPP/C Administration by then Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, but were rejected by APNU and the AFC while in the opposition at that time.

The supplementary appropriations were sought following massive cuts to the Annual Budgets for those years by the then Opposition.

8 NEWS

thursday, december 31, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Eyew tness

Vendors charged for burglarising For Auld GUYNAZ Supermarket Lang Syne…

T

wo vendors were on Wednesday released on $75,000 bail each by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. They were charged with burglarising a supermarket and escaping with in excess of $2 million in goods.

Forty-two-year-old Vickram Nauth, a vendor of 252 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, and his alleged accomplice, 38-yearold Wazim Bacchus of 110 Block Y, Golden Grove Housing Scheme,

East Bank Demerara (EBD) were not required to plead to the indictable charge. However, the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) was applied and they denied the charge.

The charge read that between Saturday, December 26 and Sunday, December 27 at Georgetown, they broke and entered the building of Guynaz Green Grocery and Supermarket, and stole therein 40 boxes of cheese valued $1.2 million and 40 sacks of powdered milk valued some

Alleged construction equipment thief on bail

A

man who reportedly burglarised a storage bond and stole a quantity of construction equipment has been released on $15,000 bail

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Dane Bobb, 39, of 1232 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara denied the allegation that on December 26 at Diamond Housing Scheme, he broke and entered a storage bond belonging to Kevin Gonsalves and stole six buckets, three spades val-

ued $3900, a shovel, a sledge hammer, a hammer, a water pitcher, four sacks of cement and 15 pounds of nails among other articles, all to a total value of $35,000.

The particulars surrounding the charge were not revealed and the application for bail made by the accused was not met with any objections.

The case will continue on January 22 at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

1.08 million, a total value of $2, 285,500, property of the Virtual Complainant Mohammed Safar.

Attorney Adrian Thompson represented Bacchus while Attorney Ronald Daniels advocated for Nauth. Both Attorneys stated that their clients did not have any knowledge of the offence while making their applications for reasonable bail. They further said that there was no evidence linking their clients to the crime.

Attorney Daniels subse-

quently made an application for the matter against his client to be dismissed.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones made no objections to bail after revealing that none of the stolen articles have been recovered. He added that Bacchus’ pushcart was allegedly used to transport the stolen goods from the store.

The Magistrate released the men on bail and transferred the matter to Court Five for January 20, 2016.

6 months for handbag thief A

man who stole a ladies’ handbag was jailed for six months when he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for larceny.

John Harding of Vryheids Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD) accepted the simple larceny charge which stated that on December 24, at Regent Street, Georgetown, he

stole one ladies’ handbag valued $5000, property of Chinese national Wang Changmin.

The man, who has been previously convicted for a similar offence, told the court that he stole the bag to sell it and buy medication since he was unwell. In sentencing him, Magistrate Moore noted that Harding was a repeat offender and as such, jailed him for the offence.

T

…let's be fair

onight at so many parties, we’ll be ushering in the New Year with Robert Burns “Old Lang syne”.

And most folks wouldn’t have the foggiest notion what the old Scottish lyrics mean. It’s just something the British used to do – like Parliament, eh? – and we regurgitate it “for old times’ sake” – not realising THAT’S THE MEANING!! For old times’ sake.

So for old times’ sake, let’s look back – and not in anger. Was there really as much “corruption” as was claimed – and is still being touted from some quarters of the Muckraking persuasion? Ramotar did say that there had to be SOME corruption, didn’t he? It would’ve been more than strange if he’d said there weren’t. Self interest is a constant in human beings – and it WILL get out of control in some. And this Eyewitness says if ANY public official – politician or bureaucrat – is proven to have illegally dipped into the public till, he or she should do the requisite time. But let’s PROVE it OK? Then there were claims the economy wasn’t doing as well as it could’ve. Well, that’s always a possibility.

So how do you test that proposition, for old times sake?

We can’t go back in time but we can sure as heck can go forward. Just put the people who kvetched that things could be better (“Donkey Cart Economy”) in charge and see what they do. Now pick a sector of the economy – ANY SECTOR, dear reader - and tell your humble Eyewitness where the new Masters of the Universe are doing better that the supposed dummkopfs they replaced.

Then we heard there was “social upheaval”. There was that…but by whom and was it justified? Was Desmond Hoyte really justified to wreak havoc over the 1997 elections results? Was slow fyaah, mo fyaah justified? The jailbreak and creating a state within a state in Buxton? Wasn’t the “social upheaval” a consequence rather than a cause?

And for old times’ sake, let’s even look back just in the last three years of Donald Ramotar’s presidency – for which he was lambasted so much. The present Government’s complaining something fierce about Ramotar not being in charge and not being his own man?

But without any sort of snarkiness...who’s in charge right now? Who wants to take credit for the economy tanking, crime spiking, employment rising, and border swords rattling? Who’s the genius now?

Fact of the matter is, incumbents will always get blamed for not doing enough. Well, we have some new incumbents now, don’t we? We hope folks do the right thing five years down the road…if THEY don’t do enough.

For Auld Lang syne.

…less sporting and more producing

Your Eyewitness exhorts you, fellow citizen, with upraised arms like the prophets of yore, to ease up on the sporting next year, will you? He’s not telling you to start wearing sackcloth and ashes, OK? But surely we can get by with just a little less of the liquor-induced cavorting, can’t we?

In this “sporting” vein, the Government’s pulling out all the stops for our 50th Independence Anniversary.

Now rather than a “celebration” for our Independence, couldn’t we have planned to achieve some “production targets” in some keys areas that could’ve shown the world we’re really getting independent.

Take sugar. We’re producing at twice the costs that we can sell it for. How about bringing down the costs to at least that of the departed Bookers? For old times’ sake. Ditto for rice. While our production numbers have climbed…we aren’t exactly a low cost producer.

Regardless of what Nagamootoo might say, that Medicanpaddymarket market ain’t going to drop into our lap.

So less of the sporting and more of the producing.

For old times sake.

…let's just be Guyanese

It’s more than four years to the next election. So until then, can we be just Guyanese? For old times’ sake.

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

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thursday, december 31, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Matthews Ridge man stabbed GPL workers to get 6.5% salary increase to death in bar

T

he bloody holiday season continues with another murder, this time, at Matthews Ridge, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) on Wednesday morning.

The victim, Peter James, 65, of Matthews Ridge, was stabbed to death about 01:30h during an argument with another man at a bar.

Based on reports received, the now dead man and the suspect were involved in a heated argument which ultimately turned into a scuffle during which the suspect reportedly broke a bottle and stabbed the victim several times to the body.

An injured James was picked up and taken to the Matthews Ridge Hospital,

but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The suspect was arrested by public-spirited citizens and was subsequently handed over to the Police. He is expected to be charged with the capital offence of murder as soon as today. Police are continuing their investigation into the stabbing incident.

Linden duo charged with assault

A

decision to burn bushes landed a Linden duo in court on Wednesday after the act led to the two men assaulting each other.

The Court heard that Orandy Flatts, of Blueberry Hill Squatting Area, Wismar, Linden, unlawfully assaulted Sherman Joe on December 18 at Blueberry Hill Squatting Area. Both appeared to answer to separate charges at the Linden Magistrates’ Courts.

The Court heard that the incident stemmed from an argument which led to an altercation after Joe, a farmer residing next door to Flatts,

lit a section of bushes situated in front of the Flatts’ yard.

Joe told presiding Magistrate Clive Nurse that Flatts “lashed” him after he lit the bushes. Flatts was fined $25,000.

Magistrate Nurse also ordered that Flatts apologise to Joe before the Court, while he was also placed on a bond to keep the peace for a year. The Magistrate advised the duo to “learn to live in peace with each other”, and informed Flatts that the next time he may not be so lucky. Nurse further advised Flatts to be a gentleman for the next

year, stating that if in default, he would have to spend time at the Camp Street jail.

Meanwhile, Joe pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that he assaulted Flatts on the said date. He was granted bail in the sum of $10,000. The case will be called again on February 2, 2016.

Flatts was also charged for unlawfully assaulting Yvette Almond on the same date and at the same place for which he was also fined $25,000. If in default, he would be required to spend two months behind bars for both charges.

Linden taxi driver slapped with rape charge

A

taxi driver from Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), who appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday was

granted $200,000 bail after he was charged with rape.

Twenty-three-year-old Michael Franklin of Lot 223 Block 22, Wismar, Linden, is accused raping Shevon Duncan on July

23. The incident allegedly occurred at One Mile, Wismar. He was not required to plea to the indictable charge. The case will continue on February 3.

A

fter much debate between the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), senior and junior workers attached to the power company will be relieved to learn that the two have arrived at an agreement.

This agreement which caters for the workers’ salary and allowances being increased will be paid retroactive January 1, 2015.

According to a media statement from GPL, the company and the Union has mutually made and entered into an agreement on Tuesday for the emoluments and benefits for employees represented by the GPSU for the calendar year 2015.

“This is following negotiations that commenced on Wednesday November 18, 2015 which witnessed proposals and counter proposals,” it said.

Guyana Times understands that in this final agreement, both junior and senior managers of the power company will receive an increase of 6.56 per cent on the existing salary level as at December 31, last year, at each position of employment.

There will also be a “one off” payment of $5000 per month which will total $60,000 per annum for the year 2015.

Meanwhile, with regards to the workers’ mileage allowance there is to be an increase of $40 per mile for travelling; from a previ-

ous value of $135 per mile in 2014 to $175 per mile in 2015 commencing January 1, 2015.

Additionally, in relation to overtime meal allowance, commencing January 1 this year, there will be an increase of $100 from a previous $1000 in 2014 to $1100 in 2015.

In mid December, the Chief Executive Officer (ag) of GPL, Colin Welch said that the power company had been awaiting a response from the GPSU as to its latest offer concerning increases in salaries and allowances for the workers.

Welch had told Guyana Times that “whatever position the company has taken thus far, it will stick to it.”

At that time, he posited that while he was unable to dictate the actions of the Union, the power company has been “fairly” responsive to this matter since it was brought up for discussions and negotiations.

According to Welch, GPL had made its offer and it was up to the GPSU to respond to that offer. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

10

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, december 31, 2015

News 50th Independence Anniversary…

Demerara Harbour Bridge shooting

“Roaring of the Golden Jubilee” launch set for tonight got satellite services that they provided for Internet activity by consumers. They are using that connectivity to send the signal, the picture and all of that. Besides, that it’s on the worldwide web so people watching in England, in Australia anywhere will be able to see what is going on, so this is not just local, it’s global,” he explained.

Last year, Guyana celebrated its independence with a massive inauguration ceremony of

The final touches being done to the stage

G

uyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebration is set to be officially launched tonight with a highly anticipated event dubbed “Roaring of the Golden Jubilee”, slated for the Independence Arch, Brickdam, Georgetown.

Speaking to Guyana Times, Executive Member of the National C o m m e m o r a t i o n Commission for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, Bobby Vieira said on Wednesday that the launch will be a lifetime experience and will give those in attendance a glimpse of what to expect during the

Independence celebrations in 2016.

