Guyana Times Daily - May 17, 2017

Retired Justice Patterson is new Ombudsman P9

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

Issue No. 3214

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, May 18, 2017

PRICE

Executive v Judiciary

WHAT'S INSIDE:

President instructs AG not to apologise

Appellate Judges sworn in

Page 3

Seaman killed execution style

$80 vat included

P13

Mother, son busted with gun, ganja P12

Page 7

… body dumped in Roxanne Burnham Gardens

REO admits to P9 mismanagement Man critical following highway hitand-run P2

$550M cocaine bust

Father, son remain in custody P10

US$5B local refinery will be unprofitable – expert

…arrest warrant issued for racer

Page 17

Director of Advisory Services at the United States-based Hartree Partners, Pedro Haas speaking at a public consultation held on Wednesday at Marian Academy’s auditorium on the possibility of Guyana building an oil refinery

1 dead, 2 escape unhurt in Corentyne piracy attack Page 12

Carter Center report

Constitutional reform urgently needed with looming oil revenue

Wanted River pollution

GGMC team dispatched to Saxacalli

P2

Page 11

…recommends strengthening of GECOM

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news

thursDAY, may 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man critical following GGMC team dispatched to Saxacalli highway hit-and-run A River pollution

A

man is clinging to life at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was struck on Tuesday evening along the Yarrowkabra Public Road, Soesdyke-Linden Highway in a hit-and-run accident.

He was later identified as Yogeshwar Itwaroo, 32, of Lot 93 Campbell Avenue, Campbellville, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, about 19:45h, Itwaroo was walking along the roadway when a motor vehicle struck him down and left the scene.

The injured man was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Diamond hospital, but was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was ad-

The broken registration plate that was found at the scene

mitted in critical condition.

Police have since retrieved a portion of the number plate of the vehicle that carries the digits “703”.

Police are making enquiries to ascertain the registration number of the vehicle, which can ultimately lead to the arrest of the driver.

team from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is expected to visit Saxacalli, Essequibo River, to address the issue of polluted river water as a result of mining activities in Gold Creek and Tiger Creek in the Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Residents have said pollution from mining practices in the Mazaruni region is still affecting them, despite many initiatives over the years to curb the scourge.

The situation have escalated to the point where the main water source in the riverine community is so polluted, villagers are afflicted by skin rashes accompanied by diarrhoea.

An official from the Natural Resources Ministry told this publication the GGMC is aware of the issue and noted that it is a recur-

The community of Saxacalli along the Essequibo River remains threatened by pollution from mining in inland communities

ring one. The official added that a team will be deployed to the area to address the issue and provide the residents with some form of relief.

Residents informed Guyana Times last Saturday that they made complaints to the GGMC, alerting the Commission of the issue but noted that nothing has been done to address it.

The complaints were made since 2015 and they are yet to receive a response as to the next course of action. When contacted, acting Commissioner of the GGMC, Newell Dennison said he had no comment on the issue. However, an email was sent to the Natural Resources Ministry’s Public Relations office for an update to the situation but no response was received.

Community Health Worker (CHW) and resident, Helen Williams, told this newspaper on Saturday last that the polluted water is flowing down from upstream locations. “We depend on the rain water; the river water very nasty, that’s with the gold mining that’s going on… at Gold Creek and Tiger Creek,” she explained.

This ongoing crisis has altered the very culture of the community, which traditionally saw inhabitants using the river water in nearly every aspect of their lives; including drinking, washing and cooking. But this has all changed as often times; patients are brought in with flu-like symptoms, diarrhoea and vomiting; and skin rashes.

“When the rain falls, it usually wash down through the creeks and then come out in the river and sometimes we find small children, even adults coming down with skin infections,” Williams also noted.

The health worker further pointed out that often times, members of the community are compelled to purchase water when their rain water reserves become depleted.

She said she spoke to officials who visited the community, adding that she made a complaint in 2015 to the GGMC but never received a response. “The GGMC send up people to test the water but nothing else,” posited Williams, echoing the call for the relevant agency to look into the community’s concerns.

Sudden flooding in Region 8 being investigated

T

he Civil Defence Commission (CDC), the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force are actively assessing the sudden incidence of flooding in Kaibarupai, Sand Hill and Waipa in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), even as a coordinated disaster response is being put in place.

More than 30 persons, who were trained by the CDC in Disaster Risk Reduction are present in the region and have been called upon to render assistance, while the CDC has contacted and asked the regional officials and members of the Joint Services to conduct an assessment in the affected areas.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who has responsibility for the CDC and the coordination of disaster response said while Chief-ofStaff, Brigadier Patrick West has been briefed and Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, the Director General of the CDC is expected to provide a detailed report so that further action can be taken.

According to preliminary information received, nine houses, six farms and the airstrip are under water in Kaibarupai, with over 150 residents being affected, while 85 per cent of Waipa is said to be under water as a result of the overtopping of several rivers in the area, including the Ireng River.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, May 18 – 10:00h-11:30h and Friday, May 19 – 11:30h-13:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, May 18 – 09:05h-10:35h and Friday, May 19 – 10:25h-11:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, while light rain showers can be expected in the late afternoon, while clear skies to light rain showers can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly Easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 09:26h and 22:14h reaching maximum heights of 2.26 metres and 2.20 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:56h and 15:33h reaching minimum heights of 1.04 metres and 0.93 metre.

wednesDAY, May 17, 2017

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thursDAY, may 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Executive v Judiciary

President instructs AG not to apologise M

oments after highlighting the importance of judicial independence at State House on Wednesday, President David Granger told media operatives that he sees no need for Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams to apologise to a High Court Judge as he was not found to be contemptuous. The President was questioned on the possibility of asking the AG to apologise to Justice Franklin Holder over an outburst in the High Court during a hearing in March.

However, President Granger feels that an apology is unwarranted based on an explanation that the AG gave of what transpired in court during the midst of the Carvil Duncan tribunal challenge case.

“If the Judge felt that his behaivour was in contempt, the Judge knew what he had to do – he did not cite the Attorney General for contempt. As things stand, I feel that the explanation given to me by the Minister of Legal Affairs adequately deals with the complaints which I received,” the President explained on Wednesday.

On March 23, 2017, AG Williams, in questioning whether or not the Judge had accurately recorded the evidence of witness Diana Persaud, told him that “the last person who told [him] what [he] should not say was a Magistrate and he is dead”.

“I could say what I want to say and when I want to say it, I have always been like that,” the AG further told the Judge.

Justice Holder in a report complaining to the Judiciary, said he walked out of the courtroom without adjourning the matter because of Williams’ behaviour but the AG said on numerous occasions that there was no need for him to apologise.

Probed further, the President stressed that nothing justifies the calls for an apology to be offered.

“Under the circumstances, I cannot see that there was anything which would have warranted, his being cited for contempt of court and that is the important thing that his behaviour was not contemptuous in court,” the Head of State stressed.

Last Monday, Justice Holder recused himself from the case but accusations of interference in the judiciary surfaced since the judge’s recusal came days

sibility,” he stated.

As such, the Senior Counsel said Professor Olowofoyeku urged that recusals ought only to be resorted to so that justice must be done and be seen to be done so as to maintain public confidence in the impartiality of Judges and to help maintain impartiality as a matter of fact.

“Judges, he said, need to respond to allegations of bias very carefully and with great care and cir-

President David Granger

Justice Franklin Holder

after Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo requested that he do so. Justice Holder had subsequently insisted that he made this decision in the interest of the administration of justice.

In the absence of the Attorney General last week, the Judge, giving reasons for his recusal, had explained to the court that the matter became politicised, and accused Williams of “egregious and disrespectful” behaviour which was “not necessarily contemptuous”.

However, former Speaker of the National Assembly and Senior Counsel, Ralph Ramkarran, weighing on the issue earlier this week, cited the work of internationally known legal experts, to posit his view that Judges should be careful about recusing themselves from a case because of perceived biases.

“The main basis for recusals by Judges, or other adjudicators, including

Magistrates, is actual or potential bias or the appearance thereof. It is in the Judge’s discretion to do so,” Ramkarran had expressed.

Ramkarran, a former senior member of the Opposition, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) cited Professor of Law, Abimbola Olowofoyeku, who had posited in 2016 that inappropriate recusals have the potential to be very damaging.

“Professor Olowofoyeku suggested that recusal is inappropriate on such grounds as appeasement of a party, allegations by a party, personal attacks against the adjudicator, intellectual difficulty with a matter, pragmatism or avoiding a conundrum unrelated to bias.”

“Some principles to be considered are: objectively justifiable grounds; whether litigants are judge-shopping or judges are case-shopping; a real possibility of bias as apprehended by an informed observer and not a fanciful, tenuous, fantastic or superficial pos-

Attorney General Basil Williams

cumspection.

But they must show some (fortitude) in the process, (being) robust and strictly objective in their application of the jurisprudence.”

He said that this is “because the Judge or Judges rely on the Government or a member of it, such as the Head (of State), for confirmation of their appointment. Where the Chancellor and Chief Justice continue to hold acting appointments, it is inevitable that an enterprising lawyer will make an objection in a case in which the Government is a party.” turn to page 9

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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017

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

Awesome nature

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

Impeaching a President

W

hile there were murmurs about “impeaching” Donald Trump from almost the moment he was sworn in on January 20, few expected the proposal would be raised in the House of Congress as early as it did – yesterday. Representative Al Green, Democrat of Texas justified his call because he claimed President Trump had “obstructed justice”.

He was referring to a memo sent by Trump to then FBI Director James Comey, to drop the agency’s investigation into Mike Flynn, for not disclosing his contacts with a Russian diplomat at his confirmation hearing as National Security Advisor. Comey was subsequently fired by Trump. The memo was published by the New York Times and more pertinently, the Republican chair of the House Oversight Committee, Jason Chaffetz, has officially asked the FBI to turn over all documents and recordings of communications between Comey and Trump to determine the extent to which the latter might have attempted to thwart the investigation.

This week had opened with a Washington Post article claiming Trump had divulged highly classified material about ISIS operations to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, in an Oval Office meeting the previous week. The material allowed the Russians to very easily pinpoint US intelligence assets in the Middle East and was related to the US ban on laptops on flights from Europe and several other countries. After denying that sensitive information was divulged, Trump in his usual style reversed gear and claimed the information was not as sensitive as claimed; he wanted to save lives and he was within his rights to do so.

The question now arises as to whether Trump can actually be impeached. While the US Constitution is very clear in stating that a President “shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanours”, the determination of which of Trump’s actions constitute “high crimes or misdemeanours” is critical. Another tact that could be taken would be to prove that Trump has violated his oath of office to “preserve, protect, and defend” the US Constitution, when he divulged sensitive intelligence.

The impeachment process begins in the House of Representatives (HoR), where an independent investigation would be conducted and then handed over to the House Judiciary Committee. The HJC will review and debate the evidence, and if a majority votes for it, writes up the Articles of Impeachment. From there, the latter are sent to the full House and if voted by a majority then sent to the Senate where the real trial is held. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court acts as the Judge and the Senate, the jury. The President will mount his defence and the House Judiciary Committee will act as the prosecution. If a two-thirds majority in the Senate votes against the President, he is removed from office.

As Guyanese observe the rule of law being applied in the US with Trump possibly soon having to face impeachment as did Presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon in recent decades.

Clinton was exonerated primarily because the Senate was controlled by the Democratic Party as is the Senate, presently controlled by Republicans. Clinton, however, had massive popularity ratings while Trump is sinking and Republicans might not be as willing to take their chances at the next Senate elections.

In Guyana, we also have a similar procedure for impeaching a sitting President which is stipulated in Article 180. A motion alleging that the President has committed any violation of the Constitution or any gross misconduct must be laid and have the support of the majority of the National Assembly. There is a growing body of legal opinion that President Granger’s own actions in seeking to unilaterally interpret the Constitution and his unequivocal support for members of his executive, especially his Attorney General, in violating the separation of powers doctrine which is an integral aspect of our constitutional basic structure, might lead to a constitutional crisis that would precipitate an impeachment motion.

Lightning strikes Istanbul during a thunderstorm (BBC News)

Justice does not have a face, it is based on principles Dear Editor, Two years ago, a Guyanese exercising his constitutional right of freedom of association and freedom of opinion, while performing duties as a candidate to the poll of the May 11, 2015 General and Regional Elections was injured and has been deemed to suffer permanent deformation.

Interestingly, this incident that led to the injury was unprovoked and the barbaric mentality of mob-behaviour escalated even in the presence of our security forces.

I speak specifically of my People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) colleague Warren Kwame Mckoy, a member of the PPP/C List of Candidates and a known public relations personality in Guyana.

McKoy was sitting in a Police vehicle when a missile was thrown at him; he suffered extensive injuries to his jaw, lips and eyes. He was hospitalised, and required emergency surgery and a follow up surgery.

McKoy was hospitalised for

several days and was incapacitated for several weeks.

A number of questions need to be answered in relation to this matter: 1. Is this now a cold case?

2. Is the Commissioner of Police or any of his designated ranks in possession of a report of this incident; has there been a completed investigation?

3. Since McKoy was being escorted by a number of ranks of the Guyana Police Force and was placed in a Police vehicle to be removed from the unruly mob, did any of those Police Officers provide statements and if they did, who is in possession of these statements?

4. If the missile had injured one of the Police ranks, who were escorting McKoy, would this matter have been handled the same way as it is two years hence?

5. Is the Police action or inaction anyway being influenced by the public views of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government, including a statement in the National

Assembly by Former Commissioner of Police and now APNU/AFC Member of Parliament Winston Felix, during the debate on Compensation for Victims of Electoral Violence, when he stated, “Mr McKoy is lucky to be alive.”?

6. Or is the Police action or inaction being influenced by the fact that the now sitting President and Minister of State were present at the scene when this incident occurred and has serious implications for them.

7. Will this despicable act go unpunished?

8. Or will this be excused using the propaganda mechanisms of the Government as an incident that never happened?

McKoy was taken to the Woodlands Hospital by the Guyana Police Force. The Police made contact with McKoy after the incident and took his statement late May 2015; the Police have never contacted McKoy again. McKoy has submitted medical certificates to the Ministry of the Presidency, his employer, at the time of

the incident. The media carried reports of the incident, pictures of McKoy’s hospitalisation was seen in the print, electronic and on social media. No one can deny that this incident ever occurred.

Editor, my concern is that two years after, this matter is being treated as if it never occurred. Is it because McKoy is at the receiving end? We know fully-well that allegations have been made against this individual of an incident that took place in 2010. He was charged in 2016 and is before the court. He is now at the receiving end, which took place in public view, witnessed by at least four Police Officers, yet nothing has been done. Silence is all that is being offered.

I demand justice for Warren Kwame McKoy. He is entitled to it. I do not request a favour.

Sincerely, Juan A Edghill PPP/C Member of Parliament

Religion, private schools and the law Dear Editor, Recent articles in the press question whether present and past Governments ever took secular aspects of education seriously since allegations persist that practices in some schools continue to favour some religions over others, even though this violates the fundamental principle of neutrality enshrined in

the Constitution.

The recent fiasco of the missionary from USA granted access to students in several schools in Guyana has resulted in the Education Ministry researching the background of the hate monger and reporting that this illegality was not sanctioned by the Government. However it took three weeks to inves-

tigate and reach this conclusion when a private individual can do it in a few minutes by researching the Internet.

Thus there is need for both private and public institutions in all fields, including education.

One positive of the experience was that it saw a rare display of unity of over 100 temples, some of which

are run by younger educated priests who are otherwise employed and do not rely only on the generosity of devotees or the favours of politicians.

