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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 2576

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

PRICE

Amid economic downturn

Govt to remove $60B in funds from commercial banks Page 3

...PSC up in arms, concerned this will sink economy

Govt taking steps to privatise GuySuCo

– PPP warns thousands will be on the breadline

Page 14

GDF drilling exercise in the Park

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Stalled Venezuelan rice shipments...

Millers, RPA want GRDB to compensate for over P8 US$2M losses Hijacked ECD minibus P9 found torched Roopnaraine slams “No Child Left P10 Behind Policy” Youths given community service for $8M armed P11 robbery….

Public outraged at Magistrate’s ruling – former AG deems it “unjust”

Increased stipend for RDC Councillors…

Former Local Govt Minister supports P15 move – urges higher increase for hinterland communities These Guyana Defence Force ranks were part of an intense drilling exercise in the National Park on Tuesday morning

City Constabulary Police arrest women fired for suspect in getting pregnant Montrose murder … “they breached the law” – Senior Constable maintains

Page 17

Page 14

Charged former Ministers…. P17

PPP/C still to decide on their return to parliament Cabinet approves formation of National P17 Commemoration Commission

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wednesday, august 5, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

news

wednesday, august 5, 2015

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, August 5 – 09:00h-10:30h and Thursday, August 6 – 10:00h-011:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, August 5 – 07:55h-09:25 and Thursday, August 6 – 08:45h-10:15h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, with light rain showers giving way to sunny weather in the late afternoon. Clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly between 2.68 metre and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:05h and 20:29h reaching maximum heights of 2.65 metres and 2.60 metres respectively.

Amid economic downturn

Govt to remove $60B in funds from commercial banks

...PSC up in arms, concerned this will sink economy

T

he Private Sector Commission (PSC) has warned the David Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government against its stated intention to withdraw some $60 billion of state funds from commercial banks across the country, which was deposited by the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

The warning came on the

vestments,” the PSC said in its release.

The organisation reported that the business community is concerned about the persistent “bottle necks” when conducting business with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), pointing out that the Revenue Authority needed to expand its taxpayers’ base and “focus on the individuals who have been evading taxes for too long”. To this end, it said the Finance Minister

Low Tide: 01:37h and 14:01h reaching minimum heights of 0.53 metre and 0.62 metre respectively.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

PSC Chairman Norman Mc Lean

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heels of a meeting held between the PSC and members of the business community, where discussions were held on the evident downturn in business.

The discussion, the PSC said, dealt with matters ranging from employee retrenchment to the sudden increase in crime, spending on Government projects and matters related to how the clearing of goods and the processing of investment agreements are affecting the business community.

“Business representatives mentioned that they have noticed a drop in consumer spending and expectations. Projects are being delayed / suspended due to the cessation of payments on some projects. Foreign and local business partners have put a hold on some in-

Winston Jordan was written to and meetings were held with the top brass of the GRA and the PSC. “The PSC is concerned that the current situation can lead to a high level of non-performing loans and is extremely concerned about the intended removal of over $60 billion in Government funds that are deposited at the commercial banks.”

It said a decline in consumer expectations and spending can create a drop in sales and profits. According to the PSC, the situation would force businesses to freeze on hiring and inevitably the retrenchment of employees.

Some businesses have already started laying-off.

Meanwhile, the PSC said while it commended the actions taken by Government and the Guyana Police Force

in making some arrests and the taking of action on some recent crimes, it believed that more should be done to prevent and detect crimes and restore confidence in law enforcement.

“There has been a call for stronger Police presence in and around the city; businesses are concerned about their employees and customers being robbed in the streets and at their homes,” the PSC said.

It said while the economy has taken a downturn since last year, the current Administration has an opportunity to restore confidence, by releasing a budget

that would stimulate spending. This recommendation was already communicated to Government through the Finance Minister.

“We are of the opinion that this will cause businesses to re-invest in projects, which may allow commercial banks to increase their loan portfolio; thus injecting needed funds into the economy.

Additionally, the Government needs to ensure the efficiency of GRA and to restart spending through issuance on contracts,” the PSC said.

The removal of funds from the commercial banks could derail any economic revival.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, august 4, 2015

Views Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Nagamootoo’s “Fat Cats”

W

hile in opposition, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change as separate political organisms berated and heavily criticized successive Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) Governments over their alleged mismanagement of public funds and waste in office.

These parties made a vow to never engage in high-handedness while in public office and to put the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people first.

They pledged that should they get into office they would never secure drawbacks, perks, super salaries and other benefits at the expense of the public purse. Their government would be “lean”.

As a matter of fact, it was Attorney-at-Law and now Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who best demonstrated the then opposition’s condemnation for corruption and those desirous of leading a “Cadillac lifestyle in a donkey-cart economy” with the use of public funds.

So great was his scorn for “squander-mania” and concern for the poor and ordinary citizens that back in 2012 while supporting a motion to axe portions of the National Budget, Nagamootoo introduced the term “fat cats” in the National Assembly which he used to describe those public employees, contract workers and political appointees benefiting from super salaries that were “bleeding” the treasury.

Nagamootoo even told media in July of that year that the “office of the President was running a Dharam Shala for friends and cronies” expressing shock at the salaries that advisors and other Government officials were taking home when compared to the ordinary man and the pittances that they were offered as increases.

He is quoted as informing the tenth parliament that “We will use the scissors and not the sledgehammer. We will prune excesses and extravagance, and we will avoid waste on projects that we cannot undertake at this time. How well all of us do this, will test whether we are nationalists or just petty hustlers, unmindful of the needs of our people, and unresponsive to them”.

Now in Government, Prime Minister Nagamootoo appears comfortable with the fact that the David Granger administration has decided to consider granting Ministers, political Advisors, and Parliamentarians massive salary increases even though it has belaboured the point that the economy has slowed down and things are on the off-side.

Reports are that the increases for Ministers dwarf the pittances received by hard working public servants and so many Guyanese who are still living on and below the minimum wage.

Whether the planned increases are 20 per cent, 50 per cent or 100 per cent are not of import as the fact remains that they are unnecessary given the number of benefits that Ministers, Advisors and Members of Parliament already enjoy at the expenses of the state.

The argument put forward by President David Granger and his Finance Minister Winston Jordan, as reported in the press, is also worthy of condemnation. Paying this level of workers will not eliminate the temptation to put their hand in the cookie jar or engage in covert corrupt activity politically or otherwise.

Surely, these gentlemen know that Guyanese will not accept the rationale either that the planned increases were intended to distinguish various levels of power, ranking and responsibility within the cabinet and new Government.

The news of the planned increases was also untimely as there is no evidence anywhere within the State apparatus to prove that a proper evaluation was done to determine who and what should be doled out and on what basis.

It is also shameful that the Government has only been in power for three months and already there are discussions taking place on Cabinet members benefits and emoluments when the public has not been told exactly what it is getting from its monies in the form of salary increases, new development projects, stimulus incentives, tax reforms and other fiscal benefits aimed at lifting its standard of living.

One would have expected that Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who is a self-professed Jaganite that believes in conservatism, would have opposed such a discussion strongly and would have drawn the line regardless of the rationale displaying the same scorn he had back in 2012 for the creation of “fat cats” who were in his words could become “playful, prime and plump”.

If he did not then, as the man supposedly responsible for domestic affairs, time is still on his side.

Given the shocking reports that the new Government was attempting to buy a series of luxury vehicles, the multi-million dollar repairs to his home and that of the President to make comfortable and liveable to their standards, the dishing out of jobs to politically loyal and subservient PNC and AFC relics, and the ongoing decaying domestic and international bill of health of the economy, the PM and President Granger must act now.

After all fattening the political cat is merely the beginning and while it will prove costly, one has not even contemplated the damage sustaining its ‘milk stock’ will cost.

The Government has to do the morally correct thing and halt any or all increases planned regardless of the magnitude. Integrity demands it!

In a cathedral of the sea: Riviera Maya, Mexico (Terry Steeley/www.tpoty.com)

Open Letter to His Excellency, President David Granger Dear Mr President, There is no doubt that our nation is riding on rough waters as we face daily doses of a sad reality, where sugar, gold, and rice are all in financial difficulties. Most of this coincides with the advent of the new Government, although you would have us believe that it’s the fault of the previous Government.

The vast majority of people would ask that you and your Government stop playing the blame game and get

on the solution track. Once you do, you’d be surprised by the support that will be given to you by all Guyanese, including members of the previous Government. No one wants Guyana to fail, to see our brothers and sisters alongside us on the breadline, to watch our nation’s leaders walk with that begging bowl again.

All Guyanese stand ready to do their bit to get us through this rough patch, regardless of party affilia-

tion. All sectors of our economy are willing to work in harmony and we the people are ready, willing and able, but all we ask for is honesty and transparency in your dealings; no more finger pointing, secret trips, and victimisation. If the forensic audits prove fraud, prosecute but do not persecute in the absence of evidence.

We the people would like to see more attention being paid to the economy and crime, these two issues must

be placed on the front burner.

Mr President, I humbly implore that you and your Government be honest with us about the challenges facing the nation and we will stand shoulder to shoulder with you. The country belongs to all of us, if one falls, all fall.

Respectfully, Robin Singh Administrator Youth Movement Guyana

Who among us will champion Indian rights as Dr Hinds champions Afro Guyanese rights?

Dear Editor, Mr Ralph Ramkarran’s Conversation Tree is most generous to Emancipation festivities by its entire column of African historical tribute. Damus, Petimusque, Vicissim which means “we give and take in return” was British Guiana’s motto before it became independent in 1966. What is tangibly expected in return for reciprocal generosity now that we aspire to “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”?

Should Guyanese be grateful, indeed rejoice, when they are put in a “sawnay” (mix up) political mix? Good taste, relevance, context and appropriateness cannot be sacrificed at will for political expediency, ego satisfaction or fashion. One wonders regardless of the contemplation which nurtures such aberrations, what could indeed be motivating today’s corralling cowboys’ lassos. Please, can anyone spare us any

change?

Even good intentions can cause people to become fedup. One criticism levelled against both Jagans was that they slavishly applied Soviet Union style socialism to Guyana without regard to American dominant geopolitics, religion and race. If their intentions were noble, their misapplications did them no favours. The aftermath of slavery, emancipation and race continues to anchor us without let up. Repeatedly it becomes another occasion for revelry and race disunity. Will the faithful continue to follow where they are led?

Most people would prefer to decide what is good or better for themselves in a democracy.

What matters is not who leads but where are we going. So who among the pack will champion Indian rights like Dr David Hinds never fails to champion African rights? On the observance

of the 177th anniversary of the formal abolition of slavery, Dr Hinds’ letter in the Kaieteur News on August 1, asserts that “The African Guyanese community is in a worse state than it was in 1838” and claims Africans have been “Stripped of their organisations, knowledge of, and pride in their history and of their economic base, (and most significantly, their) “community is in a worse state than it was in 1838”! Dr Hinds actually believes that after 177 years of emancipation, Afro Guyanese have made no progress whatsoever and now are worse off since 1838 when slavery was abolished.

Conceivably, the 1964-1992 Afro Guyanese dominated People’s National Congress (PNC) Government achieved nothing for Afro Guyanese.

Yet, Dr Hinds demands priority of “equality” for the African condition to be achieved by another Afro

Guyanese PNC-led coalition all over again like no other Guyanese matters.

Without missing a stride, Dr Hinds bravely tells Afro Guyanese: “We urge that as we celebrate we should not ignore the uncomfortable truth about the state of the African Guyanese community.” Dr Hinds can be commended for his fearless courage to publicly proclaim that “African Guyanese must also participate in the restoration of their equal standing in Guyana. We again urge African Guyanese (to) begin to plan as a collective to lift itself”, he stated.

Words follow actions and on August 9, the collective is intent “to raise anew the quest for ethnic equality (sic) in Guyana”. The question is, who will “equality” be obtained from and who among us will champion the Indian right to survival in Guyana as boldly as Dr Hinds? continue on page 5

News

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tuesday, august 4, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

The role of the media is to alert and inform the public Dear Editor, Anyone who dares to affirm that this country doesn’t have an ethnically divided electorate is venturing on dangerous ground. No different is the person who attempts to defend that all sections of the Guyanese media are impartial to political bias. That is like trying to convince us that Kanaima DOES exist.

The last few months have seen a rise in allegations against Guyana Times newspaper for publishing libellous material concerning Government members and policies. Some of these allegations have captured my attention, as they seemed to be accusatory without providing the clarifications one would expect.

As a concerned Amerindian woman, some of these issues affect me in particular. The first allegation of libel I am intrigued about is the one pertaining to Junior Minister Simona Broomes allegedly mining in the community of Tasserene in Region Seven, known to those in the business as a prime mining spot. Minister Broomes was quick to respond to the article which claimed that she possesses three mining blocks on Tasserene lands. Minister Broomes’ reaction and refutation of the matter was rather surprising as she is known to have been actively involved in mining in Region Seven, even in Karrau, as the previous Village Council might willingly attest to.

However, the point is, Minister Broomes while she threatened legal action, has failed to provide facts which counteracted the ones submitted by the newspaper, that she is mining in Tasserene. Although she claimed that these blocks were no longer in her possession, transferring these to other companies entails that she would obtain some sort of benefit from those that would now be mining the blocks, such as tributes.