The event will be launched with prayers by representatives for the three main religions in Guyana and will also involve an address to the nation by President David Granger, as well as the announcement of some National Awards.

“There will be fireworks, they will be the blowing of horns by ships in the harbour, sirens and Police vehicles from Police stations within the military and this will happen throughout the country so hopefully it is going to be a moment of nostalgia,” Vieira said.

He added that for the first time, there will be a national simulcast of Thursday’s event, where all the radio and television stations across the country will be broadcasting the proceedings live from about 23:30h.

Vieira said additionally, in areas like Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) and Mabaruma, Region One (BarimaWaini), arrangements are in place to send the signals via satellite which will be broadcast on large screens in those communities.

“There are people in some remote areas, Inet has volunteered, and they have

Executive Member of the National Commemoration Commission for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, Bobby Vieira

President Granger at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

The celebration in 2016 is expected to be bigger.

Victim identified as New Amsterdam resident

T

he victim in the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) Christmas Day minibus shooting has been identified as Trevon April of New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

On Wednesday, April’s father, Frankie April, confirmed the identification of the dead man at the Lyken Funeral Home in Georgetown. He travelled to the city after Police released the name of the victim to the media.

However, Police have positively identified the dead man after they ran his fingerprint in their database and got a positive match.

April, age 29, of Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam was shot and killed last Saturday while travelling in a minibus on the Harbour Bridge.

Reports are that April and another man were passengers in a minibus crossing the DHB when an argument ensued between them over rain splashing through an open window.

Eyewitnesses reported that during the argument, the suspect pulled out a firearm and discharged

several rounds, one of which struck April to his neck. Another passenger Rudolph Williams, 28, also received a gunshot injury to his back.

Williams, a Police Constable was treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital and sent away.

April had left Guyana at age 14 with his mother for Antigua and returned 10 years later.

At his home at Angoy’s Avenue, an aunt, Pammy King said that after returning from Antigua, April went to work in the interior where he spent about five years. “He would come out every couple of months but then he stop going in the bush and the last thing I hear is that he living in Georgetown and working on a garbage truck, he really don’t tell nobody what he doing,” his aunt said.

April’s has six children, the aunt said.

April leaves to mourn six children, a father, three brothers and one sister.

Meanwhile, Police are continuing their manhunt for April’s shooter who has been indentified following a review of CCTV footage from the DHB.

thursday, december 31, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Electricity only for regularised areas – GPL's acting CEO

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

A

s businesses continue to operate without electricity and telephone lines in the New Eccles Industrial Site Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), the relevant authorities are yet to address these issues.

However, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) Colin Welch when contacted by Guyana Times on Tuesday evening stated that his company will only provide power to areas that are regularised.

When questioned about the situation at the New Eccles Industrial Site Housing Scheme where businesses either have to use solar panel systems or generators for electricity, Welch said that he did not have enough information on the issue.

“I am not familiar with the story that you have outlined but in a general sense we will service areas that are regularised and certainly the individuals living in those areas have the correct credentials,” the GPL CEO posited.

He explained that these credentials include documents which state that the location(s) have been regularised, individuals’ identification cards, and other documents awarded to them from the Administration.

According to the power company’s CEO, when persons provide these legitimate documents to GPL, it is only then that they can benefit from power being supplied by the utility company.

“GPL’s position is this, clearly straightforward, we will provide service to any place that is regularised providing that the customer has

Men jailed for narcotics possession, larceny

T

wo men were on Wednesday separately sentenced after they appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on charges of narcotics possession and simple larceny.

Fitz Hooper, of Lot 3282 South Ruimveldt, Greater Georgetown, was fined $15,000 with an alternative of three months’ imprisonment for a charge which stated that on December 29 at Georgetown, he had in his possession five grams of can-

nabis.

Meanwhile, Raymond Khan, of Lot 84 Barr Street, Kitty, was sentenced to 10 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to a charge which stated that on December 25 at Robb Street, Georgetown, he stole 85 pints of pepper sauce, property of Rajnee Danraj.

The man was jailed previously on a similar offence and told the court: “I was keeping it for someone who brought it to me.”

Bartica man charged over chopping incident

A

Bartica man, who reportedly severed another man’s hand, will be breaking the New Year in prison as he was remanded when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Fifty-seven-yearold Christopher Lee of Hurakabra, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) was not required to plea to the indictable charge which stated that on December 27 at Hurakabra, Gold Field Bartica, he unlawfully and maliciously wounded the Virtual Complainant (VC) Devon Evans with the intent to maim, disfigure or to cause him grievous bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court on Wednesday that the VC was walking in the Hurakabra area when the accused armed himself with a cutlass and attacked him. He however did not reveal to

the court why the accused attacked the VC. The Prosecutor also informed the court that the VC is currently hospitalised awaiting surgery as his arm was severed during the ordeal. Due to the severity of the crime, the Prosecutor objected to bail being granted. However, a very vocal Lee in his address explanation to the court said that the particulars of the incident as presented are incorrect. He claimed that on the day in question, he was attacked by eight men, inclusive of the VC. He further added that he is unsure which of the men dealt him a chop to his foot with a cutlass; however, he claimed that when the man “fired another chop” at him, he ducked and the VC suffered the blow instead. Despite his version of the incident, Magistrate McLennan remanded him to prison.

The case will continue on January 15 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

GPL CEO Colin Welch

the right credentials to come in and establish an account,” Welch added.

Meanwhile, the businesses which have been operational for some years to date have been “up and running” without having access to electricity and telephone

lines; some only benefiting from water after waiting a few years.

It is still unclear as to what the Administration will do with regards to the situation, since potential business owners who are expecting to open new businesses in the area have operations at a “standstill”.

The owners for a new publishing company, which had been constructed on land in the area, are still waiting on these issues to be addressed since it would be too costly to utilise generators for a business which is now being established.

The married couple has already invested millions of dollars in their building and to date, they cannot receive any water or electricity.

They explained that while they have been finalising the process for the business to be up and running, their children have refused

to come to the establishment.

“We don’t have electricity. Nobody in the street has electricity; it is supposed to be provided. We bought the land in 2011 and never had current,” she complained.

According to the wife, she is at a loss as to why the street before the Industrial Estate has both water and electricity and this cannot yet be extended to accommodate businesses.

“We have no power, everyone behind us has current. I have generators, but it is too expensive since I would be operating at a loss and not get a profit. To run a generator, it would cost me about $30,000 per day for fuel. So, I don’t know why they charged us infrastructural fees at all,” the woman stated.

Meanwhile, Beeson Windows and Doors Director Muhammud Ahsan Ul-

Haq told Guyana Times on Tuesday that he purchased his property two years ago and to date, no electricity is being provided in the area.

As a result of the unavailability of power, he said he had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars installing solar system panels so that the business could begin operation.

Ul-Haq contended that the most troublesome issue was the lack of telephone lines and this has a direct impact on the company accessing emails, websites and orders for supplies through the Internet.

He expressed his disappointment that the telephone company to date has not supplied the area with telephone lines as these were an essential part of running a business by enabling communication. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

12 news

thursday, december 31, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Police promotions deferred until 2016 – Police Service Commission mum on reason

O

fficers within the Guyana Police Force are left disappointed after the Police Service Commission (PSC) announced that annual promotions have been delayed until February 2016.

The Police Force’s annual promotions are usually announced in December or early January; however, ranks will now have to wait to find out whether they have been elevated or not. At the Force’s year in review press conference on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud disclosed that the PSC communicated to him on Tuesday that promotions will be announced on or before February 23, 2016.

This decision was relayed just a day after General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee made calls for the promotions to be put on hold.

On Monday, Rohee told reporters that the impending promotions should be placed on hold until certain disciplinary matters are completed.

He further called for ranks with matters pending before disciplinary bodies not to be

promoted.

“Little or nothing is known about the number of disciplinary matters that have been before the Police Service Commission for some time now,” the former Home Affairs Minister stated.

However, Police Commissioner Persaud is of the view that such comments negatively impact the Police Force, thus daunting the high hopes of those officers expecting to be promoted.

When contacted by Guyana Times to ascertain the reason behind the delays, Chairman of the PSC Omesh Satyanand, declined to comment on the matter but assured that details would be forthcoming in a scheduled meeting.

“I can’t confirm (the delays) but I can invite you to a meeting and you will have the details on it,” he stated.

Satyanand indicated that he will hold a press briefing today on the matter.

The Police Service Commission is responsible for making promotions of officers from the rank of Inspectors to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). Those below the rank of Inspector are promoted by an internal board headed

PPP General Secretary and former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

by the Police Commissioner.

Meanwhile, the appointments of Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner are done

by Government.

On the other hand, former President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2008 had mandated that some 50 Cadet Officers be appointed to a higher rank through the programme. There have since been three batches and up to 2014, there were 47 Constables who graduated from the programme.

During the press conference on Wednesday, the Top Cop explained that the Cadetship Programme cov-

ers a two-year span, at the end of which, successful officers would be appointed by the Police Service Commission to the rank of Senior Superintendent, while the unsuccessful ones are demoted to the rank they were previously at.

Meanwhile, Rohee at Monday’s press conference had also reiterated calls by former President Donald Ramotar for ranks to undergo “integrity testing” before being promoted. Ramotar had made this comment at the opening session of the Police Force’s Annual Officers’ Conference in March in efforts to weed out corrupt persons from the law enforcement agency.

However, Rohee pointed out that since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition gained power, there is no indication as to whether or not it has, or intends to, “take up the man-

tle” and proceed in this direction.

“Several disciplinary matters are before a Disciplinary Authority set up by the then Minister of Home Affairs and headed by former Senior Magistrate Cecil Sullivan. Mr Sullivan’s contract was terminated by Minister [Khemraj] Ramjattan and, as a result, the work of the Authority ended prematurely,” the PPP’s General Secretary stated.

Rohee had made reference to disciplinary action against Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine. The Police Force had already denied any actions against Ramnarine.

The Police Commissioner pointed out that the Police Service Commission is tasked with disciplining ranks from inspectors to ACP or delegate this function. Persaud noted that Sullivan was appointed on behalf of PSC to do disciplinary enquiries but highlighted that in Ramnarine’s

case, there might have been an investigation but there was no disciplinary actions issued against the ACP. “In his file at this time, there is no charge sheet in that file. I contacted him personally and he said he never received any… so we are not aware there is any pending disciplinary action,” the Top Cop stated.

Furthermore, on the issue of the integrity testing, the Commissioner Persaud remarked that they can only engage in issues they have resources for. “We don’t get money from [the] budget to do integrity testing,” he stated, while adding that there is no local body or individual that can conduct such tests.

He pointed out that in the past, Government had engaged an overseas company to conduct such tests but the targets within the Police Force were the Crime Intelligence and Narcotics Units.

