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127 CSEC, 39 CAPE students graduate from President’s College THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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

Issue No. 3029

Friday, November 4, 2016

PRICE

Special Prosecutions Unit

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt defends decision, despite mounting criticism

Cabinet subcommittee to consider way forward for GuySuCo

Page

Seafood operators schooled on best practices

$80 vat included

– Estates’ closure still on the cards P7

Page 9

Global Fund pumps $28M into HIV/AIDS fight Page 5

Major P9 reforms for Guyana Gold Board

Republic Bank partners for Restaurant Week Guyanese fugitive P8 pleads guilty to killing man

Page 12

Restaurant Week 2016 launched: Republic Bank (Guyana) Managing Director Richard Sammy presents the President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Andrea de Caires with a cheque in support of the event

Govt worried about rental of legal guns to criminals

Page 2

P16 Army Chief calls for more participation in People’s Militia

World Bank, Finance P11 Ministry collaborate to strengthen procurement capacity

2 news

friDAY, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt worried about rental of legal guns to criminals − to clamp down on issuance of licences

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overnment is worried that private firearm holders may be renting weapons to criminals and will therefore be clamping down on the issuance of gun licences to civilians.

And in the fullness of time, government wants firearms to be in the hands of primarily law enforcement officers.

This is according to President David Granger, who indicated that private citizens should depend on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for protection.

“We would like to see fewer weapons in the hands of private citizens. It is my personal view that weapons should be used by law en-

President David Granger

forcement agencies…,” he stated during the recording of his weekly podcast “The Public Interest” which will be aired this weekend.

President Granger said he wants to reduce the number of legal and illegal guns off the streets since he is

concerned that even legally issued firearms are being used to conduct criminal activities.

“We have heard stories now where legitimate firearm licences holders who rent their weapons out to criminals who will go rob somebody and maybe give them a part of the booty,” he said.

The President is also concerned about the illegal weapons entering Guyana from Brazil and signalled intentions to up border control to get the guns off the streets.

“Our biggest problem is the fact that we have a border with Brazil which is the border’s largest producer and exporter of small arms. Many illegal weapons are traced to Brazil…,” he noted.

Just last month, police unearthed a large cache of arms and ammunition in a yard in Lethem, close to the Brazilian border.

To support the move to limit the number of firearms owned by civilians, government will establish a core of wardens vested with law enforcement authority.

These wardens will be dispatched to operate in the gold mining, timber and tourism industries to provide protection to the respective sectors, according to the President.

Already, government has hiked the fees for gun licences.

Additionally, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had also announced that scores of gun licences will be revoked in order to weed out those that had been wrongfully issued.

His announcement fol-

lowed the gun amnesty programme which saw persons turning in unlicensed firearms but police reports indicate that most of the weapons collected came from hinterland locations where residents used the guns for hunting purposes and not for criminal activities.

Notably, as government moves to reduce the issuance of firearms, families have been using those weap-

ons as protection against criminals who are now perceived to be emboldened.

Just on Wednesday, a suspected bandit was shot and killed by a miner during an attempted robbery at his home in the Diamond Housing Scheme, East bank Demerara.

According to reports, there are at least 10,000 licensed firearms in the hands of civilians.

Bus driver guilty of threatening language – fined, placed on bond to keep the peace

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bus driver and a passenger from the Essequibo Coast landed themselves Wednesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court due to overloading. The driver was charged and found guilty of threatening language.

It is alleged that on September, 15, bus driver Fazio Rahim of Dunkel Village used threatening language on Deon Cummings from Henrietta.

The police alleged that the driver threatened to hit the virtual complainant with a lug spanner and ‘bruk him up’. An argument erupted when Cummings reported to him that the bus was overloaded and in the seat he

was sitting he was not comfortable.

A trial was conducted into the matter on November 2 and Rahim was found guilty of the offence. He was asked by the magistrate if he had anything to say and replied that he wished to give an unsworn statement of what happened.

At the end his statement the magistrate found him deceitful and disregarded what he said. However, before sentencing, he apologised to Cummings in court for what he did and promised it would to happen again.

He was fined $15,000 and bonded to keep the peace.

He has had previous matters in court.

news

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friDAY, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, November 4 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, November 5 – 08:30h.

Govt defends decision, despite mounting criticism

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, November 4 – 06:30h-08:00h and Saturday, November 5 – 07:05h-08:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout most of the day, while sunny weather is expected to return in the later afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening with temperatures ranging between 26 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly and East North-easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 06:50h and 19:01h reaching maximum heights of 2.46 metres and 2.52 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:23h and 12:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.61 metre and 0.80 metre respectively.

wednesday, november 2, 2016

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E

ven as criticism continues to be heaped on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government over a decision to appoint special prosecutors for what it termed “high-profile cases”, the coalition has come out in full defence of the decision.

In recent days, criticism has been piling on the Government after it announced that it would appoint special prosecutors after investigations were concluded into cases involving Pradoville 2 and the Cricket World Cup among others.

Among the most vocal critics were former Attorney General Anil Nandlall and independent political analyst Ramon Gaskin.

However, speaking at a post-Cabinet news briefing on Thursday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, debunked statements that the initiative amounted to the Executive descending into prosecution – the remit of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Guyana Police Force.

“The Government does not prosecute. The Government provides information and the Police or special prosecutors prosecute,” Harmon told journalists.

He went on to explain that the special prosecutors would merely be representing the interest of the State in the courts and were not the ones who would investigate.

“These are people who will do the prosecution; these are not people who will do the investigations; the investigation is done by the Police and then that investigation is handed over for the prosecution in court,” Harmon stressed.

Executive influence

Harmon rubbished concerns that since the prosecutors would be selected

by Attorney General Basil Williams, a member of the Executive, this could lead to

ed they might have known the Minister, but largely because it is a political nature,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) quoted Williams as saying.

Unconstitutional

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon addressing Thursday’s news conference

interference in the process, “There is nothing wrong with the AG being the Government’s legal adviser advising on the composition of a team. The AG will not be prosecuting himself, he will be identifying persons who have the capacity, the legal training and the background to be able to represent the State in these cases,” the Minister of State reasoned.

Nothing new

Harmon said that there was precedence in Guyana for the appointment of special prosecutors in high-level cases. He also took a swipe at Nandlall who he said was a special prosecutor in the Mark Benschop treason trial.

“The statements made by a certain gentleman that these people were to be dealt with by the DPP and that there should be no special prosecutors, that gentleman almost before the ink was dried on his Hugh Wooding Law School certificate was a special prosecutor in the Mark Benschop case for many months,” he explained, adding that “throughout time there have always been special prosecutors”.

He further explained that all that was required was the DPP issuing her fiat (A fiat is a short order

or warrant of a Judge or Magistrate directing some act to be done; an authority issuing from some competent source for the doing of some legal act) for the special prosecutors to function.

Williams said earlier Thursday that the reason Government had to go down the route of special prosecutors was because staff from the DPP Chamber indicated they were uncomfortable with prosecuting these matters.

“They have suggested that they are political cases and some indicat-

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Gaskin waded into the Government for its decision, which he said was a blatant violation of the Guyana Constitution.

Gaskin made it pellucid that the Constitution stipulated that the Executive was barred from getting involved in prosecutions and emphasised the need for Government’s decision to be challenged in the courts.

He highlighted that the Constitution of Guyana provides only for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to deal with matters involving prosecutions.

Article 122 says “there shall be an Attorney General of Guyana who shall be the principal legal adviser to the Government of Guyana and who shall be appointed by the President.”

Article 116 says “there shall be a Director of Public Prosecutions whose office shall be a public office.” turn to page 7

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friday, november 4, 2016

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

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

Editorial

Knowing the risk J

ust being a woman is the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer. In a recently published article, US-based Oncology Surgeon, Dr Theophilus Lewis pointed out that all women are at risk for breast cancer, since the risks associated with contracting the disease are not controllable.

This worrying pronouncement was made during a seminar held at the National Library which was spearheaded by US-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Organisation for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAG).

Most notably, it was revealed that age and family history are among the biggest risk factors for contracting the disease. According to the Surgeon, where the incidence of a young woman contracting the disease in her 30s is very small – 0.4 per cent, he is currently treating five patients, all under 30 years, for the disease. A rather unusual occurrence, according to the Oncologist.

This grabs the attention, since the focus on breast cancer usually starts when a woman turns 40; it was explained too that after this age, the incidence of contracting breast cancer doubles, going from 0.4-1.46. With each passing decade, the risk factor increases; hence, age is one of the primary risk factors for breast cancer.

One of the other important points highlighted was that estrogen is a driver for breast cancer and what this means is that once a woman has a long exposure to estrogen, which is not interrupted by pregnancies, then the risk factor for developing breast cancer becomes greater.

Estrogen can be defined as a female steroid hormone that is produced by the ovaries and, in lesser amounts, by the adrenal cortex, placenta, and male testes. Estrogen helps control and guide sexual development, including the physical changes associated with puberty.

This risk is especially pronounced in women who have menstruated very early (9 or 10 years old) and who menstruate into their 50s, and would have been exposed to estrogen for many years. If, however, the years of exposure are broken up by pregnancies, this increased risk is considerably reduced, Dr Lewis said, even as he pointed out that a pregnancy is regarded as a protective period.

It was also explained that a woman who conceives and gives birth after the age of 34 or 35 will likely lose the protection from estrogen by that age, and will also be at high risk of developing cancer.

It is not usual for young women to develop breast cancer at a young age; when a woman is young, estrogen stores in the fat. The more obese a woman is, the more fat she is likely to be able to store. But although a woman stops making estrogen when she is older and begins menopause, the estrogen already stored in the fat makes them more at risk for developing cancer.

For this reason, Dr Lewis noted that developing breast cancer is not necessarily impacted by what you eat, but due to the amount of estrogen you are able to store because of being overweight. Other risk factors include family history.

Women with close relatives who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease. If you’ve had one first-degree female relative (sister, mother, daughter) diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk is doubled.

Among the other risk factors, research suggests that women with low levels of vitamin D have a higher risk of breast cancer. Vitamin D may play a role in controlling normal breast cell growth and may be able to stop breast cancer cells from growing.

Every woman wants to know what she can do to lower her risk of breast cancer. Some of the factors associated with breast cancer –being a woman, your age, and your genetics, for example – can’t be changed. Other factors – being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking cigarettes, and eating unhealthy food – can be changed by making choices.

By choosing the healthiest lifestyle options possible, you can empower yourself and make sure your breast cancer risk is as low as possible.

Near the Chamonix glacier panorama, one of the submissions in the 2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Contest, which has four categories: Landscape, Environmental Issues, Action and Animal Portraits. Entries close today (Cmoon View/2016

National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Overstaying permits are not a crime-fighting priority Dear Editor, It appears we are not only wasting the resources of our police, our incarceration system and our courts, but we are propagating an unethical, and uneconomic double-standard when we relentlessly prosecute illegal aliens and persons who have overstayed their permit in Guyana.

On the assumption that the police, the prison service and the courts have limited resources, it is vital that as a nation, we set our crimefighting priorities to address the greater ills in society.

Now, we learn of persons being charged, incarcerated and denied bail for the offence of overstaying their visitor’s permit. These persons are detained in the most appalling circumstances. In one case, a woman’s crime was evidently tantamount to falling in love with a Guyanese and wishing to

stay, thus forging a passport entry. Illegal? Yes. A crime-fighting priority? No. An ethical double standard?

Certainly!

I know of one case where a European visitor was under the impression that an entry to Caricom countries meant that he could visit all the Caricom countries, as is the case with the European Union Schengen countries.

The guy had a PhD! Then in another case, another European thought he could visit Georgetown, since he was freely allowed to cross from Brazil to Lethem, as many shoppers did without immigration on a daily basis. Maybe our Immigration thought he was Brazilian, but he ended up spending a weekend in the Grove lockups, before the courts on Monday, fined and deported him. This gentleman was on a world tour!

Could we then pause to

consider the tens of thousands of Guyanese who reside illegally in our neighbouring countries, and the developed world, with fake IDs, Green Cards, etc?

Or maybe, we could take into context the eleven million illegal aliens in the US and the debate over whether to prosecute them to ultimate deportation. Even the most hard-line politicians have softened their stance to only deporting those who commit felonies (serious crimes). The debate inevitably gravitates towards the economics of pursuing those so called, illegal aliens, their contribution to the GDP of the country and so on.

Could we therefore take a minute to consider the time when Guyanese were pouring into Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname, when Guyana’s economy was down?

In Guyana, where we

are desperately short of persons, one would imagine that, from an economic point of view, once the person was not a vagrant, we would welcome all who would have the capacity, and would wish to live and work peacefully here. Our biggest strategic issue is that we have too few persons living in Guyana. Our economists would do well to note that we have among the lowest GDP densities in the world.

Consequently, we have among the highest cost per capita for infrastructure.

Thus, while illegal entry is quietly overlooked in most developed countries, or dealt with in a more humane manner, we seem to be allocating too much of our scarcer resources to a pursuit that has little economic, cultural or ethical justification.

Sincerely, Keith Evelyn

Making criminality profitable Dear Editor, It was a shock for me to observe in the Stabroek News of Thursday, October 27, 2016, page 15, a headline captioned “Man gets two years for $17 million robbery.”

In my opinion, it appears that the court system and our justice system is encouraging criminality in our country. To give a two year sentence to a $17 million robbery, makes me believe that robbery is a very profitable business venture to those inclined to such a way of life.

