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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2975

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, September 12, 2016

PRICE

Chinese Bank, BaiShanLin discuss future in Guyana Page 7

WHAT'S INSIDE:

… Investment Agreement with Govt was not terminated – Attorney

Man stabbed to death at Bourda Market –16-year-old suspect captured after fleeing scene Page 11

$80 VAT INCLUDED

Taxi driver shot dead in Albouystown

Driver P2 who killed 4-year-old was drunk – Police

Page 2

World Suicide Prevention Day

NGOs unite in nationwide vigils of hope

Page 11

ECD man nabbed P2 with illegal gun, ganja

Army issues bursaries to 25 NGSA students P12 Teen pens P9 powerful poem about youth unemployment – implores President to take action APNU/AFC partnership The Leo Club, along with Miss Guyana Universe 2016 delegates, at the anti-suicide vigil on Saturday at the St Stanislaus College, Brickdam, Georgetown

AFC to petition Cabinet to keep embattled Ambassador Page 3

…claims legal woes now a “spent conviction”

Guyanese Muslim Community celebrates Eid-ulAdha nationwide Page 12

“We are doing a fantastic job” – Ramjattan P10

2 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Taxi driver shot dead in Albouystown

A

taxi driver was on Sunday evening shot dead execution style, while making a delivery in King Edward Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

The dead man has been identified as Oswald Rambarran, 42, of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

Rambarran was a taxi driver attached to the 007 Taxi Service, Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown.

At the time of the shooting, the taxi driver was not on duty, a source at the Taxi Service revealed . The source stated that while Rambarran worked Sunday morning, he was not seen since around

Deceased: Taxi driver Oswald Rambarran

noon.

Reports are that around 20:30h as Rambarran was about to deliver some food

in King Edward Street, two men rode up on a motorcycle and opened fire on him.

The taxi driver was reportedly shot about 10 times about the body, and was picked up by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He succumbed while awaiting medical attention.

While it was not immediately clear what may have led to the shooting, Police sources said they were working with the theory that it may have stemmed from an old grievance.

Police have not yet made any arrests, but investigations are ongoing.

ECD man nabbed with illegal gun, ganja

P

olice have arrested a man at Melanie, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who had in his possession an illegal firearm with matching ammunition and a quantity of cannabis.

Police spokesman, Superintended Jairam

Ramlakhan, said in a report that at about 18:45h on Saturday, a Police mobile patrol stopped and searched the man on Melanie Public Road and found a snub-nosed revolver with four matching rounds in its chamber. The man

also had in his possession a “small quantity” of suspected cannabis.

The weapon will be sent for ballistics to confirm if it was used in any criminal activity.

The man remains in custody and charges are likely to be laid soon.

Driver who killed 4-yearold was drunk – Police

T

he two drivers involved in the fatal accident that claimed the life of a young child on Saturday night are under Police guard.

On Sunday, Guyana Times was told that the driver of the Tundra vehicle, with registration plate GPP 3500 belonging to C Ramnarine, 19, of First Avenue, Bartica, Essequibo, is currently in a city hospital. He received injuries as a result of the collision that killed 4-year-old Abiola Providence of Newtown, Kitty. Other reports indicated that he was driving under the influence (DUI).

The driver of the Toyota Allion with registration plate PMM 1426 is said to be in Police custody.

Guyana Times understands that there were no other serious injuries in the fatal accident. Meanwhile, a Police source close to the investigation revealed that

The two vehicles involved in the accident

the case file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is expected to make a determination on charges soon.

Reports are that the deceased little girl was in the rear seat of the car with her relatives when the driver, negotiating a turn on Sheriff and Garnett Streets, collided with the Tundra.

Reports also stated that young Providence died on the spot. When this newspaper visited the scene the child’s body had been lying on the road. The child’s mother and grandmother, who were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, are said to be stable. Police investigations are continuing.

NEWS

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 12 – 12:55h-14:25h and Tuesday, September 13 – 13:50h-15:20h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 12 – 14:00h-15:30h and Tuesday, September 13 – 14:30h-16:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions in the early morning hours followed by light to heavy rain showers. Clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South south-westerly to East North-easterly between 0.89 metre and 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 13:10h reaching a maximum height of 2.21 metres.

Low Tide: 06:33h reaching minimum heights of 0.97 metre and1.01 metres.

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AFC to petition Cabinet to keep embattled Ambassador …claims legal woes now a “spent conviction”

T

he Foreign Affairs Ministry’s investigation into the veracity and gravity of the charges against Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Dr Shamir Ally, is still to be completed, but the Alliance For Change (AFC) is standing staunchly behind its member and will petition the Cabinet Council of Ministers to have him remain in his diplomatic posting.

Guyana Times spoke with a reliable source close to the leadership of the AFC and was told that the party leader, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, will be looking to argue the case before Cabinet that Dr Ally’s legal woes in the United States of America should be considered a “spent conviction”.

A spent conviction refers to a penalty effectively being ignored on a person’s record given the time that has lapsed since the original charges were laid.

This is the argument since the charges are now 14 years old and the party’s leadership is arguing that Dr Ally should not still be held liable or unworthy as Guyana’s Ambassador to Kuwait.

The source has pointed out too that the party’s leadership, in making its case on behalf of Dr Ally, will point to the fact that he is a recipient of the highest award of the US Republican Party and will suggest that if this party saw Dr Ally as fit to receive the award despite his legal troubles, why should he be made to demit a ‘local’ diplomatic posting.

According to reports, on May 11, 1994, Dr Ally received the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle Medal of Freedom from then US President George Bush for dedication, unwavering support, and

Dr Shamir Ally

as a prominent leader in the Republican Party – the highest honour the Republican members of the US Senate can bestow.

The AFC, over the weekend, also in defence of its key supporter said since 2002, Dr Ally has continued to function unimpeded at very high levels in and out of the United States, voting at all national elections, city and town elections.

At Indian Trail, North Carolina, Dr Ally was also sworn in to serve on six Town Boards and Committees from 2014 to December 2015.

More recently, in February 2015, the North Carolina Secretary of State appointed Dr Ally as a Notary Public.

The party was at the time adamant that Dr Ally was charged and required to pay a penalty by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and was not convicted of a crime.

The AFC, over the weekend, issued a missive in defence of Dr Ally, denying he was the mastermind in the US fraud scheme and instead claimed he inherited the accounting system. The

party said he “vehemently denied the charges, but agreed to pay the US$10,000 penalty under protest”.

Dr Ally and his co-accused had copped an outof-court plea deal with the SEC to pay fines ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000.

He was charged in 2002 by the Commission for “the dissemination of false financial information” using his company, Acrodyne.

The Guyana diplomat and others were said to be “aware of numerous and significant problems with Acrodyne’s accounting controls, but failed to assure that Acrodyne’s financial transactions were accurately recorded”.

According to the AFC’s statement, Dr Ally was charged jointly with two other senior executives of Acrodyne, but “instead of proceeding with a long and costly trial, the three professionals were strongly advised by that company’s Attorney-at-Law, Mr Steven Thomas, to make a deal with the SEC to pay fines without admission of guilt”.

This was done, but Dr Ally, in denying culpability, said the financial practices for which he was charged were in place when he started working at the company.

He accused the SEC of “making him a scapegoat since the accounting procedures he had worked with, he had inherited from his predecessors, and he has consistently iterated that he worked under close supervision”.

Dr Ally, in continuing to deny guilt, said he was prevented access to the accounting records “which would have enabled him to substantially rebut the SEC’s 2002 charge”.

The AFC said that Dr Ally was employed by Acrodyne for a short period, “from February 2, 1999

to May 9, 1999 as the Cost Accounting Manager…

On May 10, 1999, he was promoted to Controller and he served in this position for 15 months up to July 10, 2000.”

Dr Ally was fired from Acrodyne in July 2000, circumstances he blamed on a “power struggle, falling revenue/income & a depleting labour force” in the company.

He was later charged along with two other Acrodyne executives, including its President in May 2002, by the SEC with civil action.

Dr Ally, in seeking to provide an explanation, said Acrodyne used to prepare quarterly financial reports “based on some actual, and some estimated figures”.

He said the company would, at the end of the year, do an annual stock taking and these reports would be audited and sent to the SEC. He maintains that this system of preparing records based in part on estimates “was Standard Operating Procedure at Acrodyne”.

In March 2003, the SEC had ordered Acrodyne to cease and desist from future violations of the anti-fraud, periodic reporting, and books and records provisions of the Exchange.

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guyana-times.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

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

9/11: 15 years on

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

Editorial

Post 9/11 World

Y

esterday was the 15th anniversary of an event that changed the trajectory of history in this new millennium: “9/11”. That readers need no information other than those two numbers to know what event is being identified attest to the universal acknowledgement of the impact of what happened on that fateful day of September 11, 2001. The facts are stark: four planes were hijacked by 19 individuals who used them as missiles to dive into identified targets on the US eastern seaboard.

Two were hurled into the 110-storey twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City with thousands of workers inside to bring them down. One was plunged into the Pentagon, the US military headquarters outside Washington DC and the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania on route to what investigators believe was the White House or the Capitol Building. In total, 2996 died: 372 were non- Americans (including the 19 perpetrators) from 90 countries, among them three Guyanese. Two hundred and sixty-five were from the four planes, 2606 from the WTC and 125 from the Pentagon.

While in the broad canvass of war through the ages, the fatalities were not extraordinary – 66,000 died from the atomic bomb blast at Hiroshima – the 9/11 fatalities were not an action carried out during a declared war between the US and another country, but by a private organisation. Secondly, and very germanely, for the first time since the 1812 war by Britain against the American Republic, there was an attack on American soil. This shook up America.

While the word “terrorism” had entered the lexicon since the “Terror” of the French revolutionaries back in the 1890s, it took on a whole new meaning after 9/11.

Terrorists were now defined as private citizens who used violence against civilian and governmental targets to make a political point against a state. The George Bush Government’s immediate declaration of a “War against Terrorism” also pushed the envelope on State action across what had previously been thought to be “inviolable” borders in the UN state system.

The group that took credit for the 9/11 attack was Al Qaeda, which interestingly came out of the eclectic Islamic troops from several countries in the Middle East – the Muhajadeen with one of their leaders being the Saudi Arabian Osama Bin Laden – that were sponsored by the US during the Cold War 1980s to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan. At the same time, the US had been supporting Iraq under Saddam Hussein in its decade long war against Iran, even though it had declared Iraq a “Terrorist State” back in the 1970s. But relations broke down after Iraq invaded Kuwait leading to the “First Gulf War” when the US attacked Iraq in 1990-1991.

The US became bogged down with militarised operations in the wide swathe of Islamic countries extending from North Africa, through the Middle East and into Afghanistan and Pakistan, into which the Muhajadeen returned after their battle-hardening experience in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda resented the US presence in Saudi Arabia, which is regarded as the “Holy Land” by Muslims.

Reacting to the attack of 9/11, George Bush launched the Second Gulf War in 2003 after he claimed Saddam Hussein possessed “weapons of mass destruction”. The subsequent collapse of the Iraqi State led to hundreds of thousands of Sunni Muslim troops chafing under the rule of a Shia-dominated Government. These troops would become the core of ISIS, which would become even more radical against the West than Al Qaeda. And the War on Terror continued unabatedly.

For Guyanese, the post 9/11 impact has come out of the tightened security procedures instituted by the US through its new Homeland Security procedures and the insistence we comply with Anti-Money Laundering/ Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CTF) acts.

Recently, there have been a number of Trinidadians that joined ISIS, but thankfully none from Guyana. Post 9/11 has led to a much more dangerous world.

A mourner places a flag in the Empty Sky memorial, inscribed with the names of the victims, on the morning of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New Jersey, September 11, 2016 (Reuters/Andrew Kelly)

GuySuCo has become a football for politicians

Dear Editor, In a news media letter of Sept 7 on the above referenced subject, the writer expressed the view that instead of closing Wales Sugar Estate, GuySuCo should distribute the sugar lands to the laid-off workers and let them continue to cultivate the lands and supply the factory with purportedly profitably grown canes since in his opinion, “private cane farming has been relatively productive and profitable compared to the high cost of GuySuCo’s cultivation”.

It is apparent that the writer and some other observers are under the illusion that sugar cane can once again be grown profitably in Guyana despite the many factors and circumstances which suggest otherwise.

GuySuCo is a wholly owned corporation of the APNU/AFC Government, which ultimately has to approve all its major policy decisions. Unfortunately since nationalisation, GuySuCo became a ‘football’ for the politicians of the day who have used Guyana’s largest employer for cronyism with the appointment of unqualified and incompetent personnel in every segment of the industry.