2 new PUC Commissioners named

President David Granger along with (from left) Badrie Persaud; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Rajendra Bissessar and Dela Atta Kuma Britton; Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson; Chairman of the PUC, Justice Prem Persaud and PUC Commissioner Maurice Solomon

BY KRISTEN MACKLINGAM

T

he Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has now been strengthened with the addition of two more Commissioners who were on Wednesday inducted by President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The two new PUC Commissioners are Rajendra Bissessar and Attorney Dela Atta Kuma Britton. They were charged by the Head of State to operate within their mandate, as the PUC plays a critical role in the further development of Guyana, particularly in the area of telecommunications.

Notably, Commissioner Britton is the first woman to be installed on the PUC Board.

She pledged to ensure that service in the telecommunications sector is vastly improved and pledged to function in her capacity to the best of her ability.

“I am truly honoured to be the first woman to serve... it is an important industry because technology is on the rise and with the advent of the new Telecommunications Act, we will have a load of work to do as a Commission… the supposed dismantling of the monopoly that exists, we would have to deal with a lot

of personalities and companies,” the Attorney said.

Meanwhile, the other Commissioner, Rajendra Bissessar, stated that he will be advocating for better service from the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

He noted that presently, there are many deficiencies at the power company and therefore there is the need for more prompt responses.

“There needs to be a deeper understanding of the fundamental issues… so I hope we can do something with GPL,” he said.

Bissessar added that the Commissioners will be available to interact with members of the public and maintained that should any individual have a complaint, he/she is always welcome to visit the PUC office.

The two other Commissioners serving on the PUC are Badrie Persaud and Maurice Solomon and the PUC Board is chaired by Justice Prem Persaud.

Meanwhile, President Granger in his address underscored the importance of the two new Commissioners being inducted to the PUC complement, as he pointed out that the speed in which communications and other public utilities is performing presently requires that Guyana “keeps abreast”.

“We want to emphasise the importance that our Administration places on public utilities, particularly telecommunications, which is a major preoccupation of the Commission… The world is moving ahead at a fast rate... the strengthening of the Commission now, this year, next year and [in] the years to come, will be very important to the overall development of our country. We are not moving as fast as we ought to, but we need to keep abreast with the rest of the world…” he posited.

The PUC was established to “regulate, investigate, enforce and such other functions conferred on it by the Public Utilities Commission Act No 10 of 1999, with respect to the utilities, which come under its purview, that is to say, telecommunications, electricity and water and sewerage.”

While it is vested with the power “to initiate and conduct investigations into the operations and standards of service of any public utilities under its purview”; the PUC is not involved in policy, though it could “act in an advisory capacity to the Ministers responsible for utilities on such matters concerning the utilities as are referred to it by the relevant Ministers,” according to its website. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)

news

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thursday, december 31, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Feasibility study for Digicel customers walk Guyana’s airline still away with $$$ ongoing – Patterson Merry Mansion Reloaded Promotion

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

G

overnment is still carrying out the feasibility study on the possibility of Guyana having its own airline carrier, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson has said.

He was at the time speaking to Guyana Times during an exclusive interview on Monday.

According to Patterson, while Government is hoping to bring this possibility to fruition, it is difficult to have a carrier without connections.

“You must have international linkages. As we continued our examination, we found that a lot more persons are interested in coming into the country as domestic carriers and so we are looking at whether or not it is feasible that we have our own distinct carrier as opposed to have linkages with the international carriers,” Patterson told Guyana Times.

He said at the end of the day what Government was trying to do was increase airlift.

“It must be feasible; we must be able to have cheaper affordable flights for our persons. And with a longer runway, it means that the economy of scale will cut down and more persons will be interested,” Patterson said.

According to the Minister, neighbouring Brazil has expressed interest in using Guyana as an airline hub, since travellers are constrained into going all the way to São Paulo then to North America.

“Just up to last month, we had discussions with the Minister and the ministerial adviser in Brazil. While the idea of a national air carrier is being pursued, what we have found is that a lot of persons are willing to come on board,” he said.

Back in September,

Government announced that it was mulling the idea of establishing a national airline carrier and was already in receipt of proposals for this purpose.

In order to achieve its goal of attaining International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Category One status, Government said it needed to establish the national airline.

Patterson had told media operatives that Government had received several submissions from various entities about the reestablishment of a national airline.

Guyana had its own airline back in the 1970s, but its operations had ended before the turn of the 21st Century.

Given the challenges facing air travellers, including poor service and high airfares, persons have been calling on the new Government to pursue the reestablishment of the national airline.

However, Minister Patterson indicated that any such development would be a long-term goal given the high costs attached to the operation and management of an airline.

In the meantime, Government said it would continue to work to meet the other targets required to attain Category One status.

Meanwhile, in an update on the expansion works at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Patterson told Guyana Times that he only last week met with officials of the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), and they briefly discussed the risk elements. Government, he reminded, is aiming for completion by the second quarter of 2017.

According to him, there were several delays, mostly in part for residents to be relocated from the northern side of the runway. He reminded that an agreement has already been reached between Government and the residents, and this process was expected to be completed by February next year.

When that is completed, he said, works on the northern section will commence.

“On the terminal building, they are about to start on that. We will be having a new arrival hall, next to where the existing hall is.

The entire terminal building will be renovated to have the check-in and departure lounge,” he updated.

In keeping with the interest of bringing the CJIA up to par with internation-

al standards, the previous Administration had budgeted some $150 million for the airport expansion project.

However, Government said the $150 million was insufficient and, therefore, decided to redesign the model to suit the budget.

Minister Patterson announced that the new design would allow for the extension of the runway; however, instead of constructing a new terminal, works would be done to renovate and enhance the existing terminal.

Airport security

Minister Patterson also alluded to the enhancement of airport security at the CJIA, disclosing that Government was currently engaging several international firms on security details needed to improve existing airport security.

Particularly, he stated that Government was in discussions with a Canadian firm that provided security to Israel and was currently accepting proposals from that company regarding the improvement of the security at the CJIA. C o n s e q u e n t l y , Government arrived at two options: where it either hires one of the international firms to provide the security or hire them as consultants and have Guyana conduct its own procurement process to establish the necessary measures for security.

Digicel Marketing Director Jacqueline James and Public Communications Manager Vidya Sanchara pose with some of the winners

T

he first 10 winners of the Digicel Merry Mansion Reloaded game show were on Wednesday presented with over $5 million in cash and prizes.

Each customer participating in the game show had instantly received $100,000 cash for spelling ‘M-A-N-SI-O-N’ and won other cash and prizes in the Mansion.

The 10 were the first to search the Digicel Merry Mansion for millions and other prizes. The winners were Ronald Smith, who won $860,000; Elton David, who carted off $780,000; Lalman Bissoondeholl, who collected $50,000 and FREE CREDIT in the amount of $20,000; Odetta Murphy, who won herself $335,000 and a DL910; Angelica Williams, who walked away with $760,000 and FREE CREDIT to the tune of $10,000 with a six months

data plan and Poonam Baird, who won $95,000 and a DL 910.

In addition, Gopaul Morgan won $160,000 and a six months data plan; Cindy Sampson won $440,000, a 55’’ Flat Screen Smart TV and an Ashley Sofa Set; Mahendra Sookoo carted off $570,000, a Washing Machine and a Samsung S6, while Ronda Lewis won $420,000, a six months data plan, a 55’’ Flat Screen Smart TV, FREE CREDIT to the tune of $10,000 and a refrigerator.

The Merry Mansion Reloaded Promotion began on November 20 and will run until December 31, 2015.

Customers topping up with $500 or more electronically would have a letter sent to their handsets, while customers who purchase the Merry Mansion Reloaded scratch cards of $500 or $1000 would get a

letter printed on the card; once all the letters are collected to spell M-A-N-SI-O-N, customers will instantly win $100,000 cash, and the chance to be one of the lucky persons who will search for millions of dollars in cash and prizes in the Digicel Merry Mansion.

Digicel customers can collect letters both electronically and using the scratch cards. Customers who top up electronically can text WIN to “1441” to check the letters they have collected.

Also customers can call into Customer Care by dialling 100 from their Digicel handsets to verify if they are actual winners.

There will be a final game show after the qualifying period ends on December 31, which will be broadcasted on NCN TV across the country; keep checking Digicel’s Social Media sites for updates.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, december 31, 2015

News

The traditional Old 30% of fire still burning Year’s Night – Site Manager Haags Bosch Landfill

– garbage still being diverted

A

raging fire continues to burn at the Haags Bosch Landfill at Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara, despite efforts by the Guyana Fire Service to douse the flames.

Site Manager of the Haags Bosch Landfill Lloyd Stanton told Guyana Times during an interview on Wednesday that fire tenders arrived at the scene earlier in the day to extinguish the fire but only succeeded in dousing about 70 per cent of the blaze.

“It is still burning. About 70 per cent of it is out. I suspect they (Fire Service) are going to come again tomorrow (today),” Stanton stated.

The Site Manager had previously told this newspaper that the approach by the Guyana Fire Service is almost useless since they would douse part of the fire and leave, the flames would simply reignite.

He explained that the Fire Service has been back and forth at the dumpsite since fire broke out two Sundays ago.

He posited that for a fire of such magnitude to be “completely put out” the fastest and wisest course of

action would be to have fire tenders and firemen stationed at the landfill site on a 24 hours basis to battle the flames and smoke.

“If I have the resources, I can have the fire and smoke gone within 48 to 72 hrs but I don’t. You can’t out a part of the fire and leave because once you leave it, it is going to escalate. The fire will reignite if it is not properly put out and left unattended,” the man stated.

According to the Site Manager, from the inception, the fire service had not taken his advice when they arrived at the scene two Sundays ago and proceeded to extinguish the fire by simply “spraying water all over the place”.

However, to date, the fire service is yet to take

into consideration the recommendation of the Site Manager of having fire tenders stationed at the Haags Bosch Landfill to battle the fire on a shift system.

In the meantime, garbage is still being diverted to other dumpsites.

The disposal of garbage was temporarily redirected to the Mandela Dumpsite in Georgetown. However, residents expressed objections to this decision and subsequently, Mayor Hamilton Green instructed that the garbage be taken to Lusignan dumpsite.

Guyana Times was told that residents of that community have also objected to this move by the Mayor and City Council, citing that the East Coast has its own garbage problems.

Eileen Rowe

O

ld Year’s festivities are one of the most world-renowned celebrations to ring in the New Year. This social gathering takes the form of people going to church, partying and having a merry time to welcome the New Year.

Amid the hustle and bustle, the highly scented aromas of the traditional cook-up rice can be smelt from many kitchens.

Fire crackers can be heard in the open air and the laughter of many children through the streets.

Residents of the Byers Senior Citizen Home located on Robb Street, Georgetown were all in high spirits to share their past experiences of Old Year’s Tradition in their youthful years.

Speaking with Guyana Times, an excited Eileen Rowe was all in glee to share her experience.

Although advanced in age and the oldest member of the home, she described herself as the “limelight”, noting that she tried to keep everyone lively and happy. With much excitement in her voice, she explained that Old Year’s Day for her came with much excitement. She assisted in the preparation of her family’s Old Year’s Day meal which consisted of pepperpot and provisions. As she grew older, she became aware of the traditional cook-up.