A few are becoming more active in social issues like religious conversion, domestic violence, abuse of alcohol and drugs, and not limiting their activities to celebrations and rituals. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017

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

Guyana is a front-runner Ecological study needed in wasting people’s time Dear Editor, I don’t know if there is any other country in the world where people’s time is wasted like in Guyana, but if there, is Guyana would still stand out as a front-runner.

If this current Government does nothing else, it owes each citizen a debt to dismantle structures of senseless bureaucracy, incompetence and ineptitude.

Two individuals recently had the royal run-around to get certificates from the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) for exams they successfully completed since mid-last year (2016). The IDCE offers programmes administered by the University of Guyana (UG). One of the individuals needs her certificate to complete application for a programme being offered by the said UG. She was told that the certificate, which should have initially been ready within three months, had a spelling error and had to be redone. It took them nine months to realiSe that error.

Over those nine months, the young lady was repeatedly told that her certificate was not yet ready. Consequently, the prospective UG student was charged $500 to make a change to her UG application.

She had to pay a further $500 to IDCE for ‘expediting’. The latter process meant she had to go to a named commercial bank and stand in a snaking queue for almost one hour to pay G$500 (approximately US$2.30). The process of getting the certificate sorted took about four days in total, and on the date she was told to finally uplift her certificate it was still not ready. This was after one week of her $500 payment, because some Dean

at UG had not completed the certificate’s endorsement.

That young lady has already incurred expense of close to $10,000 in transportation and loss of income through the whole unfortunate episode for which she is at no fault of creating. How are we really helping people? How are we really helping to retain them? How are we going to build capacity and develop Guyana with such backwardness?

The second individual’s experience, though similar, differs slightly only since the institution for which her certificate is required is in Canada. She already has a confirmed departure date from Guyana to Toronto. Her certificate is still not ready after much up and down.

I had my own troubling experience dealing with UG recently too, but that was already addressed by an administrator who seems to be making an effort to rescue competence.

This culture of wasting people’s time and money seem to be continuing unabated. It is worrisome when, at Guyana’s highest institution of learning, such a culture of negligence and procrastination seem to be the order of the day. The systems are convoluted by a mix of inflexibility, attitudinal hostility and lack of consideration or empathy for people who are often struggling to improve their lives.

Something needs to be done to stem this “come-back-tomorrow”, “come-back-next week” culture.

Such is the case at City Hall too, where earlier this year I had a four-month push around on a very simple matter by a senior official. If what

my friends and I experienced as (dis)services are the accepted norms, when multiplied by hundreds of other clients or customers, we are in deep trouble as a nation.

I know the Head of a prominent entity that is almost completely disillusioned by this nonsensical, unproductive culture in Guyana; something that daily affects his ability to perform and produce efficiently.

Invariably when such lapses are challenged the buck always gets passed to somebody or given some senseless, illogical excuse that the hapless client has to live with since redress is often non-existent.

It leads to growing frustration in our society. The wasting of time is the wastage of money, resources, health, life, etc. The often coined sentiment that “well this is Guyana” offers no real hope for progress at the rate that this country requires development.

In the World Bank Group’s IBRD, IDA 2017 Report on (Ease of) Doing Business, Guyana is ranked at 124 out of 190 countries. That means there is a 65 per cent difficulty rate of doing any transaction in Guyana, compared to four per cent and 35 per cent in the US and Jamaica, respectively.

The relevant oversight bodies and Government are encouraged to continue advancing influence and implementing mechanisms for improving service standards and operational efficiency within organisations and entities.

It is vital to renewing public confidence and facilitating development in Guyana.

Sincerely, Orette Cutting

Dear Editor, Before Crab Island is offered up for industrial usage, it is imperative that an in-depth ecological study is done to better understand the impact on the environment. The creation of a catalogue of rare and endangered species on the Island will provide clarity into whether the Island should be allowed to be industrialised at all. We must remain conscious of our ‘green strategy’ and the message it sends to potential tourists. Thus keeping the environment at the forefront of our decisions continues to be important and should not be forsaken for riches in the oil industry.

A clear outline of what

prerequisites are required to obtain permission from the Government such as a review of the by-products that will be produced as waste materials and a thorough review of the hazardous material content of the products being used should be done. How those waste materials are to be disposed of without negatively impacting the environment is also crucial to outline especially given the poor track record of spills we have seen thus far due to the blatant disregard of the long-term impact on our environment by foreign companies.

This is our land and we will always have to deal with the consequences of any further environmental damage during

our expansion of the economy. The Ministries must be equipped with the training and tools that will strengthen their ability to manage and control industrial investors and how they treat our homeland. It is good to see that we are gaining foreign investor interest, but we must overcome this excitement and remain prudent and logical in our long-term decision-making. Remember investors come in all sorts, both good and bad.

Let’s seek out only the good ones and ensure they can meet the high standards we must set to protect our country’s longevity and prosperity.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

Religion, private schools...

They are Internet savvy, write books and even organise seminars. History has taught them that their religion must be separated from their political affiliations. They are wary of those who would like to convert religious functions to political meetings but would not speak up for their interests in or outside the Legislature. They are also connected with overseas friends who continue to learn about and promote the values of one of the most ancient cultures in the world.

The Diaspora has always been asked to return home, invest in, and develop the nation.

However the appeal seems limited to business and industry but rarely, if ever, to investing in private learning institutions some of which make a handsome profit ever since private lessons became part of the culture. If education is so fundamental to the development of the individual, and consequently the nation, it is difficult to fathom the reasons for taxing all private schools if only a few do not comply with the law. The

justification for Value Added Tax on private educational bodies is in part supported by the perception that all are making profits and that the students come from wealthy families.

The actions of the President himself, in praising Saraswati Vidya Niketan, the private Hindu school at West Coast Demerara, as a model school, and then contributing each year from what must be public funds to that school, lends credence to the fact that this not-for-profit cultural beacon is contributing to the nation and needs continuing support. Both local and overseas support have built and contributed to the school by way of scholarships to needy students and prizes to those who excelled. Foreign remittances from relatives also form part of the overseas support for some students. Supporters in New York, Toronto, and other North American cities are always organising fundraising events to complete the science building which will hopefully produce graduates who will make a significant contribute to

FROM PAGE 4

the society.

It is respectfully suggested that the Education Ministry use the media and other sources to let every teacher, parent and student know the policy on religion in schools by summarising the circular it sent out following this exhibition of hate, envy and ignorance to innocent minds. It should also inform them of the process of monitoring and complaint so that parents and students can be assured that incidents referred to above will not be repeated. Clearly sending circulars to teachers alone was not sufficient. Furthermore, even those with the best of intentions can cause harm in ways that they cannot comprehend. In this regard one has to wonder if the thousands of students who were exposed to this venom have received any counselling or appropriate services from the Government to ensure that the harm is not permanent.

Sincerely, Ramarine Sahadeo Ontario, Canada

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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017

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Foundation

BY GWEN DEWAR, PHD (CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY)

O

ther research helps connect the dots. When Melissa Sturge-Apple and her colleagues studied the interactions between mothers and toddlers, they found that stressed-out parents were prone to one of two reactions. Some mothers became hyper-reactive when their toddlers were upset. Their heart rates spiked, and they took a long time to bounce back. They tended to be more snappish, hostile, or controlling towards their children.

Other mothers – very often, mothers who had themselves grown up with chronic stress – reacted as if they were burnt-out. When their toddlers were distressed, these mothers seemed relatively disengaged and unsupportive (Sturge-Apple et al 2011).

Either way, stress made mothers less sensitive and responsive, and children got less help coping with their emotional troubles. Perhaps, too, these hassled and wornout parents made fewer attempts to show physical affection at home, resulting in missed opportunities to improve family relationships and help children bounce back. Studies indicate that emotional warmth and nurturing touch can counteract the effects of toxic stress on the growing brain (Meaney 2001; Sharp et al 2012; Luby et al 2013).

Put it all together, and we might get an environment capable of reprogramming the way a child’s genes work, al-

tering the development of the stress response system. The process has been documented in rats, and recent research suggest it happens in humans too: Parenting stress during early childhood has been linked with epigenetic changes, environmentally-triggered alterations that “turn off” key segments of the DNA and put children at higher risk for stress-related problems (Essex et al 2011).

It seems, then, that parenting stress can lead to a cascade of trouble. What can we do about it?

Feeling worried or guilty isn’t the answer

Anticipating problems can be a good thing when it allows us to plan ahead and avoid trouble.

Guilt can motivate us to avoid repeating mistakes (Tangney et al 2007). But these feelings become maladaptive when we overreact, hold ourselves to unrealistic standards, or get distracted from finding practical solutions. For conscientious parents, worry and guilt may be a major cause of stress.

What we really need is to make parents feel better – competent, calm, secure, empowered, supported, and inspired. One step is to help parents find practical ways to keep their high-strung babies calm and emotionally healthy. But overtaxed parents also need help making their well-being a priority. On the next page, I present ten practical, evidence-based tips for coping with parenting stress. (parentingscience.com)

BY ALONNA FRIEDMAN (CONTINUED FROM WEDNESDAY)

When you always give negative feedback: Sometimes parents do it without thinking, but constantly pointing out what your child did wrong, instead of where he made an effort, is a high-pressure tactic.

Imagine how your daughter feels when she comes home proud to have gotten a B on a killer Chemistry exam and all you can say is: Why didn’t you get an A? It’s not exactly a mood-lifter. The message your child hears is that you want her to be perfect. Even if that’s not what you verbalize, that’s the unhealthy message you’re sending.

The fix: Praise them! Compliment the dinosaur parking garage your son made from Magna Tiles or the gracious way your tween daughter held the door open for an elderly couple. “Motivating your child will become easier when you are not inflicting your will on her,” says Dr Ludwig. True, every parent would love to see a report card full of As. But it’s just not realistic.

When your son brings home a B or even a C (dread!), ask him if he is proud of his score and if he would enjoy getting an A next time, suggests Dr Ruskin. “Whether he is happy with his grade or beating himself up, the key is to be proud, validate what he is feeling and discuss his studying style,” says Dr Ruskin. “Offer to help him improve his studying methods or organising his notes.”

When you make all (every last one) of the decisions: Yes, moms and dads get to make the rules and many of the decisions. But when your son approaches you with the desire to play tennis and you insist he goes out for lacrosse, or your toddler wants to wear stripped leggings with a floral tunic and you put the kibosh on her creativity, your child will be stifled.

The fix: Children need to practice making independent decisions. It’s how they grow and most children will make healthy choices when given the opportunity. And consider a compromise: LAX team, but tennis camp. It’s when your dictatorship style becomes a theme in your relationship that you need to ease up, suggests Dr Ruskin. “Happy children are one who feel motivated by their selves, not just their parents,” says Dr Ruskin.

When your child is overscheduled: What would you do with all that free time if you didn’t have to shuttle your children from one lesson to one practice to one tutoring session after another? Both Drs Ludwig and Ruskin agree that high-pressure parents tend to enter their children into constant activity, often based on the parent’s interests and not the child. If you don’t want the piano to collect dust, then you should take lessons!

The fix: Schedule some time to be low-key. School offers structure so children need downtime...with you or their nanny. Play games with little ones (as in just to play, not specifically to learn numbers or spelling), fix a snack together and talk. Developing a relationship with your child at all ages and understanding their personalities and natural strengths might help propel you out of the high-pressure realm. (www.care.com)

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thursDAY, may 18, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Seaman killed execution style JSC gets 2 new members – body dumped in Roxanne Burnham Gardens

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father of two was on Wednesday morning found with a single gunshot wound to his head in a clump of bushes at Marigold Street, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Dead is 27-year-old Roy Rowland, a seaman of Lot 25 Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown. Based on reports received, the man’s body was discovered about 06:30h by a resident who went to take out his cattle. He immediately raised an alarm and the Police were summoned.

During investigations, a 9mm spent shell was found at the scene. The Police are working on the theory that the man might have been killed somewhere else and

Roy Rowland

with his friends and never returned home and several attempts to contact his mobile phone proved futile.

However, she noted that on Wednesday morning, a young man turned up at their

The body lying among the bushes at Marigold Street, Roxanne Burnham Gardens

his body dumped in the area, since residents did not hear the sound of a firearm being discharged.

At the home of the dead man, his cousin, Yolanda Mars told Guyana Times that her now dead cousin left home on Tuesday evening

home and informed them that Rowland’s body was found in South Ruimveldt and instructed them to walk with a recent photo of him.

Without hesitation, the family members rushed to the scene and saw Rowland’s body lying in a clump of bushes with a single gunshot in-

jury to the back of his head.

While the family members say they are clueless as to what might have led to the demise of the young man, Mars noted that he was not a troublemaker and only returned from sea about a month ago.

She last saw him alive on Tuesday about 20:45h. “He come in and he ask we how he looking and so, and left…

He normally get a driver who does come and pick he up… he pick he up and drop he off somewhere else and then the driver went and carry home he child mother. The driver claiming when he ready to come back, they tried calling him and there was no answer,” the dead man’s cousin related.

She, however, stated that the family believed that the young father was shot from behind, claiming that he never travelled in the back passenger’s seat of a car. “We thinking that they might have shot him and then drive to Rasville and dump he body…At the scene, there was no blood which suggest he was shot there,” she explained.

Mars further explained that her mother and other relatives visited the police station. Up to late Wednesday afternoon, no one was arrested for the murder, but several of his family members and friends were questioned.

A post-mortem examination is expected to be performed on Friday.

From left: acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; acting Chief Justice Roxane George; President David Granger; GPSU President Patrick Yarde; and Minister of State Joseph Harmon

T

he Judicial Services Commission (JSC) was on Wednesday staffed with two new members, namely Chief Justice (Acting), Justice Roxanne George and President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Patrick Yarde.

The individuals were sworn in as ex officio members by President David Granger, during a short ceremony at State House, Main Street, Georgetown.

The JSC is vested with the authority to make appointments and to remove and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in judicial offices.

According to the Head of State, “The Judicial Service Commission is an indispensible element of Guyana’s legal framework.

The Commission is the guardian

of judicial autonomy. It is the defender of its independence. It is the protector of its integrity and impartiality.”

President Granger explained that the JSC is intended to insulate judicial appointments from political partisanship and personal and other biases. It is a mechanism which ensures that judicial officers will be appointed on the basis of their competence and integrity.

Further, he posited that the JSC is obliged to ensure that its recommendations for appointments of judicial officers flow from a dispassionate and objective process and are based on clearly defined criteria applied in assessing the appropriateness of appointees.

Granger noted that the JSC upholds the indepen-

dence of the Judiciary and ensures by its diligence that judicial appointees possess the attributes and embody the personal values which make them capable and willing to resist being influenced by improper partisan and personal interests.

“The JSC is the custodian of the values and standards of ethical and legal probity

by Judges and judicial officials. The JSC must zealously ensure that the personal conduct of Judges does not bring the judicature into disrepute. It must preserve and protect the system’s integrity,” the President stated.

The other members of the JSC include Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings Edwards (Acting), Justice Prem Persaud and Justice Lennoz Perry.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

“Hotskull” slapped with Locking the murder charge stable…

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lvin Jones, also known as “Hotskull”, was on Wednesday charged and remanded to prison for the murder of Paul Daniels.

Jones, a fish cleaner, of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, is accused of killing the footballer on February 2, 2017 at Independence Boulevard.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore indicted that the case file is still incomplete.

As such, the matter stands

adjourn June 12. Reports are Daniels was shot by bandits during a robbery.