In addition to making criminality profitable, the justice system helps also to demotivate the police who put tremendous energy and talents to apprehend the criminals. Bails are given too eas-

ily, especially through the High Court, which many criminals use to abscond the jurisdiction and go underground.

A two-year sentence makes a mockery of the people in this country and definitely encourages youths, who may wish to pursue a life of criminality. For such a short period of incarceration, with free security protection, a bed, and free food, along with medical attention, for some of these bandits, prison is like a cake walk.

I note that the accused was given four years for possessing illegal arms and ammunition. I believe that the sentence should always be to the maximum and should serve consecutively as a de-

terrent to those whose lives are tuned for criminality.

Four years for such weapons, seems like a pat on the shoulder for a job well done.

James Samuels has lost firearms, a quantity of gold and diamonds, metal safes, flat screen televisions, several bottles of foreign liquor and US$40,000.

With his imprisonment, Nabadamingi Gobin does not have to repay the gentleman who lost values to the total of $17 million. Some people don’t make that money in a lifetime and even if they live for several lifetimes, they will still be unable to make that money.

Also, this is where I believe our justice system needs upgrading and adjustment. I

believe prison should not be a walk in the park, but should be something to feared, and feel like their life will wither away in torturous confinement of a prison cell. But mostly that they are placed to do hard labour to be paid for the purpose of compensation to the party who was robbed. Of course of the severity of sentences, for exceptional behaviour, and promise via a legal system to work and compensate the victims, the criminal can be sent on probation. Our entire justice system needs an overhauling to provide maximum prison sentence to those who deserve prison.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan

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friday, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Global Fund pumps $28M into HIV/AIDS fight T he Public Health Ministry on Thursday signed an agreement with the non-governmental group Alpha and Omega to provide services to persons infected with and affected by HIV/ AIDS in various regions.

The Ministry, as the principal recipient of the Global Fund grant, signed the agreement with the sub recipient or implementing partner, Alpha and Omega Community Health Associates.

The project, which will run for some 14 months, will be implemented in what has been described as key populations in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Three

(Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Five (MahaicaBerbice) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Dr Morris Edwards from the Public Health Ministry said the National AIDS Programme Secretariat has a number of implementing partners, when implementing programmes from the Global Fund.

“The Ministry of Public Health advertised for two sub-recipients to come on board. It was a competitive process. We had five applicants, and of those five, two were successful. We had Alpha and Omega and SASOD”.

Minister within the Education Ministry Nicolette Henry, who also serves as the chair of the

Officials of the Education and Public Health Ministries pose with members of the Alpha and Omega Community Health Associates

country coordinating mechanism for the management of Global Fund said the project is very important as it will provide support to those who are affected by the social malady.

“This $28 million is in-

Region Five

RDC did not authorise REO to ban farmers from land

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cting Chairman of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Rian Pieters says that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) never instructed the Regional Executive Officer (REO) to erect notices at the entrance to farms, barring farmers from going onto the lands which they have been occupying for decades.

Last Thursday, the notices were placed at the entrances to the farmlands, indicating that it was a criminal offence to enter the properties located at Naarstigheid on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB).

More than 30 farmers from Bath Settlement, Experiment, Naarstigheid, Fort Wellington and Hopetown were affected by the move, which was reportedly made by REO Ovid Morrison.

On Thursday, Pieters

met with aggrieved farmers and invited the REO to the meeting. Following the meeting, the acting Chairman told Guyana Times that it was decided the farmers would remain on the land.

“The Council has never made any decision to remove any farmers from that plot of land,” the acting Chairman said.

The farmers have some 50 acres under cash crops, fruits and livestock. Some of them related that they have been cultivating the land since the late Satydeow Sawh was the Minister of Agriculture.

While Pieters maintains that the issue was never discussed at the RDC level, he assured that it would come up for discussion shortly.

“I would have met with some of the farmers who are planting on a plot of

land, which was leased to the Regional Democratic Council at Naarstigheid.

They have some concerns saying that they received word that the Regional Democratic Council was removing them from the land, and I would have said to them that the issue that they approached me on will be receiving the full attention of the RDC at its statutory meeting on November 17, and I further assured them that the RDC remains committed to the people and their well-being and development and as such, we have no intention of removing any farmer,” the acting Regional Chairman reassured.

tended to provide support to persons affected by and infected with HIV. There are three programmes that Global Fund provides funding to Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV. This grant is specifically for HIV and is in specific regions”.

President of the Alpha and Omega Community Health Associates, Dr Karen Gordon-Boyle, said the not for profit organisation had worked under the previous Global Fund

project. As such, the staff has extensive knowledge of working with the key populations.

“Our methodology is to engage NGO’s from those regions who know the hotspots, who know where to find the key population.

We will be mapping out in each region; we will be engaging the NGO’s and members of the key populations who know themselves, so that they could be able to find their social networks and we are going

to be able to reach them with HIV messages and HIV testing”.

Dr Gordon-Boyle said anyone found to be HIV positive will be enrolled in treatment.

The main objective of the project is to reduce the prevalence of HIV within the key populations. She said the selected regions have been targeted since they have been disproportionately affected by HIV, compared to the general population.

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friday, november 4, 2016

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

The culture of childhood:

– children learn the most valuable lessons with other children, away from adults

BY PETER GRAY, PHD

(Continued from thursday)

Getting along with others as equals The main difference between adults and children that affects their interaction has to do with power.

Adults, because of their greater size, strength, status, experience in the world, and control of resources have power over children. So, children’s interactions with adults are generally unbalanced ones, across a power gap. If children are going to grow up to be effective adults, they must learn to get along with others as equals. For the most part, they can only practise that with other children, not with adults.Perhaps the most important function of the culture of childhood is to teach children how to get along with peers. Children practise that constantly in social play. To play with another person, you must pay attention to the other person’s needs, not just your own, or the other person will quit. You must overcome narcissism. You must learn to share. You must learn to negotiate in ways that respect the other person’s ideas, not just yours. You must learn how to assert your needs and desires while at the same time understanding and trying to meet the needs and desires of your playmate.

This may be the most important of all skills that human beings must learn for a successful life. Without this ability it is not possible to have a happy marriage, true friends, or cooperative work partners.The need to learn how to deal with others on an equal power footing is the primary reason why children need to grow up in a culture of childhood. It underlies all of the rest of what children learn best with peers. The reason why children’s communications with other children are more authentic than those with adults, why they can practise independence and courage with other children better than with adults, why they can learn about

the modifiability of rules with other children better than with adults, and why they can more freely practise adult skills with other children than they c a n w i t h

adults is that their relationships with other children are relationships of equality rather than relationships of dominance and subordination.

The adult battle against cultures of childhood has been going on for centuries Hunter-gatherer adults seemed to understand that children needed to grow up largely in a culture of childhood, with little adult interference, but that understanding seemed to decline with the rise of agriculture, land ownership, and hierarchical organisations of power among adults (Gray, 2012). Adults began to see it as their duty to suppress children’s natural wilfulness, so as to promote obedience, which often involved attempts to remove them from the influences of other children and subordinate them to adult authority. The first systems of compulsory schooling, which are the forerunners of our schools today, arose quite explicitly for that purpose.

If there is a father of modern schools, it is the Pietist clergyman August Hermann Francke, who developed a system of compulsory schooling in Prussia, in the late 17th century, which was subsequently copied and elaborated upon throughout Europe and America.

Francke wrote, in his instructions to schoolmasters: “Above all it is necessary to break the natural wilfulness of the child. While the

s c h o o l m a ste r who seeks to make the child more learned is to be commended for cultivating the child’s intellect, he has not done enough. He has forgotten his most important task, namely that of making the will obedient.” Francke believed that the most effective way to break children’s wills was through constant monitoring and supervision. He wrote: “Youth do not know how to regulate their lives, and are naturally inclined toward idle and sinful behaviour when left to their own devices. For this reason, it is a rule in this institution [the Prussian Pietist schools] that a pupil never be allowed out of the presence of a supervisor. The supervisor’s presence will stifle the pupil’s inclination to sinful behavior, and slowly weaken his wilfulness.”

[Quoted by Melton, 1988.]We may today reject Francke’s way of stating it, but the underlying premise of much adult policy toward children is still in Francke’s tradition. In fact, social forces have conspired now

Pt3

to put Francke’s recommendation into practice far more effectively than occurred at Francke’s time or any other time in the past. Parents have become convinced that it is dangerous and irresponsible to allow children to play with other children, away from adults, so restrictions on such play are more severe and effective than they have ever been before. By increasing the amount of time spent in school, expanding homework, harping constantly on the importance of scoring high on school tests, banning children from public spaces unless accompanied by an adult, and replacing free play with adult-led sports and lessons, we have created a world in which children are almost always in the presence of a supervisor, who is ready to intervene, protect, and prevent them from practicing courage, independence, and all the rest that children practise best with peers, away from adults. I have argued elsewhere (Gray, 2011, and here) that this is why we see record levels of anxiety, depression, suicide, and feelings of powerlessness among adolescents and young adults today.

The Internet is the saviour of children’s culture today There is, however, one saving grace, one reason why we adults have not completely crushed the culture of childhood. That’s the Internet.

We’ve created a world in which children are more or less prevented from congregating in physical space without an adult, but children have found another way. They get together in cyberspace. They play games and communicate over the Internet. They create their own rules and culture and ways of being with others over the Internet. They mock adults and flout adult rules over the Internet.

They, especially teenagers, share thoughts and feelings with friends through texting and social media, and they stay several steps ahead of their parents and other adults in finding new ways to maintain their privacy in all of this (more on this here).

Of course, the hew and cry we keep hearing from so many educators and parenting “experts” now is that we must ban or limit children’s “screen time.” Yes, if we all did that, while still banning them from public spaces without adult supervision, we would finally succeed in destroying the culture of childhood.

We would prevent children from educating themselves in the ways that they always have, and we would see the rise of a generation of adults who don’t know how to be adults because they never had a chance to practise it.

(Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

How children learn through play (Continued from Thursday)

It’s important that learning is fun at this age. It needs to be about doing things with them that they like. They might find unusual ways of doing things – for a toddler, building blocks aren’t just for making towers, and paint can be used without a brush!

Show them how things work, but if they want to experiment, let them.

Don’t push your child too hard.

Children develop in their own ways and in their own time. Try not to compare them to other children.

You can also encourage reading, by reading to and with them. Look at the pictures together; this will help younger children make sense of the words.

It’s also good to talk to them a lot, about everyday things while you are cooking or cleaning. This will give you a chance to teach them how things work and they will be able to ask you questions. Get ready for lots of “whys?”

What is the importance of play for preschool children?

Anyone who spends any amount of time with preschool children understands that providing them with opportunities for play provides so much more than a few minutes or hours of ‘fun’. Play also allows children to relax, let off steam, develop social skills such as concentration and cooperation, encourages the development of the imagination, develops motor skills and teaches self-expression.

Sarah Owen, founder of “Pyjama Drama” – drama, music, movement and play for preschool children says, “Many children seem to be born with a natural ability to play, but some children find it more difficult and need to ‘learn’ how to play well and this is where parents can make a big difference. Whilst it is very important that children play with their peers and are given opportunities for unstructured play, children who also play with a loved adult can benefit greatly – the benefits of having fun together cannot be underestimated!

How does dramatic play in particular benefit children?

Dramatic play is essential to a child’s social (or emotional) development and can play a large part in their physical development too. Children make sense of the world in which they live by acting out situations before they happen and by copying what they see around them. Pretend (or dramatic) play contributes to a child’s emotional development as they learn to see life from a different viewpoint and allows them to ‘trial’ situations before they happen.

Most children are naturally imaginative and will happily talk away to someone on their toy phone or drive the sofa to the shops, and this creativity should be actively encouraged! This type of play also develops children’s imaginations which are closely linked to intellectual development. (www.familylives.org.uk)

NEWS

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cabinet subcommittee to consider way forward for GuySuCo – estates' closure still on the cards

T

he A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Government has established a Cabinet subcommittee to look into several options with regards to the future of the cash-strapped Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Speaking at the postCabinet briefing, Minister of State Joseph Harmon noted that the subcommittee was set up following top GuySuCo officials on Tuesday briefing Cabinet on its current status of operations, as well as future plans.

The GuySuCo delegation included Chairman Professor Clive Thomas and Chief Executive Officer Errol Hanoman.

According to Harmon on Thursday, the subcommittee was established to consider various options laid out by GuySuCo about its future. He noted out that he along with the Ministers of Agriculture, Finance and Natural Resources were appointed members of the subcommittee, tasked with crafting an approach based on discussions in Cabinet.

The minister added that the subcommittee is expected to submit its report by mid-November, as Government is adamant about having a final decision on the future of GuySuCo before the end of 2016.

Among the options proffered by GuySuCo to Cabinet for consideration were to allow the corporation to run as is or engage in limited diversification.

“The presentation to Cabinet gave considerations of the matters which ranged from maintaining the status quo – that is to say, just do nothing and allow the corporation to go as it is, to the point of a limited form of diversification. So along that continuum of opportunities, there were several proposals which were made,” he outlined.

The Minister of State further outlined that the corporation is of the belief that the worst option was to maintain the status quo since there were serious implications for the national treasury, which can incur the cost of some $18.6 billion in 2017 and another $21.4 billion in 2018, just to maintain this option.

Cabinet being briefed on the state of the sugar industry Tuesday last

GuySuCo already has in excess of $80 billion in debt, notwithstanding the fact that only last week, the cash-strapped GuySuCo was asked to repay a loan of almost $4 billion which it received from Central Government as part of its $12 billion subsidy last year.