In the early 1940s, she spent her youthful years partying every New Year’s Eve. “My best dances were the jitterbug and waltz. I danced my life away, partying all night until the break of dawn.”

As she grew older instead of partying, she began going to church on Old Year’s Night and spent the rest of her night at home reflecting on the past year.

This, she said, began in the early 1980s, and this pattern of life continued until she took up residence at

Lilian George

the Byers home.

Another resident, Lillian George joyfully expressed her thoughts on her well-spent youthful Old Year’s Nights. She was born and raised in Essequibo into an Anglican family. As a young girl, she assisted her mother every Old Year’s Eve in the preparation of their traditional Old Year’s Night meal which comprised provisions (mainly plantains), pepperpot, ham and black pudding. After the meal was prepared, she attended the St Barnabas Anglican Church with her family.

She related that as she grew older instead of going to church, her life turned to the ‘bright side’ of attending several parties on Old Year’s Night. “The partying continued until I became a grown woman.”

When she took up resi-

Caroline Chichester

dence at the Byers home, the partying eventually ceased.

Her house mate Caroline Chichester welcomed the long-awaited moment to reminisce on her youthful Old Year’s experiences. “I was born and raised in a strict Catholic family, in the small village of Cottage, Mahaicony. Old Year’s Night for me was a typical one.”

In a quiet tone, she expressed that she was tasked with the responsibility of helping to prepare the Old Year’s Night meal which consisted of provisions (boiled and fried), pepperpot and cook-up made with a mixture of beans. She explained in a solemn tone she was never granted the opportunity to attend parties, or experience the bright side of life. After the meal was prepared, she prepared for Midnight Mass which she attended with her family.

After Mass was over, a few family friends were invited over for dinner, which was served by her family. They then took some time to share their experiences on bittersweet memories over the past year.

“In spite I never had the chance to enjoy the luxuries of life in my young days, I’m happy to say I kept my family’s traditions up to this present moment,” Chichester cheerfully expressed. However, since taking up residence at the home, she has been unable to attend Mass every year-end, but she reflects on her life.

Traditions of Old Year’s Night celebrations still remain with us to the present age although changes are seen. Apart from the eating and drinking which are customary, at midnight a beautiful array of fireworks can be seen floating across the sky to herald in the New Year. Champagne bottles are popped at many social gatherings as almost every club and night spot is packed for a party.

thursday, december 31, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the world

Surinam Airways South Korean ‘comfort women’ and board protest against accord with Japan CEO sacked by President

H

undreds of South Korean protesters joined two surviving former “comfort women” on Wednesday to denounce an agreement with Japan to resolve an issue stemming from Japan’s wartime past that has long plagued ties between neighbours.

The two “comfort women”, as those who were forced to work at Japan’s wartime military brothels are euphemistically known, criticised the Government for agreeing with Japan on Monday to “finally and irreversibly” settle the issue.

“The Government cannot be trusted,” said one of the women, Lee Yong-su, 88.

She said she and fellow survivors were never consulted

Students hold portraits of deceased former South Korean ‘’comfort women’’ during a weekly anti-Japan rally in front of Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea, December 30

by officials at they negotiated the agreement.

“We will continue to fight until the end,” she said. She

and the other protesters, including students, Opposition legislators and civic activists, are demanding what

they call a sincere apology from Japan and formal compensation for victims.

“We did nothing wrong,” Lee said. “Japan took us to be comfort women and still tries to deny its crime.”

Under the agreement, Japan will establish a fund to help surviving victims and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe renewed an apology.

The United States, keen to see its Asian allies improve ties, welcomed the accord. The protesters spilled onto the street in front of Japan’s embassy in Seoul and milled around a bronze statue of a barefoot teenage girl, symbolising the women forced to work in the Japanese brothels. (Excerpt from Reuters)

F

acing major financial constraints, and mounting pressure from the public to address corruption and money-losing public companies, Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse brought down the hammer at Surinam Airways (SLM). On Monday, he sacked CEO Ewald Henshuijs and the entire Board of Directors of SLM for what he termed “major blunders”.

The money losing Stateowned airline has been plagued by nepotism, poor management and Government interference.

For decades the airline has been suffering from financial hemorrhaging.

On Monday, Bouterse announced the departure of the CEO and the board.

He immediately appointed Louis Voigt as Chairman of

the new board.

In the dark was also presidential advisor on aviation, Gerard Brunings, who himself did not accomplish much in advancing the aviation industry in Suriname.

For over three years Suriname has apparently been unable to conclude aviation treaties with such countries like Ghana, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. The airport expansion and modernisation are still incomplete.

The country still lacks air connectivity and many accuse the Government of not doing enough to bring more carriers to Suriname.

According to Bouterse, SLM made a major blunder in its latest acquisition of an Airbus 340. This, the President said, was the “blunder that broke the camel’s back”. (Excerpt from Caribbean

Egypt, Ethiopia, China blames weather Sudan sign new for ship disaster, captain Trinidad PM restores deal on Nile dam may be prosecuted taxes, announces

E

gypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan have agreed on which firms will carry out studies on the potential impact of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam on the flow of the Nile, their Foreign and Water Ministers said.

Cairo and Addis Ababa had previously been locked in a bitter war of words over Ethiopia’s US$4 billion project. But in March, the leaders of the three countries signed a cooperation deal in the Sudanese capital Khartoum that paved the way for a joint approach to regional water supplies.

Following a two-day meeting of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan’s Foreign and Water Ministers, Khartoum’s chief diplomat, Ibrahim Ghandour, on Tuesday said two French firms BRL and Artelia had been tapped for the work.

Technical studies will start in February, when the six ministers are due to meet again, and will take between six and 15 months, Moataz Mousa, the Sudanese Water Minister, said.

The principles in the March agreement included giving priority to downstream countries for electricity generated by the dam, a mechanism for resolving conflicts, and providing compensation for damages.

Signatories also pledged to protect the interests of downstream countries when the dam’s reservoir is filled.

Addis Ababa has long complained that Cairo was pressuring donor countries and international lenders to withhold funding from the 6000 megawatt dam, which is being built by Italy’s largest construction firm Salini Impregilo Spa. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

A

formal inquiry has concluded that freak weather led to the sinking of a Yangtze River cruise ship in June that killed 442 people and recommended that the captain be investigated for possible crimes, media reported on Thursday.

A cabinet-level investigation team concluded the disaster was “caused by strong winds and heavy rains resulting from a squall line accompanied by a downburst, a very rare weather phenomenon”, the Xinhua state news agency said, citing investigators.

The inquiry also uncovered problems in the shipping company’s management and regulatory supervision, and investigators had “suggested” 43 people be

punished, Xinhua added.

Only 12 people survived when the Eastern Star capsized during the storm on June 1. Many of the passengers were elderly tourists. It was China’s worst shipping disaster in seven decades.

While the captain, Zhang Shunwen, tried to stabilise the ship it was overwhelmed by the sudden burst of wind and rain, and it took just a minute or so for it to flip over, Xinhua said.

But the captain was also unaware of the risks associated with the extreme weather, it added. Zhang should have his ship captaining qualifications cancelled and legal bodies should look into whether he is suspected of any crime, it said, without elaborating. (Excerpt from Reuters)

spending cuts as oil and gas earnings dip

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

El Niño weather ‘could be as bad L as 1998’, says NASA

T

he US space agency NASA has warned that the effects of the current El Niño weather phenomenon could be as bad as those of 1998, the strongest on record.

That El Niño played havoc with world weather systems and was blamed for several extreme weather events.

The current El Niño has been linked to several floods and unusually warm conditions in the northern hemisphere.

The phenomenon sees warm waters of the central Pacific expand eastwards towards North and South America. El Niño is a natu-

How the El Niño weather system has contributed to flooding in the US, Latin America and Arctic

rally occurring weather episode which happens every two to seven years.

It usually peaks late in

the calendar year, although the effects can persist well into the following spring and last up to 12 months. NASA

says the current El Niño “shows no signs of waning”, based on the latest satellite image of the Pacific Ocean.

It bears “a striking resemblance” to one from December 1997, the agency says, “the signature of a big and powerful El Niño”.

This year’s El Niño has been linked to the worst floods seen in 50 years in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

The floods there have forced more than 150,000 people from their homes – more than 100,000 of them in the Paraguayan capital alone. (Excerpt from BBC News)

News Now)

and and building taxes will be restored from next month; the Value Added Tax (VAT) regime will be revised; and Ministries, statutory boards and other Government agencies will have to cut expenses, as the Trinidadian Government tries to make up for significant drop in oil and gas earnings.

But Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has promised there will be no job cuts as part of the cost-cutting measures at this time.

In an address to residents of the oil-rich twinisland republic, broadcast on radio and television last night, Rowley said the continuing fall in oil and gas prices had resulted in a significant drop in the country’s export earnings, and with prices not expected to recovery any time soon, the Government had to take ac-

tion.

In June 2014, the price of West Texas Intermediate, (WTI), Trinidad’s benchmark crude oil, was US$106 per barrel. In December 2014, it had declined to US$59 and it is now in the region of US$36 per barrel.

Similarly, Rowley added, the price of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in the Japanese market decline from US$16.40/ mmbtu in June 2014 to US$15.70/ mmbtu in December 2014 and is now around US$9.00/ mmbtu.

“Fellow citizens, there is simply no way that other sectors of the economy can realistically be expected to compensate for the loss of export earnings from oil and gas; not in the short-run and not even in the medium-run... the fact is, today, we are where we are,” the Prime Minister said. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

16 news

THURsday, december 31, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

APNU/AFC committed to Child abuse fight to be making coalition work strengthened in 2016 – President Granger

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence

S Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan during a meeting of coalition Members of Parliament at the Ministry of the Presidency

P

resident David Granger has said that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition is bigger than “party and individual politicians” and urged members to continue to take their responsibility to the people of Guyana seriously. The Head of State made the statement during a meeting with coalition Members of Parliament on Wednesday during a meeting at the Ministry of the Presidency.

He noted that for the coalition to work, each member must work hard for the people of Guyana over the next five years and beyond.

The six-party coalition will be contesting the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGEs) as a single unit.

President Granger used the opportunity to reiterate his commitment to ensuring that LGEs are held every three years as constitutionally required, to ensure that the people of Guyana are ac-

tively involved in the governing of the country.

Referring to the results of the 2015 Elections, President Granger said, “This is a transformational event in Guyana’s political history and we have to make it work. We have to do everything possible to demonstrate to the Guyanese people that this is the form of Government that could deliver to them that good life. It is not just a temporary electoral expedient… it is the way of the future.

It is an inclusionary process that will give every community in Guyana, hinterland or coastland; of every ethnicity, of every religious group, of every social class and opportunity to have their voice heard.”

The President charged the parliamentarians to continue to work hard in the interest of the nation, since it is their core belief that the coalition is capable of delivering a better quality of governance to the people of

Guyana.