At the time of the killing, the 39-year-old man of Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, was reportedly visiting his girlfriend.

Based on reports received, two armed men entered Daniels’ girlfriend home through a door located on the northern side of the building, which was left open.

Upon entering the

house, the men allegedly held Daniels and his fiancée at gunpoint and relieved him of a gold chain, which he was wearing at the time and an undisclosed sum of cash, after which the men exited the house. Daniels, reportedly went in pursuit of the men and during the chase, he was shot.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

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Dead: Paul Daniels

Mason jailed for 9 months

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mason was on Wednesday jailed for simple larceny when he appeared before Magistrate Dylan Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Leon Murray, 30, had initially denied the charge when it was read to him by city Magistrate Judy Latchman in February of this year.

The charge stated that on December 26, 2017, at Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, Murray stole two gold chains valued

$115,000, two gold rings valued $120,000 and bangles valued $15,000, a total value of $250,000, property of Shawn Solomon.

The defendant was remanded to prison after the Police Prosecutor objected to bail. In court on Tuesday, Magistrate Bess informed Murray that there was sufficient evidence to convict him for the offence.

Following the conclusion of the trial on Wednesday, Murray was jailed. He was sent to prison for the next nine months.

$5M embezzlement accused on bail

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34-year-old man of Diamond, East Bank Demerara was on Wednesday hauled before city Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for the embezzlement of some $5 million.

Naipaul Harry denied the charge which stated that between May 1 and May 31, 2016, while being in the position of a

bailey and employed by Ramgobin Mohalall, he fraudulently embezzled $4,977,000, monies taken in possession by him, on behalf of his employer.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne made no objection to bail, provided that same was granted in a substantial sum.

The unrepresented man was released on $250,000 bail. The case will continue June 7.

…after pharma bolted

hen they were in the Opposition, the PNC (which morphed into APNU with the fig-leaves of WPA et al) and the AFC bitched constantly about the procurement system for pharma under the PPP Government. Just because the NEW GPC used to snag the bulk of the bids. Never mind the system was established on the advice of the World Bank and the WHO that had worked for decades to come up with an efficient system for third world countries in this critical aspect of national life.

The heart of the system was a pre-qualification process to ensure there were suppliers with the necessary coldchain supply experience; refrigerated warehousing; financial bona fides to deal with reputable foreign suppliers in bulk amounts, etc. There was also a bonus for providing local employment – standard with Government contracts.

Now any company could apply to be prequalified – and several did. The NEW GPC qualified along with one other local company and the mega international pharma suppliers – like IDA and PAHO – and still came out ahead!!

APNU/AFC, however, denounced that arrangement as “sole sourcing” – ignoring the fact that becoming “pre-qualified” was a competitive process!! In their manifesto, they promised to “Provide full transparency and accountability in the procurement of pharmaceutical products.” So what happened after they got into office??

Well two years later – and one warehouse rental over which the Health Minister had to resign after an abject apology; one $605 million sole-sourced contract from ANSA McAL at twice the going prices for the pharma supplied; $4 billion of other purchases through illegal contract-splitting; persistent denials of drug shortages – THEN using shortages as the reason for the sole sourcing!

– the incumbent Minister NOW says she’ll be “fixing drug procurement”!! ROTFLMAF!!

But reading the fine print in the Chronic’s account of what the Minister intends to do, the plans are all about “fixing” the ordering system for Government pharma and stock keeping. Nothing about returning “transparency” to the PROCUREMENT process!! So why’s your Eyewitness not surprised?? Well, the procurement is from where the gravy flows!! That’s why it took the Government over a year to get the Public Procurement Commission in place, and yet bypassed them in the $605 million pharma contract.

What’s quite interesting is the new powers-that-be seem to have a penchant for Trinis to supply pharma.

Word is even the “political investor” from the AFC hasn’t been getting the cut he expected. But then, if the AFC leaders can’t even get what was promised THEM in their Cummingsburg Accord, what do you expect for even close “others”!!

Expect the same ole, same ole, gaming of the (pharma) system!!

…on “doing the right thing”

The PM’s Shill over at the Chronic was evidently instructed to try papering over the ANSA Arch fiasco. And revealed he could’ve saved the Government all that egg over its collective face!! Seems he’s doing some private gig on the side ($551,000/monthly plus expenses, isn’t enough?? He wants to live it up like his boss??) which involved counting the number of vehicles entering Georgetown.

So when he saw the announcement of the closure of the EC Highway, he figured it would’ve cause the SNAFU it did. So why didn’t he tell the authorities since he’s the DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INFORMATION?? Seems he did tell the Police on one previous occasion and was bitch-slapped so hard, discretion was the better part of valour!!

Life can’t be easy when your sole claim to fame is “carrying news”!!

…on Govt propaganda

Take a guess which one of the four headlines on the Rose Hall sugar protest was from the Chronic: 1- “Proposed Rose Hall estate closure…Business people, pensioners, taxi drivers join massive protests” 2- “Berbicians in big sugar protest – cops beef up presence” 3- “Anti-sugar reform protest continues – despite gov’t assurances” 4- “Rose Hall Estate residents, sugar workers unite in massive protest” Sorry…that was too easy. There’s no prizes!

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

NEWS

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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Retired Justice Patterson is new Ombudsman REO admits to

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etired Justice Winston Horatio Patterson was on Wednesday sworn in by President David Granger as the Ombudsman of Guyana during a simple ceremony at State House, Main Street.

The position has been vacant since the passing of Justice Winston Moore in September 2016.

The Office of the Ombudsman is an independent body providing free services in investigating complaints by members of the public who feel that they have been unfairly treated by public entities.

Justice Patterson told reporters after he took the oath of office that he was humbled and privileged to take up the position to continue his service to the country.

He, however, declined to comment on the issue of the two reports on controversial matters which were compiled by his predecessor, noting that he has not even seen his new office.

“I can’t comment on that at this stage. I haven’t even

Retired Justice Winston Horatio Patterson taking the oath of office on Wednesday

yet seen the office,” he stated.

One of the reports focused on the dismissal of several employees of the New Building Society (NBS) in connection to a multimillion-dollar fraud at the entity.

Moreover, President Granger, in brief remarks, explained that the Constitution of Guyana prescribed from the start, at

the time of independence in 1966, the establishment of an Ombudsman.

He noted that Guyana became the first country in the western hemisphere and the second Commonwealth State to enshrine the position of Ombudsman in its Constitution.

“The decision to establish an Ombudsman in Guyana had its genesis in the Report of the British Guiana Commission of Inquiry constituted by the International Commission of Jurists October 1965: Racial Problems in the Public Service,” he stated.

He underscored the Ombudsman has been described as a protector and defender of citizens against injustices caused by maladministration.

“The Ombudsman provides an important service to the public. The services of the Ombudsman are free and timely. The Ombudsman serves as watchdog, guarding against abuse or the violation of citizens’ rights by public officials and their departments and authorities. The

President instructs AG...

Citing the case of Chile’s former Head of State, Augusto Pinochet, Ramkarran observed that during his hearing there was an allegation of potential bias in relation to one of the Judges.

It was argued that because of the Judge’s wife’s position with Amnesty International, a party to the case, he should recuse himself.

Ramkarran said the test, as stated by the Professor, is whether the fair-minded and informed observer, after considering the facts, would conclude that there was a real possibility that the tribunal was biased.

Embattled Trade Unionist Carvil Duncan

had moved to the courts to challenge the tribunal set up to determine if he should be removed from several constitutional posts in light of charges, which were laid against him.

However, the High Court proceedings were left at a standstill, on account of the Judge leaving the courtroom without adjourning the matter, following statements made by the prosecuting counsel, Attorney General Basil Williams.

In a letter dated May 4, 2017, which was addressed to the Attorney General, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo raised concerns about having a fair trial in light of the in-

cident. “… I am of the opinion that neither the State, nor I, will receive fair hearing in the matter….in view of the foregoing, therefore, I authorise you to request that the Honourable Mr Justice Holder recuse himself from further hearing the matter,” the Prime Minister noted in a letter, which was forwarded to both the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) and Chief Justice (ag), as well as President David Granger.

After this request was tendered, Defence Attorney representing Duncan, Anil Nandlall had accused the Prime Minister and the Attorney General of engaging in “juvenile antics”, saying that

Ombudsman is the public advocate,” he stated.

The Head of State had earlier in the day met with the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo to engage in consultations regarding the appointment in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.

Justice Patterson has served in several capacities since his retirement.

Most recently, he served on the tribunal set up to investigate and recommend whether or not Carvil Duncan, then Chairman of the Public Service Commission ought to be removed from office for inability to discharge the functions of said office.

Justice Patterson also worked as Registrar of the Judiciary in Guyana and St Kitts and Nevis; as Magistrate, Chief Magistrate/Provost Marshal in the Magistrate’s Court in Barbados; in the Family Court in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and in the Magistrate’s Court in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis.

FROM PAGE 3

the letter of request to the Judge was a “plot” that in effect “undermines” the tenets of democracy.

Nandlall had further highlighted that the principle of separation of powers may be under threat.

Justice Holder has deferred the Carvil Duncan case to the Chief Justice (ag) and the Chancellor (ag).

mismanagement

Region 8 REO Rafel Downes

F

ormer Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) Rafel Downes said his sacking came on the heels of his administration’s mismanagement of the Region’s affairs and his inability to answer to the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), for which he takes full responsibility.

The Region Eight REO told Guyana Times on Wednesday that he has paid the price for his “inexperience” by losing his job. “PAC is a very important structure and it is the only way to safeguard taxpayers’ money and it is not something that should be taken lightly at all.

I am very displeased with the way we handle the Region and we really did not adhere to the structure of the PAC had demanded of us,” he added.

Downes explained that he appeared before the PAC and was unable to explain the administration’s spending and sanctions were recommended against him. “You don’t mean to procrastinate, but it happens and then it’s the last couple months before PAC you realise that for whatever reason

it is inadequate. I take full responsibility basically. If you ever check statistics, we are the most short-staffed region in the country and the budget has grown; basically, it is my tardiness with the whole PAC thing that made me I pay the penalty of such inefficiency,” he said.

He admitted that the regional administration’s relationship with contractors was the major reason for his sacking. In April, the REO appeared before the PAC, chaired

by Opposition parliamentarian Irfaan Ali, and he was questioned on the overpayment of contractors to which he could not provide any answer.

Downes was advised to issue the defaulting contractors with letters from the Region’s attorney in an effort to recover the monies owed.

He told this publication that he was only able to secure letters of commitment from the contractors about two days ago. He added that on the issue of overpayment that many of the contractors claimed that they were owed monies dating years back, to which he paid.

“It is true to say that a few of these contractors aren’t even around, and one was awarded a contract because he was the only one who bid for it and we were aware that he had some overpayment and we know that if they are going to collect an award letter, more or less they were going to sign a commitment. It is, more or less, a lack of experience on my part on my first year to actually see the import of actually dealing with PAC matters, priority as so to speak,” he opined.

On Monday, Downes was relieved of his duties because of incompetence.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, may 18, 2017

News

GECOM Chair

President denies Justice La Bennett being touted … says nominees still being reviewed

P

resident David Granger has denied reports that he prefers to appoint Justice Claudette La Bennett as the next Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

He also denied reports that he intends to reject the second list of nominees submitted some two weeks ago by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo for consideration for the post.

According to the Head of State, he is still in the process of reviewing the nominees and therefore has not made any decision on the matter.

“I have received the CVs and we are still examining the CVs… We have to ensure that the nominees are in accordance,” he stated.

Responding particularly to reports about his desire to appoint Justice La Bennett, the President said, “No, No. Don’t believe.”

He continued, “It didn’t come from me and I am not aware of any forum where her candidacy was considered, so I don’t know where that could have come from.”

However, reports in various sections of the media say that sources close to the process confirmed that the Head of State intends to reject the list.

Justice Claudette La Bennett

Guyana Times learnt from sources that the President’s choice for the post has always been retired Justice La Bennett.

The Opposition Leader was confident that his list meets the criteria outlined by the President even though he believes it was not constitutionally required to adhere to all the conditions set by the Head of State.

Jagdeo had remarked that a rejection of the second list would be unreasonable and would make it more difficult to locate eligible candidates.

Following the rejection of the first list of nominees by the President, there were concerns of the

Government setting the stage for the unilateral appointment of a GECOM Chairman.

Commentators have since pronounced that such a move would violate the basis of the Constitution which provides for a transparent process to ensure the eradication prejudice in the appointment of the person in charge of national elections in Guyana.

Granger’s rejection prompted a public discourse on his idiosyncratic interpretation of the Constitution of Guyana regarding the criteria to be fulfilled in the appointment of a GECOM Chairman. Ideally, he had said the candidate should be qualified to be a Judge of the High Court or an attorney for a minimum of seven years.

He was insistent that the disjunctive “or” was of no consequence and the constitutional clause meant in effect “the nominee must be an ex-Judge or one qualified to be a Judge”.

After stinging criticism, the President altered his criteria somewhat.

Candidates, according to the President’s new criteria, must be able to discharge his/her functions neutrally, between the two opposing parties, as he or she would have done in

court between two opposing litigants.

Additionally, the person must be able to discharge the functions without fear or favour, without allowing any person or organisation to influence him or her to compromise his or her neutrality.

The President also said that persons should have a general character of honesty, integrity, faithfulness and diligence in the discharge of their duty as Chairman of GECOM. Jagdeo’s second list had thus featured retired Justice of Appeal BS Roy, retired Justice William Ramlall, Attorney and former Magistrate Oneidge Walrond Allicock, Attorney Kashir Khan, Attorney Nadia Sagar and Captain Gerald Gouveia.

Meanwhile, businessman Marcel Gaskin has moved to the High Court to challenge the constitutionality of President Granger’s rejection of the first list of nominees.

Gaskin is the brother of Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who is also the son-in-law of the President.The businessman wants the court to determine whether Jagdeo’s list of nominees was indeed not “fit and proper” as declared by President Granger.

$550M cocaine bust

Father, son remain in custody – arrest warrant issued for Vieira

Narine Lall

Stephen Vieira

Nazim Gafoor

Tazim Gafoor

s investigations continue into the $550 million cocaine bust at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, Tazim Gafoor and his son, Nazim Gafoor remain in custody, and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has issued an arrest warrant for ace biker Stephen Vieira.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Wednesday, acting Head of the Unit, Major Michael Atherly confirmed that the wanted biker left the country after the discovery of the drugs.

As such, he noted that an arrest warrant was issued for his arrest.

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continued on page 11

thursDAY, may 18, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Carter Center report

Constitutional reform urgently needed with looming oil revenue ‌recommends strengthening of GECOM

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he Carter Center has repeated its longstanding support for fundamental constitutional reform in Guyana that attenuates the problems with the current winner-take-all system.

The electoral observer mission noted that the urgency of this challenge was made greater with the anticipated influx of oil revenue, which has the potential to exacerbate ethnic and political conflicts.

These positions were detailed in the final report released on Wednesday by the Carter Center on its observation activities in relation to the 2015 General and Regional Elections in Guyana.

The report summarises the observations and makes recommendations to

the Guyanese authorities to improve future elections to help bring the system in line with international standards for democratic elections.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition had campaigned heavily on the need for constitutional reform, but this desire seemingly has been placed on the back burner of the Administration.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran had noted that the Administration seemed to have lost its interest for these constitutional changes.

Government appointed a committee headed by Attorney and former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes to examine the process for con-

stitutional reform. While the committee presented its report to Government almost a year ago, no movement has been seen.

