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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3032

Monday, November 7, 2016

PRICE

President’s guns/crime concerns

Evidence against private gun owners slim, anecdotal – former Speaker Page 3

Money changer shot during attempted robbery Page 17

Welder’s body fished out of Mazaruni River Page 17

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Mother P12 pleads for justice for dead son – claims suspect was pardoned

by President on narco conviction

GPHC’s ER - a place that never sleeps P9 ... sees almost 200 patients daily

P8 Thieves escape with $3.5M from Bartica Deputy Mayor’s store

193 strikes recorded in 2015 for GuySuCo P7 To culminate New Amsterdam Town Week celebrations, the Guyana Defence Force on Sunday showed off its parachuting skills to the thrill of hundreds of residents in New Amsterdam and surrounding communities

East Bank Berbice Road will not be fixed this year – Chairman

Page 10

…Region disappointed with failed promise from Govt

Duncan to remain suspended – Granger … despite dismissal of fraud charge Page 7

Vector P13 Control to be more proactive in Malaria fight SARA Bill with Parliamentary Counsel for P2 review – AG

2 news

monDAY, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

SARA Bill with Parliamentary Counsel for review – AG

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overnment has wrapped up consultations on the controversial State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) proposed legislation and the Bill is now before the Chief Parliamentary Counsel(CPC) for review.

On Thursday, Government spokesperson State Minister Joseph Harmon told reporters that following consultations, the Bill was handed over to the AG Chambers for final works before it is presented to the National Assembly.

However, when contacted on Friday, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, told Guyana Times that he has completed his works and the proposed legislation is being reviewed by the CPC. Following this process, he explained that the Bill will return to Cabinet for vetting and pending its approval, it will be laid in the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, later Friday while addressing the House, the Attorney General pointed out that the SARA Bill is purely a civil approach to assets recovery, and noted that the agency will have a director who will be empowered to make certain approaches in this regard.

Williams added that assets recovery is a global approach to deal with the cancer of pilfering of state assets and his government is working on a regimen to ensure there are witnesses to come out and blow the whistle on perpetrators.

of vulnerable members of the population through political intimidation.”

The umbrella body of the local private sector had even sought legal opinion, which recommended that Government set up a small team, “possessing and hav-

ing access to relevant skills and expertise, to consider how best to achieve the objectives.”

The PSC’s legal team also suggested that the State use existing mechanisms, including the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Double Taxation Treaties (Canada,

UK and Caricom) and the Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the USA, to pursue suspected acts of illicit enrichment misfeasance and other violations using both the civil and criminal avenues.

Removal of farmers

Regional Chairman questions REO’s motive Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Basil Williams

Government had come under much flak over the draft SARA Bill, with experts and stakeholders saying that the proposed bill legislating SARA is not only dangerous and disingenuous but also a violation of numerous sections of Guyana’s supreme law – the Constitution.

To this end, there were several calls for further consultations on the Bill even for it to be halted until Government can clearly outline its desired objectives.

In fact, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) had pointed out in a statement that while all assets or resources belonging to State “that were unlawfully or criminally transferred to any beneficiary must be recovered and returned to the State once such unlawful transactions become known and criminal convictions obtained”, this must be done within the confines of the Guyana Constitution.

“The SARA Bill 2016 is not a good signal to investors who

will require access to State resources such as land, licences, access rights etc, as the Bill provides opportunities for legitimate investors to be harassed and politically victimised,” the body also said.

In lambasting the draft SARA Bill, the PSC drew reference to the fact that the Bill has been drafted from the perspective “that the Government of Guyana does not know what it owns or what the State has lost over the years and as such it provides all-encompassing investigative and surveillance powers to the Director and staff of the Agency to snoop around into private accounts and financial records of citizens to determine what assets of the State were lost and need to be recovered.”

According to the Private Sector body, “this is a complete affront to the fundamental rights of citizens and if such powers are granted, they can be used to marginalise, suppress and take advantage

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hairman of Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) Vickchand Ramphal is questioning the motive of the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Ovid Morrison, in attempting to remove scores of farmers from their farms.

Last Thursday, notices were placed at the entrances to the farms indicating that it is a criminal offence to enter onto the land, situated at Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice.

More than 30 farmers from Bath Settlement, Experiment, Naarstigheid, Fort Wellington, and Hopetown were affected by the REO’s move. Ramphal, in a press statement, said that he learnt of the REO’s actions through the media: “My attention was drawn to publications in the media which suggest that the Regional Executive Officer of the Regional Democratic Council Number 5, is attempting to remove over 200 cash-crop farmers from approximately fifty acres of State Land sit-

One of the signs erected to prevent farmers from entering their farms

uated at Naarstigheid, West Coast Berbice, which are currently occupied by these farmers and upon which they have cultivated growing cash-crops of various kinds.”

Ramphal says the RDC had made no decision to remove the farmers: “In fact, this matter has not even engaged the attention of any statutory meeting of the Regional Administration.

Therefore, the Regional Executive Officer in whatever actions he is engaged

on this issue is not executing a decision of the Regional Administration, neither is he acting for and on behalf of the Regional Administration,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman Rian Pieters met with the farmers on Thursday and informed them that no decision was taken at the RDC to have them displaced.

He advised that they continue their daily farming activates.

(Andrew Carmichael)

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saturDAY, november 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, November 7 – 10:00h-11:30h and Tuesday, November 8 –11:30h-13:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, November 7 – 08:55h-10:25h and Tuesday, November 8 –10:15h-11:45h.

President’s guns/crime concerns

Evidence against private gun owners slim, anecdotal – former Speaker

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Sunshine interrupted by thundery showers and heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with clear to partly cloudy skies in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-westerly to East Northeasterly ranging from 0.89 metres to 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 09:31h and 21:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.20 metres and 2.23 metres.

Low Tide: 15:25h reaching a minimum height of 1.07 metres.

Former House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran

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he position taken by President David Granger on guns and their relation to crime in Guyana needs to be tested closely, as the evidence for such is “slim or anecdotal”.

This was the view of former House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran Sunday on his online blog “Conversation Tree”, as he examined comments made by President Granger recently about the issuance of gun licences to private citizens and its correlation to the rise in criminal activities in Guyana.

Recently, on his televised programme “The Public Interest”, the President said the Administration would be working towards seeing fewer guns on the streets by scaling down the number of licences issued to private individuals. He indicated that that may be the reason why so many weapons were in the hands of criminals.

“We would like to see fewer weapons in the hands of private citizens; it is my personal view that weapons should be used by law enforcement agencies – the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force… We will try to detect people coming into the country with illegal firearms… so there is a plethora of measures, which will be implemented and our whole policy is aimed at getting guns off the streets and leaving guns in the hands of the Police and the Army,” the Head of State said. He noted that some firearm holders rent their weapons to

criminals.

But Ramkarran on his blog said there were no statistics or other evidence publicly available to link lawful gun ownership to the high level of gun crimes. He said by the end of the 1980s, after strong Police action against ‘kick down the door bandits”, criminals increasingly resorted to the use of firearms. He noted that in 1992, the newly-elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government increased the issuance of firearm licences, which had been previously denied to business people and farmers.

He said a few years ago all owners of firearms were required to submit their firearms when renewing licences.

“The objective was to acquire spent shells by firing the guns in water so that a database could be built of spent shells of all firearms, which are legally owned. That database is presumably in existence.” He further asked, “If, as the Government argues, private owners are renting their firearms to criminals, how come no one has been charged? This indicates that the evidence against private gun owners is slim or anecdotal.”

According to Ramkarran, the increase in gun crimes has also been linked to the increase in drug trafficking from the 1980s.

He said for several years, Government and security officials have attributed the prevalence of not only illegal guns and gun crimes, but also illegal drugs to Guyana’s porous borders. The implied argument was that it was impossible to stop the flow of arms across our borders because of the impossibility of monitoring them.

According to him, this was the explanation, some would say excuse, for the inability of the authorities to reduce the incidence of gun crimes and drug trafficking.

“There are many initiatives which have been taken to reduce crime.

These range from increased cooperation between the Governments of Guyana and the US in relation to drug trafficking, cooperation between the Governments of Guyana and the UK on security issues, efforts to build relations between the Police and communities, enhanced capacity of the CID, increased recruitment and training, and others. These have resulted in an overall reduction of crime. But the intractable problem of crimes involving the use of a gun continues to be deeply troubling to Guyanese in

President David Granger

Guyana and overseas,” the former Speaker wrote.

He said Government and security officials face a situation that had no single, dominant cause and required wide-ranging solutions. These, he said, range from secure borders, better Policing, granting of gun licences only to those who are fully qualified, reduced drug trafficking, more stringent bail conditions and many more.

He said, however, that the attempt to unduly restrict the issue of firearm licences ran the risk of returning Guyana to the days when only the politically favoured were granted licences.

“There are other issues, already in the public domain, that need to be addressed. Recently, both the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of Public Security called for bail to be refused to persons accused of gun crimes because while they are on bail, they commit more gun crimes.

This has been a sore point for decades and the only answer is legislation.”

He said the extent of the power of Magistrates to imprison persons convicted of gun crimes, or any indictable offence tried summarily, was limited.

Also, a simple amendment to the relevant law would enable a magistrate to refer such persons to be sentenced by the High Court, as if the person were convicted on indictment, if the Magistrate considered it necessary, either on his or her motion or at the request of the prosecution.

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monday, november 7, 2016

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

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

Editorial

Public intellectuals subverted

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uring the last decade-and-a-half of the PPP's regime, there was a vigorous intellectual debate in the press from individuals who held that the Government was ignoring the views of "the other side". Some of these intellectuals did not locate themselves within the ranks of the major opposition party - the PNC - but rather in the ranks of the latter' constituency, the masses of African Guyanese.

Some persons took umbrage at this perspective and insisted that “intellectuals” should be untethered from "ethnic" or particularistic identifications.

This view harks back to the old Platonic notion that there is some standard of social, political and even moral “good” that somehow exists outside of our particulars.

This “universality” has been rejected through the millennia but it crops up every so often when some people do not concede that whatever “universal” they posit, it had to have been extended from someone’s particulars. And those universalised particulars are inevitably those of the group with power in the society.

The problematic was posed from another angle by the political philosopher, John Stuart Mill, two thousand years later in his foundational “On Liberty”: “Society can and does execute its own mandates: and if it issues wrong mandates instead of right, or any mandates at all in things with which it ought not to meddle, it practices a social tyranny more formidable than many kinds of political oppression, since, though not usually upheld by such extreme penalties, it leaves fewer means of escape, penetrating much more deeply into the details of life, and enslaving the soul itself. Protection, therefore, against the tyranny of the magistrate is not enough; there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling, against the tendency of society to impose, by other means than civil penalties, its own ideas and practices as rules of conduct on those who dissent from them.”

The “protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion” can only come if the individuals and groups in the society, who differ with the accepted wisdom, can have their opinions enter the public sphere for discussion and debate. And this is where the public intellectuals from the various groups – as they define themselves – have to play their role of interrogating the dominant paradigm and articulating alternative answers to questions posed to the nation towards the creation of a more just society.

In Guyana, it would appear that after a long period of public denial, most persons now accept that in the realm of politics our voting cleaves, more or less, along ethnic lines.

This implies, for whatever reasons, people of this country believe that their political interests are secured by particular parties that then inevitably become identified as “ethnic parties”. But it is precisely this identification and articulation of interests that scare some. They fear that such a discussion would intensify our divisions.

But there is a strong opposing view that proposes that when societies have deep divisions, there is a need for the different views to be shared in the public sphere to both "air" grievances that may spill over into dysfunctional behaviour and to perchance lead to compromise and even consensus.

This practice can create what the theorist Juergen Habermas call a "deliberative" democracy.

Sadly, the actions of the public intellectuals who castigated the PPP for excluding "the other" from the power relations of the society, have now become apologists - or at best been struck silent when the same behaviour is being practiced by the incumbent APNU/AFC coalition Government. Take for instance the seemingly compulsive action of the government to interfere with the workings of constitutional bodies that were established specifically to curb Executive excesses.

Very few of the formerly vociferous critics of the former government have condemned such actions.

What this does is reinforce the perceptions of partisanship by public intellectuals in the minds of the public and regarding the possibilities of us developing a "deliberative democracy" that can transcend our ethnic divisions.

Cricket on the beach: An idyllic day at the Kingston Seawall foreshore was not complete without a scintillating game of cricket (Marceano Narine photo)

Lawmakers’ actions don’t match up with realities of crime

Dear Editor, Serious crime continues to wreck Guyanese families daily and lawmakers seem to be out of options for addressing it. Lawmakers have not publicly acknowledged that crime has spiraled out of control, but recent announcements suggest that it has earned their attention. However, proposed interventions by the Government are likely to worsen serious crimes instead of reducing it. Also, questions about the exact nature of the proposed interventions need to be clarified.

Question 1. Do the Police know whether the murders originated from the guns of licensed firearm holders? The Police should know from simple ballistic tests whether the guns used in these killings belong to civilians.

I am assuming that the Police have the tools and resources to conduct timely and accurate ballistic tests. In fact, the ballistic tests would identify the exact owner of the firearm if it was used in a crime.

These are basic tests of any murder investigation.

If the Police have this information, the normal course of justice would then take its course. That is, they would be able to issue arrest warrants and then prosecute the identified firearm holders. But to date, the Police have not made any statement

that suggests the majority (or the exact percentage) of serious crimes involved the use of licenced firearms.