Adding that Government is a month away from delivering the 2016 Budget, President Granger called on the Members of Parliament to continue to engage in a process of national consultation so that the needs of the people can be adequately addressed. “We have to meet them. “We have to find out what their needs are, particularly now at this time of year when a month from now we will present our second budget. That budget has to be reflective of the needs of our people for development. That can only be truly reflective if there is a process of consultation with the people and a representation of their views.”

Also speaking during the meeting, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said that while there will be difficulties and challenges for the coalition, these must be overcome and called for a continued ‘unity of purpose’.

ocial Protection Minister Volda Lawrence has outlined that a more aggressive approach will be taken to tackle child abuse and child exploitation in the New Year.

At the Ministry’s yearend press conference on Wednesday, Minister Lawrence pointed out that one of the major challenges faced by the Ministry is finding a perfect solution to address the many issues affecting Guyanese children.

“The challenges faced by the Ministry of Social Protection are myriad: finding a permanent solution for the ongoing war against our children is nightmarish,” the Minister stated.

She noted that one of the top priorities of the Social Protection Ministry in the coming year would be the implementation of greater child protection policies.

Over 3000 reports of child abuse have been recorded at the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) during the course of 2015.

According to head of agency, Ann Greene, neglect was the highest number of reports, while sexual abuse reports exceeded the

600 mark.

Greene noted that throughout 2015, the Child Care and Protection Agency had to find alternative care for over 500 children who were placed in foster care and institution care.

However, she noted that the Agency is working to eliminate institutional care within the system.

“We try to make institutional care as the last resort but most times, institutions are all we have to provide alternative care for a child and it is not the best care but its life saving for children sometimes,” Greene stated.

The CCPA Head noted that there are too many children in institutions, hence the focus for the New Year would be the de-institutionalisation of the children.

Greene further noted that in 2016, the Social Protection Ministry will be rolling out a national awareness programme on child abuse to educate persons on detecting and reacting to abused children.

“Child protection is everybody’s business and we have to get the community to work towards protecting the children. We need to look at the way children are being treated, persons need to understand what abuse does to a child,” she emphasised.

The CCPA Head noted that the Agency will be collaborating with stakeholders to ensure awareness is raised. She underscored that these measures will enable CCPA to be proactive rather than reactive in dealing with child care matters.

Another initiative, Greene said the agency will be embarking on is working

Minister Harmon spreads holiday cheer to Pouderoyen children

M

inister of State, Joseph Harmon, in collaboration with his daughter, Daniele Harmon-Klien, on Sunday spread holiday cheer to more than 250 children of Phoenix Park, Pouderoyen, and other neighbouring communities on the West Bank of Demerara, at a holiday party held at the Minister’s home.

The children were treated with sweets and gifts to celebrate the season of giving. The Minister told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that his childhood was spent in that same area and as such, it was a way of giving back to the community.

“You have to give back.

You have to remember your roots. When we started, there were about 50 children. Now we have grown

to almost 250 and I think the community has benefited tremendously from this activity. The children are happy. They all enjoy it and look forward to it. When we embrace the spirit of giving, we want to engage and embrace every person in this community. I grew up here and I am just giving back,” Minister Harmon said.

Meanwhile, HarmonKlien, who is based in the United States, said that it was a joy to come back home for the holidays and to share with the community where her father spent his childhood.

“My dad raised us to understand the value of everything that we have been blessed with, but we also understand where we came from … and so nine years ago, [I realised that] the stuff we get for Christmas

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon extends Christmas greetings to the children

are [things] we don’t need, so I asked my friends and family that instead of giving me presents, to contribute

what they would like and I started this based on that,” she said.

Seven-year-old Badia

Williams, who was at the party, excitedly said, “I am having fun here. I got toys and lots of candy.”

Head of CCPA Ann Greene

with parents and families of abused children. She explained that when a child is removed from a home, there is no work being done with the families because the staff of CCPA is swamped with rescuing children.

However, she noted this is something to be changed in the coming year.

“The ultimate goal is always for the child to return to their family… but we are hoping that with collaborations with our partners, we will be able to prove more support for parents to strengthen them to really take better care of the children,” she remarked.

According to Greene, a special programme will be established for these families, whom in most cases suffer from issues such as mental health, substance and alcohol abuse, poverty and domestic abuse.

Furthermore, the head of CCPA urged persons not to contribute to child exploitation by giving money to those begging on streets.

Instead, she noted that persons should report such cases for appropriate actions to be taken.

“Whenever you put a dollar in a child’s hand, you are contributing to exploitation of the child. So we will be sensitising persons that instead of doing that, you find out a little more about the child and link them to services,” she stated.

On the other hand, Chief Probation Officer Gavin Munroe, outlined that in the New Year, his department will be focused on the youth development section including probation policy for youths who have been charged with non-violent or non-criminal acts. This, he noted, will be done in efforts to avoid an overpopulated prison.

Additionally, the Chief Probation Officer presented a number of other plans which entails the reinforcement of exercises to reduce the amount of Children at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) and special training programmes for the youths at the NOC so that they are better skilled when they leave the institution.

17 Anti-Terrorism Bill passed news

thursday, december 31, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

3 killed in Carifesta Ave smash-up

Robert Pyle

T

hree persons were killed in an accident on Wednesday evening after two vehicles collided on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown. The accident occurred around 22:00h.

Dead are married couple Robert and Stacy Pyle of Paradise, East Coast Demerara, who were travelling in a motor car, as well as the driver of the Canter, GSS 8563, that collided with them who was identified as Linden Eastman of Prashad Nagar, Greater Georgetown.

Guyana Times understands that Robert was a Sergeant attached to the Guyana Defence Force, while his 26-year-old wife was a nurse at the Davis Memorial Hospital.

Eastman is said to be a contract Canter driver, who operates from outside the Courts Main Street Branch in Georgetown. Up to press time, his body had not been identified by family members.

While details surrounding the accident remain sketchy, this newspaper

understands that the car had overtaken the Canter after which the two collided.

Robert reportedly died instantly whereas his wife bled out after being pinned in the vehicle.

Eastman was also reportedly alive after the crash, but he too bled out at the scene.

About four fire trucks had arrived on the scene to assist in removing the bodies.

A relative of the Pyles told media operatives at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation

Stacy Pyle

were heading home when they met their demise. At the GPHC, family members were inconsolable. Robert and Stacy Pyles were par-

The aftermath of the accident

(GPHC) that Robert was called out to report to duty, but first went to pick up his wife at her workplace. They

ents to two young children, one of whom recently celebrated his sixth birthday.

– Opposition abstains from vote, urges Bill be sent to Special Select Committee

BY EDWARD LAYNE

A

mid heated debate from both sides of the National Assembly, the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill 2015 was passed on Wednesday evening, without the support of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

While the PPP abstained from voting on the Bill, it must be noted also that Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine also abstained from voting, giving the indication that the Minister was not in agreement with the Bill in its current form.

Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) lobbied for the Bill to be sent to a Special Parliamentary Select Committee to allow for there to be consultation and input from stakeholders, including the Guyana Human Rights Association.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams who tabled the Bill said the legislation comes at a time when terrorism is gripping the world and many nations are moving to put counter measures in place.

“It is times for nations to stand up in the fight against terrorism,” Williams declared, adding that, “this Bill before this honourable House seeks to criminalise terrorism in its various forms.”

He noted that the Bill seeks to correct a Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) recommendation.

PPP/C MP Clement Rohee said while the Opposition stands ready to support law that fights terrorism, the Party looks at the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill with mixed feelings.

“While we support the Government’s effort to comply with international con-

Pension books to be replaced by ID cards

I

n an effort to be up to par with technological advancements, the Social Protection Ministry is looking to have the books issued to cash Old Age Pension and public assistance vouchers be replaced by Identification (ID) cards in a year’s time.

This was announced by subject Minister Volda Lawrence on Wednesday at the Ministry’s year-end press conference. According to the Minister, “Pensioners will now receive a book to cover the calendar year (2016) instead of the traditional six months. But by 2017, their ID cards will replace the books”.

With this new initiative, the Social Protection Minister explained that her Ministry will be tackling two issues, that is, cost and efficiency. Minister Lawrence pointed out that the books are very cumbersome and costly in that the Ministry would often have to reprint

books for those who misplace their original ones.

“One woman came to the office and made a report that she had lost her book and could not find it for several months only to come back and tell us, when we would have already printed a new book, that she had found it – she had it in her bag walking with it for several months,” the Minister noted.

Additionally, the Minister noted that security was another factor considered in replacing the booklets. She noted that there would be an information technology (IT) system put in place at the various post offices, where persons would use their ID cards to access and uplift their pension or public assistance for the month.

“At the same time, that information would be generated back into our offices.

It also gives us security features, in that we can ready

disarm a person who, for whatever reason, ought not to be drawing down on the monies,” she mentioned.

Lawrence further explained that if there is a death of a pensioner, the Ministry would not have to wait on the list, which usually comes long after, while other persons are drawing out the pension and public assistance money.

According to the Social Protection Minister, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government believes that it must support all Guyanese through improved service delivery, greater efficiency, cutting the response time in meeting public needs, and creating new and innovative ways in helping improve the quality of their lives and the generations to come.

On this note, she outline that Guyanese will continue to benefit from improved

safety nets, including significant increases in the Old Age Pension; a stronger focus on gender mainstreaming including crafting a national policy; stricter enforcement of the nation’s labour laws; greater child protection policies; increased and more timely responses to social ills; and more frequent consultations with stakeholders on the way forward.

The Social Protection Minister further remarked that while the several months in office, and the year by extension, was a challenging one especially financially, her Ministry was able to beat the odds and grant increases in several areas such as Old Age Pension and public assistance payments.

“We are finding ways to overcome the existing challenges we confront and we plan doing so in the future,” she outlined.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams

ventions, there are certain matters that require further consultation,” Rohee said, adding that “Let us not overlook, in our zeal, the human rights issues. The challenge lies what we are aspiring to do vis-à-vis this legislation and the human rights that may be caught up in this matter.”

Rohee suggested that the Bill go along with a well-developed anti-terrorism strategy, especially in face of the seriousness off the legislation.

“I would like to appeal to the members of the Government benches to bring stakeholders together,” he said. “This is a wicked piece of Bill, “Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira declared as she opened her presentation, adding that ramrodding the Bill through Parliament will lead to an “extremely dangerous piece of legislation.”

She added dismissed as a fallacy, Williams’ claim that the Bill is a CFATF requirement, pointing out that the CFATF recommendations to which the Attorney General refers, were already addressed in the Anti-Money Launderings and Countering the Financing for Terrorism Bill passed in the house back in July 2015.

Teixeira warned that Government against ramrodding the Bill through the house, but should be well thought out so as to ensure that it does not trample on the human rights of people, especially as it relates to targeting persons based on association, religion, ethnicity and other factors.

She also warned about sections of the Bill which deal with extradition provisions and “over exuberance” in complying with international treaties and laws, among other challenges.

She declared the Bill as incomplete and therefore urged that it is committed to

a Special Sect Committee for further perusal.