According to reports, that document is still before the Cabinet and the process appears to have been stalled.

Aside from constitutional reform, the report also includes a compendium of reform recommendations from previous Carter Center election observation missions and makes new recommendations, including the need to re-evaluate the electoral system to increase the accountability of politicians to the electors and to equalise representation of women in Parliament.

The report also recommended that individuals

stand for election to the presidency and consider adopting a ranked-choice voting system to give greater incentive for candidates to appeal to more than their base voters.

It also suggested that authorities ensure geographic seats are more eq-

uitably distributed among electors, clarify the law and procedures for recounts and consolidate electoral laws to make the rules of the game more easily accessible.

Other recommendations are to strengthen the professionalism and independence of the Guyana

Elections Commission (GECOM) by closely evaluating the structure, recruitment, and training of GECOM staff and Commissioners.

The Carter Center May 15 election observation mission in Guyana launched on April 8, 2015, following an invitation from the Office of the President.

It was led by former US President Jimmy Carter, Dame Audrey Glover of the United Kingdom, and Dame Billie Miller of Barbados.

Six medium-term observers from six countries were deployed throughout the country in advance of Election Day to assess election preparations.

On Election Day, 53 observers from 26 countries visited 297 polling stations in all 10 Regions to observe voting, counting, tabulation, and the declaration of results. The Carter Center remained in Guyana to observe the post-election environment.

Public Service Appellate Tribunal sworn in Father, son remain...

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From left: Justice Nandram Kissoon, Attorney Abiola Wong-Innis and Winston Browne

ormer Appeal Court Judge Nandram Kissoon on Wednesday took the oath of office as Chairman of the resuscitated Public Service Appellate Tribunal before President David Granger at the State House.

The other members of the Tribunal, Attorney Abiola Wong-Innis and Winston Browne also took the oath of office.

At the simple swearing-in ceremony, President David Granger said the Constitution provided for the establishment of the Tribunal.

The Tribunal, established by the Public Service Tribunal Act of 1984, is empowered to hear appeals of any decision of the Public Service Commission in respect of the appointment and promotion of any person to public office and the exercise of disciplinary control of any person providing or acting in any public office.

He added that the Act has invested the Tribunal with the power of a High Court

Judge so it can summon witnesses, call for the production of books and other plans and documents, and examine witnesses as parties concerned.

In Guyana’s Constitution, Article 215A, establishes the Public Service Appellate Tribunal to hear appeals of any matter which the Public Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission, and the Police Service Commission or the Commissioner of Police is empowered to make a decision on. The matter would have to be reported to the Tribunal.

The Tribunal, by law, consists of a Chairman and not less than two other members appointed by the President.

Someone who is or has been a judge of the Court of Appeal or is eligible to become a judge would make the cut as Chairman, while one member must have experience in administration, personnel management or public affairs, and the other person must be a representative of public service organisations.

Justice Kissoon said the

Public Service Appellate Tribunal was there to ensure that there was a balance in the public service and public servants were adequately dealt with in a timely fashion. He added that he hoped to address public servants’ concerns in a timely fashion.

Nevertheless, Atherly noted that the Unit would try its utmost to apprehend Vieira with the assistance of its international counterparts.

In addition, Narine Lall, the sawmill owner, is still out of the jurisdiction. However, Guyana Times understands that the High Court extension to further detain Nazim Gafoor will come to an end today and it is not clear if CANU will make another application to the High Court.

Atherly noted that investigations have intensified and once there was enough evidence, the father and son duo will be placed before the courts.

This, he noted, will depend on the legal adviser of law enforcement.

On Friday last, members of CANU swooped down on a lumber yard

at Lot 227 Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, where they conducted a search of a truck that was laden with several pallets of 1x6 dressed lumber that was being prepared for export to the United States.

During the search, several boards were reportedly drilled randomly and a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine was discovered.

The truck was taken to CANU Headquarters where the lumber was further examined, and it was found that each of the compromised boards had a dugout cavity with vacuum-sealed plastic packets containing cocaine paste therein. A total of 84.986 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $550 million were discovered.

At the time, four workers at the lumber yard were taken into custo-

from page 10

dy, where they remained throughout the last weekend, but were released on Monday after it was established that they were only contracted to transport the lumber.

Meanwhile, further investigations by the CANU ranks led to the arrest of Nazim Gafoor, a popular race car driver, and Haleem Mohamed.

The elder Gafoor was on Monday afternoon arrested by members of the Guyana Police Force and handed over to CANU. Based on reports received, the two Gafoors are cooperating with the agents.

Meanwhile, CANU, in a release, stated that wanted suspect Vieira was listed on the shipping documents as the representative of Narine Lall, who is the shipper of the consignment.

12 news

thursDAY, may 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

1 dead, 2 escape unhurt in Corentyne piracy attack T he captain of a fishing boat is now dead following a reported piracy attack on the Corentyne River, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Tuesday night.

Dead is Mahadeo Ramdial, also called “Chico”, 46, of Lot 146 Kilcoy Squatting Area, Corentyne.

Reports are two survivors of the alleged attack swam to shore following the incident. Surviving the alleged ordeal are

Dead: Mahadeo Ramdial

Parmanand Nandan

the now dead man and Permaul were aboard MV Varuni 4 when a smaller fishing boat crashed into theirs. He related that there were two masked pirates in the boat. At the time of the alleged attack, they were fishing in the vicinity of Tain about one mile into the Corentyne River.

“A small boat approach an hit we and they tell we that everybody got to go in the cabin,” Nandan related.

According to the The grieving wife, Chetrami Jaipersaud and children Navin and Lakran man, they were all inwith a cutlass and told to structed to keep their Parmanand Nandan, 21, of jump overboard during the heads down. The next inTain, Corentyne and Arjune attack. The now dead cap- struction was for the capPermaul, 45, of Kilcoy tain reportedly swam half tain and one of the workSquatting Area. the distance to the shore ers to loosen the boat engine According to reports, the before disappearing under and place it into the pirate’s two survivors reported to the water. Nandan in recall- boat.

Police that they were thrown ing the incident said that at Being more able-bodied, overboard while the capabout 18:30h, he, along with Nandan and Ramdial loostain was lashed in his head

Arjune Permaul

ened the boat’s engine and took it into the other boat.

Meanwhile, Permaul said he was instructed to take some of the catch and place it into the pirate’s boat. “They didn’t want all just some… like they didn’t have time or something.

Then dem tell we jump overboard. We beg “Oh Uncle don’t throw abe overboard”, dem say “Allyu got to go over or we gon chap and shoot you all”. So me an that one boy jump overboard,” he said.

Permaul in relating the

story said Ramdial was lashed in the head with a cutlass and told to jump into the water which was about 24-feet deep. When he got into the water the three men started swimming towards the shore.

Reports are Ramdial said he could not make it to shore before disappearing.

“I call he like three times an he answer and the next two times no answer,” the 45-year-old Permaul told this publication.

Both men said they swam until they saw another fishing vessel in the vicinity of Port Mourant. “We hold on to the anchor rope and call them and they rescue we,” the younger of the two explained.

The men said they swam for two hours before they were rescued.

Meanwhile, the missing fisherman has been working at sea for the past 17 years.

The crew left on Monday and were expected back today. The boat is owned by Permaul Persaud Samaroo of Kilcoy. Samaroo told Guyana Times that boats

and crew have come under piracy attack on three previous occasions and each time he lost a 40hp Yamaha outboard engine.

Meanwhile, the dead fisherman’s father is of the view that foul play may have been involved. According to the 65-year-old Bhudram Mahadeo, he cannot believe that two pirates can successfully carryout an attack on a fishing boat. Based on experience, he noted, one has to control the boat leaving one to execute the attack.

“One time we hearing two pirates attack them and they were asleep and then the next time we hearing that they were eating or just finish eating.”

Meanwhile, at about 15:30h Ramdial’s body was discovered along the Tain Foreshore. A post-mortem examination is expected to be performed on the body.

The boat in which the men were fishing was later found at Rose Hall foreshore. The grieving father is calling for a thorough investigation.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Mother, son busted with gun, ganja

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Norton Street, Werken-Rust, Georgetown welder and his mother were taken into Police custody following the discovery of a gun, ammunition and a quantity of ganja during a raid.

According to reports, about 18:00h on Monday, the welder was observed by ranks of a mobile patrol on Norton Street acting in a suspicious manner and as

such, a search was conducted on his person. An unlicensed .32 Taurus Pistol, along with four live rounds of matching ammunition, was discovered.

The suspect was subsequently escorted to his home, where in the presence of his 50-year-old mother Police conducted a search, which led to the discovery of a live round of .38 ammunition and 3.5 grams of canna-

bis in a room.

This latest seizure of a firearm has brought the overall tally to 49 so far for the year, with A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) leading with 19; F Division (Interior Location) had 16, C Division (East Coast Demerara), 6; B Division (Berbice) 4; D Division (West Demerara), 3 and E Division (LindenKwakwani), 1.

news

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thursDAY, may 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Appellate Judges sworn in

...Govt committed to judicial independence – President

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s two Justices were sworn in as Appeal Court Judges, President David Granger has vehemently expressed that his Government was committed to judicial independence.

Justice Dawn Gregory and acting Chief Justice Roxane George pledged complete impartiality at their swearing-in ceremony before the President. These appointments mean that Court of Appeal sittings will now be held after a threemonth lapse following the retirement of Justice Carl Singh as acting Chancellor of the Judiciary.

In a brief address, the Head of State stressed that the Executive prized an independent Judiciary, adding that neither he nor his government had any interest in political interference of the separate arm.

“The Executive has taken steps to ensure that the Judiciary is not beholden to the Government of the day. The enactment of the Physical Accountability Act of 2015 provided for the first time, the full financial autonomy of the Judiciary in accordance with the Constitution,” he observed at State House on Wednesday.

This independence, according to the President, means that the Judiciary must be protected from both public and private partisan interests, paving the way for rule of law to take effect.

Service Commission”.

The last Court of Appeal sitting was February 27 where Justices Carl Singh, Yonette CummingsEdwards and Brassington

Reynolds upheld former acting Chief Justice Ian Chang’s decision that cross-dressing be allowed once not done for “improper purposes”. Earlier that

month, another landmark ruling came when the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of Justice Chang that the constitutional challange case.

Draft prison survey will address rehabilitation model Acting Chief Justice Roxane George and Justice Dawn Gregory after being sworn in on Wednesday

“Rule of law requires that everyone should be subject to the law and prescribes that no one should be above the law,” the President stressed.

He stated that under his watch, the Administration was seeking a judiciary that’s “unbiased, unblemished and unmindful of personal prejudices”.

“The Judiciary has a greater role to play in maintaining its own independence. Judicial officers must demonstrate the highest standards of impartiality [and] must be rigorous in their research, conscientious in their consideration of matters brought before them, and cogent in their judgments,” he added.

Earlier this month, former Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall explained that the fact that Judges were not

sitting in the Appeal Court was having a “devastating impact” on the justice system. He explained that at that time, no appeal coming from the High Court could have been heard by the Court of Appeal, adding that no appeals could have gone to the Caribbean Court of Justice.

“I withheld approval because I sent the recommendations to the present Chancellor who has agreed to look at them and resubmit the list to me,” President Granger had said when he was asked about the appointments earlier this year.

Article 128 (1) of the Constitution provides that Judges, other than the Chancellor and Chief Justice, are appointed by the President, “who shall act in accordance with the advice of the Judicial

A

draft report is expected to be submitted by September 2017 on the prison survey, which is being facilitated by component three of the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP) and the University of Guyana.

This was disclosed by Project Manager Clement Henry during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA). Henry pointed out that the University had successfully completed the data collection process in all the five prison locations.

“They are now doing regular statistical process which is the data cleaning, once that is completed, they will now forward the data to UNTREF (National University of Tres de Febrero) for analysis,” Henry explained.

UNTREF is an Argentine University assisting in the crafting of a rehabilitation and reintegration model for ex-offenders. That institution is expected to submit

a draft report of the findings by September 2017, after which a review will be carried out, and the final report submitted by November.

The survey, is expected to be used to facilitate sustainable re-entry by assessing rehabilitation and reintegration needs across the prison system, developing a rehabilitation and reintegration model based on the needs assessments and the outputs of the survey, developing a case management programme to support and track inmate progress and informing training to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) staff on delivering rehabilitation and reintegration services.

Professor Ernest Uwazie, an expert on inmate rehabilitation and reintegration, was hired to provide technical and strategic advice to the Project Executing Unit (PEU) with the aim of designing rehabilitation and social reintegration services for prison inmates.

However, Henry noted that the Professor will be conducting a separate analysis focused specially on strengthening the administration of the prisons. The analysis, coupled with the report coming from the survey, is expected to foster a better rehabilitation process at the prisons.

“We will combine these two findings from the prison expert and the university analysis. We think that will give us enough information to develop a module and strategy for rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders and ex-offenders.”

The sum of US$74,200 has been allocated for the survey. Faculty staff, from both Turkeyen and Tain campuses, including medical and legal personnel, mathematicians, criminologists and social workers will comprise the core team leading the survey.

Additionally, 30 students from the University will be trained in data collection to assist the team in conducting the survey.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017

Regional Missing plane

Debris found as search continues near The Bahamas

Prominent New York businesswoman Jennifer Blumin (left) and Nathan Ulrich (right), and Blumin’s three- and four-year-old sons were on the plane that went missing. Pictured far right is debris, confirmed components of an MU-2B aircraft recovered 15 miles East of Eleuthera, Bahamas

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he US Coast Guard, with assistance from the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, is searching for survivors after a plane carrying four people disappeared from radar in the Bermuda Triangle area near The Bahamas on Monday.

Prominent New York businesswoman, Jennifer

Blumin, and her sons – three-year-old Theodore and four-year-old Phineas – were on the private twin-engine turboprop plane heading to Titusville, Florida after leaving Puerto Rico around 11 a.m. on Monday, when the aircraft lost radio contact with the control tower three hours later.

Nathan Ulrich, the 52-year-old ex-husband of actress Rae Dawn Chong, was listed as the pilot. The plane was at 24,000 feet and about 37 miles East of Eleuthera at last contact.

Search crews located a debris field on Tuesday, about 15 miles East of Eleuthera, sometime before

15:00h. The missing plane is owned by 40-year-old Blumin, founder and CEO of Skylight Group, an event management firm that has a portfolio of venues that include Skylight at Moynihan Station, which has hosted New York Fashion Week shows over the years.

(Caribbean360)

Air Canada flight from Jamaica Cuban man faces 30 years for after passenger immigrant smuggling operation diverted tries to open door Cuban national faces ted Garcia-Legon’s 25-foot

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up to 30 years in prison for his part in an immigrant smuggling operation from The Bahamas to the United States.

A US Attorney Office release says 54-year-old Carlos Garcia-Legon pleaded guilty Monday to multiple charges, including 14 counts of encouraging and inducing an alien to come to the country illegally. Sentencing is scheduled for July 10.

Court documents show a US Customs and Border Protection aircraft spot-

boat near Bimini, Bahamas, in February, and officers watched multiple passengers transfer from another vessel.

CBP and US Coast Guard vessels approached GarciaLegon’s boat off the coast of Miami. Following repeated orders to stop, officers fired four shotgun rounds into his engines. Authorities say Garcia-Legon was transporting 14 passengers from various countries, including China, Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Ecuador. (Jamaica Observer)

A

n Air Canada flight from Jamaica to Toronto was diverted to Orlando, Florida, after authorities say a passenger became aggressive, attacked the crew with coffee pots and tried to open the cabin door.

