Guyana Times Daily - April 28, 2015

PPP/C

Minister Ali cautions contractors against damaging roadways

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali has called on contractors and developers to take caution when utilising the roads, noting that their irresponsible behaviour were costing the Government.

Speaking at the sodturning ceremony for the Texila American University’s Providence Campus on Monday, Minister Ali related that the Government has been embarking on numerous road development projects particularly along that area. This, he said, was due to the fact that the area has major potential in becoming a commercial hub.

While praising the management of Texila University for embarking on the project, he cautioned that workers and contractors must be careful when utilising heavy-duty machinery on the sites since some become complacent in traversing the roads with the machinery, resulting in extensive damage. While

noting the Government must embark on developmental projects, Ali said it was the duty of all to ensure that these were kept in order. “When you have dynamic developments like these coming into place… it is very important for the Government to invest in the infrastructural landscape that would also drive the value and bring interest into the area and that is why we have completed this road,” he said.

“I want to say to the Texila University and all other developers that this asset has come with great investments, human and financial expenditure. Just this morning, I was coming in and machinery with tracks was driving on the road, breaking the shoulders of the road … that is irresponsible behaviour and against the law … it is important that we safeguard that asset,” Minister Ali said.

This was even as he outlined several plans the Government has to further

Housing

and Water Minister Irfaan Ali

develop the roadways in Guyana. These included, he said, the connecting intersections from Providence to Eccles and Diamond, East Bank Demerara as well as the establishing of five other such interconnections.

“The real game changer, however, would come to the end of the year when the bypass highway connecting the East Coast of

Demerara to the East Bank is realised. It is important that we have an alternative route to a municipal airport and Ogle has a municipal airport,” he said.

The Government of Guyana has, over the years, expended billions of dollars on road construction and repairs.

The Housing and Water Ministry has rehabilitated and constructed several community roads on the East Coast of Demerara valued $94 million under the Community Roads Improvement Programme (CRIP) in 2014. According to the Ministry, this investment has directly benefited more than 5100 residents living in Enterprise, Enmore and Good Hope. The contract for the project was awarded to GuyAmerica Construction Inc, and included the upgrading of Enterprise Sideline; First Cross Street (East) and Sideline (East) in Good Hope and Pasture Dam in Enmore. Previously, these roads were in deplorable

condition with potholes, and depressions. Today, they have smooth surfaces with safety features such as road signs, speed humps and road markings installed. The importance

of these roads to residents cannot be understated. Residents now have easier access to the main thoroughfare, health facilities, schools, places of worship, and businesses.

PPP/C says MMU out to create civil unrest

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has again lashed out at the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), for what it says are its attempts to create civil unrest in the country.

General Secretary Clement Rohee said that the PPP/C strongly condemned the biased and politically motivated attacks on the Party and its leaders by the MMU, noting that its recent public statements were full of rhetoric and aimed at creating civil unrest during this very sensitive period in the country.

Rohee said that the MMU must not be allowed to function in isolation, GECOM must take full ownership and responsibility and provide proper guidance and supervision to this body.

“The MMU is not an independent body but rather an arm of the Elections Commission; hence, public statements must be vetted by GECOM to ensure that its reporting is accurate and responsible. The wild and loose attacks on former President Bharrat Jagdeo seem to be Oppositiondriven and draw much comparison to Kaieteur News, iNews and Stabroek News attacks on Jagdeo. The MMU should not be allowed to be used as the Opposition mouthpiece and to operate as a law onto itself,” Rohee said.

He added that the Party has had cause to write GECOM and the Police Commissioner complaining of racially inciting statements made by leading members of the APNU-AFC Coalition on national television; however, to date not a single response was received from GECOM’s Media Monitoring Unit.

According to the General Secretary, the Party and its

leaders seem to be the target of this Unit, while the Opposition is allowed to utter and escape with all sorts of derogatory and racist remarks. As such, the PPP is now calling on GECOM to take control of the MMU and to closely monitor its work and releases. A more responsible and sober approach is needed to temper the election tension among the population.

“The PPP demands that all political parties be treated in the same manner and that no preferences should be allowed to cloud the judgment of GECOM at this very critical period in time,” the General Secretary said. It was only recently that former President Jagdeo lashed the Unit, stating that he had absolutely no confidence in the body. Jagdeo said that the MMU has not been carrying out its duties effectively.

He said GECOM is the entity responsible for the Unit, as it has been receiving funds from Government to carry out its functions in preparation for the General and Regional Elections, and as such, it should oversee the work of the Unit. Until this is done, no shred of confidence will be attached to it.

“I have no confidence in the MMU, unless it reports to GECOM. GECOM should be able to have oversight of the MMU, because they will never deal with the issues.” His comments come after similar concerns were raised by the Government through Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, that it has issues with the body tasked with overseeing the operations of media houses in the leadup to General and Regional Elections. According to Dr Luncheon, it is expected that the views of GECOM would be brought to bear on the report that is publicised by the Monitoring Unit. Doing so is among the constitutional mandates of GECOM, Dr Luncheon added.