“Your Government was forced to divert money from economic development and social projects to rescue the ailing corporation with an immediate injection of $12 billion. An additional $11 billion had to be provided

Police solicit public’s assistance in identifying dead bandit

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ne day after a suspected bandit was shot and killed during a foiled robbery, the Police are soliciting the assistance of the public to positively identify him.

The deceased was shot at least twice to the neck by a licensed firearm holder as he and another accomplice were attempting to gain entry into the man’s Lot 724 5th Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara home, in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and was clad in a three-quarter pair of pants and a black armless vest.

His accomplice was later arrested by Police ranks who responded to the report.

He has been identified as a

27-year-old man from West Ruimveldt, Georgetown. He is assisting Police in their investigations.

Based on reported received, the 38-year-old miner was awoken by a loud noise emanating from the lower flat of his house, and

upon investigating, he saw two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun.

They were attempting to gain entry into the house through a door.

He immediately raised an alarm and thereafter discharged his firearm in the direction of the two men.

One of them reportedly fell to the ground while the other who was carrying the firearm managed to scale the fenced yard and escaped. He was however arrested shortly after.

Anyone with information that may lead to the identification of the dead man is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 2256411, 226-1369, 227-2128, 226-7065, 226-2603, 911 or the nearest Police station.

Govt defends decision...

Article 187 outlines the DPP’s functions which include instituting and undertaking criminal proceedings against any person before any court, with the powers conferred upon the Director vested in him to the exclusion of any other person or authority and that Director shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.

Article 187 also notes that the powers of the Director may be exercised through other persons acting under, and in accordance with, the Director’s general or special instructions.

Stakeholders’ silence

Gaskin also lambasted watchdog bodies such as the Guyana Bar Association (GBA); the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) and the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) for their evident silence on the matter.

When contacted, head of the GHRA , Mike McCormack said that his organisation did not examine the special prosecutors’ issue in isolation, but has been examining a raft

FROM PAGE 3

of new measures, including legislation the Government, proposed and would make a comprehensive pronouncement on these issues in due course. He refused to give the GHRA’s initial position on the issue.

TIGI President, Dr Troy Thomas said he would be seeking legal guidance and promised to pronounce on the issue by Friday, while GBA head Gem SandfordJohnson was said to be in a meeting and could not respond. Further calls to her mobile phone went unanswered.

the next year, 2016, making a total of $23 billion bailout in 18 months.”

This comes in light of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) advising the Guyana Government to reduce bailouts to the cashstrapped industry, especially given that experts are saying that it is not a viable option.

“We cannot continue to pour this type of money into an industry at the expense at the other developments which have to take place in the country such as developments in education, in health, in security and all of these things that relate to the happiness and good life for the people of this country,” Harmon admitted.

On the other hand, while he was cautious about fully revealing all the options government is currently looking at because of the sensitive nature of the issue, it was indicated that closure

of estates was among them: “All of these are the options; these are all options because if you are going to close down anything you have to consider the workers and how you deal with them…we are still in early days where that is concerned.”

He said that he does not want to be specific about the options since another route may come up during the deliberations.

“These are options and

options are things which you look at the pros and cons of it, whether this is good or that is bad… It is not always good to go about and say these are the options, these are the deliberations because you may very well find sometimes at the end of your deliberation that you come up with a conclusion that is not consistent with your earlier position.

So it is always important that we be very careful and cautious in what we announced and put out there in the public because any wrong step, because of the nature of this industry and because of the number of persons who are employed in it, any wrong statement can send the wrong signal and create panic and confusion,” the Minister of State remarked.

Nevertheless, Harmon posited that no decision will be taken without any widespread consultation with all stakeholders including sugar workers in accordance to the 5-point process Cabinet had previously adopted to tackle the issue.

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FRIday, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese Fugitive pleads guilty to killing man

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Guyanese man who fled the country after he killed a 19-year old and injured another man at a Hicksville wedding in 1999 faces 19 years in prison, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced Wednesday.

Balkumar Singh, believed to be 38 years old, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder and first-degree assault.

He is due back in court on December 12 for sentencing. “[Singh] senselessly shot and killed an innocent teen-

ager at a wedding because of a dance floor dispute, then fled the country to evade justice,” Singas said in a press release.

Singh, also known as Tevin Persaud, was featured in a 2009 episode on the television show, “America’s Most Wanted.”

Based on a tip, Singh was caught in Trinidad in 2015 and extradited to the United States in August of that year, police said.

The shooting took place at a June 13 wedding outside the Masonic Temple, located at 18 W. Nicholai

Balkumar Singh

Street, police said. Singh allegedly shot Abzal Khan, 19, of Queens, several times with an automatic handgun after the pair had argued, cops said.

At least 20 people witnessed the incident, during which another 22-year-old man was shot in the foot, the DA said.

Singh fled the country following the incident and, using multiple aliases, is believed to have spent time in Canada and Guyana before arriving in Trinidad, officials said.

Leguan labourer charged with damage of property, simple larceny

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eroy Jangroo of Good Intent, Leguan, Region Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara), was charged with damage to property and simple larceny. On Wednesday he made his first appearance before mag-

istrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty.

It was alleged that on October 29, he broke the right-side Canter glass window valued $60,000 and removed a vehicle camera

monitor valued $60,000, property of Shafeek Khan, businessman of La Bagatelle, Leguan.

The court heard that the monitor was recovered; however, the defendant will have to compensate Khan $60,000 for the damage to

property, in addition to serving three months of community service at the Leguan Police Station.

For the simple larceny charge, Jangroo was fined $30,000 or failure to pay, three months imprisonment.

Power...

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...and harassment of women

our Eyewitness was intrigued about the Women & Gender Equality Commission's (W&GEC) recent launch of a programme taking on sexual harassment of women in the workplace. He wonders if the salacious revelations about the "exploits" of Donald Trump - sexually harassing women to the max - look what he boasted about grabbing - had anything to do with it.

But even if it didn't, why haven't they explicitly taken aim at what goes on in the offices of the very people we've elected to office?

Governmental offices in general and Ministerial offices, in particular, are veritable hotbeds of sexual harassment. Not that offices in the private sector and other workplaces are immune...but the phenomena is particularly rampant among the political tribe. And there are good reasons for this. You see, dear reader, sexual harassment is committed predominantly by men against women - especially younger women. And like everything between men and women, it has to ultimately do with power.

Most men still see women as either in their possession or to be made into their "possession". So when a woman enters the workplace - where females are still automatically the more lowly paid - those around see her as fair game - or to continue the analogy - as "fresh meat" to be "hunted" and "conquered". In politics, where power is pursued for its own sake, it thus becomes almost impossible for one of the species not to see women as "prey".

Just check into the offices of several of the new Ministers, and you'll suffer horripilation to hear the lurid stories of groping hands and worse. Even the milder ones seem compelled to engage in double entendres that'd make the proverbial sailor blush. Most women really don't know how to deal with these unwelcome advances from men who're so highly placed.

Many of them blame themselves for possibly "leading the lechers on". In fact, there's a strong sentiment in Guyana that younger females "throw themselves" at older power holders. That just goes to show some of our females have been socialised into accepting sexual harassment as par for the (work) course. The point is... once there's a power differential between the men at the top and the women below them (get the picture?) there will be sexual harassment. And the ones at the bottom shouldn't be blamed.

What the W&GEC ought to be doing is to struggle for equality of women in all spheres in life. When this happens...only then will the harassment by men stop.

And that's true of all harassment, isn't it?

So imagine when the woman's poor, not of the "in" ethnic group, and rural!!

...abuse and justice

Well...we'll...we'll. Strike one for the Judiciary at a time when many fear an early muzzling of that fraternity. Here it was, Cavil Duncan had committed the worst sin possible in an ethnically fractured society: he joined "the other side"!! Now if that doesn't call for a lynching or worse, what does? At least that's what the government thought.

But you have to give them credit for first trying to use the velvet glove - or the greased palm, if you will to try to buy out Duncan. Now this is illegal - and yet no one has even rapped the government on the wrists for subverting the constitution. But when Duncan didn't bite, they brought out the steel fist.

They hauled him before the courts on clearly trumped up charges of "fraud". But the Judiciary vindicated him!!

The evidence, in the words of the magistrate, was all "heresay".

And the documentary "evidence" was a photocopy which even a child can tamper with!

...and high handedness

Your Eyewitness should've known as soon as he saw the new column in the Chronicle by the PM's shill, Imran Khan - "FYI by DPI". Khan, of course, is "Director of Public Information".

The Editor in Chief hasn't sold out - Khan was made Chairman of Board of the Chronic!! But no interference!!

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

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friday, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Seafood operators schooled Major reforms on best practices for Guyana Gold Board A s Guyana seeks to expand its export markets for seafood products, local seafood operators underwent a one day training on how to improve the quality of their products as well as operations.

The workshop held at the Regency Hotel on Thursday saw operators in the sector being brought upto-date on fishery products regulations, good management practices, standard operating procedures, best practices, and the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system.

Speaking at the workshop, Public Health Minister Dr George Norton pointed out that over the years Guyana has maintained “reasonably good” and “acceptable” standards of its seafood products for both local and international markets.

He pointed out that with a growing fishery industry the sector has managed to contribute some US$50 million to the country’s export. He noted that while Guyana has already penetrated major markets in the Caribbean and the United State, it should aim to expand its seafood exports to untapped territories within the European Union.

I

A section of the participants at Thursday’s workshop on best practices in the fishery industry

“We are aiming to get into the countries of the European Union and this tells us how important this symposium is… We in this country must feel confident to be able to export our products all over the world,” he urged.

However, he outlined that the industry will have to implement the HACCP system, which can only happen when operators adhere to good manufacturing practices. In this regard, Dr Norton urged the participants to grasp the information made available during the training and apply it in their respective operations.

On the other hand, Junior Health Minister Dr Karen Cummings underscored that in its drive to

attain markets in EU nations, the workshop will assist local seafood operators in the with the necessary skills and approaches needed to expand markets, which will also in the future increase the country’s returns in exports.

Meanwhile, Director of Veterinary Public Health Unit, Dr Joshua Da Silva, highlighted the importance of complying with international regulations and best practices, noting that otherwise there could be economic setbacks should Guyana be barred from exporting to key markets: “We must always think about food hygiene, food safety and sanitation from a global standpoint because it helps significantly not

only in trade but also with regards to our own health.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud urged participants to use the information provided during the training to adopt best practices in order to make Guyana’s seafood products of exemplary quality not only on the local market but internationally as well.

He explained that with a growing market trend of aquaculture, the need to adopt international best practices is important.

During the workshop, presentations were made on best practices in the areas of manufacturing, storage, maintenance, hygiene, waste disposal and use of food additives.

n light of deficits detected over the years, the Guyana Gold Board Inc is set to undergo major operational as well as administrative reforms.

This was disclosed by State Minister Joseph Harmon at this week’s post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, who said that Cabinet has approved a series of reforms for the operation of the Gold Board.

He explained that this proposal was submitted to Cabinet by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman after it was observed that the board had amassed significant deficits over its 35 years in existence. To this end, he added that the body was in need of a review and overhaul of its structures.

“Among the proposals were a legislative review and changes to allow the board to enhance its monitoring and regulatory processes as well as to address its application, renewal and processing fees,” he stated, while adding that considerations would also be given to the revision of penalties for offences.

According to Minister Harmon, a human resource

review was necessary to inform the restructuring of the board. On this note, he outlined too that the Board’s Compliance Section will also be expanded in both staffing and its scope of work.

Meanwhile, other changes proposed for the Gold Board include, “the appointment of additional brokerage firms to sell Guyana’s gold and secure the best prices through competition.”

Harmon continued that the proposals also include the introduction of mobile purchasing operations in the hinterland region as well as to determine the feasibility of establishing offices in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper DemeraraUpper Takutu).

“The proposal also seeks to vest the issuance of all licences and permits relative to the trading of gold in the Gold Board,” he noted.

Harmon posited that Cabinet has already given the go ahead to the Natural Resources Minister for immediate implementation of these changes.

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friday, november 4, 2016

News

Bartica Massacre trial

Businesswoman, family hid as gunmen stormed premises

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s the Bartica massacre trial continues, the first witness testified before the 12-member jury in the case being heard before Justice Roxanne George at the High Court.

First to take the stand at Thursday’s afternoon session was businesswoman Jaywattie Singh, who recounted the horror she and her family faced on February 17, 2008, when they hid in two separate rooms after gunmen stormed their First Avenue, Bartica home – first pilfering through the bottom flat which mainly operated a grocery, parlour and gold trading business.

Singh related that she is still tramuatised by the events; even after eight years, recalling that on the night in question, one of her son’s was downstairs while she, her husband, another son and daughter were all together watching 20/20 cricket when at 21:15h, she heard gunshots. The witness stated that her 20-year-old son peered through the window to the northern side of her bedroom.

After sometime had passed, the witness remarked that she heard a “knocking on the gate” and later, “a banging on the grill downstairs.” The bandits broke off the wooden doors to her home and fired several rounds as they entered the premises.

“They were pounding

Mark Williams, Dennis Williams and Roger Simon are all accused of carrying out the 2008 Bartica Massacre

on the wall, then they were breaking the inside door to go upstairs, so at that time, we all went into hiding,” the woman recalled.

The jury heard the witness’ recollection of hearing “several voices” as the bandits entered her home, while cursing and shooting. She and her daughter hid in one locked room while the father and one son hid somewhere else in the home.

