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Banks DIH donates over $4M to charities P13 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3145

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

PRICE

Skeldon closure

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

If Skeldon is such a bad deal, why is PM’s relative trying to sell it?

– Jagdeo questions

Wales closure

Sugar workers renew call for president’s P9 intervention …say they’re struggling to support their families

Page 3

…as Party conducts Berbice outreach

Butcher stabs butcher in Bourda Market brawl Page 12

Parking meter burden

Diplomatic P12 shops to be reintroduced

Court denies stay on parking project

Senior Policeman who threatened to kill junior rank remains on job

Page 7

...penalties continue from today

Trust, corruption major challenges facing GPF – Ramnarine Page 7

…as legal advice being sought

P11

Smuggled AK-47 not Police property

P2

Pastor remanded for causing death by dangerous P11 driving

…60% of complaints are about neglect Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, Police Force Training Officer Paul Williams and Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum along with other senior members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) pose with Police Officers who were selected to undergo various training programmes aimed at building competencies and increasing the capacity of ranks to perform efficiently and effectively. (Dexter Ceres photo)

Criminal charges should be instituted against Burnham’s family – Nandlall …former President’s family received 5 acres of prime land …as SOCU to interview Pradoville 2 residents this week

Page 13

Guyana’s oil “too light” for Suriname’s refinery P17

2 News

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Smuggled AK-47 not Police property ‌Cops released from close arrest

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reliminary investigations have revealed that the AK-47 assault rifle, which was intercepted at the exit of Police Headquarters, is not the property of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

While investigators have encountered some difficulties in identifying the origin of the high-power rifle, they are confident that the firearm does not belong to the GPF. Head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the GPF, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum explained to media operatives the challenges facing the detectives. “We have been encountering some difficulties to restore the number on the fire-

CID Head, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum

arm; on that basis it is very difficult to state whether the weapon is the property of the Guyana Police Force, but based on the general ap-

pearance, it is not the property of the Guyana Police Force,� he disclosed.

However, Blanhum said identifying the number would be critical in determining if the weapon was lodged with the Police.

Additionally, the Crime Chief explained that ballistic tests conducted showed that the firearm was not used at any crime scenes.

He further noted that the Police have suspicions regarding the origin of the AK-47 rifle, but he declined to share those leads with the public as investigations are ongoing.

Moreover, Blanhum said the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Meanwhile, the four Police ranks and one senior officer who were under close arrest pending the investigation were released.

These persons include a Police Corporal and an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) attached to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU).

However, the civilian who was also arrested in connection with the investigation remains in custody.

Blanhum said he was hopeful for criminal charges to be laid against the Police Corporal involved, adding that investigators have recommended disciplinary action against the other ranks on duty at the time of the incident.

Reports are that on

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters

February 28, a civilian vehicle was allowed into the Police compound without being searched.

The vehicle reportedly stayed throughout the evening.

The weapon was only discovered when the vehicle was searched the following morning when it was leaving the compound. continued on page 9

news

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tuesDAY, march 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 7 – 12:30h-14:00h and Wednesday, March 8 – 02:00h and 14:00h-15:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 7 – 11:50h-13:20h and Wednesday, March 8 –13:05h-14:35h.

Skeldon closure

If Skeldon is such a bad deal, why is PM’s relative trying to sell it? – Jagdeo questions …as Party conducts Berbice outreach

ed on that estate, is worth US$200 million, so the total value of the Estate would amount to billions.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Bauxite, but not sugar?

Sunny conditions are expected in the morning hours followed by heavy to light rain showers for the rest of the day. Partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly between 4.47 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 12:14h reaching a maximum height of 2.25 metres.

Low Tide: 05:40h and 18:29h reaching minimum heights of 1.09 metres and 0.93 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

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11 12

21

24

FREE TICKET

27 18 BONUS BALL

MONDAY, MARCH 6, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 04 07 08 12

14

LUCKY 3 2 0 3

1

Afternoon Draw

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2

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02 03

05 09

17 19 20

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

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo interacting with members of the community

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mphasising that sugar in Guyana is not a company but an industry, and that Government needs to be more thoughtful when making decisions about that industry, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has declared: “No viable decision can be made without a feasibility study. So this (closing down estates) is a political decision. The fact that they shut down the factory at Skeldon for the first crop is in preparation for privatization.”

Addressing thousands gathered at the wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the 20th death anniversary of the late Dr. Cheddi B. Jagan – an annual event held at the Babu Jaan Memorial Site at Port Mourant on the Corentyne in Berbice – the Opposition Leader disclosed that the privatisation deal is being orchestrated by a close relative of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, whose involvement will likely come at a cost.

He said, too, that while Government has been saying that the Skeldon Sugar Factory was a bad deal made by the previous administration, the Prime Minister now has a close relative lobbying to have investors buy it.

Jagdeo also questioned the Government’s unwillingness to save thousands of jobs sustained by the sugar industry, and the reasoning behind this unwillingness. “Government did not spend too much money on the Skeldon Sugar Factory. If we spent too much on sugar, how

is it that, in 2015 and 2016, the Gold Board lost $27B? That is more that the entire cost of the entire Skeldon factory; and Banks DIH is suing the Government for $28B because of a decision they made to give DDL some tax writeoffs. The lawsuit alone will cost us more that the cost for the entire Skeldon factory. How can they find fiscal space for those reasons and they can’t find fiscal space to

Meanwhile, Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds addressed accusations that the People’s Progressive Party did to bauxite what the current administration is doing to sugar and sugar workers.

Hinds reminded the thousands gathered at the annual wreath-laying ceremony that when the PPP took office in 1992, bauxite was in a crisis.

He underscored that the PPP Administration did not treat the bauxite industry differently from what they are now asking for the sugar industry.

“We came into office with the outgoing (People’s National Congress) PNC committing to close down the bauxite industry if it couldn’t be profitable in two years.

that they couldn’t see a way to make bauxite profitable, we didn’t run and close down the bauxite industry. If we were against the people of Linden, we had an excuse (to close the bauxite industry),” he highlighted He explained, too, that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had had its eyes on Guyana in relation to recommendations to have the bauxite industry closed. “So we had to find innovative ways to keep bauxite going.”

Bauxite production in 2010 was 1,099,880 metric tonnes, declining by 348,431 metric tonnes, or 24 per cent.

The former Head of State noted that just as the PPP Administration tried to keep alive the failing bauxite industry although a feasible study had suggested that the industry be closed, it is similarly fighting for the sugar industry to stay alive. At commencement of the ceremony, Jagdeo, Hinds and former President Donald Ramotar all paid homage to the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan, and laid wreaths at a monument erected in honour of his life and contribution to Guyana; and in honour of his wife, former President Janet Jagan, who also died in the month of March.

Outreach

A section of the gathering

help the sugar industry?”

Amidst the uncertainty over the future of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), with accusations of “secrecy” made against Government following an MoU struck with a Trinidadian company, the APNU/AFC Administration has faced even more backlash after it was revealed in late January that a close relative of Prime Minister and First Vice President, Moses Nagamootoo, is reportedly working to bring in investors for the cash-strapped sugar industry. The Skeldon Sugar Factory alone, which is locat-

Close it down! No more money was to flow from the country’s treasury to the bauxite industry. When we got the word from the consultants

Meanwhile, on Monday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo met with members of the Tain; Sand Reef, Albion; and Reliance, East Canje communities, who shared with the Opposition Leader their numerous concerns about the state of the country.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017

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

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

Monitoring public projects

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t is unbelievable the quality of work that is being carried out by some contractors engaged in public infrastructure projects; most of which cost the treasury millions of dollars. All around the country one can point to numerous examples of substandard work for which contractors were paid huge sums; in fact, in some cases they were even overpaid.

In many cases very little action is taken against these errant contractors for not meeting their contractual obligations, resulting in them walking scotch free. In fact, some persons would even be shocked to learn that these same persons who have done poor work or left work incomplete were awarded additional contracts.

Year after year, in his report, the Auditor General would highlight a number examples of substandard or incomplete work in construction projects across the country - whether they be schools, hospitals, roads, bridges etc. His most recent (2015) report was no different. In that report the AG pointed to some instances where road projects were incomplete, or left abandoned even though contractors were already paid huge sums to do a proper job. Many have asked what actions are being taken against these contractors to recoup these monies, or what sort of systems have been put in place to ensure these contracting firms are debarred from bidding for future projects.

Also, at a recent engagement between the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and regional officials to address several irregularities which were cited in the Auditor General’s 2015 Report, PAC Chairman, Irfaan Ali once again brought the said issue to fore. Like many others, he lamented the fact that very little is being done to ensure contractors honour their obligations to the State.

It was also pointed out at that meeting that in the past, sums of money were overpaid to contractors in mobilization fees – which is a fraction of the contractual cost that is paid to the contractor to get his/her equipment to the site where the project is to be implemented. In some cases, sums of money over the standard or required amount are paid to the contractor, and the works are still not completed.

This, certainly, is unacceptable. And while tax payers have used different forums to complain previously, the relevant agencies have a duty to ensure that public monies are well spent and accounted for.

From what is gathered, there are several lapses in the national procurement system from time to time which need to be corrected urgently. For example, it is clear that there are poor monitoring and reporting mechanisms in place to ensure contracting firms carry out works as per contractual agreement. Also, there seems to be no strict policy to penalize and/or debar contractors for failing to meet their contractual obligations.

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure had said that it is in the process of establishing a database which will keep a track record of the number of projects awarded to local contractors and their performance with respect to each. It would also be helpful if procuring entities keep a proper record of the performance of companies with regard to projects awarded. This could be used as an effective measure to better inform the process for selecting competent contractors to handle government projects.

Now that the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) has been established, one would hope that the relevant mechanisms are put in place with the aim of ensuring these lapses are corrected. To begin with the PPC would need to examine and implement effective measures for blacklisting, so that contractors who are consistently delinquent could face the requisite level of debarment.

A contractor found to have a record of producing poor and incomplete work cannot and should not be awarded additional contracts.

That said, citizens also have a role to play in ensuring that they get value for money. They should also be provide the relevant feedback to the respective authorities in relation to how certain projects are progressing in their communities.

Participants, young and old, took the time to appreciate this model sugar estate on display at the mini exhibition which formed part of the cultural event held to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Abolition of Indian Indentureship, at Leonora Ground on the West Coast Demerara on Sunday night

The PPC: its development, and hypocrisy of the regime Dear Editor, Once more, the situation with the setting up of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) and its functioning has come to the fore and is prominent in the news. Since the author had quite a bit to do with this, it is therefore important to once more set the record straight.

When the PPP/C government placed the PPC Bill before the National Assembly, the ‘no objection’ role of Cabinet was part of that Bill.

The then opposition railed against this, and suggested strongly that Cabinet’s role be removed. It was on the floor that this was done.

The then Attorney General, Doodnauth Singh, Khemraj Ramjattan and lawyers from the Opposition, including Winston Murray, had a sidebar and removed the role of Cabinet.

Therefore, the intention of the framers should not be in doubt.

I also recall that when the PPP/C moved in the National Assembly to establish that body, it was

hindered by the then opposition, which tried to manipulate the process to get majority representation on the Board. At one stage, they even demanded to have the chairmanship of the PPC. At the level of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), where these manoeuvres were taking place, the PPP/C was having none of that.

The PNC/R stuck to its position, refusing to compromise; and that prevented the setting up of the PPC. After the 2011 elections, the issue was raised again.

This time, the joint opposition had a one-seat majority in the National Assembly.

They were demanding that the PPC be established, and this time their bargaining position had improved. They appeared not to want any recommendation from the PPP/C. They used their one-seat majority in the Assembly to frustrate all of the then government’s developmental projects: They railed against the Marriott Hotel; they frustrated the beginning

of the Amaila Falls Hydro Project; they voted in the National Assembly to cut the budget of the Ministry of Works, stymieing the establishment of new airstrips in the interior; and they even voted against the establishment of a Specialty Hospital, which was aimed at advancing our health services by leaps and bounds.

The APNU/AFC was not only being anti-developmental, but also deliberately putting our country in harm’s way; they seemed to have wanted to make the economy grind to a halt. Their refusal to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill was aimed at damaging the financial sector and the economy as a whole. Further, the APNU/AFC members of the National Assembly voted against the Amendments to the Environmental Tax Act, which would have allowed a level playing field for local and regional companies.

This was fulfilling Guyana’s commitment to CARICOM. That would have settled the case brought by the Rudisa Company, which claimed

that the tax was discriminatory.

This anti-nationalist act by the APNU/AFC cost our country more than one billion dollars.

Even in such hostile circumstances, the PPP/C Administration tried to make compromises in relation to enacting the PPC. It was proposed that we establish the PPC but, however, allow cabinet to retain its ‘no objection.’ This was proposed because of the hostile attitude of the APNU/AFC towards the government’s projects.

The then opposition parties refused, and adamantly demanded that Cabinet’s role be completely removed.

Therefore, all the talk about things not being clear is just a mere roost for the APNU regime to renege on that position now.

There should be no doubt of the intent.

Cabinet’s role should be removed completely.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar

The cynics were right

Dear Editor, I read a letter addressed to the media from Othneil Lewis, the Chairman of the Sixth Form Student Council at Nations, and wanted to add some thoughts to what I thought was an excellent letter.

None of the, albeit very

few, responses that I have seen in the media supporting the 14 per cent VAT on private education addressed the issue of the 1300 ABE students in Guyana, who simply have nowhere else to go. Only three private schools in Guyana offer these internationally ac-

credited courses. It should be noted too that they each offer these courses at about 35 per cent of the fee charged for exactly the same programme in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago.

Othneil mentioned the potential consequences if even a handful of persons

dropped out of education as a result of the 14 per cent added tax. Our estimate, based on persons who have come into Nations to talk with us, suggest that the figure is not three persons, it could easily be 50 times that number or indeed far, far more. continued on PAGE 5

guyanatimesgy.com

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

Improving firefighting Surujbally undermining Constitution, GECOM (Pt 1) Dear Editor, The recent reports in the media on remarks and statements made by the past Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, Dr. Steve Surujbally, on his demitting office, raises questions of concern as to whether he deliberately, or mistakenly, is on a mission of undermining the accepted view of the constitutionally determined composition of the body of which he was chairman for fifteen (15) years.

Further, his statements at the press briefing, add to the criticisms of the quality of his stewardship of GECOM. Dr Surujbally was quoted as stating that “partisan” commissioners were not good for Guyana – a position he has stated at commission meetings on some occasions when he was required to cast his vote when the commission was divided across the table on contentious issues.

The Constitution provides for six commissioners

three of which are appointed by the President, acting in his own deliberate judgment, and three appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. The Chairman of GECOM is appointed, according to Article (161) 2, “ The Chairman of the Elections Commission shall be a person who holds or has held office as a judge of a court…or who is qualified to be appointed as any such judge, or any other fit and proper person.”

I have several times pointed out to Dr. Surujbally that the Commission was bi-partisan in nature, as a result of the tedious and deliberate formulation of the “Carter Formula” which was one the key adoptions in constitutional reform which allowed for a more democratic constitution and freer and fairer elections in 1992.

The resultant makeup of the Commission necessarily took into account the political context of Guyana and the interests of the major na-

tional political stakeholders in the constitutional reform process.

Therefore, in my view, Dr Surujbally’s attacks on commissioners for “partisan” positions or actions in and outside of GECOM are misplaced and, are seemingly following an agenda which is scripted elsewhere adopting the course of which could lead to the bogging down of progress towards holding National Elections in 2020 as constitutionally mandated.

The nominated commissioners of GECOM have the crucial role of bringing the perspectives, viewpoints and experiences of their nominee, the nominee’s supporters, and those of the wider society (inclusive of adversarial positions from the ‘other side’) for consideration, deliberation and resolution to the table at GECOM. And so, one has to ask Dr Surujbally, who is better placed to officiate at internal elections of their nominating party or grouping

The cynics were...