Question 2. What does “clamping down on the issuance of gun licenses to civilians” mean? While this seems straightforward, it is difficult to imagine how much more difficult the process of acquiring a firearm licenced can become. Currently, it takes anywhere from three to six years for the average Guyanese to get a firearm licence – based on the account of countless individuals who have been through the process. The time taken for businessmen may be shorter since they have the connections and resources to grease the system. But even businessmen who have unquestionable reasons for wanting a licenced firearm complained about the process. So exactly what does clamping down on the issuance of gun licenses to civilians mean, and exactly how this move would help stop the senseless killings and robberies remain unclear.

Question 3. Would the Government seize licensed firearms from law abiding citizens? The government signalled the possibility of revoking licensed firearms from law abiding citizens. This course of action assumes that the government knows exact-

ly which guns are used in the killings (question one). If the Police have evidence of licensed firearm holders being involved in criminal activities, which include renting their firearms to criminals, such individuals must be prosecuted, not just have their firearms seized.

As we already established, the Police have not indicated it has evidence even suggesting licensed firearm holders are involved in criminal activities. What we know for a fact, however, is that there are incidents where licensed firearm holders managed to save their lives as well as their families’ by defending themselves.

While I do not support civilians taking the law into their own hands, pursuing such course of action without the necessary evidence is equivalent to the ‘abuse of power’ and ‘violation of citizens’ rights to life’ and ‘the right to defend themselves and their families’. Moreover, it signals to criminals that they now have a free pass to murder families.

Question 4. Why would businessmen and farmers rent their weapons to murderers? The Government’s assertion that licensed firearm owners are renting their weapons to criminals; without evidence, this is a direct accusation, ill-informed and offbase. Anecdotal evidence

suggests that most of the estimated 10,000 licensed firearms belong to businessmen and farmers. Businesses have been equally targeted, as well as their families in the recent murder and robbery spree. The survival of their businesses and farmers depend on the safety and security of families and a growing economy.

Exactly why businessmen and farmers would rent their licensed firearms to criminals is beyond comprehension.

It is critically important for the State to bring crime under control.

However, this course of action is unlikely to bring crime under control. It is more likely to increase the number of illegal weapons into communities.

When people feel their lives are threatened and they cannot rely on the State to protect them, naturally they will be forced to defend themselves, despite the consequences. If the State allows society to reach this point – some would argue we are already at this point – the consequences on both society and the economy would be severe.

The Government should re-think its approach in tackling crime to return public safety and security to families.

Sincerely, Dhanraj Singh

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monday, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Anna Regina Secondary introduces 6th Form …“Your differences make you wonderful” – Ally to graduating batch

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he 2016 graduating class of the Anna Regina Secondary School was urged to strive harder to achieve advancements in their educational attainment. At the same time, they were also encouraged to prize their uniqueness as the country is strengthened when persons unite despite their differences.

Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally on Saturday expressed these sentiments in a feature address at the school’s annual graduation exercise and award ceremony for students, who garnered success at the recent sitting of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations. Ally stressed the need for the prospective scholars to always be ready and willing to share their views and ideas, noting that persons were never too young to make a difference in their community.

“I urge you to try your utmost to participate as young

people in the governing of your country… Your unique perspectives can help us adults to develop and move our country forward to achieving greatness,” the Social Cohesion Minister posited.

Ally further opined that it was important that the nation’s youth be equipped and fully prepared for the future by aiming for the highest possible level of education, in keeping with President David Granger’s vision for transforming Guyana into an ‘Education Nation’.

The Minister, while encouraging the 2016 class to follow their dreams, further urged that as they strive for higher achievements, they must remember to hold themselves in high regard and differences should be respected.

“Part of what makes each one of you beautiful and wonderful is your differences… you should be extremely proud of [these differences] because that is what makes us unique and

Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally along with Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt and Regional Executive Officer Rupert Hopkinson pose with teachers, and the top five 2016 CSEC best performing students of the Anna Regina Secondary School

it is what makes Guyana unique,” Ally expressed.

She also handed over a collection of sporting equipment, a grass cutter and five radios to the school.

Past student, Attorneyat-Law Tracy Marks deliv-

ered the charge where she posited that the opportunities before the students were limitless.

Meanwhile, the school’s Headmaster Lalljeet Ruplall, in the 2015-2016 academic report, stated

that 163 students graduated, having achieved passes in five or more subjects at the CSEC Examinations.

He added that his school saw an 11 per cent increase in matriculation compared with 2015. Ruplall stated

that the school’s academic portfolio would be boosted as it was introducing Sixth Form studies, which would make the Anna Regina Secondary School the first in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region to include this level.

Pomona residents worried about Region 2 RPA branch students’ reckless behaviour selling seed paddy …call for intervention from Education Ministry

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cores of residents living in Pomona/Aurora Village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are calling for special emphasis to be placed on students attending the Pomona Secondary School

by Education Officers within the Region. According to residents, the behaviour of the students is unacceptable and teachers of the school are not doing anything to ensure discipline.

One resident related that oftentimes school boys can be seen imbibing at nearby shops and whenev-

er they are scolded by residents, they use indecent language. “I see a few of them boys drinking and before I know it them went brave to school,” a resident related.

At the school a teacher also related that students are blurting out indecent language in class and whenever they are disciplined they would just take their discipline and go home.

When inquiries were made about inspections at the school it was revealed that it occurs on a weekly basis.

There are also reports that the dormitory is in a

deplorable state. When this newspaper visited the dormitory, it was revealed that it is in need of cleaning to make it conducive for children. During the visit, children were seen loitering aimlessly around the compound.

Residents are therefore calling on the Department of Education to investigate the code of conduct of the children attending the secondary school.

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he Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) branch in Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) officers are selling seed paddy to rice farmers but according to records seen by this newspaper most rice farmers have rented out their rice lands this year.

There has been a significant decrease in the number of farmers who are planting their own lands.

Most large-scale farmers, who have less debt, are currently doing most of the land preparation for the next crop. Currently the RPA office is offering varieties such

as 22-4, 30-2, GRDB 14, 196, 13 and 10. All seed paddy are sold at $4000 per bag.

The farmers who have decided to replant for the next crop are hoping that Government through the Agriculture Ministry can source profitable markets for the upcoming crop. Many

persons living in Region Two depend solely on the cultivation of rice as a means of a livelihood.

Region Two, one of the largest rice producing regions in the country, has suffered major economic loses as a result of the declining rice industry in the country.

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Helping your child, and Part 2 yourself, develop optimism Teach your child optimism The trick is to remember that you perceive a setback any way you choose.

WHO urges curbs on online food marketing to children

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elp him choose to perceive setbacks as temporary, isolated (not pervasive, in other words they don’t indicate anything about any other part of his life), not personal, and within his power to fix.

How can a setback be impersonal?

Certainly, some bad things are just bad luck, and could have happened to anyone. In many cases, of course, it is clear that he brought the setback on himself, but it still doesn’t indicate anything about who he is, but how he chose to act. In other words, he failed the test because he didn’t study, not because he always fails tests and always will.

Maybe most importantly, help your child to see that he isn’t powerless in the situation. Martin Seligman, the trail-blazing researcher on optimism, says that the most important question to ask when confronted with misfortune is: “Is it possible that there are some ways you could change the outcome with some personal effort on your part?”

Help your child learn to cultivate optimistic thinking

...with these three ideas: There are actions I could or can take to change the situation.

How can a setback be impersonal?

Certainly, some bad things are just bad luck, and could have happened to anyone.

In many cases, of course, it is clear that he brought the setback on himself, but it still doesn’t indicate anything about who he is, but how he chose to act. In other words, he failed the test because he didn’t study, not because he always fails tests and always will.

(As opposed to “I am a victim here.”)

There are specific reasons something happened. (As opposed to the global “Everything always goes wrong.”)

Life is not out to get you.The cause is clearly leading to the effect, and that is true over time.

Sometimes I can affect those factors, which means I can make the outcome better. Sometimes I can’t affect those reasons, but that means they are not

my fault. (As opposed to “Bad things just happen to me” or “Life is just out to get me.”)

Confront negative self-talk

The problem with selftalk is that when you hear it, you act as if it were true. Cognitive therapists teach pessimists to confront this kind of thinking by a three step process: Notice it, Externalise it, and Dispute it (NED). You can teach yourself, and your child, the NED pro-

cess: Notice negative selftalk.

Externalise it. Treat it as if it were said by an external person whose mission in life is to make you miserable. (Some kids call him NED.) Dispute it in the same way you would an external person. We generally have the skill of disputing other people when they make false accusations, and we can learn to do so with ourselves as well.

Model optimism

Do you say things like “I know we’ll find a parking space soon!” or “We’ll NEVER find a parking space! I KNEW this would happen!”? Your view of the world and your prospects within it communicate themselves to your child daily. If you want to help your child become more optimistic, experiment with learning to be more optimistic yourself. (Excerpt from ahaparenting.com)

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overnments must do more to protect children from sophisticated online methods used to market unhealthy foods to them, the World Health Organisation in Europe said in a report released Friday.

By using digital analytics and geo-location data, companies were defining their audience with great precision, enabling them to target the most vulnerable groups of children, the UN agency warned.

And it urged Governments to set a minimum legal age of 16 for advertising foods high in fat, salt or sugar.

Current regulations about advertising such foods often only apply to non-digital media, or only related to young children and not adolescents, it said.

“In digital media, an extensive, highly-complex system of advertising delivery has evolved, through which marketers can access much more specific audiences than in the broadcast era,” the report said.

“For fast-food brands, geo-location data from mobile devices enable marketers to deliver ads and special offers in real time when users are in the area.”

The aim of the industry’s digital marketing was to “engage children in emotional, entertaining experiences and to encourage them to share these experiences with their friends,” it said.

In the United States, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) limits how much data can be collected from young children, and bans “behavioural advertising” directed at children under 13 without parental notice and consent.

But the agency said the law appeared to be largely ineffective since many parents gave their children permission to play games or join certain sites without realising the implications of allowing their children’s data to be collected.

Social media platforms and marketers have themselves reported that social media marketing amplifies the effects of broadcast marketing.

Establishing a minimum legal age for such advertising must be accompanied by “effective oversight and enforcement by regulatory agencies”. it said.

“Children’s participation in digital media should not be predicated on receiving digital (high fat, sugar or salt food) advertising, nor should it be predicated on ‘devolving’ consent to parents,” it said. (AFP Real News/Yahoo! News)

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monday, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Duncan to remain suspended – Granger …despite dismissal of fraud charge

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resident David Granger was adamant that trade unionist Carvil Duncan must remain suspended from several constitutional agencies despite having his fraud charge legally dismissed.

He contended that the ruling by the Magistrate on November 2, 2016, does not prove Duncan’s innocence and reminded that there is still another matter of conspiracy pending in the courts.

“The ruling by the magistrate was that insufficient

evidence had been provided, there’s a slight difference between insufficient evidence and innocence,” the Head of State explained during his weekly telecast “The Public Interest”.

Granger posited that he will await the findings of the tribunal he had established to determine whether Duncan is fit to continue serving in his constitutional positions.

Duncan was facing a charge which stated that on March 31, 2015 at Georgetown, he stole

$984,900, property of GPL. But Magistrate Leron Daly ruled that the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to make out a prima facie case against Duncan who was charged on January 26, 2016.

Duncan still faces a conspiracy charge which stated that between May 7 and 8, 2015, he conspired with then Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Aeshwar Deonarine, to steal $27,757,547, property of the power company.

He is expected in court on January 4, 2017, to answer that charge.

Duncan was recently suspended from the chairmanship of the Public Service Commission, as well as his membership in several other constitutional bodies by the President, who appointed a Tribunal to determine his fate in light of the criminal charges.

Duncan had moved to the High Court and late last month, Justice Franklin Holder issued temporary or-

ders to halt the work of the tribunal.

But Minister of State Joseph Harmon told the media that the work of the tribunal was completed at the time the orders were circulated.

Harmon indicated that the order is preventing the tribunal from submitting its report to the President and that the attorneys representing the State will be challenging the court order.

Justice Holder had ruled that the tribunal was established based upon unlaw-

Carvil Duncan

ful advice provided by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

193 strikes recorded in 2015 for GuySuCo

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he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) recorded one of its lowest number of strikes for the past five years.

Saddled with multibillion dollar debts, the Sugar Corporation often finds difficulties in meeting workers’ demands which traditionally result in frequent industrial actions supported by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU).

According to GuySuCo’s Annual Report 2015, there were 193 strikes which are the lowest for the past five years’ average of 220.

Notably, given the challenges faced by GuySuCo last year with the change of Government, there were many uproars among its employees which were primarily because of the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate, wages and salary matters as well as for the Annual Production Incentive (API).

The Report outlined that there were two major work stoppages for the year and those were the three days and seven days industrywide strikes for wages and salaries and API, respectively.

It noted that those two strikes contributed significantly to the increase in

years. There was a greater sense of purpose across the industry. However, the underlying and deep rooted problems remained which would best be addressed through the reorganisation process. A new strategic direction for the Corporation is currently being developed,” the Chairman mentioned.

Workers on strike over the decision to close Wales Sugar Estate

“man days” lost for the year with 19,799 and 24,802 man days, respectively.

GuySuCo explained that while it surpassed its sugar production target in the second crop, it was not without its challenges, since a greater portion of the strikes were recorded during this period – 59.1 per cent (114) to be exact.

“The cane harvesters’ demands for exorbitant prices, acceptance of work and demand for cut and stack in 2015 accounted for a total of 155 strikes with 52,021 man days lost at (80.3 per cent and 74.2 per cent respectively),” the Report highlighted.