Also, transferring those blocks would also mean that they would remain valid properties, and as such, would continue to encroach on land being considered for titling.

Minister Broomes subsequently, while she accused the newspaper of publishing libel, has failed to clear her name of the issue at hand, and has only confirmed that she is implicated in complicating the land titling process for Tasserene.

The other matter which drew my attention, concerns the article on the alleged pay hike for Ministers and Vice Presidents published a few days ago in the Guyana Times. While Prime Minister Nagamootoo firmly denied that he would be

getting a 100 per cent salary increase, he failed miserably to confirm to what extent his salary and other entitlements would be raised. The issue with accusing the media of publishing false information, is being unable to provide the necessary clarifications to strengthen one’s argument. Finance Minister Winston Jordan did confirm that there would be an increase in salaries; however, none from the Government seem willing to advise the Guyanese public on the matter, while other changes that are not so positive have started to affect our social well-being.

This incapacity in providing much needed clarifications also extends to the case of the SWAT team where Guyana Times was again accused of publishing “false articles as their lead stories on the front page of the newspaper” by the Chronicle newspaper on August 4. However, no one confirmed that the SWAT team was indeed left unarmed, and as such vulnerable, despite the violent threats members and their families are exposed to.

The said article in the Chronicle pointed out that Guyana Times had been accused of carrying news which gave the impression that the Government has been doing little to address the crime and security in Guyana and which fits into the agenda of the Opposition. I, as a vulnerable Guyanese woman, now ask the Government, what have you done so far to ensure that I am safe from crime in Guyana?

What have you done to prevent the death of 75-year-old Carmen Ganesh who was tortured in broad daylight?

What have you done to prevent Ganesh Ramlall’s murder, whose murder gang was able to escape all the way to the East Coast of Demerara without being stopped on the Demerara Harbour Bridge?

Weren’t it for a “concerned citizen” tipping the Police the murderers would have most likely been running around conducting business as usual. What are you doing to prevent little old ladies like Ryhaan Shah being robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight?

Minister Ramjattan, where are the numbers that prove that the 2am curfew you have implemented has actually decreased crime in this country? And if you, the Government and Government controlled media accuse the others of lying, then where is the proof to defend yourselves? Must us citizens start adding the numbers of rapes, murders, assaults and robberies on a daily basis to determine whether the media is lying?

While you dodge questions, you cannot forge another reality than that which exists, one of crimes committed against specific segments of the population and a stagnating economy. And while you make an authoritarian attempt at muzzling the media, know that the first role of the media is to alert and inform the public.

Sincerely, Stacy Cheong

Who among us will...

With regards to armed forces, is Mr Ramkarran being very kind, up in Conversation Tree? If he is being more accommodating for a potential trade-off, he should be encouraged. After publicly championing the US policy of equal rights for gays in Guyana, maybe he will soon be demanding that Guyana’s armed forces and civil service becomes racially and ethnically balanced since they are all funded

by Guyanese taxpayers. Mr Ramkarran’s earnest active endorsement, like so many others, is long overdue. Hopefully he is not like Caesar who believes “what touches us most will be last served.”

There is no ambiguity as from whom Dr Hinds makes demands on behalf of Afro Guyanese. To insist that “Cuffy 250 calls for a determined commitment, in word and deed, by Government to make good on those promises; a commitment that must go beyond festivities” puts pressure on the Afro dominated PNC-led coalition Government to fix their problems as a priority. Sugar and rice will not to be treated as nice as porkknockers seeking gold. Has Dr Hinds made his agenda any clearer? Given that relationships of today are not as redeeming as long ago, what matters is how the entire body politic is impacted to ensure it does not collapse while the competing groups manoeuvre.

As much as Mr Ramkarran should be commended for being kind to his fellow Guyanese, he hopefully hasn’t forgotten his political and cultural origins. Dr Walter Rodney

was Guyana’s best paragon of virtue who celebrated his ethnic heritage, Pan Africanist links and was a diehard class subsuming race socialist which impacted his worldwide appeal. Emancipation was also enhanced by similar grand examples like the Afro American civil rights leader William Edward Burghardt Du Bois who was a well-known champion of the rights of subjugated peoples around the world. His intense interests in the anti-colonial struggles of oppressed Indians were fraternal and historic in its novelty. Mr Dubois didn’t sacrifice Afro American security interests despite his multiracial relationships.

He was even close friends with an Indian leader of significant international struggles, Mr Lala Lajpat Rai who was a reformist Hindu and devout Arya Samaj militant leader.

Isn’t Mr Ramkarran also from Arya Samaj origins or has he abandoned it? The Arya Samajist leader had himself shown keen concern about the Afro American peoples’ plight during his US exile just like Mr Ramkarran’s entire extended family exemplifies.

In November 1928, Rai was beaten to death by British colonial Police while leading a boycott demonstration against colonial rule in Lahore. Despite an Indian legislative committee inquiry in February 1929, it was ineffective.

In a letter to The Editor of “The People” published in Lahore, Mr Dubois wrote: My dear sir, It was my good fortune to know Lala Lajpat Rai while he was in exile in

from page 4

the United States during the great war. He was at my home and in my office and we were members of the same club. I especially admired his restraint and sweet temper. When a man of his sort can be called a revolutionist and beaten to death by a great civilised (British) Government, then revolution becomes a duty to all right thinking men. As a matter of fact, the people of India, like the American Negroes, are demanding today, things, not in the least revolutionary, but things which every civilised white man had so long taken for granted, that he wishes to refuse to believe that there are people who are denied these rights.

I hope that the memory of Lala Lajpat Rai will be kept green in India and out of the blood of his martyrdom, very soon, a free coloured nation will soon arise”.

In Guyana, Indians and African share the same geographical space. Are Mr Dubois and Mr Rai’s hopes for their respective peoples more difficult to find accommodation here? While some may be proud of their interpersonal mixing what should matter more is what’s best for the well-being, security and survival of the huge mass of uneducated who cannot eloquently voice themselves. Dr Hinds will persist in his discourse on the basis of race, to which he is most welcome in a democracy. But he should realise that is not entitled to automatically lock out anyone from the same democratic and equals rights to pursue their own path to survival.

Sincerely, Sultan Mohamed

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wednesday, august 5, 2015

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BY ANDRA WILSON

I

t’s important for children to stay physically active year-round, but during the summer months without school Physical Education (PE), and after school sports, there may be more time for sedentary activities like

watching television, computer games, and video games.

Here are some recommendations for the amount of physical activity children should accumulate each day to reap health and behavioural benefits.

• Toddlers (ages one to three) minimum of 30 minutes of structured physical activity daily • Preschoolers (ages three to five) at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity daily • Elementary school-aged children should accumulate 60 minutes of

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation developmental and ageappropriate physical activity each day Young people (ages six to 19) engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on most, preferably all, days. Adults need two and

a half hours per week of physical activity

4 summertime activity tips:

1. Change “Go play outside” to “let’s play outside”. Play with your children. Sounds simple, but parents need to find time to do this over the summer as often as possible. While telling your children to go outside and play is well intended, going with them and engaging in games will bring the family together.

This way, the whole family gets a few more minutes of physical activity and quality time together.

2. Be creative! Create a

family sports/activity “summer-league”. Pick a few favourite sport or active games that your family likes to play together. Create a team name, practice schedule, game schedule, and goals for physical activity minutes.

Play for fun, track your progress, and at the end of the “season” celebrate your family’s physical activity progress with a fun family outing.

3.

Limit screen time as a family. Two hours or less a day. Help children find the fun in other activities at home.

Parents need to unplug and limit screen and phone time as well. It goes a long way to be able switch “because I said so” to “because we do so”. Model this and children will follow your lead.

4. Offer variety. Plan a variety of dates with friends, picnics, and summer camps for your children. Meet at the beach or a park on a regular basis with friends, and choose a variety of camps, classes, or leagues offered over the summer. Choose programs or locations that offer children a variety of physical activities with plenty of space and opportunities to run and explore. (www.sbfitkidz.com)

BY JANET RALOFF

I

t’s unhealthy to be a couch potato. Yet, a new study finds, at least 70 per cent of 12- to 15-year-olds spend too much time in front of a TV or computer.

Kirsten Herrick works for the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, in Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. She and other CDC scientists analysed data collected in 2012 as part of two major surveys.

One was the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The other was the National Youth Fitness Survey. Each survey asked a representative cross-section of all Americans to answer a series of questions.

Almost every child in the United States regularly watches TV, the data show.

More than 90 per cent spend at least some time each day on a computer. Enjoying each is fine, the researchers say.

The trick is not to overindulge.

And that would be watching TV and/or playing on a computer for more than two hours a day.

Two groups established that recommended screentime limit. One is the American

Academy of Paediatrics (doctors who specialise in the health of children and teens).

The second is the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Its researchers focus on heart health. Both groups are concerned about children who substitute athletic sports and other vigorous exercise

So how are American children doing? Roughly 65 per cent of the surveyed adolescents report watching no more than two hours of TV daily; 75 per cent similarly average no more time than that in recreational computer use. However, most of these children didn’t just watch TV or

for couch potato pursuits. Too much time in front of a TV or computer screen has been linked in adolescence with being overweight (or obese), having high blood pressure and having elevated cholesterol.

Each of these features put individuals at risk of heart disease.

just play with computers. They did both.

So the researchers tallied their screen time from both sources. Now, three quarters (fully 75 per cent) of the boys exceeded the recommended daily limit. Girls did a bit better.

Only 71 per cent of them exceeded the screen-time limit. Especially troubling: The share of adolescents who are overweight increased as the average time spent pursuing these couch-potato activities rose.

Herrick’s team published its findings in a July report issued

by CDC’s National Centre for Health Statistics.

Children who spend too much time on such sedentary activities can begin to pack on the pounds. And all too many don’t recognise when their weight slides into an unhealthy range.

That’s something documented in a second CDC study, also published this month. Among overweight eight- to 15-year olds, it found that almost 81 per cent of boys and 71 of girls believe they are at a healthy weight.

Nearly half of obese boys in this age group and more than one-in-three obese girls had a similarly distorted view of their weight.

But if teens need yet another incentive to spend a little less time in front of computers and other indoor screens, consider this: Doctors are linking changes in the shape of the eyeball to too much time indoors (such as working at a computer). That can lead to near-sightedness and a host of other health problems. (student.societyforscience.org)

news

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wednesday, august 5, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

GAWU cooperating Millers, RPA want GRDB to with GuySuCo CoI compensate for over US$2M losses Stalled Venezuelan rice shipments

GAWU’s President Komal Chand

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) said it has honoured its obligation and has made itself available to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

GAWU’s President Komal Chand told Guyana Times on Tuesday that the sugar workers’ representative on Monday presented its 18-page memorandum to the 11-member Commission which is headed by Vibert Parvatan.

Chand said GAWU, along with sister organisations the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), was at the private proceeding. The organisations will, however, make their presentations at a later date.

While he could not go into detail about his presentation, Chand said it covered a broad spectrum of areas including what required special attention and focus in the fields and factories, the need for efficient and accountable management of personnel, climate change and its effects on production, ways through which the industry could return to sustainable standards, the need for an expanded market and benefits of value added sugar.

GAWU has been at the forefront of the sugar sector , fighting for the rights of the industry and the thousands of workers who benefit.

The first round of the Inquiry set up by Government to probe the operations of GuySuCo was completed late last month, with several experts testi-

fying and members of the Commission visiting the Uitvulgt Factory, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

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

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

Investigations will also be conducted into the human resources department, research and development, diversification of the industry, community obligations, weather events, marketing, financing, procurement and overall factory management and performance.

The consultants will work closely with the interim management team and other GuySuCo officials to realise the objective. They will also liaise with cane farmers as required. The CoI is expected to complete its work by September 30.

Commission Chairman Parvatan had told Guyana Times that among those who testified and made recommendation on the way forward for the crumbling industry were former Factory Manager Sydney Robinson, former GuySuCo Chairman Vickram Oditt, former Houston/Versailles Estates shareholder and Manager Anthony Vieira, former GuySuCo Human Resources Director Earl John, and GuySuCo Agriculture

Services General Manager Raymond Sangster.

Commissioners have also met with staff members of various levels.

Those responsible for field and factory operations and human resources held meetings with General Managers, departmental managers and several workers as they examined the preparatory work for the next crop in this, the out-of-crop season. Teams will be revisiting the estates at various periods to follow up.

Other interested parties have been invited by the Commission to participate in the investigation. Persons who have signalled their intention to make submissions include former GuySuCo General Manager Vishnu Panday, former Factory Manager and Chief Electrical Engineer Lance Tyrell, and former employee George Alleyne.

The Commission, during its investigation, will develop a 15-year plan which will be aimed at bringing the sugar industry back to profitability. The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) maintains that GuySuCo has been “sinking further into debt due to ineffective operations both at the financial and production levels”- at the hands of the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

Some 300 containers of rice destined for Venezuela which were left at the wharf are still there

N

ow that the millers have to feel the brunt of having to take back the rice and paddy which were destined for Venezuela, the Millers Association and the Rice Producers Association (RPA) are calling on the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to play a greater role during this crisis and assist in some way to compensate the estimated US$2 million the millers stand to lose.

Some 300 containers of rice destined for Venezuela which were left at the wharf are still there and the GRDB, which is supposed to take full responsibility of these shipments, has instructed the millers to remove them.