A federal criminal complaint says crew members and other passengers secured Brandon Michael Courneyea using zip ties.

Orlando television station WFTV reports the FBI was contacted about 19:30h

Monday.

Investigators said Courneyea yelled at passengers for “looking at him.” He then grabbed a coffee pot from the galley and swung it at crew members before saying it would “only take one guy to take the plane down.”

He lunged for a rear door and began pulling the lever.

Federal agents arrested Courneyea, who faces several charges. It’s not clear whether he has a lawyer.

Puerto Rican nationalist Lopez Rivera released

O

scar Lopez Rivera, the Puerto Rican nationalist and one of the longest-serving political prisoners in US history, has been released from house arrest in Puerto Rico.

Lopez Rivera was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 1981 for his involvement with FALN, a Puerto Rican group that claimed responsibility for dozens of bombings in New York, Chicago, Washington and Puerto Rico in the 1970s and 1980s. He was never tied to specific bombings, which caused few injuries.

Thousands of supporters were expected to cheer Lopez Rivera’s release on Wednesday at a celebration in Puerto Rico.

Supporters of the 74-year-old, who spent 35 years in prison, are also expected to honour him next month in New York City’s

massive Puerto Rican Day parade.

Lopez Rivera was placed under house arrest after former US President Barack Obama commuted his sentence before leaving office in January. There has been a campaign to free Lopez Rivera over the years, drawing support from Pope Francis, former President Jimmy Carter and “Hamilton” creator LinManuel Miranda.

Following celebrations in Puerto Rico, Lopez Rivera is set to go to Chicago, where he spent some time growing up as a child, today.

According to AP, Lopez Rivera has said that upon returning to Puerto Rico, he wanted to spend time with family, and create a thinktank to work on issues, including climate change, the economy and the island’s political status. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Jamaica, Dom Rep to boost ties in several areas

(Jamaica Observer)

Move to replace Brazil’s Indigenous affairs agency Funai

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congressional commission in Brazil led by a powerful farming lobby has recommended dismantling the country’s Indigenous rights agency, Funai.

It said the agency currently run by anthropologists should be replaced with one controlled by the Justice Ministry.

The panel also said about 80 Funai officials should be prosecuted for backing what it considered illegal land claims by Indigenous groups.

Critics said the move was an attack on Indigenous rights by the farming lobby.

They said the reform would leave Indigenous tribes unprotected as farmers were trying to move further into the Amazon rainforest.

Dozens of protesters rallied outside the Congress building in the capital Brasilia

On Tuesday, dozens of protesters with body paint and feathered headdresses danced outside the Congress building in the capital Brasilia to protest against the commission’s findings.

Earlier this month, Antonio Costa, the head of Funai, was sacked just days after a brutal attack in which at least 10 Indigenous people were hurt.

He complained that Funai had been left powerless after its budget was cut by more than 40 per cent.

The assault in the northern state of Maranhao was carried out by farmers and landowners, the authorities say.

More than 800,000 indigenous people from different tribes live in Brazil, making up less than one per cent of the country’s population. (Excerpt from BBC News)

“Racial dotishness,” says T&T’s PM Rowley

P

rime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has dismissed as “racial dotishness” critics who suggested the reason for inviting Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar to last week’s opening of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, as well as naming a luxury suite at the facility in his name, was for the purpose of sanitising the beleaguered facility.

The furore brought about by the idea, which was put forward by former West Indies icon Lara, who is a close friend of Tendulkar, caused a furore which is believed to have influenced Tendulkar not to attend the opening.

He said the idea of having the stadium named after two legendary cricketers was to make it a show piece in the cricket world and use

it as a business venture so Government could promote sports tourism. He explained that the academy is going to be part of a sport tourism and business venture.

“We are looking for business outside and Sachin Tendulkar’s association with it would have exposed us to the largest cricket market in India. But in T&T that matters not, all that matters is

racial dotishness, because some people in this country cannot avoid including race in their discussion in every single thing they do… at the end of the day the stadium is opened, it’s the Brian Lara Academy and… We need no sanitisation.”

Rowley said young people from T&T and the region will also be able to develop their careers at this facility. (Excerpt

from Trinidad Guardian)

Prime Minister Andrew Holness along with Danilo Medina, President of The Dominican Republic

J

amaica and The Dominican Republic have agreed to increase trade, bilateral investment, cooperation in tourism and the training of teachers and students. In a joint statement on Tuesday, Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina and Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness stressed the need to boost cooperation in tourism.

Medina also expressed interest in having a tourism multidestination pact as soon as possible. The leaders noted the importance of cooperation in transport links and discussed Jamaica’s plans to host the UN World Tourism Organisation Conference on Sustainable Tourism.

They announced support for exchange programmes on training, an initiative to be materialised with teachers and students from both nations, which aims to pro-

mote and develop skills in Spanish and English.

Holness, expressed an interested in learning about the Dominican government’s social programs, especially affordable housing through public-private partnerships such as the sprawling Ciudad Juan Bosch, which can be applied to similar initiatives in Jamaica.

Meanwhile, President of the Roundtable of Commonwealth Countries in The Dominican Republic, Fernando Gonzales Nicolas said Jamaica is one of the main business partners in the Caribbean.

Nicolas made the comment on Tuesday during a meeting with Holness and Dominican business leaders, adding that the visit reveals the “Jamaicans’ interest in bolstering political and trade relations with the country.” (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

declines Congressman calls for Philippines EU aid after securing Trump impeachment billions from China T T

exas Democratic Representative Al Green renewed calls for the impeachment of President Trump on the House floor Wednesday, in the wake of new allegations concerning the Russia probe – as other lawmakers warned against a rush to judgment.

Green first called for impeachment on Monday, joining other liberal lawmakers like Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., in pursuing a step most Democratic leaders suggest is premature.

But the New York Times report claiming Trump asked former FBI chief

Texas Democratic Representative Al Green

James Comey to end the probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn emboldened Green.

“I rise today, Mr Speaker, to call for the impeach-

ment of the President of the United States of America for obstruction of justice,” Green said, implying Trump fired Comey owing to the Russian investigation. “We cannot allow this to go unchecked – the President is not above the law, it is time for the American people to weigh in.”

Green went on to explain that implementing the impeachment process does not, necessarily, mean the President would be found guilty. In any impeachment proceeding, the Senate would effectively hold a trial to determine guilt.

But Republicans and most Democrats are strong-

ly warning against such impeachment talk. The White House also strongly denied the claims in the Times.

Rep Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa, told lawmakers after Green’s remarks that “members are reminded to refrain in engaging in personalities toward the President such as accusations that he committed an impeachable offence”.

Ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said on Wednesday that: "No one should rush to embrace the most extraordinary remedy for removing a president."

(Fox News)

he Philippine Government has told the European Union it will no longer accept development aid from the bloc, putting at risk programmes to assist poor and conflict-hit regions in the country’s South, Europe’s ambassador said on Wednesday.

Ambassador Franz Jessen said the decision to cut aid from the EU, a strong critic of President Rodrigo Duterte’s drugs war, would mean the loss of about 250 million Euros (US$278.73 million) worth of grants mostly allocated to Muslim communities.

Manila’s move comes days after Duterte won billions of dollars in pledges from China

after attending the Belt and Road summit in Beijing.

“The Philippine Government has informed us they no longer accept new EU grants,” Jessen said without elaborating. The EU will issue a statement on Thursday, officially announcing the end of its funding agreement with the Philippines. There was no immediate response from the Philippines’ Foreign Ministry.

Duterte says European nations don’t understand the extent of the narcotics problem in the Philippines. Almost 9000 people, many smalltime users and dealers, have been killed in the Philippines since Duterte took office on June 30. (Excerpt from Reuters)

DR Congo jail-break: Indonesian court sentences 2 gay Bundu dia Kongo leader men to public caning flees Kinshasa prison

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unmen from a Christian sect have stormed a prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, freeing their leader and about 50 other inmates, a Government spokesman says.

Shots were fired and vehicles torched as Ne Muanda Nsemi was freed from the jail in Kinshasa, witnesses said.

Police are suspected to have shot dead several prisoners, witnesses added.

Nsemi is a self-styled prophet and the leader of an outlawed group seeking to revive the ancient Kongo kingdom. He was arrested, along with his three wives and son, in March following clashes between his supporters and

Police.

Nsemi leads the Bundu dia Kongo movement, which is campaigning to restore a monarchy in parts of DR Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola and Gabon.

He was an MP when he was arrested in Kinshasa after Police accused him of inciting violence. A major operation is underway in Kinshasa to recapture the prisoners, reports the BBC’s Mbelechi Msoshi from the city.

He saw Red Cross officials loading the bodies of several prisoners into vehicles and transporting them to the morgue. In January 2016, every prisoner except one escaped from a jail in eastern DR Congo. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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sharia court in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province has sentenced two gay men to public caning; further undermining the country’s moderate image after a Christian politician was imprisoned for blasphemy.

The court said the men, aged 20 and 23, would each be subjected to 85 lashes for having sexual relations. One of the men cried as his sentence was read out and pleaded for leniency. The chief prosecutor, Gulmaini, who goes by one name, said they would be caned next week, before Ramadan starts on about May 25.

The sentencing on Wednesday coincided with the International Day Against Homophobia and

Two Indonesian men arrive for their trials at a sharia court in Banda Aceh

Transphobia. The men were arrested in late March after neighbourhood vigilantes in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, broke into their rented room to catch them hav-

ing sex. Mobile phone footage that circulated online and formed part of the evidence shows one of the men naked and visibly distressed as he apparently calls for help on

his phone. The second man is repeatedly pushed by another man who is preventing the couple from leaving the room.

The lead judge, Khairil Jamal, said the men were “legally and convincingly proven to have committed gay sex”.

He said the three-judge panel decided against imposing the maximum sentence of 100 lashes because the men were polite in court, cooperated with authorities and had no previous convictions.

International human rights groups have described the treatment of the men as abusive and humiliating and called for their immediate release. Human Rights Watch said in April that public caning would constitute torture under international law. (Excerpt

from The Guardian)

India Police kill 16 Maoist 6 dead in ISIL attack on Jalalabad TV station rebels in Chhattisgarh state A t least six people have been killed by assailants wearing suicide vests who stormed a national television and radio station in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, Government officials say.

The attackers carrying AK47s entered Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) on Wednesday in the latest assault on news media workers in the country.

The raid on the RTA state broadcaster was carried out by four attackers, one of whom had

A large number of security forces are deployed in Chhattisgarh to counter the Maoist rebels

P

olice in India say they have killed 16 Maoist rebels in the central state of Chhattisgarh. DM Awasthi, the chief of the state’s anti-Maoist force, told the AFP news agency that the clash took place near Bijapur district.

The region has seen a long-running insurgency by Maoists. The rebels killed 24 troops last month. The Maoists say they are fighting for communist rule and greater rights for tribal people and the rural poor.

Some media reports said the rebels had been killed in two dif-

ferent operations.

The Police, however, did not give clear details about the exact timing of the operation. The violence comes against the backdrop of India’s Government promising to take strong action against the rebels after last month’s attack.

The rebels are active in several eastern and central states of India.

They routinely target Indian security forces. In 2010 they killed 74 Policemen in Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh in one of their most deadly attacks. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

detonated a suicide bomb at the entrance to the compound, said Gulab Mangal, governor of Nangarhar.

As the attack unfolded, heavy gunfire was heard from around the RTA building, which is close to the governor’s compound. The three others were killed by security forces in the gun battle, Mangal said.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group claimed responsibility for the attack that comes over a week after the leader

of ISIL in Afghanistan was killed in a US drone strike.

Al Jazeera’s, John Hendren, reporting from Kabul said that at least 16 people, including journalists, were wounded in the attack which took place in central Jalalabad, close to the provincial governor’s office and a busy square.

Among the dead were four RTA employees, including a driver, a guard, and two technical personnel, as well as two policemen, according to Mangal. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Nigeria Chibok girls: Lone schoolgirl escapes Boko Haram captivity

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schoolgirl who was abducted by Nigeria’s militant Islamists in 2014 has escaped from captivity, a presidential aide has told the BBC. The girl was found by Government troops while she was escaping, Femi Adesina said, without giving details. She was

among 276 girls seized

by Boko Haram from north-eastern Chibok town in 2014, sparking global outrage.

A total of 103 of the girls have been released so far, including 82 earlier this month in a prisoner swap.

The 82 girls, who met Nigerian President

Muhammadu Buhari on 7 May, are expected to be reunited with their families later this week. They were escorted to a reception in the capital Abuja by armed soldiers, after a check-up at a medical centre.

The number of Boko Haram suspects released by the authorities in ex-

change for the girls remains unknown.

Last month, President Buhari said the government remained “in constant touch through negotiations, through local intelligence, to secure the release of the remaining girls and other abducted persons unharmed”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16

THURSDAY, MAY 18 , 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

From selling apples in the market to running 2 businesses

– Leah Bachan says anyone can do it

L

eah Bachan, the owner of two businesses, is of the belief that anybody can develop and run a successful business.

She says would-be business persons should be innovative and not go after businesses that have cornered the market.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Leah’s

Online Shopping, the first online shopping store in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), got into the business because of her need to earn as well as satisfy a craving for better products.

“During the time when I became pregnant I decided that I must do something to generate an income in order to support myself and my

upcoming child, so I started to work with my uncle at the Rosignol Market helping to sell his imported vegetables such as apples, grapes and carrots. Every Saturday I used to be at the market selling.”

After she gave birth, Bachan was desperate for money, so she commenced working at the Hopetown

Business News

Barbados signs new air transport agreement with Canada

T

he Governments of Barbados and Canada have signed a new Air Transport Agreement which is envisaged to not only increase airlift and long stay visitors in both countries, but also give aircrafts “the flexibility to operate without directional or geographical limitations”.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, and High Commissioner of Canada, Marie Legault.

Senator McClean explained that while an air services agreement was signed between Barbados and Canada back in 1985, several developments occurred which necessitated a review of the previous agreement.

“We have come here today because the Governments of Barbados and Canada embarked on, and successfully concluded, an agreement to replace the original air services agreement,” she pointed out.

The Foreign Minister added that it was “no secret” that Canada was the island’s single, largest source market for international business and the agreement was, therefore, an essential instrument to facilitate this.

“The evidence is there that there is a renewed commitment on both our parts to ensure not only that our visitor arrivals increase, but also to facilitate the business transactions that take place between our countries,” she stated. (Caribbean360)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, May 17, 2017

Selling

USD

$1244.60

GBP

$266.77

$270.15

Gross

$242,958

CAN

$151.30

$153.05

$225,951

$205.98

$208.44

Net

USD

$ 228.64

$231.57

EURO

Indicators as on May 3, 2017 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$52.21

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$239.58/ton

London Sugar

$448.00/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

+2.63 Change %

+1.25 +2.03 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1261.30

$1262.30

Low/High

$1241.00

$1263.70

Change

+0.40

+0.03%

Business Concept – Board of Directors Governing body (called the Board) of an incorporated firm. Its members (Directors) are elected normally by the subscribers (stockholders) of the firm (generally at an Annual General Meeting or AGM) to govern the firm and look after the subscribers’ interests. The Board has the ultimate decision-making authority and, in general, is empowered to (1) set the company’s policy, objectives, and overall direction; (2) adopt by-laws; (3) name members of the advisory, executive, finance, and other committees; (4) hire, monitor, evaluate, and fire the managing director and senior executives; (5) determine and pay the dividend and (6) issue additional shares. (Business Dictionary)

Service Station pumping petrol. After a few months, she started her entrepreneurial rise, which would eventually see her opening the first online shopping business in Region Five.