FROM PAGE 4

Ministers have been quoted in the media as saying that only eight of 57 private schools are tax complaint. Many of us fail to understand the relevance of that argument in this emotive debate.

Recently, it has been said a number of times that the great majority of private schools are not paying their fair share of tax or have found some form of tax loophole. If this is accurate, where is the justice in this, and why cannot this injustice be easily remedied by the authorities?

Only a little while ago we were promised “a new beginning” in the country.

There are now 1400 comments on the electronic version of our petition that question whether those promises have been honoured. What should we say to the thousands of persons we have encountered over the past few weeks who are now disillusioned, dispirited and thoroughly discouraged by the apparent insensitivity of ignoring the views of thousands and thousands of persons who are against the 14 per cent

VAT on private education?

The comments on the online petition have been made by people of all backgrounds, all races and the full spectrum of this society, and by persons throughout this country, and hundreds more from the Diaspora and many from other countries all over the world.

We plan now to redouble our efforts with both the paper and electronic versions of the petition, fully supported by a number of the other private schools, and will then resubmit the latest figures re the petition again next Friday.

We understand that others are now moving to the streets to protest, like they have in recent times in so many countries throughout the world in response to what they see as injustice. That has never been our proposed method. Our, perhaps rather naïve, hope has been that reason and rational argument would win the day. It seems now that the cynics had a clearer understanding of the reality than us

and now we may have to follow the way of the protest, “boots on the ground is the only way” as one jaded cynic told us. Our youthful hope was that things could have been done differently; it seems now, very sadly, that the cynics were right.

I wonder if we could still prove them wrong?

Yours faithfully, Dr Brian O’Toole

than a fair-minded, discerning GECOM commissioner?

And who is better at engaging with stakeholder groups in relation to their concerns with respect to the operations of the electoral body?

While Commissioners are expected and understood to be reticent, detached, discrete and dispassionate in their engagements one cannot ascribe mere “partisianship” to the role and every singled-out activity action of commissioners.

And here, I want to categorically deny being on a PPP/C ‘platform” in Essequibo shortly after being appointed a GECOM commissioner. I partook in an outreach by the PPP/C on that coast where I had discussions and took information at private ‘bottom-house’ meetings or at informal encounters at a number of locations where GECOM’S performance was unfailingly severely criticized. Surujbally appears to delight in propagating the fiction of the ‘platform’ which was inaccurately reported in the press.

In any event, it is the Chairman of GECOM who, when put in the sometimes unenviable position of having to cast his vote in determining a matter that is divisive – partisan or not- who has to have the courage and confidence to so do in a manner that is viewed as deliberate, logical and standing the tests of integrity and transparency.

Sincerely, Robeson Benn PPP/C GECOM Commissioner

Dear Editor, While it’s commendable that almost 50% of the 800 fire hydrants have been refurbished, which would go a long way towards improving firefighting techniques, albeit ensuring a portable and reliable water supply is readily accessible. Editor, nevertheless a major factor that can’t be overlooked is the need for a more collaborative effort between relevant authorities of the GWI and the Guyana Fire Service. Whereby, in locating a fire within a specific area in Georgetown, fire hydrants are immediately identified, but towards ascertaining whether a 6-8 main services the area.

Can the two major entities determine the location of the relevant valves, within a specific area? i.e. EastWest; North-South. Suffice it to say, that with the demand for an increased pressure (psi) must be activated instantly, by virtue of increasing the flow to a designated area (fire) and reducing the amount of pressure to other areas.

However, are the relevant valves operable, do they need servicing, or a complete overhaul?

In the final analysis, installing an 8-10-inch gate valve between the clarified and filtered water chambers, primarily for emergency purpose (firefighting) maybe in the interim is the most practicable solution, at this crucial juncture, since GWI can’t afford a separate/independent water network to aid firefighting. While we must forget the “ill conceived” utterance (s) of a former Minister of Social Communities, sourcing water from the Demerara River. Balderdash! What of salinity, mildly put salt content? This approach would have surely caused extensive damage to the firetenders internal pumps. By the way, is procuring a firefighting aquatic vessel, a front burner issue, in accordance to international maritime requirement (s)?

Respectfully Yours, Lester Sealey

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Foundation

By Wilma Koutstaal, PhD

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guyanatimesgy.com

ow do you feel during those moments when you are being most creative? Do you confidently and surely know, in the moment, that creative ideas are emerging and forming in your mind? Is there a smooth, easy, and ready flow of your ideas? Or is your creative process rather more bumpy and uneven? Is it more akin to moving – in small stuttering spurts and starts – down a pot-hole filled country lane than to gracefully gliding along in a canoe?

What are your assumptions about how the creative idea generation process “should” feel?

How do you know if you should persist in your search for inspiration, or if you’d best turn your mind and efforts to other things?

Taking up these questions, two researchers at Northwestern University hypothesised that people often underestimate the value of persistence in generating creative ideas. To test this notion, they conducted a series of seven studies, each following a similar twophase format, with various types of creative and non-creative tasks.

In the first phase of each study, participants were given a particular creative or problem-solving task and asked to generate as many ideas or solutions as they could during a set period of time (for example, generating unusual uses for a cardboard box for four minutes). Next, participants were asked to estimate how many more ideas or solutions they would be able to generate if

they continued working and thinking for an additional period of time (say, four more minutes). Then, in the second phase of each study, participants actually continued working on the idea generation task for the same amount of time (that is, four more minutes).

This two-phase format allowed the researchers to compare the number of ideas that people predicted they would be able to generate by continuing to stick with the creative problem-solving task with the number of ideas that they actually, in

fact, were able to generate.

Let’s look at a few of their studies.

Example Study A: Generating original ideas of what to eat or drink for Thanksgiving dinner Twenty-four Northwestern University students, in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, were asked to generate original ideas for what to eat or drink for Thanksgiving dinner. The students were told that independent judges would rate each of their ideas for originality, and that for each idea rated as above average, they would earn a raffle ticket to be entered into a US$50 lottery.

In their initial 10-minute idea-generation phase, the students came up with an average of about 22 ideas.

Before launching into the second phase, the students predicted that, given a further ten minutes, they would generate about 10 more ideas. But –– when put to the test –– they generated an average of 15 more ideas. So, the students underestimated their further idea generation performance by onethird. This under-prediction effect was large and statistically significant.

But what about the quality of the students’ ideas? It wasn’t simply that their additional ideas were just pale variations on their initially generated suggestions. Online raters using the internet task platform Amazon Mechanical Turk rated the quality (originality) of the ideas created during the time of persistence as significantly higher in quality. So, by persisting, the students generated considerably more ideas than they had expected they could, and those ideas were rated as more original than the ideas they had come up with earlier in the idea generation process.

Example Study B: Coming up with creative (vs. common) culinary uses of peanut butter Two hundred and twenty-two participants on Amazon Mechanical Turk were asked to suggest ways to use or incorporate peanut butter into foods or drinks. About half of the participants were asked to generate “creative” ideas for how to use peanut

butter; the other half were asked to provide “common” ideas. Participants generated ideas for two minutes, predicted how many more ideas they could generate if they continued with the generation task for two more minutes, then continued for two minutes.

Both groups of participants under-predicted how many further ideas they

Continued

By Gregory L Jantz PhD

T

eens have not yet figured out the truth behind the statement “The enemy of my enemy may not be my friend.” In a reaction against you or authority or rules or restrictions, teens may align themselves with others who feel

the same way, thinking they are like minded. This is one of the most compelling draws of teens who gather together under the banner of drug use. What they fail to realise is that addicts have only one allegiance — and it’s to the drugs, not to each other.

There are groups that will take advantage of teens and promise a connection that is surface at best, and a lie at worst.

This is why you must

could produce. But, intriguingly, participants asked to generate creative (novel and interesting/appetising) ideas under-predicted to a significantly greater extent than did those who were asked to generate common uses. And it wasn’t just the quantity of the creative generator’s ideas that improved: persistence again paid off in higher originality. (Excerpt from psy-

chologytoday.com)

remain a steadfast rock for your teenager. You must be and stay the parent.

So many other allegiances change and shift, but family remains — once a parent, always a parent. This doesn’t mean you’ll always have the right to tell your kids what to do; it does mean you’ll always have relationship from which to love your kids.

All teens will go off into the big, wide world as they journey to discover who they are. So be aware of where they go and whom they align themselves with. Don’t be arbitrary and demanding unnecessarily, out of your own fear. At some point, you want your relationship strong enough that they’ll know, no matter where they go, they can always find their way back home.

(Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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tuesDAY, march 7, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Parking meter burden

Trust, corruption major challenges facing Court denies stay on parking project GPF – Ramnarine ...60% of complaints are about neglect

W

ith the state of public confidence in the Guyana Police Guyana (GPF) being at best tenuous, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine has charged police officers to employ every effort to eradicate corruption and strive to rebuild trust in the Force.

During the opening ceremony of several training courses for various ranks of the GPF, on Monday at the Police Officers’ Training Centre at Eve Leary, Georgetown, Ramnarine made the above charge, and

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

told the roomful of officers that the success of any organisation depends on the integrity of its officials. He also noted that inspiring trust and eradicating corruption are two major challenges facing the GPF. In this regard, he underscored the importance of the training programmes in imbuing in law enforcement officials cognizance of the importance of trust, transparency and accountability.

“You are specifically chosen because you are our frontline officers who interface daily with the general public, and the quality of that interaction will either aggravate or alleviate,” he declared.

He told officers that most people want to respect the

A section of the participants at the opening ceremony of the training courses

police, but if police do not cultivate in the public that trust in law enforcement institutions, public confidence would not be forthcoming.

“If you are respectful, fair, patient, courteous and humble, and if you can be trusted and relied on by the public and your colleagues, then our organisation and country at large will be better off,” he admonished.

Against this backdrop, Ramnarine said the training programmes would inculcate the much-needed people skills in members of the Force, and train ranks to perform their duties with sincerity and professionalism.

“It’s not just coming on a training programme and going through a period…the whole intention is that when you would have left or completed this programme, you are expected to be a better policemen or woman, and your behaviour and attitude have to reflect this,” he explained.

He pointed out that the Police Force has made major strides in expanding its focus on youth, revamping its learning driver theory, building capacity in the Criminal Investigation Department, strengthening its intelligence-gathering capacity, implementing

a new concept of community policing, and establishing gender-based violence units in each division, among other things.

He, however, noted that the GPF is still grappling with increasing complaints of neglect, simply because of the negative attitudes and demeanors police officers employ when engaging the public.

In quoting a report from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ramnarine highlighted that security is an increasing concern in Latin America.

“High rates of crime affect almost every area of development in a region undergoing rapid social change…

The lack of trust and confidence in the ability of authorities – and in this case, law enforcement officials in particular – to protect (people) and keep their (families) safe has contributed to a sense of instability,” he read.

In this regard, he disclosed that a whopping 60 per cent of all complaints received by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) on a daily basis are directly related to various forms of neglect arising from either poor supervision or, in many cases, no supervision at all.

...penalties continue from today

T

he High Court has denied the application for a stay of execution filed

by Attorney-at-law Kamal Ramkarran in representation of Mohendra Arjune, the civilian who has challenged the legality of the parking meter project. This now clears the way for paid parking to continue in the city pending the outcome of the matter.

At Monday’s hearing, Justice Brassington Reynolds explained that while the proceedings could act as a ‘stay’, it did not extend to the executive order of the parking meter contract. The stay was intended to put a pause on the parking meter contract. This would have allowed for motorists to park without having to pay.

The court heard last week that in the case pertaining to the challenge brought on behalf of Arjune against the legality of the parking meter project, Attorney Ramkarran attempted to have paid parking placed on hold while the project is under judicial review. Ramkarran explained that the Order Nisi granted by then acting Chief Justice Yonnette CummingsEdwards had stated that the project be halted unless the Mayor or Town Clerk presents a reason stating otherwise.

However, Attorney

Roger Yearwood, representing City Council and the Town Clerk, contended that the Order Nisi does not facilitate interim or interlocutory relief, because the case was crown-side proceedings and not civil proceedings.

At Monday’s session, Justice Reynolds said the Order Nisi which was granted did not extend or operate as a ‘stay’ of the operations of the Mayor and City Council. The case against the Parking Meter Project will continue on March 20.

However, until the case is resolved, complainant Mohendra Arjune will be exempted from paid parking in Georgetown.

Justice Reynolds ruled last week that the court has jurisdiction to rule over prerogative writs. The Order Nisi as granted by then acting Chief Justice Yonnette Cummings-Edwards on February 16 had stated that the project must be halted until the Mayor or Town Clerk provide the requisite response. The order also revoked “the decision of the

Mayor and councillors and anyone acting by or through them, or under their directions or instructions, or on their behalf, to exempt persons or categories of persons from paying fees for parking in the City of Georgetown and being subject to penalties for parking in Georgetown.”

However, parking meter operatives continue to boot the motor vehicles of some operators who opt against paying the parking meter fees. Hours before Thursday’s protest, some 60 parking meter attendants were sworn in before the Town Clerk.

Some legal minds had contended that if the City continues to boot vehicles, this would be contempt of court. However, Attorney for City Council has argued that City Council must not be given less than 30 days prior to the institution of proceedings.

Meanwhile, a series of protests have erupted since the project’s implementation in late January. The demonstrators are calling for City Hall to rescind the contract, which has attracted widespread criticism for its signing and rollout process. (Shemuel Fanfair)

8 news

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Couple jailed, fined $57M for VIP lounge cocaine bust

A

couple who were last year busted with 10.392 kilograms of cocaine at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) were on Wednesday jailed for 60 months each and fined $57 million.

The sentence was handed down by city Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Appearing before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts was Mahendra Ramsuchit, who allegedly had in his possession on January 30, 2015, 10.392 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

At his side was

Rohbina Basdeoram

Mahendra Ramsuchit

Ramsuchit’s reputed wife, Rohbina Basdeoram, who allegedly had 10.968 kilograms of cocaine for the same purpose, at the CJIA on the same day.

According to the prosecution’s case, the illicit substance was unearthed at the scanning checkpoint when an officer attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), spotted the cocaine blocks that were disguised in a bag. In addition to the substance found in the bag, several envelope parcels with “confidential” labels were also discovered to contain the drug.

continued on page 13

Roiling…

Y

…in all the wrong places our Eyewitness figures the higher reaches of the Public Service must be wondering what hit them over the weekend. It was like the night of the long knives at the Splashmin’s retreat they’d been taken to – ostensibly to review performances. They ended up splashing in the blood that ran like rivulets after the Minister of the Presidency was done.

Permanent Secretaries were sent “on leave”, some were transferred to other ministries, some were switched and a number of senior staff were bumped up. Some ran here, some ran there…and the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth were a thing to behold! The reason given for the roiling at the top of the governmental bureaucratic food chain was they hadn’t spent their budgetary allocations. In some cases, there were only 15 per cent completion rates! Which, of course, makes the Government look bad and the economy worse. But is it really the fault of the Permanent Secretaries?

What about where the buck really stops in the Government Ministries – the senior and junior Ministers?

Gosh knows there’s enough of THEM around – 27 at the last count. What’s their responsibility for the abysmal performance? Remember the old folk wisdom – the fish starts to stink at the head? Well, a number of ministerial heads really stink – but they’re still drawing their fat salaries, which were further augmented by the 50 per cent self-awarded raise.

Don’t these Ministers review the performance of their departments on a systematic basis? Is it only at the end of the year that someone woke up and discovered everyone was sitting on their big, fat heinies in their airconditioned offices? But back to the point we made – which can be made more explicit with an example – the Ministry of Agriculture. Here is a Minister that seems to be lost in space when it comes to his portfolio. How can he drive a process when he doesn’t have a clue about the difference, for instance, between sugar cane or wild cane?