Singh added that she then heard what sounded like drawers being pulled out in a room where gold was kept in a haversack. She said that one bandit shouted “Pass de light” as they started to break down the door to the room in which she and her daughter hid but in a turn of events, another voice suddenly blurted out: “Don’t bother with de light, we find de thing!” – explaining that the bandits made off with the bag full of gold and other valuables.

The businesswoman said that she remained secluded for 45 minutes before going downstairs where she witnessed a hole in the wall to the southern side of her house which she estimated as two feet by one-and-ahalf feet.

Roger Simon’s Attorney, Peter Hugh, grilled the witness for several minutes where she revealed that at the time of the armed robbery, she did not have security guards or surveillance cameras despite trading gold. She also admitted that she wasn’t aware if “a guy” who had dusted for finger prints was a Police rank, further stating that she never entered such statements as evidence since she was never asked. However, she noted that two ranks had taken statements from her on the night in question but she could not recall if the same ranks who took the said statements had visit-

ed the night of the attack.

Additionally, she disclosed that she could not remember if Police took photos of her home.

“I was really traumatised, I can’t remember,” she stressed.

Earlier, Dennis “Anaconda” Williams’ Attorney Saphier Hussain quickly rested his cross-examination after Singh admitted that she never saw any of the bandits.

Defence Counsel Roger Yearwood who represents the number one accused, Mark Williams, also crossed examined the witness. The businesswoman was excused and other witnesses testified in Voir Dire (trial within a trial). At the morning session, other witnesses also gave testimonies in Voir Dire.

The State of Guyana is contending that Mark Williams, Dennis Williams, and Roger Simon stuck terror which led to the deaths of 12 persons; eight civilians and three Police ranks.

Two other men who were charged for the Bartica attacks – Michael Caesar and Celbert Reece – pled guilty to 12 counts of manslaughter earlier this week.

Reece in his account of events had noted that he was the driver of the boat which fetched the henchmen believed to be part of the Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins

gang.

On Tuesday, the court heard that after Reece had set the boat adrift at a camp, two safes were opened in which gold and jewelry were found. The defendant added that all the men who were part of the gang were paid six ounces of gold each.

He further related that he later escaped from “Fineman” and his henchmen some three months later after which he was captured by Police on May 27, 2008.

On the fateful night, 12 persons, namely Police Lance Corporal Zaheer Zakir and Constables Shane Fredericks and Ron Osborne and civilians Edwin Gilkes, Dexter Adrian, Irving Ferreira, Deonarine Singh, Ronald Gomes, Ashraf Khan, AbdoolYasseen, Errol Thomas, and Baldeo Singh were all killed.

Other witnesses will take the stand today.

Port Kaituma residents remanded – charged for possession of gun, ammo and narcotics

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wo miners of Port Kaituma, North West District, were Thursday remanded to prison on charges of possession of narcotics, firearm and ammunition when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Cheddi Dawson, 42, and Deon Debideen, 23, pleaded not guilty to a joint charge which stated that on November 2 last at Hotaqua,

NWD, they cultivated cannabis.

Dawson further pleaded not guilty to another charge which stated that on the same day, he had a 20 gauge shotgun in his possession and one 20 gauge cartridge without being the holder of a firearm licenced.

Meanwhile, Debideen also pleaded guilty to an additional charge which stated that on October 29, he made use of threatening behaviour towards Abraham Daniels

which caused a breach of the peace.

Police prosecutor Neville Jeffers objected to bail for the duo, stating that the defendants have not raised any special reason to be given bail.

The unrepresented defendants were placed on remand and are scheduled to make their next court appearance on November 15, 2016, at Mabaruma.

The Magistrates’ Courts.

NEWS

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friday, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

World Bank, Finance Ministry collaborate to strengthen procurement capacity

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he Finance Ministry through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has collaborated with the World Bank to host a two-day workshop on procurement processes, targeting some 63 specialists from agencies and Ministries that have ongoing World Bank projects.

The two part training session opened on Thursday at the Finance Ministry and is being facilitated by a small team from the World Bank.

The workshop comes almost a week after President David Granger installed a five-member Public Procurement Commission.

Catherine Abreu Rojos, World Bank’s Deputy programme Specialist for Guyana, Suriname and The Dominican Republic, reported on the programme.

“The training is in collaboration with NPTAB and the Government of Guyana in order to strengthen capacity in the areas of procurement procedures. The World Bank has been working together with NPTAB to identify from the pool of evaluators they used. The training will focus on evaluation procedures according to the Bank’s procedures

for them to have a good understanding of the process, particularly the persons who have to evaluate World Bank projects. This is to ensure that all the people who

World Bank Deputy Programme Specialist for Guyana, Suriname and The Dominican Republic, Catherine Abreu Rojos

and evaluation guidelines,” she told members of the media.

According to the programme specialist, participants will be trained how to evaluate goods and services as well as consultant services. She said the training will hopefully improve the quality and speed of evaluation by the banks.

Asked to compare Guyana’s procurement standard to those of the World Bank, Rojos said the situation is the same in all countries. She said once a country signs an agreement with

Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Board, Berkley A Wickham

the banks, that country has to follow the rules of procurement and financial management, but at the same time, the bank supports the local procedures for procurement.

She said there are some major similarities between the World Bank and Guyana procurement practices.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Procurement and Tender Board, Berkley Wickham, spoke of the significance of the workshop.

“The World Bank has some very clearly defined processes that have to be followed. From time to time, as persons change in Ministries, it is important

have to interface projects are on the same page”.

He said the training is very much important as it promotes accountability and transparency.

“People are involved in using the process to move forward, so they have to always understand the requirements,” the chairman said.

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friDay, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Agricultural sector benefits from Stakeholders’ Networking Forum – challenges facing the sector addressed

The African Security Dilemma is over: now what?

From right: Munish Persaud, Deputy Project Director, PROPEL; Jan Sheltinga, Counsellor, Development Cooperation, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago, High Commission of Canada; Noel Holder, Minister of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture; Ida Sealey-Adams, General Manager, Guyana Marketing Corporation, at the Stakeholders’s Networking Forum 2016 at the Regency Suites Hotel, Georgetown

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Stakeholders’ Networking Forum to promote linkages along the value chain between farmers, agro-processors, exporters and other market players in the nontraditional agriculture sector was held November 2, 2016 at the Regency Suites Hotel, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Through support from the Government of Canada, the inaugural Forum was made possible through the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) project implemented by World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Caribbean and the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

Among those present at the Forum were Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, Counsellor, Development Cooperation at the High Commission of Canada Jan Sheltinga, Deputy Project Director, PROPEL Munish Persaud, and General Manager, GMC Ida SealyAdams along with other agricultural stakeholders and

agencies. his remarks, During Holder welcomed the initiative that brought stakeholders in the agriculture sector together at one forumwhich could lead to tangible solutions to the challenges in the sector.

The theme of the forum, Creating linkages for the development and expansion of market opportunities for local produce, was in keeping with government’s effort to develop a sustainable agriculture sector, he said.

He encouraged participants to find likeminded partners and form linkages to spur the growth of microenterprises and business transactions.

Jan Sheltinga pointed to the need for innovation as a central strategy to tackle challenges and grasp opportunities in a fast-changing world. She thanked the participants for their commitment and continued engagement and highlighted the importance of stakeholders’ involvement to ensure a demand-driven and sustainable development process.

Local products on display at the Stakeholders’ Networking Forum organised by the Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) project and the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) at the Regency Suites Hotel, Georgetown

“Canada is pleased to support today’s activity as it is a true representation of the project objectives at work with private sector buyers, producers, business service

providers and other market system actors to facilitate the safe, effective and efficient movement of fresh produce from the farm level to high value markets”, Sheltinga said.

The PROPEL project is among Canada’s Regional Development Programme funded under its C$600 million commitment to the Caribbean alongside support to other sectors to promote the socio-economic development of the Region.

Through a sustainable economic growth approach, the PROPEL project is aimed at increasing the value of Caribbean fresh produce accessing high-value markets in the Caribbean and internationally.

The Stakeholders’ Networking Forum provided a framework for greater understanding and a broader commitment to the agriculture sector goals, thus reducing the likelihood of inconsistency among stakeholders, enhancing the efficient use of limited resources, promoting synergy and increasing the impact of the PROPEL project.

The importance of the forum and the support of the activity through the PROPEL project was reiterated by the Deputy Project Director, while Sealy-Adams conveyed her desire for stronger collaboration with partners at PROPEL, the Ministry of Agriculture and the stakeholders as they work together toward the attainment of realistic solutions to grow the agricultural sector and businesses.

B

ack in 1990, as it became evident Guyana would have free and fair elections, and with the naiveté of a "just returned" Guyanese, I shared with the then three major political parties, the PNC, PPP and WPA, a paper: "For a New Political Culture".

One of the major Ravi Dev points I made was “...with an imminent majority of voters, in a political arena governed by majoritarian rules and universal suffrage, it was quite conceivable that the Indians could subordinate the Africans in perpetuity... Any proposed solution to Guyana’s problem must address this fundamental fear of the African Guyanese: the fear of being swamped and subordinated." Majoritarian democracy, therefore, presented African Guyanese with a "Security Dilemma" they have to resolve.

I warned: "Groups in this situation are overwhelmingly initiators of ethnic violence, as they project their anxiety and insecurity onto the other group who are seen as threats to their survival. From this perspective, the response of the African Guyanese is not cultural; the same response has been elicited in culturally dissimilar groups such as the Malays who are in a structurally similar position economically in Malaysian society."

In our specific circumstance, the Indian Guyanese, then, had their own "Physical Security Dilemma" where, even though their party may win "authority" at the polls, their "power" could be short-circuited by an African dominated Disciplined Forces that may not be as forthcoming as they ought to be against ethnically directed violence. Desmond Hoyte, leader of the PNC, would soon refer to "kith and kin" in the Disciplined Forces.

For reasons of their own, none of the parties was interested in the menu of institutional measures we proposed – one-term shared governance, alternating presidency, federalism, etc – to give life to the new political culture that would have as its major premise, the equitable sharing of power among the several groups in Guyana.

Protests and ever-escalating violence duly followed the 1992 elections that ushered the PPP into office. The opening of the trial of the remnants of "Fineman's gang" for the Bartica Massacre reminds us of the denouement of that violence that spanned 1998-2008.

Beginning in 2006 when ROAR joined GAP in an electoral alliance to contest the elections, I noted the diminishing numbers of Indian Guyanese and after my withdrawal from politics after the elections, I began to point out that the African Security Dilemma was coming to an end and their party, the PNC had no need to continue with its confrontational mode of politics that included street protests, which could always careen out of control.

Especially in a polity where one group had actually formed an armed and violent African Resistance. African Guyanese, I said, could attain political power through the ballots – and didn't need the "bullet" approach.

Several individuals, including Eric Philips, Lincoln Lewis and Freddy Kissoon, disagreed vehemently and accused me of wanting African Guyanese to commit political suicide.

However, the 2011 elections had the Opposition parties, the PNC, which had rebranded itself as "APNU", and the smaller AFC, checkmating the PPP in Parliament after it could only secure a lame-duck presidency. And when they coalesced in 2015, they delivered the coup de grace by ousting the PPP from office. The 2012 census had confirmed my estimation that Indians were "below 40%" – 39.5% to be exact. With the Indian Guyanese population showing no signs of stabilising much less reversing their percentage drain, especially in the new era of "visa at will" to the US, it is clear the African Security Dilemma has been resolved.

In 2020, APNU will not need the AFC, excepting as window dressing. But the Indian Security Dilemma is now widened: in addition to their physical security fears, they now stand no chance of even securing political office.

In this climate, it is difficult to understand why the Government has not begun to implement the recommendations of the Disciplined Forces Commission to increase the number of Indians in the Disciplined Forces to their proportion in the population. And instead exacerbates their physical security fears with their top-heavy staffing of political institutions by Disciplined Forces officers.

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friday, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Republic Bank partners 48-hour hackathon begins today for Restaurant Week T

he biannual Guyana Restaurant Week was officially launched on Thursday at the Cara Lodge Hotel in Georgetown with Republic Bank announcing its partnership to sponsor the marketing of the events.

Republic Bank has injected half a million dollars into the upcoming event; the cheque was handed over by Richard Sammy, managing director of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, at a simple ceremony at the Cara Lodge Hotel to President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) Andrea de Caires.

Marketing and Communications Manager Michelle Johnson stated that the bank is happy to partner with the association to foster economic growth and market the restaurants both locally and internationally: “Our vision to be the financial institution of choice means that we seek to differentiate ourselves in distinctive ways - among these, the way in which we serve and engage with our communities,” she said, adding, “we are always seeking new ways to support, develop and grow the local business community and Guyana Restaurant Week provides a perfect avenue for us to do so - promoting the restaurant industry as it showcases culinary excellence for everyone to experience and enjoy.”

The bank, as a member of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, views the event as very beneficial to the Association’s restaurant membership for the purpose of creating and boosting local and inter-

Executive member of THAG, Shaun McGrath addresses the audience

national recognition, and gaining practical business growth.

“What we also like is the coincidental connection between the Guyana Restaurant Week activities and the culinary theme of the Republic Bank Retail Christmas Loan Campaign – where we are offering our customers “All the ingredients to Make Christmas Happen,” she said.

Johnson stated that the bank was pleased that a range of different types of restaurant, both corporate and small, have decided to participate. She stated that some of the bank’s own customers are partaking in the event.