These hapless employees eventually ran GuySuCo into the ground,

making it impossible for the industry to return to profitability without large capital investment and complete reorganisation of its operations.

The government does not have the management, technical and financial capacity to make the necessary changes to improve productivity and return GuySuCo to profitability.

Further, it will be unable to get funding from the capital markets and development banks for any anticipated improvement of GuySuCo which is not a viable entity and hence to attract investors to bankroll the needed upgrade and changes would be hard to find.

The APNU/AFC had appointed a commission to examine the operations of GuySuCo and make recommendations for its viability.

The findings of the commission were never made public and they are still under cover apparently to keep sugar workers in the dark until such time that their eventual demise is announced, as the government is fully aware that the findings of the commission spells doomsday for GuySuCo and any workers’ agitation on receipt of bad news regarding their employment can adversely impact their performance and the precarious partnership between

the APNU and AFC. Therefore, it’s in no one’s interest to scuttle the boat at this time since some of the politicians and public employees are benefitting handsomely as they enrich themselves from the spoils of a relatively corrupt society.

Sadly there is no accountability for performance among the politicians and as such the coalition members will continue to go along to get along glossing over their political differences and approve the subsidies for GuySuCo since the loss of power could hurt their earnings and lucrative benefits as well as do considerable damage to their inflated egos.

GuySuCo is heavily indebted and is absorbing government subsidies at an alarming rate to avoid bankruptcy as the industry contracts and its overhead expenses escalate. The current management is apparently aware of this and has started to explore ways and means to dispose of abandoned sugar lands and decrepit factories to reduce the debt load and subsidies.

Disposal of state properties has to be open and transparent since some current politicians and public employees have shown a penchant for corruption and backdoor deals. Much real estate knowledge on the

disposal of sugar lands such as parcelling for optimum price and location valuation could be obtained from the Vieiras who have acquired considerable knowledge disposing of their sugar lands at Houston, in Georgetown and Versailles on the West Bank Demerara for many years now with great success and huge profits.

GuySuCo cannot be resurrected to its former glory and therefore it has to wind down its operations and liquidate as quickly as is possible since the subsidies it receives are not infinite and can only continue to damage the other sectors of the Guyanese economy for lack of needed investment.

Finally, GuySuCo has an obligation to compensate sugar workers for the termination of their services. It should also explore means and methods to retrain them to acquire the skills which will enable them to obtain gainful employment on the open market.

Unfortunately the APNU/AFC government has no development plan in place to grow the Guyanese economy to provide jobs for the displaced sugar workers and all those people with skills waiting to enter the workplace for the first time.

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

City Constables are harassing drivers Dear Editor, David Ramnarine, Acting Commissioner of Police, recently boldly read the ‘Riot Act’ to members of the anti-crime patrol and traffic ranks in relation to corrupt and other unlawful activities.

This was done in the presence of their supervisors, commanders and members of the print and

electronic media.

Apparently, the traffic ranks in Georgetown have stopped harassing drivers, demanding and taking away their documents.

However, a new group has emerged.

Some members of the Georgetown City Constabulary who are tasked with enforcing traffic laws in the city, partic-

ularly around the markets and bus parks have taken up the slack left by the Police ranks. They are harassing drivers and seizing their documents for ulterior motives.

Is there a separate law for the Police ranks and that of members of the City Constabulary in the performance of their duties? What is good for the goose is good

for the gander.

Could the Georgetown Town Clerk, Mr Royston King who is head of the City Constabulary, correct the sad state of affairs?

Yours, Clinton Conway, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ret)

guyana-times.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

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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

The law is the law, regardless The workings of SARU and SOCU of culture

Dear Editor, Mr Ashton Simon in a letter to the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper dated September 3, 2016, refers to what he considers a mild but stern advice His Excellency, President Granger, gave to Pandit Tillack regarding the comments the Hindu priest purportedly made against the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana.

Editor, yes I do agree that as people of Guyana we need to edify ourselves more about the cultures of our different ethnicities. However, in my estimation the question Pandit Tillack raised was not one of an attack on the cultural heritage of our Indigenous Peoples, but rather a breach of the laws of this land that negatively impacts our children in the Amerindian communities. Did his Excellency the President, Mr Simon or anyone else for that matter refute the claims made by the Pandit? This gentleman responded to the priest by hurdling insults to Indians and the Indian culture based on his jaundiced views. I read somewhere in his article that he claims to respect other peoples’ culture. However, the article he wrote completely contradicts his claims.

This writer is conferred with a very prestigious title for an association which is supposed to have been making representations for the Indigenous Peoples at the highest levels of government, yet we encounter statistics backed with reality that the Indigenous Peoples are the most deprived sec-

tions of our society. This situation exists because leaders like Mr Ashton Simon refuse to address the serious concerns of these people.

I think the Pandit should be complimented rather than condemned. The Child Protection Agency should take serious note and get down to the bottom of the views expressed by the Pandit.

Further, I am convinced that Mr Simon’s blurred opinion of other cultures propels him to think that this Hindu priest has betrayed the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana. Conversely, I feel this was an honest attempt by a right thinking citizen to raise the level of awareness of a situation faced by Guyana’s children which needs urgent intervention from the Government.

The next thing I failed to comprehend completely from his article is the correlation between learning about other peoples’ cultures and children warming up the beds of adults. Is he implying that the cultural significance of this act must be understood before speaking?

Modern society accepts laws to be supreme. Cultures, traditions and religions cannot be practiced in contravention of these laws. These must be practiced within the framework of the laws. The Pandit raised a question of something which is morally, ethically and legally unacceptable. Mr Ashton Simon and others from his brigade are making feeble attempts to disguise and divert the argument. The first attempt

in the process of diversion was to create an opinion that the Hindu priest attacked the Indigenous Peoples and their culture, and secondly presenting counter claims that Indian culture is no better. This was never a debate about which culture is more superior or inferior. Is Mr Simon implying that since ‘child marriage’ is a practice in India, the Pandit, who is a Guyanese citizen, has no business talking about an immoral and illegal practice in Guyana? What is the connection? The Pandit raised something that is happening in Guyana which is wrong, requires condemnation and legal intervention. Instead we are telling him to mind his own cultural business.

Is ‘child marriage’ an Indo-Guyanese phenomenon? If the Indians in Guyana are in breach of Guyanese laws, retrospect practice of their culture, Mr Ashton Simon is most welcome to bring it to our attention and avoid baseless allegations. I am certain Indian laws and legal entities are capable of handling their cultural issues as it is a secular state.

Yours sincerely, Vikash Ramkissoon

Dear Editor, There has been much chatter, uneasiness and even panic within recent months over local institutional activities to tackle Money Laundering and Asset Recovery.

In another section of the media on September 8, 2016 under caption “SARA’s powers to snoop around citizens’ private accounts worrying”, there was a blast of panic from the PSC over potential violation of citizens’ constitutional rights.

Let me posit my disagreement with the narrative by stating that there is nothing to worry about if there is nothing to hide.

And those who have things to hide would be better off ‘coming clean’ by returning stolen state assets or making alternative restitution.

Money Laundering, embezzlement, and unlawful acquisition of State Assets are serious international crimes.

Some persons of interest with links or direct involvement in these crimes are suspects of layering and integrating proceeds locally, particularly through smurfing.

With renewed efforts to counter these crimes by the incumbent administration, some individuals have even

attempted to hide by fleeing to other jurisdictions. I use the word “attempted” because under the United Nations Charter there is no immunity for such crimes of corruption. With strong jurisprudence, Interpol’s tentacles can be effectively activated to capture those stowaways.

Reference is made to Articles 43, 51 and Chapter 5 of the United Nations Charter. On April 16, 2008, Guyana assented to the United Nations Convention against Corruption under which those crimes are captioned.

The State has an obligation under international protocols to counter such crimes.

Over time we have been cultured to believe it is the status quo for the community to rally together to catch the poor mango thief and hand him over to the police who will throw him into the dungeon if he is lucky to survive the prior ‘blows’ of over-zealous vigilantes, while the corrupt official who steals millions is handled with ‘kids gloves’, enjoys pre-trial liberty on bail before his skilful battery of lawyers argue for his exoneration of the crime in Court.

That status quo is chang-

ing. Just look closest home, to the south, in Brazil!

So those who are agitating against the operation of relevant local agencies, particularly SARU and SOCU, to investigate and prosecute against Money Laundering and Asset Recovery should rest assured that action must be taken against those found culpable.

It is the overwhelming expectation of the majority of Guyanese that the government take all necessary steps to curb corruption, eliminate drug trafficking, stamp-out money-laundering, protect, preserve and recover state assets applicably. It is taking some time, but every long rope has an end.

The government would be guilty of failing the citizenry by sacrificing the nation’s security at the expense of a few whose ‘privacy’ is effectively forfeited through their involvement in such abominable and damaging crimes against the state.

Sincerely, Orette Cutting

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

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guyana-times.com

Foundation

Do our expectations of children aim too high or too low?

By Alfie Kohn

“O

ld-school” parenting and teaching are often distinguished by a failure to understand what children are capable of doing or understanding, or to provide the support they need and the respect they deserve.

But does that mean children are being underestimated – or overestimated? The answer is less straightforward, and more interesting, than you might think.

Let’s back up for a minute. My premise is that it makes sense to adopt what might be called a “working with” – as opposed to a “doing to” – approach with children. That means relying on love and reason, seeing children as more than bundles of behaviours to be managed and manipulated, and treating troublesome actions as problems to be solved (or, if you like, teachable moments) rather than as infractions to be punished.

Traditionalists, however, raise this objection: Because young children aren’t yet able to reason or understand long-term consequences, we need to tell them what to do and employ rewards or punishments to make sure they’re properly socialised.

In effect, children’s developmental limitations are invoked to justify a “doing to” prescription. But the irony here is that many developmental psychologists and educators with a keen understanding of how children’s capabilities change as they grow tend to reject that prescription.

The developmentalists’ argument (which is

mine as well) runs as follows: No child is too young to be treated with respect. A child’s point of view should be taken seriously and his or her choices honoured when possible. Sure, the immaturity of young children may require more patience from us. Yes, they may need more protection and monitoring, more structure and instruction. But none of this justifies a reliance on control and a predominant focus on eliciting mindless obedience.

Working-with parenting and teaching of

we deal with them. By contrast, offering rewards for compliance or punishments for noncompliance makes it increasingly difficult to promote other-oriented reasoning and empathy. Just because it takes time to reach these goals doesn’t mean we should head off in the wrong direction.

An attempt to justify a “doing to” approach on the grounds that children are too young to be “worked with” is ironic for another reason, too. Parents and teachers who punish chil-

very young children may be challenging, but it’s not unrealistic.

In fact, we can go a step further: Our treatment of little children has an impact on how they develop.

Imposing our will on them (on the basis of their immaturity) makes it less likely they’ll acquire the very social and moral dispositions whose absence we’ve used to justify such treatment. If we want them to consider the needs and viewpoints of others, we have to guide them gently to do so. If we want them to rely on cooperation rather than power, we have to set that example in how

dren are likely to overestimate the capabilities of little children – that is, to overlook their developmental constraints. They either don’t understand or simply deny the fact that children below a certain age can’t be expected to eat neatly or keep quiet in a public place or always tell the truth. Young children don’t yet possess the skills that would make it sensible to hold them accountable for their behaviour as we do an adult or even an older child.

A pair of studies by researchers at the University of Texas and New York University confirmed that parents who “attribute

greater competence and responsibility to misbehaving children” are more likely to get upset with them, to condemn and punish them.

Such parents become frustrated by what they see as inappropriate behaviour, and they respond, in effect, by cracking down on little children for being little children – something that can be heartbreaking to watch.

By contrast, parents who understand children’s developmental limitations tend to prefer “calm explanation and reasoning” in response to the same actions.

So which is it? Are “doing to” parents apt to overestimate or underestimate their children? Are they able to rationalise their old-school discipline either way? Or are they somehow guilty of doing both at once?

A similar over/under dilemma shows up in classrooms. It makes its presence felt, first, with standardised testing. Most teachers can readily name several students whom they know to be impressive thinkers but who just don’t score well on these tests. Press further, and teachers may then think of others in their classes who are great at taking tests, but whose proficiency at critical and creative thought is nothing to write home about. Test results therefore overstate the actual capabilities of some children while understating those of others –probably because tests tend to measure the least important kinds of thinking.

Indeed, several studies have found that higher scores on various tests are significantly correlated with shallower approaches to learning.