Firstly, she took over her parents’ Internet café.

The novice entrepreneur then secured a second job as an administrator with the West Berbice Chamber of Commerce. Then, she opened her second business, Leah’s Online Shopping, with the slogan “Your Regional therapist”.

The aim of Leah’s Online Shopping is to quickly bring products from the United States into Guyana at cheaper rates, giving persons the opportunity to source products in the virtual world. Apart from that, the business imports quality electronics as well as brand name clothing, footwear and cosmetics for resale. Shopping online allows one to be unique in one’s clothing and other choices, as there is a wide array of choices and different combinations possible.

“We are bringing online shopping to Region Five, because on many occasions we find people going out of the Region to do online shopping – Expand the virtual world.”

She noted that when persons go out of Region Five to

do business, that takes money out of the Region. “I want to help the Region to develop and when it does it will be more business for me.”

Bachan refers to herself as a shopaholic and says her personal experience gave her the idea to open the business since most of her shopping was done online. She said she developed

“It’s not only about making good use of all of your opportunities, one needs to exploit those opportunities that come your way.”

She says coming soon will be a bridal fashion site, along with a party and special occasions department.

She is into the business of catering for persons who have special preferences,

a way to get items to herself hassle-free. That process is now the bedrock of her company.

On the strength of the confidence generated by her successes, Bachan is now venturing into the real estate business and is offering real estate management services, as well as an office max department where banners and flyers can be produced.

Bachan noted.

In offering encouraging words for budding entrepreneurs, she declared: “Hope is not lost for anybody who feels that they are at the end of the road. Once you have life and you have hope, let the future motivate you and you can become somebody successful.”

Contact: 611-0055, Leah’s Enterprise @leahsonlineshopping

Investors’ Guide

Wall Street tumbles as reform hopes fade with Trump crisis

T

he S&P 500 and the Dow notched their biggest oneday fall since September 9 as investor hopes for tax cuts and other pro-business policies faded after reports that US President Donald Trump tried to interfere with a federal investigation set off alarm bells on Wall Street.

Former FBI chief James Comey said in a memo that Trump had asked him to end a probe into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s ties with Russia, the reports said.

That was only the latest worry in a tumultuous week at the White House after Trump unexpectedly fired Comey and reportedly disclosed classified information to Russia’s Foreign Minister about a planned Islamic State operation.

The developments intensified doubts that Trump would be able to follow through on his promises for tax cuts, deregulation and fiscal stimulus. Those pledges had helped fuel a record-setting post-election rally on Wall Street.

Selling accelerated late in the afternoon of one of the busiest trading days in months and the three major indexes ended near session lows.

“We’ve seen the Trump agenda derailed and try to get back on track several times. It’s registering with more investors that it’s going to be hard to get back on track with the latest allegations,” Michael O’Rourke, chief market strategist at JonesTrading in Greenwich, Connecticut.

“Prior to the election, investors expected Trump to represent uncertainty,” he said.

“The market is now recognising that some of the fears they had back in October are coming to fruition.”

Both the Dow and S&P 500 fell below their 50-day moving average for first time since late April. The S&P began the session 0.74 per cent lower, the largest gap down since March 30, 2009, when it opened trading with a 0.84 per cent drop.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 372.82 points, or 1.78 per cent, to 20,606.93,

the S&P 500 lost 43.64 points, or 1.82 per cent, to 2357.03 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 158.63 points, or 2.57 per cent, to 6011.24.

The VIX, Wall Street’s “fear gauge”, shot up to 15.34, its highest level since April 18.

Nasdaq had its steepest one-day loss since June 24, after Britain voted to exit the European Union, as did S&P’s financial and technology sectors. The financial sector closed down three per cent while the technology sector fell 2.8 per cent.

The S&P bank sub-sector dropped four per cent, led by a 5.9 per cent decline in Bank of America shares and a 3.8 per cent loss for JPMorgan.“The bull market is not over by any means, but between the political stuff and the fact that the next earnings season is three months away, there’s going to be a lack of motivation,” said Donald Selkin, chief market strategist at Newbridge Securities in New York. (Reuters)

NEWS

17

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US$5B local refinery will 10 to vie for Miss be unprofitable – expert India Guyana 2017

B

uilding an oil refinery in Guyana will be a risky undertaking with extremely thin profit margins, Director of Advisory Services at the United States-based Hartree Partners, Pedro Haas has said.

Haas was presenting a feasibility study conducted on the possibility of Guyana building an oil refinery, during a public consultation held at Marian Academy’s auditorium, Georgetown on Wednesday.

He said the cost to build a refinery that would produce 100,000 barrels of oil per day was US$5 billion, with a construction period of 50 to 60 months at the very least.

This cost not only caters for the off-site location and other facilities, but takes into account the cost for energy, hydrogen supply, water and docking, which adds to the total cost of the project.

“While many places in the world build refineries that produce around 200,000 barrels per day; the 200,000 barrels a day refinery is way above the 13-14,000 barrels per day that Guyana requires and it’s a massive investment,” he told the audience on Wednesday.

The company looked at economic models used in other oil-producing countries and compared them with the scale and complexity of Guyana’s potential oil market to come up with the rec-

the country could look at selling its crude and in turn importing supplies. He also suggested swapping crude for oil products, or reaching an agreement with a refinery to have certain products returned at an agreed price.

Decision

Director of Advisory Services at the United Statesbased Hartree Partners, Pedro Haas

ommendations. Expert opinions from oil and engineering companies were also taken on board.

However, even with a smaller oil refinery, Haas said there was a high possibility of Guyana getting a negative rate of return on investment of between US$2 billion and US$3 billion.

“That’s a very significant number, because the total investment is US$5 billion; that means you are destroying half the value of your investment,” he added.

Against this backdrop, Haas argued that if Guyana decided to build its own refinery, it would have to compete with refineries operated in the Atlantic basin and some in the United States.

“Some of them are fully depreciated and they are operated at a very low cost. So, you have to compete against a depreciated refinery with a new facility and you have to compete with an even more efficient set of refineries,” he

explained.

The consultant pointed to the closure of several oil refineries in countries like St Croix, Aruba and Curaçao, which he said tells you that the investments were not feasible. He also used Brazil as an example of a country where building oil refineries has not been a profitable undertaking.

While he said Government should not object to private investors taking the risks, he noted that the finances were negative, as the investor would most likely never be paid back.

In responding to a question from the audience, Haas argued that establishing an oil refinery in Guyana would not guard against price shocks in the oil market, explaining that oil prices were controlled by international factors beyond Guyana’s control.

In presenting some alternatives to building an oil refinery in Guyana, Haas said

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who was present at the consultation, said that Government has not made any decision on whether it would construct a refinery or not, explaining that this could not be a unilateral decision.

“Information is not always packaged in a manner in which we would wish to have it and it is not always palatable to the taste we would wish. But we thought in this instance, in the interest of transparency we decided to share what we have received,” Trotman said, referring to the presentation made by Hartree.

Trotman said most of the decisions would be made by “political imperatives”.

However, he said he hoped that the economic importance would not be lost when a final decision was made.

The Minister said consultations would continue in various other parts of Guyana and in the Diaspora before a final decision was made as to whether Guyana should build its own oil refinery.

National Forestry Policy review begins with stakeholder consultation

T

he revision of the National Forest Policy Statement (NFPS) was officially launched on Wednesday.

In opening remarks at the first round of consultations at the Umana Yana, Kingston, Georgetown, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said the review was timely.

“Against the backdrop of changing circumstances globally and nationally, we are happy that this review is taking place, and out of which, we will have a policy that all of us – by all of us I mean Government, civil society, and, more importantly or most importantly, the citizens of Guyana – can feel happy and comfortable with,” Minister Trotman is quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying.

Guyana’s National Forestry Policy was last updated in 2011. Since then, new policies, including the European Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (EU FLEGT), have necessitated the need for more relevant, useful and responsive policies and plans.

The Government in

Stakeholders engaged in discussion with The Consultancy Group (TCG)

November invited expressions of interest through the Natural Resources Ministry, which has oversight responsibility for the forestry sector.

Local Guyanese firm The Consultancy Group (TCG) won the bid to conduct the review process in January.

Professor Rory Fraser is the lead consultant and assures that his team is competent to undertake the review. “I think we have a complement of people who can really help to understand the breadth of interests and activities in forest and how maybe we need to coalesce and make something more comprehen-

sive and coherent about this particular patrimony,” Professor Fraser shared with stakeholders.

The team consists of foresters, an economist, social scientist, and specialists in governance, information technology, and facilitation and engagement.

TCG began work on the review process in February. The purpose of the project is to develop a plan in support of the policy, as well as programmes and activities in support of the plan and ways of monitoring and evaluating accomplishments.

“What we’re going to try to do is get to put togeth-

er a policy that is flexible and responsive; provide documents in support of it that will help the agencies involved, the organisations involved and most importantly, civil society because we’re talking about the national patrimony,” Professor Fraser explained.

The revision will be carried out in three phases; the first phase will be consultations and this will be facilitated across the country.

Wednesday’s consultation saw stakeholders sharing what was working well with the current Policy and Plan and what new issues should be considered. Stakeholders also shared the challenges encountered and their recommendations to address these challenges.

The consultations will also take into consideration issues like value-added processes, mining and agriculture in the drafting of the revised NFPS. The review process is expected to be completed by the end of August with a finalised updated draft policy pending approval in the National Assembly.

M

iss India Worldwide, Karina Kohli will be a special guest and performer at the Miss India Guyana 2017 Pageant. The pageant is slated for Friday at the Marriott Hotel.

Kohli is an international model who is presently pursuing her career in the Bollywood film industry.

The local leg of the pageant will have 10 gorgeous finalists competing for the coveted title of Miss India Guyana 2017. They will be preforming their talents on stage, showcasing their modeling skills in evening gown, Indian wear segments and the winner will be deter-

mined after been given the final question in the question and answer segment.

All of the finalists were given a two month long training and took part in many professional and personal developmental seminars. This also saw them being pre-judged in the preliminary round of the competition.

On pageant night, the show will be enriched with a mesmerizing cultural performances.

Last year, since under new directorship has seen Guyana placing once again internationally by gaining a spot in the top ten.

GTA trains hospitality workers

Participants at the training held on Wednesday

T

he Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in its efforts to improve the services of hospitality workers in Guyana hosted a housekeeping training on Wednesday.

The training which was held at the Tower Suite, Main Street Georgetown is just one of a series of training programs scheduled for 2017.

The capacity building program will target workers attached to small and medium scale hotels since these hotels will be of great interest for this year.

At the training, the workers were encouraged to fully seize the opportunity provided to have their staff trained in this pertinent area.

The session was conducted by Expert Trainer and former General Manager of the Pegasus hotel, Susan

Isaacs.

Isaacs possess a wealth of training experience in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Training consisted of interaction where the participants were encouraged to share experiences and methods of application.

Director of GTA, Indranauth Haralsingh noted that the investment made by the employers of the participants is to raise the level of standards and service currently present at their respective hotels.

Haralsingh further encouraged the attendants to share knowledge gained to those that were unable to attend the sessions.

At the conclusion of the two day training programme, certificates will be distributed to the participants courtesy of GTA.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, may 18, 2017

ARCHIE

Plan a trip or do something energetic that will make (March 21- you feel alive. Exercise and a April 19) proper diet, along with doing whatever you can to help others, will enhance your reputation.

ARIES

Stay on top of your responTAURUS sibilities. Don’t leave any(April 20- thing unfinished, or criticism May 20) can be expected. Stay focused on what’s important in order to get ahead and enhance your reputation.

dilbert

You may not get what GEMINI (May 21- you expect. Take a moment June 20) to gather your thoughts and consider what you can change in order to ensure the results you want.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Use your intelligence and look for alternatives if you aren’t happy with the way things are going. Don’t feel that you must conform to procedures that make you feel uncomfortable.

Personal growth will help you the most. Trying to work in conjunction with others will be difficult. Your important relationships will require nurturing, not criticism.

Rise above any emotionVIRGO (Aug. 23- al uncertainty you face and Sept. 22) throw your energy into accomplishing the things that will help you improve your strengths. Learn all you can, master skills and stand out.

Join in, be a participant LIBRA and enjoy what life has to of(Sept. 23Oct. 23) fer. Entertainment, a shopping trip or a brief outing will prompt you to make personal changes. Romance is in the stars.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Listen, but don’t get sucked SCORPIO into an emotional disagree(Oct. 24ment that would leave you in a Nov. 22) precarious position. If you bide your time, you will come up with a workable solution that will bypass conflict.

A little charm and enthuSAGITTARIUS siasm and a few compliments (Nov. 23- will help you get your way.

Dec. 21) Take advantage of an opportunity to engage in making business deals, networking and bringing about positive change.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

A soft approach when CAPRICORN dealing with a friend, rel(Dec. 22- ative or colleague will help Jan. 19) you avoid being called insensitive. Walking away from a situation gracefully will help keep the peace.

Dream it and make it hapAQUARIUS pen. Take control and make (Jan. 20the changes that you want to Feb. 19) see happen in your life. Love and romance are encouraged.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Taking a short trip or visPISCES iting someone you haven’t (Feb. 20March 20) seen in a long time will give you a different perspective on who you have become and the direction you want to go.

thursDAY, May 18, 2017

Ronaldo salutes

Zidane’s management ‒ as Madrid close on La Liga crown

19

Z

inedine Zidane is on the brink of his first league title as a coach and Cristiano Ronaldo believes the Frenchman has done very well.

Cristiano Ronaldo saluted Zinedine Zidane for his management of the Real Madrid squad this season as they closed to within a point of the LaLiga league title with a 4-1 win at Celta Vigo.

Madrid produced a professional display in Galicia on Wednesday and managed to fend off a resilient Celta side, who were harshly reduced to 10 men in the second half when Iago Aspas was adjudged to have dived in the area.

Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos ultimately finished Celta off following Aspas’ dismissal, but it was Ronaldo who set them on their way, scoring twice to effectively put Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo and Coach Zinedine Zidane are all smiles on the brink of their first title since 2012. has a good blend of youth and experience.

And the Portugal star gave coach Zidane the thumbs up “The boss has managed things very well this year,” he told for his effective management of a squad which he believes reporters. “We have a very good squad with lots of good young players and others with experience.

“I have been rested a bit more this year in order to be in good shape at the end of the season. It has worked well as this is when things are decided. “We still have one game to go. We know we have to keep going until the end.

“We are going to Malaga to win the game, that’s always our objective. We are Madrid; we must show that we are the best team and that we’re champions.” Ronaldo could have scored a hat-trick late on but inexplicably missed the target from close range.

“Such misses aren’t normal for me,” he said. “But it can happen.

Human beings can make mistakes.

“But I am doing well and helping the team with goals at the moment, so I am happy.”(Sportsmax)

NBA Lottery Results 2017

Celtics secure top pick in next month’s draft ‒ full selection order, analysis and more

T

he Boston Celtics will be on the clock at Number one overall when the 2017 NBA draft begins on June 22.

The Celtics secured the top pick in next month’s draft after winning Tuesday night’s draft lottery, which also confirmed the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers (through a pick swap with the Sacramento Kings) will select at Numbers two and three overall, respectively.

By virtue of their lottery win, the Celtics figure to shift their attention toward Washington combo guard Markelle Fultz—who has long been renowned as the top prospect in this year’s class.