The Report also surmised that the main cause of strikes are pricing/acceptance of work, wages or incentives, demand to cut and stack as well as a number of reasons that vary across the

industry.

“Draw planters refused to draw down canes claiming that the canes do not have the required cuttings; cane transport operators and mates expressing dissatisfaction with the condition of tyres and tubes; harvesters refusing to take up work claiming that their gang is being split too often; Increase in wages and salaries; payment for overrun canes; demand for personal protective equipment and tools; in solidarity with their colleague who were summarily dismissed,” an excerpt summarised.

In the Chairman’s Report, it stated that “2015 was a year heralding radical change for the GuySuCo”.

The Chairman stated that GuySuCo had many challenges including a weakened and demoralised man-

agement team, a very adversarial Industrial Relations climate, low sugar prices, declining production levels, high operational costs, serious loss making, and consequently a major liquidity crisis, and a huge debt burden.

“The Board was very encouraged by some of the achievements of the Corporation during the second half of the year 2015.

The second crop’s production reflected a significant improvement over previous

The Chairman noted that the year ended with “renewed, enthused management and staff”, as well as improved cane yields experienced in the cultivations and sugar recoveries in the factories, resulting in the second crop 2015’s sugar production budget being surpassed by 3627 tonnes.

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monday, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Thieves escape with $3.5M from Bartica Deputy Mayor’s store Deputy Mayor also explained that the lock on the door to the boutique was broken, while the showcase inside the establishment was also damaged.

She explained that while she appreciated the quick response of the Police, more needed to be done to restore safety to the nation’s newest town.

The Deputy Mayor pointed out that this was the fourth time she has been robbed in 12 years since the establishment of her

B

The store’s showcase was vandalised

artica’s Deputy Mayor Kamal Persaud, owner of Kamal’s Gift Centre, is counting her losses after thieves in the wee hours of Sunday broke and entered her business, which has been in operation for over a decade. Reports are that sometime between 03:00h and 05:00h, bandits made their way through a window on the upper flat at the WK Shopping Mall, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and made off with jewellery,

watches, mobile phones and portable DVD players. This follows another robbery committed on the store in September when mobile phones, to the value of $1.2 million, were stolen.

According to preliminary investigations, this latest robbery is similar in nature to the previous incident. Speaking with this publication on Sunday evening, Persaud expressed much frustration over being robbed twice in less than three months. The

The door locks were broken

The monster...

I

Bartica’s Deputy Mayor, Kamal Persaud

business. Persaud further explained that the first incident was in 2006, and the second occurred shortly after in 2007, and she has lost millions of dollars cumulatively.

“Bartica was the safest place in Guyana, but over the years, there have been a lot of criminal elements harbouring themselves here,” Persaud expressed.

She added too with a population increase and movement of people, there has been an increase in crime.

Police are continuing their investigations.

...and the people

sn't it strange how even though we elect these people now in "government", the moment they enter office they act as if they are direct descendants to Louis XIV. He, of course, famously declared "L'etat c'est moi" – "I am the state!!!" But at least he was a King. Over in staid Old England, one fella had warned even elected Governments would have this tendency to morph into Kings and abuse citizens. Governments were "Leviathans" – huge monsters like the devil, that must always be kept in check.

Now, how the heck did we arrive at this sorry state of affairs? Especially since Louis XIV was beheaded by those same people whom he abused. You'd think our present generation of politicians would be worried about retribution, wouldn't you? Especially since nowadays, we the people don't even have to behead unruly rulers – we have the power to vote them out, just like we voted them in.

But that's the rub, isn't it? By and large, we vote those in government in, not because of what we think they might do for the country...but for what we think they might do for people "like us". And if we vote them out, folks who look like "them" might be voted in. And we can't have THAT, can we? And since the politicians know your dilemma controls where you put your "X", they walk all over you...with their boots.

So what was it that sent your mild-mannered Eyewitness off on this rant? Well, it was Prezzie's declaration that only the Army and Police must have guns. Private gun holders, he said, rent guns out to the gun-toting bandits who're presently terrorising us silly. So removing guns from people who have been vetted by the Police as pillars of the community will stop gun crimes, since they're the ones responsible for the crime wave? Isn't this like throwing out the baby with the bath water – and setting us up for the kill?

But what gets your Eyewitness's goat, is this just illustrates the Louis XIV syndrome – the people don't even need to be consulted on a matter that is literally life and death for them. Has there been a SINGLE bandit caught with a gun that was rented out by a licensed gun owner? Could we have some names, please.

On the point that guns are flowing in through our porous borders, Prezzie conceded they must be "policed". So, when will he be moving our Army out of Camps Ayanganna and Stephenson and deploy them along our borders.

So they can respond when Ramjattan's drones detect gun and drug smugglers.

...and Ministers

As your Eyewitness said, the Louis XIV syndrome doesn't only infest those at the very top...but permeates governance at all levels. Remember the Prime Minister bitch slapping a poor reporter for daring to point out he had "bungled" the presentation of APNU's first budget? Do you see the Ministry of Agriculture refusing to obey a Court Order – issued by the Chief Justice herself?

Moving downwards, we have the Mayor and her Gang of Four who can – and do – do whatever the heck they want with the money of the burghers of our fair city. Even our future money with the Parking Meters!! Then on to the RDC level. Do you remember members of Reg 5 RDC singing folk songs as the Region flooded? How about the REO over in Region 2?? He doesn't even listen to the members of the RDC...much less to the "voice of the people". Isn't he anointed, being the son of Bhagee?

And, of course, we reach the NDC, which still haven't met to fix a thing in the villages!

...the UG travelling circus

We'd already heard about the 14-member UG fundraising crew that spent $4M+ to travel and brought back $2M. Now $5.7M for a FEASIBILITY study for a business school? What kind of business will they teach?

Hanky panky?

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

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monday, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPHC’s ER – a place that never sleeps ... sees almost 200 patients daily

By Alexis Rodney

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he Accident and Emergency unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is said to be one of the busiest places in the city, and according to Dr Zulficar Bux, it is a “place that never sleeps”.

Dr Bux is the head of the emergency unit of GPHC, an area that is the hotspot of the country when it comes to emergency medical care.

“This is the place that never sleeps. At any hour of the day, any day of the week, we are literally trying to save people’s lives,” he told the media Friday.

The emergency department, he said, turns over an average of about 150 to 200

Head of the Accident and Emergency Unit of the GPHC, Dr Zulficar Bux

of the emergency room is saving lives,” Dr Bux said.

He lamented that the public never hears about the lives that are being saved.

The Accident and Emergency Unit of the GPHC

patients every day. And these are not just patients, but persons who, if not attended to within a certain time, could lose their lives.

“It is very commendable to those who work. The almost 200 patients that come here daily, 75 per cent of them if we did not intervene, would have probably died. The staff

However, what is being told are the negative issues and misconceptions. Dr Bux said the department has been transformed since 2010.

“This is the only emergency room in the entire country that has specialist trained emergency doctors; the only place that can provide service at a special level when it

comes to emergency. Because of that, the hospital ends up being the national referral for emergency patients. Coming from as far as Baramita in Region One, (Barima-Waini), to Skeldon on the Corentyne, added to the walk-in emergency patients. So it is a widely challenging task.”

He said there are many negative comments about the emergency room and the hospital on a whole. However, the emergency room is a very dynamic place. “The whole idea is to ensure that lives are saved, and we do the right thing for the patient.”

According to Dr Bux, doctors and nurses for the most part are looked on as persons who save lives, however, some of the media paint them as though they are “villains”.

He said while he cannot “put my neck on a block for nobody, no one comes to work with the intention of trying to kill somebody.”

It is a very challenging environment he said, especially since the department, like every other in the hospital are experiencing shortages.

“Can you imagine moving from 1000 to 500 beds, having an emergency department that have 17 beds and having to take care of all the emergencies in the entire country? Plus taking care of those patients who are very sick, but not admitted…? Can you imagine having 17 beds and having to take care of 80 persons that are sick at any given time? It is a very difficult task and the good thing is, we have worked with the Vanderbilt Medical Centre, that is internationally recognised as one of the pioneers in

emergency medicine, to train the nurses and doctors at a level where they can handle these situations,” he said.

According to Dr Bux, one could take the emergencies that present themselves at the GPHC to any other emergency department across the country, or any other country in the Caribbean, and there will be quite a lot of failure.

“We have managed to decrease the amount of complaints and the actual number of patients who are dying because of mismanagement

or having morbidities because of mismanagement.

So because of good training of specialist doctors… and we are going to be starting this month, the first emergency for specialist training course for emergency nurses - the first to happen in the Caribbean.”

He said history was made when doctors were trained in this area, now the same is going to happen for the nurses.

He said he is also working with his staff to exude professionalism, admitting that

there are times that they are frustrated and agitated by members of the public and will probably be on edge and say things they are not supposed to. However, he said they are working on their professionalism with the specialist programmes.

“We have improved our effectiveness and care, there are still challenges. There are doctors and nurses who are trained to decide your level of urgency. Our role is to save lives, and that’s the whole goal of our emergency.”

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monday, november 7, 2016

News

East Bank Berbice Road will not be fixed this year – Chairman … Region disappointed with failed promise from Govt

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A section of the deplorable road

ehabilitation works on the East Bank Berbice main access road will not happen this year, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Chairman David Armogan has said.

Addressing the issue late last week, Armogan told

reporters that the Public Infrastructure Ministry despite committing to the project was now saying that it was unable to execute the works.

“I have been making many calls over the past couple of weeks to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and

I discussed it twice with Minister Ferguson, who is the Junior Minister in the Ministry and she got one of her assistants to call me back on Wednesday to say that the matter is still uncompleted between the [InterAmerican Development Bank] IDB and the Ministry and so it is likely to take some time and so I enquired from the person whether it is likely to be completed before the end of the year and the person said to me, ‘that is not likely to happen’.”

He explained that David Patterson, who is the senior Minister in the Public Infrastructure Ministry, had previously indicated that work on the road would have commenced a month ago.

The project, which will see a total rehabilitation and resurfacing of the section of the road from Marks Bridge to Everton, East Bank

Regional Chairman David Armogan

Berbice went to tender.

According to the Regional Chairman, as a result of the promises made by Minister Patterson, the local administration did not undertake any rehabilitation works on the East Bank Berbice road and as such, the road was now left in a deplorable state.

“As far as we know, the IDB money has already been processed, but it is now a question of which contractor should get the job… So what we are doing at the regional level is that we have some savings from other projects like bridges and so, and so I have asked the [Regional Executive Officer] REO to look at it to see if we can get a $5 million or $6 million; but that is nothing when you consider the condition of that road. The road is

in an extremely bad shape,” Armogan noted.

Residents along the affected area have in the past voiced their concerns over the state of the road and held numerous protests hoping to get the attention of officials.

They claimed that the Public Infrastructure Ministry has been ignoring them.

Minister Patterson, in his capacity as A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) campaign manager leading up to the May 2015 Regional and General Elections, had held a meeting at Edinburgh and told residents that the then Administration had ne-

be a number one priority.

Vehicle operators plying the East Bank Berbice route have upped their fares because of the damage caused to their vehicles by the road.

Armogan told reporters if the REO provided funds from savings generated at the regional level, they would be used to improve the current state of the road.

“I even asked Public Infrastructure Ministry if they can do some remedial work in the meantime until they have this big award of about US$7-8 million to do the road, but I am told that it is not possible at this time. So until the matter

An ambulance and Canter manoeuvring on the appalling road

glected them.

Back then, he said should the APNU/AFC coalition win the elections, repair work to the East Bank Road would

of who will be awarded the contract, we at the regional level will see what we can do to get some remedial work done.”

The Regional Chairman said he was disappointed over the situation where the regional administration was being forced to do the East Bank Berbice road. “I am calling on the Government and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to speed up the process with the IDB, so that this work can start as early as possible,” Armogan said. (Andrew Carmichael)

NEWS

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monday, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Trotman meets with Marudi miners Child struck by speeding car

A section of the miners gathered for the meeting with Minister Raphael Trotman in Lethem, Region Nine

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atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Saturday heard the concerns of Marudi miners during an outreach to Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

The Minister met with the miners in the presence of a representative from the mining company Romanex Guyana, to assuage mistrust that still lingered among miners.

Earlier this year, the Natural Resources Ministry brokered an agreement through mediation between the company and the miners from the Marudi area who were in dispute over the use of mining claims which are held by Romanex in the Marudi Mountain.

Miners and business persons who operate in the Marudi area sought assurance that the displacement of their shops would be properly addressed, while others raised concerns about their lands being taken from them.

Shop owner Roslyn Primus noted that most of the shops in the area were operated by single-parent women and asked that the

Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) authorise the move.

“We want to know where we are going… we want our licence,” Primus shared at the town hall style meeting held at the Arapaima Primary School.

As part of the agreement stemming from the mediation between miners and Romanex earlier this year, shop owners have to be relocated since their present location below the base of the mountain is dangerous.

Minister Trotman noted that “mining without shops is nothing”, and assured shop owners present that the GGMC was working out their relocation and they would be moved “to a place you all agree on”.

Minister Trotman further assured miners that he had “no intention of displacing or preventing anyone from earning an honest living”.

However, Trotman pointed out that there were too many complaints in the South Rupununi area of illegal activities, such as Trafficking in Persons. The Minister said that there must be order in

the mining sector. “Nobody is going to have their own way.

We will have order.”

Premchand Paul of the South Rupununi Mining Association pointed out to the Minister that miners needed to be shown “how the agreement could be fully implemented”, if the distrust that remained between the Canadian company and small miners in the Marudi area was to be dispelled.