P

Part

2

arents have relied on T Berry Brazelton’s parenting advice for decades, for example, his books: Touchpoints Birth-3, Touchpoints 3-6 and Discipline: The Brazelton Way. He is Clinical Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus at Harvard Medical School and founder of The Brazelton Touchpoints Center at Boston Children’s Hospital.

President Obama awarded him a Citizen’s Medal. The Library Of Congress named him a Living Legend. (He said, “It’s better than the alternative.”)

Here is the conclusion of his interview.

does no good. A good swat is what works.”

BB: I’d ask what sorts of “talking with him” they did.

If they wanted some modelling, I’d say something to the child like, I love all your passion but I don’t quite understand why you need to be so difficult. Let’s figure out what will help you. What are your ideas?

Again, misbehaviour is an opportunity for both parent and child to learn.

Whatever suggestion I may give to a parent may not work. But that failure gives the parent information that can inform future parenting efforts.

BB: … Nobody learns from being told what to do.

They learn from within.

And unless they’re ready to learn, you won’t change a damn thing. It’s the hardest thing we teach our students yet it’s crucial – to wait and wait and wait until the parent is ready to learn.

MN: Sounds Rogerian, like Carl Rogers’ approach: Focus on listening and letting the ideas where possible come from the client.

MN: Is your advice the same for grandparents?

BB: Yes, and if a grandparent isn’t the primary caregiver, it’s usually wise to not give the parents advice.

MN: Even if it’s Berry Brazelton?

BB: Maybe especially if it’s Berry Brazelton.

MN: Your thoughts on corporal punishment?

BB: I don’t think corporal punishment is ever necessary. Misbehaviour is a teaching opportunity.

MN: What if the parent says, “Talking to my child

MN: Attachment parenting is popular among some parents: maximising attachment between mother and child, including more-thanaverage bodily closeness and touching.

BB: There can be a difference between what the theory’s creator, William Sears, recommended and how it’s implemented. If overdone, attachment parenting can lead to excessive hovering and prevent a child learning to handle stress. It may also reduce the child’s sense of self-efficacy. Children learn from their experiences, including failures.

MN: What’s next for Berry Brazelton?

BB: I’ve just finished writing a book, The Final Touchpoint I’d like to get that out there. There are better and worse ways to handle our aging, our denial of it, our acceptance, and –as Erik Erikson put it –our being generative, to produce as much as we can while we can. I’m 98 but I’m still trying to be generative. (Excerpt from

(Excerpt from psychologytoday)

psychologytoday)

NEWS

7

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Chinese Bank, BaiShanLin discuss future in Guyana …Investment Agreement with Govt was not terminated —Attorney

H

igh-level meetings are being held in China with stakeholders of BaiShanLin International Forest Developers Inc (BIFDI), with a view of determining the fate of the Chinese logging company in Guyana and whether there will be any further investments locally.

This information was disclosed by Attorney for the embattled logging company in Guyana—Pratesh Satram.

He told Guyana Times on Sunday that the legal team is awaiting word from China

Company.

The CDB’s involvement came after a US$60 million loan the logging company had secured from the bank, was placed in limbo when the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) pulled the plug on BaiShanLin’s Joint Venture Agreements here.

Guyana Times was also told that while the GFC has terminated the Joint Venture Arrangements BaiShanLin shared with five local companies, in addition to revoking its State Forests Exploratory Permit (SFEP), the investment

BaiShanLin will be liable to repaying all of the fiscal concessions it had been granted over the years to the tune of billions—in addition to the $80 million the GFC claims it is owed.

The GFC on Tuesday last announced that it was moving to repossess concessions held by BaiShanLin. Guyana Times has since been able to confirm too that the Forestry Commission had also in the previous week, written to five companies affiliated with BaiShanLin, terminating the Joint Ventures that the companies had effected with

agreement that had been inked between the company and government remains in force.

Should the Investment Agreement be terminated,

the Chinese logging company.

Each of the companies had held Timber Sales Agreements (TSAs) which BaiShanLin used in order to

A BaiShanLin truck in the interior

on how to move forward with any representation.

The meetings, he said, include members of the China Development Bank (CDB) and the executives of the

Logs extracted by BaiShanLin awaiting exportation

extract and export logs from Guyana since its SFEP disallowed extraction from its concession.

Based on documentation seen by this publication, on September 1, 2016, the GFC wrote to the five companies with whom BaiShanLin had entered into Joint Ventures, informing them that the arrangement had been terminated, since the Commission had not been informed ahead of time of a transfer of shares.

Each company was told to remove any equipment it had on the more than 400,000 hectares of forest within 90 days.

BaiShanLin has since secured the services of Satram and Satram Law Firm and the attorneys are now questioning the action taken against the five companies since none would have made or reneged on any commitments to the government or the Forestry Commission.

Satram had told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the US$60 million loan taken by the Chinese logging

company from the CDB was under threat, since the shares BaiShanLin would have acquired in the local companies had been used as security against the loan.

The matter has also engaged the attention of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, since it was approached for assistance by BaiShanLin. According to letters issued to Haimorakabra Logging Co Inc, Kwebanna Wood Products Inc, Sherwood Forests Inc, Wood Association Industries Company and Puruni Woods, they had violated provisions in the Forestry Act when they failed to inform the Commission of a transfer of shares, hence the decision to terminate the arrangement.

In making the announcement of repossession, the Commission said: “The decision came after the company failed to deliver on agreed actions to introduce investors to the Commission and having been given time to prove that it had an accept-

able plan to clear an approximately GY$80 million debt.

“In keeping with Forest Governance Practices, the GFC will be formally repossessing the concessions owned by the company and accelerating efforts to recover the debt owed,” it declared.

None of this however, had been communicated to any of the five companies and according to the Attorney this publication spoke with, the GFC has not been formally responded to, but the matter would be vigorously defended in court.

BIFDI was incorporated in September 2006 under the Guyana Companies Act 1991 with the main objective of timber harvesting and establishing downstream wood processing operations in Linden.

To date however, BIFDI has failed to fulfil many of its commitments to the Government of Guyana, reneging on the obligations it made, which were accepted in good faith, according to GFC.

8 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

IN THE COURTS

Loo Creek resident remanded for assault, threatening language

A

resident of Loo Creek, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway was remanded to prison by Magistrate Clive Nurse on Wednesday on the charges of assault and threatening language.

It is alleged that the defendant, Collin Samuels,

39, a farmer, assaulted and made use of threatening language to Lorna Emmanuel on Saturday, August 27 at Loo Creek, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges and will reappear in court on September 20.

24-year-old charged for traffic violations granted bail

F

ailing to produce a driver's licence and a vehicular certificate of insurance landed Paul Charles, 24, in court on Wednesday, charged with the offences.

The defendant who hails from 121 Self Help Housing Scheme, Amelia's Ward, Mackenzie, Linden was granted $5000 bail on each

offence.

It is alleged that he drove hire car bearing licence plate HC5672 along Greenheart Street, Mackenzie on Wednesday, August 17 and failed to produce the said documents as required for examination.

The defendant is scheduled to make another court appearance at a later date.

Ituni resident charged Linden B&E accused granted bail with unlawful

L

inden McCurul, 18, was granted bail by Magistrate Clive Nurse when he appeared at the Linden Magistrate,s Court to answer a charge of breaking and entering a home and larceny.

The labourer of 349 Block 22, Wismar, Linden

pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that he broke and entered the home of Abiola Griffith at 366 Block 22, Wismar on Friday, August 26 and stole $14,000 in cash. He was granted bail in the sum of $20,000 and is to make his next court appearance on September 27.

wounding, granted bail

A

resident of Ituni was granted $10,000 bail

by Magistrate Clive Nurse on Tuesday, when he appeared at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on a charge of unlawful wounding.

The accused, Curtis

Reid of Ituni Village, Upper Demerara River, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Teon Daniels at Ituni on Tuesday, July 12.

He will make his next court appearance on September 14.

Eyew tness

Rorschach test...

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...in politics?

he "Rorschach Test" is also called the "Ink blot" test and has been used by psychologists since the 19th century to find out what's going on in people's heads. And as all of us know, this can be a VERY useful little tool. After all, one of the greatest riddles of all time is, "What the heck is he or she thinking?" The party across the table from you - or on the pillow next to you may give you an answer if you ask… but you can never be sure about its veracity, can you?

In the Rorschach Test, you show the subject five inkblots - produced by dropping ink on a piece of blotting paper along a crease and quickly closing the paper along the crease. A random symmetrical shape is produced and the subject tells the examiner what he sees. Based on the responses the examiner can tell what's going on inside the black box of the party's head through "projection".

We may think we're clever, but most of our responses follow basic patters that can be "read".

So we come back to this "Pharmagate" that this Eyewitness is so sick and tired about. But it just won't go away! Everybody and their uncle seems compelled to have a go at "explaining" it away. But they just seem to stick themselves further in the mess like that Tar Baby which finally trapped smart-man B'rer Rabbit.

PM Moses Nagamootoo explained that the warehouse was rented because in case the old warehouse burnt down, the government would have a spare! Security Minister Ramjattan allowed a mistake but said "to err was human" and Ministers were humans not angels.

Salary increases don't change humans into angels.

Minister Trotman said it was sheer coincidence the $25M forwarded as a deposit on a non-existent warehouse was the exact amount used to purchase the building. The Cabinet Sub-Committee of Trotman, Harmon and Nagamootoo after a very "thorough" investigation still couldn't say how Larry Singh got wind the government needed a warehouse - which one would think is the crux of the matter - but that the contract was "undesirable"!

Now comes Pressie, who says drugs for the government were on the wharf but Govt was being "expelled" from GPC's warehouse creating an emergency that demanded IMMEDIATE action. And that's why the Minister rented a warehouse which - six months later- is still not ready! But no need to fire any Minister. Errors were committed but not of a "criminal nature". What a standard!

Now dear reader, you may not be a trained psychologists but what do these responses tell you about this government?

...for job performance

They say "self-praise is no promotion"… but selfpraise can act like that Rorschach Test we mentioned above. Let's take the case that prompted the thought AFC Leader's answer to a question as to whether he was satisfied with the level of influence his party had in the APNU/AFC coalition. Ramjattan said, "we are doing a real fantastic job of it thus far!”

Yup! That's what the fella said! But what's going on in his head? First let's note he never answered the question directly. He's hiding his real thoughts. Whether the AFC's doing a good job or not has absolutely nothing to do with what influence they have in the Cabinet. Look how the AFC's being treated like a Christmas "blow-blow".

There's Sherod Duncon, the Deputy Mayor (from AFC) being treated like a doormat by the Town Clerk - a Local Government Minister appointee. Why can't the AFC tell him to reign in his appointee?

More germanely is the PM chairing Cabinet meetings like the Cummingsburg Accord promised?

...on women's rights

Without comment10 percent of Guyana’s women believe a husband should beat his wife if she neglects the children, leaves the house without his permission, refuses him sex, argues with him or burns the food.

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

NEWS

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Teen pens powerful poem about youth unemployment – implores President to take action er for the children of the future and in this regard, she implored them to do so.

For starters, she explained that government ministries should work with private companies to introduce internship programmes.

“We need internship programmes... Work studies, in my opinion doesn't cut it.

I had good grades in high school but I had an attitude at the time, according to my teachers, so I wasn't allowed to go on work studies,” Burnette said amusingly.

Her poem can be found trending on social media site Facebook and also on her Facebook page.

Here is her poem below:

By: Devina Samaroo

D

uring an emotional video which has now gone viral, a 19year- old girl has recited a poem capturing the emotional plight of unemployment among youth and the government’s failure to successfully intervene.

The poem, entitled “Dear Mr President” has an undertone of hopelessness, and chronicles the struggles, educated and qualified youths endure while job hunting; the piece also criticises government’s inability to reduce the unemployment rate in Guyana.

A Communication Studies student, Renata Burnette compiled the piece after drawing from her personal experience wile desperately trying to gain meaningful employment.

“I wrote about this because even before I finished high school, which was couple years ago, unemployment was rampant, unemployment among youths who had finished their secondary education. I figured over time it would change...

Well obviously it hasn't happened yet,” she told Guyana Times during an interview on Sunday.

Referencing her poem, Burnette said “who feels it, knows it” and after being

Renata Burnette

exposed to those constant bursts of disappointments after being denied employment, she was more than motivated to begin writing.

“I felt it, being unable to go out with friends because my financial situation was a mess, and more than ever I wanted a job. After graduating twice and receiving all my certificates, I thought it would have been

easy. Turns out it wasn’t…I mean I want to be so many things...I want to help so many people and the biggest obstacle in my way is being unable to pay my tuition fees,” she expressed.