“I want to mention here that participating restaurants in the Small and Medium business category, which may need that extra financial push to prepare for Guyana Restaurant

Week and beyond, can enjoy the benefits of our SME Christmas Loan Campaign which we currently have running,” she noted.

“We encourage everyone to support this amazing week of creative culinary enjoyment and all the fun and games that will be part of the event.”

Meanwhile, executive member of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Shaun McGrath, explained that because of the success of the first restaurant week in 2015, the association decided to hold the event twice a year. He stated that the bank’s endorsement of the event reveals that, “they see the value of it to the economy and obviously to banking because if the economy grows it is good to banking as well”.

The Restaurant Week is expected to open on November 18 and will in-

clude rum and wine promotions.

“This time we would like to change the experience of the Guyana Restaurant Week on social media, people should take funny photographs to earn points and whoever has the most points at the end of the week will win prizes, such as a free trip to New York and a confirmed weekend for a couple at the Marriot Hotel and also there are trips to interior resorts,” he highlighted.

So far, there have been 18 restaurants that have signed onto the event. The Tourism Association of Guyana is optimistic that more will join up. This is the third Guyana Restaurant Week thus far.

GTT CEO Justin Nedd presents a cheque in support of the Hackathon

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TT on Thursday handed over a cheque to Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, as the Ministry stages its first 48-hour hackathon from today, November 4 to Sunday, November 6, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

The cheque was handed over by Chief Executive Officer of the company, Justin Nedd, at the Centre.

The hackathon will be a 48-hour non-stop event where programmers or coders get to compete in teams to develop applications for possible use in the Public and Private Sectors.

Minister Hughes during an earlier press briefing pointed out that the event

was seen as an opportunity for young entrepreneurs in Information Communication Technology (ICT) to be creative.

Hackathons are events, typically lasting several days, in which a large number of people meet to engage in collaborative computer programming.

The Minister had also emphasised the countless opportunities that can meet the needs of young people as the country advances in ICT. “We are working to ensure that we energise our young tech-savvy people in Guyana and I want to say that this really is going to be the first one, but in 2017 we anticipate we will have another two or three of such hackathons,” she stated.

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friday, NOVEMber 4, 2016

News

Diarrhoea and acute respiratory 127 CSEC, 39 CAPE students graduate from President’s College infection leading causes of − school receives $1M from death in children under 5 President Granger

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iarrhoea and acute respiratory infection have been identified as the two leading causes of mortality in children under five, a United Nations Children’s Funds report revealed.

While diarrhoea is a leading cause of death among children under five worldwide, it is not isolated from Guyana. The report stated that most diarrhoea-related deaths in children are due to dehydration from loss of large quantities of water and electrolytes from the body in liquid stools. However, proper management of diarrhoea – either through oral rehydration salts (ORS) or a recommended home fluid (RHF) – can prevent such occurrences.

The report revealed that children living in the interior of the country have three times more chance of having diarrhoea than those living in urban areas. Episodes of diarrhoea are also more frequent in Regions 7, 8 and 9. Likewise, 21 per cent of the children living in Amerindian communities had diarrhoea.

Cases of diarrhoea, the report said, are directly related to inadequate access to proper water and sanitation, and to poor hygienic habits in the family. It indicated that access to improved sources of drinking water and improved sanitation are

smaller for those families living in the interior of the country, for the poorest families, and the Amerindians: the same three characteristics that surround those families whose children under 5 present the higher episodes of diarrhoea.

According to the 2014 MICS results, 61 per cent of the mothers who reported their children had diarrhoea sought advice from a health facility. “Number can be low since mothers might not see the need to look for medical advice as the condition might happen frequently, and, consequently, be considered normal.”

Meanwhile, acute respiratory infection (ARI) is one of the leading causes of death in children under five globally. In Guyana, 31 per cent of the children dying below the age of 1 are related to respiratory infections, and 5 per cent were identified as ARI. Among different acute respiratory diseases, the report indicated that pneumonia is the most serious for young children. It stated that identification of cases of pneumonia and other respiratory infections are limited since suspected cases might not be real cases. In terms of ethnicity, 4.5% of the children living in Amerindian families presented ARI symptoms, the highest number among all ethnicities

identified in the country.

It added that 84 per cent of children aged 0-59 months with symptoms of ARI were taken to a qualified provider—great majority were taken to a public health facility (77 per cent), while much smaller proportions were taken to a private health facility (12 per cent).

While it indicated that ARIs are caused by viruses and bacteria, which are almost impossible to avoid, certain risk factors increase the chances of young children to develop the infection.

“Poor water and sanitation in the households, and the lack of hygiene at home can increase the chances that children are affected by respiratory infections. Also, the fact that some children are not fully vaccinated can weaken the immune system, increasing the chances that common respiratory infections can develop into more severe diseases,” it added.

UNICEF noted that somehow all these factors are present in Guyana and those children living in poor families, in the interior of the country, and/or coming from Amerindian families, have higher chances of susceptibility to stronger infections and, “consequently, have their health affected to the point where they are in danger of dying.”

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The graduating Class of 2016 at ACCC

he 2016 graduating class of President's College were in high spirits on Thursday when they stood in front of a large audience consisting of not only family, friends and teachers but the President of Guyana, David Granger, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Addressing the gathering at the school's 26th Graduation Ceremony, Principal Carolyn Canterbury expressed appreciation for the scholastic accomplishments of students at the 2016 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

She noted the adage that “it takes a village to raise a child”, and this principle was abided by the school in moulding its students.

two Grade Twos, and two Grade Threes. He was also a proud receiver of many items, including a reward of $20,000 and a laptop computer, compliments of

President David Granger addressing the gathering

President Granger.

Meanwhile, Afifah Wickham grabbed the title of CSEC valedictorian from four streams of students totalling 127. She at-

The audience gathered at the graduation ceremony were treated to an energetic dance performance

“I hereby charge you to be excellent past students of President's College, understand your true purpose in life and strive to fulfil it,” Canterbury encouraged the graduands.

Camroul Hookumchand was named the CAPE valedictorian from among the 39 students, having acquired one Grade One,

best graduating students but the school as well.

President Granger handed over a cheque of $1 million to the Head Mistress.

During his address

tained nine Grade Ones, five Grade Twos and one Grade Three. Wickham also received a reward of $20,000.

The Guyanese Head of State turned up to the graduation ceremony not only to deliver the feature address as the guest speaker, but also went bearing gifts – not only for the

to the graduands, the President said he was happy to have been a part of the graduation, highlighting that it was one that he 'most definitely enjoyed’.

He continued to commend the graduating students, while noting that he and the Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine were both impressed with the level of camaraderie, and discipline displayed by them.

The Head of State sought to congratulate the graduating students on their achievements, telling them it was not the end but the beginning of another new journey for which they were shaped by the school.

“Students, whatever difficulties they face, must display the dedication needed to fulfil their obligation to the (President’s) College. They must enter the world of adulthood prepared to assume responsibility for themselves and for others… Students are not going to succeed in life unless they’re loyal to one another and to the institutions in which they serve,” he stated.

friday, November 4, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

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Around the world

UK court says Brexit needs Volkswagen appoints expert to examine Brazil torture claims Parliament's approval, complicates Govt plans V

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British court ruled on Thursday that the Government needs parliamentary approval to start the process of leaving the European Union, potentially delaying Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plans.

The Government said it would appeal against the High Court ruling and Britain's Supreme Court is expected to consider the case early next month.

A spokeswoman for May said the Prime Minister still planned to launch talks on the terms of Brexit by the end of March and added: "We have no intention of letting this derail our timetable."

The pound, which fell sharply after Britons voted to leave the EU by 52 to 48 per cent on June 23, rose after the ruling.

Many investors took the

Gina Miller speaks outside the High Court following its ruling on a challenge to the British government's right to start divorce proceedings from the European Union, in central London, November 3, 2016

view that lawmakers would now be able to temper the Government's policies, making it less likely that the Government would opt for

a "hard Brexit" – a scenario in which it prioritises tight controls on immigration over remaining in the European single market.

The High Court ruled that the Government needed Parliament's backing to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the formal step needed to start the process of exiting the bloc.

"The most fundamental rule of the UK's Constitution is that Parliament is sovereign," said Lord Chief Justice John Thomas, England's most senior judge.

Thomas and two other senior judges did not spell out in their ruling whether the Government would need to pass a new law to begin the divorce proceedings, but Britain's Brexit Minister David Davis said this was likely if the Supreme Court upheld the decision. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Hundreds feared dead in refugee shipwrecks off Libya

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s many as 239 people are feared dead in two shipwrecks off the coast of Libya, according to the United Nations refugee agency.

Carlotta Sami, a United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) spokeswoman in Italy, said 31 survivors of two shipwrecks who arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa reported that the rubber dinghies they were travelling in had capsized Wednesday in heavy seas shortly after leaving Libya.

The first dinghy – which carried around 140 people, including six children and

about 20 women, some pregnant – sank when wooden planks laid at the bottom broke, causing the dinghy to capsize 25 miles (40 kilometres) off the Libyan coast, the UNHCR said. Twentynine people were rescued and 12 bodies were recovered.

In a separate operation, two women found swimming at sea told rescuers that 128 other people had died in their wreck.

In both cases, most of the people on board appeared to have been from sub-Sahara Africa, but Sami said aid workers were still ascertaining details.

Leonard Doyle,

chief spokesman for the International Organisation for Migration, said the latest wrecks meant that 4220 lives had now been lost in the Mediterranean so far this year – the highest toll on record.

Five rescue ships, coordinated by the Italian coastguard, were within sight of the refugees, but, despite attempts to rescue them, most died, said Doyle.

"Two rubber dinghies, which is what they are, rubber dinghies, packed with migrants, totalling over 300 we think in all ... have succumbed to the waves off Libya in very bad weather," he said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Pakistan accuses Indian Embassy officials of spying

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akistan has accused eight Indian Embassy employees of involvement in spying and "terrorism", but stopped short of expelling them, in the latest apparent tit-for-tat move as relations between the two countries deteriorate.

The declaration on Thursday came days after a similar move by New Delhi, which accused six Pakistani diplomats of being part of a spy network, forcing Islamabad to withdraw them from their posts.

"A number of Indian diplomats and staff ... have been found involved in coordinating terrorist and subversive activities in

Pakistan under the garb of diplomatic assignments," Nafees Zakariya, spokesman for Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, told a press briefing in Islamabad.

He went on to name the eight men, including one accused of using a false identity to pose as an employee of a Pakistani mobile network.

"All these eight officials were involved in espionage, subversion and supporting of terrorist activities," he said.

New Delhi rejected the allegations, calling them "baseless and unsubstantiated".

"We completely reject the baseless and unsub-

stantiated allegations made

by Pakistan against certain officials of Indian High Commission in Islamabad," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Vikas Swarup told reporters in New Delhi.

"The allegations against the Indian officials represent an afterthought and a crude attempt to target these officials for no fault of theirs," he said.

Tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours have soared since a raid last month killed 19 soldiers on an Indian army base near the de facto border dividing the disputed Kashmir region, the worst such attack in more than a decade. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

olkswagen (VW) has commissioned an expert to examine if the German carmaker allowed the arrest and torture of employees in Brazil under the country's former military regime.

Professor Christopher Kopper of Bielefeld University will research claims VW collaborated with the military government from 1964 to 1985.

A group of former employees filed a lawsuit against the company last year.

Some claim they were arrested and tortured at a VW plant in Brazil.

VW has previously inves-

tigated its own role in the use of slave labour in Nazi Germany during the Second World War. The company was set up in 1937 by the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, the Nazi trade union organisation. During the war, VW made vehicles for the German army using more than 15,000 slave labourers from nearby concentration camps.

In 1998, survivors file a lawsuit against VW, which set up a restitution fund.

VW said that Professor Kopper would start work as soon as possible and would travel to Brazil.

Christine HohmannDennhardt, a member of the

board at VW who is responsible for integrity and legal affairs, said: "We will clarify the company's role during the military dictatorship in Brazil with the requisite consistency and perseverance in the same manner as we engaged in the early and comprehensive clarification of issues relating to the National Socialist past and the employment of forced labour."

She added: "We want to shed light on the dark years of the military dictatorship and explain the behaviour of those responsible at that time in Brazil and, if applicable, Germany." (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Venezuela’s Opposition gives Maduro until Nov 11 to meet demands

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enezuela's Opposition exhorted President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday to set an election and start releasing jailed activists within days, while students opposed to Vatican-led talks protested in the streets.

The Opposition coalition escalated protests and drew hundreds of thousands into the streets when authorities quashed its drive for a referendum against Maduro last month.

But it suspended street actions out of respect for talks with the Government that began at the weekend mediated by a papal envoy.

However, with one major party dissenting and many supporters fearful Maduro is playing for time, Opposition Leaders say they will wait until November 11 before possibly quitting talks and returning to street tactics if demands are ignored.

Carlos Ocariz, an Opposition Mayor speaking at a news conference on behalf of the coalition, reiterated their first demand was the revival of the referendum or a moving forward of presidential elections to the first quarter of 2017.

The next presidential

Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro dances during his radio programme at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela

vote is currently set for late 2018.

"Our second goal is the freedom of all political prisoners in Venezuela," Ocariz said, referring to what the Opposition estimate are around 100 Maduro critics unfairly imprisoned.

The coalition also wants to overturn Supreme Court rulings that have annulled the Opposition-led National

Assembly and to name a new board to the national election council, which it accuses of favouring Maduro.