Holder’s management style is reminiscent of GuySuCo’s where we have Field Managers who’ve never seen a field! They sit in their offices and only HEAR about them. And when the cat’s napping, the mice will play!

Fact of the matter, this Government thinks it can run on autopilot – with Ministers making grand pronouncements and expecting things to get done by themselves.

There seems to be no urgency with the top-heavy ministerial team. What’s actually needed is for some head rolling to be practised at that level.

Prezzie has to quit with the avuncular style and pull out his own long knife! …US borders You’ve got to hand it to the new President of the US of A…the fella doesn’t give up when it comes to pandering to get what he wants. While there appeared to be near unanimous condemnation of his travel ban on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, polls showed more than one out of two Americans actually supported him!

And we shouldn’t be surprised then, he’s just re-imposed the ban – this time leaving out Iraq.

Your Eyewitness really doesn’t want to get into the merits or demerits of the ban at this time, but simply to point out Trump’s once again demonstrated he knows what Main Street America wants. And that America’s Fleet Street – and its judiciary – are really out of touch with the ordinary Joe and Josephine out there. They’ve confirmed Trump’s charge they’re actually very “elitist”.

Now some may say average Americans don’t want Muslims to enter America, because as the polls showed they have “fears” of terrorism and that it’s Trump who’s stoked those fears.

But “stoking” isn’t “creating”, is it? …oil side deals We return to Minister Trotman insisting he won’t reveal the ALTERED terms of the contract with Exxon?

Any connection to Trump changing the law so US oil companies don’t have to reveal who they paid off?

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

news

9

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wales closure

Sugar workers renew call for President’s intervention …say they’re struggling to support their families

ployees must go to Uitvlugt.

The workers claimed that they received threats to the effect that their names would be taken off the payroll at Wales. Meanwhile, there was a brief confrontation between a worker and one of the security staff who was filming Monday morning’s protest.

Workers who gathered on Monday rejecting the transfer to Uitvlugt Estate and are demanding to be paid their severance packages

M

onths after venting frustration over the non-payment of severance packages which were promised since December 2016, sugar workers have once again protested at their former place of employment, calling for President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to look into their concerns.

At approximately 08:00h on Monday, the sugar workers formerly attached to the Wales Estate staged another protest at the factory demanding their payments.

The workers’ contention is that they cannot be compelled to travel to the Uitvlugt Estate on the West Coast of Demerara, some 22 miles from Wales.

At Monday’s protest, the workers told <<<Guyana Times>>> that they were finding it difficult to get consistent employment and, as such, were struggling to make ends meet. It was ex-

plained that their finances were dwindling since they were unable to garner fiveday-a-week jobs. In fact, one former Wales employee stressed that many of his colleagues had to seek work in Georgetown.

“The family making out real rough; right now, money going down real low,” stated Festus Roberts, who indicated that he worked in the sugar industry over 20 years.

“We need money, people got instalment fuh pay, house rent fuh pay,” expressed another protester.

Michael Chotoo, another demonstrator, told this publication that he was having great difficulty sending his children aged nine, 13 and 15 to school. “Meh family struggle because some days me children can’t go to school…meh can’t afford because meh nah get money since December month,” the frustrated father observed.

In this light, the work-

Smuggled AK-47....

The mobile phone belonging to the driver was checked and it was found that several calls were made to the ASP. That very ASP, this newspaper was told, had been implicated in several unprofessional and shady transactions, and had been interdicted from duty several years ago, following the murder of Dweive Kant Ramdass in the Essequibo River.

Ramdass was reportedly robbed of millions of dollars.

The ASP, who had been a cadet officer at the time, had been accused, along with other ranks, of stealing an undisclosed sum of money from Ramdass, which they had confiscated.

During that trial, however, no evidence had been given against the Police ranks, and they were subsequently reinstated into the Police Force.

Meanwhile, the Corporal who has been arrested is the brother of a tattoo artist who had been charged and remanded to prison for the murder of Leelawattie Mohamed, who was gunned down in Tain, Corentyne two weeks ago.

The Corporal was reportedly on the radar of several senior

ers once again called on the Head of State and the Prime Minister to look into their plight and intervene on their behalf.

“Not even to de Prime Minister, not one of them not come to solve our problems.

Leh dem come look into our matter; we need them here because this is our President and he has to show us that he cares for us,” sugar worker Rahim (only name) expressed.

His sentiments were shared by fellow protester Fizal Ali. “We have a very good President and all of here are depending on him as well to come with the verdict as early as possible [because] we deserve our money and we’re going to have it,” the worker highlighted.

At last Thursday’s meeting with workers, Estate Manager Dave Kumar reportedly reiterated GuySuCo’s stance that em-

from page 2

officers. Suspicion that his character was shady arose after he was seen driving

in and out of the TSU compound in various heavily tinted motor cars

The workers have been protesting over the last two months. At one of their many demonstrations, the workers had reminded that President Granger and Prime Minister Nagamootoo had committed their support to the sugar industry in the run-up to the 2015 General and Regional Elections. However, when

Government had confirmed the end of sugar operations at Wales Estate last year, it was explained that cost was the main factor behind’s the entity’s closure. Government have also since expressed that only three sugar estates would remain operational in Guyana.

10

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

News

20th death anniversary of Dr Cheddi Jagan

Supporters urged to ‘rise above intimidation’ at Region 2 tribute Phagwah or Holi: My favourite festival I L

ate President many things of Guyana and were done to asfounder of the sist rice farmPeople’s Progressive ers which, in Party (PPP), Dr turn, made the Cheddi Jagan was rice industry vion Monday rememable. He even bered during a grand reminded the wreath-laying ceremogathering that ny held at the Cheddi Dr Jagan was Jagan play park, at sent to prisAnna Regina in Region on numerous Two (Pomeroontimes, but with Supenaam). determination, The activity was he stayed foorganised by PPP cused and made Freedom House Guyana an inAnna Regina and the dependent naRegion’s Cheddi Jagan tion.

Commemoration “Our comCommittee in obser- Party members in Essequibo during the wreath-laying ceremony held at the rades must revance of Dr Jagan’s Cheddi Jagan Play Park, at Anna Regina member the 20th death anniversahistory and the During his feature address, ry. The programme featured poems, Regional Vice Chairman and PPP/ rich legacy of Jagan; he had vision songs, and lectures reflecting on the Civic executive member Vishnu for Guyana, inherited a Government life of the dynamic politician.

Samaroo shared information on that was bankrupt and with begging the legacy hat he went out to various countries of the great asking for debt write-off; he made leader, who, this economy start blossoming,” the he empha- PPP member said.

Samaroo also expressed his dissised, fought for a better appointment at the recent announceGuyana. He ment made by Minister of State, reminded the Joseph Harmon over the “recycling” audience that of envelopes alluding to the fact that Dr Jagan was the Government was cash-strapped.

In his remarks, Region Two born at Port Chairman Devanand Ramdatt deMourant and although he scribed Dr Jagan as a fighter outwas an ordi- lining that “local government” and nary person, “independence” were just a few of he used his the things the leader battled for, time on earth for a better Guyana. Ramdatt comto transform mended the Regional Cheddi Jagan all sectors Commemoration Committee for in Guyana hosting the event and called on the through his Committee to plan a grand programme next year for the celebrahard work.

D u r i n g tion of the former leader’s centenary.

The Regional Chairman stressed his reflection, Samaroo de- that Guyana’s history could not be scribed Dr complete without remembering the Jagan as a selfless work of Dr Jagan. He, thereteacher, a fa- fore, called for supporters during ther and a March – “Jagan’s month” – to dedip o l i t i c i a n cate their energies towards self-less who had the works.

As to the struggling rice indusworking class at heart and try, he acknowledged the hardship who made a of farmers and underscored that alvow to liber- though the Government has been ate Guyana in office for 20 months, nothing has to a demo- been done to support the rice farmcratic and ers.

Ramdatt reiterated that Dr free nation.

Jagan fought for working-class peoHe recalled that ple, especially rice farmers, and the late called for party supporters to unite P r e s i d e n t and embrace all forms of peaceful formed a par- struggle and to rise above any intimty that has a idation.

“Comrades, we have to do introrich history, and he called spection, examine our sacred reon party sup- sponsibility; we need to strengthen porters to our district and make Region Two work together strong. We have to ensure the PPP/C to strength- get back into Government and this en the lega- can only happen by dedicated supcy of the for- port by members and working with mer leader. the grassroots,” Ramdatt said.

Wreaths were laid at the foot of the He said Dr monument

by Executive PPP memJagan saw the struggles bers, including Samaroo, the First of rice farm- Secretary of the PPP/C in Essequibo; ers and with Regional Chairman Ramdatt; repthat in mind, resentatives from the Progressive he formed the Youth Organisation (PYO); Women’s Guyana Rice Progressive Organisation repreP r o d u c e r s sentative Juliet Coonjah, as well A s s o c i a t i o n as representatives of the Guyana (GRPA). With Agricultural and General Workers the GRPA, Union (GAWU) and GRPA.

n a few days, Hindus across the globe will celebrate Phagwah, or Holi. This festival is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March (12th in Guyana) every year. Initially, Holi was a festival to celebrate good harvests and fertility of the land. Holi is now a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu mythology. The story revolves around a king who resented his son, Prahlada, for worshipping Lord Vishnu. He attempted to kill his son, but failed each time. Finally, the king’s sister, Holika, who was said to be immune from burning, sat with Prahlada in a huge fire. However, the Prahlada emerged unscathed while his aunt was burned to death.

Holi is a festival that expresses good over evil and eventual triumph of faith in God. Holi is spread over sixteen days.

The mental side of Holi stresses giving up past grudges, repairing bad relationships, and showering and sharing love and happiness. The physical side encourages people to meet and mingle; hug and huddle; spray abeer (a red-coloured water), water and powder – and in some parts of the world mud - on friends, foes, strangers and anyone around you.

Groups of singers and dancers would Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine go from house to house to perform and sometimes engage in competition with nearby villages. Food and sweets, and in Guyana lots of alcohol, are consumed.

Holi was brought to Guyana from India by indentured Indians in the nineteenth century. Remarkably, unlike the caste system, Holi survived the indentureship, but has evolved to form a unique Caribbean-Indian cultural identity. Amongst the myriad of characteristics in Holi, I am particularly fascinated with the Hindu folk music/songs Chowtal, and the music instrument Dhantal, during the elaborated celebration. What interests me so much about Chowtal and Dhantal is not necessarily how they sound – that is appealing in and by itself – but rather how these Indian music songs and instruments have evolved in tandem with oral traditions.

Indians in the Caribbean might be surprised to know that the Chowtal songs that are usually played at the Holi festivals in Guyana do not display the same characteristics as those played in India. Like so many Indian customs, Chowtal has also taken Guyanese creole cultural elements. The ethno-musicologist Peter Manuel makes this point in his book, Tales, Tunes and Tassa Drums: Retention and Invention in IndoCaribbean Music, but he has also cautioned that the geographical distance between India and the Caribbean does not mean that IndoCaribbean music has become totally Western or creole-oriented.

Instead, and in spite of the fact that a majority of Caribbean Indians have lost meaningful contacts with India since indentured emancipation in 1920, Caribbean-Indian music has evolved uniquely into a CaribbeanIndian musical sensibility and identity. This identity is neither like India nor other ethno-musical groups in the Caribbean. I agree with Manuel’s assertion.

I am, however, concerned with the following question I posed in my review of Manuel’s book, which was published in the reputable British Ethnomusicology Forum. I enquired about this: “The question to ask is: How have Caribbean-Indian people managed to continue some semblance of their homeland music while also developing their own musical forms, especially when they were “forced” to assimilate to creolization – a mix of Euro-Afro sensibilities, values, and norms that are more associated with Western than Eastern Hindu and Muslim accruement?”

For the sake of this column, I combed through Manuel’s book once more, and I think he answered my question partially. He writes that: “In the new conditions in the Diaspora, its constitutive elements have taken a variety of trajectories, including decline, consolidation, compartmentalized persistence (including as marginal survivals), creolization, extensive growth, extensive growth and development, and elaboration along neo-traditional Indian lines of evolution” (p. 224).

I do not believe the above is sophistry, but the “musicalization” of Caribbean-Indian experience, which obviously can be seen in Holi.

I am also moved in no small way wherever and whenever someone plays the Dhantal, a long iron rod and a horseshoe instrument played by striking them together to produce a rhythmical beat. The sound of Dhantal is inescapable if you are from the villages, former indentured yards, during the weekends and during various Indian celebrations. It is the experience of growing up, a rite of passage.

What is also inescapable are some village conversations, and even arguments amongst older folks, as to the origins of Dhantal. The pendulum of arguments generally sway from the thought that Dhantal never existed in India to that it was developed in the Indo-phone Caribbean. These are arguments not to lament over but be excited about, because they generate a sense of amusement and even ridicule amongst the speakers and listeners. To date, no one, including Manuel, knows where Dhantal has come from. We know, however, that as long as Holi survives the trials and tribulations of modernization, so will Dhantal.

There is no doubt that Holi breaks down walls of ethnic separation and brings us closer. I have witnessed all ethnic groups celebrating Holi in ways that would shock people from the Sub-continent, where ethnic and religion division is the norm rather than the exception. I wish my Guyana would feel like Holi every day, but this might be only a dream. (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017

11

News

Pastor remanded for causing Senior Policeman who threatened to kill junior death by dangerous driving S ranks remains on job ...as legal advice being sought

A

n Assistant Ramnarine said the Police Service Superintendent of Police (ASP) Commission (PSC) would also have a role who had been capto play in the matter, tured in a video verbally abusing junior trafsince the officer is a gafic ranks is still on duty zetted member of the Force. as Police authorities await legal advice.

In the video, the traffic ranks were jotIn the video, which ting down informahas now gone viral, the belligerent officer, tion in their notepads who was off duty at the when the ASP erupted in aggression and betime, was seemingly ingan threatening the oftoxicated as he threatficers. ened to kill the junior “If me had it me traffic ranks who were probing two minor acciway, you won’t be a dents in which he was f@$#&*% recruit or a Police! Find out ’bout involved. me! I would murThe incident ocder you $%@&* to the curred on February 22 at Broad Street, The abusive ASP who had threatened to kill ground!” he said.

Georgetown while traf- the traffic ranks All the while, the fic ranks were questraffic ranks were tellon duty pending legal ading the abusive policeman to tioning the senior policeman vice. about two road accidents in “There’s a process you “desist from cursing at me.”

According to the citizen which he reportedly was in- have to follow even when an volved on the same day. allegation is made…it takes who recorded and uploadActing Police a little time…I have seen ed the video to social meCommissioner David the video, as disgusting as dia, the senior policeman Ramnarine has said the it is,” he told media opera- was allowed to walk around matter is engaging the at- tives on Monday morning at like nothing was wrong tention of the police, but he the Police Officers’ Training when they arrived at the Brickdam Police Station. noted that the ASP remains Centre.

enior pastor at at a fast rate. He the Universal failed to stop upon Church of approaching the the Kingdom of intersection at God (UCKG), popSmyth Street, and ular television collided with the host Haleno Luiz, motorcycle the dewas on Monday ceased was drivarraigned before ing. Rushed to Chief Magistrate the hospital, the Ann McLennan at injured man was the Georgetown pronounced dead Magistrates’ Courts, on arrival. and has been reAttorney manded to prison for Gunraj contendcausing the death of ed that his cliAccused: Haleno Luiz and victim Maurice Mosely (inset) pensioner Maurice ent’s passport was The attorney’s applicaMosely by dangernever requested tion for bail for his client during the investigation proous driving.