The No. 1 player on the big

Markelle Fultz and Josh Jackson

board of Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, Fultz projects as a future stud after he posted historic averages during his one season with the Washington Huskies.

According to Sports-Reference.com, Fultz is one of 13 players since the start of the 1992-93 season to average at least 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and a steal over the course of an entire season.

Then there’s UCLA’s Lonzo Ball, who is now in position to land with the Los Angeles Lakers should the Celtics opt for Fultz.

A standout sensation during

his freshman season in Southern California, Ball averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from three.

Those efficient numbers aside, it’s worth wondering if Ball will evolve into an alpha in the Association based on the pass-first tendencies he flashed with the Bruins.

“The big question with Ball will be whether he can become one of the league’s best without a big scoring output,” Wasserman wrote. “Every guard selected to this year’s All-Star game averaged at least 20 points. And Ball projects more as a passer and shooter than takeover scorer.”

But according to Bleacher Report’s

Kevin Ding, the Lakers have done homework on other players, including Fultz, Kansas’ Josh Jackson and Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox. Ball, though, will garner the most attention from that group since his father, LaVar Ball, has declared “he’s going to be a Laker,” according to ESPN. com’s Ramona Shelburne.

Furthermore, ESPN’s Chad Ford (via CBSSports.com) previously reported the Lakers “appear to be enamored with Ball.”

And if that wasn’t enough to fuel speculation, Lakers president of basketball operations Magic Johnson told

ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman LaVar’s antics “will not have any impact whatsoever on whether he would select Lonzo.”

One more highlight of note: Although the Sixers weren’t able to snag the Lakers’ top-three protected pick— they will now own L.A.’s unprotected 2018 selection—they did capitalize on a pick swap with the Sacramento Kings that propelled them from pick No. 5 to No. 3.

Sixers swingman Nik Stauskas, who moved to the Sixers in the same deal that gave the City of Brotherly Love ballers the swap rights, took time to celebrate after the reveal.

After leaping into the top three, the Sixers figure to turn their attention to swingmen like Jackson and Duke’s Jayson Tatum who can play off the ball alongside Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Dario Saric.

And with other top-five-caliber talents like Dennis Smith Jr., Malik Monk, Jonathan Isaac and Frank Ntilikina all available, this year’s class should still make teams who fell short of lottery success happy as draft day unfolds.

Here’s a rundown of the complete results in respective order: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers (via Sacramento Kings pick swap), Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings (via Philadelphia 76ers pick swap), Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings (via New Orleans Pelicans), Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat. (Bleacher

Report)

Qatari sprinter targets Bolt’s

100m

world record F

emi Ogunode, the fastest man in the field at the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games, said he can beat Usain Bolt’s 100-metre world record.

The Qatari sprinter comfortably topped his heat in a time of 10.28 seconds in the morning session on Tuesday as athletics got underway at Baku’s Olympic Stadium.

Nigerian-born Ogunode, who set a continental record of 9.91 seconds on his way to gold at the 2015 Asian Championships, aims to eclipse the 9.58 seconds set

by Bolt in 2009 at the World Championships in Berlin.

“For the future, my target is to be Olympic champion. Even the world record, it’s another part of my goal so I’m working towards that,” said Ogunode.

“I believe in myself and I trust God, and I trust myself. And I believe in everybody who believes in me. In terms of time I believe I can break that world record.”

In the meantime, Ogunode has Islamic Solidarity Games gold on his mind and he appears to be razor sharp after a controlled performance in Tuesday morning’s heats.

The 26-year-old qualified second-fastest for the semi-finals behind Bahrain’s Andrew Fisher, and he’s huge favourite to take the title on Tuesday evening.

“You can never tell, but I’m very sure I can win here,” added Ogunode.

Ogunode will not be joined in the semi-finals by his younger brother Tosin. The 23-year-old, who has run 10.18 seconds this season, did not start his heat.

Bahrain’s Kemarley Brown, who has a season’s best time of 10.03 and was considered the main gold-medal threat to Femi Ogunode, also pulled out. (Jamaica Observer)

20

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, may 18, 2017

Gambhir guides KKR past Sunrisers in rainaffected match

KR were 12-3, need- to spare. ing 48 to win off six KKR will now face overs, but Gautam Mumbai Indians at the Gambhir kept his head to same venue on Friday, with put them one win away from the winner taking on Rising the final in the early hours.

Pune Supergiant in the final Gautam Gambhir in Hyderabad two kept Kolkata Knight days later.

Riders in the Indian Y a d a v had Shikhar Premier League D h a w a n and knocked Sunrisers caught beHyderabad out hind in the fifth over afas the defendter Gambhir ing champut Sunrisers pions were in, but KKR beaten by seven had plenty wickets in of cause for concern a rain-afw i t h fected eliminaWarner tor which fin– ished at 1.30am local time.

KKR were set 48 to win off six overs following a long delay due to the weather at the end of Sunrisers’ inw h o nings at the M blasted a Chinnaswamy 59-ball 126 Stadium on Wednesday. against KKR C apt ain in the regGautam Gambhir David Warner ular season – and Kane top scored with 37 as Sunrisers could only Williamson at the crease.

Sunrisers were 61-1 post 128-7, largely due to outstanding spells from at the halfway mark after Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-20) Williamson hit Coulter-Nile to the midwicket boundary and Umesh Yadav (2-21).

Gambhir was unbeaten for four and the next ball for on 32 from 19 balls after the six before Warner launched Knight Riders were reduced Sunil Narine into the top to 12-3 in a frantic run tier over long-on in the folchase, the skipper ensuring lowing over.

But Williamson (24) his side reached their revised target with four balls brought a stand of 50 for

the second wicket to a tame end by slapping CoulterNile straight to extra-cover and Piyush Chawla struck a huge blow by removing Warner’s middle stump only two balls later.

The holders were 75-3 in the 13th over when Warner departed and Sunrisers were unable to come up with a flurry of late runs thanks to some tight bowling Yadav, Coulter-Nile, Narine and Trent Boult.

A long delay followed after the heavens opened, but the game finally resumed with a huge crowd hanging

around to see a dramatic conclusion.

Chris Lynn launched Bhuvneshwar Kumar over point for six second ball, but went from the following delivery and Yusuf Pathan was run out off the next ball in a frantic opening over which went for 11.

Robin Uthappa was dismissed by Chris Jordan and KKR were 27-3 after Rashid Khan conceded only six from the third over, but Gambhir held his nerve by striking two sixes and as many fours to see Kolkata through.

(Hindustantimes)

SCOREBOARD Sunrisers Hyderabad innings (20 overs maximum) DA Warner* b Chawla 37 S Dhawan c †Uthappa b UT 11 Yadav c SA Yadav KS Williamson 24 b Coulter-Nile Yuvraj Singh c Chawla b UT 9 Yadav V Shankar c SA Yadav b 22 Coulter-Nile NV Ojha† c Lynn b Boult 16 CJ Jordan c & b Coulter-Nile 0 not out 2 Bipul Sharma 7 Extras (lb 3, w 4) Total (7 wickets; 20 overs) 128 Did not bat: B Kumar, Rashid Khan, S Kaul Fall of wickets:1-25 (Dhawan, 4.2 ov), 2-75 (Williamson, 11.6 ov), 3-75 (Warner, 12.2 ov), 4-99 (Yuvraj Singh, 15.3 ov), 5-118 (Shankar, 18.1 ov), 6-119 (Jordan, 18.3 ov), 7-128 (Ojha, 19.6 ov) Bowling : UT Yadav 4-021-2 (1w), TA Boult 4-0-30-

1 (1w), SP Narine 4-0-20-0, YK Pathan 1-0-7-0, NM Coulter-Nile 4-0-20-3 PP Chawla 3-0-27-1 Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 48 runs from 6 overs) RV Uthappa† c Dhawan b Jordan 1 CA Lynn c †Ojha b Kumar 6 YK Pathan run out (Kumar) 0 G Gambhir* not out 32 5 IR Jaggi not out 4 Extras (lb 1, w 3) Total (3 wickets; 5.2 overs) 48 Did not bat: SA Yadav, SP Narine, PP Chawla, UT Yadav, NM Coulter-Nile, TA Boult Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Lynn, 0.3 ov), 2-7 (Pathan, 0.4 ov), 3-12 (Uthappa, 1.1 ov) Bowling: B Kumar 1-0-111-0-9-1 1, CJ Jordan (1w), Rashid Khan 2-0-11-0 1-0-14-0, (2w), S Kaul Bipul Sharma 0.2-0-2 -0

Black Caps too good for Tigers in Tri-Nation Series N ew Zealand made it two wins out of two in the Tri-Nation Series, beating Bangladesh with 15 balls to spare.

Hamish Bennett took advantage of his long-awaited one-day international recall as New Zealand beat Bangladesh by four wickets in the Tri-Nation Series encounter in Clontarf.

Bennett had not played for his country since January 2014, but the paceman showed what he is capable of by taking 3-31 to play his part in restricting Bangladesh to 257-9.

Soumya Sarkar top scored with 61, while Mushfiqur Rahim (55) and Mahmudullah (51) also made half-centuries, but the Tigers, whose first game of the tournament against hosts Ireland was washed out, were unable to deny the Black Caps victory.

Stand-in captain Tom Latham made 54 and Jimmy Neesham scored a quickfire 52 for a New Zealand side

that got home with 15 balls to spare to make it two wins out of two.

Tamim Iqbal and Sarkar set a strong platform after Latham put Bangladesh in, the latter taking the role of chief aggressor in an opening

Jimmy Neesham

stand of 72.

It was the introduction of the spinners that did the trick for New Zealand, Neesham (2-68) removing the dangerous Tamim (23) and Mitchell Santner (1-36) striking in the following over

to get rid of Sabbir Rahman (1).

Sarkar had brought up his half-century at almost a run a ball, but was snared

by Ish Sodhi (2-40), making a mess of a sweep to offer a simple catch to Latham after hitting five boundaries.

Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah kept Bangladesh ticking over before Mosaddek Hossain made 41 off as many deliveries, but Bennett took three late wickets in an encouraging international comeback.

Latham and Luke Ronchi (27) got New Zealand off to a decent start, the skipper taking responsibility at the top of the order after his fellow opener fell to Mustafizur Rahman (2-33) and George Worker (17) was run out.

A glorious cover drive took Latham to his half-century but he inside edged Rubel Hossain (2-53) behind soon after. New Zealand were 147-4 with 20 overs remaining when Ross Taylor fell for 25.

Struggling Kerber

toppled by qualifier

Kontaveit in Rome

Anett Kontaveit (left) is congratulated by Angelique Kerber after she upset the top ranked seed

A

nett Kontaveit needed less than an hour to dump the struggling top seed out in Rome on day three.

Angelique Kerber suffered more clay-court misery as the world number one was thrashed by qualifier Anett Kontaveit in the second round of the Internazionali d’Italia.

The top seed returned to the summit of the rankings this week despite only reaching the last 16 of the Madrid Open, but there was no upturn in fortune for the German in Rome on Wednesday.

Kerber was given a firstround bye in the Eternal City and spent less than an hour on court against the 68-ranked Kontaveit, who eased to a 6-4 6-0 victory.

Kontaveit beat French Open champion Garbine Muguruza in the Stuttgart

Open last month after reaching the final of the Ladies Open Biel Bienne and the 21-year-old Estonian further enhanced her burgeoning reputation on day three in the Italian capital.

Kerber failed to win another game after taking a 4-2 lead in the first set and was out of the tournament in a flash.

The two-time grand slam champion’s chances of mounting a challenge at the upcoming French Open look slim after another poor showing, failing to live with Kontaveit and managing only seven winners in the match.

Kerber also racked up 22 unforced errors and must go back to the drawing board, while Mirjana Lucic-Baroni will be Kontaveit’s opponent in round three. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD Bangladesh innings (50 overs maximum) Tamim Iqbal c Munro b Neesham 23 Soumya Sarkar c Latham b Sodhi 61 Sabbir Rahman b Santner 1 Mushfiqur Rahim† c †Ronchi b Neesham 55 Shakib Al Hasan c Neesham b Sodhi 6 Mahmudullah c Rance b Bennett 51 Mosaddek Hossain c Rance b 41 Bennett Mehedi Hasan Miraz c Rance b Bennett 6 Mashrafe Mortaza* run out (†Ronchi) 1 Rubel Hossain not out 0 Mustafizur Rahman not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 10) 12 Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 257 Fall of wickets: 1-72 (Tamim Iqbal, 15.2 ov), 2-79 (Sabbir Rahman, 16.4 ov), 3-117 (Soumya Sarkar, 24.5 ov), 4-132 (Shakib Al Hasan, 28.4 ov), 5-181 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 37.1 ov), 6-242 (Mahmudullah, 47.2 ov), 7-253 (Mosaddek Hossain, 49.1 ov), 8-255 (Mehedi Hasan Miraz, 49.2 ov), 9-256 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 49.5 ov) Bowling: SHA Rance 9-066-0 (1w), HK Bennett 10-1-31-3 (4w), MJ Santner 10-1-36-1, JDS Neesham

A stand of 80 between Neil Broom (48) and Neesham ended Bangladesh’s hopes,

9-0-68-2 (4w), IS Sodhi 101-40-2, C Munro 2-0-14-0 New Zealand innings (Target: 258 runs from 50 overs) TWM Latham* c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Rubel Hossain 54 L Ronchi† c Mahmudullah b Mustafizur Rahman 27 GH Worker run out (Sabbir Rahman) 17 LRPLTaylor lbwbMustafizurRahman 25 NT Broom lbw b Rubel Hossain 48 Neesham c Mosaddek Hossain b Mashrafe Mortaza 52 C Munro not out 16 MJ Santner not out 5 Extras (lb 4, w 10) 14 Total (6 wickets; 47.3 overs) 258 Did not bat: SHA Rance, IS Sodhi, HK Bennett Fall of wickets 1-39 (Ronchi, 6.6 ov), 2-80 (Worker, 16.3 ov), 3-110 (Latham, 20.3 ov), 4-147 (Taylor, 30.3 ov), 5-227 (Broom, 42.6 ov), 6-241 (Neesham, 45.6 ov) Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 6.30-58-1(1w), Shakib Al Hasan 101-50-0 (1w), Mustafizur Rahman 9-1-33-2, Mehedi Hasan Miraz 8-0-45-0, Mahmudullah 1-0-8-0, Mosaddek Hossain 3-0-7-0, Rubel Hossain10-0-53-2

though, and Colin Munro (16 not out) finished off the job.

(Sportsmax)

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21 “Reds” thanks sports

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‘forward

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THINKING’ C

ricket comm e n t a tor Joseph “Reds” Perriera said that it is quite an honour to have a media bursary named after him and he congratulated the West Indies Cricket Board for what he described as ‘forward thinking’.

The WICB and the University of the West Indies Joseph “Reds” Perriera (UWI), through the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communications (CARIMAC), recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding for five bursaries to begin September 2017.

The five bursaries are being named in honour of five Caribbean media stalwarts. The honourees are the late Roy Lawrence and Tony Cozier; Tony Becca, Headley Samuels and Joseph Perreira. Head of CARIMAC, Professor Hopeton Dunn says “the programme is geared towards affording students with a specific interest in cricket as they pursue further education in Media/Communications programmes to include undergraduate studies in Integrated Marketing Communication, Journalism (Radio, Television, Print and Online) and Digital Media Production.