The 53-year-old socialist leader won election to replace his late mentor Hugo Chávez in 2013, but has seen his popularity plummet to just over 20 per cent amid an unprecedented economic crisis in the OPEC nation of 30 million people. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Big Chinese rocket makes maiden flight

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hina has launched its biggest rocket to date.

The Long March 5 lifted off from the Wenchang space centre in Hainan Province at 20:43h local time (12:43 GMT).

It was carrying an experimental satellite, known as Shijian-17.

The Long March 5 gives China the capability to orbit the heaviest of payloads – such as big telecoms spacecraft and sections of its

future astronaut space station.

The specifications suggest it can put about 25 tonnes in a low-Earth orbit (LEO), an altitude of a few hundred km; and up to 14 tonnes in a geostationary orbit some 36,000km above the planet.

This puts the Long March 5 in the same class as America’s current, most powerful rocket – the DeltaIV Heavy.

US companies SpaceX

and Blue Origin are developing vehicles that should be able to put 50-plus tonnes in LEO. The American space agency (NASA) is also nearing the first flight of its Space Launch System, a monster rocket that will eventually be capable of placing 130 tonnes in lowEarth orbit.

NASA says it will use this launcher to send astronauts to Mars. Its maiden flight is set for 2018.

16 news

friDay, november 4, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Shopkeeper remanded “My master told me on gun charges

Belvedere Corentyne murder

to do it” - suspect

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Dead; Bhumattie Delall

n Wednesday, a Belvedere labourer almost decapitated his neighbour by chopping her several times to the neck.

The dead woman is Bhumattie Delall, 53, of 351 5th Street, South Belvedere.

Moments later police arrested the suspect who after committing the gruesome act went across the street to his home and

awaited the lawmen. He is identified as Jainarine Balgobin called "Boyo".

Investigators were told

by Balgobin that he was told to commit the act.

He reportedly told police his "master" sent him to kill her.

Reports are that Balgobin told investigators that he took a cutlass from the altar and went to Delall’s home and called her out of the house, he

then went into the kitchen where he found the woman and committed that act.

The man, who showed no remorse or emotion, told investigators when he had finished his ‘job’ he went back to the Madir and placed the cutlass back on the altar. Blood was still dripping from the blade when police collected it.

Curious neighbours who saw the man in the mandir related that Balgobin had a ‘murti’ in his hand as blood dripped from the blade onto the altar.

The cane harvester who also does odd jobs and attends the Shri Maha Kali Hindu Temple is said to be of unsound mind when investigators interviewed him.

Balgobin is expected to appear before a Berbice Magistrate today.

Meanwhile, Delall who was divorced and unemployed, took care of a 26-year-old daughter, Purnime Nandram and her two children.

She leaves to mourn two children and two grandchildren including a 2-year-old who witnessed the chopping.

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erdinand Schaddle, 58, of 1293 Section C, Grove, East Bank Demerara, was remanded to prison on charges of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition by a city Magistrate. Schaddle pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on November 2, 2016 at Omai Landing, Region Eight, he had in his possession

a firearm that is to say a 12-gauge shotgun along with a 12-gauge cartridge without being the holder of a firearm licence. According to the prosecution, Police were on a routine search for guns and ammunition when they caught up with the defendant who was acting in a suspicious manner. A search was conducted on the defendant’s premises which un-

earthed the gun and ammunition. Schaddle was told and cautioned about the Police ranks’ findings, but responded that he was only keeping the gun for his friend to hunt. The defendant was denied bail when the prosecution objected on the grounds of the nature of the offence.

The matter was transferred to Mahdia Magistrate’s Court, for January 17, 2017.

Army Chief calls for more participation in People’s Militia

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hief of Staff (CoS) of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Brigadier George Lewis has made an official call to all Guyanese to be part of the re-established Guyana People’s Militia (GPM).

The GPM, also referred to as the reserve, was resuscitated by a presidential directive back in 2015. Brigadier George said that in the coming years, the GPM will be actively involved in recruitment to supplement the regular force: “I exhort all Guyanese, to make as your national duty, to join the Guyana People’s Militia and play your part in Guyana’s defence”, he said Tuesday at the launch of the force’s 51st anniversary celebration.

He said the National

Economy cannot sustain a large regular force, and so a “strong militia” must be built to supplement the regular force during times of need.

President Granger earlier this year said the Guyana People’s Militia, which is in accordance with the Defence Act, is a reserve force and can be deployed to render assistance to regional administrations and communities in times of emergency.

“The Militia will become again the citizens’ army. It will be based in communities in every region of our country in order to keep those communities safe. A civil defence corps under the Civil Defence Commission is now being established to assist the government in times

of environmental hazards”, he had told a military forum.

Former army Chief Brigadier Mark Phillips had announced that the GPM had been re-established with effect December 1, 2015, in keeping with the defence policy of the six-month old civilian administration.

He explained that the posts were not full-time, but “part-time soldiers”, and that the whole concept is to have a small regular army and a larger reserve that could augment the regular army.

The GPM was established in 1976 in accordance with the Defence Act at a time when the country had been facing internal and security threats.

guyanatimesgy.com

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he Indigenous culture will be on full display when Guyana’s representative Nuriyyih Gerrard hits the runway during the cultural presentation of next month’s most anticipated Miss World pageant, slated for the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Centre, National Harbour in Maryland, United States.

To make this aspect of her quest for the most coveted crown in pageantry possible, Vice President and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock presented Indigenous wear and a quantity of craft to the Guyanese beauty.

The items were produced by the thriving Suruma Culture Group from North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo).

Miss Gerrard who is of Indigenous ancestry said she is proud and honoured to be representing Guyana and taking into consideration Guyana’s diversity, she thought about featuring an Indigenous dance at the Miss World Pageant.

Gerrard who radiates an aura of confidence says she is looking forward

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friday,november 4, 2016

to the support from the Guyanese public since “every element of the competition matters and they want to ensure that the girl gets the support from her entire country and I know we are six races strong and we are one people at the end of the day, so I’m really counting on you Guyana, I’m doing my best and I can’t win this or do this all alone so I need your assistance.”

The culture group from Suruma has been quietly, yet working assiduously to make a name for itself and has been doing so in the most effective and efficient manner.

Its most recent presentation in the twin island republic is testament to its achievement.

Meanwhile, Gerrard’s journey to the December 18 pageant can be followed on her Miss World fan page on Facebook. One hundred and nineteen countries have confirmed their participation in what will be the 66th edition of the Miss World pageant.

Spain’s Mireia Lalaguna will crown her successor at the end of the event.

fter a three year hiatus, Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) is back with a bang. Carded for November 6 to 13 at the Pegasus, the week is chock-full with activities, designed to wet the creative appetite and excite the fashion/beauty enthusiast.

GFW, “On the Pulse”, is earmarked to provide platforms for workshops in on-trend designer collection awareness, model/designer awards and local, regional and international designer collections.

In recognition of the 50th Independence anniversary celebrations, GFW will signal observances of the milestone by paying tribute to ‘brand Guyana’ by integrating performing arts, visual arts and beauty arts in the identity-branding mission of the executive of GFW. “We are looking forward to broadening our market reach and intensify our brand equity. We are making inroads with our designers not only in Guyana, but in the Caribbean and throughout the Diaspora”, says CEO of GFW, Sonia Noel.

She firmly believes that with the outreach programmes coordinated by both herself and GFW’s Creative Director, the sky’s the limit for advancement of the creative nationals.

Working through the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts, she is constantly creating opportunities for young stylists.

Richard Young, Creative Director of GFW, is heartened by the response to the event this year. “There is a burgeoning of fashion talent in Guyana,” he noted. GFW has been honing their style insights and appreciation over the years and this year, they welcome Walter Greene; Guyanese born, New York-based fashion connoisseur to host a workshop on developing collections. Also, he has been positioning young models for exposure beyond Guyana. In the last two seasons of Caribbean’s Next Top Model, Guyanese models have featured significantly.

Keron Noble, GFW’s Production Manager, has been on his toes managing and mobilising the diverse components of this impactful return of GFW. He says “the Model Image has brought a great awareness to the event, being the buzz of social media and capturing mainstream attention through traditional media.” He thinks the models represent the widest possible cross-section of our six races so the programme’s appeal is manifold.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016

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ll preparations are in place for one of the most talked about birthday bashes – the one in honour of the most popular and versatile deejay in Guyana, Deejay Garwin, who is now an ambassador for Xtra Beer.

The birthday bash is slated for this Saturday at California Square, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The event is titled “Gaza Run Road” and will feature several hyped deejays from in and out of Guyana.

It will feature “Froggy” and “Mad Squad” out of Toronto, Canada; Kannabis Sound out of Antigua; and Guyana’s own, Skinny Hype Platinum. The event also features “Gully Ras” and “Diamond” out of Fusion Sound, Deejay Magnum, 71 Sound System and the birthday man himself who will also juggle some tracks.

Patrons will also witness the sticking of the birthday cake and will also benefit from lots of giveaways.

The session starts as the sun sets but the party commences when the birthday man steps in the house.

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wenty years ago, “Desperados” embraced people’s inner daring streak and rewrote the rules when it dared to brew beer with tequila to create a beer that was refreshing as it was wild.

Now you have the chance to release your wild side at the launch of Desperados Tequila Beer today, at Palm Court, Georgetown.

Desperados created the duality between the sociability of beer and the wildness of tequila and at the launch, people will get to taste the beer and par-

ty with some of the wildest entertainers; Producer/DJ 1st Klase from Trinidad and Tobago and local hyper DJ Shizzle.

Palm Court will be transformed into the perfect fusion of EDM mixed with a throwback to the 90’s rave craze.

Desperados compadres... funkify your dress code and mix and blend with the good vibes while raving with your Desperados Beer. Raving starts at 20:00h.

Just remember, you have to be 18 years and older to wild out with Desperados…

friDAY, november 4, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

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rops are being installed, decorations are being hung, dancers are adding the final touches to their masterpieces and the tickets are all gone. That is the buzz less than 48 hours for the hosting of “Ishara 4 – Centre Stage – A Journey of exciting masterpieces”.

The dance production is billed for this Saturday at the Theatre Guild, Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

This year’s production promises to feature stylish costumes, playful and energetic dance routines, modern and classic music and most of all, drama and comedy that will leave the audience wanting more.

In addition, r e i g n i n g Miss Global I nte r n at i o n a l G u y a n a , Poonam Singh, will make an appearance and will obviously mesmerise the audience with her melodious voice.

Also, Seema Boodram and the Nirvana Society will also be featured during the two-hour long show.

With all that is planned, the audience will be entertained from the beginning to the end.

This is promised by leader and chief chorographer of the Dance Troupe, Shivanie Latchman.

All proceeds from the event will go towards a

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ne week after the “You Are Not A Mistake” concert – which is slated to anoint patrons on Saturday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall tarmac – the Righteous Invasion of Truth International will host a similar concert on November 12 at the same venue.

humanitarian cost. This year, the group has chosen to make a donation to the Nirvana Society Senior Citizen Programme and the less fortunate children who need basic necessity.

The dance production will commence at 20:00h.

The concert which is titled “Way Up”, will feature some of the best in the gospel industry. These include Samuel Medas, Positive, Deejay Nicholas, Eddie Neblett, Shawn English, Jason Radical1 Beaton, Kester Dean and the Redeemers Band. The artistes will be backed by the RGF Band.

Apart from the performances, there will be lots of prayers. Tickets for the event cost $1000 in advance and $1500 at the gate. Tickets are available at Kester Dean Music Centre, Charlotte and Alexander Streets; and the Caneville Full Gospel Church.

In addition, interested persons can contact Pastor Kwame Wilson on telephone number 626-4708; Pastor Ewort Williams on 693-7366; Pastor Mario Durant on 6831028 and Shawn English on 611-2997.

Gates open at 14:00h and the concert starts at 16:00h. The concert is sponsored by Digicel, Churches Chicken, Star Party Rental, the Pan American Health Organisation and others.

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lthough Halloween has passed, Roraima Duke Lodge is making all preparations for the hosting of its annual Children’s Halloween Party on November 5 at its headquarters, 9495 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

The party is titled “Pokemon Battle Revolution” and its décor will showcase several pokemon characters that will trill the children. The event is open to the public and last year, it was off the hook but this is expected to be bigger and better.

Parents are urged to dress their children in Pokemon characters but other costumes are also welcome. Only recently, employees of Roraima Airways brought smiles to the faces of young patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital’s paediatric wing during a special Halloween treat.

The elated patients were treated to snacks and sweets provided by Sueria Manufacturers and Banks DIH. This event is held every year for children at the Georgetown Public Hospital to bring them smiles and hope they get better soon.

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artyholics in Berbice are expected to flood the Port Mourant Community Centre ground, Corentyne, Berbice on Saturday for the first ever Pepsi Concert to be held in the ancient county.

The event is expected to be epic based on the line-up slated to perform. From all indications, since the announcement of the concert was made, Berbice has been in a frenzy. Those billed to perform at the event sponsored by Seven Up, Pepsi and Slice are former International Chutney King, Ravi B and the entire Karma Band including Nesha B and some of the best on the drums and keyboard.

In addition, Chutney Queen, Drupattie is part of the cast and is well known for her performances that will have patrons begging for more. Also known for her sensual moves and melodious voice, Sally Sagram will be there to entertain, mix and mingle.

Rounding off the performances is no other than upcoming chutney star, Rooplall G out of Trinidad and Tobago, who is also known for his versatility. All the artistes have recently released new hits and without a doubt, they will give patrons their money’s worth. Berbicians will also have an addition treat on the night of November 5 since popular Ttelevision personality Joel Gansham will host the show.