This move has been widely criticised by the RPA and the Millers Association which contend that the rice now belongs to the GRDB so the responsibility lies with the Board to assist with the

removal of these containers.

President of the Millers Association, Dr Peter De Groot asserted that it was unreasonable that the millers now have to stand the expense of having to remove the rice.

“They have to make arrangements now to remove the rice, destuff containers, stop the rice from spoiling and find new markets.

This will be costly for them,” he said, indicating that the GRDB should take some responsibility.

RPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj also argued that it was not fair that the GRDB took custody of the rice, but now, simply because the Venezuelan market was no longer available, was demanding that the millers incur the necessary expenses to rectify the situation.

“In the mind of the RPA this is not fair and it is also a strange action by the Rice Board, because, over the

years, the Rice Board has always been at the forefront in terms of promoting the interest of the industry,” he said.

Seeraj noted that the RPA will dispatch a letter to the GRDB today concerning this situation.

Meanwhile, in addition to bearing the expense regarding the removal and repackaging of rice and paddy shipments, De Groot and Seeraj pointed out, millers will also lose out owing to the prices being offered by alternative markets.

“These are high-quality rice and it was going to high-quality market in Venezuela and they were offering a high price so millers have already invested a certain amount into this shipment and were expecting to make a certain amount in return. Now that this highquality rice will have to go to another market with a lower price, the millers will lose out,” Seeraj explained.

8 NEWS

wednesday, august 5, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Le Repentir Cemetery Eyew tness decays further – M&CC awaiting funds from Govt to execute duties

I

n light of the tumultuous complaints by citizens about the upkeep of Le Repentir Cemetery, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has declared that works will begin at the burial site as soon as funds are released from Government to the City Council to do so.

In a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Mayor Hamilton Green stated that his office is expecting a release from this year’s budget which will include “a sum” for the restoration of Georgetown.

“I have been given the assurance at the highest level of this. Already we have received proposals for works at the cemetery which we are reviewing and going through other procedures such as plans to establish a permanent Tender Board and so on.

We are awaiting the budget to be passed,” said the Mayor.

He told this newspaper that he is receiving full cooperation from the Government as it relates to the functions of the City Council.

“The change is unbelievable. We still have to make some changes though… There are some

Government’s role...

R

The Le Repentir Cemetery

persons who are still not in sync with the change (in Government). But we are getting cooperation from Government,” he emphasised.

Green assured that once funding is received, his Council will commence works at the Le Repentir Cemetery as well as other locations throughout the capital city, as the M&CC has already set out plans to ensure a restoration project for Georgetown.

“The Cemetery (Le Repentir) is only a part of it. It is something bigger that will see the entire city being restored. So is-

sues will be addressed very soon,” he said.

Quite recently, families who have laid to rest loved ones and friends at the Le Repentir Cemetery raised concerns about the upkeep of the burial site, as grass, shrubs and bushes continue to block access to the tombs there.

When Guyana Times visited the cemetery last week, it was evident that a number of tombs were already overgrown with and towered over by large shrubs and bushes; they are obscured by overgrown vegetation. Garbage was also seen at various sec-

tions of the burial ground.

In recent years, the poor condition and maintenance of the cemetery had citizens in an uproar, especially when persons experienced difficulties locating tombs for repainting or paying their respects.

Residents living in nearby communities were also upset when the area was used as a dumping site for garbage, citing health hazards and the stench that emanated before the introduction of the Haags/ Bosch site in Eccles, East Bank Demerara.

Almost one year ago, the city of Georgetown underwent a massive cleanup campaign which was spearheaded by the then People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government as part of its initiative to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.

The Le Repentir Cemetery, which was in dire need of restoration, was allocated $100 million and works on Blocks One, Three, Four and Five of the cemetery commenced under the PPP/C Government’s $1 billion “Clean-Up My Country” Programme.

In August 2011, former President Bharrat Jagdeo, had intervened and offered a financial bailout to the M&CC to relieve the Council of its (then) ongoing financial woes, and to enable the municipality to meet outstanding liabilities, including wages owed to staff and amounts due to garbage collectors for several months.

The PPP/C Administration had injected $120 million into the municipality to help meet its outstanding liabilities and to accelerate its efforts to keep the city clean.

A sum of $15 million was also provided for the purposes of cleaning up the Le Repentir Cemetery.

...in markets

onald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher launched the US and Britain into a new world order of “market fundamentalism” back in 1980. The rest of the world (most of it anyways) had to follow suit.

Things were all hunky dory for a while as the Masters of the Universe on Wall Street (US) and the City (UK) used the algorithms of the Quants to create a parallel universe in which the laws of economics were all turned upside down. And 90% of the wealth ended up in the hands of the 1%!

But while the Masters of the Universe might’ve been able to titivate with the laws of economics, there was nothing they could do about the laws of gravity: whatever goes up must come down! And down is where the market came crashing back in 2008...to leave it in worse state than Humpty Dumpty found himself after he fell off that wall. And all the Kings’ horses and all the Kings’ men have been trying to get the marketdriven economies in the west back together again.

And lo and behold! Their big powers-that-be had to concede there ain’t no thing as a “free market”. Market fundamentalism was dead and governments had to intervene massively to save businesses now defined as “too big to fail” (TBTF). Most of these TBTF, of course, were in the financial sector run by the Masters of the Universe but there were a few car makers and such like, thrown a life raft or two.

Now, we know that took a while and you, dear readers are wondering as to what’s it all about! Well, it was to place our new Minister of Agriculture’s announcement that “rice is a private industry” and it’s not the government’s job to find markets for it!!

Listening to the fella you’d think we’re back in 1980.

And Reagan and Maggie’s hairdo are still in style!

But listen to Holder some more, and you realize that it’s not that he’s an economic Neanderthal, but he’s just practicing his government’s “different strokes for different folks”. Cause if their philosophy is to let the market alone allocate resources and Governments can’t intervene in literally finding markets for a privately produced product, how come it’s not allowing the price of gasoline to fall in step with the fall in world oil prices?

Lest you missed that tidbit, GuyOil was told to keep prices high for customers at the pump just to allow GPL to get the benefits of the cheap oil!

The ordinary citizen, like rice farmers, is never “too big to fail.”

...in TIP

It’s tough being the only superpower left standing.

In a world of shark and sardines you’re forced to be the world’s policeman. And of course it’s such a thankless job as you go about saving the countries from their own weaknesses and excesses. This had been the fate of the U.S. after the Berlin Wall fell. It had to douse all sorts of fires here, there and everywhere.

And it wasn’t just old fashioned wars where you try to devise new ways to kill the other side with as least damage to yourself - like dropping bombs from, say, five miles up. We’ve had wars against HIV, wars against drugs, to name just two...and now we’ve got the “war against TIP”. No... The U.S. doesn’t have anything against informers - “TIP” stands for “Trafficking in Persons”. Bad thing.

But horror of horrors, we were just told (by Reuters, not by Rohee) that the U.S. cooked the numbers to make six countries look good.

Could they’ve done the same to make Guyana look bad??

Nooooo!

...on Gold

We also notice that the market fundamentalist government buys all gold produced (well all that’s declared) and sells it on the world market.

Even to getting burnt because it went long on call options!

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

news

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wednesday, august 5, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Hijacked ECD mini-bus Security Ministry to host Cyber Security workshop found torched

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B

us driver Balram Singh is even more devastated after he discovered that his Route 44 minibus, which was hijacked on Sunday night, was torched and left abandoned at the back of Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Singh of Lot 67 Foulis, ECD, was on his way home after dropping off a friend at Kitty, Georgetown, when he was confronted by the perpetrators in the vicinity of Coldigen, ECD. The two men were on a motorcycle and relieved him of $20,000 cash after which they made off with his RZ minibus bearing registration number BMM 31. The incident occurred around 23:15h.

On Monday around 18:30h, Singh received a call from the Police about an abandoned minibus. “Last night the Police called me about an abandoned bus at the back of Agriculture Road (Triumph, ECD)…I went to the scene and confirm that it was my bus,” he related to the Guyana Times.

According to the man, when he got to the scene, he noticed smoke emanating from the vehicle, but could not examine the extent of the damage since it was dark. He returned the following morning to discover that the bus was completely torched into “scrap metal”.

Singh further stated that apart from locating the bus, the Police have not informed him of any other leads in the case as it relates to the identity of the perpetrators.

Asked whether he could identify the perpetrators, he responded in the negative explaining that the ordeal only lasted for about two minutes and the area was dark. Singh reiterated his devastation as he noted that for the past six years, the vehicle has been his main source of income to support his family.

Singh had previously informed this newspaper that he left home and went to Kitty and on his way back, he saw a light of a vehicle in the rearview mirror.

He noted that he continued to drive but in the vicinity of Coldigen, the motorcycle from which the light was shining overtook him and turned left into his path forcing him to stop.

The pillion rider, he added, came off the motorcycle and walked towards him as he sat in the driver’s seat. The bandit pulled out a knife, placed it to Singh’s neck and demanded that he hand over the money.

“I tell he that the money was in my pocket and that I had to get out of the bus so that he can get the money… I come out, take out the $20,000 and give he it,” Singh stated.

Not too pleased, the man accused him of hiding money in the minibus and conducted a search. “They tell me that if it nah got money in the bus, they will drive away with it and kill me,” he

The torched minibus

added.

He noted that as they were searching the bus for more money, he ran in the opposite direction and hid in a clump of bushes. One bandit reportedly jumped onto the motorcycle and the other into the driver’s seat of the minibus and they drove

away.

Singh explained that he walked from Coldigen to Vigilance Police Station where he made a report. The police and he made several checks along the East Coast Road and in some villages, but there were no signs of the minibus.

he Public Security Ministry will be collaborating with a delegation from the InterAmerican Committee Against Terrorism of the Organisation of the American States (OAS/ CICTE) to host a two-day National Cyber Security Sensitisation Workshop.

The Workshop will commence on August 12 and will be held at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.

According to the Ministry, the aim of this seminar is to bring together national stakeholders from the Public and Private Sectors, as well as civil society to raise awareness on the need to address cyber security threats in a comprehensive and strategic partnership.

One of the outcomes Government is hoping to achieve from this collaborative workshop is the formation of a national task force that will systematically address the country’s cyber security needs, including its integration within a national information and communications technology (ICT) policy framework and a security policy.

With plans to expand the use of ICT in schools across the nation, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan noted that protecting children online is a key priority of the Government of Guyana as it seeks to support the business sector and private citizens to expand their technology choices, while minimising risk in the uptake of new and innovative technologies.

“With organised crime also now using advanced technologies, the Government of Guyana is taking steps to enhance its ability to prosecute high-tech criminals. With the potential also for developing an oil and gas industry and modernising existing industries, developing capacity for cyber security and cyber resilience is of critical importance,” the Minister added.

During the workshop, there will be two experts from OAS/CICTE, who will facilitate an exploration of other country’s experiences with developing a National Policy Framework for managing cyber threats and cyber crime.

Sister Caribbean states that have developed com-

prehensive National Cyber Security Strategic Plans with enabling legislation and institutional support include Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. While different local Ministries and Government agencies as well as members of the Private Sector are taking individual steps to cope with the reality of vulnerabilities and threats to the global ICT Infrastructure, in order to systematically and effectively cover all dimensions of cyber security it is essential that a strategic Private Public Partnership be forged to unify and integrate effort. Through the Public Security Ministry, the Government has begun the process of establishing this partnership.

As part of the workshop, the Guyana National Computer Incident Response Team, a unit within the Public Security Ministry will also be launched and a day of specialised technical training in information security and incident management fundamentals will be held for a select group of ICT professionals representing the Public and Private Sectors.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, august 5, 2015

News

Roopnaraine slams “No Child Left Behind Policy”

By Alexis Rodney

T

he No Child Left Behind Policy implemented under the stewardship of former Education Minister Priya Manickchand was a total “disaster”, current subject Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine has said, noting that there was no way the current administration would be bringing the policy back on stream.

The strategy, also known as the “Grade Repetition/ Retention and Automatic Promotion” policy, was initiated and later scrapped by the former Minister, who said that widespread consultation had proven the programme unpopular among critical stakeholders.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Monday, the current Education Minister said that while the policy seemed to have been very attractive, and seemed to have been taking children forward, “We have to take children forward based on some standard.”

“The policy was a total disaster, because I believe that it allowed for a collapse in the standards in the schools and I would like chil-

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

dren to reach a certain standard in moving on to a higher level,” Roopnaraine said in an exclusive interview.

He said he was not satisfied with that particular policy, since it has not been able to establish and maintain appropriate standards that are conducive to effective learning and performance.

The new strategy implemented by the former Minister, in lieu of the automatic promotion policy, had specified that if a student scored below the overall pass mark set by the school

in more than half of the subjects the student was taking, then that student would be asked to repeat the grade.

Further, if a student achieved less than the overall pass mark set by the school and the reason for the underachievement was either Mathematics or English Language, the student would also be asked to repeat the grade. It was noted too, that if a student passed all the subjects except Mathematics and English, they would also be asked to repeat the grade, since the two subjects are critical.

“If you go forward and write seven CXCs and you got distinctions in seven, but you didn’t get Maths and English it makes no sense, so we have to find a practical way to prepare our children for entry into our tertiary institutions,” the former Minister had related, defending the scrapping of the automatic promotion policy.