Burnette opined that the government in collaboration with the private sector can do so much more to set the stage that will create an environment that is bright-

Dear Mr President, I know you don’t know me but I'm one of the many who voted for your vision, See, I didn't vote for race and I certainly didn't vote for competition, But with all that being said I hope that if or when you get this message, I hope you listen I'm almost twenty and I'm unemployed, I did CXC, CAPE and I wanna pursue a career in law but, ahh...

Like I said I'm unemployed.

Funny how they say education is the key so tell me

why are you making it so difficult for me?

While you and your friends increase your salaries I can barely afford my tuition fees, As a matter a fact I still owe the loan agency and what pisses me off is all the companies telling me that they ain't got vacancy For my qualification.

Weird cause I don’t have a Ph.D. You know what this lady from a private company told me? She couldn’t hire me because I was attending the university, Like I said, you don’t know me but I'm an average kid. I may not get straight A's but I get good grades And I always told myself that education is the only way to success but I guess that's just a saying and don’t get me wrong I appreciate everything you’ve done for this nation but I'm tired of writing all these applications only to have them sent back to me in two paragraphs with no signature telling me why they can't hire me, No job experience.

But I've been on this earth long enough to know that if my uncle was a big time CEO, My last name would have gotten me a position I wasn't even qualified for,

some democracy, And after 23 years of what many referred to as slavery, you made promises to me, to us You promised us change, most importantly u promised us jobs.

I guess you have no idea how hard it is for us and our families, But like they say fool me once shame on you, fool me twice can't put the blame on you, I guess we all have to do what we have to do but in your next interview I hope you address this issue, And forgive me for the way I'm coming at you but my intentions are pure, And even though I'm poor, someday, just one day, I'd like to own my own home, the right way, But in order to receive a good education, I have to pay, but without a job?

Well you see what I'm tryna say, if you continue to procrastinate, this educated and qualified future generation that you speak of will cease to exist, So I hope u put this at the top of your to do list.

The young lady is hoping her poem reaches the ears of the President, and that urgent action is taken to address the situation.

10

NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

APNU/AFC partnership

“We are doing a fantastic job”- Ramjattan

S

ome sixteen months after being in Government with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the Alliance for Change (AFC) leader Khemraj Ramjattan has emphatically declared that his party is very satisfied with the performance of the coalition, and would be ready to continue another partnership in another election.

Ramjattan, a Vice President and the Minister of Public Security in the coalition government, told a Friday press conference that his party is satisfied with the representation it is receiving as a partner in the coalition which was successful at last year’s General and Regional Elections.

“Absolutely, this government is a united cohesive government and like even if it was just a one-party government, within that one-party government, you would have people arguing their cases

Members of the APNU/AFC Cabinet

for certain things within the Cabinet, within the National Assembly, and so you would have differences and knowing very well that the coalition arrangement can ensure that you have even more differences and more disagreements, we feel we are doing a real fantastic job of it thus far”, Ramjattan declared in response to a question.

He said the challenges are

particularly great in developments and issues that have reared their heads of recent: “We are dealing with them very, very well, like with the Shamir Ally, the bond issue, a number of issues that came up. We are dealing with all of these and with a view of ensuring that what is in hand is the public’s interest”, he said.

Responding to criticisms that the party has reneged on its promise to keep the APNU in line, Ramjattan said his party has not violated any promise it made to the country, particularly supporters of the AFC.

“We are doing the best as possible to find out what were the wrongs before. With all the bureaucracies and challenges, it will not happen overnight to clean…. it will take a herculean effort to have some of these things done”, he said.

Ramjattan acknowledged that the government has erred on several occasions, but defended these infractions by stating that the government ministers are human beings: “We are going to make errors. We are not angels, we are going to make mistakes, errors are going to be there, but what is good about it, is how we remedy these errors.”

He said the coalition is very opened to criticisms from the public: “For the first time in Guyana, it must be allowed, wherever that criticism comes from if it is the commentary in a major article, whether it is the lyrics in a song, or a cuss down on the street corner, this coalition government is going to listen and take action, where action needs to be taken.”

Prior to the signing of the Cummingsburg Accord,

APNU and the AFC joined forces back in February 2015 and in May that year won the country’s General Election

which paved the way for the coalition to be formed back in February 2015, the PPP had heavily criticised the AFC‘s decision to join forces with APNU. General Secretary Clement Rohee had labelled the move a “death warrant...this so-called ‘Cummingsburg Accord’ would be remembered down the halls of shame with time as the day of betrayal of principles on the part of the AFC which had through its leader, Ramjattan, vowed that it would never join the APNU,” Rohee said back in 2015.

Rohee opined that AFC would lose the supporters it had accumulate during the

elections since it would no longer be seen as the middle-ground for those who distrusted the People’s National Congress (PNC), the major partner in APNU. He pointed out that with the coalition, the AFC would have no other choice but to follow the dictatorial rule of the ‘PNC/APNU’: “Their [AFC’s] supporters had already begun returning [to the PPP] and the coalition process has placed impetus on this…the people weren’t convinced back in the day of a coalition between the PNC and the TUF and they won’t be convinced now. Who don’t end up dead politically will end up badly wounded.”

NEWS

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

World Suicide Prevention Day

NGOs unite in nationwide vigils of hope

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s vigil in Essequibo

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on-governmental organisations (NGOs) united on Saturday evening to spread hope during several countrywide vigils in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD).

The vigils were organised by The Caribbean Voice (TCV), the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Prevention Of Teenage Suicide (POTS), the Leo Club, the Miss Global International Guyana Team, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, and other religious groups in all three counties of Guyana.

POTS Guyana, an organisation formed by activist Lisa Punch, hosted its vigil at Square of the Revolution where a handful gathered to

light candles in an effort to inspire suicidal persons to live.

POTS vice president, Ruth English–Wilson, told Guyana Times that the vigil is meant to reach out to persons who are going through a difficult time and to remember those who ended their own lives.

“We saw it fit to do a candlelight vigil standing in solidarity with Guyana’s fallen children, those who are still suffering from depression and being sad and are thinking of suicide and even the survivors, because anything can trigger them. So we are standing in solidarity and in prayer for all those we lost already, for the persons who are still holding on and for those who have survived,” she stated.

The youth activist urged

those who are suffering to reach out to support networks for help, for advice and counselling, reminding that no one has to go through troubling times alone.

“We are here to give you help and give you encouragement,” she stated, noting that POTS can be contacted for any emergencies concerning suicide and related incidents.

Pastor Diego Alphonso, delivering a speech on behalf of the Social Protection Minister, Volda Lawrence, at the vigil, urged NGOs to intensify their efforts and reach out to areas in the countryside where the scourge of suicide is more prevalent.

“We need the commitment of more agencies and NGOs to work harder to remove the stigma and taboo of suicide.

Man stabbed to death at Bourda Market –16-year-old suspect captured after fleeing scene

P

olice in Georgetown are probing the stabbing death of a man at Bourda Market, Georgetown, after he was involved in an argument with another man.

The dead man was identified as Omesh “Blackboy” Chetram, 34, of Unity, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), who usually does oddjobs in the market.

A Police report stated that the incident occurred sometime between 23:30h Saturday and 01:30h Sunday on Robb Street, between Bourda and Alexander Streets, Georgetown.

“Enquiries disclosed that the deceased had an argument with a male, during which the suspect stabbed him in the lower region of his abdomen with a knife and escaped,” the report stated.

The injured man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness who spoke with this publication stated that the

man was stabbed by a teenager who sells at the market nightly with his mother.

According to the eyewitness, who asked to remain anonymous, Chetram, who is usually armed with a cutlass, was in front of the stall of the teenager’s mother when he was confronted by the young man who asked him to remove.

However an argument ensued and Chetram whipped out his cutlass, threatening the teenager. In retaliation, the young man reportedly grabbed a knife from a nearby stall and dealt the man a stab to the abdomen.

The eyewitness said that after the man fell, the teenager fled the scene. Police later came and arrested several persons who were in the vicinity.

Commander (ag) of Police A Division (Georgetown/ East Bank Demerara), Marlon Chapman, on Sunday confirmed that the suspect was arrested at about 13:00h.

Chetram has had several brushes with the law, including incidents of break and enter and larceny: On

August 25 he was before the courts for breaking and entering a shop in the Bourda area.

We have to get at the root of its prevalence; we must be educated to recognise the signs.

We need to commit as a nation to remove ourselves from the top position for suicide in world circles. We can ill afford to bear this high cost of precious lives,” he relayed.

The Leo’s Club hosted its vigil at the St Stanislaus College on Brickdam, Georgetown, where a handful of lions, along with a few Miss Universe delegates turned out to participate.

Carol Lovell, representative of both the Leo’s Club and TCV, lamented that not a lot is being done to help persons who are in need and therefore, the vigil was being used as a call for action.

“People need to become more aware. We need to give a helping hand and a big brother support to those who are going through difficult times so that they will know the meaning of life and want to hang on and continue living.”

In this regard, Lovell called on the government to implement initiatives in school where there are coun-

POTS Guyana vigil at the Square of the Revolution

sellors who develop relationships with students, whereby they would be comfortable to confide their troubles without fear.

The Dharmic Sabha at its vigil in Anna Regina Car Park saw scores of persons in attendance.

Organiser Sursattie Singh advised those who are suffering with suicidal thoughts to remain positive and trust in God. “There is always another way out than ending your life, talk to someone, be someone's keeper, life is worth living.”

Meanwhile, Public Health

Minister, Dr George Norton, pledged his commitment on Friday at a forum in New Amsterdam to address suicide in the East Berbice/ Corentyne region.

Also, the Public Health Ministry on Sunday hosted a Suicide Prevention Walk in order to raise awareness of the pandemic and call on the nation to get up and take action with the aim of saving a life.

Persons can reach the suicide prevention hotline on 600-7869, 623-4444, 2230001, or 223-0009.

(Devina Samaroo)

12 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

2016 Eid-ul-Adha

Guyanese Muslim Community celebrates nationwide

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Army issues bursaries to 25 NGSA students

80 bulls and 40 sheep were slated to be sacrificed in honour of this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration

housands of Guyanese across the country will today celebrate Eidul-Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice”, which also marks the end of the holy pilgrimage to Mecca. This period celebrates Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice after Allah (God) appeared to him in a dream and asked that he sacrifice his son, Ishmael, to show his devotion to the Creator.

According to religious texts, Ibrahim had bounded his son before he put him on the altar. The story is now seen as a test, since the text added that Allah sent his angel to prevent the sacrifice of Ishmael and a lamb was used as the sacrifice instead.

Further, the story is used to reaffirm the principle of “thou shall not kill” as it is believed that the Almighty would not require the killing of an innocent soul.

The observance is celebrated by a large prayer gathering where participants are decked out in their fin-

est apparel. This is followed by the sacrifice of animals usually sheep, bulls or goats.

According to tradition, the meat from the sacrificed ani-

Organisation of Guyana (COIG), at its Muslim Youth Organisation of Guyana (MYOG) complex, will sacrifice 80 bulls and 40 sheep for

T

Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips and other senior officers with the 2016 bursary awardees

mal is often divided into three parts – one for family members, another part for relatives, friends and neighbours, while the other part is distributed to the poor and those in need.

Later in the day, Muslims use the opportunity to visit family and friends and may give gifts and money to one another. Additionally, some believers set aside certain amounts of money to prepare food and also to buy clothes for those who are in need.

The Central Islamic

today’s Eid-ul-Adha observance. This will be preceded by a prayer session around 06:15h. When Guyana Times visited the Woolford Avenue site on Sunday, persons had been seen making the final preparations to mark the event. The leaders expressed great anticipation for today’s event which seeks to remind followers of their devotion to God. “It is not their meat, nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your devotion that reaches Him.” (Qur’an 22:37)

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Friday last presented 25 students with bursaries following their successful completion of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Examinations.

The awardees represented the top 25 children of uniformed ranks and civilian employees of the GDF who attained 75 per cent or greater at the NGSA, a statement from the army said, adding that the students will receive the award every year for the next five years.

Raoul Nicholls of Queen’s College, Jamahl Cort of the Bishops’ High and Javier St Claire of St Roses High were the top three awarded.

Lieutenant Colonel

Dwain Jervis encouraged the awardees to always aim for high ideals, adding that while they have completed the NGSA, this was just the first step.

“So continue to work hard for the next five years so you can celebrate even more when you successfully complete the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations.

I would like to see some of you in the top one per cent or achieve at least 10 subjects. Continue working hard, Don’t Stop!”

Jervis also encouraged the students to maintain the level of focus and not fall prey to the many dis-

tractions which abound.