Meanwhile, Romanex Guyana has pledged to carry out several enhancement projects in Region Nine (Upper Tatuku-Upper Essequibo) as part of fulfilling its social corporate responsibility.

Company representative Marshall Mintz assured miners that Romanex would hire locals and procure services locally in the setting up of its offices and other works. “We won’t be bringing people from Georgetown unless absolutely necessary… as time goes on, there will be jobs available both from Lethem and the deep South (Rupununi),” Mintz said.

As part of the mediation agreement, the Canadian company has agreed to ensure that communities nearest to its operations were given priority hiring.

Romanex Guyana has also pledged to install Internet service for 17 villages in South Rupununi, along with construction of roads, among other initiatives.

Minister Trotman told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that, “the people keeping an eye” was one sure way, along with monitoring by the GGMC, to ensure that the company honoured its pledges.

The accident occurred in the vicinity of Long Pond and Sisters Village Public Road

A

West Bank Demerara (WBD) boy was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) Sunday morning after he was struck by a speeding car at the corner of Long Pond and Sisters Village Public Road, WBD. Information reaching this publication indicated that the accident occurred at about 09:00h after the lad’s mother had sent him on an errand. Guyana Times understands that his nine-yearold sister witnessed the ordeal.

According to information, the child, Brandon [only name given], was up to Sunday evening receiving oxygen while being treated for his injuries. A source close to

told investigators that he did not realise he had struck the child. However, he was later taken into custody at the Wales Police Station.

Last May another boy, Davin Sealey, 10, was killed one fateful night after a Police Constable, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol, slammed his vehicle into a parked car and then collided with the boy as he was riding along the same Sisters Village Public Road.

Reports had indicated that his mother had sent him to collect money from his father.

Meanwhile, Traffic Chief Dion Moore had disclosed late last month that road fatalities increased by some 21 per cent. The Traffic Chief

The car that reportedly struck the young lad seen at the Wales Police Station Sunday

the investigation disclosed that the child was struck by a Toyota Allion car.

This newspaper was informed that the driver of the vehicle, PTT 391, reportedly

also revealed that the total fatal accidents were up to 99 incidents, where 109 persons have lost their lives for the year thus far.

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monDay, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mother pleads for NAREI distributes chemical justice for dead son to combat red palm mite pest – claims suspect was pardoned by President on narco conviction

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he mother of Gregory Garraway, 25, of Charlestown, Georgetown, who was shot and killed during a robbery early last month is calling for the Police to mete out justice for her son.

Pinky Hutson along with other family picketed outside Parliament Buildings late last week to have their voices heard.

Speaking with Guyana Times Hutson explained that her family decided to take protest actions after the perpetrator, who has been identified as a man known as “Three D”, a convicted felon, was allegedly earlier this year pardoned by the President.

She relayed that the man of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was sentenced to three years in prison charged with naracotics possession.

During their protest, the woman told this publication that the family met with ranks from the Guyana Police Force who related that the suspect will be arrested shortly for an identification parade.

“It is so unfair, what happened to my son, his life was just taken from him and not one time did the police even come to us to say anything; we need justice.”

However, during a press briefing with the media, Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine said that Hutson’s claims that Police are not assisting are bogus.

He said that Police have on occasions reached out to the mother, who refused to cooperate.

“When I saw the press report, I called the officer in charge of crime A Division…I told him to go to this mother’s home and invite her to the Police Station, speak with her in the presence of other detectives, tell her you feel her pain and you feel her loss and have her cooperate with us.

The detective officer did just that, and informed me that the madam indicated that she will come at her own time,” the commissioner related.

Dead: Gregory Garraway

The Commissioner noted that further contact was made with the mother, who indicated that she was ready to cooperate; however, when they reached out to her, she was unavailable.

On the day of Garraway’s murder, he along with his brother was walking along Mandela Avenue where they went to buy food when they were approached by the suspect.

Garraway was allegedly accosted and the accused who snatched his gold chain.

However, Garraway put up a fight and so the suspect shot him to his chest.

The young man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and nine days later succumbed to his injuries.

He leaves to mourn his mother sister.

T

he National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has commenced phase two of the distribution of chemicals to coconut farmers, whose farms are affected by the red palm mite (RPM) pest.

This exercise specially targets farmers who did not benefit during the first phase of distribution. Thus far, over 70 farmers on the East Coast Demerara (ECD), and Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) have benefited.

Somanti Rajkumar is one of the many farmers operating in the Pomeroon, who recently received chemical to treat coconut palms. Earlier this year, he attended a training demonstration conducted by NAREI aimed at educating farmers on how to treat the coconut palms with the chemical.

Rajkumar’s farm up until two weeks ago was covered with mostly dried palm leaves, irregular shaped nuts and many fruitless trees.

In fact, production had been reduced from 1000 to 400 nuts annually.

However within days of applying the chemical, the unhealthy branches fell; and greener healthy palm trees are now visible.

Rajkumar is hoping that his farm would soon totally recover from the infestation.

While he intercrops with banana and bora, coconut is his main money earner. The infestation resulted in his household income diminish-

Large red palm mites

ing significantly, as such, he is thankful for the assistance.

Another beneficiary in the Pomeroon is Balram Rajkumar. He is also grateful for the assistance from NAREI in combating the infestation.

He has 30 acres under coconut cultivation, which he supplies to agro-processors on the Essequibo Coast. As such, his nuts are expected to be of high quality and a certain size. But the infestation by the RPM on his plantation had affected the quality of his nuts, causing him to loose financially.

He too is hoping that production would increase by early next year.

Several coconut farmers operating in Hand-enVeldt, Helena #1, Helena #2, Unity, and Supply, ECD, also benefited from this second phase of chemical distribution.

After 30 years of planting coconuts, about two years ago Deodat Rambarak be-

came aware of the red palm mite pest. He is a small-scale coconut farmer operating in Hand-en-Veldt. Prior to the infestation, Rambarak’s farm produced 3000 nuts annually. This figure had decreased, resulting in him falling short of his target to supply the agro-processor.

The mite pest killed three of his coconut palms. This is a blow to the farmer’s operations since his farm comprises only tall coconut palms. “I only plant the five-year-old palms so when one plant dies it really hard because you have to wait a long time for it to grow back,” he said.

The presence of the pest was first observed in Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara). NAREI had quarantined the island and placed preventive measures in neighbouring Region Two. But, those efforts did not stop the pest from reaching the Pomeroon and other farming communities on the Essequibo Coast.

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monday, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Vector Control to be more GBTI hosts storytelling event proactive in Malaria fight for Ruimveldt children

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he Public Health Ministry’s Vector Control Services (VCS) unit will be taking a more proactive role to reduce the mosquito-borne disease, Malaria, in the hinterland regions.

A number of health workers from within Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) have already been trained in microscopy, which will assist in early tracking and diagnosis of the disease.

This was highlighted at the “Malaria Day in the Americas” observance on Friday in Bartica, Region Seven. The annual event is observed on November 6, in all the countries of the Americas. The theme for this year’s observance is “End Malaria for good”.

A team comprising officials of the VCS, the Public Health Ministry, and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation’s Dr Jean Alexandre travelled to Bartica to join with their health counterparts within that region to recognise this day.

Bartica was chosen for the launch and celebration of this day since it is recorded that this area has the highest rate of malaria cases among Guyana’s ‘moving’ population.

VCS Malaria Coordinator, Dr Quacy Grant is quoted by the Government Information Agency (GINA) as saying that for this year thus far, Malaria rates in Region Seven have been fluctuating; however, efforts have been made to ensure the numbers of cases decrease.

Grant outlined a number of activities that VCS would

Barticians, health workers and Vector Control Services (VCS) staff at the ceremony in observance of Malaria Day in the Americas in Bartica, Region Seven

be involved in, in the effort to fulfil this year’s Malaria Day in the Americas’ theme.

Other measures are being put in place to ensure that the high number of cases within mining and logging areas is reduced. One of these measures is the training of regional health workers.

Also community mapping is expected to be carried out, starting with Region Seven, in order to track the ‘moving’ population, and the rates of detected Malaria cases.

Mining and logging areas are prone to producing higher numbers of vector-borne diseases because of the condition of the surroundings which lend themselves to being breeding sites for mosquitoes. However, miners and loggers, who are numbered among the moving population of endemic regions, can contract Malaria at any point in time.

VCS Director, Dr Horace Cox said, “We found that in Guyana we have a mining population of about 38,000 people which we consider to be mobile population, which is a combination of both mining and logging.

What we have discovered is

in the mining setting, persons would dig the pits looking for gold, and they do all of these different things and create mosquito breeding sites.”

The VCS plans to further decentralise the Malaria programme to effectively reach persons who are more likely to be infected with Malaria in Regions One, Seven, Eight and Nine.

Additionally, steps are being taken to intensify net distribution within these areas.

Guyana has been commemorating a National Malaria Day since November 6, 2003, which was the proposed date for the observance of Malaria Day in the Americas. This date coincides with the day when the presence of Malaria parasites in the blood of patients with febrile symptoms was first detected by Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran in 1880.

Having made note of this, at the 27th Pan-American sanitary conference held in Washington, DC in 2007, it was agreed upon by all countries of the Americas that November 6 would be recognised as Malaria Day in the Americas.

Children at the Ruimveldt Centre enjoying their meal in the company of GBTI staffers

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he Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Providence, East Bank Demerara branch engaged children of Ruimveldt community at the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre in a feeding and storytelling programme.

The charitable event benefited 45 children ranging from ages 4 to 16. The children were provided with a warm and nutritious meal.

In addition, they were treated to a grand storytelling session by Desiree Edghill.

Branch manager Frances Sahadeo in commenting on the event said that the programme is the bank’s signature annual activity.

He noted that employees of the Bank visited the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid

Centre last year and provided charity services of similar nature.

“This is our signature activity… after the feeding programme the children will be entertained with a story telling session that will feature educational slides. Last year, we were here and did a literacy session where we had children ages from 4-15 years old. At that time we had different programmes for each level of students. It was also an interactive session for the staff,” Sahadeo said.

Meanwhile, a volunteer of the Centre Keiba Murray expressed gratitude to the financial entity for selecting the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre: “We welcome the initiative by GBTI Providence branch to come and interact

with the children to do story telling. Also, for the warm nutritious meal they have provided for the children. We know that it will go a long way and will benefit the children. We also hope that other entities can take on similar initiatives,” Murray said.

The Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre is a registered charity institution that was officially opened in 2011 and ever since has been providing afternoon sessions to the children of Ruimveldt and surrounding communities.

The Centre assists students mainly in numeracy and literacy and provides assistance with their homework.

The Centre also provides social counselling to the children.

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monday, NOVEMber 7, 2016

Regional

T&T: 3 dead in Nicaragua vote set to cement Ortega rule, despite autocracy fears D’Abadie bloodbath

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ormer Marxist guerrilla leader Daniel Ortega is expected to easily clinch a third consecutive term as President of Nicaragua, buoyed by steady economic growth that has trumped fears he is trying to install autocratic family rule.

Ortega and his running mate, his wife Rosario Murillo, have nearly 70 per cent support, according to a recent poll, tapping into strong voter approval for a drop in poverty in one of the poorest countries in the Americas since he took office in 2007.

“He (Ortega) is the good guy in this movie,” said Carlos Correa, a 74-year-old

A woman waits for electoral officials to check her identification documents before voting during the Nicaragua’s presidential elections at a polling station in Managua, November 6, 2016

retiree after casting his vote by the Labour Ministry in Managua on Sunday morning. Correa said that Ortega had done a great deal for the poor in Nicaragua, and

brushed off concerns the former fighter was consolidating his rule.

“I hope he stays in power, because otherwise someone will come along who doesn’t

do what he does,” he said.

Emerging as leader of the Sandinista movement that toppled dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979, Ortega served one term as president in the 1980s before being sidelined for years.

By the time he won Nicaragua’s 2006 election, he had moved far enough from his Marxist roots to talk about Jesus Christ in his speeches. Opponents have accused Ortega of trying to set up a “family dictatorship” since he appointed relatives to key posts, and after his Sandinistas pushed constitutional changes through Congress that ended presidential term limits in 2014. (Excerpt from Reuters)

St Lucian PM takes resignation of top tourism officials in stride

S

t Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet says he is not too taken aback by the resignation of the two top senior officials at the St Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB), saying some people could not embrace change.

Media reports said that SLTB Director Louis Lewis and his deputy, Tracey Warner-Arnold have resigned with their resignations taking effect at the end of January 2017 and the end of this month respectively.

No reasons have been given for the resignations of Lewis, who served at the SLTB for nine years and Warner-Arnold, but Chastanet, a former Tourism Minister, told the

SLTB Director Louis Lewis and his deputy, Tracey Warner-Arnold

St Lucia Times newspaper that while in opposition his now ruling United Workers Party (UWP) had announced plans for the creation of a Tourism Authority to replace the SLTB. “I think everybody recog-

nises we are in the process of change and unfortunately some times that change, some people can embrace it and some people can’t,” Chastanet told the newspaper, thanking Lewis and Warner-Arnold for the work

“We are going to be setting up a system where we are going to be asking you to give us or lend us your feed from specific cameras,” he said.

The National Security Minister said this would assist the Police in solving crimes committed in specific areas.

In the meantime, Montague said the Ministry

was still exploring the option of electronically monitoring low-risk offenders.

He said this would significantly reduce the amount of money spent to house inmates in penal institutions.

“It cost you the taxpayer $880,000 per year to keep one man and when you electronically monitor them, it cost you $77, 000,” he said.