Guyana Times understands that Government failed to include their own amendments when voting and passing the Bill through the National Assembly.

“Draconian times demand draconian measures… that is what the exigencies of this time demands,” declared Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan as he opened his debate on the Bill.

Ramjattan, an Attorney by profession, stated that Guyana cannot distance itself from the global war on terror and the need to prevent “safe havens” for terrorists.

“We have to be extraordinarily determined… we must not have terrorism be cultivated in this territory,” he said.

Ramjattan said the passage of the Bill in Guyana will send a message to the ‘ABC’ (America, Canada and Britain) that Guyana is “not a rouge state” and one that protects the liberal, constitutional and democratic order.

Meanwhile, Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall said once Guyana is required to meet international requirements, the PPP is willing to give overwhelming support.

“This Bill does not chronicle the international requirements we have to meet and that is my concern. This debate has gone on like an unruly horse,” he declared.

Nandlall said the Bill as is, does not address the core issues that will terrorism. “If we pass this tomorrow Sir, we will not be any better off than we are today… that’s why I am saying lets go to a Special Select Committee and work to get the Bill that is required” The Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Bill 2015 – Bill No 16 of 2015 essentially seeks to criminalise terrorism and terrorist related activities and to provide for the detection, prevention, prosecution, conviction and punishment of terrorism and terrorist related activities.

Williams had tabled the Bill at the December 17 sitting of the House, but it was deferred for consideration after concerns from the political Opposition and civil society about non-consultation.

Consultations were held on Monday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thurSday, DECember 31, 2015

ARCHIE

Start your New Year’s resolutions immediately. Putting (March 21- a budget in place or setting up April 19) a health regimen that will ensure you are at your best will make you feel good and look fabulous.

ARIES

Consider who is an asset TAURUS and who isn’t. Weed out the (April 20- people who are always taking May 20) and never giving back. Insist on doing what’s best for you as you head into the new year.

dilbert

Don’t go overboard ringGEMINI (May 21- ing in the new year. Problems June 20) will erupt if you are indulgent or insist on spending time with people looking for trouble. Choose your friends and lovers carefully.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Make a couple of personal changes and you will be happy with the results and the compliments you receive.

A relationship with someone will take a positive turn. Plan to have some fun.

Let go of anything that LEO isn’t working for you. Attend (July 23a celebration that offers a Aug. 22) chance to mingle with people you want to collaborate with next year.

Calvin and Hobbes

Question anything that VIRGO doesn’t sit right with you.

(Aug. 23Stop allowing people to put Sept. 22) unrealistic demands on you.

Get out and socialise with people who share your interests, concerns and ambitions.

Don’t overdo it. A small LIBRA (Sept. 23- gathering or a relaxing evenOct. 23) ing with someone you love will help you ease into the new year gracefully and without trepidation.

SUDOKU

Plan a get-together with the SCORPIO people you share common in(Oct. 24terests with. An unusual beginNov. 22) ning to the new year will unfold as you discuss ideas regarding lifestyle changes. Share your creative imagination.

You’ll be tempted to overSAGITTARIUS do it. Problems while trave(Nov. 23- ling or with regard to your Dec. 21) physical well-being are likely.

Personal relationships will be tested. Don’t start the year off on the wrong foot.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You will have greater inCAPRICORN sight into what you want to (Dec. 22- do next year. Summon the Jan. 19) people you want to share ideas with and make plans for the future.

Put a stop to whatever or AQUARIUS (Jan. 20- whoever has been dragging Feb. 19) you down. New and exciting opportunities are within reach, but first you will have to clear the clutter standing in your way.

It’s a good time to embrace PISCES (Feb. 20- change. Holding on to the March 20) past or clinging to something that isn’t feasible or realistic is fruitless. Look forward and adopt new ideas and plans that fit into current trends.

thursday, december 31, 2015

19

GFA/Banks Beer Cup…

Western Tigers, Riddim Squad to square off in final

By Akeem Greene

T

he finalists of the January 1 Georgetown Football Association’s Banks Beer Cup Knockout football have been decided, with Western Tigers coming up against Riddim Squad.

The two teams recorded contrasting semi-final victories on Tuesday night at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.

In the first semi-final, Western Tigers trounced New Amsterdam United 3-0 through goals from Ryan Adolph (72nd), Dwayne Ali ( 82nd) and Randolph Wagner (85th), while Riddim Squad defeated Santos 3-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.

Western Tigers and New Amsterdam United had come into the game on the back of a barrage of goals in their previous games, and they were set to thrill the fans in attendance in the semi-final showdown.

In the 28th minute, New Amsterdam United’s No.5 Delroy Fraser took a shot on goal when he wrapped the ball around his left foot and sent it curving into the left post. It would take a diving effort form the goalkeeper to stop it from entering the net.

The first half continued to offer chances for both

Western Tigers marksmen! From right: Ryan Adolph, Randolph Wagner and Dwayne Ali

teams, but lack a proper passing and ball control hampered the realisation of goals, as the half ended nilall.

The second half began with a greater desire by both teams to open their account, as in the 49th minute, Western Tigers had a goal denied due to the flag being raised for off side.

The battle continued and Western Tigers, who were dressed in black and yellow, looked set to finally break the deadlock, but Eron Hayde in the 70th missed a simple chance.

The opportunity was created when No.7 Dwayne Ali had a pressing run at goal in which he took a shot, but

the New Amsterdam United goalie deflected it to the right corner.

By this time the Berbice team’s back line had already collapsed and Hayde went wide on the right after the ball, but only could muster a weak shot into the side net.

Two minutes later, Adolph scored by a simple push to the right of the New Amsterdam United custodian. The goal was flooded with players from both teams as they looked to gain control of the ball as it became loose and Adolph capitalised.

New Amsterdam United’s No.10 Joshua Butts, along with his brother Jamal Butts, often when

given the long ball caused serious head ache for the Western Tigers backline, especially Jamal, who made several speedy runs on goal, but lacked the support.

It was difficult for Jamal Butts to win balls in the air due to his short stature and the Tiger’s back four were extremely tall men. In the 77th Joshua Butts was denied by a brilliant dive by the Tiger’s goalie. The shot on goal was powerful strike form his right foot as he jostled with the defender and took the shot from the edge of the penalty box.

The excitement never dimmed as in the 82nd, Ali scored from six yards inside the box with a gentle

push left of goal. The second goal by Western Tiger certainly dented the hopes of the Berbicians, and three minutes later, Wagner, who has been having a phenomenal run in the tournament so far, did not disappoint the Tigers’ fans.

Wagner, running from the left side, used his right foot to sail the ball over the goalkeeper’s head to end any hopes New Amsterdam United had of staying alive.

The score line however, did not do justice to the game played, as New Amsterdam United certainly posed a serious threat, but often failed to capitalise by having a lack of men on the ball when going forward.

Santos FC v Riddim Squad

Unlike the preceding game, it took little time for the score line to change as Santos FC’s Jobe Caeser scored in the sixth minute.

Caeser battle with a defender as he carried the ball into the penalty box where he tucked it to the left of the goalie to spark wild celebrations by fans and teammates due to the composure Caeser displayed.

Caesar was again on the attack, but was denied in the 18th minutes by a diving Riddim Squad goalkeep-

er. Riddim Squad’s Sceyon Hope in the 22nd equalised for the Mocha side due to fortuitous penalty.

The intriguing battle of youth and experience continued to unfold, when Santos No.7 Dwayne McLennon made a valiant run on goal in the 38th, but failed to convert as the half ended 1-1.

The second half unfortunately did not muster the same amount of excitement until late when Santos goalkeeper Sheldon Hope pulled out a diving save to keep out a rocket strike by a Riddim Squad strike man.

Regulation time ended with both teams on even keel, forcing the game to extra time.

It was Caeser again in the action with a clear opportunity to seal the game, as he hit the ball straight to the keeper when he was standing just about five yards from goal.

On the penalty spot, Riddim Squad would convert three, while Santos managed two.

Western Tigers will now take on Riddim squad in the final, while Santos FC will tackle New Amsterdam United in the third place playoff on Friday evening at the National Stadium, Providence. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

CTSC Family Fun Day/Cricket matches…

Gaffoor leads Cotton Tree Die Hard to 60-run win

R

The successful Cotton Tree Die Hard players pose with their trophies

oshan Gaffoor turned in a brilliant allround effort to lead Cotton Tree Die Hard to a comprehensive 60-run win

over D’Edward Sports Club recently when the Cotton Tree Sports Club (CTSC) staged a Family Fun Day and two cricket matches.

Playing at the Cotton Tree ground, the hosts were inserted to take first strike, and they took full advantage of familiar conditions

to pile up 212-6 from the allotted 20 overs.

Romain Boodram led the way with a fine 55, and he received solid support from Roshan Gaffoor and Pooran Persaud with 42 each, and Nick Ramsaroop 41.

Bowling for D’Edward SC, Heeralall Brijlall took 3-28.

Roshan Gafoor then took 4-26 from four overs, Nashad Gaffoor 2-29 and Pooran Persaud 2-40, as D’Edward folded for 152 in reply. Brijlall returned to score 24. Roshan Gaffoor was named Man-of-theMatch.

In the Under-19 game that preceded the feature match, D’Edward posted 110 in 10 overs and dismissed Cotton Tree Die Hard for 98 to win by 12 runs.

Apart from the on-

Roshan Gaffoor (right) receives the Man-of-the-Match trophy

field action, there were Christmas giveaways and a bouncy castle was in operation all day, while each child was given an ice cream upon entering the venue.

Trophies for the day’s activities were sponsored

by Tiger Sports of Old Road, Enmore, East Coast Demerara, while other supporters of the event were Shabeer Baksh of Big B’s Restaurant of Blairmont, Altaf Khan and Faizal of Greens Massive.

20

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, december 31, 2015

South Africa v England, 1st Test, Durban, 5th day…

England surge to mighty 241-run victory I

nspired by Moeen Ali, it took England just 24 overs to surge to an overwhelming 241-run victory on the final morning in Durban. AB de Villiers, South Africa’s last realistic hope of salvaging something, fell in the first over of the day and there was scant resistance after that as England went 1-0 up in the first Test of an overseas series for only the second time since 2004.

Although South Africa were four down overnight, after the late dismissal of Faf du Plessis on the fourth evening, England might have expected to be made to work reasonably hard to extract the last six wickets, but it all came surprisingly swiftly for them. In the

Moeen Ali was outstanding with the ball for England

made a habit of setting the tone early in an innings in a bowling stint. Broad removed Stiaan van Zyl second ball of the first innings then claimed Temba Bavuma second ball of the third day and Moeen contin-

SCOREBOARD England 1st innings 303 South Africa 1st innings 214 England 2nd innings 326 South Africa 2nd innings (target: 416 runs) 40 D Elgar c Root b Finn S van Zyl b Stokes 33 HM Amla* c †Bairstow b Finn 12 AB de Villiers† lbw b Ali 37 F du Plessis c Cook b Finn 9 DW Steyn b Finn 2 T Bavuma st †Bairstow b Ali 0 JP Duminy not out 26 KJ Abbott lbw b Ali 2

end, it was over 20 minutes before lunch when Morne Morkel was lbw to Stuart Broad with South Africa’s last seven wickets tumbling for 38 from the dismissal of du Plessis.