Chief Education Officer Olato Sam had reported that since the automatic promotion policy was implemented, the dropout rates in schools had decreased significantly, noting that the strategy had served its main

The 11% Man

S

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand

objective.

“I think the frustration rate of students in the past who would have been made to repeat has had an impact on their decision to leave school… there might be other contributing factors from them not dropping out, but we know this certainly is one of them,” Sam had said.

He stated that the Ministry did have consultations with persons in the education system, but neglected to speak to parents, teachers and students before the implementation of the old policy.

atiricus rubbed his eyes in disbelief. How could people be bad-minded so? Look how much flack they were giving the Naga Man about every little, petty thing.

OK... they tarred and pitched the road all the way to his private residence? So what! Aren’t government’s supposed to fix roads for citizens to use? Even though he’d been made the PM (Prime Moocher) he was still a citizen, no?

How could HE be blamed if the contractor forgot to tar and pitch beyond his house Or also all the other streets in the village? People forget things!

Then there was the granny sugar business at the official PM residence. With GuySuCo in trouble producing sugar, why would people want the PM (Prime Moocher) to compete by producing Granny Sugar? “Naga Man should be given a medal (OR?) for being so patriotic,” thought Satiricus as he wiped a tear discreetly from his eye. Deep emotions were stirred at the thought of Naga Man’s altruism.

And look what a stink they made about the PM (Prime Moocher) when he ordered that the entire official residence be rewired and air conditioned. The fella who came before Naga Man claimed he liked the breeze blowing though the jalousies of the old colonial structure. What piffle!! It was obvious that that old dodderer wasn’t a writer like Naga Man! With the PM being a published writer and a man of letters and all that...he was always writing down the profound thoughts that flowed into his mind all the time.

Couldn’t have the breeze blowing away those thoughts on paper, could he? “What good are profound thoughts if they are just blowin’ in the wind?” though Satiricus as a gust of wind blew past him.

And now the final straw. They’re accusing the Prime Moocher of getting a big salary increase.”What a croc of sh***!” Satiricus almost burst out. All the poor man was getting was a small piece - a freck - of $200,000 on top of his salary and perks of $2 million. This was just 11%!! Wasn’t he the 11% man? What was $2.2 million to a man like Naga Man. Why...when he’d just come out of law school at the age of 70, he’d collected a cool $7million to fill out a few forms for NICIL on the Berbice Bridge!!

The people of Guyana were lucky to have a man like Naga Man as Prime Moocher. They should be happy to spend $79 million to refurbish the Prime Moocher’s Residence, $$15 million for two Land Cruisers (sirens free), and as much booze as he can drink!!

“What a guy is our Prime Moocher!!!” exclaimed Satiricus aloud. “And he doesn’t have to even stop drinking at 2am!!”

WEDNESday, august 5, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Youths given community service for $8M armed robbery….

Public outraged at Magistrate’s ruling – former AG deems it “unjust”

By Devina Samaroo

T

he public continued to vent its outrage after it learnt that the two University of Guyana (UG) students who were found guilty of an $8 million armed robbery were sentenced to only community service and counselling by Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday.

Criticisms have been pouring in from all sections of society over the ruling, with Guyanese demanding a coherent explanation as to why the two criminals were not sentenced to a more severe penalty.

Chief among the upset citizens is former President Donald Ramotar who dubbed this development as absolutely preposterous especially given that the nation is experiencing a worrying increase in armed robberies.

“I think it is really ridiculous what has happened. It was an armed robbery and we have an immense spike in crime, particularly in armed robbery and I cannot understand the rationale with the sentencing. It is worrying,” he told the Guyana Times in an invited comment.

Ramotar even suggested that these two criminals may have some connections with high ranking Government officials to have gotten off so easily for such a serious

Darien Bess (iNews photo)

criminal offence.

“I think the Magistrate may have come under pressure to do something of this nature. We have a big spike in crime and we have seen persons given worse sentencing for much more delicate crimes,” he explained.

Darien Bess, 20, of Lot 429 Guyhoc Park, Georgetown and Joel De Mendonca, 21, of Lot 17 Providence, East Bank Demerara, were found guilty of stealing a quantity of cellphones worth $8,968,000 from Golyn and Sons Fashion Store on January 25, 2014.

Magistrate Latchman ordered that the offenders perform six hours of community service for the next 25 Mondays along with a max-

imum period of counselling, as considered necessary by a probation officer.

Bess was instructed to do his community service at the Palms, while De Mendonca will be doing his at the National Library.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall also registered his incomprehension over such a feeble ruling on a serious charge of armed robbery.

“A sentence must always bear a proximate relationship with the offence to which that sentence relates. Therefore, a tribunal is bound to take into account the gravity and the prevalence of the offence committed. In this case, it is robbery under arms which is a violent felony, very prevalent in Guyana and, therefore, a serious offence…

Approximately, $8 million was stolen, that is a huge sum of money by any standard. I have no doubt that the victims of this offence would have been terrorised and traumatised. Having regard to the prevalence of violent crimes in Guyana, more particularly armed robbery and the public outcry it has generated are all factors that a competent tribunal must take into account when considering a sentence…When all the above is taken into account, I would venture to say that the sentence imposed is

Joel De Mendonca (iNews photo)

far too lenient in the circumstances,” Nandlall related.

Even the former Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard is quoted in another section of the media labelling the ruling as “totally wrong”.

Kennard urged Police Prosecutors to not accept this sentencing but rather to approach the Director of Public Prosecutions to challenge it.

Also on social media, even the average layman could not understand the rationale behind this ruling.

“I really feel that our judicial system needs revamping. A man gets three years for the ‘trees’, others get community service and probation for armed robbery,” one user posted.

“In Guyana’s Justice

System, get a gun and rob a businessman, is penalty, go home, no jail time plus counselling. Get caught with lil weed or...”how dare you!”... jail mo than ya age!” another expressed.

Others demanded an explanation as to why the same Magistrate who sentenced 19-year-old Ron Collins to 56 months in prison after he was found guilty of armed robbery of a pair of sunglasses and a Blackberry smartphone collectively valued $166,000 would allow two men community service after they were found guilty of armed robbery of a quantity of cell-phones worth in excess of $8 million.

2 years jail for electronics thieves

T

wo thieves were given two-year sentences by Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday when they pleaded not guilty to break and enter charges at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Adrian English and Terrence Cummings, 21, of Port Kaituma, North West District pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

It was stated that between July 8 to July at William Street, Camp Street, Georgetown, the duo

broke and entered the home of Onel Maxwell. They got away with two flat-screen televisions valued $220,000, two gas bottles valued $20,000, two microwaves valued $80,000,two creams valued $3000, two hair conditioners valued $2000, two shampoos valued $3000, two modems which cost $7000 and another item worth $35,000. The items totalled $370,000.

Magistrate McLennan ruled on the matter and granted the men two years for saving the court’s time.

Adrian English

12 news

wednesday, august 5, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Canadian company “pours Body found at Better Hope first gold” at Guyanese mine seawall still unidentified

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anada-based mining company Guyana Goldfields Inc (GGI) on Tuesday, announced that it has produced its first quantity of gold “on time and on budget” at its Aurora Gold Mine in Guyana.

In a release, the company stated that its first gold production was attained through gravity and saprolite production circuits.

Initial start-up gold was captured by processing the lowest grade ore available.

The miner is progressing towards a full saprolite circuit operation and will gradually feed the mill with higher grade material. The commissioning of the hard rock crushing circuit is projected to be completed later in the third calendar quarter of 2015.

The company expects to produce between 30,000 ounces and 50,000 ounces of gold in 2015, depending on how quickly full ramp-up is achieved, and approximately 120,000 ounces to 140,000 ounces of gold in 2016.

GGI expects to issue an updated National Instrument (NI) 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study in the first quarter of 2016 for the project which will reflect an extended open pit mining scenario while deferring the underground production until later in the mine life. Also to be issued are current operating cost parameters and an updated ore reserve metal price.

As of June 30, 2015, the company had approximate-

Liquid gold being poured

ly US$20 million of capital expenditures remaining to complete the Aurora Gold Mine. The company is managing its overall development budget to not exceed US$277 million which includes the initial development costs of US$249 million for the project and US$28 million in financing costs, pre-operating costs and working capital investment.

The project remains on track budgetwise with an untouched US$52 million overrun facility available, if needed.

The company expects to report its interim consolidated financial statement results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2015 on or around Thursday, August 13, 2015.

Company President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Scott A Caldwell commented, “Our first gold pour is an extraordinary achievement in GGI’s transition from an exploration and development company to a high-grade, low-cost gold producer. We would like to celebrate this significant accomplishment for all that have contributed from the project’s inception and thank our shareholders and stakeholders in supporting the development of the project, including our Board of Directors, management team, employees and contractors as well as the lenders for the debt financing syndicate comprised of International Finance Corporation, Export Development Canada, ING Capital LLC, Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, and The Bank of Nova Scotia. In addition, we wish to thank the Government of Guyana and local communities for their continued support through the development of the project. The focus at the site now is to increase gold production to our target level of 50,000 ounces during the balance of this year.”

The Aurora Gold Project has a total gold resource of 6.54 million ounces in the measured and indicated categories (62.83 million tonnes at 3.24 g/t Au) as well as an additional 1.82 million ounces in the inferred category (16.93 million tonnes at 3.34 g/t Au).

T

he body of a male of East Indian descent who was found on the Better Hope seawall, East Coast Demerara (ECD) late Monday afternoon, is at the Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting identification.

According to reports, the man’s body was discovered under a shed by residents nearby and he was reportedly frothing from the mouth.

Residents claimed that they have never seen the man before in the community.

Guyana Times was further told that the man was seen approaching the shed that is located close to the seawall, where a few men were sitting. The man who is said to be in his late 20s to mid 30s subsequently collapsed. Police were summoned and had to body removed.

The body is still at the Lyken Funeral Parlour awaiting identification before a post-mortem examination can be conducted.

A staff at the parlour told Guyana Times that no one came throughout the day to identify the body. It was further revealed that there were no marks of violence found on the man’s body.

On the other hand, contact made with the Police at the Sparendaam Police Station revealed that the Police are yet to obtain information as to the man’s identity.

Meanwhile, two other bodies were found along the East Coast on Monday – one at Buxton and the other at Lusignan; communities on the East Coast of Demerara.

However, the identities of these two men are known.

Eighty-two-year-old Charles Wilson, called “President” of Buxton Village, ECD, was found

The body of the unidentified man that was found at the Better Hope seawall

dead in the vicinity of the Railway Embankment.

According to information reaching this publication, the elderly man was known to villagers to be of unsound mind and was noticed sleeping under the road-shed located in the area for a few days.

However on late Monday afternoon, he was laying on the side of the road when a vehicle passed and ran over his feet. Wilson was reportedly alive at the time of the incident, however, the driver subsequently left to go get the Police and upon their arrived, the man had died.

Apart from the injuries sustained on his feet, the man bore no other marks of violence.

As it relates to the third body, the man who is a resident of Lusignan, was found

outside his home sometime after 18:00h on Monday. The man has been identified as 56-year-old Julian Mohabir of his Lot 106 Lusignan East, ECD. Reports revealed the man is a known “alcoholic” in the community and lives with his older brother who found him lying on the bridge leading to their yard.

The man however, did not think anything of this since it is a usual occurrence with his younger brother.

The man reported left home thinking his brother would get up and go inside as was customary but upon his return several hours later, the man had not moved.

The older brother proceeded to try to wake Julian and after he was unresponsive, an alarm was raised.

news

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wednesday, august 5, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Former PPP Advisor Ramnarine stonewalls SWAT queries sues Govt for A $2.7M in benefits F

ormer Local G o v e r n m e n t Minister and Advisor Clinton Collymore has filed a writ against the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition Government, challenging its decision to sack him from his post at the Local Government Ministry; now the Ministry of Communities.

The former Minister and Local Government Advisor, on May 28 this year, received a letter signed by deputy Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Ministry Abena Moore, informing him that because of his absence from work, his service was no longer needed and that under the terms of his contract “you had forfeited all of your benefits”.

The former Minster had expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the move, but has now decided to move to the High Court, challenging the decision.

Collymore is being represented by former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall.

The Statement of Claim as laid out in the writ points out that the “Plaintiff is and was at all material times a person of full age and capacity; the Defendant is the legal representative of the State against whom civil suits are to be brought under the provisions of the State Liability and Proceedings Act, Chapter 6:05; that by a contract in writing dated 15th day of August, 2014, between the Plaintiff and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local

Government acting on behalf of the Government of Guyana, the Plaintiff was engaged to perform the duties of Ministerial Advisor upon certain terms and conditions set out in the said contract, including a monthly rate of salary and certain monthly allowances”.

It continued that the said contract was for a fixed term of one year commencing from 2014-09-04 to 2015-09-03 determinable by one month’s notice in writing or one month’s salary in lieu of such notice.

The said contract in writing and all of its terms and conditions will be relied upon at the trial of this action.

The proposed legal proceedings signed by Attorney Nandlall, demands that the sum of two million, seven hundred and forty-four thousand, five hundred and eightyseven dollars ($2,744,587) within 21 days be paid to his client Collymore; failiure of which to do so will see an institution of legal proceedings “The said letter expressly or constructively dismisses my client, summarily and purports to forfeit my client’s contractual rights and benefits under his contract of employment dated 15th August, 2014, as well as legal rights which are conferred by the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act, 1997.