He congratulated the awardees and extended the sentiments to their parents and dearly encouraged them to continue to support their children.

Top awardee Raoul Nicholls expressed gratitude to the army for the gesture.

He assured that he and the others are grateful and honoured to be recipients of the bursary and promised that they would heed the advice given.

The GDF began awarding bursaries in 1974 and this group of awardees brings the number of recipients over the years to 880

Port Mourant Market Committee formed F ollowing problems at the Port Mourant Market which began three weeks ago with vendors protesting the nonaction of the Johns/Port Mourant Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Overseer, several of those affected have now formed a Market Committee.

The committee includes three vendors: one from the fish and meat section, one from vegetable and the other representing clothes and food vendors and is headed by former Mayor of New Amsterdam Claude Henry; the committee also includes the market clerk and councillors from the Johns/Port Mourant NDC. Vendors who operate seven days a week, had picketed in protest of the emergence of a Friday-night market. The protest followed several complaints to the Johns/Port Mourant NDC over the unfairness of having some persons vend outside of the market while only some are required to pay market fees.

Those vending on Fridaynights have been retailing vegetables to customers at

wholesale prices and within a few weeks, hundreds began supporting the Fridaynight market, forcing the others to protest.

Those ‘legitimate’ vendors later refused to pay market fees, subsequently the NDC market revenue dropped from $150,000 to $20,000 weekly.

Following the establishment of the market committee on Tuesday, the Saturday evening vendors were prevented from selling at the market.

Police were called in and prevented persons who went to the area to vend from doing so. They were only allowed to display their merchandise after midnight.

And those who remained until daylight were made to pay market dues.

The regular vendors explained that they were happy with the action taken.

Meanwhile, at the first meeting, it was suggested that Market Police be employed and present on Fridaynights and Saturdays.

The committee is expected to meet again on Wednesday.

NEWS

13

Eid-ul-Adha Greetings Alliance For Change

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

PPP Eid Message T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends greetings to our Muslim brothers and sisters on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. Muslims observe this festival by way of sacrifices and charitable acts to those in need. But

it is the lesson of faith and obedience to the command of God as exemplified by the prophet Abraham who was willing to sacrifice his only son as commanded by God that resonated with humanity as a whole.

The PPP joins with

Muslims in Guyana and throughout the world in the observance of this festival.

The PPP fully embraces this message of sacrifice and takes this opportunity to assure all Guyanese that no sacrifice can be

People’s National Congress Reform T

he People’s National Congress Reform extends heartfelt Eidul-Adha greetings to all Guyanese, but more especially to the Muslim Community.

All Guyanese should use the day, which commemorates the supreme sacrifice of the Prophet, to reflect on their personal commitments to the ideals of peace, justice, kindness and fairness. Based on these personal commitments, only then can our country develop into a nation character-

ised by unity, harmony and a sense of decency.

The PNCR has always been and will always remain respectful of Guyana’s cultural and religious diversity and believes that our diversity has worked and can continue to work to the country’s advantage. In this latter regard, it should be remembered that it was the PNC Government, under its Founder Leader, Forbes Burnham, which paved the way for each of the country’s major religious groups to observe

their holy days as National Holidays.

Our Party will always remain committed to ensuring that Guyanese grow from strength to strength as a unified people, whilst allowing each and every citizen the right to follow his or her religious conscience.

Eid Mubarak!

People’s National Congress Reform Congress Place, Sophia, Georgetown, Guyana Saturday 10th September 2016

the festival in memory of Prophet Abraham’s great act of faith, many centuries ago.

In the spirit of sacrifice, let’s not forget the poor and needy in our community, by sharing the sacrificial offerings with them. Let it be our sincere hope and prayer that we are able to affirm the unity among our peoples and between Islam and other religions.

The message of Eid-ulAdha is an example of coexistence and cooperation of mutual benefit the world can learn from. This festival incorporates the great pilgrimage to Mecca or the per-

formance of the Hajj. Over two million pilgrims from the world over, covering all races, economic and social backgrounds gather, only for one purpose, humbleness.

IAC congratulates our brothers and sisters from home, who have undertaken this journey and extend good wishes for their safe return.

Today, as our Muslim brothers and sisters observe Eid-ul-Adha, IAC urges that special prayers be offered for continued peace, so that our country can move forward with prosperity.

Eid Mubarak.

Indian Action Committee (IAC) O

n this Sacred Observance of Eid-ulAdha, IAC would like to extend Eid Mubarak to all Guyanese and especially the Muslim Community.

Eid-ul-Adha is a time for believers to learn the value of self-denial by making a sacrifice of the things they love, to Almighty God. Abraham’s great act of submission is thus regarded solely as an example of genuine surrender to the will of his Creator. Today, more than ever, human beings need to incorporate the lesson of this great sacrifice with humility thus underlining the importance of

considered too great when it comes to liberating the country and for that matter the world as a whole from evil.

Once again, greetings to all of Guyana and Muslims in particular on this auspicious occasion.

People’s Progressive Party

T

he Alliance For Change wishes all our Muslim brothers and sisters across Guyana, the Diaspora and the world a happy and blessed Eid-ulAdha.

Eid-ul-Adha is a time when Muslims reflect on and celebrate human selflessness and self-denial in submission to God – a lesson from which we can all learn in the quest to live a life of greater inner peace and hu-

mility.

The AFC recognises the invaluable contributions of the Muslim community in all spheres of life in Guyana and their quiet but commendable charity work in helping to uplift people of all faiths.

We take this opportunity to once again appeal for religious tolerance and understanding in our beautiful and blessed land of diverse cultures.

Department of Public Information

E

id-ul-Adha message from the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Eid-ul-Adha is the annual occasion on which Muslims reflect on and celebrate the unquestionable obedience to God by Prophet Abraham. As our Muslim brothers and sisters gather to pray, demonstrate sacrifice and share with the less fortunate among us, the Government of the Cooperative of Republic Guyana joins in paying homage to all those who have sacrificed for their families, their communities and their country over the years.

For many years the Guyanese people have had to endure hardships and sacrifice on a day-to-day basis. Today we are closer to a better life for all of our peo-

ple, in spite of hiccups in the journey. With a sense of patriotism and national pride and an unyielding commitment to the development of our fair land we shall continue to make progress together, leaving no citizen behind.

Just as the Muslim community is known to band together generally but especially in difficult times, so too, must we as Guyanese, stand together and united.

At a juncture in our history when we continue to face sporadic threats to our national sovereignty we are obliged to take a signal from our Muslim brothers and sisters and mobilise in a show of unity and strength to make it abundantly clear that ‘not a blade of grass’.

As was the appeal for Eid-ul-Adha 2015, this is once again a fitting occasion

for us to restate the call for a deepening of national unity and the strengthening of social cohesion among our people. Though diverse in origins we share a common destiny and it is imperative that we cooperate for the purposes of national advancement.

The message of Eid-ulAdha is an example of the discipline and commitment needed, if we are to build Guyana into a nation which affords a good life for all Guyanese. The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana appeals to all to conduct the sacrifices safely, with due consideration for the animals and as humanely as possible as is prescribed for in Islam.

Eid Mubarak to all Muslims.

14 NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2nd juvenile escapee recaptured T

he second of three juvenile escapees who fled the Sophia Juvenile Holding Centre over the weekend has been recaptured while the other is still on the run.

On Sunday, Acting Commander of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman told Guyana Times that escapee number two was found in Berbice, Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) just one day after the other accomplice had been nabbed in Rose Hall, Corentyne .

While security at the facility is said to be “quite secure”, an insider suggested that more measures need to be employed in light of the breakout. Meanwhile, this newspaper understands that the police are “close” to cap-

turing the final escapee.

The three teens were taken to the facility on Friday after they had been transported from Essequibo and Berbice. Two of the lads were reportedly charged with break and enter offences and one was arraigned for robbery.

Guyana Times reported in its Sunday edition that the three young men had opened a hole in the wall of the lower flat of the holding centre and made their escape through it by scaling the security fence.

Police on Saturday confirmed that the first recaptured juvenile was a resident of Adventure, Essequibo Coast, who was on remand for robbery under arms.

When Guyana Times visited the scene on Saturday, the

managers were unavailable to give an official comment.

However, at that time, several children were seen in the compound of the correctional institution.

Additionally, there were also several Police officers were stationed at the centre monitoring the events that unfolded.

When contacted acting Commissioner of Police, David Ramnarine explained that the Police were making “every effort” to recapture the escapees. Police in all districts are still on alert to recapture the third young man.

The juvenile facility houses children who would have committed criminal offences, instead of placing them with adults at state penitentia-

“Manish” charged for threatening language granted bail

G

The hole in the wall via which the three young men made their brazen escape on Saturday

ries.

The Juvenile Offenders Amendment Act, passed two years ago, makes provisions for Holding Centres for Juveniles. Section 20 (a) of the Act says that the Public Security Ministry may establish and maintain

as many centres as may be necessary as the Holding Centres for Juveniles for the reception, care and custody of children and young persons under the orders of the court or for any other appropriate reasons as the Minister may determine.

odfrey Johnson, also called "Manish" was granted $5000 bail by Magistrate Clive Nurse on a charge of threatening language. The defendant, 47, of 169 South Amelia's Ward, Mackenzie, Linden pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him following an appearance at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that he made use of threatening language to Patrick Daly on Monday, August 22, at South Amelia's Ward. The defendant will make his next court appearance on September 21.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

guyana-times.com

15

Around the World

Hopes fade for peaceful Eid Hillary Clinton diagnosed in Syria as over 100 killed with pneumonia

R

uinous violence has raged in several parts of Syria, shortly after the US and Russia sealed an ambitious agreement aimed at breathing life back into a stuttering peace process.

More than 100 people were reported killed in a series of bombing raids on rebel-held parts of Aleppo province in the north of the country, and in Idlib in the north-west.

The worst strikes were in Idlib city, the capital of the province of the same name, where they hit a market, killing 55 civilians.

“A Russian fighter jet targeted a residential area and a market in Idlib,” said Al Jazeera’s Adham Abu alHusam, reporting from the city as civil defence forces, firefighters and paramedics worked to pull survivors from the rubble.

“The marketplace was full of civilians shopping for the upcoming Eid holiday.”

U

Bombing raids on rebel-held parts of Aleppo and Idlib come after US and Russia agree on a ceasefire deal

In Aleppo, at least 46 civilians, including nine children, were killed in a bombardment of Opposition-held areas, an Al Jazeera correspondent in the city said.

The raids on Idlib and Aleppo were believed to have been carried out by Syrian army fighter jets, or those of its main ally Russia.

Aleppo, a major battleground in the conflict, has seen intensified fighting between Government forces

and the Opposition in recent months, worsening the humanitarian situation there.

The surge in violence came hours after the US and Russia’s top diplomats announced the ceasefire agreement after 13 hours of talks in the Swiss city of Geneva.

The accord included a truce to start across Syria at sunset today, the first day of the Muslim Eid alAdha festival. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Turkey removes 24 Mayors over PKK links

T

urkey has removed 24 Mayors accused of links to Kurdish separatist fighters, replacing them with State-appointed trustees in a major shake-up under emergency powers enacted after a failed coup attempt.

The Mayors were suspended from their posts over the past month on suspicion of links to the Kurdistan

Workers’ Party (PKK), a group that has been waging a deadly insurgency in the southeast since 1984, an Interior Ministry statement said.

Another four Mayors were removed on suspicion of links to the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is now blamed for the July 15 failed

coup.

All 28 Mayors were replaced on Sunday with State-appointed trustees.

While most of the removed Mayors belonged to pro-Kurdish parties, three of them were from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and one was from the Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

S Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has been treated for pneumonia, her doctor says, after she was taken ill at a 9/11 ceremony.

Dr Lisa Bardack said she was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday and given antibiotics, but had become dehydrated at the New York event.

Video shows her being supported by aides as they put her into her van after she left the ceremony early.

The doctor’s statement said she was now re-hydrated and “recovering nicely”.

“Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies.

On Friday, during followup evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia,” Dr Bardack’s statement said.

“She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule,” it went on.

It is not yet clear whether Clinton will stick to her hectic campaign schedule, starting with a series of fundraisers in California on Monday and Tuesday.

Her Republican opponents have queried her physical fitness, with

the presidential candidate Donald Trump telling supporters last month she “lacks the mental and physical stamina” to serve as President and fight Islamic State militants.

Last month, Dr Bardack said she was “in excellent health and fit to serve as President of the United States”.

She made a full recovery from surgery she underwent in 2012 for a blood clot, the doctor said.