By now it is anticipated that those wanting to be a part of the event would have already secured their invitations. All that had to be done was to purchase any case of 1 litre or 2 litrse of the beverage and instantly win an invitation. No tickets will be sold at the gates.

Sound, stage and lighting is powered by Crown Vibes International Sound Company.

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friday, november 4, 2016

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

GCB/National Secondary Schools Cricket League 2016

Warner dominates after Defending Champions SA dismissed for 242 Charlestown Secondary

win South Zone

― Cummings Lodge and Verngenogen march on

David Warner slipped on his follow-through after hitting a six

T

he first day of Australia’s Test summer began with Mitchell Starc striking in the opening over. It ended with David Warner racing to a brisk half-century. In between, South Africa faltered and fought back, but not enough to be comfortable with their position at stumps.

Four years ago they won at the WACA having been bowled out for 225 in the first innings. This time they reached 242, but Warner’s late-afternoon efforts ensured Australia were firmly on top.

It was not what Faf du Plessis would have envisaged from the day, after he won the toss on a good pitch for batting.

Still, South Africa’s recovery from 4 for 32 meant they were still in with a chance in the match. And they had two of their most

inexperienced Test batsmen - Quinton de Kock and

Mitchell Starc gets into his delivery stride

Temba Bavuma, in their 11th and 12th Tests respectively - to thank.

Warner went to stumps unbeaten on 73 with his new opening part-

SCOREBOARD Stumps - Day 1 South Africa 1st innings SC Cook c MR Marsh b Starc 0 D Elgar c †Nevill b Hazlewood 12 HM Amla c Smith b Hazlewood 0 JP Duminy c †Nevill b Siddle 11 F du Plessis* c Voges b Starc 37 T Bavuma c SE Marsh b Lyon 51 Q de Kock† c SE Marsh b Hazlewood 84 VD Philander b Starc 10 KA Maharaj c Warner b Lyon 16 K Rabada not out 11 4 DW Steyn b Starc Extras (b-4, w-2) 6 Total (all out; 63.4 overs) 242 Fall of wickets 1-0 (Cook, 0.4 ov), 2-5 (Amla, 3.1 ov), 3-20 (Elgar, 7.6 ov), 4-32 (Duminy, 12.2 ov), 5-81 (du Plessis, 27.6 ov), 6-152 (Bavuma,

ner, Shaun Marsh, on 29 and Australia’s total had moved on to 0 for 105. It meant their deficit was already eroded to 137.

Warner has always been a massive threat at the WACA. His first Test innings at the ground - a blisteringly fast 180 against India in 2011-12 was a sign of things to come.

By stumps, he was only six runs away from overtaking Matthew Hayden as the all-time most prolific Test opener at the venue, no mean feat

43.4 ov), 7-175 (Philander, 52.3 ov), 8-223 (Maharaj, 59.6 ov), 9-227 (de Kock, 60.6 ov), 10-242 (Steyn, 63.4 ov) Bowling: MA Starc 18.4-2 71-4 (w-2), JR Hazlewood 17-2-70-3, PM Siddle 12-3-36-1, MR Marsh 6-1-23-0, NM Lyon 10-1-38-2 Australia 1st innings DA Warner not out 73 29 SE Marsh not out Extras (nb-3) 3 Total (0 wickets; 21 overs) 105 To bat: UT Khawaja, SPD Smith*, AC Voges, MR Marsh, PM Nevill†, MA Starc, PM Siddle, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon Bowling: DW Steyn 6-2-340, VD Philander 7-1-26-0 (nb2), K Rabada 6-0-29-0(nb1), KA Maharaj 2-0-16-0

considering he has played barely half as many WACA innings as Hayden, who broke the Test record score there with 380 against Zimbabwe.

He drove hard when South Africa’s bowlers overpitched, and cut when they fell a fraction short.

Remarkably, 62 of his 73 runs came through the off side. At the other end, Marsh needed to do little but rotate the strike.

Dale Steyn bowled quick, reaching 150kph, but was not consistent enough, and Kagiso Rabada took a little while to find his best.

Philander was perhaps the best of the bowlers, but wasted his best chance with a no-ball.

By stumps, Australia’s openers had a century partnership, something that no pair achieved during the South Africa innings. There was, in fact, only one half-century stand, the 71-run combination from Bavuma and de Kock, which came after some serious top-order wobbles. (Cricinfo)

Anthony D'Anrade (second from right ) hands over the winning trophy to the Charlestown Secondary School Captain

D

efending South G e o r g e t o w n zone champions Charlestown Secondary crushed Lodge Secondary to lift the trophy for the second consecutive year today when the 2016 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) National Secondary School Cricket League (NSSCL) continued.

Playing at the historic Bourda ground, Charlestown won the toss and choose to bowl first. The Lodge batsmen struggled to 63 all out off 23.2 overs on a good batting pitch as only Akeem Williams got to double figures scoring 14. Raymond Bandhu’s impressive 5/12 was the main reason the Lodge batsmen struggled as he destroyed any hopes Lodge had of posting a challenging target. Jamal Michael also impressed with the ball claiming 3/10.

In reply, Charlestown made light work of their

target as the two openers, Jamal Michael and Negusa Walters raced to 64 in 11.2 overs. Michael struck a 39 ball 36 (4x4’s) while Walters faced 16 balls for his unbeaten 12.

Meanwhile, at the Enterprise Community Centre, Cummings Lodge registered an easy victory over Institute of Professional Education (IPE). Batting first Cummings Lodge racked up 162/7 in 20 overs with Andrew Samroo smashing 48 and Keshore Seepersaud scoring 41.

Bowling for IPE, Ricardo Yorewood claimed 3/16 and Bradley Dundas took 3/24.

IPE in response couldn’t even get to three figures as they were dismissed for 94.

Ricardo Yorewood showed his batting capabilities as he top scored with 24. Ronald Basdeo was the bowler to do most of the damage as he bagged 4/33 while Davenand Khemraj supported well with 3/24 bowl-

ing for Cummings Lodge.

Over at Tuschen, Vergenogen Secondary eased to a comfortable seven wicket victory over Parika Salem Secondary. Parika Salem was dismissed for 127 off 21 overs batting first.

Azim Mohamed top scored with 31.

Vickram Mangra took 4/30 and Joel Gill claimed 2/22 bowling for Vergenogen. In reply, the Vergenogen batsmen ensured their bowlers effort didn’t go to waste as they completed their chase in just 13.3 overs for the loss of only three wickets. Joel Gill led the charge with 37 not out while Vickram Mangra supported well with 34.

Azim Mohamed took two of the wickets to fall to finish with figures of 2/43 for Parika Salem.

The NSSCL will continue on Monday November 7, 2016 when Novar Secondary takes on Mahaicony Secondary at Fairfield ground, Mahaica.

Regional umpires gather for 2-day workshop

I

nternational Cricket Council (ICC) Umpire Coach, David Levans, will be the main presenter at a two-day workshop for the West Indies’ senior panel umpires and match referees.

The workshop, scheduled for November 6 & 7, is to prepare them for the upcoming Regional 4-Day (Digicel Regional 4-Day) and Super50 tournaments.

Levans will have the support of senior match officials to assist with presentations over the two-days. Among the topics being covered, are match management, playing conditions and player behaviour. The workshop will also feature the recently updated ICC Code of Conduct.

Rawl Lewis, Umpires Coordinator from the WICB thinks the “investment in the development of the match officials and umpires is key to the overall cricket development in the region.” Lewis also noted that a workshop is hosted before every major tournament.

The participants will be 12 match referees and 12 umpires. This workshop is for the senior members.

Other workshops in the early part of next year will focus on the junior umpires.

Meanwhile, other West Indian umpires, Gregory Brathwaite (mentor umpire), Carl Tuckett and Jacqueline Williams are part of the match officials for the week-long, 18-match,

World Cricket League now on in Los Angeles. That tournament ends on Saturday, November 5. Brathwaite is conducting workshop sessions while in Los Angeles.

Last year, Williams stood in her first first-class match, and last month again, stood in two matches in the West Indies versus India women’s series in Jamaica.

The six teams participating are Bermuda, Denmark, Italy, Jersey, Oman and the United States. The top two will be promoted to Division 3; while the bottom two are to be relegated.

West Indies currently has four international umpires. They are Joel Wilson, Gregory Brathwaite, Nigel Duguid and Leslie Reifer Jr.

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sports

Guyana Softball Cup 6 bowls off today – gold & diamond pendants for MVPs

G

uyana Softball Cup 6 bowls off today with 22 matches at five venues across Georgetown from 9:00h in both the Open and Masters Categories.

Defending Open champion, Regal All-Stars will open their title defence against Ariel XI at the Guyana Defence Force Camp Ayangana Ground while Regal Master will

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first take on Parika Defenders at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary in quest for a second consecutive title.

Matches will also be played at the Malteenoes ground, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground and the Gandhi Youth Oragnisation (GYO) ground. The second round of 11 games starts at 13:00h at the same venues.

On Saturday morning at 9:00h, the final 11 preliminary games will be played while at 13:00h two semifinals will be played simultaneously at Eve Leary.

Over at the DCC ground, one semi-final also starts at 13:00h followed by the other at 17:00h. On Sunday at the DCC Ground only, will be the Masters and Open Finals as well as three exhibition female 10/10 games.

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New York Enforcers came off the plane and took to the field at DCC for a practice session yesterday

to get in much needed practice as a form of acclimatization. New York Enforcers is one such team who utilized the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) in the scorching heat.

The Enforcers said they will correct their previous mistakes and will first try to get into the semi-finals before thinking of the championship.

Meanwhile, at the end of the 3-day event the Most Valuable Player in each category will walk away with flashy diamond studded gold pendants. The precious gifts were donated to tournament organisers, the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) by

Steve Narine, Manager of Steve’s Jewellery on Church Street.

In the previous 5 editions of the annual tournament, the jewellery establishment donated gold bracelets but decided to step things up this year when 24 teams will battle for supremacy. At the presentation ceremony, Naraine said he is pleased to support the tournament once again since it is professionally run and has high standards and will align his business with such qualities.

Regal made a sweep of the titles last year winning the Masters and All-Star categories.

Madhoo wins Fitzgerald Darts Challenge

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orman Madhoo was named champion of the recently concluded Sudesh Fitzgerald Darts Challenge which was held at the Malteenoes Sports Club Pavilion on Friday October 28.

Madhoo was outstanding throughout the singles matches as he finished atop the other competitors. In second place was Lallchand Rambharose while Luis Ramirez Merlano came in third.

Meanwhile in the Luck of the draw, Fitzgerald and Merlano claimed first and were followed

by Rambharose and D. Correia and A. Chandro and Madhoo in second and third respectively.

Although Rambharose failed to finish at the summit of the singles and luck

Dr Terrence Joseph presenting Lallchand Rambharose with his award

of the draw, he gained big on incentives. He dominated the incentives by hitting the only 180, the highest check out of 155 and scoring the shortest game of 15 darts. Trophies and cash prizes were awarded to the players to the tune of $30,000 The organizer praised

Dr. Terrence Joseph, Rambharose and Joseph Patrick Allen for coming on board once again.

This evening starting at 19:00 hours Fitzgerald has organize a luck of the draw doubles at the said venue.

Entrance fee $500. Cash prize up for grabs to the tune of 25000.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

FRIday, november 4, 2016

Pakistan v West Indies, 3rd Test, Sharjah, 5th day November 3, 2016

Brathwaite leads West Batsmen dominate Indies to famous win WDCA T/20 1st round Maxwell, Esau record centuries

K

The Pakistan team celebrates the 2-1 series win over West Indies

raigg Brathwaite became the first opener to be unbeaten in both innings of a Test, as he led West Indies to an absorbing five-wicket win over Pakistan in Sharjah - their first Test win outside the West Indies and Bangladesh since 2007. It was also West Indies’ first win in 14 Tests and their first under the captaincy of Jason Holder.

Yet, resuming on 114 for 5, with 39 runs to win, overnight batsmen Brathwaite and Shane Dowrich showed

no sign of letting the occasion get to them. Brathwaite opened proceedings with a crisp drive to the cover boundary off Wahab Riaz on the first ball of the day.

Dowrich smacked a halftracker from Yasir Shah to the midwicket boundary in the next over. That set the tone as the pair took just 7.5 overs to knock down the target in clinical fashion on the fifth morning.

While neither batsman looked to force the pace, they were not afraid to put

SCOREBOARD Pakistan 1st Innings 281 West Indies 1st Innings 337 Pakistan 2nd Innings 208 West Indies 2nd innings (Overnight Score 154/5) KC Brathwaite not out 60 LR Johnson lbw b Yasir Shah 12 DM Bravo c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 3 MN Samuels c Zulfiqar Babar b Yasir Shah 10 J Blackwood b Wahab Riaz 4 RL Chase c Mohammad Nawaz b Wahab Riaz 2

SO Dowrich† not out 60 Extras (lb-2, nb-1) 3 Total (5 wickets; 43.5 overs) 154 Did not bat: JO Holder*, D Bishoo, ST Gabriel, AS Joseph Fall of wickets 1-29 (Johnson, 7.3 ov), 2-35 (Bravo, 9.5 ov), 3-57 (Samuels, 19.1 ov), 4-63 (Blackwood, 20.6 ov), 5-67 (Chase, 22.4 ov) Bowling: Mohammad Amir 9.50-43-0, Wahab Riaz 12-0-46-2, Yasir Shah 15-4-40-3, Zulfiqar Babar 3-1-3-0, Mohammad 4-0-20-0 Nawaz (3)

away bad balls either. Late cuts and drives through the off side featured prominently as the pair glided past the finish line with minimum fuss. Dowrich sealed the win, slashing a short ball from Mohammad Amir towards the third-man boundary for the sixth four of the morning.