This relationship is for three years. WICB President, Dave Cameron says:”The investment is for US$150,000 over the period and the students who get selected for the bursaries will have access to work experience in WICB’s international and regional series and with other partners where applicable.” Cameron noted that: “It was important that two of the oldest Caribbean institutions partnering for such an important programme, is a signal of the commitment of the WICB to continue on to facilitate the growth of cricket across the region.

Education forms part of that role.” Perreira speaking about the move said :”It was quite an honour to be named among two outstanding broadcasters in the late Roy Lawrence, and Tony Cozier and the outstanding Jamaican writer Tony Becca. I felt it was forward thinking by WICB to come up with this program of Bursaries and would like to wish those who are successful with their applications a bright future as journalists.

It would be very unwise of me to think that what ever progress and contribution I made as a cricket commentator that I did it all on my own. In fact I owe a great deal to so many and it will be only fair that I credit and says thanks to people like Rafiq Khan, Hugh Chumondley, Ron Saunders and Terry Holder of Guyana. Leo De Leon, Dave Lamy and Neil Jiuseppi of (Trinidad and Tobago), Linde Delapenha (Jamaica), Jerry Richards, Gene Lewis, ViC Fernands( Barbados), Tannie Rose, Ivor Bird (Antigua), Bernard John (SVG) and Ray Roberts of Grenada.

“My deep appreciation goes out to the CBU for creating the many opportunities to cover WI overseas tours and to Alva Clarke of the Commonwealth broadcasting association. I must not forget the important role of the many outstanding scorers during my active broadcasting life.”

The Guyanese born sportscaster added :”It was also and honour and privilege to have worked alongside the late and outstanding Tony Cozier, as he set such a high standard, it was impossible not to make efforts to get up towards the level of his commentary.

At his passing, we were not just colleagues but close friends and he should of been knighted, for his contribution to WI and world cricket. St Lucia (WICB)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursdAY, may 18, 2017

GCB/Hand-In-Hand Insurance U-19

Rockaway T20 Cricket Fiesta 2.0

Insurance giant Tournament bowls off Saturday renews sponsorship

(L-R): GCB TDO Colin Stuart, WI Selectee Joshua Persaud, GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie, HIH Director and Fire Manager Howard Cox, HIH HR Manager Zaida Joaquin and WI U-19 player Bashkar Yadram

O

n Wednesday 17th May, 2017 the Guyana Cricket Board and Hand in Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited hosted the launching of the Under 19 Inter County tournament 2017. The launching took place in the sponsor’s Board room at its main branch situated in Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.

Howard Cox, Director and Fire Manager, was high in praise for the current Guyana Cricket Board. He posited that while the GCB may have its detractors, they have exemplified themselves well, by being able to reap successes at varying levels of regional competition. He particularly made mention of the Guyana Jaguars four day team, which have won Cricket West Indies Regional four day Professional Cricket League for the third consecutive year of its implementation.

Further, Cox was high in praise for the Guyana Under-19 team which in 2016 won the Regional One Day 50 Overs Championship for the third consecutive year. The Director further expressed his delight, to see Shimron Hetymer (as a product of the Hand In Hand Inter County Competition and the GCB’s player development program), progressing to the West Indies as such an early point in his career. He opined that this fact was very encouraging

to young players, the GCB, sponsors and other stakeholders.

Anand Sanasie, the Secretary of the GCB indicated that, the GCB is proud to be associated with the Hand in Hand Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited. According to him, the insurance entity shares a rich collaborative working relationship with local cricket boards; their sterling contribution to the development and promotion of cricket in Guyana is highly recognised and appreciated. He further posited that this year, Hand In Hand recommits to the Board, by entering into the second year of the a three (3) year agreement, to sponsor the GCB’s prestigious Under19 Inter County Tournament.

Sanasie pointed out that this under19 Inter County championship has a proud history of producing a number of outstanding national players at both the under 19 and senior levels.

One recent product of this under 19 programme is Hetymer who has graduated to the West Indies senior team. He noted that it is with great delight and appreciation that the GCB engages Hand In Hand as the proud sponsor of this significant tournament. “The GCB views this tournament as critical to the growth and empowerment of our young players, in that it serves as the main domestic catalyst for the mobility of play-

ers to the senior level”, the Secretary pointed out.

He noted that as a consequence, the championship both give our national selectors an opportunity to observe the talents available for the 2017 national under 19 team to represent Guyana in the WICB Regional tournament which will be played in St. Kitts this year. Further, it enables the selectors to add players to the pool of emerging players that are being groomed along a senior career path.

In conclusion, Sanasie stated that Hand In Hand’s sponsorship of the GCB’s Under 19 Inter County Tournament is clearly an invaluable one, and will enable the Guyana National Team to adequately prepare to defend their WICB Regional One Day Championship Title, a title we have won for the past three years, and to lift the 2017 WICB Regional three Day Tournament Title.

The tournament commences on Monday 29th May, 2017 with the one day format, of which the final will be played on Friday 2nd June, 2017 at the National Stadium-Providence, commencing from 09:30h.

The three day format will commence with the first round of matches from 10:00 hours on Tuesday 6th June, 2017 and it is scheduled to conclude on Friday 16 June, 2017.

‒ India, Jamaica, NY ready for debut

By John Ramsingh in Queens New York

T

he snow has disappeared and the sun is out which means it’s time for cricket in New York. It’s the back end of spring in the ‘Big Apple’ and teams in the second annual Rockaway T20 New York Cricket Fiesta are ready for battle.

The season opener was washed out after torrential rain swept through Queens New York on Saturday May 13 and forced the organizers to reschedule the highly anticipated bowl off at the Baisley Pond Park.

The weather has improved

Trinidad and Tobago opting out while Jamaica, India and the New York Select XI are included. The organizers have reached out to other expat teams including Barbados and teams from the Leeward and Windward Islands who were unable to field teams.

The New York Select team is a mixed team that comprises mainly Guyanese players who represented the country of their birth at the youth level including captain Karan Ganesh. Former Jamaican First Class opener, Jamie Trenchfield is also in the star studded line up alongside Chris Patadin, Waslim Haslim,

Guyana Team Manager JZ Mohamed (third from left) receives the team’s uniforms from Ralph Tamesh (second from right) and Hafeez Ali (third from right) in the presence of other tournament executives

significantly and the opening match will be a repeat of last year’s final when champions Pakistan take on Guyana at Ferry Point Park, Whitestone Bridge Bronx this Saturday from 10:00h.

The second game of the double header will see debutants New York Select XI and Jamaica battling for the psychological opening victory.

The tournament made a successful debut in 2016 with four teams of expats playing each other twice before Pakistan and Guyana clashed in the August 20 final at Baisley Pond Park (BPP) in a high scoring thriller. Pakistan chalked up an impressive 202/7 then restricted a youthful Guyana side to 196/6 to win by six runs. The other teams in the first season were Bangladesh who finished third and Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2017, the tournament has attracted six teams with

Zaheer Mohammed, Ramdeen Yadram, Dawnley Grant, Seon Daniels and Krishendat Ramoo.

Each team has nominated 18 players and some big names in the Guyana team include Akshay Homraj, Zamal Khan, Rajiv Ivan, Dominic Rikhi and Renwick Batson while in the Jamaican camp will be former West Indies opener Xavier Marshall, former captain Tamar Lambert, Tristan Coleman, Yannick Elliot and Charlton Senior.

Chairman of the tournament, Ralph Tamesh said that the “addition of two teams this year signals growth and we are hoping that we can continue to grow from strength to strength.” While speaking exclusively to Guyana Times Sport, the chairman also stated that “the overall quality of play will be of high standard due to the quality of players we have.”

Tamesh was part of the

MoE/NSC Development Table Tennis Programme

240 2

students participated in programme

40 students benefited as the Ministry of EducationNational Sports Commission conducted a Developmental Table Tennis Coaching Programme for primary schools in Region Three, Essequibo Island West Demerara.

The sessions, which were conducted by National Table Tennis Coach, Linden

Johnson, were for students between the age of 6 and 11 years old. Johnson was assisted by teachers who participated in a 12 hours’ table tennis work shop in 2016.

The activity which commenced on Monday, May 08 ended on Friday May 12, 2017 and involved primary schools from Blankenburg, Vreed-en-Hoop, Den Amstel, Malgre Tout, Cornelia

Ida, Meten Meer Zorg, Stewartville, Parika Salem, Uitvlugt and Saraswat.

The sessions were held at the Uitvlugt Community Center Complex.

Each school was allowed to send 24 pupils (12 boys and 12 girls) and were entitled to one session at one and a half (1 ½) hours per session.

The aims and objectives of the programme were

tournament briefing which took place on Tuesday evening at the Royal Empress Banquet Hall which is part of the Rockaway Group of Companies, the tournament’s sponsor.

At the event which was attended by organizers and teams’ representatives, Chief Executive Officer of the Rockaway Group of Companies hafeez Ali also spoke of the expectations of this year’s tournament, “I am pleased with what we have this year and we are looking forward to more professionalism than last year.”

Last year, only BPP was

Students going through a drill at the Ministry of EducationNational Sports Commission Schools’ Developmental Table Tennis Coaching Programme

To develop and improve the level of table tennis in schools; To help students with the basic skills of table tennis; To help students to be better prepared for future tournaments; To train

a nucleus of students in preparation for Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC); To increase the number of participants involved in table tennis by 25%, in Region

used however this year, matches will be played in Brooklyn and the Bronx which the Tamesh said was a move to allow more persons in New York to appreciate the sport of cricket in the USA. At the conclusion of the tournament briefing each team collected their coloured uniforms and were reminded of the importance of professionalism more so since there will be live commentary and updates on the internet by the best in the trade.

Each team will play each other once with the top three going to the play-offs after completing their five matches. The team with the most points after the round robin stage will go straight to the August 12 final while the second and third placed teams will clash for their place in the championship match which will be played at the Baisley Pond Park. three; To identify players for future tournaments; To create an integrated coaching programme that incorporates the coach education and players’ development and motivate and encourage schools and players to join forces and work in partnership.

Three sessions were conducted between 09:30h –14:30h daily.

According to Johnson the participation was overwhelming with lots of talent spotted.

Follow up visits will be undertaken throughout the year. An inter primary school tournament is slated for next term.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, may 18, 2017

23

4th Islamic Solidarity Games

George wins Guyana’s 1st medal G

uyana’s brightest hope of medalling at the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games being held at Baku, Azerbaijan, s p r i n t e r W i n s t o n George, collected a silver medal yes-

terday in the Men’s 400M final. This was the first medal won by Guyana at this year’s Games.

George was pipped by Ali Khamis Khamis of Bahrain who copped his country’s third athletics gold medal.

Khamis who was the Asian Games champion three years ago was pushed all the way by George, but he moved past the Guyanese athlete on the final straight to claim gold in 45.54 seconds in a thrill-

Winston George copped silver in the men’s 400m final

ing race. George claimed silver in 45.69s ahead of the Iranian bronze medalist Ali Khadivar.

George, however, has another chance of winning gold in tomorrow’s 200-metre final, his entry

time was the fastest thus far; this bodes well for Guyana’s bid to land a gold medal at the Islamic Games.

Guyana sent a delegation comprising of 17 athletes and six coaches to Azerbaijan who are competing in six different disciplines; athletics, swimming, boxing, table-tennis, taekwondo and judo.

Guyana has “high hopes” of medalling in all six sporting events but star 400-metre runner George is their main contender.

The sprinter had won Guyana’s two silver medals at the last Solidarity Games, held in Indonesia four years ago, he has since then competed at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and the 2016 Rio Olympics where he carried his country’s flag at the opening ceremony.

Guyana have competed as the only country from South America at the two previous editions of the Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia (2005) and Indonesia, but they have company this time in the shape of neighbors Suriname.

Former Jaguar scouts for professionals

‒ part of GFF's technical programme

L

ocal footballers, who are seeking to play professionally, will have a chance to impress scouts this weekend at a three day talent identification programme. Former Golden Jaguars’ defender, Walter Moore, and his club coach Kristian Heames will conduct the programme in Guyana from the 19th – 21st May, 2017, which will result in potential players being identified for trials and possible professional contracts in Europe.

This initiative is part of the new philosophy of the technical programme of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), which actively seeks to involve past and present national players as part of the technical development programme.

Moore and Heames will participate along with Gregory Richardson – another national player – in the national U17 camp scheduled for the same period and will be involved in the assessment of players as well as coaching sessions.

According to Technical Director, Ian Greenwood, Moore will be speaking to

Almagro injury sends Nadal through

‒Wawrinka gains Paire revenge

R

Walter Moore

the players about his experiences and

the opportunities in professional football that are open to young Guyanese players in Europe”.

“His vision to expose potential players to European club trials later in the year shows his commitment to give back to football in Guyana and be a part of the brand new Technical Development Strategy”, the TD noted.

Greenwood said he is truly excited about the project and looking forward to see Moore’s coaching sessions with the squad.”

He describes the Talent ID trip as an “excellent opportunity for our national U17s to be exposed to the perfect role model in Walter Moore who has given so much to Guyanese football over the years.”

Moore will join a list of former national players, who are employed by the GFF in the execution of the technical development programmes. The others being Charles Pollard, Bryan Joseph, Anthony Benfield, Tricia Munroe and Akilah Castello.

afael Nadal was on court for less than 25 minutes on Wednesday, while Stan Wawrinka and Milos Raonic were among the seeds to go through.

Rafael Nadal was given a comfortable passage into the third round of the Internazionali d’Italia when Nicolas Almagro retired, while Stan Wawrinka gained revenge over Benoit Paire on Wednesday.

Nadal has a perfect record on clay this season after tournament victories in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Madrid to make himself favourite to win the French Open next month.

The fourth seed was on court less than 25 in his first match in Rome, as fellow Spaniard Almagro sustained a left knee injury and was unable to con- Rafael Nadal was given a comfortable passage into the third round of the Internazionali tinue. d’Italia when Nicolas Almagro retired due to injury Nadal, eyeing an eighth title at the Paire beat Wawrinka in the threeRaonic is also in need of a good run Foro Italico this week, will face Jack time grand slam champion’s first this week after losing to David Goffin Sock in round three after the American match in the Spanish capital last week, in the third round in Madrid. defeated Jiri Vesely 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-1). but there was to be no repeat.

The 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Wawrinka lost to Paire in the secThe US Open champion dominated made a positive start, getting past vetond round of the Madrid Open last the final set after he was broken twice eran Tommy Haas 6-4 6-3 and will now week, but responded with a 6-3 1-6 6-3 in the second to ensure he would have come up against Tomas Berdych. success against the Frenchman. Milos to go the distance once again.

Raonic needed just the 75 minutes Raonic and Kei Nishikori were among This time it was Wawrinka who to get through his first match of the the other seeds to go through. came out on top, improving his record week, with Haas unable to break the Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, against Paire to 8-3 to seal a clash with powerful Canadian’s serve. (Sportsmax) Sam Querrey and Roberto Bautista towering American John Isner.

Agut are also into the third round.

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THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2017

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4th Islamic Solidarity Games

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George wins Guyana’s 1st medal Guyana's Winston George (L), Bahrain's Ali Khamis Khamis (C) and Iran's Ali Khadivar pose on the podium of the Men's 400m of the Athletics events at the Baku 2017 4th Islamic Solidarity Games at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on May 17, 2017 (Getty images)

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Gambhir guides KKR past Sunrisers in rainaffected match Gautam Gambhir kept Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and knocked Sunrisers Hyderabad out as the defending champions

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Former Jaguar scouts for professionals ‒ part of GFF's technical programme Former Golden Jaguars’ defender, Walter Moore (yellow) representing the Guyana Jaguars in an international game

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