The Clinton campaign has accused opponents of pushing a “deranged conspiracy about Clinton’s health”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Colombia: FARC rebels hand over child soldiers

T

he Colombian rebel group, the FARC, has handed over a first group of child soldiers as part of a peace accord signed with the Government last month.

The International Red Cross said the eight children would be given mental and physical examinations before being taken to temporary reception centres.

They said the ultimate

aim was to try to return the young people to their families.

The FARC says it has 21 soldiers under 15 years of age.

The Colombian Defence Ministry has put the figure for those under 18 far higher.

Colombia’s High Commissioner for Peace, Sergio Jaramillo, said “They are going to gradually leave

the camps in different regions of the country.”

“It’s not going to be all at once – it is a process and this is the first phase.”

To respect the young people’s privacy, the location of the handover and their ages have been kept secret.

Last February, the FARC announced it would raise the age of recruitment to 18. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

16

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

On the occasion of Education Month, how important do you think is education?

Joel Narine – Essequibo Coast

“Education is the gateway to a new world where possibilities are endless, where dreams be-

come reality; it is not just knowing how to read and write, but to use your ability to your benefit, to be able to gain spectrum of knowledge by trying to surge deeper into the literate knowledge imparted to you.

Education keeps one from being trapped in poverty. In today’s world with all kind of diseases, being educated, one would choose to live a healthier lifestyle. Having an education allows you to be more self-confident and knowledge to not be intimidated by challenges life throws at you. We all know being educated allows you to get a job, so for me education is extremely important and as we all know, “education is the key to success!”

Jason Moe – Georgetown

“It’s of vast importance, I’d say. It gives us the opportunity to exercise critical thinking and to make sound and worthwhile decisions. It also aids in self expression, the ability to know what to say and when to say it.”

“An education is the most precious thing a parent can afford their child; it helps break the pot of poverty and it enables someone to become successful in life, with an education someone can make a wise decision and they can be able to live a more productive life with the wise decision they made. I was taught that an education is better than any precious gem and I totally agree, parents need to realise that giving a child an education is the best thing to do.”

“People consider money, fancy cars and houses as the riches of the world. For me, having an education is the wealthiest of them all, and in my view, is man’s greatest defence. Having an education equips you with a life tool that will enable you to pursue your life goals and to do so successfully. In a nutshell, education has, is, and will always be ‘better than silver and gold’.”

Denisia Chapman – Linden

“Education is the key to success. You can’t reach to the top without an education.

Therefore, it is very important to have an education. I think we can improve education here in Guyana by making it easier and more accessible to all, even those in our remote areas. An educated nation is very important and critical to nation building.”

Haimwattie Prabhu – Essequibo Coast

Devendra Persaud – Essequibo Coast

Preeya Azeez – Georgetown

“Education is important; however, it is not balanced until we can answer two questions: why

are we educating ourselves, and for what purpose? Simply put, today’s society’s most prevalent social issues aren’t caused by illiteracy, but by people who aren’t spiritually educated. We need to be educated spiritually rather than just academics. Adolescents are straying from the morals of our society and that bothers me as a young person, since these are “educated” people that of course the teenagers and future generations are looking up to. Yes, indeed, education is the most powerful weapon, but it’s the balance in education that’s lacking which may cause that weapon to inflict harm on ourselves, more than we can imagine.”

Rollin Tappin – Linden

“Education is vitally important to the growth and development of our beautiful nation Guyana and every other coun-

Sherece Wilson – Georgetown

Tomasha Nester – Georgetown

“Having education makes it easier to obtain a great job because the more educated a person is, he/she has a better chance of finding a good career. Educated persons may even earn more money because they will find a high-paying job. Thus having a job, a person may live a fixed, happy life.”

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. I think education is one of the best and essential needs of a child. It helps that child to build and create a bright future, carving him or her into what they desire to be in the future.”

Kevin Wessels – Georgetown

“Education and the educational system have the unique quality of moulding individuals into better thinkers. Education is very important and there are a lot of reasons for its importance, but for Third World countries, such as Guyana, the main importance of its nature is to help us escape from poverty and avoid us falling prey to the life of crime. If individuals take in their education as it should be and they apply what they have been taught to our everyday lives, our country would move forward in both economic and social prosperity. The educational system not only grants us knowledge,

Tieanna Croal – Linden “Education is an important necessity of life. We can even refer to it as life itself.

Education is by far a very valuable possession. Education is essential in order to help eradicate poverty for many in Guyana.

Education helps us gain knowledge that is important for use in everyday life.

In Guyana, education can be improved through providing up-to-date educational facili-

try around the globe. However, I think as a nation we have fallen short somewhat in the delivery of education. We don’t seem to be sure what will work or what won’t. However, it’s my firm belief that education needs a strong, coherent plan that will be used for guiding the strong growth pole for this important sector. The first step towards improving education is to first give our teachers the tools to succeed, pay them a strong and just living wage, make all our classrooms smart, create an environment in the schools where sports, arts and culture are as good as any country so that our students can succeed at any level they choose.”

but it helps to train us, develop our social skills, and even allows our mentality and thinking process to handle stressful

situations as it comes. Many of us think of education as just going to school and trying to take in what the teachers tell us or remember what the book had inside it to pass a test and see a smile on the face of society, but education gives us power to make decisions. It helps with our cognitive process and our reasoning ability. I encourage more parents to push their children towards focusing on their education and hope the educational system in Guyana implements new and creative ways which will help kids to focus on their learning and not allow them to feel that learning is another stressful task at the end of the day.”

ties, equipment and tools for learning.

Creating more education programmes via television, radio, newspaper and enhancing computer literacy to a higher level which includes Internet services, should be in every home whereby children going to school will be allowed easy access to improve their level of education.

I think those are some ways to promote education so as to improve it in Guyana.”

17

NEWS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Females receive training as heavy-duty equipment operators

Education Month 2016

Literacy Clinic launched at Fun City

I

A young boy colours his way through

Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence; Minister within the Ministry, Keith Scott and other officials with the 31 participants, including four females, of the heavy-duty equipment operator programme

T

he Board of Industrial Training (BIT) of the Social Protection Ministry has for the first time ventured into Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) to conduct training to empower young people.

Working in collaboration with the Region Eight Regional Democratic Council, BIT is current-

and Minister Scott both noted that the training was in keeping with President David Granger’s vision for an educated and skilled youth population.

Minister Lawrence noted that it was in keeping with the President’s declaration to reduce the disparity in the regions, as it relates to access to services, including

Minister Lawrence addressing the launch of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) heavy-duty equipment operator programme in Mahdia, Region Eight

ly providing its Heavy Duty Equipment Operator (HDEO) Programme to 27 males and four females in the Region.

While training started on August 22, it was only recently that a ceremony to introduce the programme was held in the boardroom of the RDC in Mahdia, the Government Information Agency (GINA) stated in a release.

Present were Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence; Minister within the Ministry, Keith Scott; BIT Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Executive Secretary Maria Khelawan; Regional Chairman Bonaventure Fredericks; Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO) Shameer Arjoon and Chief Instructor for the HDEO programme, Tottil Saygon.

Addressing the gathering, including the 31 students, Minister Lawrence

youth training.

Noting that young people on the coastland are given the opportunity to be part of the skills training programme offered by the Ministry, Lawrence said the young people in the hinterland must be given the same opportunity.

“What the President has said and what we are doing here today tells me that even if I am in my rocking chair, I will be certain that if we continue in this trend, that whatever will be experienced on the coastland that our fellow Guyanese will be experiencing in the hinterland,” the Minister said.

Meanwhile, Minister Scott said that the undertaking was in keeping with the President’s commitment to put youth empowerment on the front burner. “Today you are the youths who can testify that you have been given a chance,” Scott told the participants.

He explained that through the training programme, the Administration would be equipping the youths with marketable skills which are in demand, and which they can use to develop their region and, by extension, Guyana.

Also urging the youths to be beacons of Mahdia and the region’s development were the Regional Chairman and AREO. Arjoon and Fredericks, who both briefly addressed the launch, lauded the Ministry for providing the training in the region. They both noted that it would improve the lives and livelihoods of the residents of the Region.

The regional officials also noted the relevance of the programme, saying it came at a time when Mahdia needed such skills if it was to successfully attain its township status.

Arjoon explained that the training was much needed, given the abuse and misuse of State equipment and machinery by operators in the region who do not have full knowledge of how to operate and maintain the equipment.

According to BIT CEO, the Board chose to take the heavy-duty operators programme to the Region following consultations with the regional administration on the relevant skills needed for the Region’s development.

Khelawan also committed to further BIT undertakings in the Region, particularly in the provision of training in forestry, which she noted was relevant to other parts of the region.

Since its introduction in 2005, BIT has expanded significantly from the provision of two training programmes in Georgetown and Linden to now offering nine courses.

In addition, BIT is now available in every region, except for Regions One and Nine. Khelawan said that plans were in place to bring these regions on stream in 2017.

n keeping with a drive to promote and enhance literacy in Guyana, the Education Ministry on Sunday launched its Literacy Clinic programme at the Fun City session at

literacy. This is being done through the use of coloured signs, charts, learning aids, books and other spelling equipment.

“We have the children read for their grade level

deemed the event a success, and expressed her satisfaction at being a part of the initiative.

Acting Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson explained that the ministry has embarked upon a drive to ensure that “every child is literate.”

“We are going to produce children who can read, analyse and think critically,” he noted, pointing out that parents must be especially involved in their children acquiring the requisite reading skills.

“We strongly believe that if parents are integrally involved in their children’s education, our children will do far better,” the acting CEO opined. He also pointed out that he was elated to see parents from different areas

This family is captivated by all the reading material

the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara under the theme,

and we give the parents tips on how they can strengthen their [children’s] read-

“Together let us work to raise the literacy level of our children”

“Together let us work to raise literacy level of our children”.

This event was just one of many planned activities for this year’s Education Month.

Stakeholder and volunteer Nicole Agard, Headteacher of Windfer Gardens Primary School explained that the initiative will see officers of Education Ministry visiting areas that are frequented by children to introduce and enlighten them about

ing,” Agard expressed. She

interacting with their children and taking part in the literacy initiative.

Meanwhile, Manager of the Ramada Princess Hotel, Huseyin Demirel told Guyana Times that management was happy to be involved in education programmes slated to benefit the young.

“We [are] glad to be part of the educational campaign, we promise that we will always [support] all the Education Minister’s campaigns.”

At Sunday’s event, children were guided on colouring and drawing.

The Clinic will expand its outreach to Giftland Mall later this week and the Band Stand at the Georgetown Seawall next Sunday.

Just recently, the world celebrated International Literacy observances.

18

guyana-times.com

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

ARCHIE

Take action and make things happen. Signing con(March 21- tracts, making negotiations April 19) and getting things done will make you look good and help you avoid outside interference. Romance and personal change are encouraged.

ARIES

Learn from the words or ac-

DILBERT

TAURUS tions of others. If you broaden (April 20- your knowledge, you will get May 20) ahead. Share your ideas, but

don’t offer to do something for nothing.

Keep an open mind and a GEMINI closed wallet. Look at invest(May 21ments that will get you ahead, June 20) instead of doing so for someone else. Romance will bring you good fortune.

Don’t fear change or novelCANCER ty. The experience and knowl(June 21- edge you gain and the people July 22) you encounter along the way will enhance your life. Trust in your judgment.

PEANUTS

You need to put more effort into

LEO making personal improvements or (July 23- doing things with children or someAug. 22) one you love. Make a commitment to bring about positive change and to show gratitude and affection. A physical challenge will be rewarding.

VIRGO Sign up for something that (Aug. 23- will keep your mind occupied Sept. 22) and your emotions stable. If you give in to pressure, you will end up in an unfortunate dispute.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Concentrate on making LIBRA personal changes and striv(Sept. 23ing to improve in any way you Oct. 23) can. Look for opportunities at networking events or industry conferences. You will put your skills to good use.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Your ability to find soluSCORPIO tions and skilfully implement (Oct. 24them will result in an opporNov. 22) tunity to represent others and promote what you do best.

Make your point clear SAGITTARIUS in order to avoid mistakes.

(Nov. 23- Making a positive change to Dec. 21) your appearance or to how you approach creative projects or deal with loved ones will pay off.

Saturday

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE

It’s mind that will triumph CAPRICORN over matter today. Be clear (Dec. 22- and concise when delivering Jan. 19) information, especially if it has to do with medical, legal, financial or emotional matters.

Listen carefully and avoid presumptuous actions.