In the field, England

DL Piedt c Taylor b Woakes 0 M Morkel lbw b Broad 8 Extras: (b-2, lb-3) 5 Total: (all out; 71 overs) 174 Fall of wickets: 1-53 (van Zyl, 10.5 ov), 2-85 (Amla, 20.2 ov), 3-88 (Elgar, 22.4 ov), 4-136 (du Plessis, 46.3 ov), 5-136 (de Villiers, 47.3 ov), 6-136 (Bavuma, 49.3 ov), 7-138 (Steyn, 52.3 ov), 8-143 (Abbott, 55.3 ov), 9-155 (Piedt, 63.6 ov), 10-174 (Morkel, 70.6 ov) Bowling: SCJ Broad 13-5-291, CR Woakes 10-5-25-1, ST Finn 15-6-42-4, BA Stokes 7-1-26-1, MM Ali 26-9-47-3

ued the theme on the final day with his third delivery of the morning when, from round the wicket, he got one to straighten at de Villiers who was playing deep in his crease. De Villiers called for the DRS - he had to, really -

but the ball was pitching in line and clipping leg stump.

Jonny Bairstow had a fourth day of contrasting fortunes - a key innings of 79 followed by the missed stumping offered by de Villiers - so there was a heartening moment for him when he took the opportunity presented

by Bavuma when he walked past a delivery from Moeen, which slid on past the outside edge. It was a simpler stumping chance as the ball did not spin sharply like the one Bairstow missed, but he took it confidently and his team-mates were quick to congratulate him.

Moeen had a third for the morning when the angle from round the wicket worked again as Kyle Abbott was trapped on the back foot. His seven-wicket match haul was the second best of his career after the eight he claimed against India, at the Ageas Bowl, in 2014.

Steven Finn continued his impressive work from the previous day, giving the nightwatchman Dale Steyn a working over before knocking back the off stump with a fuller delivery. Broad was

the outstanding quick in the first innings, but Finn took that honour second time around.

Before play, James Anderson bowled six highintensity overs on the outfield and appears on track to return for the Cape Town Test. That would mean a likely omission for Chris Woakes, presuming all the pacemen pull up well from their exertions here, but he at least managed to open his wicket tally for the Test - a game where he has bowled consistently at good pace when Dane Piedt popped a catch to short leg.

With just two days between Tests, the extra few hours off England earned themselves will be welcomed by the fast bowlers but, barring the lack of a century and Bairstow’s two errors, it is South Africa with all the problems heading into the New Year Test at Newlands.

It has been a 2015 to forget in Test cricket for South Africa, but a year of transition for England’s five-day outfit has concluded with a significant success. (Cricinfo)

SWAF/MCSC T20 Competition…

West Siders La Grange crowned champions

W

ith both teams qualifying for the final convincingly, the stage was set for a grand showdown, but it all became a one-sided affair as West Siders La Grange easily got the better of Independence B, when the Sweet Water Aqua Farm (SWAF)/Multi Cultural Sports Club (MCSC) T20 competition concluded recently.

Taking first strike, Independence B struggled throughout their innings, as wickets kept tumbling, but managed to score 141 all out from 18 of their allotted 20 overs. Excellent bowling by David Albert caused the collapse in the Independence B batting line-up. Albert picked up 3-15 off four overs.

Batting for Independence B, Safraz Persaud was the only batsman that put up some resistance, scoring a gutsy 31.

Chasing 142 for victo-

Members of the West Siders La Grange team strike a pose with the championship trophy

ry, West Siders La Grange cruised to victory, hitting off the runs in 13 overs.

Raja Ramcharran was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his unbeaten 61, seeing his team victory. West Siders La Grange reached their target, losing just two wickets along the way. At

the presentation ceremony which followed, trophies and cash prizes were presented to both teams.

SWAF/MCSC would like to extend its gratitude to the West Demerara Cricket Umpires Association for their support throughout the competition; as well other

stakeholders who made this venture a reality. The sponsors of the competition were Saio Isahak and Dwarka Dhanpaul Mathura. SWAF/ MSC will be continuing along this route in the coming year, with the launch of a 40-over competition in January.

Major Improvements for table tennis in 2016, says coach Johnson

By Akeem Greene

T

able tennis players are expected to have a wide range of activities in the coming year, which are centered on developing the current crop of players and attracting new ones.

Veteran table tennis coach, Linden Johnson, speaking to Guyana Times Sport, revealed that 2015 was a difficult year, but believes the New Year will bring about some level of change.

“2015 was bit off a stiff year for us because it was elections, and most of the sponsors did not come onboard, but I expect the New Year to be better,” Johnson envisaged.

In December, the Ministry of EducationDepartment of Sport/ National Sports Commission in collaboration with the Guyana Table Tennis Association hosted a one day Umpire Table Tennis workshop at the National Gymnasium.

Participants totaling 16 from Essequibo, Linden, Berbice, East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara and Georgetown are now better equipped with the necessary knowledge on table tennis umpiring after the a one day event.

Also in December, teachers from Secondary Schools in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) were better equipped with necessary knowledge on table tennis coaching after a two-day seminar. During the two-day seminar, the teachers were enlightened on the basics of table tennis. They were given coaching manuals and most of the schools have received racqets and balls.

The training was specifically done so that table tennis can be a part of activities in schools.

Johnson explained that these visits were all in the keeping with the developmental initiative. He further added, “We have an outreach programme in 2016 where we wish to tackle school to bring new players into the game. We are looking to have more camps; we had about three camps this year before we travelled to North America and will look to see if we can have camps on Saturdays and Sundays.”

He also added that there will be a training camp in Europe, and the Guyana Table Tennis Association is looking to send two to three players to that camp.

In November, a Guyanese national table tennis squad returned with three gold and two bronze medals

Linden Johnson

from the North American Team championships held from November 26-29 at the Maryland National Resort.

The Level Two table tennis coach commended Chelsea Eghill for her performances during 2015, as it shows Guyana has talented players. Edghill, a Caribbean and National Junior Champion, and junior Olympian secured a partial scholarship to Lindenwood University, Missouri, U.S.A., commencing August 24 last on account of her sport and academic exploits.

The scholarship is expected to last for five years and will allow the three-time National Sportswoman-ofthe-Year to actively train, play and participate in highlevel competitions against top level players on a consistent basis with a view of qualifying for the 2020 Olympics.

In addition, Edghill is grouped alongside highly ranked world-class players from Poland, Brazil and Ghana among others on the female team and will be under the tutelage of coach Chance Key. The inter-collegiate table tennis circuit is becoming a nurturing ground for some of the world’s best table tennis athletes/players.

As it regards events, Johnson disclosed that a greater effort will be made to bring more overseas payers to local tournaments to give Guyanese players more exposure. “For the Mashramani tournament, we want to invite some players from Trinidad, Barbados and Suriname to come in our tournaments. For the Independence tournament in May, because of the 50th anniversary, we will also want to get some player from overseas,” Johnson explained.

The results of these initiatives and tournaments are expected to produce more disciplined and skill players who can compete on a regular basis for Guyana with a higher expectation of doing well. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

YELLOW PAGES thursday, december 31, 2015

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21

Sehwag ‘hurt’ by his ouster from India team A couple of months after announcing his retirement, Virender Sehwag has said he was “hurt” by the manner in which he was dropped from the Indian team in 2013. Speaking exclusively to ESPNcricinfo in Delhi, Sehwag revealed he learnt of his axe from the newspapers and the decision wasn’t communicated to him by the selectors, team management or BCCI. “I hadn’t scored runs in two Tests against Australia,” Sehwag said.

“So, I was thinking I would get a couple of more opportunities to perform well in the last two Tests [of the series] and then get dropped if I didn’t perform. If the selectors would have given me that option to play two more Tests and then retire.”

Sehwag was left out after the second Test against Australia in Hyderabad in March 2013 after failing to post a half-century in eight innings. He returned to domestic cricket, but failed to make a case compelling enough for a national recall.

In 20 Ranji trophy matches for Delhi and Haryana since his last Test, Sehwag scored 1,269 runs at an average just under 40 with three centuries. Sehwag admitted that it took him a while to

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Virender Sehwag: “When I got dropped, I was thinking that I’m a good player and can get back into the Indian team…”

adjust to playing on the domestic circuit after having had a long international career.

“When I got dropped, I was thinking that I’m a good player and can get back into the Indian team but I was still living in the mindset that I am an aggressive opener and can score runs, but I did not realise that domestic cricket is totally different to international cricket and I was still playing in the same way,” he said.

“I did not score runs that [2013-14] season and my highest was 50-odd [56] and I was struggling to cope up with [conditions in] Delhi.

“I then changed my

thinking next year and batting style by giving myself a little more time and I scored 500 plus runs, but I needed to score that in the previous season and maybe I would have gotten back into the team. It was too late, but I was playing because I wanted to play the game.”

Sehwag is widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen of the modern era, but he was quite candid about his desire to play in the middleorder towards the end of his career. Despite the retirements of Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, Sehwag was never offered that option. (Cricinfo)

Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers, BBL 2015-16, Melbourne…

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Klinger, Marsh set up first ever 10-wicket win in BBL

A

ustralia, once again, is voting with its feet.

Melbourne Renegades attracted their largest ever non-derby crowd and what the 26,787 at Docklands saw was a tale of two opening partnerships. First, Aaron Finch shared 98 in 68 balls with Chris Gayle, but the hosts stalled to 170-4 and were well and truly trumped

by Perth Scorchers’ Michael Klinger and Shaun Marsh, to the tune of the BBL’s first ever ten-wicket win.

Klinger (90*) and Marsh (76*) capitalised, getting up with the rate early and never relenting and the game

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Shaun Marsh helped himself to an unbeaten fifty

the Renegades, was treated with utter contempt, his two overs costing 29, includ-

SCOREBOARD

Melbourne Renegades innings (20 overs maximum) AJ Finch* c Agar b Willey 72 CH Gayle c †Bancroft b Behrendorff 41 CL White c & b Behrendorff 0 MS Wade† b Tye 35 DJ Bravo not out 14 TM Beaton not out 2 Extras: (lb 4, w 2) 6 Total:(4 wickets; 20 overs) 170 Fall of wickets: 1-98 (Gayle, 11.2 ov), 2-98 (White, 11.3 ov), 3-145 (Finch, 17.2 ov), 4-157 (Wade, 18.6 ov) Bowling: JP Behrendorff 4-0-

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was won with eight balls to spare. Nathan Hauritz, making his first appearance for

14-2 (1-w), JS Paris 4-0-49-0 (1-w), DJ Willey 4-0-34-1, GB Hogg 4-0-44-0, AJ Tye 4-0-25-1 Perth Scorchers innings (target: 171 runs from 20 overs) SE Marsh not out 76 M Klinger* not out 90 Extras: (lb-2, w-3) 5 Total: (0 wickets; 18.4 overs) 171 Bowling: CP Tremain 4-0-38-0 (1-w), NJ Rimmington 4-0-330, DJ Bravo 4-0-35-0 (2-w), CJ Gannon 4-0-29-0, NM Hauritz 2-0-29-0, AJ Finch 0.4-0-5-0

ing two sixes for Marsh and one to Klinger, all down the ground. The seamers weren’t

particularly threatening either and Finch eventually showed his frustration by simply bowling himself.