Both your dismissal of my client as well as the forfeiture of his benefits are unlawful. I set out hereunder what my client is contractually entitled to:

(i) Unpaid salary for the months of June, July and August @ $333,684 per month

$1,000,952

(ii) Unpaid duty allowance @ $10,000 per month

$30,000

(iii) Unpaid gardener’s allowance @ $25,000 per month

$75,000

(iv) Unpaid maid allowance @ $25,000 per month

$75,000

(v) Payment of utility services (telephone and electricity bills)

$128,000

ssistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine continues to stonewall the efforts of Guyana Times to confirm reports made by members of the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Guyana Police Force.

Unit members had told this publication on Sunday that they were being sidelined and neglected by the top brass of the Guyana Police Force, who have not been holding any meetings with the 25-member squad on the way forward.

Contacted again on Tuesday, the Commissioner, refused to divulge or confirm any information, maintaining that the Public Relations Officer of the Force has already spoken on the matter in its press release.

The release, issued on Monday, alleges that the Guyana Times report was

(vi) 42 days vacation leave per year with pay $317,794 (vii) Annual vacation allowance @ one month’s basic salary

$333,684

(viii) One month’s salary in lieu of notice

$333,684

(ix) Gratuity for six months at the rate of 22.5% of salary $450,473

$2,744,587

Assistant Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

“false”, as, a subsequent meeting held with Unit members revealed that none of them had spoken to this publication. Guyana Times is however in possession of the records and maintains the veracity of its report.

To that end, Guyana Times was seeking to ascertain whether the “elite” ranks do not have access to personal firearms as was claimed; whether the top brass had been meeting with them, and whether there are any plans to honour the alleged agreements made during training. The Commissioner, however, refused to answer these questions.

The Unit, which was established in 2014, had received additional crime fighting training to deal with serious crimes in the country, which the Police would not be able to handle competently. Members, however, claimed that they did not even have a personal weapon to protect themselves when off duty.

Since the completion of the training, the Unit has been “dormant” and only had their “big break” during a shootout with ban-

dits on the East Bank of Demerara, on July 15.

Members said since that operation, they, along with their family members, have been receiving threats.

“Everybody knows the SWAT team. We were in a shootout just the other day. They see our face. The guy that was shot (SWAT member), his family got threatened,” one team member, who asked not to be named, had told this publication.

He said further that “We have no firearm to take care of ourselves. A lot of us have our families to take care of. We at least want to know that if we go out on such an operation and something happens to us, that our families will be ok. We are not hearing anything, because no one comes to us.”

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wednesday, august 5, 2015

News

Police arrest suspect in Montrose murder Govt taking steps to privatise GuySuCo

I

nvestigating ranks of the Guyana Police Force have arrested a suspect in relation to the murder of caretaker Carmen Ganesh who was murdered on Saturday last.

The suspect in custody was arrested in a Georgetown house sometime around 11:30h on Tuesday.

This was confirmed

by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum. However, the Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told Guyana Times that while they have a suspect in custody, he could not confirm whether it is the same person who was captured on Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage committing the gruesome act.

“We are trying to verify (his identity)… we are in the process of doing so,” he stated. Further asked whether the man in custody is cooperating with the Police, the Crime Chief indicated that he cannot divulge any further details about the matter.

On Monday, Police released the image of the main suspect who was caught on camera in the home of the elderly woman, in attempts to get public assistance in locating the man. Less than 24 hours later,

Dead: Carmen Ganesh

investigators were able to locate a suspect.

The body of 75-yearold Carmen Ganesh of Lot 121 Montrose, East Coast Demerara, was found in a pool of blood on Saturday with a gash to her head and a cloth tied around her neck. The murder weapon, a knife was found close to the woman’s body.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that the woman’s daughters did not see her for the entire Saturday morning, which was unusual; hence they went to the house and called out to the woman.

However, their calls went un-

answered and the gates were locked. As such, they could not gain entry into the yard.

Becoming suspicious, a grandson of the now dead woman was summoned and he decided to scale the fence.

As he entered the yard, he saw his grandmother lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen and immediately raised an alarm. The Police was summoned and have launched an investigation into the gruesome murder.

The devastated young man had related to this publication that he could not tell where on the woman’s body was bleeding. He explained that his grandmother worked with the owners of the house for quite some time, but after they left the country they entrusted the house to her.

He added that the perpetrators probably thought that there was money on the property since the yard housed several vehicles, a speed boat and an outboard engine.

Meanwhile, the CCTV footage that was obtained from the premises shows the perpetrator sending almost an hour in the house after attacking the elderly woman upon his entry into the house.

– PPP warns thousands will be on the breadline

T

he future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is yet to be decided although steps have already been taken by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government in the direction of privatising the sugar company.

This is according to the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee. He disclosed such while he was addressing media operatives at his Party’s press briefing on Monday about the PPP/Civic’s disapproval of the recent appointment of Dr Clive Thomas as Chairman of GuySuCo. He stated that Dr. Thomas is quoted as saying “the sugar industry like the rice industry has to be privatised in order for it to function better because it was wrong of the previous administration not to do so.”

The PPP/C does not believe that the Sugar Corporation will remain a state entity for much longer under this Administration regardless of the Commission of Inquiry undergoing into GuySuCo. “Steps have already been taken in this direction with the presence in Guyana of Tate & Lyle representatives.

Guyana was once privatised and placed in the hands of Tate & Lyle,” Rohee explained.

He noted that it was the principals of the same company, Tate & Lyle, which happen to be one of GuySuCo’s

main buyers, who recently testified at the ongoing Commission.

The PPP General Secretary said that these principals who include Vice President Duncan Tate, Allan Wood and Mac McLachlan had only recently stated that GuySuCo should look at lowering production costs.

In fact, Tate & Lyle expressed their continued interest in buying Guyana’s sugar as the company reflected on its long productive association with Guyana.

Unfortunately, with recent developments, the sugar market has become very volatile in Europe and the primary consideration presently is the market price. With the removal of the prices which African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries like Guyana enjoyed, the developing situation dictates that producers have to be more efficient and that demands disciplined management.

They noted that the price situation is bound to become even more complex for Guyana when the cap on beet sugar production is deregulated. It was advised that the European Union (EU) will be dominated by beet sugar, and cane sugar will have to compete with beet. Even in countries that are major producers of cane sugar, some factories have been closing.

Further, Tate & Lyle had emphasized that the cost of production must be brought down to be competitive.

wednesday, august 5, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

News

Increased stipend for RDC Councillors

Former Local Govt Minister supports move

German treason probe row escalates

– urges higher increase for hinterland communities

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

F

ormer Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker has pledged his support for the proposed increase in stipend for the Regional Democratic Councillors across Guyana.

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan announced

that the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government is considering offering a stipend increase for the RDC Councillors, however, he did not specify the amount.

He was at the time addressing the regional elected representatives at a leadership conference at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre on July 31.

Currently, RDC Councillors earn a monthly stipend of $10,000. Bulkan said a reasonable increase would be a step in the right direction to motivate these individuals to further develop their respective regions.

Whittaker, in an invited comment, said, “I think the Councillors are deserving of some increase.” He noted, however, that any increase must not be too generous.

The former Minister noted too that RDC Councillors

Former Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker

assigned to the hinterland regions should be entitled to a higher increase than the others.

“Those Councillors in the hinterland communities depend primarily on farming and mining to travel from that location to go to Council meetings, it will take them

away and the expenses are too high in those areas whereas those in the urban areas already have a job and are in receipt of a monthly salary, so I think some consideration must be given to giving those in the hinterland communities more,” he explained.

Already, Government is actively considering a significant pay hike for Cabinet members and Members of Parliament, which could see the country’s treasury being depleted by more than $245 million annually.

This development has sparked shock and outrage among various stakeholders in the country, particularly because the coalition Government had promised to lead a “lean” Administration by cutting away wastage of taxpayers’ monies and stopping the exuberance associated with occupying Executive Office.

Key Taliban official quits over naming of new leader

T

he head of the Taliban’s political office, Syed Tayyeb Agha, has resigned, days after the group announced the appointment of a new chief.

The announcement came amid reports that the Taliban leadership is in disarray following the death

of its former leader Mullah Omar. Agha also condemned keeping Omar’s death a secret for two years calling it a “historical mistake”, Al Jazeera has learned.

Agha released a statement that announced his resignation on Monday less than a week after the group

announced the appointment of a new Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor after it emerged that Omar died in 2013.

“It was needed that the leader of Islamic Emirate [the Taliban] had to be appointed in the presence of the courageous Mujahideen

in their strongholds inside the country [Afghanistan],” Agha said in his statement.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The treason investigation sparked street protests over press freedom

G

ermany’s Justice Minister has demanded the sacking of the Chief Prosecutor in a deepening row over a treason investigation into a website.

The Prosecutor, Harald Range, had earlier accused the minister, Heiko Maas, of interfering in the inquiry.

Prosecutors are investigating whether Netzpolitik. org revealed state secrets in articles about plans to step up state surveillance.

The case sparked street protests over press freedom.

The outcry put the Government on the back foot, with senior officials stressing that Germany was committed to press freedom.

Earlier on Tuesday, in a rare clash between

the German judiciary and the state, Range said the Government had asked him to drop an independent investigator from the inquiry, who concluded that one of the articles published did amount to a disclosure of a state secret.

The request, said Range, amounted to “an intolerable encroachment on the independence of the judiciary”.

He said that while the freedom of press was valuable, it was not “limitless”.

But now the Justice Minister has said he no longer has confidence in the Chief Prosecutor and will request his dismissal.

Range is 67 and was due to retire next year. Munich’s Chief Public Prosecutor, Peter Frank, has been named as his successor.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

16 NEWS

wednesday, august 5, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

World Breastfeeding Week 2015...

Working women take center stage U

nder the theme “Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make It Work!” Guyana has joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Breastfeeding Week 2015 which began on Saturday, August 1 and ends on August 7.

The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) has called for concerted global action to support women to combine breastfeeding and work, in line with this year’s theme.

According to the WABA, whether a woman is working in the formal, non-formal or home setting, she needs to feel sufficiently empowered to claim the right to breastfeed on behalf of herself and her baby.

One of its main goals for this year’s World Breastfeeding Week are to galvanise multidimensional support from all sectors to enable women from everywhere to work and breastfeed safely and adequately.

WABA also seeks to promote actions by employers to become family, parent, baby and moth-

er-friendly and to actively facilitate and support employed women to continue breastfeeding their children.

This approach is aimed at addressing the issue of the rapid decline in breastfeeding rates globally and the practices of mothers in weeks and months after giving birth, especially in the case of exclusive breastfeeding.

The Mother-Friendly Workplace Initiative is an ongoing drive which promotes working mothers and breastfeeding in which this year’s theme has a direct association to the WABA’s 1993 campaign.

It was stated by WABA that much achievement has been recorded during the past 22 years of global action supporting women in the combination of breastfeeding and work.

A significant feat is the adoption of the revised International and labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 183 on Maternity Protection with much stronger maternity entitlements and

more country actions on improving national laws and practices.

“There is much that remains to be done despite 25 years of hard work, particularly on the fourth Innocenti target that calls on Governments to enact imaginative legislation protecting the breastfeeding rights of working women and establish means for its enforcement.”

It should be noted that at the workplace level, WABA has also seen

more action taken to establish mother-friendly workplaces (breastfeeding) including awards being given to breastfeeding-friendly employers.

Also there is greater mass awareness on working women’s rights to breastfeed.

The WABACoordinated World Breastfeeding Week is part of the Global Breastfeeding Initiative for Child Survival Programme (GBICS) entitled: “Enhancing Breastfeeding Rates Contributes to Women’s Rights, Health, and a Sustainable Environment”.

The GBICS

Programme aims to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development – beyond the Millennium Development Goals – by scaling up breastfeeding, and infant and young child interventions and transforming Policies into Practice, which contributes to efforts aimed at addressing climate change and gender equality in the framework of human rights.

Every year, World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated in more than 170 countries from August 1-7.

The aims entailed the encouragement of breastfeeding and improvement in the health of babies around the world.

It honours the Innocenti Declaration made by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Rights and Emergency Relief Organisation (UNICEF) policymakers in August 1990, to protect promote and support breastfeeding.

The Public Health Ministry in Guyana has over the years been pressing for the message of breastfeeding to be publicised more across the country and for health workers to encourage mothers in their care to ‘hit home’ the message

that “breast is best”.

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival. According to the WHO, globally, less than 40 per cent of infants below six months of age are exclusively breastfed.

However, if every child were breastfed within an hour of birth, given only breast milk for their first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding up to the age of two years, about 800,000 lives would be saved every year – interesting facts which make the case for breastfeeding as against baby formulas more convincing.

Breast milk provides all the nutrients needed for the healthy development of babies and infants. It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia – the two primary causes of child mortality worldwide.

WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for newborns up to six months of age; this is continued with breastfeeding alongside the appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age and beyond.

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news

wednesday, august 5, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Charged former Ministers

PPP/C still to decide on their return to Parliament

T

he People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is yet to make a formal decision as to the future of former Ministers Dr Jennifer Westford and Dr Bheri Ramsaran in its party, the General Secretary, Clement Rohee, told Guyana Times on Tuesday.