The Security Minister

they have done and wished them the best in their careers.

“They only deserve the best,” he said, adding there was need to move on.

Chastanet disclosed that he was working with tourism officials to seek to turn around the Island’s numbers as quickly as possible and complimented his Tourism Minister, Dominic Fedee for the work he is doing in this regard.

“He has been relentless in terms of the things he has been doing with the cruise lines, the hotels, the restaurants – to bring this engine of growth back into play,” Chastanet said. (Excerpt from Antigua

Crime scene investigators at the murder scene at John Lane, D’Abadie, Arouca, where five people were shot

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father and son are among three people who were shot dead in a bloodbath in D’Abadie Saturday afternoon.

Five people in all were shot during the incident which took place around 15:20h Saturday.

Dead are Frank Joseph, his son Kevin Plaza, and Ricardo Singh.

Joseph’s other son, Roger Plaza, who was shot in his head during the incident was up to press time fighting for his life at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope.

Searle Debisette-Noray was the fifth person shot in the incident. She was shot in her leg.

Speaking to the media Saturday, acting Senior Superintendent McDonald Jacob described the situation as “totally ridiculous”.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service will not continue tolerating these sort of murders. Our intention is to take a more proac-

tive approach to our policing to deal with this scourge,” Jacob said.

“These murders are actually happening with some measure of impunity so we will introduce methods. We are asking the residents of Arima and surrounding areas to have some measure of tolerance with us because the methods that we will need to introduce may have some bit of inconvenience to them, but at the end of the day it is to benefit all the residents of Arima and surrounding areas. So from today certain things will be happening,” he said.

According to Police reports, a group of people were liming at John Lane in D’Abadie when a white Nissan Tiida vehicle with no licence plates turned onto the street.

The occupants of the vehicle opened fire on the group. They are believed to have used automatic weapons as over two dozen bullets were said to have been recovered at the scene. (Excerpt

from Trinidad Guardian)

J’can Minister Jamaicans urged to partner with Security expresses optimism Ministry to create national CCTV system for sugar industry

J

amaicans are being urged to partner with the Ministry of National Security to create a national Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system.

The appeal came from Portfolio Minister Robert Montague during a town hall meeting with residents and business owners of New Kingston at the Courtleigh Hotel recently.

Observer)

said the plan was for family members to provide the financial support.

Also, Montague said proper waiting facilities would be built to accommodate families who visit inmates.

The meeting sought to inform citizens of programmes being implemented by the Ministry to reduce crime.

(Jamaica Observer)

Caribbean countries join Latin America in agreeing to draft code on statistics

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aribbean countries have agreed to draft a code of good practices on statistics for Latin America and the Caribbean and promote the use of international standards in handling this type of data.

The proposal is part of the agreements approved during the Fifth Meeting of the Statistical Conference of the Americas of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (SCA-ECLAC) held this week, with the

participation of over 50 delegates from 21 countries in the Region and 33 representatives of 15 specialised international agencies.

During the next two years, member countries will draft a work proposal to establish a code of good practices, which will contribute to producing reliable and timely indicators, vital for transparency and evaluating the results of public policies.

The proposal will be approved during the sixth

SCA-ECLAC meeting in 2017.

In her presentation to the meeting, ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena warned that the credibility of official statistics is a fundamental asset for democratic development.

“This requires an institutional framework that ensures independence in decision-making on statistics systems, absent of all influence not guided by professional criteria,” said Bárcena.

The delegates to the Fifth SCA-ECLAC Meeting pledged to improve their statistics capabilities to produce indicators related to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Participants highlighted the urgency of developing capacities to produce and disseminate statistics on gender, especially those related to non-paid work, the impact of the economic crisis on female employment and the coverage of social programmes. (Excerpt from CMC)

J

amaican Industry, C o m m e r c e , Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Karl Samuda is expressing optimism for the 2016/2017 sugar crop season.

He said it was expected that there would be a resumption of operations at the Appleton Sugar Factory in St Elizabeth, come the first week in January.

Samuda was speaking at the 79th Annual Conference of the Jamaica Association of Sugar Technologists, held at RIU Hotel in Ocho Rios, St Ann recently. He also alluded to the recent decision of the European Union (EU) to extend the Sugar Transformation Programme to September 2017.

“I want to thank the EU for their invaluable help and assistance through the provisions of 30 million euros to the…programme.

Their funding has seen an improvement in the infrastructure of the industry.

This has been assisting in

the planting of some 11, 560 hectares of cane with loans through the Cane Expansion Fund,” Samuda informed.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Minister pointed to other areas that have been positively impacted by the EU assistance such as the purchasing of equipment, green cane harvesting, drainage cleaning, upgrading of community centres and provisions of 397 housing solutions for residents in sugar barracks.

“I think that we are heading in the right direction and so want to thank our farmers across the country for the levels of commitment and dedication to the sugar industry, resulting in some 28.8 per cent growth over the last quarter,” Minister Samuda pointed out. He reiterated the Government’s commitment to continue to provide improved infrastructure in terms of roads and irrigation and the right policy environment for the industry (Jamaica Observer)

monday, November 7, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the world

No criminality in Delhi smog: Schools closed for Clinton emails – FBI 3 days as pollution worsens

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he FBI has found no evidence of criminality in the new batch of Hillary Clinton emails.

In a letter to members of Congress, FBI director James Comey said the agency had finished its review and found nothing to change its position.

In July, he said Mrs Clinton had been careless, but not criminal in handling sensitive material on her private email server while secretary of state.

The issue flared up again with the discovery of new “pertinent” emails.

They were reportedly found on the laptop of Anthony Weiner, the estranged husband of one of Mrs Clinton’s closest advisers.

“Based on our review, we have not changed our

Hillary Clinton

conclusions that we expressed in July with respect to Secretary Clinton,” said r Comey in Sunday’s letter to Congress.

Comey’s original letter late last month to lawmakers, revealing that the bureau’s inquiry into Mrs Clinton’s emails had

been revived, shook up the White House race and reinvigorated the campaign of Republican nominee Donald Trump.

The FBI Director had said the agency would investigate if the newly discovered messages contained classified information. (BBC

News)

Erdogan blasts West as Turkey’s Kurdish party boycotts Parliament

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urkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused Europe on Sunday of abetting terrorism by supporting Kurdish militants and said he did not care if it called him a dictator.

Turkey drew international condemnation for the arrest on Friday of leaders and lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), the second-largest Opposition grouping in Parliament, as part of a terrorism investigation.

The Government accuses the HDP, which made history last year by becoming the first Kurdish party to win 10 per cent of the vote and enter Parliament, of financing and supporting an armed Kurdish insurgency, which it denies.

The HDP announced a partial boycott of Parliament on Sunday, saying it was “halting its legislative efforts” and that its deputies would stop participating in sessions of the legislature or

A

D

elhi’s Chief Minister has shut all schools in the Indian capital for three days as its citizens struggle with choking smog.

After an emergency Cabinet meeting, Arvind Kejriwal promised a raft of measures to combat the extreme air pollution.

All construction and demolition work has been banned for five days in the city.

Water will also be sprinkled on main roads to help suppress dust.

Kejriwal advised Delhiites to stay indoors as much as possible and work from home if they can.

Other measures an-

nounced by the Government include fighting fires at landfill sites, and shutting down the coal-based Badarpur power plant.

About 1800 municipal schools had already been shut in the capital on Saturday because of pollution.

The move came after levels of PM2.5 –- tiny particles that can clog people’s lungs – soared to over 90 times the level considered safe by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and 15 times the Indian Government’s norms.

Hundreds of people wearing face masks held protests at Delhi’s Jantar

Mantar monument on Sunday, sharing their fears and frustrations on social media using the hashtag #MyRightToBreathe.

India’s NDTV quoted an official of the India Meteorological Department, who said visibility in Delhi was just 200m (656ft) at 8.30am local time, “caused by the heavy fog and smoke”.

Kejriwal called on India’s national government to help control the smog which has enveloped the city since Diwali.

The Hindu Festival of Lights is widely celebrated with fireworks, which release soot and dust into the air. (Excerpt from BBC News)

11 killed in South Sudan shooting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan makes a speech during a congress in Istanbul, Turkey, November 4, 2016

meetings of parliamentary commissions.

The action against the HDP has heightened concern among Western allies about the state of democracy in Turkey, a NATO member which aspires to join the European Union and which is a buffer between Europe and the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. More than 110,000 officials – from soldiers and judges to teachers and journalists – have been detained

or suspended since a failed military coup in July, in what Erdogan’s critics say is a crackdown on all forms of dissent.

“I don’t care if they call me dictator or whatever else, it goes in one ear, out the other. What matters is what my people call me,” Erdogan said in a speech at an Istanbul university, where he was receiving an honorary doctorate. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US-backed Syrian alliance declares attack in Raqqa US-backed alliance of Syrian armed groups has launched an operation to retake the northern city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State in Syria, the group said on Sunday.

The new offensive ratchets up pressure on Islamic State at a critical moment, with its fighters already battling an assault by Iraqi security forces on their remaining Iraqi stronghold in the northern city of Mosul.

A statement issued by the US-backed Syria Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and

Protesters wearing protective masks take part in a rally urging immediate action to curb air pollution in New Delhi on November 6, 2016

Arab armed groups, said the long anticipated campaign, called Euphrates Anger, started late on Saturday.

“The general command of the Syria Democratic Forces announces the blessed start of its major military campaign to liberate the city of Raqqa,” Jehan Sheikh Amad, an SDF spokeswoman, told a news conference in the Syrian town of Ain Issa, 50 km (30 miles) north of Raqqa.

The United States would be coordinating air strikes with the SDF, which includes the powerful Kurdish YPG militia and has been

the main partner on the ground in Syria for the USled coalition against Islamic State.

Raqqa is the Syrian bastion of the ultra-hardline Sunni Muslim Islamic State, from where it runs training camps and directs operations. The group has been overseeing civilian life in the city including bakeries, banks, schools and mosques.

Brett McGurk, US President Barack Obama’s counter-Islamic State envoy, told reporters during a stopover in Amman that the “initial phase” of the Raqqa offensive had begun.(Excerpt from Reuters)

A

t least 11 people are dead and 16 others have been injured after an attack on football fans in South Sudan, local media report.

A gunman opened fire on a crowd watching an English Premier League game near

the town of Juba.

South Sudan’s National Courier newspaper said the gunman had escaped despite a “prompt response” from security forces.

Police are investigating, but have not yet identified a motive.

The incident took place in Gure, a suburb of Juba, the South Sudan capital.

The city was hit by violence earlier this year as rival political factions clashed, prompting the vice-president, Riek Machar, to flee the country. (BBC News)

Hong Kong Police, activists clash at protests over Beijing crackdown

H

ong Kong Police fired pepper spray and protesters threw bottles and road cones in clashes near China’s representative office on Sunday night where activists had gathered to demonstrate against Beijing’s attempts to stop a fledgling independence movement.

A ruling today from a top committee of China’s Parliament, the National People’s Congress, is expected to effectively bar the recently elected lawmakers Yau Wai-ching, and Baggio Leung from taking office in Hong Kong’s legislature.

The pair pledged allegiance to the “Hong Kong nation” and displayed a “Hong Kong is not China” banner during a swearing-in ceremony for the city’s legislative council in October.

Their oaths were not accepted and their right to re-take them is being challenged in the local courts by the Hong Kong Government.

Protesters are pepper sprayed by Police during a protest against what they call Beijing’s interference in local politics and the rule of law

The situation is seen by many of Hong Kong’s legal and political elite as one of the biggest tests the financial hub has faced since its handover to China nearly two decades ago, with some fearing its independent rule of law is under threat.

Hundreds of Police, some with riot shields and batons, and some behind temporary metal barricades, were seen near the Central

Government’s Liaison Office, traditionally well protected by local Police, and viewed by many as a symbol of Beijing’s increasing influence on the freewheeling city.

As Police reinforced their lines, protesters took their own precautions, some donning masks and goggles and wrapping cling film over their eyes to protect against pepper spray. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16

monDAY, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What aspect of local tourism products has the most potential to draw persons to Guyana Suzannie Thomas – Essequibo Coast “I think Guyana has the potential to become a great tourist destination with its rich flora and fauna, but the problem exists, where local tourism personnel are not getting the kind of encouragement [needed]. I think the Government can play a role by assisting resort owners, they can waiver hotel and resort VAT and also enhance blackwater tourism.”

Jonathan Seegobin – Corentyne, Berbice “I think it is cuisine.

Anywhere you go, you always

hear that the food is not as good as Guyana. Even our Chinese fry rice that the Chinese cook is better than what they have in Suriname or Trinidad or even Barbados and in the US. Not even the Chinese fry rice that they make in China taste as good as ours. Our Pepper pot is a boss in any part of the world.

If you were to do a worldwide poll and just use the word ‘cook up’, all sorts of good comments you will get about Guyana. I know that because I did it already. The only thing is that the Government is not pushing cuisine tourism enough.”

Denis Campbell – Essequibo Coast “I strongly believe that more publicity should be done in helping to promote local tourism; often, there is a nice place where persons can go relax but persons don’t know about it; secondly, those who are investing in the sector should be granted waiver so that they in turn can offer a cheaper service. Guyana is beautiful and the world needs to know about the land of many waters.”

Andy Bacchus – West Coast Demerara “The security sector has

Bruce Daniels – Georgetown “First answer off my head is rum. We have the world’s best rum and I think that we need to advertise it more because people naturally like alcohol all around the world; it is the best and most selling product, so that alone will draw people to Guyana, boosting tourism.