Pakistan’s bowlers were unable to create any pressure on a pitch that was still rather placid. Neither Wahab nor Amir got much swing or movement off the surface, and Yasir was ineffective and inconsistent in the two overs he bowled. The batsmen seemed to have little trouble in keeping the straight ones out and punishing anything that was too short or too wide.

It was all a far cry from West Indies’ wobble the previous evening, as they slid to 67 for 5 after a rather shaky 29-run opening partnership. But Brathwaite and Dowrich scored unbeaten half-centuries, combining for a nerveless 87-run stand to steer their side to a memorable victory and finish a tough tour of the UAE on a high.(Cricinfo)

Jermaine Maxwell

I

t was a delightful weekend for batsmen in the first round of West Demerara Cricket Association Independence (WDCA) T/20 tourney as two centuries were recorded, two half century and several cameos which led to mammoth scores.

At Meten-Meer-Zorg (MMZ) Jermaine Maxwell scored a scintillating century (111 not out) to give his team, MMZ B a comprehensive eight wicket victory. MMZ B made 162/2 In 20 overs, Maxwell’s century included 10 fours and six sixes while Dexroy Hyman 30 chipped in.

Randy Ramroop claimed 1/30. All Youths A Team made 160/5 from 20 overs batting first. Randy Ramroop 49 and Jermaine Ramroop 27 were their main scorers while Sudesh Sewchand captured 2/24 At Joe Vieira Park former national under-15 wicket keeper batsman Sarfraz Esau hit a blister-

Travis Persaud

Sarfraz Esau

ing century to propel his team, Independence Sports Club A, to a big score batting first as well as a comfortable victory.

Taking first strike Independence A Team scored 203/8 in their allotted 20 overs with Esau top scoring with 107 (10x6 6x4) and Vickash Dhaniram 46.

David Alert 2/29 and V. Jadunath 2/36 were the chief bowlers for Number 2, who made 167 all out in 17.2 of their reply.

B. Baksh and B.Bandoo 39 led the way with the bat while for Independence Mahendra Dhanpaul 3/21 and Javon Hector 4/19 were spectacular with the ball.

While at Belle Vue Mc Gill Super Star led

by Guyana under-19 captain Travis Persaud convincingly defeated Christ Ambassadors by 62 runs.

McGill made 200/7 in 20 overs with Persaud hitting his way to 91 (15x4 2x6) while his father, Sudesh

Persaud, contributed 38.

Kenton Boyce 2/45 and Juwon Dickinson 2/28 snared two wickets each for Christ Ambassadors, who reached 138/6 when their 20 overs expired.

Greyson Paul made 48 and Kevin Paul 43 in a stubborn batting display as Shafiek Deen 3/17 bowled well to restrict their other batsmen.

Meanwhile at Zeeburg, Belle West Sports Club were routed for 125 in 18 overs with S.Miranjie 36 and R.Mangra 22 making scores over 20 while Timour Mohamed 3/2 and Mark Jeffer 3/28 claimed three wickets apiece.

Zeeburg Sports Club raced to 126/2 In 10 overs with Yutesh Dhanpaul hitting a cameo of 66 (6x6 5x4) and Balbinder Shivpersaud supporting with 26.

Competition is expected to continue this weekend at several venues in West Demerara.

Pee-Wee Boys Under-11 Schools Football Championship…

Petra Organisation seeking greater collaboration with GFF to develop players

By Akeem Greene

T

he fifth edition of the Pee-Wee Boys Under-11 Schools Football Championship is in full flight as the tournament has reached its roundof 16 stage and thus far they have been some fiercely competed matches.

However, Co-Director of the Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca says that their aim is not limited to organising a successful tournament but rather seeing the plethora of young talents on display don national colours.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport on Thursday, Mendonca was quizzed on whether he has received any structural support from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) in helping to develop players.

He responded saying,

Co-Director of the Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca

Since the most players are yet to reach the age of 12, it would be the best time to inculcate the proper values

“Not as yet, we are hoping the plans which were stated by the new TD [Technical Director] about youth programmes will come to light; whenever they talk about youth tournaments they look to this one because of the consistency of what we do, in the past we were invited for discussions and hopefully they

take that into consideration.”

Mendonca further stated, “One of our major concerns is after this [tournament], what is next? Most of these players would have gravitated to the clubs and from the time this tournament started, we have witnessed youngsters went on to play or the national under-17; we want to play that

role in assisting in the development of the country’s players in trying to achieve the bigger picture through the GFF.” Commenting on the progress of the tournament, Mendonca is of the view that new talents are being discovered.

“I think as I mentioned before, we saw some new

talents coming through, last weekend we saw some up sets, it goes to show that the gap is now closing between the so call big team of the past years and the new teams”, the organiser posited. What in some ways can be considered a sore sight in the championship is the excess pressure some parents and supporters place on players with their verbal outbursts at pitch side when mistakes are made by the young ones.

In this regard, Menondca stated “we can only reiterate what we said before , that is

an area we have a major concern in terms of the overzealousness of parents and other supporters wanting to see the children win but at the end of the day, we got to look at the bigger picture as to what the tournament does, which is cater for the physical development, the camaraderie and meeting new persons; at this age there is so much you can ask of these kids.” He added, “even at the highest professional level, players make mistakes and these are people who day in and day out are practicing their stuff; we want to appeal to supporters and guardians to understand what these kids need at this point in time which is the moral support.” According to the organiser upon the conclusion of the group stage, no teams are knocked out, as all teams simply play for positions one to sixteen, a structure which gives more opportunities to players.

The pee-wee tournament attracted 24 schools this year and a female version is expected to be launched in the coming weeks.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, november 4, 2016

MOE/GTU National Schools’ Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships

Nationals set for Nov 21-25

T

he 56th edition of the Guyana Schools National cycling, Swimming and track And field Championships was officially launched by the Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility of Sport, Nicolette Henry doing the honors at the National Center for Education Development (NCERD) building, Kingston.

“I am looking forward with a baited breath to the 56th annual National Schools cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships 2016… I know many records are broken and I take this opportunity to officially the Championships.”

The Minister said.

The Minister added that through the Ministry of Education, there will be a continued effort t developing sports through these activates and informed those in observance that there will be every opportunity of athletes to flourish.

“I wish to assure you… the Department of Culture Youth and Sports will continue to work diligently to provide as much opportunity as possible through sports to enable our athletes to realize their true potentials.

Today we stand committed to ensure our athletes get the type of training that will bring us Olympic gold medals.” Henry stated.

Marcel Hutson, Chief Education Officer (ag) pointed out that through the 55 years of the championships’ existence, it has done a lot to develop team work, discipline and self esteem.

“Right now if one is to be effective, the notion of discipline is critical even in academic, therefore you heard

Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for Sport, Nicolette Henry

Acting Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson

our children are into training and that requires discipline and also our children benefit from working as a team, particularly based on the team events that we have in the Championships and there is also the concept of self esteem. There is nothing greater that when someone can actually win or participate in the event of significance.” Hutson said.

The President of The Guyana Teachers Union, Mark Lyte also welcomed the championships with open arms and an eye on

the task of developing future gold medalists. Lyte informed the public that schools would have started preparations for the Championships at the beginning of the school term where teachers would have taken athletes through the various paces and stages like inter-house, inter-schools and inter-zones respectively and now the ushering in of the National championship. “it is a privilege for us to launch the 56th edition of the championships which brings athletes from across

the 10 regions and 15 districts that will participate… it is important to know that the outstanding athletes from across these districts will converge to match their skills and to show forth their various talents in these events” Lyte stated.

The only district to register is District nine who has been facing some financial difficulties.

The President of the GTU also highlighted the fact that many of the athletes who excelled at the schools level represented Guyana at first the Caribbean Union of Teachers (CUT) Games and CARIFTA and recently some of our athletes at the Olympics.

Lyte went on to indicate that there are some improvements from last year and in an effort to meet international standards, cycling will be held in the National Park as a deviation from its normal facility in the Providence National Stadium.

Together with the organizers are regular sport sponsors, Digicel and Banks D.I.H through their Rain Forest Waters and Malta brand, will be fueling the athletes While it was promised that the Track and Field aspect would have been hosted at the Leonora Track and Field facility, it was not fulfilled and is promised to be moving over to Leonora come 2017.

The Championships will run from November 21-25 with Cycling at the National Park and swimming at the National Aquatic Center, Lilliendaal on November 1 while the Opening Ceremony will be at the Providence National Stadium the following day.

GHB/GTT Indoor Hockey Tournament 2016

Hikers down 2020, Pizza Hut GCC crush Spartans

T

he GTT Indoor Hockey Tournament continued at the National Gymnasium with some high profile games across four categories.

In the second division clashes, St. Stanislaus bounced back from a loss on Tuesday to sneak past Old Fort Supersonic 2-1. Tony Cole scored the lone goal for Supersonic in the 29th minute (29th) while Hilmar Chestar (21th) and Troy Hodge (30th) scored for the school based Aroydy Branford scored six team. goals The second team based at the Brickdam location, Saints also registered a not so convincing win, beating Hikers 4-2.

Michael Harding and Ryan Branford scored for Hikers in the 7thand 10threspectively while SeonSookhai (11th), Kevin Edwards (19th), Joel Hunte (20th) and Hilton Chestar (26th) produced the victory goals.

In the Ladies division, Pizza Hut GCC made light work of the Spartans registering a 9-2 drubbing.

After only managing a draw to Old Fort on the opening night, Spartans scored two consolation goals with Shebiki Baptiste (29th) and Paige Fernandes (33th) hitting the targets.

KerensaFernandes was the key destroyer sweeping a hat trick of goals in the space of four minutes (13th, 15th, and 16th). Sonia Jardine (8th), Aliyah Gordon (20th), Trisha Woodroffe (26th), VenessaPires (37th) and MarzanFiedtkou (40th) were the other scorers.

Woodpecker Hikers ladies also secured a victory as they brushed aside the Old Fort Lady Bugs 4-1.

Latacia Chung scored twice (3rd and 21st) while Maria Munroe (37th) and Tekeisha Dillion (14th) scored for Hikers and Bahvini Kaladeen scoring in the 30th for Lady Bugs.

In the veterans match up, GCC defeated rivals, Old Fort 2-1 with Dwayne Scott (15th) and Philip Fernandes (27th) scoring for the winning side and John Abrahams (22th) scoring Old Fort’s only goal.In the main event, 2020 failed to get a win under their belt as Pepsi Hikers downed them 12-2. Once again the two star strikers took to the front with Captain Robert France scoring a Hat trick (4th, 11th, 21st) and Aroydy Branford scoring six times (9th,13th,16th,30th,36th, 38th).

JamarjAssanah(22nd), Devin Munroe (30th) and Andrew Stewart (37th) were the other scorers while for team 2020, Tahrea Garnett (31st) and Troy Hodge (32nd) found the back of the net.

The next games scheduled for the same venue are GCC taking on St. Stanislaus College (Division 2), Pizza Hut GCC battling Old Fort (Women’s Division); Phoenix coming up against Saints (Division 2), Spartans will compete with Hikers in the Veterans Category, Hikers will match skills with GCC and GCC tackling Old Fort in the 1st division main event.

Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships 2016

By Akeem Greene

G

uyanese Group three driver Nazim Gafoor says that his aim will be to take the Group three title at the final leg of this year’s Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) which will be held at the South Dakota Circuit on November 13.

Gafoor, who is currently in second place on 73 points, trails Trinidad and Tobago Driver Paul Vieira by 127 points but feels if he can win all his three races he can secure the title.

“The group 3 class is where everyone expects to see the rotary boys and I have to challenge Paul

Vieira because if I win all three races I can be champion but there is Danny Persaud and Ravi Singh who can challenge me.”

Peraud is third on 66 points and is tied with Trinidadian Worthman for third place while Ravi Singh is further down the table but in the past has had good returns at South Dakota.

Gafoor, who has had some good outings in two of the previous three legs, says that preparation has been going according to plan.

“Preparation has being good so far, we ran two races in Barbados where I got a third place in one, in the battle with Vieira for the lead my gear box gave out and ended my participa-

tion,” the driver revealed.

The driver, who is sponsored by Grand Sports Automotive and Sales and Seaboard Marine says that his gold plated Mazda Miata works fine since he has made a few change to the car.

“I think the car the is ready and I can handle the pressure and finish in front of those guys but just need to drive properly, I was going good but I had some issue so hopeful if I don’t have any issues and I will be on top”.

The CMRC final leg is dubbed to be one of the biggest in recent years in Guyana and organisers have placed ticket prices at $2,000 for Adults and $1,000 for kids.

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Gafoor in action with his Mazda Miata

friday, november 4, 2016

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

guyanatimesgy.com

MOE/GTU National Schools' Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships

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Nationals set for Nov 21-25

From left: Assistant Director of Sport Brian Smith, Banks DIH Clayton McKenzie, GTU President Mark Lyte, CEO Marcel Hutson, Minister Nicolette Henry, Glendon Fogenay, Digicel’s Jacqueline James

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Brathwaite leads West Indies to famous win Shane Dowrich embraces Kraigg Brathwaite after securing victory

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