The Opposition Party has not made a formal announcement of its position as it relates to the two former Ministers who were recently hauled to the courts for offences which they allegedly committed during their tenure as Government officials under the PPP/C Administration.

Former Public Service Minister Westford and her Personnel Officer (PO) Margaret Cummings were on July 29 brought before the court to face larceny and forgery charges respectively, in connection with the alleged illegal transfer of eight vehicles to themselves and friends, which were the property of the Public Service Ministry.

Westford was slapped with four counts of attempting to commit a felony and granted bail in the sum of $800,000.

The 42-year-old former Minister allegedly tried to have several motor vehicles, belonging to the Government of Guyana transferred to four persons.

Motor vehicles bearing registration numbers PJJ 8113 and PKK 8175 were given to Dwayne Walker, motor vehicle with registration plate PFF 1780 was given to Delroy Lewis, while several other vehicles are purported to have been transferred to Westford and her spouse Gary Beaton, who is a Guyana Defence Force officer.

The four charges are indictable.

However,

Former Ministers Dr Jennifer Westford and Dr Bheri Ramsaran

Prosecutor Deniro Jones applied to the court for the Administration of Justice Act which allowed the matters to be tried at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. Westford pleaded not guilty.

While Magistrate McLennan allowed bail, she issued it in a substantial sum of $800,000 – $200,000 for each of the four charges against the former Minister.

The PPP/C in a statement had said that pressure was exerted on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chambers, to advise in favour of bringing charges against members of the Party.

“The Party further notes efforts by the Granger Administration to persecute PPP members using the Police and the courts to do so. The Party wishes to remind of statements made by Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, who was quoted in sections of the media as saying, “I think there is a lot of pressure on the relevant Ministers to ensure that people are prosecuted.”

On July 30, former Health Minister, Dr Ramsaran was granted self-bail when he appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrate’s Court in

Cabinet approves formation of National Commemoration Commission

C

abinet has approved the formation of a National Commemoration Commission, which will be chaired by Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and consist of representatives of several Government agencies, civil society and the Diaspora community according to a statement issued by the Ministry on Tuesday.

The statement mentioned that the Commission comes out of a directive given by President David Granger, for the establishment of a national commission under the aegis of the Education Ministry.

The establishment of the National Commemoration Commission was formally approved by Cabinet on July 22, 2015.

The Education Ministry is currently in the process of convening the Commission and establishing a formal Secretariat. A full launch of the National Commemoration Commission is slated for the third week of August, during which the general public will be informed of the composition of the Commission, its full mandate, and the activities planned for Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary.

Corentyne, Berbice.

Ramsaran pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read which accused him of using insulting language against women’s rights activist Sherlina Nageer. He was instructed by the sitting Magistrate to return to court on September 21.

On July 22, the DPP, Shalimar Ali-Hack recommended that charges be brought against the former Health Minister for his “slap and strip” comments while protesting at the Whim Magistrate’s Court in May. The charges stemmed from a verbal confrontation between Ramsaran and Nageer during which he threatened to slap and strip her naked outside the court, during the hearing of a case against former President Bharrat Jagdeo brought by accountant Christopher Ram. These comments were recorded on video and immediately went viral. Several rights groups and civil society had called for the dismissal of Ramsaran, but he apologised to the women’s rights activist. Ramsaran, in apologising for his remarks, explained that he was “rudely interrupted and provoked” by the young woman.

City Constabulary women fired for getting pregnant … “they breached the law” – Senior Constable maintains

T

he Superintendent attached to the training department of the City Constabulary, Laurel Gittens, on Tuesday told media operatives that the Constabulary did not discriminate against women in the wake of the organisation’s “sacking” of three pregnant female ranks.

According to media reports, the women were dismissed by Chief Constabulary Officer Andrew Foo after they were found pregnant. The story broke on Tuesday when another section of the media carried the article headlined “City constables sacked for getting pregnant. Under discriminatory policy.”

Gittens shared that she was “summoned to this press conference relative to an article ... as it relates to three members of the City Constabulary being sacked because of their pregnancies”. She stated that the Constabulary’s regulations stipulated that a member has a probationary period of two years, and during their time of recruitment, it is highlighted women members are not supposed to be found pregnant.

She shared that during the application and interview processes, candidates are asked questions based on their personal life such as their current relationship status and their family life.

“We ask our female applicants not to become impregnated during that period which puts a burden on our organisation. The City Constabulary is a paramilitary organisation, with two-third of members being females. And we are not extended in the large capacity, in comparison with the Guyana Defence and Guyana Police Forces,” Gittens said.

She mentioned that as for now, the Constabulary’s deficiency in strength lies at 105 Constables, and if the organisation continued to allow such action from their female ranks – becoming pregnant before the probationary period is over – it will place an inefficiency burden on the organisation.

The Superintendent said when female ranks are pregnant or suspected to be pregnant, they are called into the organisation’s administrative department and questions are posed about their personal state.

She added that in most cases, the ranks are not honest and that was the situation with the three young women who were fired. She stated that the women were given an opportunity to be honest and calmly resign following which they could have returned after their pregnancies. She said if persons refuse to be honest and the organisation finds out after they would have started to show, it puts the administration at a disadvantage.

Gittens stated that most of the pregnant women have to be placed, after their pregnancies, on an additional 91 days’ maternity leave, and if they had C-sections, there were certain conditions that apply to them, and the organisation was at a disadvantage in dealing with this matter.

Regulations

She shared that the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force also have their stipulations and regulations that govern the females within those organisations, as this is the situation within all military and paramilitary forces.

She stressed that the City Constabulary did not discriminate against wom-

en, but the policy of the organisation, the standard operational procedures and disciplinary measures must be applied.

City Hall Public Relations Officer Debra Lewis pointed out that the motto of the City Constabulary is “to serve and protect” and the Constabulary was mandated to protect all municipal assets and the well-being and the welfare of the citizens of Georgetown. Lewis said becoming pregnant placed a constable at a disadvantage in the case of apprehending someone.

She revealed that the matter was yet to be concluded, as the Legal Affairs Committee of the Constabulary would complete a full report, which would be shared with the full council who would then make a final decision.

M e a n w h i l e , Commissioner of the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Nicole Cole and Leader of the Independent Party, Mark Benschop protested the firing of the pregnant women outside City Hall.

Cole stated that the Constabulary was infringing on the rights of women and added that the Act was very much unconstitutional. She shared that Guyana was a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and this action was in breach of that.

She added that the policy was one of pure discrimination that stemmed from the colonial days, and was adamant in wanting a review of the case and the women to be reinstated.

Benschop stated that such laws should not be enforced since they are violating basic human rights.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, August 5, 2015

ARCHIE

By taking a leadership role, you will outmaneuver (March 21April 19) the competition. You have the intelligence and stamina necessary to step up and make things happen. Put time aside for romance.

ARIES

Letting someone else TAURUS make financial decisions for (April 20- you will backfire. You owe it May 20) to yourself to stay in control of your personal monetary matters.

dilbert

Your heightened emotionGEMINI (May 21- al state will lead to an impulJune 20) sive response. Consider the possible repercussions before you say something hurtful. Wait until you feel less stressed to respond.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Be cautious around people who are acting unreasonable.

This is a great day to work on a solitary project or find an enjoyable activity away from divisive situations.

You may feel like comLEO plaining, but doing your (July 23best despite setbacks will Aug. 22) bring you closer to your goal.

Working hard will give you a solid reputation and a chance to advance.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take the time and money VIRGO necessary to make prudent (Aug. 23investments.

Hoping for an Sept. 22) inheritance or windfall will not secure your future; careful spending and saving will.

Despite your appeal, don’t LIBRA (Sept. 23- be too eager to commit to a Oct. 23) partnership. Someone may be trying to use you for selfish reasons. Make sure you get as much in return as you give.

SUDOKU

Keep moving forward. You SCORPIO will be pleased with the re(Oct. 24Nov. 22) sults you achieve and the satisfaction you feel. Love is in the air and a celebration is in order.

Make plans to spend an SAGITTARIUS intimate evening with a spe(Nov. 23cial someone. If you are sinDec. 21) gle, go to a community event in order to meet someone interesting.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

You will end up in trouble CAPRICORN or at a loss due to someone (Dec. 22you counted on who turned Jan. 19) out to be unreliable. Take matters into your own hands and guarantee positive results.

AQUARIUS

You’ll be drawn toward (Jan. 20- new experiences. If you are Feb. 19) willing and prepared to make a contribution at a function, it will help you advance.

Present your innovative ideas to influential people.

You will be upset with PISCES (Feb. 20- yourself if you allow friends March 20) or relatives to keep you from following through with your plans. Stick to your agenda and finish what you start.

wednesday, august 5, 2015

19

Guptill, Latham tons lead No clarity yet over India’s New Zealand to big win long-term support staff I F

resh from the highs of Sunday’s opening-game chase, Zimbabwe plummeted to the lows of 68 for 5 before Sikandar Raza’s third ODI hundred ensured they saw out 50 overs and reached a total of 235. It looked a fighting total at that point, but it proved entirely inadequate, as New Zealand’s openers gunned down the total all by themselves, against a modest attack on a pitch that seemed to have lost all the help it had provided the bowlers in the morning. Tom Latham made his first ODI century, Martin Guptill his eighth, and New Zealand coasted home with 46 balls to spare to level the series 1-1.

The openers began steadily, knowing the target was never going to stretch their side as long as there were wickets in hand. Christopher Mpofu beat Guptill’s outside edge early on and struck him on the back thigh, but that was New Zealand’s only moment of concern against the new ball. Spin came on in the eighth over, in the form of Sean Williams, and that released any semblance of pressure there may have been, as Guptill crashed two wide long-hops to the coverpoint boundary in his first over.

Latham swept Williams for another boundary in his next over to take New Zealand to 46 for 0 at the 10-over mark.

The pitch for this match was different to the surface used for the first ODI, and it looked dry enough for Elton Chigumbura to go against Zimbabwe’s recent trend of preferring to chase.

Having expected assistance for their spinners, though, Zimbabwe may have erred in not picking an extra spinner to support Graeme Cremer.

Williams’ part-time left-arm orthodox was barely the answer.

Cremer turned a legbreak past Guptill’s outside edge with his second ball, but the openers could afford to play him carefully, milk the singles, and wait for the bad ball. From the 11th over to the 20th, they made 43 riskfree runs, with only two boundaries. The change of gears arrived in the next 10 overs, which produced seven fours - including a rasping hit over the umpire that took Guptill past 4000 ODI runs - and a glorious six from Latham, a pickup shot over wide long-on off Panyangara.

At the 40-over mark, both batsmen had reached three figures and New Zealand only needed 19 to win. Guptill shaved a big chunk off it with a slog-swept six off Cremer, and victory arrived in the next over, in a manner similar to the end of the first ODI. Then, Zimbabwe’s win had come up courtesy a Nathan McCullum wide; now it was Williams’ turn to return the favour, sliding one a long way down the leg side that neither Latham nor the wicketkeeper could do anything

about.

New Zealand had only needed 42.2 overs to chase down their target; they would got there even quicker had it not been for Raza’s unbeaten 100. Raza walked in to bat with Zimbabwe in a perilous situation, and rescued them with stands of 60 for the sixth wicket with Williams and 89 with Tinashe Panyangara for the ninth.

He needed a bit of help from New Zealand’s fielders, who let him off twice. On 16, he pulled Matt Henry hard but straight towards Latham at deep square leg. The ball just eluded the fielder’s fingertips as he leaped backwards, at full-stretch; it would have been a far simpler chance had he stood back on the rope. Raza was on 67 - and Zimbabwe 182 for 8 - when the substitute Ben Wheeler dived forward at cover and dropped him off Kane Williamson.

Including the run he picked up following that drop, Raza made 33 runs off his last 19 balls. With Panyangara weighing in with a few strikes of his own, Zimbabwe made 49 in their last five overs.

At the toss, Williamson said he had found it difficult to predict how pitches at the Harare Sports Club would behave.

Accordingly, he shuffled his bowlers around early on, trying to work out how much help each would get. It was quickly apparent there would be something in it for everyone.

There was inconsistent bounce for Mitchell McClenaghan, who bustled in, banged the ball in short, and tested the top order. His bouncer was responsible for Hamilton Masakadza’s early dismissal as well as two clanging blows on Craig Ervine’s helmet. There was seam movement for Henry, who started with two maidens - one to each opener - and for Grant Elliott, who sneaked

one into Ervine to bowl him through the gate, and jagged one away from Chigumbura to have him caught at slip.

There was spin too. Ish Sodhi struck twice in his first four overs, his second wicket coming courtesy a peach of a legbreak that drew Chamu Chibhabha forward, dipped, and turned past his outside edge to leave him overbalanced with his back foot out of his crease. It left Zimbabwe 68 for 5 and sinking without a trace.

Raza showed positive intent from the start, using his feet to the spinners and pulling the quicks when they pitched short. But his partnership with Williams was built mostly through singles - there were 37 in their partnership of 60. It also ended in the pursuit of a single; Raza tucked Williamson into the on side, called Williams out of his crease, but didn’t account for Guptill’s alert, athletic presence at short midwicket.