Klinger and Marsh came within a run of Luke Wright and Rob Quiney’s record opening stand of 172 in the BBL, and only failed to break it because they had nothing more to chase. Both were watchful early on, getting the measure of the surface, before pushing on.

Marsh favoured the leg-side and Klinger - who really can do little more to assert his international claims and would be forgiven for wondering if the selectors have ever actually watched him bat - was excellent on the drive. There was a boundary scored off the last ball of four of the first six overs and there was no looking back. (Cricinfo)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, december 31, 2015

Greater CPL excitement in 2016! ‒ CPL rolls out new player draft format ‒ franchises permitted one “marquee” player signing pre-draft

T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League has announced a number of changes to its player draft format for 2016 which will once again see some of the world’s greatest T20 players join the “Biggest Party in Sport”.

The new rules have allowed the six franchise teams to sign one “marquee” player as a free agent before the draft process begins. Over the last two months the teams have been in negotiations with the best players in world cricket and will be announcing their marquee stars in the first few weeks of the New Year.

The number of players that the franchises can retain before the player draft has been reduced from four to three whilst the squad size increases from 16 to 17 for the new season.

Further changes to the rules include the number of players who must live in the franchise territory being reduced from four to two, whilst the limit on overseas players has increased from four to five.

2015 also saw the introduction of ICC Americas

talk about.”

The 2016 Hero CPL Player Draft will take place in February 2016 with further announcements due in the coming

weeks.

Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel are the defending champions and they will put their title on the line against 2014 cham-

pions Barbados Tridents, two-time runners-up Guyana Amazon Warriors, 2013 champions Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Zouks and St Kitts Patriots.

CPL PLAYER DRAFT RULES SUMMARY A. Free agent signing of “marquee” players B. No. of players who can be retained ahead of draft

Tom Moody: “Our aim each year is to make CPL even bigger and better…”

players, with two being selected for the Tridents and Patriots squads. In 2016, at least six ICC Americas players will be guaranteed a contract.

Overall the salary cap for each team has increased to US$780,000 from US$600,000.

Commenting on the changes to the format, Tom Moody, International Director of Cricket for CPL said; “Our aim each year is to make CPL even bigger and better so that we can attract the best T20 players in the world and make it as entertaining as pos-

sible for the fans. Over the past few months we’ve worked alongside the franchise owners to make sure that the 2016 player draft is open and competitive so that the buzz and excitement of CPL will start building from January right through to the tournament launch in the summer.”

He added, “From early January 2016 we’ll start to reveal the franchise marquee players and the retained players so that by the time the draft comes around in February fans will already have plenty to

2015 0 4

2016 1 3

C. No. of players who must live in franchise territory

4

2

D. No. of overseas players who can be drafted

4

5

E. No. of ICC Americas players guaranteed contracts per team – (to be chosen from their Nagico Super 50 squad)

0

1

F. Total squad size and composition

16

17

$600k

$780k

G. Team salary cap

Rockaway Group treats Belle Vue SC youths

Hafeez Ali (centre) of Rockaway Group shares a moment with the youngsters, who proudly display their gifts

H

afeez Ali of Rockaway Group of New York brought holiday cheers to the youths of Belle Vue Sports Club on the West Bank of Demerara as he joined in on spreading the love, joy and goodwill of the season.

Ali, an ardent cricket fan, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for being able to play a part in bringing joy

to the youngsters, as he continues to make evident his support for the club.

“Christmas is about sharing. Christmas is about love. And so I am very happy and pleased to be able to be here and do my small part in bringing the joy and cheer of Christmas to the children gathered here,” Ali said.

Ali earlier this year also

played a major role in helping to fund the resuscitation of the club, which had fallen into a state of dormancy.

The members of the Belle Vue Sports Club expressed their gratitude to Ali for the wonderful gesture and his continuous support in the development of youth and sports in the Belle Vue community.

Grove Hi Tech, Mahaica...

from page 23

Poor work by their custodian, who went after the ball before realising that he was out of his area, and subsequent poor covering work by the defenders, allowed Matthews to latch on to the ball and finish for the side’s second goal.

It was exactly what the doctor had ordered to restore some energy to the legs of the Grove players. The pressure was turned up and in an effort to clear the ball away from another offensive maneuver from Grove, the Kings scored against them-

selves in the 105th minute.

Reuben Morris’s attempted clearance was sliced over the head of goalie Rawn Collins and eased into the back of the nets, agonisingly sealing the fate of Victoria Kings and guaranteeing Grove Hi Tech’s passage into the final on Friday night.

Mahaica Determinators played the game of their lives to keep the score nil-all against Ann’s Grove after regulation and extra time.

Mahaica started their kicks disastrously before getting

back on track, as the experienced Ann’s Grove lost focus and subsequently the target, missing their third and fourth kicks.

Mahaica prevailed 4-3 from the spot and were admirably led by their captain Shameer Nazir, who also scored from the spot to set up a date with Grove Hi Tech in Friday’s final set for the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara, from 21:00h. Ann’s Grove and Victoria Kings will face off in the third place game from 19:00h.

guyanatimesGY.com

thursday, december 31, 2015

23

Stag Super XVI…

Grove Hi Tech, Mahaica Determinators to clash in final I

t was another intense night of exchanges at the Golden Grove ground, East Coast Demerara, on Tuesday evening last when the semi-finals of the Stag Super XVI knockout competition were contested.

Defending champions and the only non-East Demerara team, Grove Hi Tech, endured a torrid test from a 10-man Victoria Kings unit, before taking it home and booking their second successive place in the final with a grinding 3-1, extra time win.

The first semi-final produced another gruelling encounter between Mahaica Determinators and Ann’s Grove United, which ended in a huge upset. Mahaica Determinators prevailed 4-3 on penalty kicks following a nil-all regulation and extra time stalemate.

Many fans felt that the second semi -between Grove Hi Tech and Victoria

was a final in many ways, as the two sides battled using the proverbial termtooth and nail. Having kept a clean slate as regards goals against, the Kings would have been under pressure to maintain that record against a side that has proven its offensive exploits.

With just eight minutes into the match, the Kings conceded their first goal of the tournament when Dexter Archer scored a well put together goal as Grove Hi Tech cantered into the lead. The Kings though, have been a side to never lay back and allow any opposition to dictate to them.

They went on a successful period of domination and exactly eight minutes after conceding, equalised from a cross into the box from the right side that was clinically drilled past goalkeeper Michael Matthews in the 16th minute.

The game was now tied

Essequibo softball team onboard ‘Unity Cricket’ train

‒ Beharry confirms he will play for Berbice Masters

A

Anil Beharry

s the ‘Unity Cricket’ train gathers steam, it is moving towards its Providence Stadium destination January 30 with the Essequibo softball team coming onboard, making the softball competition a truly national event.

The day of fun and frolic for the entire family, which includes a fun park for children, is being organised by Legacy and 007 Promotions’, who have collaborated with corporate sponsors, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and the Guyana Foodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA).

Vice-President of the GFSCA, Ricky Deonarain, told the Public Relation Officer of the event, Sean Devers, of what promises to a high-intensity event in front an anticipated capacity crowd.

Essequibo confirmed their participation in the Open 10/10 category, which also includes Karibee Boyz from Berbice, Wolf’s Warriors of West Demerara and Regal of Georgetown. Deonarain said that an entire Demerara team could be made of Wolf Warriors and Regal players and some very good players could have been left out.

“These two teams are the best in Guyana, so in reality these are Demerara A and B teams, and are both good

Ricky Deonarain

enough to beat the combined Essequibo team and the team from Berbice. We expect at least one of them will qualify for the final,” Deonarine added.

The final will played under lights just before the feature event, a T20 contest involving some of the best T20 players in the Caribbean, commencing at 19:30h. The winner of the softball Open’ final will battle for $500,000 and a trophy.

Demerara will face off with Karibee girls from Berbice in a female game, while Berbice Masters will take on Demerara Masters.

Anil Beharry, who is now residing in the city, has confirmed that while he lives in Demerara, he will play for Berbice Masters on January 30.

Beharry is the president of the Berbice Cricket Board and has represented Berbice in senior Inter-county hardball 50-over cricket as a big hitting left-hander and leftarm spinner.

“Of course I will be playing for my home county and I encourage all Berbicians to come out in their numbers and support the Berbice softball teams and the Berbicians in the T20 match,” Beharry said.

Tickets will go on sale from the middle of January.

Romel Matthews (left) and Dexter Archer

at 1-1 and well and truly on. The fans, out in their numbers to support from the villages along the East Coast corridor and East Bank among other areas, were being treated to some exciting ball play from both teams, but it was the home team that was enjoying the

better of the exchanges.

Grove Hi tech seemed not to be able to counter the flank plays from the Kings with crossed balls into the area posing all sorts of challenges for Grove. The Kings did not help their cause however, as on the stroke of half time, Shawn

Samuel was red carded for violent conduct towards a Grove player, Alex Sinclair, whom he punched in an offthe-ball incident.

The referee would have none of that and after being informed by the assistant referee had no alternative than to issue marching orders to Samuel. As a matter of fact, the initial card was issued to the wrong player and had to be rescinded and issued to the real player at fault. The decision did not go down too well with players and fans.

Grove was now enjoying the advantage in terms of players on the pitch, but the ensuing second half saw the Kings playing out of their skins as they enjoyed good periods of domination, as the one player advantage by Grove was not even evident.

Such was the Kings’ resilience that they pushed the game into extra time, as Grove could not find the

Shameer Nazir

go-ahead goal while looking susceptible at times.

But the defending champions held their nerves and in the dying stages of extra time were able to put the game away.

Romel Matthews found the go-ahead goal in the 103rd minute, the second period of extra time and the Kings’ concentration, which was being severely tested, finally began to wane. continues on page 22

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

thursday, december 31, 2015

Greater CPL excitement in 2016!

– CPL rolls out new player draft format

– franchises permitted one “marquee” player signing pre-draft

Pg 22

CPL 2016 promises much more excitement for the fans

GFA/Banks Beer Cup…

Over the last two months the teams have been in negotiations with the best players in world cricket and will be announcing their marquee stars in the first few weeks of the New Year

CTSC Family Fun Day/Cricket matches…

Western Gaffoor leads Tigers, Riddim Cotton Tree Squad to Die Hard to square off 60-run win in final Pg 19

Pg 19

Part of the action between Western Tigers (yellow) and New Amsterdam United

Young boys and girls display their toys in the presence of members of the Cotton Tree Die Hard team

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