Ester Lucas - West Coast Berbice “The interior, where one

a big role in promoting the tourism sector. Government will have to improve the security sector by making sure that 911 is in service no matter at what time, making sure that the station is well-equipped with all kind of vehicles in case of an emergency, make sure that the Police is wellprotected by upgrading their armouries. As long as our security sector is at such a level where it can combat crime, then no doubt this will develop our tourism sector, boosting tourism in Guyana. can go and experience nature.

Just spending two or three days just listening to the sounds of birds and seeing different types of birds. What the Ministry of Tourism need to do is to organize trips, set up a booth at the airport so as soon as somebody come off the plain you show them what package you have and they can book there to go on a trip before they go back and within a few months you would see how much people coming to Guyana just to go into the interior.”

Bhaskar Sharma

“Honestly, I think Kaieteur Falls can attract a lot of people to visit Guyana. I am currently not in Guyana, but I tell my coworkers about the Falls and many of them are hoping to visit with me when I come back to Guyana. So we need to advertise the Falls more; that alone is a major attraction.

Sosheanna Bhagwandin – East Coast Demerara “The Guyanese culture has the most potential.

For example, Phagwah celebration, Mashramani, and our forest. Tourists, especially Caucasians, like the hiking thing. They should have tours in the interior and so to view the bauxite, gold and diamond mining as tourist attractions – not a one-day tour but like field trips.”

Corren Paul – West Bank Demerara “I think ecotourism and culture; however, our music needs investment [in order] to sound properly, but generally tourism is better from 10 years ago.”

Wilfred Jagnarine – Essequibo Coast

“Essequibo is one of the most beautiful tourist destination places, but local businessmen need the support. Guyana tourism needs to be marketed internationally – sell the blackwater tourism. I think the Government can do much more especially with the Region (Pomeroon-Supenaam); there needs to be a boost in

Sherry Harris – Georgetown “Food, forestry/nature walks/safari through hinterland/reserves; some people like to experience a different culture whilst others prefer to see exotic things.”

the infrastructure: a floating ramp installed at Supenaam – often elders and children get hassle going on the boat; infrastructure leading to most resorts are in deplorable condition: the road leading to Mainstay need to repair.

The Government should grant hotels and resorts owners a waiver in tax in that way holiday packages will be available at a cheaper rate to tourists.”

Damion Williams – Georgetown

“We all know Kaieteur Falls by now, which is old news but the theme parks such as Hits and Jams Water World can be attractive tourist sites that we can develop. However, upgrades need to be done at the old tourist sites such as Kaieteur Falls that have no Internet.

Facebook has upgraded their app of being able to go live, but that is impossible to do if you are there, which is failing in the advertisement area.”

17 Money changer shot during attempted robbery A news

monday, november 7, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

brazen daylight attack has rocked a family to the core after a late afternoon shooting left a Stabroek Market money changer in a critical state.

On Sunday, Vishwanauth Nawbatt, called Vishal, of C Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was, up to press time, undergoing major surgery to treat the injuries he sustained after being shot once to the abdomen following an attempted

robbery.

According to reports gathered, the 35-year-old man and his girlfriend were sitting and enjoying a meal at the Popeyes fast food restaurant on Water Street, Stabroek about 16:15h when a lone gunman walked up to him and demanded cash.

“Where de money deh?” the bandit demanded, but according to an eyewitness Nawbatt told the gunman that he did not have any money. This angered the gunman who then shot the money changer to the left

side of his abdomen. This newspaper understands that the gunman then proceeded to calmly walk out of the restaurant and jumped on to a waiting motorcycle.

Meanwhile, Police in a statement confirmed that they were investigating the shooting, noting that the suspect was male and armed with a handgun.

The injured man was rushed to hospital by public-spirited citizens

T

Dead: Timothy Fraser

said the caller claimed that her son was dressed in his welding outfit waiting on a boat to collect him at a landing but decided to go for a swim. When the boat arrived, only his clothing was seen at the landing.

Later on, the family was

told that Frazer had gone to another location in the interior to work.

On Saturday afternoon they were told that he left to go to the waterfront and only his clothes were found at the waterfront.

According to the grieving mother, when she called on Sunday she was told that her son was on a boat sitting on a chair which fell overboard and he went down.

Meanwhile, Keno Fraser, who travelled to the area after the initial report, said when he saw the body it was swollen, indicating that it had been in the water for hours.

Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination is expected to be performed today in Georgetown. (Andrew Carmichael)

viewing surveillance footage at the establishment.

In early September, a fellow Water Street money changer, 40-year-old Mahendra Deonarine was shot at the Georgetown Stelling moments after disembarking from a speedboat. He was also robbed of a quantity of local and foreign currency.

Chinese shun Jamaica – say crime, racism make them feel left out of society

Welder’s body fished out B of Mazaruni River he body of a welder was on Sunday fished out of the Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni), one day after he reportedly went missing.

Dead is Timothy Fraser, 44, of Savannah Park Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam. Details surrounding the incident are still sketchy, however his family have expressed concern over the way the matter was reported to them.

According to the dead man’s mother, Valerie Fraser, she was told three different versions about how her son died.

She said on Saturday she received a phone call from someone at his work site in Mazaruni indicating that her son was missing. She

According to early Police reports, the suspect approached and demanded that the money changer hand over his day’s earnings, but he refused. Police stated that no arrests have been made.

Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus told Guyana Times late Sunday evening that investigators were re-

etween racism, crime and a sense of discomfort, the plight of the Chinese immigrant has been disheartening to the minority group in Jamaica.

In fact, according to Andy Au, a Chinese-Jamaican, several members of the Asian community have closed their businesses, packed their bags and left Jamaica.

This comes despite what is seen island-wide as a growth in businesses operated by Asian nationals, mainly those from China, in recent years.

“I left my business with my parents, which they are still running. But apart from my own, I know of at least four groups of families that have sold their businesses and left the country and went back to different parts of Asia and United States,” Au, who has since moved, temporarily, to Australia, revealed.

He suggested that it was unlikely that he would return to Jamaica. “While some of the other businesses are still operating, they are also investing and making migration plans

in an effort to make a connection or bridge, so that they can have an easy retreat and a place to settle down when the time comes,” Au said.

According to Au, the Chinese community is heavily targeted by criminals, which is crippling to business. As a business operator, he said he felt “trapped in a jail cell, worried about outside troubles as well as inside troubles.”

He also underscored the fact that Chinese continue to contribute to Jamaica.

“We employ a big chunk of the workers at the minimumwage level. We have built businesses that import goods into the country and if you don’t know which products we bring in, then let me tell you, it’s almost everything. All the toys and knick-knacks you see on the street that people sell to make a living? We import it. Shoes, clothes, crockery, tissue, toothpicks, beauty products, perfumes, slippers, equipment, electronics; you name it, we have it,” he stated.

With regards to the no-

tion that they only help themselves and stick together, Au said: “We have to stick together as Chinese people and protect each other, and nothing is wrong with that. If Jamaican people go abroad, they would also flock together with people that have similar background for sense of trust and security.

It is very hypocritical for people to put it that way, to say that we only help ourselves and not Jamaican people.

“If there is no sense of trust then how can we hold a hand out and expect not to get bitten? How do you ask someone who has been robbed at gunpoint in a foreign country to just feel welcomed, accepting and caring to others when he/she can’t even trust them?” he questioned.

Safety, he insisted, was one of the main reasons for their departure from Jamaica.

Another Chinese national, who declined to be identified, said that the lack of love shown to people born in China

by Jamaicans had forced him to leave the north Caribbean island for the United States.

(Jamaica Observer)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016

ARCHIE

Don’t wait for someone else to take charge. Step up (March 21- and do your thing. A positive April 19) change will surprise someone from your past. A new opportunity is apparent.

ARIES

Look for the light and TAURUS love in your life. Refuse to al(April 20- low negativity and emotional May 20) stress to affect you. A creative approach coupled with kindness and understanding will be your ticket to success.

DILBERT

Evaluate your current GEMINI personal or professional po(May 21sition, and discuss what you June 20) want to do with someone you trust, love and respect. Only then will you be able to make the best decision.

Get out and do your own thing. Explore creative pur(June 21- suits and consider attendJuly 22) ing an event that will broaden your outlook or teach you tricks that will speed up daily chores.

CANCER

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Verbal confrontations will not be in your best interest.

Stick to the truth, but don’t give the impression you know everything. You will gain more from listening instead of spouting off.

Stay focused on what’s imVIRGO portant to you. Check out new (Aug. 23Sept. 22) ways of accomplishing old goals. Your persistence and ability to articulate what you want and how to get it will serve you well.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Work on you.

SelfLIBRA improvement will bring happi(Sept. 23Oct. 23) ness and satisfaction. Trying to change others will result in disappointment and an unwanted change in relationships. Have fun and be companionable.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Follow your desires, and SCORPIO make each moment count.

(Oct. 24Look for the good and the posNov. 22) itive in every situation and act accordingly. Don’t give in to negativity or bullying.

A business trip or meeting SAGITTARIUS will result in an opportunity.

(Nov. 23- Don’t be reluctant to make Dec. 21) suggestions. An honest and emotional response will help prevent deception or misrepresentation.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

Don’t let your emotions CAPRICORN cost you. If you believe in (Dec. 22what you have to offer, so will Jan. 19) everyone you encounter. Be true to yourself, and focus on getting things done.

Think before you speak.

AQUARIUS Letting your emotions take con(Jan. 20trol will not help you get your Feb. 19) way. A moneymaking opportunity will require finesse and patience. Choose personal change over trying to change others.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES A situation will require (Feb. 20- an intellectual, rather than March 20) physical, response. Protect yourself against being hurt or used by someone who has ulterior motives. Stick to people you know and trust.

o guyanatimesgy.com

monday, november 7, 2016

19

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17...

Fruta Conquerors scold M Order & Discipline

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Part of the tussle between Order & Discipline (red and white) and Fruta Conquerors

he Guyana Football F e d e r a t i o n (GFF) NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power returned to the Tucville ground on Saturday as part the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) matches and Fruta Conquerors were the star team on the day.

The home side brushed aside Order & Discipline 8-0 via doubles from Rushan Richie, Nicholas McArthur and Jermaine Garrett; elder brother Jeremy Garrett and Richard Rayside were also on the score sheet with a goal each.

In the earlier matches, Georgetown Football Club (GFC) defeated Alpha United 2-0, with Jermaine Paymo and Romel Hutson netting goals in the 8th 21st and 21st respectively.

Santos FC were also victorious, as they trounced Pele FC 3-0 thanks a goals

by Ryan Dowden (11th and 16th) and Nazeer Algermon (40th); the other matches slated to play saw Eastveldt winning via walkover from Campton FC. Over in the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA), Buxton United, Mahaica Determinators and Ann’s Grove secured thumping victories. Playing at the Golden Grove ground, Buxton United hammered Golden Stars 5-0.

Tironi Semple registered a second half hat-trick in the 68th, 72nd and 75th.

Contributing goals in the 25th and 55th minute were Joshua Liverpool and Kobe Durant in the 25th and 55th minute respectively.

On the other hand, Mahaica Determinators downed Bachelor’s Adventure and Paradise by a 3-0 margin. Orland

Adams recorded a double in the 20th and 25th minute. Assisting with a 60th minute effort was Rickford Profitt. Meanwhile, Ann’s Grove dismantled lowly Buxton Youth Developers by a 4-0 score line.

Maurice Adams bagged a brace in the 42nd and 44th minute while Yohance France scored twice in the 50th and 52nd minute.

Meanwhile, title sponsors NAMILCO, have been urging both players and persons at large to live a healthy lifestyle by indulging in the usage of its heath oriented products Maid Marian Harvest High Fibre Whole Wheat Flour, Maid Marian Wheat-Up Breakfast Porridge and Maid Marian Multigrain Flour among many other products.

Pacquiao returns to...

continued from page 20

Pacquiao, whose last previous bout was a unanimous decision over Timothy Bradley in April, showed quickly that he had not lost his skills, knocking Vargas down in the second round with a straight left to the champion’s face.

Vargas battled back and landed his dangerous right several times but Pacquiao withstood the punishment and by the end of the bout, the American’s face was swollen on one side and he had a cut over his right eyebrow.

The Filipino southpaw piled up the points in the later rounds by peppering the title holder with stiff right jabs that set up his quick, punishing left hook.

“I feel happy,” said Pacquiao, whose only regret was in not recording

his first knockout victory since 2009. “I feel like I could do more but my aim in every round is not to knock him out.

“Thanks to all my fans!

Thanks to all the Filipino people!” he added in the ringside interview.

Among the spectators at the Thomas & Mack Center were the currently retired Floyd Mayweather and light-welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

Pacquiao lost the richest bout ever to Mayweather last May. “Next? I’m going back to the Philippines to work in the Senate,” Pacquiao said about his immediate plans before being asked about Mayweather or Crawford.

“I don’t know, whoever the people wants to fight me. Whoever my promoter

gives to me, I will fight.”

Vargas described the bout as “a chess match”.

It was interesting for me. We were on our toes trying to catch a big shot.

He caught me a couple of times, I caught him a couple of times. It was an entertaining fight,” he said.

“It’s a good learning experience being against one of the best such as Manny Pacquiao. This automatically elevated my game and I know I have more potential.”

Earlier, undefeated 25-year-old Mexican Oscar Valdez Jr (22-0) topped the undercard with a brutal seventh-round stoppage of Japan’s Hiroshige Osawa (30-4-4) to retain his WBO featherweight championship. (Reuters)

anchester United picked up their first win in five Premier League matches with a 3-1 victory at Swansea City.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted two milestone goals as Manchester United ended their fourmatch winless run in the Premier League with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Swansea City.