Zimbabwe’s innings looked liked it would fold at any moment, as Sodhi and McCullum struck in successive overs to leave them eight down in the 37th over. But Raza counterpunched, lofting McCullum for a straight six, paddling Sodhi to the fine-leg boundary, and lifting McClenaghan insideout over mid-off. Panyangara kept things simple at his end, taking no risks and giving Raza the strike when he could, and slowly grew in confidence, enough to smack Henry straight back over his head when he bowled a slower one right in his slot.

By the time he was run out while trying to sneak a second run off the last ball of the innings, Panyangara had made 33. It was as much as he had scored in his last eight ODI innings put together. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Zimbabwe innings H Masakadza c Latham b 0 McClenaghan CJ Chibhabha st †Ronchi b Sodhi 42 CR Ervine b Elliott 12 RW Chakabva† lbw b Sodhi 2 E Chigumbura* c Taylor b Elliott 5 SC Williams run out (Guptill) 26 Sikandar Raza not out 100 AG Cremer c McCullum b Sodhi 5 P Utseya c †Ronchi b McCullum 0 T Panyangara run out (Elliott/†Ronchi) 33 Extras (lb 1, w 8, nb 1) 10 Total (9 wickets; 50 overs; 207 mins) 235 Did not bat: CB Mpofu Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-42, 3-49, 4-54, 5-68, 6-128,

7-137, 8-146, 9-235 Bowling: MJ Henry 8-2-45-0, NL McCullum 10-0-38-1, MJ McClenaghan 10-1-55-1, GD Elliott 6-0-27-2, IS Sodhi 10-038-3, KS Williamson 6-0-31-0.

New Zealand innings 116 MJ Guptill not out TWM Latham not out 110 Extras (lb 1, w 9) 10 Total (0 wickets; 42.2 overs; 169 236 mins) Did not bat: KS Williamson*, LRPL Taylor, GD Elliott, C Munro, L Ronchi†, NL McCullum, MJ Henry, MJ McClenaghan, IS Sodhi Bowling: CB Mpofu 7-1-370, T Panyangara 6-0-30-0, SC Williams 5.2-0-36-0, AG Cremer 10-0-60-0, P Utseya 10-0-46-0, Sikandar Raza 2-017-0, H Masakadza 2-0-9-0.

ndia’s coaching staff is in a state of flux ahead of their first challenge of a long and busy season. The team director, Ravi Shastri, will only join the squad in Sri Lanka on August 8 - four days before the first Test, and only after the practice game - once he completes his duties as a television expert for the Ashes broadcaster. His three assistant coaches are reportedly yet to be given their contracts because the BCCI appears to be waiting to take a decision on Shastri’s future first.

Shastri, B Arun (bowling coach), R Sridhar (fielding coach) and Sanjay Bangar (batting coach) were promised extensions during India’s tour of Bangladesh in June, and were expected to be offered contracts before the team’s departure to Zimbabwe later that month. However, it is understood that no contracts have been offered yet.

One of the reasons for the delay is Shastri’s perceived lack of commitment.

He skipped India’s tour to Zimbabwe after seeking prior approval from BCCI, and having signed up as an analyst with Sky Sports, Shastri also missed the preparatory phase

Ravi Shastri

for the Sri Lanka tour.

A BCCI source said that part of the reason for Shastri skipping the initial phase of the Sri Lanka tour was due to the revision in itinerary the schedule was advanced by about ten days, causing a conflict with his commitment to Sky Sports. The BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and secretary Anurag Thakur have not been critical of Shastri’s decisions. Thakur had said last month that Shastri had informed the board about his unavailability for the Zimbabwe tour “well in advance”.

However, his absence from the touring party to Sri Lanka has raised doubts about his commitment among some BCCI office bearers.

Several board members told ESPNcricinfo that it sent a wrong signal because the man in charge of the Indian team’s affairs had substantial media commitments as well.

The situation has neither helped Shastri nor his assistants as long-term appointments. The BCCI hierarchy is understood to be happy to wait for the appointment of a head coach, before giving year-long contracts to assistant coaches. The BCCI is believed to be in touch with a couple of overseas candidates and the cricket advisory committee is likely to interview them in the first week of September.

The last set of assistant coaches India had - Venkatesh Prasad and Robin Singh worked through their twoyear stint without a long-term contract. They were compensated on a series-by-series basis. The three assistant coaches have been on a similar arrangement since they were roped in midway through India’s tour to England last year. (Cricinfo)

Powell claims 100m win at America Track League

J

amaica’s Asafa Powell won the 100m in Atlanta in 10.01 (+0.1 m / s) at the America Track League, on Saturday, his final race ahead of the Beijing World Championships.

The former world record holder has competed in four races since claiming the Jamaica National Championships, and is now expected to knuckle down for the big event.

Despite failing to get below ten seconds the Jamaica won in fairly comfortable fashion. Powell finished well ahead of St Kitts and Nevis’

Jason Rogers who was second in 10.23 and Walter Dix of the United States who finished third in 10.25.

In the women’s equivalent Jamaica’s Veronica CampbellBrown clocked 11.25 to finish well clear of Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye, who finished in11.29. Another Jamaican Simone Facey finished in third place, in 11.30.

In the 200m CampbellBrown finished with a time of 22.82, a distance ahead of the United States Charonda Williams (23.25) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Semoy Hackett (23.37).

In the men’s 110m hurdles Jamaica’s Omar McLeod raced to victory in 13.28, ahead of compatriot Andrew Riley (13.39) and Ronnie Ash of the United States (13.46).

In the preliminary round of the 100m decathlon world record holder Aston Eaton set a new personal best of 10.47 (-0.1) in the 100m. Eaton also competed in the 400 event and posted another 45.55 personal best.

The American Queen Harrison won the 100m hurdles in 12.84 (0.5) ahead of compatriot Kristi Castlin (12.88). (Digicel Sportsmax)

Atkinson wins bronze at FINA World Championships

L

ithuania Ruta Meilutyte failed to defend her 100-metre Breastroke World Championship title after, both she and Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson were beaten to the wall in the event earlier today.

New World Champion over the distance, Yuliya Efimova of Russia, hit the wall in 1:05.66 seconds, ahead of Meilutyte (1:06.36) and Atkinson (1:06.42).

Atkinson, usually quick

over the first 50, turned in 30.94, behind Efimova (30.76) and even further behind Meilutyte (30.27).

The Jamaican put in a big effort to try to cut into Efimova’s lead but although she had a faster second split than Meilutyte, the ground was too much and Efimova remained strong throughout the second half of the race.

Only Japan’s Kanako Watanabe had a quicker second split than did Efimova.

In fact, Atkinson had to hold

on to avoid missing a place on the medal podium.

Yesterday, in the semifinal, Atkinson was faster, setting a new national record of 1:06.21, a time that would have brought her silver in the final.

China’s Jinglin Shi was fifth in 1:06.55, while Iceland’s Hrafnhildur Lithersdottir was sixth (1:07.10), Jennie Johansson of Sweden (1:07.17) seventh, and Arianna Castiglioni of Italy (1:07.60) eighth. (Digicel Sportsmax)

20

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wednesday, august 5, 2015

Fitzgerald, Hiralall retain Darts titles

Metro boys win Emancipation domino tournament

C

urrent national champions Sudesh Fitzgerald and Rosetta Hiralall successfully defended their Stag Beer Darts titles when the Stag Darts Championships were held on Sunday.

Fitzgerald and Hiralall pocketed $20,000 each for winning the male and female open category respectively, while the runnersup in Anil Lallchand and Jean DeSouza received $10,000 each.

The shortest game in the tournament was recorded by Fitzgerald who completed his game with 16 darts, while DeSouza recorded the shortest game for the females with 34 darts.

Meanwhile, in the “Luck of the Draw”, Fitzgerald and Raphael DeSouza defeated Lallchand and Adrian Damon as they won the first prize of $9000 and a case of Stag Beer.

The Guyana Darts Association expressed its gratitude to ANSA McAL for making the tournament a success.

The successful Metro Office and Computer Supplies’ domino players share a moment with Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

M

etro Office and Computer Supplies emerged winners of a hard-fought inter-ministry/agency Emancipation domino competition on Friday last on the lawns of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Organised by James “Kool” Lewis and sponsored by the Trophy Stall,

Luis Ramirez-Merlano presenting the first prize in the female competition to Rosetta Hiralall

DCC summer camp commences August 10

T

he Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) annual summer coaching camp will commence on August 10 at the Club’s Queenstown venue.

According to Coach Garvin Nedd, the camp will last for two weeks and participants will be taught the fundamentals in terms of the technical aspects of cricket, the laws of the game, table etiquette, healthy lifestyles and road safety among other topics.

He said the programme was of tremendous benefit whereby a number of players went on to represent Guyana at various levels.

Garvin Nedd

Nedd stated that the camp is part of the Club’s developmental programme.

Nedd, a former Guyana off-spinner, said the camp will run until August 22 from 09:00h daily, Mondays to Fridays.

The first week will cater for roughly 60 students aged 8-13 according to Nedd, while the second week will target the older children whose ages range from 14 to17.

He also stated that weather permitting, matches will be played on the weekends as to ensure the children get hands-on experience of a cricket match.

L

ocal chess players will have a chance to exhibit their skills this weekend when Royal Chess Academy with support from the Guyana Chess Federation stages a two-day chess competition in honour of Attorneyat-Law and former parliamentarian James Bond.

Dubbed the JB Chess Invitational, the tournament will start at 16:00h on Saturday and from 09:00h on Sunday at Congress Place in Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

According to a release from the organisers, the tournament will consist of an Open and a Junior section, where players under 20 will be allowed to compete.

The winners of both categories will receive the JB Chess Cup and cash incentives.

“It is the organisers’ intention to have a very competitive and strong tournament where

T

Naushad Mohamed hands over the cheque to Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Captain Shawn Pereira while Eon Hooper looks on

able sports ambassador and outstanding cricketer on and off the cricket field.

Mohamed, a long-serving cricket official in the twin-island republic, pledged his Club’s continued assistance to the local Club.

Club Secretary/Chief Executive

compliments of the Trophy Stall.

Meanwhile, Lewis is currently planning an inter-ministry/agency tapeball cricket competition on a date to be announced.

Interested tapeball teams can make contact with Lewis on 672-6179 or 6130844 for more details and registration.

James Bond’s chess tourney on this weekend

Trinidad Cricket Club supports RHTY&SC

he outstanding work of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) received a massive boost with a financial contribution from the Calcutta Sports Club of Freeport, Central Trinidad.

Vice President of the Trinidadbased National League Two teams, Naushad Mohamed paid a surprise visit to the Club’s Area H Office where he handed over a donation for the youth development programmes.

Mohamed, in handing over the donation, stated that the Trinidad-based Club was very impressed with the work of the RHTY&SC, especially its youth development programmes.

He stated that the Trinidad Club has followed the activities of the RHTY&SC with great interest since one of its overseas players was from the Club.

Eon Hooper, a First-Division player with the RHTY&SC, is currently playing for the Calcutta Sports Club, and Mohamed described him as a remark-

the competition was stiff among the teams, with Metro Office and Computer Supplies managing to chalk up 77 games, one more than Forestry Commission A, who had to settle for second spot.

The host team, Foreign Affairs Ministry, ended in third position on 71 games.

The top three teams were all presented with trophies,

Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster, in accepting the financial donation, expressed gratitude to Mohamed and Calcutta Sports Club.

The donation would be used to purchase school bags and footwear for less fortunate students in Region Six.

James Bond

Anthony Drayton

all players can compete and have fun while playing chess.

The Organising Committee has decided to make this chess tournament unique and diverse from all previously held in Guyana and the Caribbean,” the organisers said in a release to the media.

According to the organisers, the competition will be contested on a seven-round Swiss system and will con-

sist of various time controls, which will no doubt make it challenging for all the players.

Interested players are asked to turn up on the first day and register to compete or contact Anthony Drayton of the Guyana Chess Federation on 613-2083 for more information. Senior players are expected to pay a fee of $1000 to enter, while juniors are required to pay half that amount.

GCB President, Director...

from back page

Director Jones congratulated the team for retaining their title, explaining that it is good to win something once but to do it more than once, back to back, is great. He also alluded to the players’ efforts to dominate the tournament again.

“You didn’t become complacent and underestimate your opponent at any time, even when you had already qualified for the final; you went out and played professionally. That is what top sportsmen do and you should be extremely proud of yourselves.”

Jones also commended the GCB for sticking to its mandate and producing and selecting winning teams. He stated that the Government of Guyana was committed to the development of sports and it would work with the GCB to see cricket progress in Guyana.

Team Manager David Black expressed his excitement at having such a warm welcome home,

and praised the players for their discipline and dedication.

“I didn’t expect to see the Director of Sports here; this is such a heartwarming surprise.

On behalf of the team, I wish to thank you for your concern and time. Last year we won at home, but this year we beat Jamaica in their backyard; that was overwhelming. The boys give it their all. It was as if they were hungry and winning was the only food available. I am so happy to be a part of this memorable accomplishment and I would like to thank the GCB for giving me that opportunity.”

Captain Travis Persaud said everybody gave 100 per cent and they played as a team in each game which was the reason for their success. He posited that this group of players was tough to beat, and said he was proud to be their captain. He thanked the GCB for giving him the chance, and his teammates for supporting him.

sports

YELLOW PAGES

GCB congratulates Guyanese on U-19 World Cup camp

wednesday, august 5, 2015

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Keemo Paul

Tevin Imlach

he executives, members and staff of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) have extended congratulations to the four Guyanese players who have been called up to the West Indies Under-19 World Cup camp, which is slated for August 4 to August 17 at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus in Barbados.