It is alleged that on March was, however, unsuccessful, cess, making same an unrea3, 2017, at Hadfield and as Police Prosecutor Deniro sonable basis for objecting to Smyth Streets, Georgetown, Jones objected to the grant- bail. Moreover, he declared the 35-year-old pastor drove ing of bail based on the gravi- the charge a bailable offence, motor vehicle PVV 4765 in ty of the offence and the pen- and asserted that the constia manner dangerous to the alty attached thereto. Jones tution vests in a defendant public, thereby causing the argued that the accused is not the right to remain silent, pensioner’s death. a resident of this country, and with the exercise of this right Luiz was not required to has not given a caution state- not being held against that plead to the indictable charge. ment to the police nor provid- defendant.

Defence attorney Sase ed any travel documents for Several members of the Gunraj related to the court the police to peruse; thus he church crowded the courtthat his client is a Brazilian, can be considered a flight risk room in support of the pasis married with three chil- if bail should be granted. tor, and were seen praying dren, and had been residing The prosecution also throughout the session. in Guyana with his family disclosed that because a The Chief Magistrate defor the past three years as he post-mortem has not been nied the defendant bail, rulspreads the word of God. He performed on the deceased, ing that Luiz must be conalso said that his client is pre- the prosecution’s file is still sidered a flight risk owing to pared to lodge his passport incomplete. the flexible access across the with the relevant authorities, Prosecutor Jones related Guyana-Brazil border. and is willing to comply with that on the day of the inciThe pastor was remanded any condition that the court dent, the pastor was proceed- to prison and the matter stands may impose in regard to bail. ing east along Hadfield Street adjourned until March 14.

12news Rice harvesting commences in Region 2 tuesDAY, march 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

… farmers dissatisfied with current prices

R

ice harvesting has commenced in villages across Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) including Aurora, Airy Hall, Affiance, Golden Fleece, Lima and Hampton Court. However, despite the fact that millers are paying cash for paddy, many rice farmers are dissatisfied with the current prices offered since, according to them, they cannot compensate for their expenses.

The current prices offered by millers range from $1800 to $2400 for grade A and B paddy. Millers currently purchasing include Arnold Sankar, Imam Bacchus and Sons, Golden Fleece Rice Investment, Sea Rice and Caricom Rice Mill. This newspaper was also informed that two reputable millers still owe rice farmers a huge sum of money.

At Imam Bacchus and Sons mill, the price ranges from $2200 to $2400 for grades A, B and C paddy. It was unclear if these millers are paying cash; however, the farmers are contending that millers can offer a much better price.

"Those prices cannot pay at all; we have invested a lot into our crop this year, the extra burden was on the pumping, the El Niño situation devastated our

Farmers harvesting rice

crop, we were struggling; we can be satisfied with a $3000-$3500 for a bag," one Aurora farmer commented.

When Guyana Times visited several mills in the Region, rice farmers were observed taking their paddy from fields straight to the mills, owing to the lack of a storage facility.

According to the farmers, this is the only option they have.

"We have to take it to the mill despite what they will pay us because where will we store it? The Government not doing anything," another rice farmer said.

They are, therefore, calling on the Government of Guyana to find profitable markets. They explained too that since the coalition Government took office, the

rice industry has been left to suffer.

The challenges faced by rice farmers were as a result of many factors, including insufficient supply of water in their fields, the El Niño weather phenomenon, late payments and indebtedness.

Additionally, the rice farmers were not even given lower prices for fertilisers or pesticide as were offered by the previous Government to assist them in offsetting their overhead expenses. The rice crop is currently affected by paddy bugs.

Farmers have reiterated their dissatisfaction over Government’s approach to the rice industry and are calling for Agriculture Minister Noel Holder to represent their interests.

Diplomatic shops to be reintroduced T

he Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced its intention to reintroduce duty-free services to Georgetown.

This was declared to the public through an advertisement inviting expressions of interest from businesses willing to establish these diplomatic shops. The GRA is currently on a search for two suitable entities to provide goods and services to diplomats and foreigners at a tax exempted cost.

In an interview with Guyana Times, GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia stated that the move for the restoration of diplomatic shops was an effort to reduce the number of persons filing for tax returns. He further indicated that the facilities would be solely to serve diplomats and foreigners, who may incur taxes on products purchased here in Guyana.

The two diplomatic shops are set to be established in Georgetown. Moreover, duty-free services will be introduced for incoming passengers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) with a duty-free diplomatic shop being constructed at

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

the arrival lounge.

During the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration, there was a diplomatic shop called Sijan Plaza; however, owing to breaches in the contract to provide services only to non-locals, the facility was closed and the idea has been disregarded until this recent development.

The Commissioner General stressed on the strict measures which would accompany the reintroduction of the diplomatic shops as preventative measures against past discrepancies.

He pointed out that there

would be thorough vetting of the businesses expressing interest and only the most qualified would be given the go-ahead. Accreditation, location and experience are among the qualities which would be closely compared and assessed.

While duty-free shops are traditionally known as the sales place of liquor, confectionery and local merchandise, the GRA hopes to have a wide cross-section of products on sale at these new facilities. When implemented, foreigners should be able to purchase their entire monthly supplies without paying taxes and consequently reducing the need to file for returns.

As of Monday, the GRA has received two expressions of interest. The invitation to businesses, both local and abroad, will remain open for the remainder of the week.

Other Caribbean territories such as Trinidad and Grenada have had similar facilities in existence for a number of years. However, locals of these countries are generally allowed to utilise the services offered through the duty-free shops.

Drug fraud

Couple placed on station bail

T

he pharmacist and his wife who were taken into police custody in connection with a massive drug fraud at the West Demerara Regional Hospital have been placed on bail as police investigations continue.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told media operatives on Monday that the

matter is currently engaging the attention of the Fraud Squad. He disclosed that the couple were placed on bail, but are mandated to report to the police.

“They are required to report to the police from time to time, and are assisting with the investigation,” he explained.

Pharmacist Puran Bipath

and his wife, both employees of the West Demerara Regional Hospital, have been suspected of involvement in a drug procurement and supply fraud after irregularities were discovered by a team from the Ministry of Public Health.

Police are continuing their investigations.

Butcher stabs butcher in Bourda Market brawl

O

One butcher attempted to butcher another butcher at the Bourda Market in Georgetown

ne butcher attempted to butcher another butcher in a violent altercation that occurred on Monday at Georgetown’s Bourda Market, and one man has been hospitalized following that stabbing incident.

Reports are that during a heated argument which erupted between the two

butchers in the vicinity of the Hack’s Butchery inside the Bourda Market at about 08:00 hrs on Monday, one of the butchers grabbed a knife and stabbed the other, even as traumatized patrons looked on helplessly.

This newspaper was told that after he was stabbed, the injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public

Hospital in an unconscious state. His identity has not been disclosed to this publication; and late Monday afternoon, two senior ranks of the Guyana Police Force indicated that they were not aware of the incident.

Hospital sources have, however, confirmed that the injured butcher is a patient at that facility.

news

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tuesDAY, march 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Criminal charges should be instituted against Burnham's family – Nandlall

…former President's family received 5 acres of prime land

…as SOCU to interview Pradoville 2 residents this week

S

everal persons who purchased property at the Sparendaam seawall area commonly known as “Pradoville 2” are to be interviewed by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in connection with its investigation into the purchase of those lands.

Guyana Times was told that among the persons to be questioned are opposition members former Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon and members of Parliament Clement Rohee, Priya Manickchand, Dr Jennifer Westford and Irfaan Ali and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

However other persons who have property in the area includes, former Army Chief Gary Bess, former President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr Compton Bourne, Former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud among others. It is not clear however if these persons will also be interviewed.

Additionally, former President Donald Ramotar’s daughter Lisaveta Ramotar, as well as Guyana's lead negotiator to the UNFCCC, Andrew Bishop, would also

Former President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr Compton Bourne

Former Army Chief Gary Best

Andrew Bishop

Dr Roger Luncheon

be subjected to questioning sometime this week.

SOCU has invited those persons to visit its office at Camp Street at specified times during this week, to be interviewed as a part of the ongoing inquiry into Pradoville 2.

Attorney Anil Nandlall, who is providing legal representation for Luncheon, Rohee, Manickchand, Westford, Ali and Jagdeo, has dispatched a letter to the Head of SOCU, Sydney James, reminding him that the Pradoville 2 case is currently the subject of a constitutional challenge which is pending before the Constitutional/ Administrative Division of

the High Court. “As a result of this and a multitude of other factors, which advisedly I will not disclose at this stage, I have deep reservations regarding the propriety, legality and constitutionality of the process upon which you and your officers have embarked, and I have so advised my clients,” he said in the letter.

Nonetheless, Nandlall said his clients will cooperate, even though it is not incumbent upon them to do so.

“Notwithstanding, without prejudice to the foregoing, and to demonstrate a willingness to cooperate, though not obligated to (cooperate), I have advised my clients to, at this stage,

make themselves available for the requested interview,” he stated.

Nandlall informed the SOCU Director that his clients, who are Parliamentarians, along with Dr. Luncheon, will make themselves available at the Office of the Opposition Leader at Church Street for the requested interview from Tuesday to Friday.

He also advised that Ramotar and Bishop will be available to do the interview at his Chambers on South Road at a time and date convenient to the officers during the course of the week.

The APNU/AFC coalition Government has argued that the Pradoville 2 lands and their transactions were tainted with illegality on the basis that the lands were obtained below their market value. But Nandlall had contended that, when applying the same logic, the current Cabinet acted unlawfully when its members approved a 50 per cent increase in their salaries.

Banks DIH donates over $4M to charities

B

anks DIH Limited on Monday made its annual donation to charities which amounted to over $4 million.

At a simple ceremony held at Thirst Park, Greater Georgetown, the cheques were handed over to the 25 charities by the company’s Chairman, Clifford Reis and Managing Director, George McDonald.

The donations are done annually after shareholders of the company approve a sum of money to be disbursed under the heading “Deeds of covenant with organisations”.

Some of the charities that received donations are the Salvation Army, Uncle Eddie’s Home, Dharma Shala, the Blind Society,

Representatives of the 25 charities that benefited pose with the company’s Chairman, Clifford Reis (back row, second from right) and Managing Director, George McDonald

Guyana Seventh-Day Adventist Churches, and the Young Women’s Christian Association among others.

This is the first time that the company held a ceremony to hand over the donations.

Banks DIH, throughout the years, has continued

to aid the Guyanese public making donations when necessary. Major donations are made to the education sector and also to promote sports in Guyana.

Funds are even sent abroad to help when disaster strikes.

Opposition Leader denies calling AFC defectors “delusional”

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he attention of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition was drawn to an article published in the Chronicle Newspapers under the caption, “Jagdeo Extends Olive Branch to PPP Defectors.”

The article purports to be a coverage of the 20th

Lisa Ramotar Dr Jennifer Westford

He was adamant that the price for which the land was sold was similar to, or comparable with, the price at which the Government sold lands under its housing programme to individuals as well as developers at that point in time.

Nandlall had also argued that, applying the same logic, criminal charges should be instituted against the Forbes Burnham family, who received 5 acres of prime land east of Sheriff Street, in the vicinity of the Botanical Gardens, given to them by transport by former President Jagdeo.

Nonetheless, Jagdeo has already signalled his intention to file private

Couple jailed, fined...

death anniversary event of Dr Cheddi Jagan, held Sunday at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant. The article attributes the following statement to the Leader of the Opposition “we have to be welcoming; a lot of people who left and went to the AFC are delusional and are

coming back.”

The Leader of the Opposition did not use the word “delusional.”

The word used was “disillusioned.” This is borne out by all the videos and audio recordings of the speech of the Leader of the Opposition.

The couple were represented by Defence Attorneys Kim Young and Everton Singh-Lammy, who requested the Magistrate’s leniency, considering the fact that the couple had three children, with the youngest a seven-month breast-feeding baby, and there was no one to take care of their offspring.

After listening to the lawyer, Magistrate Latchman, considering the amount and street value of the drug and the organised manner in which the smuggling attempt was made and to dissuade others from committing the offence, sentenced the couple to 60 months each in prison.

Meanwhile, the trial of ex-ministerial aide Kenroy Joseph, of Newtown, Kitty, came to an end on Monday morning when Magistrate Latchman dismissed the charge, which stated that the defendant aided and abetted Ramsuchit and Basdeoram, to traf-

Robert Persaud

criminal charges against Government officials on certain matters, including the 50 per cent salary increase situation.

Meanwhile, Nandlall had objected to assertions that the then government had in fact paid to have remove a National Communications Network (NCN) transmission tower in order to use the lands to develop it into a high-end residential locale.

He pointed out that the tower was removed long before any work had begun at Pradoville 2.

He highlighted that the tower was removed to facilitate the expansion of the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, ECD.

continued from page 8

Kenroy Joseph with his Attorney

fic a quantity of cocaine on January 30, 2015 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

According to the prosecution’s case, Joseph, identifying himself as “Kenneth Jones”, on January 30, 2015, helped the couple to pass through the VIP lounge of the Airport by presenting forged documents from the Foreign Affairs Ministry to the Airport Duty Office (ADO), stating that he was carrying out protocol duties for the two named individuals.

However, detailed security checks revealed the trio to be impostors.

The Magistrate, in her ruling, exonerated Joseph of the charge, as the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to convict him. Several witnesses presented during the trial were unable to positively identify him as the individual who aided the couple.

Joseph, however, is still to face the court for uttering forged documents to officials at the Airport on the said date.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017

Regional

Thousands of Argentine teachers Venezuela in war strike in test for Macri’s Govt of words with

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housands of teachers took to the streets of Buenos Aires on Monday, delaying the first day of school for millions of children, as part of a two-day national strike demanding a wage increase to compensate for sky-high inflation last year.

The strike poses a test for centre-right President Mauricio Macri’s Administration, which is increasingly clashing with the country’s powerful unions ahead of legislative elections in October. Macri’s coalition is banking on success in the midterm vote to continue its agenda of market-friendly reforms.

The outcome of Argentina’s annual wage negotiations are closely watched by economists as salary hikes far above the

Thousands of teachers took to the streets, delaying the first day of school for millions of children, as part of a two-day national strike demanding a wage increase, in Buenos Aires, Argentina March 6, 2017. The signs read ‘In defence of public education, art and socio-educational programmes

central bank’s target for 1217 per cent inflation in 2017 could make it more difficult for the Government to control inflation.

Monday’s strike comes after unions and many provincial Governments failed to reach salary agreements, with teachers demanding

that wage hikes compensate for purchasing power lost in 2016, when inflation totalled around 40 per cent.

“The strike is massive across the whole country,” Roberto Baradel, a Buenos Aires province teachers’ union leader, said in an interview with local television channel Crónica.

Teachers in Argentina’s largest province of Buenos Aires have demanded wage increases of 35 per cent for 2017, while Governor Maria Eugenia Vidal – a close Macri ally – has offered them an 18 per cent raise.

In a speech last month, central bank President Federico Sturzenegger said salary hikes “slightly above” the central bank’s target would not compromise the monetary authority’s ability to meet its target.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Evacuation ordered as landfill Jamaica Police using WhatsApp to tackle sexual in The Bahamas burns exploitation of children

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Prime Minister Perry Christie (in black jacket) watches as the dump burns (Photo: Facebook page of the Office of the Prime Minister)

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n immediate evacuation has been ordered after a massive fire broke out at the city dump in The Bahamas’ capital, Nassau, in the island of New Providence on Sunday and continues burning.

The order to leave the area immediately, applied to residents living in the surrounding area of Jubilee Gardens who have been advised to take all necessary precautions to ensure their safety. Evacuation facilities were established at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has activated its Emergency Plan, and all available resources have been mobilised, a statement from the Government said.

Although it is too early to be certain, officials say it appears that a number of fires were started in the area and

because of the high winds being experienced on New Providence, at least one of those fires blew across the boundary and ignited the public landfill.

Prime Minister Perry Christie was on the scene shortly after the scale and intensity of the blaze were confirmed.