After Paul Pogba had opened the scoring with a sweetly struck half-volley, Ibrahimovic scored the Premier League’s 25,000th goal before making it 3-0 with the 400th of his club career.

The nature of the victory will have pleased manager Jose Mourinho, who watched from the stands as he served a one-match touchline ban, although Mike van der Hoorn’s late consolation robbed David de Gea of a clean sheet.

Swansea boss Bob Bradley, by contrast, remains without a win in charge of the Welsh club, who were poor throughout and scored with their only effort on target.

The result lifts United to sixth, while Van der Hoorn’s header keeps Swansea off the foot of the table on goal difference.

Wayne Rooney was included in a United starting XI that also featured the unfamiliar backline of Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Ashley Young, and it was the England captain who had the first sight of goal, curling just wide after beating Angel Rangel on the edge of the box.

Luke Shaw was a late withdrawal and Daley Blind was only fit enough for the bench following Thursday’s Europa League defeat at Fenerbahce, but Pogba’s swift recovery from a knock picked up in Turkey soon paid dividends.

The French midfielder rifled home a wonderful strike from 20 yards out following a chipped Rooney ball back to the edge of the box in the 15th minute.

Bradley’s hunt for a first win as Swansea boss prompted him to switch to a 4-4-2 formation for the visit of United, pairing Borja Baston with Fernando Llorente in attack. However, the hosts were ineffective and took just six minutes to concede a second. Rooney played the ball inside to Ibrahimovic, who left Ki Sung-yueng for dead before sending a low drive beyond Lukasz Fabianski.

United were tearing Swansea apart and, as home fans directed chants of ‘We want our club back’ at the directors’ box, Ibrahimovic added the visitors’ third.

Played into the box by Rooney, who became only the third player to assist 100 Premier League goals, the former Paris SaintGermain forward shrugged off the weak Manchester United’s Zlatan challenge Ibrahimovic scored two of Rangel to magnificent goals double his personal tally.

Bradley introduced Modou Barrow and Jefferson Montero for the second half as Swansea reverted to a more familiar 4-2-31 shape and, while the changes did not make an immediate difference, the home side did pull a goal back in the 69th minute. De Gea got a hand to De Hoorn’s header from a Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick, but it was not enough to keep out the Dutchman’s effort.

That, and a tame Barrow effort that looked to be heading for the right-hand upright when it was intercepted by De Gea late on, was the sum of Swansea’s response as United held on for a convincing win, although a late Ibrahimovic booking means he will miss next week’s clash with Arsenal. (Sportsmax)

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monday, november 7, 2016

Australia v South Africa, 1st Test, Perth, 4th day…

Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Harare, 1st day

Dhananjaya century South Africa make big strides leads Sri Lanka revival towards victory K

agiso Rabada impossible from the start of the day, swiftd e l i v e r e d ly taking the hosts’ prospective target into a string of world-record territory and then to another lightning bolts to realm entirely.

De Kock’s innings was especially full of dent Australian resolve and put South highlights, launching two huge sixes down Africa on the cusp of the ground as well as surviving being given out twice thanks to DRS. victory in Perth.

Australia looked bereft of ideas and their South Africa made steady woes were summed up as Josh Hazlewood Kagiso Rabada progress in their dropped Philander over the rope for six off took 3 for 49 on attempts to pull the bowling of a seething Mitchell Starc. the fourth afternoon © De Kock eventually perished when a off an impresCricket Australia/Getty Images sive victory over Mitchell Marsh delivery sprung from a Australia in the crack and popped up for Voges at cover, first Test and will start day five just six while Smith bowling Philander prompted the Proteas’ declaration. wickets from winning.

Warner and Khawaja had started posBatting throughout day three had put the Proteas in control at the WACA and itively, despite a number of deliveries eithey pressed home their advantage on ther staying low or taking off thanks to the Sunday as Quinton de Kock (64) and Vernon WACA’s infamous cracks.

However, Bavuma astonishingly set Philander (73) took South Africa to a mammoth 540-8 declared, setting Australia 539 South Africa on their way, racing onto a dab down from Warner in front of point to win. before diving, twisting and throwAfter Temba Bavuma struck first blood ing down the stumps from a horwith a wondrous run-out of David Warner izontal, mid-air position.

(35), Kagiso Rabada (3-49) then took Shaun Marsh followed four over with two exceptional spells of fast balls later, edging Rabada bowling, shouldering the responsito slip, as Australia’s playbility of leading the aters seemed as stunned as tack admirably their fans. in the absence Khawaja survived a of the injured verdict of out the very Dale Steyn. next ball - given caught S h a u n behind though the ball Marsh (15) and clipped pad, not bat Adam Voges (1) and the left-handhad no answer to er survived another the prodigal quick and he also life when Hashim accounted for Steve Smith (34) as the Amla grounded Australia captain had looked set to a sharp chance build a useful union with low to his right Usman Khawaja, who as Rabada ended day four unbeatagain exen on 58 with Australia celled. still 369 runs in arrears South on 169-4.

Africa The powerful leftc a p hander has a stunning tain record in home conditions, where he has scored three of his four Test hundreds, and will be key for the home side as they attempt a gritty defensive effort on Monday.

Australia’s task was always going to be a stiff one, but De Kock and Philander made it nigh-on Usman Khawaja plays square of the wicket on the off side© Getty Images

SCOREBOARD South Africa 1st innings 242 Australia 1st innings 244 South Africa 2nd innings S Cook c SE Marsh b Siddle 12 D Elgar c Starc b Hazlewood 127 H Amla b Hazlewood 1 J Duminy c †Nevill b Siddle 141 F du Plessis* c †Nevill b Starc 32 T Bavuma c Khawaja b MR Marsh 8 Q de Kock† c Voges b MR Marsh 64 V Philander b Smith 73 41 K Maharaj not out Extras (b 10, lb 13, w 17, nb 1) 41 Total (8 wickets dec; 160.1 overs)540 Did not bat: DW Steyn, K Rabada Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-45, 3-295, 4-324, 5-346, 6-352, 7-468, 8-540 Bowling: Starc 31-8-114-1, Hazlewood 37-11-107-2, Siddle 26-9-62-2, M Marsh 26-4-77-2,

Lyon 34-3-146-0, Voges 5-1-8 -0, Smith 1.1-0-3-1 Australia 2nd innings (target: 539 runs) S Marsh c du Plessis b Rabada 15 D Warner run out (Bavuma) 35 U Khawaja not out 58 S Smith* c †de Kock b Rabada 34 A Voges c †de Kock b Rabada 1 15 M Marsh not out 11 Extras (b 8, lb 2, w 1) Total (4 wickets; 55 overs) 169 To bat: PM Nevill†, MA Starc, PM Siddle, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-52, 3-144, 4-146 Bowling: Rabada 16-2-493, Philander 12-3-36-0, JP Duminy 8-1-18-0, Maharaj 17-6-40-0, Cook 2-0-16-0

Faf du Plessis burned a review trying to oust his counterpart Smith, but the home skipper’s 91-ball effort was ended by a marvellous piece of Rabada bowling as late, late outswing took the edge through to De Kock.

Reverse swing was now in full effect and, an over after Khawaja reached 50, Voges was given a spectacular sixball grilling from Rabada, from which the batsman had no answer before another feather edge ended his torment.

Mitchell Marsh (15 not out) safely negotiated the end of day’s play alongside Khawaja. The pair will need to produce something heroic on the final day to deny the Proteas. (Sportsmax)

Dhananjaya de Silva’s 143-run stand with Upul Tharanga helped Sri Lanka fight back from 112 for 4 © Getty Images

S

ri Lanka were struggling when they found themselves 112-4, but the tourists rallied to close on 290-5 as Dhananjaya de Silva led the way.

Dhananjaya de Silva’s second century in his fifth Test outing revived Sri Lanka’s fortunes after Zimbabwe had made a promising start on day one in Harare.

With the hosts having lost the first Test by 225 runs, their bowling unit produced a menacing display to have Sri Lanka floundering on 112-4.

But the tourists dug deep and reached the close on 290-5, with Dhananjaya bringing up his landmark in the penultimate over of Sunday’s play.

The final session belonged almost entirely to Sri Lanka, who added 103 runs from 33 overs, with Heath Streak’s side managing only one wicket to stifle their charge.

The decision review system (DRS) was in place in Zimbabwe for the first time, although Upul Tharanga (79) was the only bastman to fall victim to it late in proceedings.

Despite a solid start taking them to 62 without loss, cracks began to show in the Sri Lanka batting line-up when Hamilton Masakadza (2-18) claimed the wickets of Dimuth Karunaratne (26) and Kusal Perera (4) in quick succession.

DRS looked set to be called into action in the 25th over when Kaushal Silva was given out lbw on 37, but the batsman’s call for a review came outside of the 15-second window.

Replays showed the umpire Simon Fry had made Lakmal, CBRLS Kumara the wrong decision and Fall of wickets 1-62, 2-66, when Kusal Mendis was 3-84, 4-112, 5-255 sent back to the pavilion for Bowling: Mumba 14-2-54-0, 26, Zimbabwe had the upper Tiripano 22-4-63-1, Mpofu hand.

18-4-65-1, Masakadza 8-2-182, Cremer 18-0-57-1, Williams But the match turned 5-1-8-0, Waller 5-0-23-0 on Dhananjaya’s patient Zimbabwe team knock as he compiled a tidy, TMK Mawoyo, BB Chari, H if unspectacular 100, which Masakadza, CR Ervine, SC came off 197 balls and includWilliams, MN Waller, PJ Moor†, ed 11 fours.

AG Cremer*, DT Tiripano, CT Mumba, CB Mpofu He will resume on Monday with Asela Gunaratne (13 not out) for company. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka 1st innings D Karunaratne c Williams b Masakadza 26 37 K Silva lbw b Mpofu K Perera† c Mumba b Masakadza 4 K Mendis c†Moor b Tiripano 26 U Tharanga c Masakadza b Cremer 79 100 D de Silva not out A Gunaratne not out 13 Extras (lb 2, w 2, nb 1) 5 Total (5 wickets; 90 overs) 290 To bat: MDK Perera, HMRKB Herath*, RAS

Pacquiao returns to claim WBO welterweight title M anny Pacquiao put on a dazzling display in his return to the ring after a brief retirement, scoring a unanimous decision over champion Jessie Vargas to claim the WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Despite giving away 10 years to his opponent, the 37-year-old Pacquiao fought with more intensity and energy, and dominated the American in the final rounds to close out an emphatic victory.

The judges scored the bout 114-113, 118-109 and 118-109 in favour of Pacquiao, the only fighter to hold titles in eight divisions, with the Filipino improving to 59-6-2, while Vargas fell to 27-2.

Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines connects with a punch to WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas of Las Vegas during their title fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada

It was a master class taught by the first sitting Senator to win a world boxing championship as Pacquiao temporarily left the ring to win election in

the Philippines and serve in office before making a return to what he called his “passion”. continues on page 19

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Caribbean Motor Racing Championships....

Kevin Persaud ready to compete with the “big boys” T

he days are drawing closer for the final leg of this year’s Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) at the South Dakota

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sports

At the age of 17, Persaud says he is raring to go wheel to wheel with experienced riders this Sunday at South Dakota (Mickey Spice Photo)

Circuit from November 1213 and one competitor, who is eagerly anticipating the challenge is 17 year-old Kevin Persaud.

This year the Motor Biker events are seemingly the main allure with Mohammed Enterprise bringing two International riders to compete; not to mention the usual suspects such as Mathew, Stephen and Elliot Vieira, who will be

cuit, he explained that despite some top riders will be on show he is no way daunted by the challenge.

“Having all these hyped competitors is a motivation for me, it has helping me reach where I want; I’m actually glad for it and the experience”, the motor biker stated.

Persaud’s machine of choice is a 2011 Kawasaki ZX6R, which he explained

is “working pretty perfect, and is hoping to get some fine tuning done to get it to the maximum, “right now it is working at 80% hopefully the tune guy gets it to 100%”.

Last November, the rider finished second, third and fourth respectively in his three races and is most enthused about bettering his performances this coming Sunday.

“Everyone is always looking to do better and I’m excited about the prospect of doing even better than last year; I really can’t wait for Sunday”, he confidently stated. Quizzed on what fans can expect he responded saying, “I’m hoping to give the fans a threat, give them a good time, so come Sunday, it will be fun!”

The motor biker who can began competing since the age of 14, will be attending his fourth Caribbean Championship has already begun making plans travel to the other three legs (Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados) next year.

In closing Persaud expressed great thanks to supporters such as Rio Inn, Chico Ramus and his father, who has been working with him since he started racing.

Courts Pee Wee Schools Football Championship...

St Angela’s overcome North Georgetown to reach semi-finals

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efending Champions St. Angela’s have edged their way into the semi-finals of the fifth annual Courts Pee-Wee football Championships when they overcame a physical North Georgetown on Saturday at the Banks DIH Thirst Park Ground.

On day where 21 goals were scored, the defending champions won 1-0 via a spectacular Antwoine Vincent goal in the 13th minute. Among the other teams progressing to the next round were St. Pius, West Ruimveldt and St. Agnes.

St. Agnes progress came as a result of defeating 2012 champions Marian Academy 2-0. Justin Alexander opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a penalty kick and two minutes onward as

David Xavier scored.

Similarly, West Ruimveldt downed F.E. Pollard 2-0. Kevin Mentis and Kenneth Gordon scored in the 35th and 38th minute correspondingly.