Shimron Hetmyer, Tevin Imlach, Akshaya Persaud and Keemo Paul went straight to the camp after the completion of the Regional Under-19 tournament, which Guyana won.

“The GCB is extremely proud of these boys’ growth and development as cricketers and we believe they would be among the future stars of West Indies cricket. Guyana continues to dominate regional cricket; hence, we at the GCB expect that our players will represent the Region at the highest level. These four cricketers’ consistent outstanding performances have impressed many and we are hoping that they would emerge from the camp into the West Indies World Cup squad,” the GCB said.

Hetmyer, Paul and Persaud three of the four under-19 players picked for further training were also part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors programme for un-

der-19 players.

Hetmyer, an opening batsman, is no doubt the most prolific young batsman in the Region. He was the WICB U-19 Cricketer-of-the-Year in 2014 and at this year’s Under-19 tournament, he scored the most runs (355 with one century and two half-centuries). He also registered the highest individual score (135 against Leeward Islands).

Left arm off-spinner Persaud is noted for his economical bowling figures and his ability to withstand pressure. He is also a dependable middle-order batsman. Many would remember that excellent 92 he compiled for Demerara in the final against Berbice in this year’s Under-19 Inter-County Competition.

Imlach is an opening wicket-keeper batsman, whose skills with the bat and behind the wicket are remarkable. In the recently-concluded Under-19 tournament, he scored 61 against Trinidad and Tobago. What was significant about that innings was that he batted through the innings, keeping the innings together and taking Guyana to victory.

All-rounder Paul burst onto the scene last year in the Inter-County Competition and kept progressing rapidly. He is deemed as Guyana’s

T

Shimron Hetmyer

Akshaya Persaud

most dependable youth cricketer as he is noted for pulling his team out of trouble.

One such innings was that fighting 54 he made against Windward Islands in a match-winning partnership with Kasim Khan (51) in this year’s Under-19 tournament.

The GCB said, “These four players have a very bright cricket future ahead of them and we are happy that the selectors have recognised that. We are hoping that they would be given the opportunity to represent our Region at the 2016 U-19 World Cup. We wish them a safe and productive camp. We also urge them to be disciplined, attentive and open to new methods and techniques, respect ... authority and don’t ever give up. The GCB support is always behind them.”

Ramdin was not sacked

R

eports that Denesh Ramdin was dropped ahead of the proposed tour of Bangladesh have been hotly disputed by sources familiar with the situation.

According to reports carried in various media outlets, the 30-year-old Trinidadian was in fact included in the squad selected to play Zimbabwe and Pakistan, originally slated for end of this month. The

tour was cancelled after Pakistan pulled out of the tournament “Ramdin was picked in the squad for the tournament. He was still and still is the number one wicketkeeper in the West Indies cricket team and will continue to play a key role in the ODI team with young captain Jason Holder at the helm,” the source revealed.

“Yes there was much discussion surrounding several

The Digicel Schools...

Director of Sport Jones recently touted the establishment of multi-purpose centres across the country, a move that will help those athletes to hone their skills.

“Of course it is my hope within the near future we can see several multi-purpose centres being established across the length and breadth of the country, which will cater for several disciplines at the same time,” he said.

The obvious potential that is ever present in the outlying areas did not escape Jones’s attention, as

he made reference to the Digicel tournament.

“For those of you who are following the Digicel inter-school football tournament, every year we look forward to that tournament, and, of course, we see a team that comes all the way from Region Seven – Waramadong Secondary School. Waramadong in their location don’t have the same facilities as us on the coastline, so we now noting this, our intention is to ensure these multipurpose centres are established throughout Guyana

members of the squad and the future of West Indies ODI cricket, for what was to be a crucial period…but to say Ramdin was omitted was simply not true.

Having fallen below Pakistan and Bangladesh in the world ODI ranking, the West Indies are set to miss out on the next edition of the ICC Champions trophy, a tournament that will include the top seven teams in the world and the hosts. (Digicel Sportsmax)

from page 22

so that you can have young people participating in their various disciplines, so we can identify those talents that we have,” Jones reckoned.

The positive words of the Director of Sport are most welcome, so too the support from other stakeholders to ensure the holistic development of the game.

The foundation set by Digicel is too solid; it must not be allowed to erode.

The theme “Unite. Develop.

Excel.” should be adopted by all and sundry in the interest of football.

22

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wednesday, august 5, 2015

Seven Seas cycling set The Digicel Schools Football championship for Saturday at Park – its impact and the way forward

The raw talent of the Waramadong (pink) and Annai players must now be nurtured in a bid to enhance Guyana’s football Flashback! Mario King crosses the line ahead of Raynauth Jeffrey to win last year’s main race in record time (Avenash Ramzan file photo)

K

een rivalry is expected on Saturday when the country’s leading cyclists battle each other in the 12th annual Seven Seas 11-race programme on the inner circuit of the National Park.

The day’s activities, which commence at 09:00h, will cater for all categories of riders, from those now learning the trade at the annual “Teach Them Young” programme to the seasoned campaigners.

The BMX riders will take centre stage in the 6-9, 9-12, 12-14 and Open divisions, and the likes of Alexander Leung, Christopher Goring, Thuran Garbarran and Esau Jaisingh are among

the riders to watch.

The Juniors/Juveniles and Mountain Bikers, as well as the Veterans Under and Over-50, and the Over60 will set the stage for the grand showdown in the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational, which usually attracts the ‘big boys’ of local cycling.

Last year’s main race was won by the young Mario King, who clocked a record one hour, 13 minutes, 45.29 seconds (01h: 13m: 45.29s), the fastest time ever for the 35-lap race in the Park. Raynauth Jeffrey was a close second, followed by Raymond Newton, Hamzah Eastman, Alanzo Greaves

and Christopher Holder.

Other winners of the day included Rakeem Blair (1214 Boys and Girls); Junior Niles (Veterans Under 50); Linden Blackman (Veterans Over 50); Maurice Fagundes (Veterans Over-60); Alonzo Ambrose (Juveniles); Emmanuel Gayraul (Mountain Bike); Sherwin Sampson (BMX 6-9 and 9-12) and Sherwin Forde (BMX Open).

The race is being organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, and Seven Seas representative Marwanna Thakur will be on hand to witness the races and assist in the distribution of prizes. (Avenash

Ramzan).

By Avenash Ramzan

G

uyanese sport enthusiasts have had a bumper season the past two months.

While local, regional and international cricketers were treating them to high-octane T20 cricket action in the Hero Caribbean Premier League, the future of the country’s football was on show in the Digicel Schools Football championship, a showpiece event, conceptualised by Guyanese, for Guyanese.

It’s not a mere coincidence that Digicel is the major stakeholder in the two mega events.

The fifth annual secondary schools football tournament put on by the ‘red network’ concluded on Sunday last with five-time finalist Christianburg/Wismar edging first-time finalist Chase Academy 2-1 to lift their fourth straight title in a tremendous run of form in the country’s largest schools football event.

A second-place finish to the Government Technical Institute in the first year is the only blunder on the Lindeners’ record.

The tremendous support received from patrons of football on Sunday at the country’s premier sports venue, the National Stadium at Providence, coupled with the exceptional display of raw and untapped potential of the next generation of footballers was a fitting end to a tournament,

which attracted a whopping 162 schools spread across the 10 administrative regions.

It was quite appropriate that members of the Guyana Football Federation’s Normalisation Committee, including Dr Eric Phillips; Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; Minister with responsibility for sport within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry and FIFA Agent Faizal Khan formed part of the massive gathering to witness the top four teams in action.

For all intents and purposes, the Digicel Schools Football championship, as colossal as it is, is just a small part of the architectural design that is needed to map the way forward for Guyana’s football. It must, therefore, be viewed by those very stakeholders referred to above, as a major fillip to the growth and development of the sport.

Digicel must be commended for setting the foundation. It is now up to the Guyana Football Federation and its affiliates, the Administration of the day and the Public/Private Sectors to take the baton and move the process forward.

It is naïve to think that corporate entities like Digicel can do it alone. Sport development and the unearthing of champion athletes on a consistent basis has, and will always be, a

Part of the crowd at Sunday’s final at the National Stadium

collaborative venture, hence the need for other partners to come forth.

Throughout the weeks of intense football in the regional competition, there was a tremendous level of talent on display.

That has always been the case whenever age group sport is contested, but an alltoo-familiar occurrence has been those talent being left to fall by the wayside owing to the lack of a proper structure and facilities.

It is now imperative that all concerned about football’s development tap into the deep reservoir created

by Digicel’s massive investment. One of the biggest achievements of the tournament has been the immense pathway it has created for hinterland players, who have impressed all and sundry with their flair and indubitable football skills.

The boys from Waramadong Secondary went to the final three years in succession, finishing second best to Christianburg/ Wismar on all three occasions, but their style of play and determination have captured the hearts of many on the coastland.

Another hinterland school, Annai Secondary, made it into the top four this year, beating Waramadong on penalties in the thirdplace playoff, and showcasing what lies in those regions, which are usually overlooked when it comes to sport. turn to page 21

23

wednesday, august 5, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

wednesday, august 5, 2015

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

Guyana played like true champions, says Amsterdam

Captain Travis Persaud lifted the winning trophy

By Rajiv Bisnauth

C

oach of the National Under-19 team, Adrian Amsterdam has said that his team played like “true champions” and were the deserved winners of the justconcluded West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Under-19 One-

Day Tournament.

“We played like true champions. After we lost the first game, the guys have shown great character thereafter. It was just a matter of putting everything on the field and I couldn’t have asked for anything better,” Amsterdam told Guyana Times Sport on

Tuesday.

The Guyanese finished on top of the points table with 32 points from their six preliminary games before whipping hosts Jamaica by four wickets in Sunday’s final at the Manchester High School Ground to secure back-toback titles.

Amsterdam noted that Guyana’s creditable performances were characterised by the hard work put in by the players and the teamwork they demonstrated throughout the tournament.

“I am very, very happy.

We are all very happy because we can now celebrate our achievements. The players can get the rewards from their efforts and the people who support Guyana’s cricket also have something to celebrate. We did a number of good things in the last two weeks, and one very good thing was winning the title,”

The winning Guyana Under-19 team

said Amsterdam.

He added: “It was a very professional performance. If you look at the whole tournament then, everyone did contribute: the bowlers bowled well, there were some good batting innings, and the field-

ing was good too.”

“So the credit goes to the entire bunch of boys for their professional approach.

I always believed that we had the talent to finish on top,” Amsterdam concluded.

The tournament present-

ed another opportunity for the Region’s best Under-19 players to showcase their talent to break into the West Indies Under-19 squad for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Youth World Cup next year in Bangladesh.

GCB President, Director of Sport Digicel delivers sponsorship to Boyce and Jefford Classic receive victorious U-19 team T

By T reiston J oseph

President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Drubahadur, and Director of Sports, Christopher Jones, share a moment with the winning Guyana Under-19 team

P

resident of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Drubahadur and Director of Sport, Christopher

Jones received the Guyana Under-19 team who successfully defended their regional title on August 2 in Jamaica.

Drubahadur welcomed the boys, noting that they have made their country proud. The President stated that the executives, members and staff of the GCB were overjoyed at their victory. He acknowledged how various players answered the call to take the team home on different occasions.

“It was evident that this team played as a unit and

they enjoyed each other’s achievement. That is something vital if any team is to be successful and I am pleased that at the youth level, you guys showed maturity and stuck to your game plan. Apart from the victory, you fellas have been excellent ambassadors for your country and the GCB. We have been following your behaviour as well and we received good feedback. I must applaud you and the management team in this regard as well.” turn to page 20

he sixth edition of the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic is quickly approaching and Digicel showed its support for the event in a big way by being one of the top sponsors for the 2015 edition of the event scheduled for August 15-16 in Linden.

At the simple handingover ceremony on Tuesday, Events and Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope outlined Digicel’s motivation behind sponsoring the event for yet another year.

“We have seen the continuous growth every year, we have seen the benefits, hence the reason we will continue to support the meet… We have followed the progress of the event and the management has always made all efforts to bring a quality meet and they have grown from an administrative standpoint.

“This could potentially be the biggest track and field meet in Guyana and we want them to continue to do more and do better,” Hope stated.

Hope, who congratulated the meet organisers for their persistence, also encouraged the youths to

Digicel Events and Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope (centre) hands over the sponsorship cheque to Colin Boyce in the presence of fellow Co-director of the Boyce and Jefford Classic, Edison Jefford (extreme left) on Tuesday at Digicel’s head office in Kingston

continue to work hard because of the opportunities that will be available due to the establishment of the synthetic facility at Leonora as well as meets such as the Boyce and Jefford Classic.

Co-director of the Boyce and Jefford Classic, Colin Boyce thanked Digicel for its continued support.

“I am happy that they indeed accepted the initiative since our first year and in our sixth edition for the first time we have

the Bahamas and Jamaica here.

“We hope to continue to see the development of our athletes and sports in general,” Boyce highlighted.

Guyana’s top clubs will be matching strides for the top prize of $600,000, while the athletes finishing first to third in the international races will be receiving US$250, US$150 and US$100 respectively. The two-day event will be held at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden.

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