Express your feelings and AQUARIUS be willing to compromise and (Jan. 20make changes that will enFeb. 19) courage a better understanding between you and a loved one. Personal improvement will turn out well.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Stay focused on what oth(Feb. 20- ers do and say. If you jump March 20) into something before you have all the facts, you will be disappointed with the results.

Bide your time.

guyana-times.com

monday, september 12, 2016

US Open 2016…

Stan Wawrinka stuns Novak Djokovic to win final S witzerland’s Stan Wawrinka beat world number one Novak Djokovic with a scintillating display to win his first US Open and third Grand Slam title.

Wawrinka, seeded third, won 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 7-5 6-3 to add the US title to those he had already won in Australia and France over the last two years.

The 31-year-old hit 46 winners in a brilliant display of shot-making.

Serbia’s Djokovic made a strong start but struggled physically as the final entered a fourth hour in New York.

Wawrinka has now won 11 finals in a row, including all three Grand Slam finals he has appeared in.

“My goal is to give everything I have to be the best I can,” he said. “I never had a goal to win a Grand Slam but I am trying as best I can.

Match after match I was playing better.”

Djokovic said: “Congratulations, Stan, to your team as well. This has been absolutely deserved today. You were more courageous player in the decisive moment and he deserves his title.”

‘I came here without the goal of winning’ Wawrinka had won just four of 23 previous matches against Djokovic but two of those had come along the way to winning Grand Slam titles, and the contest brought out the best in him once again.

Djokovic had spent just nine hours on court getting to the final, compared to 18

Stan Wawrinka

for Wawrinka, and the Serb started much the sharper.

However, a comfortable 5-2 lead disappeared as Wawrinka began to find his range and it required a surge of adrenaline and form to take the Serb through the tie-break.

The Swiss claimed his only point of the tie-break in an astonishing rally of attack and counter-attack, and his groundstrokes began to flow as he took control of the final in the second set.

Djokovic pegged back an early break but Wawrinka continued to exert pressure, setting up two set points with a forehand winner and celebrating as the Serb went wide, smashing his racquet in frustration.

There were early signs of some physical discomfort when Djokovic patted over two smashes at 3-0 down in the third set but again he broke back, converting just his third break point of 14.

Another tie-break loomed but the sheer weight of shot coming at him across the net drew a 14th error of the set to edge Wawrinka ahead.

The Swiss looked much the stronger in the fourth set, and doubts only emerged when Djokovic called for the trainer to treat a blister - something that riled Wawrinka as it occurred ahead of his service game.

Wawrinka appeared to have been distracted as he fell break-point down three times in the following game, but he held on each time, pumping his fist as he clinched what proved to be the decisive hold.

Djokovic continued to chase down as much as he could, despite a bloodied toe, but Wawrinka converted his second match point to claim his third major title in as many years.

“This is amazing,” he added. “I came here without the goal of winning it but stepped on the court trying to win the match.

“I played a lot of tennis, I am completely empty. There was so much emotion with the crowd, the atmosphere, the stadium, it’s been an amazing night.”

‘I would have taken reaching the final’. (BBC Sport)

19

20

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

monday, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

Great North Run….

Mo Farah wins for record 3rd year in a row F

our-time Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah became the first man to win the Great North Run three times in a row.

Farah pulled away from American Dathan Ritzenhein in the last mile in his first race since retaining his 5,000M and 10,000M Olympic titles in Rio. In the women’s race, Olympic 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya won in her first half marathon.

Scotland’s Mark Telford took the men’s wheelchair crown, a second ahead of fellow Briton Bret Crossley.

The Great North Run is the world’s biggest half marathon and there were more than 41,000 runners taking part in this year’s event from 178 nations.

Farah, 33, was taken on a fast pace by former American 5,000m record holder Ritzenhein, but pow-

ered away with a mile to go and even had time to do a cheeky heel flip before he crossed the line in one hour and four seconds, the slowest of his three wins.

Belgium’s Emmanuel Bett, who ran the second half of the race almost on his own, crossed in third.

Farah told BBC Sport: “To be honest with you, I’m knackered.

“I knew I had to work hard because Dathan is a former training partner and was running a great race.

“He put his foot down and tried to get rid of me because he knew I have amazing pace.

“It’s good to finish the year on a high, what a year I’ve had. I just want to go home now, chill out, see the kids, get up to no good.”

The women’s race was billed as a shoot-out between middle distance greats Cheruiyot and three-

Mo Farah

time Olympic champion Tirunesh Dibaba.

Dibaba failed to keep pace with Cheruiyot and fellow Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo in the closing stages of the 13.1-mile course. It was Cheruiyot who took victory, producing a sprint finish to

clock 1:07.54, just one second ahead of Jeptoo.

Cheruiyot said: “I’m so happy because it’s my birthday. I found it tough with one kilometre to go but it’s fantastic for me to end my season this way.” (BBC)

Morgan & Hales will not tour Bangladesh over security fears

E

ngland one-day captain Eoin Morgan and opening batsman Alex Hales have opted out of October’s tour of Bangladesh because of security concerns.

No international side has toured Bangladesh since 20 people were killed in a siege at a cafe in Dhaka in July.

The ECB said in August that the three one-day internationals and two Tests would go ahead after a security review.

Jos Buttler will captain the one-day side, with the one-day and Test squads to be named on Friday.

‘We respect their decision’

England director of cricket Andrew Strauss said: “Whilst we understand and respect Eoin and Alex’s decision, we are disappointed that they have made themselves unavailable for selection for the Bangladesh tour.”

He added that after “open and honest” discussions with all the players, no further withdrawals are expected.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has described Morgan’s decision as a “huge mistake”,? while Nasser Hussain, another ex-skipper, said Morgan “should be with his team”.?

Stuart Broad, Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan and Liam Dawson have publicly said they will tour.

Last week, Strauss told BBC Test Match Special that anyone who does not travel is giving a chance to another player.

England fly out on 29 September, with the one-

day series starting on 7 October and the Test series on 20 October.

They follow that with a tour of India made up of five Tests, three ODIs and three Twenty20s.

What has Morgan said?

Morgan, 29, said this week that he would never go on a tour where security concerns may affect his game.

“In 2010 we played an Indian Premier League game in Bangalore and a bomb went off in the ground.

Immediately we left and went straight to the airport,” he said.

“Another one was playing domestic cricket in Bangladesh during political elections and things were incredibly violent.

“Given that no-one has toured there since the terrorist attack adds a bigger decision to it.”

‘It should be a personal choice’ England bowlers Andrew Caddick and Robert Croft pulled out of the tour of India in 2001 because of safety concerns following the 9/11 attacks in New York.

“I was adamant I didn’t want to go and stuck to what I thought was right,” Caddick told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek programme before Morgan and Hales’ announcement on Sunday.

“It’s slightly different now. The security they implement in world cricket is quite high, whereas back in 2001 it wasn’t.

“Eoin Morgan has experienced risks to security in the past - nobody else in the

Alex Hales, (left) who made an England ODI record 171 in August and Captain Eoin Morgan have made their decision

England team has. It’s a personal decision and it should stay that way.”

Former spinner Graeme Swann, who was part of the England squad that returned to India after the Mumbai bombings in 2008, said he would not travel to Bangladesh if he was still playing.

“We’re a western team, going to a country where there’s terrorism against the west,” he said.

“We are a massive beacon. We are a target. If I was in that situation I wouldn’t go.

“If you don’t go and someone goes in your place, there’s a chance you might not play again.”

What does the Foreign Office say about Bangladesh?

The Foreign Offices says there is “a heightened threat of further terrorist attacks” in Bangladesh, although a similar threat level applies to many European cities, including London.

It says “foreigners, in particular westerners, may be directly targeted” and that “places where westerners are known to gather may be at higher risk of attack”.

It advises travellers to Bangladesh to “minimise exposure to these areas” and “remain vigilant, monitor local and social media and follow any specific advice of the local security authorities”.

Australia postponed their Test tour of Bangladesh in October 2015 over security concerns. (BBC Sport)

What is Nurse doing in Windies ODI Squad?

Asks Delvon Mc Ewan

W

ithin the last two years every time the West Indies selectors select a team there is always the issue with a player who is excluded or included.

Most recently the West Indies selectors shocked cricket enthusiasts with the decision to name Carlos Braithwaite as the T20 captain.

Following that they named the ODI and T20 squad to face Delvon Mc Ewan Pakistan in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and to the surprise of many Ashley Nurse retained a place on the ODI squad. And that is ahead of performers Veerasammy Permaul, Damion Jacobs and to a lesser extent Steven Jacobs as well as emerging spinner Jon-Ross Jagessar all of whom would have performed better than Nurse in the same Regional tournaments that he would have also been part of.

Recently, Nurse who is known for his bowling attributes would have develop his batting to some extent to give the selectors the option of selecting a bowler who is capable with the bat. However, Permaul is capable of contributing with the bat while Jacobs could bat as well but has not been on par lately. Jagessar on the other hand have already mesmerized Regional batsmen with his off spin as he was very instrumental in Trinidad and Tobago’s journey to retaining the WICB Super 50 over title in 2016. While leg spinner Jacobs has impressed so far with 20 wickets from 10 List A matches at an economy rate of 3.95 and a strike rate of 29.6.

Besides his competitors, who I am sure must be dismay about the decision, Nurse returns in his last 10 games for West Indies and his Caribbean Premier League side, Barbados Tridents has been lacking. Apart from his four wickets for West Indies against a Barbados Select XI, The Barbadian went wicketless in seven other matches while he grabbed two wickets for West Indies in a game against Warwickshire ahead of the 2016 World T20. In the Tridents Campaign in the CPL 2016 edition he featured in only three out of his team’s 10 matches while he did not played in any of West Indies matches at the World T20 neither the Tri-nation series in the Caribbean although he was a member of both squads.

In the Nagico Super 50 2016, Nurse had a good tournament but was overshadowed by Damion Jacobs and left arm spinner Permaul while Steven Jacobs’ performance was on par with his. In the 2015 edition of the Nagico Super 50 tournament all of the bowlers on the table with the exception of Jagessar, who made his List A debut in the 2016 version, had a better tournament than Nurse. Nurse only played two matches and took two wickets.

Judging from statistics and recent performance Permaul, who has international experience, should have been the candidate chosen ahead of Nurse. The off spinner is yet to play in an ODI while Permaul has captured eight wickets from six matches and should have been given the nod.

In regards to Nurse’s batting it has not done him any justice either, since his last seven outings have brought him a mere 105 runs from seven innings.

If the West Indies Cricket Board selectors are going to set a criteria for players to be selected then they need to stick to it. They cannot be double standard. From all criteria set out by the selectors for a player to be selected, Permaul has better Nurse in all. Then I would like to ask two questions. Why Permaul is not in the ODI squad? And what is Nurse doing in the ODI squad?

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21

sports

“Facilities ready for play”– Jones P

reparations for the goodwill games billed to be hosted by Guyana from October 20-24 are on schedule. This was revealed by local Director of Sport, Christopher Jones at a recent press briefing.

According to Jones, nine meetings were held last week with the representatives of the different disciplines involved as well as those preparing food and other necessities.

Jones added that there is expected to be a delegation from Suriname visiting Guyana to do ‘a final inspection’ of the facilities which is supplemental to an inspection done by the Surinamese Director of

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones

Sport, last month.

Based on the inspection by the Surinamese Director of Sport, it was revealed that Guyana’s facilities are ready for play, citing one of the facilities expected to be used, the Cliff Anderson

Sports Hall, having recently undergone an upgrade.

The goodwill games, which is the rebranded version of the Inter-Guiana games due to the participation of only two nations.

Earlier in the year, it was revealed that French Guiana would not participate in this year’s edition of the Games, so this year’s edition was renamed.

However, it is expected that the 2017 edition, also to be hosted by Guyana, will include French Guiana once more. This year, the events slated for the competition are: swimming, basketball, table tennis, track and field, badminton, volleyball and for the first time, Futsal.

Dorado swimmers dominate Sawaki River Swim

T

hree Dorado swimmers carted off the top prizes at the annual Sawaki River Swim (Bartica to River’s view) on Sunday in celebration of River’s view village day.

Daniel Scott, Soroya Simmons and Alex Winter finished the rough race in first, second and third respectively. Scott ended the 2.5 km race in a time of 57:05.78, Simmons 54:06.74 and Winter 57:05.78.

The race occurred in choppy, brackish waters, with a strong current which forced some of the swimmers to actually swim approximately 4 km.