“The number one priority is to ensure that everyone is safe. I am confident that the Emergency Services are doing whatever is required to make certain that no-one comes to harm. We have already made every resource available to limit the damage to property, and to minimise environmental harm,” he said.

Christie added that the government would reach out to international partners for assistance, if the situation warrants that.

(Caribbean360)

he Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is using messaging service WhatsApp to tackle the sexual exploitation of children via social media.

Head of the Corporate Communications Unit of the JCF, Head of the Corporate Communications S u p e r i n t e n d e n t Unit of the JCF, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay Stephanie Lindsay said a WhatsApp Development Agency (CDA); group was created to encourOffice of the Children’s age citizens to send all sexuRegistry and the Centre for al videos and images of chilthe Investigation of Sexual dren directly to the Police, in Offences and Child Abuse order to prevent undesirable (CISOCA). sharing.

Superintendent Lindsay “Once the content is sent explained that the move to to the Police, we will use our introduce the WhatsApp electronic devices to track number was to prevent the source and the persons the public from commitwho share the information ting breaches of the Child and make our arrests. We Pornography (Prevention) have the technology that Act of 2009, which prohibits will allow us to identify the the production, distribution, origin of the message,” she importation, exportation or explained. possession of child pornograSuperintendent Lindsay phy and the use of children urged citizens to add the for pornography.

JCF WhatsApp number – “You will be charged and 564-6840 – to their contact imprisoned if you breach the list to assist the process.

Child Care and Protection “Help us protect our chilAct 2003, which seeks to dren and their future; make protect the nation’s children the report to the Police,” she from abuse and neglect, and urged. the sentencing can give you She said reports could up to 20 years behind bars,” also be made to the Child she said.

Peruvian leader

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enezuela’s leftist Government on Monday called Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski a “coward” and “dog” servile to the United States for his antagonism to socialism.

Kuczynski, a 78-year-old former Wall Street investment banker who won election last year, has been one of the most vocal critics in the region of Venezuela’s ruling “Chavismo” movement named for late socialist leader Hugo Chávez.

He particularly irked President Nicolás Maduro’s Government with a recent speech in the United States where he said Latin America was in general like a well-behaved dog on the carpet except for Venezuela which was “a big problem”.

Maduro called for an apology over the weekend, and his feisty Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez

followed up on Monday with a blistering attack at an event in honour of Chávez.

“He goes round, poor thing, with my respect because he is an elderly man, (like) a good dog who wags its tail at the empire and asks for an intervention in Venezuela. He’s alone, going round like a crazy man, with no one paying attention,” she said.

Rodriguez also accused the Peruvian leader of insulting Chávez’s memory during a recent summit in Colombia.

“I also rose and told him, ‘look, mister, you are a coward, and I repeat it here, Mr Kuczynski, you are a coward who dared to tarnish the memory of our commander Hugo Chávez.”

Later on Monday, Peru’s Government said it rejected Venezuela’s “insolent” comments and would send a protest letter.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Barbados’ Prime Minister suggests S&P downgrade not that big a deal

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espite a credit worthiness downgrade from respected ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and a warning that the Barbados dollar is under threat, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has suggested that the latest development is not that major for the country because it isn’t interested in borrowing on the international market.

Last Friday, the New York-based firm delivered a grim diagnosis of the island’s state of affairs, lowering the island’s long-term foreign and local currency sovereign debt rating to CCC+ from B-, and the short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings to C to B. It was the 18th downgrade from ratings agencies in the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) eight-year rule of the island.

However, address-

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

ing supporters at the ruling party’s mid-year conference over the weekend, Stuart insisted that “rating agencies can only downgrade Barbados’ credit worthiness, its ability to borrow; they cannot downgrade Barbados itself”.

“The most they can do is to say to us that if you want to go and borrow, because we’ve downgraded you, persons who might be inclined to lend you will make the money they want to lend you more expensive.

“But we are not looking to borrow. We’re looking to earn foreign exchange, not to borrow, insisting the country was now “trying to earn its way into the world,” he insisted.

Stuart stated that his Government has been placing “Barbados on a much sounder footing than the economy we inherited in January 2008”.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

After brief alliance, Opposition parties in Bahamas split

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ess than three months after Opposition Leader Loretta ButlerTurner tied the political knot with Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader Branville McCartney, that marriage has ended in a bitter divorce.

In an unexpected move, McCartney, who was appointed as Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, announced his immediate resignation from the post, declaring

that his team was disassociating itself from the “farce that has become the official opposition”.

He was appointed mid-December 2016, after Butler-Turner created history – first by replacing Hubert Minnis as head of the Free National Movement (FNM) and becoming the first female Opposition Leader, and then again by choosing the head of another party to fill the post of Leader of Opposition

Business in the Senate.

At a news conference last week, McCartney charged that Butler-Turner had only sown “seeds of confusion” and had brought no real leadership or ideas to the post.

“As leader of the DNA, in consultation with the executives of the party, I feel that we must now divest ourselves of the farce that has become the official Opposition and

fully direct our efforts to securing victory in the next general election,” he said.

He told journalists he accepted the proposal to work with the Butler-Turner in Senate with the understanding that the DNA was “separate and apart from any other Opposition force, but would lend its voice, ideas and strength in official Opposition to the failed [Perry] Christie Administration.”

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Trump signs new French Republicans back embattled Fillon travel ban L U S President Donald Trump has signed a revised travel ban that will temporarily halt entry to the United States for people from six Muslimmajority nations.

Under the Republican President’s order announced on Monday, a 90-day ban on travel to the US will be imposed on citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Travellers holding pre-existing visas would still be allowed entry, according to the new order, which will come into effect at midnight on March 16.

“Green card” holders – that is, those who have US permanent residence – will not be affected by the order.

Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, reporting from Washington, DC, said: “[US officials] have tried to take what was the existing executive order, make it much tighter, and essentially make it bullet proof in the courts.”

Unlike the previous ban, the new directive does not include Iraq in its list of countries targeted

In initial reactions, rights groups criticised the new order, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) saying that the new ban was a “scaled-back version that shares the same fatal flaws”.

In a statement, ACLU said: “The only way to actually fix the Muslim ban is not to have a Muslim ban.

Instead, President Trump has recommitted himself to religious discrimination,

and he can expect continued disapproval from both the courts and the people.”

Unlike the previous ban, the new directive does not include Iraq in its list of countries targeted, following pressure from the Pentagon and the State Department which had urged the White House to reconsider given Iraq’s key role in fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UN: South Sudan blocks desperately needed aid

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outh Sudan’s Government is blocking food aid and restricting United Nations peacekeepers, according to the UN. After a two-day visit, UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien said on Monday that obstacles to humanitarian assistance included active hostility, access denials, and bureaucratic impediments.

“People have been displaced, brutalised and raped.

They have been attacked when they sought out assistance. This must stop, and it must stop now,” O’Brien said in a statement.

Obtained by the AP news

agency, an internal report to Security Council members from Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, criticised the Government for “the destruction of all the social fabric in all parts of the country” and listed “outrageous” examples of belligerence by South Sudan’s security forces.

Sent on February 13, Guterres’ letter said UN peacekeepers were recently prevented from verifying allegations of killings or arbitrary arrests of civilians, including in the town of Yei. In late February, armed groups and members of the local community looted the

compound and warehouse of Save the Children, a humanitarian organisation, in the northern Jonglei area.

The group was the only distributor of food aid in the area, which is on the brink of famine. “This is the most extreme act by the very people we are trying to help,” Peter Walsh, South Sudan Director for Save the Children, said in a statement.

“It is critical that parties to the conflict provide unimpeded humanitarian access to the affected community to avoid famine becoming their death sentence.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Deadly clashes hit Myanmar-China border

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t least 30 people have been killed in a region on Myanmar’s border with China after rebels – some dressed in Police uniforms – launched a surprise attack, according to authorities.

Monday’s clashes were some of the worst to break out in the Chinese-speaking Kokang region of the north-eastern state of Shan since fighting in 2015 left scores dead and forced tens of thousands to flee across the border into China.

Rebels from the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) group launched an attack early on Monday against Police and military posts in Kokang, according to the office of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s de facto leader.

A separate group of fighters later attacked locations

eaders of the French centre-right have unanimously backed embattled presidential candidate Francois Fillon after an emergency meeting.

Fillon, once the front-runner, has lost much of his support after being told he faces formal investigation for embezzlement.

He denies the charges and has refused to step aside.

The leader of Fillon’s Republican party, Bernard Accoyer, said the party was re-launching Fillon’s campaign.

five local Police were killed in the fighting.

It also said that a further 20 “burned bodies” had been found alongside weapons.

Zaw Htay, the government spokesman, told AFP news agency that the 20 bodies were of MNDAA fighters.

Unverified video shared on social media appeared to show parts of the town still ablaze on Monday afternoon while civilians scurried to safety amid the rattle of small arms fire. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ry, he has repeatedly said he does not want to run as a Plan B. On Monday, he said it was “too late” for him to step in and unite the people.

Juppe, who is currently the Mayor of Bordeaux, said Fillon had “a boulevard in front of him” to win the presidency, but ended up “down a dead end”.

Opinion polls had suggested that Juppe would have progressed into the second round of the election.

Fillon is not projected to make it past the first round.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

North Korea fires 4 missiles toward Japan, angering Tokyo and South Korea

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orth Korea fired four ballistic missiles into the sea off Japan’s northwest coast on Monday, angering South Korea and Japan, days after it promised retaliation over US-South Korea military drills it sees as preparation for war.

South Korea’s military said the missiles were unlikely to have been intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), which can reach the United States. They flew on average 1000 km (620 miles) and reached an altitude of 260 km (160 miles).

Some landed as close as 300 km (190 miles) from Japan’s northwest coast, Japan’s Defence Minister Tomomi Inada said in Tokyo.

The United States and Japan have requested a United Nations Security Council meeting on the launches, which will likely be scheduled for Wednesday, diplomats said.

The US military on Monday left open the possibility of additional launch

Japan’s Defence Minister Tomomi Inada (centre) speaks at the upper house parliamentary session after reports on North Korea’s missile launches, in Tokyo, Japan, March 6, 2017

attempts.

“There were four that landed. There may be a higher number of launches that we’re not commenting on. But four landed and splashed in the Sea of Japan,” Navy Captain Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, told a news briefing.

Condemning the launches as further “provocative behaviour”, White House spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters the United States

was taking steps to enhance defence against ballistic missiles, including deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) battery in South Korea.

South Korea’s acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn said Seoul would swiftly deploy the anti-missile system despite angry objections from China. A US official said the system could be installed far earlier than an original fall target date.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Indian American Rep Ami Bera condemns shooting of Sikh man; FBI investigating as hate crime

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in Laukkai, a main town in Kokang.

“According to initial information, many innocent civilians including a primary school teacher... were killed because of attacks by the MNDAA armed group,” the state counsellor’s office said in a statement.

It also said some attackers wore local Police uniforms.

The statement, accompanied by graphic pictures of the dead and wounded, said at least five civilians and

The new push to revive his campaign comes after several leading Republicans wavered in their support.

Speaking after the emergency meeting, French Senate leader Gerard Larcher said all attempts to replace Fillon as the Republicans’ presidential candidate must end.

The first round of voting is scheduled for April 23.

Former French Prime Minister Alain Juppe had ruled out replacing Fillon as a candidate earlier on Monday.

Since losing the prima-

he murder of an Indian American Sikh man on March 3 in Kent, Washington, is being investigated as a hate crime by the FBI and the Kent Police Department.

This latest shooting comes after another Indian American man, Harnish Patel, was killed March 2 in South Carolina.

Representative Ami Bera of California condemned the shooting of Deep Rai. “This disturbing crime is an outrage that goes against everything we stand for as a nation of immigrants,” said the Indian American Congressman. “Xenophobia and racism have no place in America, and we as a nation need to stand up to these hate crimes – starting with

the President. Thankfully, the victim is recovering, and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”

The FBI will help investigate the shooting of the Sikh Indian American man who said a gunman approached him as he worked in his driveway on his car in Kent, a suburb of Seattle, Washington, and told him “go back to your own country” authorities said in March 5, in a move that was welcomed by the Sikh community.

While the Kent Police Department has moved swiftly to investigate the shooting as a hate crime, the national civil rights group Sikh Coalition is calling on national leaders – including the Trump Administration – to take concrete actions to

prevent future hate crimes, the Coalition said in a statement.

Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas said no arrests have yet been made after the victim, Rai, 39, was shot in the arm about 20 miles south of Seattle, but that he did not believe anyone was in imminent danger.

India’s Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna reached out to the State Department to convey his “deep concerns” to the US Government on the recent tragic incidents involving Deep Rai and Harnish Patel.

Sarna also “underlined” the need to prevent such incidents and protect the Indian community.

(Excerpt from Indiawest.com)

16 news

TuesDAY, march 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Carvil Duncan case

Govt, IDB sign technical PM, Duncan to be cross-examined cooperation agreements to settle mail mix-up

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H

igh Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder ordered a cross-examination between Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and trade unionist Carvil Duncan to reconcile conflicting stories submitted in affidavits supported by both parties in relation to an ongoing matter.

The Prime Minister is contending that he dispatched a letter to Duncan’s Office informing him of the executive’s decision to establish a tribunal to determine if he is fit to continue serving in his constitutional offices in light of several court charges he is facing.

Nagamootoo said the letter, as required by the Constitution of Guyana, invited Duncan to show cause why the tribunal should not be set up.

However, Duncan is holding out that he never received the correspondence.

The matter was called in the High Court on Monday; however, Nagamootoo’s Attorney, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams was not prepared.

Duncan and his confidential secretary were fixed to take the witness stand.

Attorney Anil Nandlall appeared for Duncan and was prepared to proceed, but Williams informed the court that he was not prepared to proceed with cross-examination, because an affidavit the court granted him leave to file over a month ago was not yet filed.

The Attorney General said he needed to file the affidavit before he could begin cross-examination and he requested further time to do so. The court granted him one week to do so and ordered that he pay costs to Nandlall in the sum of $10,000 before the affidavit is filed.

The matter is fixed for continuation on March 15, 2017 at 09:15h. As required by the Constitution, the Prime Minister was obliged to give Duncan a hearing before he recommended to President David Granger that a tribunal be

Carvil Duncan

established to investigate Duncan’s removal from office.

The Prime Minister, under oath in an affidavit filed in the proceedings, said that he sent a letter to Duncan on March 29, 2016, giving him 14 days to show cause why this tribunal should not be established.

In the affidavit, the Prime Minister said, that this letter was received at the office of the Public Service Commission (PSC) on April 14, 2016.

Notably, if the letter was actually sent based upon Nagamootoo’s admission under oath, then it was received at Duncan’s office after the expiration of the 14 days that the letter itself supposedly gave Duncan to show cause.

On the other hand, both Duncan and his confidential secretary at the PSC swore affidavits that no such letter was ever received.

Duncan's confidential secretary, in her affidavit, said that on April 14, 2016, a mail was in fact sent from the Prime Minister's office.

However, this mail contained a letter addressed to the Prime Minister from Public Administration International (UK), informing the Prime Minister of a PSC workshop, which would be held in London from November 7-11, 2016.

By a note attached, this mail was forwarded by the Prime Minister's confidential secretary to Carvil Duncan upon the direction of the Prime Minister.

Justice Holder, in October 2016, suspended the work of the presiden-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

tial tribunal following an injunction, which was filed

by Nandlall.

Nandlall argued that the tribunal was an unlawful and unconstitutional course of action since Duncan was not proven guilty of his charges.

Nonetheless, the President had suspended Duncan from his constitutional posts which included being a member and chairman of the PSC, Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission.