Also, St. Pius squeaked past St. Stephens’s 2-1.

Dwayne Baptiste and Keron Adams scored in the seventh and 40th minute for the winner while Jequan Cole netted for the loser in the 10th minute. As such, the semi-final matches will see St. Angela’s opposing 2013 winners St. Pius while West Ruimveldt will tackle St. Agnes Meanwhile in the 9-16 position matches, Tucville Primary hammered Redeemer 4-0. John Harry scored twice in the second and 11th while Jamal Embrack and Ronaldo

Gomes in the 19th and 28th minute respectively while St. Margaret’s inflicted the same treatment upon Mae’s 4-0 compliments of a Mickelle Andrews helmettrick in the 17th, 24th, 26th and 28th minute.

Winfer Gardens edged South Ruimveldt 1-0.

Orlando Dickie found the back of the net in the 39th minute while Stella Maris edged St. Gabriel’s 5-4 on penalty kicks.

John Hynes bagged a brace in the 16th and 25th minute for Stella Maris while Tyrese Hart netted in the eighth and 24th minute for the opposition.

The penultimate day of the competition will continue at the same venue from 11:00 hrs this Saturday.

22

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monday, november 7, 2016

GCF/NSC 3-Stage Cycling…

Agard takes title, Greaves wins final Stage

The top performers and officials pose for a photo

By Romario Samaroo

1

9-year-old Linden Bauxite Flyers’ Shaquel Agard stunned his opponents as he pedalled his way to the Guyana Cycling Federation, National Sports Commission’s National Three-Stage cycling title after finishing the third and final leg, a 30 lap race around the outer circuit of the National Park on Sunday.

The final leg got underway with the pack of riders moving along the paces immediately after a few words of encouragement and a promise of a better organised event come next year from the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones.

Heading into the final

stage, Agard led the pack after taking the top spot in the second stage, a time trial sprint from Carifesta Avenue to Plaisance with a time of eight minutes, 42 seconds (00:08:42); third place in the first leg, a 65 mile road race from Carifesta Avenue to Mahaicony and back to the starting line (02:38:41); and finishing the final leg in a time of 01:53:05.

Agard’s total time was 04:40:25, 13 seconds faster than overall second, Team Gillette Evolution’s Michael Anthony (4:40:38), while Continental’s ‘Lone Rider’ Geron Williams finished third overall (04:40:52) and Alanzo Greaves fourth (04:41:30). Team Cocos Hamza Eastman (04:41:32) and one handed rider,

Walter Grant Stuart completed the top six in a time of 04:42:37.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport the young Lindener, who won gold in the 2014 Inter-Guiana Games said, “It was a great feeling to win this event, I feel great to have my name calling with National champion Geron Williams and former national Champion Hamza Eastman” attributing his success to his rigorous training as he would do sprints up the East Coast and back, as well as returning home to do ‘hill climbing’ in preparation for this event.

Looking back to the second stage, Agard humoured that he was surprised to actually win that stage and his

plan heading into the final stage was to keep abreast with the top three riders.

Greaves, returning from a 12 month ban, showed why he is still one of the best riders in the country as he piped an in-form Eastman for the third stage first prize with both riders completing the circuit in 01:53:05.

Much controversy unfolded at the end of the race with mixed opinions of who was to be crowned the winner, even reverting to several footages to see the replay of what transpired.

In the end, the officials declared Greaves, the winner gaining 10 seconds bonus as he piped Eastman (seven bonus seconds) by a tire’s hair, Anthony rode to third (1:58:05) while Agard’s

Linden’s Shaquel Agard is proud to have won with the likes of the top teams producing their best

fourth was enough to secure the title.

Greaves, speaking to this publication, said it was a long journey back coming off of his ban and started his preparation six months into the year, noting that he “did not do pretty well in the time trial but is back.”

Overall, the Veterans category was won by Raymond

Newton (04:43:43), followed

by Paul Choo Wee Nam (04:45:23) and Junior Niles (04:49:23) in second and third respectively.

Meanwhile in the Junior’s division, Christopher Cornelius (04:43:07), Andrew Hicks (04:43:38) and Raphael Leung (04:44:43) finished in that order.

GOA donates $1.2M to GRFU Pooran banned from WICB ― but union still in dire need of $500,000 to offset expenses

4-day, Super50 tournaments

W

Vice President of the GOA, Noel Adonis presenting the sponsorship cheque to Secretary of the union, Petal Grant Saturday in the presence of the players and President Peter Green (extreme left)

T

he Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) has come to the rescue of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) as they made a donation of $1.2M on Saturday to help offset the expenses of participating in the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Men’s and Women’s regional titles in Trinidad and Tobago from November 12 -13.

The timely gesture was made by GOA Vice-President

Noel Adonis to secretary of the GRFU, Petal Grant, as Adonis wished the male and female team success in their quests to capture their eighth and fourth regional Sevens titles respectively.

President of the GRFU Peter Green was extremely grateful for the donation but worriedly expressed that the GRFU was still in the red by approximately half of a million dollars and called on assistance of the Government to assist the team.

The male ruggers are scheduled to depart on Tuesday while the women’s outfit will leave on Thursday to battle for championship honours at the St Mary’s College Sports Grounds in Port of Spain.

The men’s team are group in pool D alongside Jamaica, Turks & Caicos and Martinque while the females are aligned with Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago.

est Indies wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran will be banned from participating in the upcoming Digicel Four-Day Regional tournament after signing with the Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

As a result the player will also be able to be unable to take part in the Regional Super50 tournament, which will get under way early next year and also impact his chances of eligibility for the West Indies.

Pooran’s woes, as WICB CEO Michael Muirhead explained, stems from not honouring his contract with the Leeward Islands Hurricane for the upcoming tournament, which has related in a suspension from WICB sponsored tournaments.

“Nicholas Pooran has decided not to play for the franchise (Leeward Islands Hurricanes) that he was selected for. All persons who are entering the (WICB Four-Day) draft, sign that they will make themselves available and commit themselves to playing for whoever they are drafted by. If you fail to honour that then there

Nicholas Pooran, made his debut for the senior West Indies team in the T20 Series against Pakistan in September

are consequences. The consequence is actually is that he won’t be able, for a specific period, play for WICB sponsored tournaments,” Muirhead explained.

While admitting that the player’s period of ineligibility did not rule him out of selection for the regional team, Muirhead explained

that he could be put at a disadvantage.

“It does not mean he cannot play in a West Indies team if he is selected but it might lessen his chances of selection by not playing in our tournaments, but it still means that he could be selected if the selectors see it fit to choose him.” (Sportsmax)

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, november 7, 2016

Persaud, Deo are champions of Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic

23

GHB/GTT Indoor Hockey Tournament…

Hikers down GCC to win title

By Delvon McEwan

A

fter two successful days of golf in Guyana’s premier golf challenge, the Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic, at the Lusignan Golf Course it was Avinash Persaud and Joann Deo, who were named champions of the eight edition of the tournament on Sunday.

Persaud reign continues for a third successive year and seventh overall while Deo grabbed her second title after being clinched by Shaunella Webster last year.

The male champion, Surinamese Ridel Doekoe receiving his third-place trophy who is also a ground staff at from Director of Sports, Christopher Jones the course and has efficient Trailing Persaud in second was Munaf knowledge of the venue, finished with a Arjune, who had two good days but fell short gross of 76 on the second day to go with his of dethroning Persaud; Arjune’s gross score 74 gross on day one. On day one he had the was 79 on the second day. best gross while on day two he finished beMeanwhile, in the females categohind Suriname’s Ridel Doekoe, who ended ry where the champion was selected from with a gross of 74 and in third position after their net aggregate, Deo led the way with a competing over the two days. net of 67 on day one and 71 on day two. It was a close finish between her and last year’s champion Shanella Webster (second), who had net scores DIGICEL GUYANA OPEN 2016 of 65 and 73 respectively over the two co-sponsored by Grand Coastal Hotel days. The Guyanese were followed by Myung Ja Kim in a near third after nets of 71 on day one and 77 on day two.

LADIES The two day event was the larg1 Day 1 LD Shanella Webster est on local soil as it attracted 84 2 Day 2 LD Christine Sukhram golfers of which more than 40 came 3 Day 1 NTPJeong Ahyoung from overseas-Suriname, Canada and 4 Day 1 Best Net Shanella Webster United States of America.

5 Day 2 Best Net Joaan Deo Apart from the Guyanese domi6 Day 1 + 2 Best Gross Christine Sukhram nance the Surinamese made an imGENTS pact with finishes in the top three in both the males and females division.

7 Day 1 LD Avinash Persaud Speaking at presentation ceremo8 Day 2 LD Feroze Barakat ny, Chief Executive Officer of Digicel

Day 1 NTP Ravi Ramjit Kevin Kelly, said it was great to see 9 Day 2 NTP Sam Harry the number of participants in this event as it is a pleasure to be associSENIORS 60+ ated with the event since his entity is 10 Day 1 Best Net 1st Brij Bisessar traditionally associated with cultural 11 Day 2 Best Net 1st Philbert London and sporting events, especially for the 12 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 2nd Brij Bisessar youths.

13 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 1st Philbert London Director of Sport Christopher Jones, immediately congratulated 19 - 28 the Club for being in existence for 12 14 Day 1 Best Net 1st Haresh Tiwari years and recognized the infrastruc15 Day 2 Best Net 1st Mahesh Shivraj ture at the club and it has been kept 16 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 2nd Haresh Tiwari in prestige condition, unfortunately 17 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 1st Mahesh Shivraj the same could not be said about the access road to the club but work is 10 - 18 in process so hopefully next year the 18 Day 1 Best Net 1st Mohammerd Shafi road structure would match the qual19 Day 2 Best Net 1st Hilbert Shields ity of the club.

20 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 2nd Hilbert Shields In addition he congratulated the 21 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 1st Moahmmed Shafi winners and sponsors, before stating that it is important to recognize those 0-9 corporate companies that are giving 22 Day 1 Best Net 1st Imran Khan back to the development of Guyana.

23 Day 2 Best Net 1st Munaf Arjune “This is part of what I continue to say 24 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 2nd Munaf Arjune to my administration, that it is impor25 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 1st Imran Khan tant to recognize those corporate companies that are giving back to the de0 - 28 Best Net Overall 26 Day 1 + 2 -Best Net 2nd Mohammed Shafi velopment of Guyana via sport and so forth and as such they must be shown 27 Day 1 + 2 - Best Net 1st Mahesh Shivraj the reciprocity of their investment whether it be through tax waivers, 2016 DIGICEL GUYANA OPEN CHAMPS - LADIES tax exemption, tax holidays, among 28 Day 1 + 2 -Best Net 3rd Myung Ja Kim 29 Day 1 + 2 -Best Net 2nd Shanella Webster others to encourage them to lend support to the development of sport……”, 30 Day 1 + 2 -Best Net 1st Joaan Deo Jones detailed.

Besides prizes for the top three fin2016 DIGICEL GUYANA OPEN CHAMPS - GENTS ishers in the male and female catego31 Day 1 + 2 - Best Gross 3rd Ridel Doekoe ries, there were 27 other prizes which 32 Day 1 + 2 - Best Gross 2nd Munaf Arjune 33 Day 1 + 2 - Best Gross 1st Avinash Persaud included trophies for longest drive, nearest to the pin, best net and best gross.

Vanessa Pires breaks the defence of the Hikers ladies to score her third goal of the night

By Romario Samaroo

T

he Guyana Hockey Board, GTT Indoor Hockey Tournament came to a close at the National Gymnasium on Sunday with Antonio’s Hikers, Pizza Hut GCC, GCC Vintage and Old Fort Supersonics winning the title in their respective disciplines in a night dedicated to finals.

With many celebrations from the crowd, fans were treated to some of the best indoor hockey matches produced on local soil.

In the female category the Pizza Hut ladies handed the Woodpecker Hikers a sound 7-1 thrashing to remain undefeated in yet another tournament. While

Laticia Chung scored for Hikers in the 19th minute (19’), it was all that the girls in green could produce.

Meanwhile, Vanessa Peres scored a hat trick of goals (6’, 28’, and 29’) and two goals from Gabriella Xavier (13’, 36’) were the high point of the dominant girls’ run.

In the veterans’ category, the Bounty GCC men followed the girls to yet another dominant win as they triumphed over Antonio’s Hickers 5-4.

In the first half of the 30 minute game, Hickers would have felt that they were in a commanding position closing it on a smooth 1-3 lead with a goal from Timothy Jonas and two from Devin Munroe. However, two goals each from Philip Fernandes

and Dwayne Scott were enough to sink the Hickers.

In the second division, a questionable operation from the umpires saw a late goal for Old Fort Supersonic proving vital to the downing of GCC Pitbulls. With the scores locked 2-2 at half time, Jael Gaskin’s goal in the penultimate minute of the game was the deciding factor as he worked past the switched goalkeeper, ending the game 4-3 in favour of supersonics.

The organizers were pleased to have a turnout of this magnitude and welcomed the competition the teams produced as they prepare for the Diamond Mineral Water Indoor Hockey Festival later in the month.

monday, november 7, 2016

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Persaud, Deo are champions of Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic

Pg 23

At centre with red jackets are winners of the eighth Digicel Guyana Open Golf Classic: AvinashPersaud and Joann Deo among other prize winners and Digicel representatives

GCF/NSC 3-Stage Cycling…

Pg 22

Agard takes title, Greaves wins final Stage He’s back! Alanzo Greaves takes the final stage by a hair from Hamza Eastman in a dash to the finish line

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