Orca Swim Club Earlando Mc Rae finished in a time of 1hour 07 min-

L-R: Soroya Simmons, Daniel Scott and Alex Winter

utes 24 seconds; fifth place went to Lloyd Ward with his time being 1 hour 13 minutes 58 seconds. One hour, 19 minutes 36 seconds allowed Daniel Jeffrey to finish in sixth while seventh

place went to Orin Bowen with a recorded time of 1hour 20 minutes 26 seconds. Eighteen swimmers started the race while only seven completed.

Clive Gobin memorial launched

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

C

ricket on the Essequibo Coast is set to benefit from support from Agri- Spares located of Zorg Community and owned by businessman Derick Gobin, who has pledged support towards the sport.

The Gobin’s had repainted and rehabilitated the pavilion as well as fenced the Zorg Community Centre for the hosting of future cricket events. On Saturday last, the owner cut the ribbon handing over a pavilion to the Zorg Sports Club as well as launched a tournament in honour of his deceased son, Clive Gobin.

At the event, the businessman said that the day marks the launch of his deceased son, Clive Gobin round robin cricket competition. The Zorg Sports Club had also taken the decision to name the pavilion after philanthropist Clive Gobin for his monumental contributions to society and the Zorg Sports Club.

According to the businessman there are aims at promoting the game among

Clive Gobin

females and males at the various Secondary Schools.

The matches he said will be played at the Zorg Play Ground and will be managed by level 2 coach Forbes Daniels and members of the sports club.

Gobin said the games are opened to all Secondary Schools children under 16 years of age and started on September, 10 in memory of his son who passed away on September 14, 2014 in Canada. The deceased Clive Gobin was the owner of Two Master’s Degree in Science and Information Technology and used his life to better the lives of the Amerindian People. He also formed many

women groups in Guyana.

Present at the ceremony was Region Two Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt. He said that he is pleased to be associated with the Gobin’s family and the deceased Clive Gobin was very instrumental in the building of the Zorg Community. He thanked the organizer for organizing the cricket games and called on all those residents living in Zorg village to work in unison. He also pledged the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) support towards the cricket games. He urged those youngster who love cricket to take part in the games.

The games commenced with Zorg Sports Club versus Aurora Secondary School in the male category.

There will also be a female plastic ball competition.

Participating in the cricket are Aurora, Abram Zuil, Johanna Cecelia Secondary Schools and the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).

Points system for the tournament include, Win, Walkover, tie, loss, bonus for bowl out the opposition for under 100 runs and Bonus for making over 175 runs.

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

monday, september 12, 2016

Niles powers Titans Table Tennis Gold Cup slated for October 28-30 away with Powerade Road Race title

Junior Niles

A

fter being dethroned in the De Sinco’s Degree feature 35lap cycle race on the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday, Team Coco’s Junior Niles returned the following day to the Powerade 25-mile road race on the West side of Demerara to pedal his way to the title.

The veteran rider produced a late surge from a group of four to finish on top, in a time of one hour eight minutes, after the race was reduced from 50 miles to 25 miles.

The riders started at the usual starting point, Wales but took a route through Parfaite Harmonie into Blankenburg and back to Schoonard to cross the finish line.

Niles pedalled past Christopher Holder, Paul De Nobrega who finished second and third respectively as well as fourth placed Ralph Williams and fifth placed, Andrew Hicks and Raphael Leung who completed the top six.

Hicks, although finishing fifth overall, was the first in the Juniors category while Niles also qualified as a Veteran and was therefore the top rider in that category.

Keon Thomas copped first prize in the Mountain Bike race closely followed

by Ozia McAulay and Seon Budhan.

Shaquel Agard was another outstanding rider, having ridden off with five of the six sprint prizes.

More cycling action is slated for toady with mountain bikers in the National Park from 09:00h.

Titans Table Tennis Club President Dwain Dick

T

he second edition of the Titans Table Tennis Gold Cup serves off on October 28 and will be played over three days at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The categories that are set to be contested are under 9, Under 11, 13, 15 and 18 boys and girls, Under 21 Open, B Class Open, and Over 40 and 50 Open.

Top performers will be rewarded, as $60,000 will be awarded to first place in the male senior singles category, $50,000 for the female and $40,000 in the veterans category.

According to club president and former National

Some of the Titans Table Tennis Club players engaged in practice

player Dwain Dick, the aim of the tournament is to raise awareness for the sport and provide marketing opportunities for corporate companies.

Dick explained, “this is the second edition of the tournament, the whole general idea is to see if we can replicate it into other sister countries, maybe firstly Jamaica then Trinidad and Tobago”.

The club president added “what we are doing is trying to ask the corporate community who are looking to expand in the region

to support us, we will give them visibility; We want it to grow, and probably become developmental, where children can look forward to these tournaments”.

Dick revealed that he is “expecting a contingent from Jamaica and a contingent from Trinidad and several of the local clubs.”

Last year the tournament had sponsors such as Banks DIH Limited, P & P Insurance Brokers, Guyson’s Engineering, Bakewell, Trophy Stall, Mike’s Copy Center, Hurricane Enterprises,

Sambora Communications Incorporation Vegetable Gardens Inc., La Pink Beauty Salon and Makeup Studio, Netsurf Telecommunications, BAC Courier, Cornbread Hangout Bar and Fish Shop, The Business School and Westfield Preparatory School.

The table tennis club has been in existence for five years and has produced Caribbean medalist such as Thuraia Thomas, Isaiah Layne and the Wong brothers (Miguel and Colin).

“Think of sport at the regional level”– President Granger

P

resident of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, His Excellency David Granger, speaking on his weekly programme, Public Interest, on September 8, 2016, gave his view on the way forward for sports in the country.

“We can’t think of sports as elite, just have one aquatic centre, one stadium we have to think of it at the regional level so we get the best talent coming out.” the Head of State said.

With a plan to develop athletes that can compete on the world level the president indicated that there must be a plan to start at the roots level and move onward.

“If you are going to develop Olympic grade athletes, we need to start at the bottom, at the schools and in the communities,” Granger recommended.

He went on to highlight the historical nature of one of the more popular local sport, cricket saying that it was many years ago that we had a wide base for the selection as the sport was played on the sugar estates and at the small clubs.

On the other hand, mentioning sports such as swimming and field events, Granger stated that there needs to be more activities at the school level to broad-

President David Granger

en the bases.

In order to accomplish more in sports, the leader maintained a position that there needs to be a sports policy but to date, the policy is yet to be examined at cabinet level pointing out that it has to be massed based.

Reminiscing on his younger days, President Granger mentioned his experiences in the Upper Mazaruni distict where over a dozen villages participated in their summer sports.

“I always refer to my own experiences in the Upper Mazaruni where every year August we have about a dozen villages coming together on their own accord.”

Adding, “This is not government, the government helps but it doesn’t sponsor

or promote so they do a lot of sports on their own and I am very impressed with the standards they achieve.

Unfortunately, they are so far away from Georgetown they don’t catch the eyes of selectors but that is the right attitude. I would like to relate that they relate to what we do in local government in terms of development of towns and we would see eventually each town having a sport centre.”

The President, holistically speaking, envisioned that “in any given year we will find we have the opportunity to bring sports persons from all ten regions to participate competitively.”

In his submission, Granger spoke of the fact that there is only one venue that could be up to par on a national level such as “one aquatic centre and one stadium” but rather we should look at sports on the regional level and in every district we could possibly see as a possible hosting venue to have the best talent coming out.

The President reiterated the fact that “much more has to be done in the schools cause that is where we have the mass of young people cause many people when they get older they don’t participate.”

guyana-times.com

monday, september 12, 2016

GFF/NAMILCO Thunder Bolt Flour Power National U-17 League

23

Apostle Ragnauth carts off Household Plus & Regent Household Electronics Golf tourney

Victoria B edge BV 2-1

Victoria Kings scorers Kareem Josiah (left) and Jeremiah Bowman

V

ictoria Kings FC edge a spirited BV/ Triumph United 2-1 on Sunday in the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) leg of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) /NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association league at the Melanie Ground.

Goals from Kareem Josiah, and Jeremiah Bowman secured the hard fought win while Omar Glasgow netted for the losers.

Twenty two minutes into the game, Glasgow put his side ahead but five minutes before half time, Josiah scored to level the score line.

The battle intensified after the interval but it was only Bowman who found favour when he etched his name in the score sheet in the 59th and sealed the win; Victoria’s Simon Jones received a red chard in the 89th for a dangerous tackle on the line.

In the other match, Plaisance Panthers and

were among the scorers. On Sunday, Charity secured a walkover win against Queenstown.

In the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) leg, Slingerz FC made light work of Beavers FC when they hammered them 6-1 at the Den Amstel Community ground.

The result for the young Slingrez outfit never seemed in doubt and by the end of the first half they were leading by a comfortable 2-0 margin; both goals came off the boot of Brentnol Bobb in the 10th and 30th minute, respectively. Ronaldo Macey hammered in the first of his double in the 48th minute before Beavers finally pulled one back through Shaquel Richards in the 55th minute. But that was the first and last time that the West Bank boys were able to find the back of the nets.

Three minutes later it was back to goal scoring business for Slingerz when Macey achieved his second goal and to close off proceedings, Rivaldo Smith banged

Slingerz goal scorers Ronaldo Macey, Rivaldo Smith, and Brentnol Bobb

Ann’s Grove played to a draw Jaheem Hinds netting in the 48th for Plaisance and Antwan Thomas in the 23rd for Ann’s Grove.

On Saturday in Essequibo, Darthmouth romped to a 5-0 win over Good Hope with Victor Garraway netting four goals and Jamal Boston scoring one. Chariy got the better of Henrietta with 3-0, Gavin Nedd and Vivian James

in two of his own in the 70th and 72nd minute to complete the rout for Slingerz.

The Milling Company has been in existence since 1969 and produces several heath oriented products such as Maid Marian Harvest High Fibre Whole Wheat Flour, Maid Marian Wheat-Up Breakfast Porridge, and Maid Marian Multigrain Flour among many other products.

algobin Ragnauth topped the field to be crowned champion of the Household Plus and Regent Household Electronics Golf Tournament on Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Course.

The former sprint champion, now Apostle of Life Spring Ministries and playing golf for under three years, Balgobin Ragnauth golfed in fine style to be the clear winner of a tournament that lived up to its expectations.

Teeing off at 13:00h the golfers were eager to perform excellently having had a tournament practice the previous Saturday where the top 10 was close leaving persons in full anticipation of this event.

Managers Nasser Hamid and Shaheed Hamid of Household Plus and Regent Household Electronics, represented at the prize-giving ceremony by Past-President Brian Hackett, indicated their happiness at being involved and their willingness to continue sponsoring tour-

All smiles. In winners’ row, from left; Imran Khan, Brian, Hackett, Balgobin Ragnauth, Ravi Persaud, Patanjalee Persaud, I Gouveia, Vice President Patrick Prashad and President Omcar Ramroop

naments at the Lusignan Golf Club.

Winners of the tournament were Net Scores:first Balgobin Ramnauth – 63/91; second Patanjalee ‘Pur’ Persaud; third – Pandit Ravi Persaud 70/ ; fourth Brian Hackett 71/91 who on the back 9 edged out Grounds Superintendent M. Gayadin 71/84. Best Gross was won by Imran Khan and Nearest (10ft) To the Pin

by Ian Gouveia – who both won the same prizes at the previous Saturday’s tournament. Other golfers in contention in the day’s top 12 were (Pope Emmanuel) Dr P. London 72/98; A. Shaw 72/90; S. Webster 73/92; F. Haniff 73/87; I. Khan 74/81; M. Bhagwandin 75/97; I. Gouveia 75/92; A. Hussain 75/92; Max Persaud 75/89 and R. Rajkumar 75/83.

Vice President Patrick

Prashad, acting as the day’s Captain, requested that Club members observe a moment of silence to observe the passing of Dr. Samuel Bera who, as the President informed, had been a member of the Club for several years and had been very active prior to 2000. President Ramroop extended deepest condolences to the late Dr. Bera’s family and friends, on behalf of the LGC and himself.

monday, september 12, 2016

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

Niles powers away with Powerade Road Race title

US Open 2016

Stan Wawrinka stuns Novak Djokovic to win final

Pg 22

Pg 19

Team Coco’s Junior Niles raises his hand in victory over second-place Christopher Holder

Stan Wawrinka poses with the trophy after his match against Novak Djokovic

GFF/NAMILCO Thunder Bolt Flour Power National U-17 League Pg 23 Pg 23

— Australia sweep series

Victoria edge BV 2-1 Tillakaratne Dilshan is given a guard of Victoria Kings’ Jeremiah Bowman (green and white) on the ball during his impressive outing against BV/ Triumph United at the Melanie Ground (Akeem Greene Photo)

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