Subsequently, city Magistrate Leron Daly dismissed one of the charges against Duncan. Duncan was facing a charge which stated that on March 31, 2015 at Georgetown, he stole $984,900, property of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

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

Earlier this year, city Magistrate Fabayo Azore has been assigned by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to preside over the trial of Duncan in relation to the conspiracy charge. The reassignment of the case came days after Magistrate Daly recused herself from the matter on the ground that she presided over the case for which Duncan was charged with stealing $984,900 from GPL, and found him not guilty.

Several to be arraigned in WBD robbery

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everal persons are expected to be arraigned today at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrate’s Court in relation to a robbery which was executed at a Chinese restaurant at Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara on March 3 at about 03:00hrs.

This is according to Police “D” Division Commander, Leslie James.

Reports are that several men broke into the worker’s quarters, the second building in the yard. The Chinese restaurant is situated at the front, and and the owner, Su

San, occupies living quarters at the back.

This publication was told that one of the workers was awakened by a strange sound, and upon checking was confronted by a group of men, who took away his mobile phone and took him into the living quarters, where they demanded money and other valuables.

Reportedly armed with cutlasses, crowbars, and knives, according to Police “D” Division Commander, Leslie James, the armed men ransacked several

rooms in the building but did not find cash. However, they fled the scene with one computer, one mobile phone and bottle of Hennessy, James said.

The Police were contacted and a search was quickly launched. At the scene, a toy gun was recovered.

However, it is uncertain if that was the instrument used to conduct the daring robbery. Within hours, the police had apprehended several persons in relation to this incident.

he Finance Ministry and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on Monday signed an agreement worth US$1,762,250 for technical assistance to promote aviation safety, improve fiscal management, and develop a national housing strategy.

The three Technical Cooperation Agreements were signed by IDB’s Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen. They represent technical assistance resources for the development of a comprehensive national housing strategy funded at US$517,250; a fiscal management modernisation project funded at US$745,000; and a national civil aviation plan for Guyana funded at US$500,000.

The Support for the Development of a National Housing Strategy programme will assist Guyana’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) in preparing and disseminating a Comprehensive National Housing Strategy. This IDB funding will enhance CH&PA’s developmental approaches and interventions in the sector, thereby assisting citizens to access more cost-effective housing.

The Fiscal Management Modernisation Project is designed to create greater efficiency in Guyana’s revenue administration. This will envelope a strategic organisational structure and

Finance Minister Winston Jordan seals the agreement with IDB Country Representative Sophie Makonnen

strengthen institutional and technical capacities of human and other resources of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). It also undertakes an assessment of the property tax collection system administrated by the Valuation Division of the Finance Ministry.

This assessment, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said, will see more realistic valuations of properties in municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), which in turn will lead to an increase in the value of real estate.

The “Support for a National Aviation Master Plan” will provide much-needed support to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) as it will prepare a National Air Transport Plan, a National Airports Plan, and a National Plan for the Administration of Civil Aviation. The GCCA is

seeking a thorough analysis of the aviation sector that will allow it to plan more strategically, improve the quality of civil aviation oversight, and hasten structured improvements to the sector. Government is keen for an analysis of the sector that will allow it to plan more strategically for its development.

In brief remarks, IDB’s Makonnen said that technical funds finance activities to transfer technical knowhow and expertise, capacity building, transfer of knowledge and research – including diagnostic, pre-investment and sector studies that support project design and preparation.

The signing was witnessed by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan and Public Infrastructure Ministers David Patterson and Annette Ferguson, and Finance Secretary, Dr Hector Butts.

Guyanese music icon appointed as visiting artist-in-residence

T

he University of Guyana recently appointed overseas-based Guyanese Keith Waithe as the Visiting Distinguished Artist-inResidence.

The appointment was made by Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith.

Waithe has been employed for the period of February 20-April 8, 2017.

He is expected to undertake both theoretic and practical engagements of the music department at UG. Waithe is a flautist with expertise in Guyanese folk music and jazz. Residing in the United Kingdom, the musician serves as a visiting lecturer attached to the University of London and Royal Holloway University of London, as well as other institutions. He is an award-winning composer who leads “The Macusi Players”, known for blending music with origins

Keith Waithe

from the Caribbean, South America, Asia and Africa.

Adding to the list, Waithe is a trained educator who holds an enhanced DBS certificate.

His appointment will see him conducting master classes at both the Turkeyen and Tain campuses. He will be focusing on a range of musical genres and styles, using

the flute and drumming as the key instruments.

Waithe also sits on the planning committee for the forthcoming Diaspora Engagement Conference with the main duties of organising the cultural aspect of the week-long event and mobilising Guyanese of the UK diaspora to participate, adding diversity to the historic affair.

Vice Chancellor Griffith explained that Waithe was an outstanding cultural ambassador of Guyana. He also noted that the flautist was one of the few music leaders who can command respect across racial, cultural and geographical margins. Professor Griffith is pleased to leverage for benefit of both the staff and students Waithe’s presence and welcomed the all-rounder to the University of Guyana as the Visiting Distinguished Artist-in-Residence.

news

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tuesdAY, march 7, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana’s oil “too light” New York man convicted for Suriname’s refinery for killing Guyanese NYPD Officer

R

udolf Elias, the Managing Director of Suriname’s state- owned oil company Staatsolie, has said that Suriname’s oil refinery is not built to handle the type of oil that would be extracted from Guyana, thereby refuting statements made

by Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman that the Dutch-speaking country was interested in processing Guyana’s oil.

A

Guyana’s Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

Managing Director of Staatsolie, Rudolf Elias

Speaking to de Ware Tijd, an online newspaper in Suriname, Elias said, “The refinery is not built to handle the type of oil that is (to be) extracted in Guyana. Their oil is a much lighter quality, our refinery was built for the heavy oil that we have landed here in Suriname”.

Elias added that should Suriname discover in its deep sea area the type of light quality oil that is in Guyana, “it will also not be processed in our refinery.”

Noting that another problem is the shallow nature of Suriname’s coast, he said Guyana will produce such large quantities of oil – three hundred thousand barrels per day – that gigantic tankers will be needed to trans-

port this oil, as those can carry up to half a million barrels. Such large vessels cannot even moor at Suriname’s shores, let alone sail the Suriname River to reach its refinery, the oil company’s director said.

In fact, he said, a unique feature between the two countries is that in Guyana sand washes up from the Amazon Jungle and makes rivers and coastal areas very shallow, whilst Suriname’s sandbanks reach more than forty kilometres into the sea.

He added that it is impossible to dredge a course to allow large oil tankers access to Suriname’s refineries. Guyana suffers from the same shallow coastline problem, making it unprofitable to build a large refinery.

Elias said it would not be wise for Guyana to invest more than two billion US dollars into construction of an expensive refinery which would be in operation

for a limited number of years.

According to Elias, the Staatsolie refinery can process up to fifteen thousand barrels of oil per day. He said the company produces more on a daily basis, thus leaving little or no room for processing oil from other countries.

Elias assured that sufficient reserves of heavy oil remains offshore in Suriname to keep the refinery at Tout Lui Error profitable.

During a meeting with the media and Country Manager of the United States Oil Giant ExxonMobil last Thursday, Minister Trotman said while Government was considering the establishment of an oil refinery here, both Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname had indicated their interest in carrying out such work for Guyana. He added, however, that no official agreement has been made between Guyana and Suriname in this regard

cop-killing drug dealer was convicted Monday of shooting Detective Randolph Holder, who was born in Guyana, in a pathetic bid to evade arrest.

A Manhattan jury found Tyrone Howard, 32, guilty of murder, robbery and other charges following four days of deliberations for the 2015 killing of the rookie cop.

He faces a mandatory life sentence without parole.

As the verdict was read out, Holder’s father, Randolph Holder Sr; his stepmother, Princess Holder and other relatives wept and consoled each other. Others Guyanese NYPD Officer in the courtroom packed with Randolph Holder Police Officers and Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association reps were ed, pulled out a .40-caliber Glock warned by Manhattan Supreme semi-automatic pistol and fired, Court Justice Michael Obus after striking the rookie officer in the head. some attendees cheered.

Howard had Four jurors an open warrant left the courtroom at the time of the in tears at the killing for failconclusion of the ing to show up month-long trial. to court. Police “This is just a were looking for tragic case and a him after he’d sad day, but we not showed up to can’t thank the a second-chance NYPD enough drug diversion for their willprogramme. ingness to put A judge had their lives on the enrolled the caline,” Manhattan reer criminal in District Attorney the programme Cyrus Vance Jr after he was bustsaid outside the ed along with 18 courthouse.

Convicted: Tyrone Howard other people in Howard was an October 2014 on the run from a non-fatal shooting on E 102nd crack-cocaine takedown in East Street on October 20, 2015 when he Harlem. Howard’s drug case was encountered Holder and his partner still pending when he shot Holder.

“He would do anything to avoid Omar Wallace on the E 120nd and FDR Drive footbridge, Prosecutors being captured,” Prosecutor Linda Ford said. said.

Howard, fearing he’d be arrest(NY Daily News)

GMC forges partnership with Mocha/Arcadia farmers

F

armers of Mocha / Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, are set to benefit from a series of training sessions through the New Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) during the course of 2017.

This will be made possible through an agro-processing, agricultural development loan offered to four communities by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

Recently, villagers, at a one-day session held at the Mocha Primary School, benefited from demonstrations by the Corporation’s Market Information Centre, based on the use of the Agriculture Marketing Information System (AMIS), and the TEXT1010 short messaging service. According to a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA), they were also apprised of the importance of the New Guyana Shop, the services offered by the packaging facilities, and also benefited from relevant information including market prices and export data.

The objective of the meeting, the release noted, was to sensitise the villagers of the

receptive to the assistance, which is being rendered by various Government and non-governmental agencies, noting that these funding can only serve to improve the livelihoods of the farmers.

GMC General Manager Ida Sealey-Adams encouraged farmers to form farmers’ groups or associations. The

Residents and farmers of Mocha/Arcadia, East Bank Demerara

services that are being offered by the GMC. These include provision of guidance in relation to agriculture business development, where assistance is given to assist agro-processors and potential agro-processors in transforming their business ideas into reality, or to improve the current levels of their businesses.

The agency also assists farmers, exporters and other important stakeholders within the non-traditional agricultural sector through the provision of technical advice in sourcing buyers for their produce and facilitating logistical arrangements for exports.

The TEXT1010 short messaging service serves as a

valuable tool to guide buyers and sellers when lobbying for prices. It gives information on the wholesale and retail prices for fruits and vegetables from local and regional markets, namely in Barbados and Trinidad.

Discussions were also centred on the need for a more business-oriented approach to farming. This is where the GMC focused extensively on engaging Mocha/Arcadia farmers. This is part of an arrangement that was formalised in December 2016 between the CDB and the GMC, through the Agriculture Ministry.

Current farming practices and agro-processing oppor-

tunities will be two of the areas that will be explored in this community with funding for the Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) in Small Scale Farming project communities in Regions Four (DemeraraMahaica) and Five (MahaicaBerbice).

Farmers were, therefore, encouraged to have the necessary soil tests done to ascertain the types of crops that are most suitable to be cultivated on farmlands in the community.

Mocha/Arcadia Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Rudolph Adams underscored the need for farmers to be

General Manager explained that these groups or associations have the advantage of maintaining markets, pushing the members to have consistency in supply as against an individual approach.

At the end of the one-day session, farmers voiced their interests in benefiting from all training opportunities offered by the New GMC.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017

ARCHIE

Communicate and get your point across in order to (March 21- forge a clear path to victory.

April 19) Partnerships will need adjustments, but once boundaries are set, the sky is the limit.

ARIES

You’ll learn more if you TAURUS step back and watch what oth(April 20- ers do. Engage in collaboraMay 20) tive discussions to get a better sense of what’s expected of you.

dilbert

You’ll be disappointed if GEMINI you rely on someone to help (May 21June 20) you. Set your goals and work diligently on your own if you want to receive the recognition you deserve.

Express your feelings and use your imagination to come (June 21- up with new ideas and fun July 22) things to do. Partnerships will depend on both your generosity and your moderation.

CANCER

Peanuts

Look inward and size up LEO your personal and profession(July 23al situations. Consider your Aug. 22) options and prepare to make a move that will add to your financial security as well as ease your stress.

Before you ask for someVIRGO (Aug. 23- thing, make sure you know exSept. 22) actly what’s expected of you in return. You don’t want to be beholden to anyone. A partnership looks promising, as long as you maintain equality.

Calvin and Hobbes

Personal problems will esLIBRA calate if you or someone you (Sept. 23love is neglectful. Tend to Oct. 23) matters affecting your home, family or loved ones to avoid uncertainty and head off an impulsive response.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — IMPUDENT

Avoid anyone trying to bait SAGITTARIUS you into a dispute. Alterations (Nov. 23- to the way you look or live will Dec. 21) bring the highest rewards.

Work alone and avoid interference.

(IMPUDENT: IM-pyuh-dent: Insolent.)

Average mark 36 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 51 or more words in IMPUDENT? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — REMANDS ramen rase read ream rend earn made mane manse mare maser mead

mean means mend mess amen amend armed arms name namer nard nares

near dame damn dare darn dean dear dram dream same sand sander

sane saner sard seam sear sedan send smear snare

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Investments will pay off.

SCORPIO Honing your skills and mak(Oct. 24ing residential moves or Nov. 22) changes are favored and will improve your financial position and emotional well-being.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Your experience will help CAPRICORN you handle anyone who is of(Dec. 22fering something suspicious, Jan. 19) or using pressure or manipulation to persuade you to get involved in something questionable.

Move forward passionateAQUARIUS ly and with the intent to make (Jan. 20progress. Use your connecFeb. 19) tions and your physical drive and courage to find success.

Romance is highlighted.

PISCES You can make positive (Feb. 20- changes that will help you March 20) as well as those around you.

Focus on domestic and community improvements. Voice your opinion and make a difference.

tuesDAY, march 7, 2017

19

Pujara, Rahane lead India’s F

fightback

our years ago, in the second Test of the series in Hyderabad, Cheteshwar Pujara was part of a match-winning stand against Australia, a massive 370-run partnership with M Vijay. It was so colossal an achievement that the partnership alone beat Australia, who failed to make 370 in both innings combined.

The events of Pune last week prove that things are different this year, yet once again Australia have found Pujara a major obstacle in the second Test of the series.

This time, his significant partnership was with Ajinkya Rahane, and by stumps on the third day in Bengaluru, it was not even worth a hundred runs.

a difficult, dry, cracking pitch, this partnership spanned the entire final session and lifted India’s lead to 126 runs.

And it is not over yet.

As the players walked off at the close of play, Pujara was undefeated on 79 and Rahane was unbeaten on 40. Their partnership stood at 93, and India’s total was 213 for 4. And Australia knew that this Test, a wrestling match which they dominated on the first day but which India fought back into on days two and three, was at risk of slipping away from them.

A chase of 150 would be no gimme; a chase of 250 would give them nightmares.

It was a day that could easily be broken down into

openers reached 38 without loss. Australia won the second session by snaring four key wickets. But India prevailed in the last session, adding 91 without losing a wicket, and thus unquestionably won the day.

Perhaps it has been surprising, given the nature of the pitch, that only six wickets fell on the second day of this Test and eight on the third day.

There continued to be variable bounce, some deliveries skidding through at ankle height and others bouncing truly. The cracks opened up further, the spinners found turn, the fast men jagged some deliveries sideways. And yet Pujara, Rahane and, earlier, KL

3, which soon became 120 for 4 when Jadeja, promoted to No.5, drove lustily at Hazlewood shortly before tea and was bowled. India’s lead was only 33 runs, and Australia knew that if they could quickly find a way into the lower order they could set themselves on the path to victory. But Pujara and Rahane had other ideas.

Calmly, they compiled a stand that frustrated Australia while also building a precious advantage.

Certainly, Pujara made Smith pay for dropping him on 4, failing to cling on to a sharp chance off the bowling of Nathan Lyon. Pujara went on to bring up his fifty off 125 balls, and by

Cheteshwar Pujara was unbeaten on 79 at stumps

stumps had survived for 173 deliveries.

At the other end, Rahane had safely negotiated 105 deliveries, and Australia needed to regroup before the start of play on day four to fight back into the match.

They know that more batting - Karun Nair and Wriddhiman Saha - is still to come.

But they also know that wickets can fall quickly in the morning, for that is what happened to Australia themselves on the third day.

They began with a lead of 48 and added only 39 for the loss of their last four wickets. R Ashwin had Mitchell Starc caught slogging to deep midwicket, before Jadeja ran through the

Sammy leads...

The Australian players were elated after picking up KL Rahul after making his second half century of the match

But a price could not be put on its value. It is the partnership that turned this match firmly in India’s favour, and may yet keep alive their hopes of regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. On

session victories. India won the first session, in which Ravindra Jadeja ran through Australia’s tail to complete a six-wicket haul and keep Australia’s lead to 87, and then India’s

SCOREBOARD India 1st innings 189 Australia 1st innings (Overnight 237/6) DA Warner b Ashwin 33 MT Renshaw st †Saha b Jadeja 60 SPD Smith*c †Saha b Jadeja 8 66 SE Marsh c Nair b Yadav PSP Handscomb c Ashwin b Jadeja 16 MR Marsh lbw b Sharma 0 MS Wade† lbw b Jadeja 40 MA Starc c Jadeja b Ashwin 26 SNJ O’Keefe not out 4 NM Lyon lbw b Jadeja 0 JR Hazlewood c Rahul b Jadeja 1 Extras (b-14, lb-3, nb-5) 22 Total (all out; 122.4 overs) 276 Fall of wickets 1-52 (Warner, 21.1 ov), 2-82 (Smith, 41.2 ov), 3-134 (Renshaw, 66.3 ov), 4-160 (Handscomb, 76.4 ov), 5-163 (MR Marsh, 79.6 ov), 6-220 (SE Marsh, 100.2 ov), 7-269 (Starc, 117.6 ov), 8-274 (Wade, 120.1 ov), 9-274 (Lyon, 120.2 ov), 10-

276 (Hazlewood, 122.4 ov) Bowling I Sharma 27-848-1 (3nb), UT Yadav 247-57-1 (nb-1), R Ashwin 49-13-84-2, RA Jadeja 21.41-63-6, KK Nair 1-0-7-0

India 2nd innings KL Rahul c Smith b O’Keefe 51 A Mukund b Hazlewood 16 CA Pujara not out 79 V Kohli* lbw b Hazlewood 15 RA Jadeja b Hazlewood 2 AM Rahane not out 40 Extras (b-10) 10 Total (4 wickets; 72 overs) 213 To bat KK Nair, WP Saha†, R Ashwin, UT Yadav, I Sharma Fall of wickets 1-39 (Mukund, 10.4 ov), 2-84 (Rahul, 24.2 ov), 3-112 (Kohli, 34.2 ov), 4-120 (Jadeja, 38.1 ov) Bowling MA Starc 10-0-45-0, JR Hazlewood 16-0-57-3, NM Lyon 27-2-69-0, SNJ O’Keefe 163-28-1, MR Marsh 3-0-4-0

Rahul, showed that the pitch could be tamed.

They played straight and watched carefully for the low bounce, but when given anything short or wide they took their scoring opportunities.

Rahul was important in setting India away on a positive note, especially after his opening partner Abhinav Mukund was bowled by Josh Hazlewood for 16. Rahul played outstandingly for his 51, before he drove hard at Steve O’Keefe and was brilliantly caught by first slip Steven Smith, diving quickly to his right to the vacant second slip position.

It was one of two moments in the middle session that could have derailed India’s progress.

The other came when Virat Kohli was adjudged lbw to a delivery from Hazlewood that stayed a touch low. Kohli immediately asked for a review, confident that his edge would be detected, but after a series of closely-inspected replays, the third umpire Richard Kettleborough could not be sure whether the ball had hit pad or bat first, and the on-field decision stood.

That left India at 112 for

He said that the PCB was in talks with the cricket boards of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to tour Pakistan later this year.

Security officials from cricket boards - including Australia, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh - and the International Cricket Council were also present at the stadium to see exhaustive security measures put in place.

There was a festive mood inside the stadium but earlier thousands of spectators had started lining up in long queues to clear three checkpoints at least six hours before the final began.

Sammy was joined by England’s Dawid Malan and Jordan along with Marlon Samuels as Peshawar’s foreign players.

However, Peshawar missed the flamboyant Shahid Afridi after the all-rounder was ruled out from the final when he injured his right hand in the last knockout match against Karachi Kings in the United Arab Emirates.

Last year’s finalist Quetta lost its four key foreign players who declined to travel to Pakistan due to security concerns. The team played its league matches in the United Arab Emirates.

But Quetta’s last-min-

remaining three wickets to finish with 6 for 63, the second-best figures of his Test career.

At one point, Jadeja was on hat-

a trick, having t ra p p e d Matthew Wade and Lyon lbw with successive deliveries.

Hazlewood survived the hat-trick ball, but not much longer than that. Australia had lasted less than 17 overs from their overnight position.

Perhaps only a similarly swift resolution to the India innings on the fourth morning will keep Australia in this match. (ESPNcricinfo)

continued from page 22

ute inclusion of foreign players in the line-up, including Rayad Emrit of West Indies, Anamul Haque of Bangladesh, South African

Morne van Wyk and Zimbabwe’s Sean Ervine, wasn’t enough to match the brilliance of Peshawar.

SCOREBOARD Peshawar Zalmi innings (20 overs maximum) DJ Malan b Emrit 17 Kamran Akmal† lbw b Hasan Khan 40 MN Samuels b Mohammad Nawaz 19 Mohammad Hafeez c Mohammad Nawaz b Emrit 12 Khushdil Shah st †Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Khan 1 Iftikhar Ahmed lbw b Emrit 14 DJG Sammy* not out 28 CJ Jordan not out 7 Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-5) 10 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 148 Did not bat: Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Asghar Fall of wickets 1-42 (Malan, 4.4 ov), 2-82 (Kamran Akmal, 9.6 ov), 3-82 (Samuels, 10.1 ov), 4-86 (Khushdil Shah, 11.3 ov), 5-112 (Mohammad Hafeez, 16.3 ov), 6-112 (Iftikhar Ahmed, 16.4 ov) Bowling Zulfiqar Babar 4-0-210, Anwar Ali 4-0-43-0 (w-3), RR Emrit 4-0-30-3, Mohammad Nawaz 4-0-15-1 (w-1), Hasan Khan 4-0-34-2 (w-1) Quetta Gladiators innings (target: 149 runs from 20 overs) MN van Wyk run out (Hasan Ali) 1 Ahmed Shehzad c Khushdil

1 Shah b Hasan Ali Anamul Haque c Jordan b Mohammad Asghar 3 Sarfraz Ahmed*† st †Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Hafeez 22 SM Ervine b Mohammad Asghar 24 Saad Nasim c Iftikhar Ahmed b Wahab Riaz 4 Anwar Ali c Iftikhar Ahmed b Jordan 20 Mohammad Nawaz st †Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Asghar 0 RR Emrit not out 6 Hasan Khan c Sammy b Wahab Riaz 4 Zulfiqar Babar b Hasan Ali 1 Extras (lb-3, w-1) 4 Total (all out; 16.3 overs) 90 Fall of wickets 1-1 (van Wyk, 1.3 ov), 2-5 (Anamul Haque, 3.1 ov), 3-13 (Ahmed Shehzad, 4.2 ov), 4-29 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 5.4 ov), 5-37 (Saad Nasim, 7.2 ov), 6-72 (Ervine, 12.4 ov), 7-72 (Mohammad Nawaz, 12.5 ov), 8-81 (Anwar Ali, 14.4 ov), 9-88 (Hasan Khan, 15.6 ov), 1090 (Zulfiqar Babar, 16.3 ov) Bowling Hasan Ali 3.3-0-13-2, Mohammad Asghar 4-0-16-3, Mohammad Hafeez 2-0-211, CJ Jordan 3-0-161, Wahab Riaz 3-0-13-2 (w1), DJG Sammy 1-0-8-0

20

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tuesDAY, march 7, 2017

Misbah to lead Pakistan in West Indies Tests M

isbah-ul-Haq has decided to continue as Pakistan’s Test captain, a decision that has been accepted by PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, who also named Sarfraz Ahmed as the vice-captain in Tests. Misbah’s decision to lead in the West Indies put to end questions over his retirement, which have made news over the last few months, at least for the next two months as Pakistan will play three Tests in the Caribbean in April and May. After returning from Australia, Misbah had said he would take a call on his future after seeing how he would fare in the PSL. During the league, he told ESPNcricinfo that he was “most likely” to go to the

West Indies, where they are yet to win a Test series. And once his team Islamabad United was knocked out of the tournament, he said he would meet Shaharyar upon his arrival in Pakistan and inform the chairman about his decision.

“Misbah-ul-Haq has conveyed to the Chairman [of] PCB his desire to continue as captain of the Pakistan Test team,” the PCB said in a statement. “Accordingly, the Chairman has approved his appointment for the upcoming West Indies Test series. The Chairman has also approved appointment of Sarfraz Ahmed as vice-captain of the Pakistan Test team.”

Misbah, who will turn 43 in May, has been under im-

mense scrutiny having led the team to five successive Test defeats, although it was under him that Pakistan were ranked No. 1 last year.

A dip in his batting form and his age added to the drama that reached its peak after the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne last year when Misbah admitted to being unsure about his future as a cricketer.

ESPNcricinfo understands the PCB wants to eventually appoint a single captain for all formats, but such a decision will have to wait until Misbah takes a call on his future. The decision to appoint Sarfraz as

Griffith’s good run continues

in Jamaica vice-captain in Tests came after Azhar Ali stepped down from ODI captaincy and later relinquished his Test vice-captaincy as well.

The role was vacant since then. Sarfraz is already leading Pakistan in the Twenty20 format.

Pakistan will start the West Indies tour with four T20s starting March 26, followed by three ODIs in early April and the three Tests starting April 22 in Jamaica.

Pakistan’s selection committee is due to announce a limited-overs squad later this week while the Test team will be announced later.

(ESPNcricinfo)

Antiguans benefit from WICB scorers’ workshop

O

ne dozen Antiguan scorers got a chance to expand their skills, when the West Indies Cricket Board recently staged a workshop in Antigua and Barbuda, this is according to a release from the regional board.

Noted Barbadian cricket scorer/statistician Harold Eastmond conducted the workshop which was staged at the Halycon Cove Resort.

The release stated that, during the workshop, Eastmond introduced the participants to the linear scoring method and exposed them to a number of different computer scoring solutions.

F

ormer Guyana opening batsman Trevon Griffith now plying his trade in Jamaica as part of the Cricket West Indies franchise system recently hit a stoked-filled century in the Jamaica Scorpions only practice match ahead their clash against Guyana Jaguars this Friday at Sabina Park.

Griffith playing for Paul Palmer’s XI in the three-day encounter against Chadwick Walton’s XI at the Chedwin Park ground, Spanish Town, Jamaica, stroked 143 from 205 balls, hitting 14 fours and two maximums, in his instrumental innings since his team was dismissed for 347.

Danza Hyatt (61) and Shacaya Thomas (53) were also among the runs; left-arm wrist spinner Dennis Bulli was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 9 for 131 from 38 overs.

Walton’s XI, who in reply reached 309 for 6 with Walton hitting 169 and West Indies Test Batsman Jermaine Blackwood making 56.

The Digicel Regional Four Day 2016-17 resumes this weekend after the Christmas and Super50 breaks with points leaders Jamaica Scorpions on 67.6 points hosting the Guyana Jaguars at Sabina Park from Friday.

“The importance of the scorer in the modern game is often overlooked, so this was a valuable experience for the scorers that participated,” said Eastmond.

“The WICB wants a uniform style of scoring in the Caribbean with all the territories using the same systems and this workshop will help enable the scorers in Antigua & Barbuda to get exposure to some of the

Scorers practising during the 2nd ONEINDIG One-Day International

Harold Eastmond makes a point to participants during the scoring workshop

best scoring systems on the market.”

Eastmond added: “The aim is that when the WICB stages any of its competitions in the various territories they have scorers capable of providing accurate statistical information on the happenings in the game in a timely manner for distribution to other stakeholders.

“This workshop was ex-

citedly received by the participants. Most of the scorers were still using a scoring method in existence for hundreds of years, but they were far more competent in the linear scoring method and full use of one of the leading computer scoring programmes on the market by the end of the exercise.”

Joset Jacobs, WICB project officer in the cricket operations department, said scoring, especially at regional matches, is ready for a major upgrade.

“This will pave the way for more sophisticated and efficient scoring, and transfer of data to our stakeholders, especially the fans and the Media, in a smooth and timely manner,” she said.

“We are currently served by a number of seasoned scorers during regional and international matches, but we are planning to extend this training to other ter-

ritories to give them a greater appreciation for their role and the value that they bring to the game.

“Currently, resources can become stretched when we stage matches, particularly during our development tournaments, and this we hope will assist the territories with having a higher number of trained scorers available to them to cover matches.”

During the second ONEINDIG One-day International between West Indies and England last Sunday at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, the participants at the workshop comprising of two men and 10 women, including Jacobs, scored on the game as part of their assessment.

This is the second workshop of its kind the WICB has staged in as many years. Eastmond previously conducted training for scorers in Grenada.

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dentistry

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Complete package, key cutting machine plus 1000 blank keys:.Price: $450,000.

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21

IKD Chief Instructor grades 131 students

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Ninth Dan Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai (centre) standing in yoi position at YMCA on Sunday

N

Students from the (Association do Shotokan Karate-Guyana) Dojo’s - Linden, Albion, Blairmont, Land of Canaan, Canal #1 & GEORGETOWN WERE Examined and Graded resulting in the following

Oca, Jehoash Thomas, Jared Rambissoon, Jayden Adrian & Shinessa Boyce.

10 Kyu To 7 Kyu:- Krisendat Phagoo, Nalini Arjoon, Andre Sookram, Ramzan Singh & Bradley Fenty .

9 Kyu To 7 Kyu:- Farhan Jahan.

8 Kyu To 6 Kyu:Aldo Melendez & Bhaskar Jaipersaud.

7 Kyu To 5 Kyu:Raphael Isaacs, Shanker Parasram, Jerry Santana-Bain, D’andre Dasilva & Andes Roberts.

5 Kyu To 3 Kyu:Rapheal Ograsein, Joel Kellman & Shemar Parkinson.

2nd Dan Promotions:

Total Kyu Grades Promotions

inth Dan Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-A-Tai, Founder of the International Karate Daigaku, graded 131 karatekas of the ASK-Guyana at the YMCA Thomas Lands last Sunday. He was assisted by Senseis Amir Khouri 6th Dan, & Roger Peroune 4th Dan.

1. Donte Fernandes 2. Shakeem Shelton Walcott 3. Andy Madray Sam-Reddy

YMCA YMCA Albion

1st Dan Promotions: 1. Mark Singh 2. Alexia Robert 3. Michael Dev Dhani 4. Tulsidai Ramotar 5. Maqsood Ahmad Mansoor 6. Eric Bisember 7. Asaad Abdool

YMCA YMCA YMCA Canal #1 Linden Albion Blairmont

Outstanding Kyu Grades Promotions:

Ten KYU TO 8 KYU:- Marlon McKenzie, Jazara Hewitt, Samiyah Duncan, Micah Saul, Aliyah Stewart, Zac Hussain, Anya Insanally, Yijun Huang, Jian Hong Zhang, Zion Rambarran, Marvin Armstrong, Nick Sookdeo, Kadre Henry, Tharisha Montes De

37 students to Yellow Belt (8kyu) 20 students to Orange Belt (7kyu) 13 students to Green Belt (6kyu) 16 students to Blue Belt (5kyu) 17 students to Purple Belt (4kyu) 8 students to Brown Belt (3kyu) 5 students to Brown Belt (2kyu) 5 students to Brown Belt (1kyu) 121 Kyu Students 7 students to 1st DAN (Black Belt) 3 students to 2nd DAN (Black Belt) The IKD offers congratulations to all students who were successful and to instructors for their sterling contributions; Amir Khouri & Roger Peroune (Ymca), Hazrat Ali (Albion & Blairmont), Laurence Lowe (Georgetown), Parmeshwar Persaud (Land Of Canaan), Nathalie Gibson (Linden) and Mahadeo Ramotar (Canal No. 1).

Ramdhani takes 3rd in Vancouver T

op ranked Guyanese badminton player and Sunburst national champion, Narayan Ramdhani has again made a sterling impression in Canada where he is on scholarship.

Playing out of Shuttle sport Badminton Academy, Vancouver BC, Ramdhani has once again proved his worth by placing third twice at the BC Senior Circuit 1 - 2017 VRC Jack Underhill Tournament played at the Vancouver Racquets Club, Vancouver BC, Canada over the last Weekend. The 20 year old picked up these podium positions after reaching the Semi-Finals in both the Open Men Singles and the Open Men Doubles.

Seeded 3/4 in the Singles, Narayan gained a walk-over

in the first round.

He then defeated Nestor Yang Ning Lin in the QuarterFinals: 20-22, 2114, 21-11 and lost in the Semi-Finals to No.2 seed Eugene Chan: 21-10, 21-12.

In the Men Doubles Narayan partnered with Zack Fan the pair was defeated in the Semi-Finals by No. 2 Seeds Alex Lin & Jackson Yang 21-8, 21-13.

The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) is extremely pleased that Narayan being still a Junior is holding up with his

training plan to keep up in the Senior Division.

T w o weeks ago Ramdhani placed third in the Open Men Singles & Under-23 Men Doubles and won the Consolation in the

Under-23 Mix Doubles at the BC Senior Circuit 2 - 2017 Shuttlesport Senior Open/Under 23 tournament.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, march 7, 2017

CPL open to team expansion in North America

By Akeem Greene

T

he fifth edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is in the horizon and from the inception, the tournament has maintained a six-team format which undoubtedly has been a treat to Caribbean fans with the explosive cricket and party style atmosphere.

However, there is a view that the tournament has reached a stage where it could possibly expand to more teams. Chief Operating Officer (COO) Pete Russell in recent interview with Guyana Times Sport revealed that the possibility certainly exists that they would expand but certainly not for the upcoming season which runs from August 1 to September 9.

Russell stated, “We always look at it every year , whether we should expand teams, I think we will expand teams at some point but that is probably one or two years from now but we won’t necessarily go back to Antigua Hawksbill; that would be the easy thing to do.”

Chief Operating Officer Pete Russell

He added, “it would be you put a franchise in Florida or in Toronto, just to be a bit more expansive in terms of our thinking but in that part of the world we know we have allot of fans, allot of Caribbean diaspora so it makes sense to look at those markets.”

The mainstay teams of CPL has been the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Lucia Zouks, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel (Trinbago Knight Riders), Barbados Tridents while the Antigua Hawksbill

first then the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots have played two years each.

The thought of a team expansion in the “Biggest Party in Sport” would be attributed to the growth of the tournament on a world stage and Russell has placed its rating in T20 hierarchy alongside Australia’s Big Bash League.

“I think it ranks very favorably with Big Bash, CPL in terms of the players and the quality is absolutely on par with it; Big Bash is more about the kids and the family, we are more about the night life, we proudly say we are the biggest party in sport and that taps into the Caribbean flavour and it is atmosphere where you cannot get anywhere in the world,” the COO posited.

had a positive i m - pact on

Impacting the Caribbean

Viewpoints from different spectrums of the cricket fraternity pose varied thoughts of the impact, whether positive or negative the league is having on Caribbean cricket.

Russell in his assessment felt the League has

t h e r e gion’s cricket since the organisers are not just in the business to make money.

“CPL has had a massive impact you will always get the cynical view which

sometimes becomes the popular view that it is just a money making exercise and believe me it is not, CPL is still at break even, it is not making huge amounts of money and it has invested over US$20M into the league and then look at the team owners, they have put huge amount of money into playing into these teams,” the official explained.

He added “the economic impact is significant, if the tournament was not there I don’t know what you would replace it because all the local vendors have a good time when CPL is there everyone is able to feed off CPL

and that is from an economical aspect and if you look at it from a cricketing perspective , it is giving young players not only a chance to make a living, plus they are able to play against the best players in the world, and if you can’t capture that and build those players into better players and that’s not necessarily our job , that is done by the WICB , then it [CPL] is doing its job.”

Since the existence of CPL, West Indies have won two World T20 tournaments and have some of the biggest names in the sport, which Russell feels has CPL has made a direct impact.

He is of the view that “Everyone keeps referring to the Test era in bygone years and obviously the West Indies were the best but T20 cricket is now the default and that’s the biggest format of cricket and the West Indies are the best asset and does not happen by chance, yes you have good players but you have to put the frame work in place to make these players the best they are and CPL is being able to do that.”

A healthy nation is Sammy leads a wealthy nation Peshawar to PSL title - Kares Engineering GM - promises more support for sport

A

t the end of the third edition of the Kares Engineering Fitness Challenge, General Manager of the title sponsor, Dennis Nandan explained why the company has made such a sterling contribution to this event as well as making a commitment to support a wide cross section of sport across the country.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport immediately after the presentation on Sunday night at the National Park Thomas Lands, Nandan said “youths are who we try to invest in since they are the ones who will take over from us when we are gone so we look forward to the youths replacing us.”

Impressed with the strength and endurance of the folks that participated, Nandan was particularly excited to see Dillon Mahadeo and Semonica Duke, who eventually were crowned the winners of the male and female category respectively.

“Seeing these youngsters

Kares Engineering General Manager Dennis Nandan

push themselves so hard was something unbelievable and Guyana has a long way to go as I said before a healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” Nandan said.

While across the world people are increasingly paying attention to their health, Guyanese included, the General Manager noted that it is the homes that fitness and wellbeing must start;

parents must train their children to have a healthy lifestyle.

He encourages the parents to invest in healthy foods for their children and be more actively involved in outdoor sports rather than be indoors on computers and gadgets all day, this will in turn keep them healthy and physically fit.

Not only does Nandan encourage parents to take a healthy nutrition into consideration, but he also asked that federations foster these athletes in the best direction for them to excel.

President of the Guyana Olympic Association, K. A. Juman Yassin has already indicated that it is the Olympic Association’s desire to have all the elite athletes come under a nutritional programme.

Consequently, Kares Engineering has promised to continue to invest in sport across the country, as well as hinting to an expansion of this challenge next year.

F

Peshawar Zalmi captain Darren Sammy accepts the PSL 2017 trophy

ormer West Indies captain Darren Sammy led Peshawar Zalmi to the Pakistan Super League Twenty20 title with a 58-run victory against Quetta Gladiators in a trouble-free final on Sunday.

Extraordinary security measures did not stop thousands of cricket-starved Pakistani fans from going to the Gaddafi Stadium and watching Quetta being bowled out for only 90 in 16.3 overs.

Sammy’s knock of 28 off 11 balls had earlier lifted Peshawar’s total to 148-6 af-

ter he lost the toss and his team was put in to bat.

“I felt tonight I brought a lot of smiles in Lahore and Peshawar,” Sammy said. “I am glad I came to experience the atmosphere here.”

Sammy, who twice led the West Indies to the World Twenty20 title, was among nine foreign cricketers who agreed to travel to eastern city of Lahore early Sunday as stringent security measures were put in place around the 25,000-capacity stadium.

Pakistan has not hosted a major test-playing nation

since 2009 when an attack on a Sri Lanka team bus also in Lahore - killed seven policemen and injured several Sri Lanka players.

Since the attack in 2009, only Zimbabwe has visited Pakistan for a short limited-overs series in 2015.

PSL chairman Najam Sethi, who is also chairman of the PCB’s executive committee, said on Sunday that he looked at the PSL final as the opening for Pakistan to bring back international cricket. continued on page 19

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, MARCH 7, 2017

NEW GPC committed to sport development

23

Foster returns as RHTY&SC President

L

imacol was the title sponsor for the popular Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in 2013 and for two consecutive years a domestic football competition organized by the Petra Organisation was funded by the product and referred to as the Limacol Round Robin Knock Out Football tournament. Additionally, for the 2016-17 Limacol Football Tournament, the referees’ apparel came compliments of Xcite, another product like Limacol manufactured by the NEW GPC. NEW GPC’s NEW GPC International Sales and Marketing International Sales and Associate Elizabeth Ram Marketing Associate,

The tournament gave the company a chance to showcase its products while making a positive impact in football

Elizabeth Ram in speaking to this publication at the conclusion of the 201617 grand football finals explained that the company is pleased to be associated with the event and sport in general.

“We are very pleased to be a part of the event, we recognized that sport development in Guyana is important so we are embrac-

ing that as much as we can through our brands especially Limacol because Limacol is a household name, it has been around for generations and it is trusted so we are going to use that brand to support as many sports as we can,” Ram posited.

Ram hinted that the company will expand their support for sports and other events in tandem with other company products.

“New GPHC has a wide

range of brands and in the future you may not only be hearing of Limacol, you will be hearing about other brands coming on board with other sports or other events which may not be sporting related,” the company representative stated.

In Ram’s overall assessment of the recent football tournament she expressed elation in the enormous turnout and hailed it a success.

Bellew stuns Haye with 11th-round stoppage

W

BC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew produced a stunning upset to stop bitter rival David Haye in a thrilling heavyweight contest at London’s O2 Arena.

The Liverpudlian, 34, pounced when Haye suffered what turned out to be an Achilles injury in the sixth round to score a knockdown.

Haye, who had his right ankle strapped, carried on as bravely as he could for the rest of the fight, but was unable to move freely as Bellew seized the momentum.

And in the 11th, a second knockdown saw former heavyweight champion Haye tangled in the ropes, the towel enter from his corner and his hopes of a return to the world-title level of the sport left in tatters. Bellew - a big underdog with bookmakers -

David Haye swung wildly at Bellew in the early rounds

raced to trainer Dave Coldwell in celebration as he scored a victory which will likely filter through to non-boxing fans far more than his 2016 world-title win at Goodison Park did.

And the bitter war of words leading up to the fight ended with Bellew helping a limping and exhausted Haye back to his corner. The two embraced and the beaten, humbled Haye

asked for a rematch during a lengthy post-fight interview before heading off to hospital to have surgery.

Bellew’s jump in weight to claim victory is perhaps even more impressive considering he has had just eight fights at cruiserweight, spending most of his career two divisions lower than the one he competed in in this exhilarating affair.

The newly-elected RHTY&SC Executives after their elections

T

he Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on March 3 held its 13th bi-annual General Meeting at the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School with Keith Foster returning as President.

Elections for the Club’s Executive Members went softly and the other members elected were Vice President – Mark Papannah, Secretary/ CEO – Hilbert Foster, Asst Secretary/Office Manager – Simon Naidu, Treasurer – Shemaine Campbelle, Organising Secretary – Keith Hicks, Club overall Captain- Shawn Perriera, Asst Organising Secretary – Rabindranath Kissoonlall, Public Relations Officer – Anil Ramnarine and Committee Members – Sohan Harry, Elizabeth Brusch, Neville Beaton.

Meanwhile Neville Beaton was elected Chairman of the Club’s over 35 Group while Foster would serve as Secretary, Bridgette McDonald would serve as Treasurer while Committee members of the Over 35 Group are Lucy Pike, Volda Cort and Keith Hicks.

He was an English champion at heavyweight at amateur, following in the footsteps of the ringside Frank Bruno, but few gave him hope - and those who did emphasised the survival mission he had on his hands in dodging Haye’s early power.

But he did, the 13 fights he has had since Haye briefly left the sport providing a sharpness his opposite number simply lacked.

Roared on by the likes of Wayne Rooney and AP McCoy in attendance, he shone in a cauldron atmosphere, boxing admirably to complement his reputation as a power puncher.

Bellew’s stock has never been so high. Unification bouts in the cruiserweight division will likely present themselves and his adaptability in stepping up to over 200lbs could open doors in the sport’s showpiece division. (BBC Sport)

The signatures on the Club bank account for the next two years would be the Club Secretary Hilbert Foster, Shemaine Campbelle, Mark Papannah and Sohan Harry. President David Granger remains the Honorary Patron of the Club until December 2020.

Scores of Club members including the Over 35 Group turned up at the two and a half hours meeting to discuss the Secretary/ CEO report, a comprehensive financial report and to elect office bearers for the 2017-2018 term of Office.

Members also discussed a wide range of matters concerning the development of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation and plans for 2017.

Foster provided a detailed account of activities for the 2015/2016 period where a total of 857 programmes/activities were successfully organised.

Plans for 2017 includes the Annual Award Ceremony, Youth Review Magazine, Cricket Academy, celebration of Rose Hall Village 175th anniversary, Republic Bank Summer Camp, Christmas Village, Berbice Sports Award, Award of Excellence and the hosting of numerous cricket tournaments during the year. Club members also approved anonymously the Treasurer’s Financial Report which showed the RHTY&SC on a solid financial footing for 2017.

Other matters discussed at length including captaincy for the new cricket season, a discipline Code of Conduct, protection of Club’s gears, expansion of the Charity programme to assist pensioners on the 1st day of every month, the importance of physical fitness and the importance of Club members working to assist those less fortunate than them.

Club members also agreed that membership shall remain free for 2017 and also approved anonymously a no confidence motion against the Region 6 Sports Officer who seems to have a personal vendetta against the RHTY&SC and its Management. The Officer, who is still on probation has been attacking

the Club on a regular basis via Facebook and members feel that as a Government Officer he is very divisive.

The Motion would be submitted to the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Sports and President David Granger.

Members also approved the Captains and vice captains of the Club’s different cricket teams for the 2017 season.

Lucas Arthur would lead the Under 15 team with Mohindra Gopilall as his deputy. The others are: Under 17 – Kevlon Anderson (Capt), Junior Sinclair (Vice) Under 19 – Kevin Sinclair (Capt), Kevlon Anderson (Vice) Under 21 – Brandon Prashad (Capt), Kevin Sinclair (Vice) Intermiade – Delbert Hicks (Capt) Second Division – Major James Fraser (Capt), Kevlon Anderson (Vice) Female – Shemaine Campbelle (Capt), Erva Giddings (Vice) First Division (Capt) and Clinton Pestano (Vice).

Coach for all the teams shall be Delbert Hicks while Plaffina Millington, Hicks, Eon Hooper, Mark Papannah and Meliane Henry would join the captains and vice-captains in the Club’s Cricket Development Committee which would be headed by Club Secretary/ CEO Hilbert Foster. The Discipline Council for 2017/2017 would be headed by veteran Club Executive Neville Beaton and includes Elizabeth Brusch and Rabindranath Kissoonlall.

The long serving Secretary/CEO urged the Club members to remain united while continuing to work harder for more success in the future.

He pleaded with the newly elected Executives to focus on the work ahead and to develop a culture of discipline, honesty and dedication.

Special congrats was extended to seventeen years old Simon Naidu on his election as Asst Secretary, Anil Ramnarine as Public Relations Officer and Mark Papannah as Vice President.

TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2017

Sports is no longer our game, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our business

guyanatimesgy.com

CPL open to team expansion in North America Pg 22

CPL made its debut in Florida last year and attracted large, vocal and colourful crowds

IKD Chief Instructor grades 131 students Pg 21

Instructors and students at the conclusion of the grading session on Sunday at YMCA

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