The MMU recently released its monthly report, in which it slammed sections of the media for their biased reports of the Opposition coalition or the Government. Some media houses were criticised for what was described as the “swelling antipathy towards good journalism practices” and the lowering of standards. The MMU, therefore, called on all media operatives to uphold their journalistic ethics and principles in carrying out their mandates, while noting that some currently being exercised were of low standards.

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

tuesday, april 28, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 – 13:30h-15:00h and Wednesday, April 29, 2015 – 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, April 28, 2015 – 12:20h-13:50h and Wednesday, April 29, 2015 – 13:20h-14:50h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on:

Tuesday, April 28– 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

Wednesday, April 29 – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Heavy rain showers in the morning will interrupt the sunny conditions expected throughout the day, with partly cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range from 24 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.02 metres per second and 5.36 metres per second.

High Tide: 12:43h reaching a maximum height of 2.15 metres.

Low Tide: 06:14h and 18:44h reaching minimum heights of 1.12 metres and 1.01 metres respectively.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Ramjattan surfaces after

being “sidelined” ...assigned role to attack PPP/C’s Manifesto

Following weeks of being out of the public spotlight following the Whim Rally of the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition, Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan has come out with a statement criticising the PPP/C manifesto.

Following the merger of APNU and AFC, even though he had claimed this would result in the AFC becoming “dead meat”, Ramjattan had faded off the political scene. Though he had been seen at several of the coalition’s rallies he had not taken the stage and at times stood among the crowd.

There have been speculations that Ramjattan might have fallen out with the leaders of the campaign- Raphael Trotman and Joseph Harmon who according to reports decide the speakers for the major rallies. One of his former executives, Francis Darcheville, had claimed that the two men were bitterly opposed to each other.

Since the coalition launched its campaign Ramjattan was seen at the Linden rally as well as Whim, where he was photographed sleeping during David Granger’s speech.

He was reportedly dispatched later in the Orealla/ Siparuta area for a period to campaign, but even when he returned he was denied the stage. Ramjattan fears of becoming “dead meat” appears to have been assuaged by the 12 seats; two Vice presidents, the primeministership and 40% of the Cabinet, offered by David Granger, leader of the PNC and APNU. Ramjattan quickly signed the Cummingsburg Accord, which solidified the agreement.

On Sunday he emerged

from his hibernation, slamming the recently released PPP/C manifesto as a “compendium of emptiness.” It appears that this might be the role designated for Ramjattan in the campaign.

“This is a hollow document, made up of empty promises, rhetoric and gimmickry,” said Ramjattan. He said too that “above all, the cheap talk about what they will do about corruption bares them naked. Their omission to actually do anything about the sellout of the people’s patrimony in our forest and mining sectors and the massive corruption in procurement of goods and services makes the manifesto bereft of any meaning and credibility,” Ramjattan asserted.

“The PPP has a record of outstanding failure. They have failed to deliver on reduced taxation, they have failed to hold Local Government Elections in 20 years, the fibre optic cable project has been a $3.6B failure, they have failed to establish the Public

Procurement Commission, they have failed the sugar industry, they have failed the rice industry,” Ramjattan explained.

PPP/C Response: Attention-seeking

But the PPP/C described Ramjattan’s attack on their manifesto as a response designed to get some attention and does not reflect any careful thought.

“We advise him that much of his talk about emptiness and a manifesto full of promises that are not meant to be kept fully and accurately describes the APNU/ AFC’s manifesto that was released and eventually withdrawn. The PPP/C has a manifesto we are proud of. We are not embarrassed that we have to claim someone leaked it.”

“We also remind Ramjattan that so far as specifics are concerned more than 75% was plagiarised from various PPP/C’s documents covering policies, strategic and business plans

and implementation programmes. Ramjattan needs to be reminded that rice is a success story in our country. This industry was crippled under the PNC, their lead party. The PPP/C restored the rice industry. We brought it to where each crop establishes new records and since 2012, each year we have established new export records.”

According to the PPP/C each market destination offers better prices than world market prices, noting that this crop is set to surpass 350,000 tons, the largest ever single crop production. It said too that the yield per acre is set to be about 5.8 tons, the highest national yield ever and, “thus, far we have exported more than 150,000 tons with contracts for immediate shipment of over 300,000 tons.

At the present pace we will attain export quantity of more than 600,000 this year, surpassing the target of 514,000 tons."

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan sleeping at Whim rally

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

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Editorial

Teachers for Guyana

As they have done before every election, the Opposition PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition announced that "when" they assume office they will raise teachers' salaries.

Their Manifesto does not spell out as to the quantum of the increase, but since David Granger has said teachers would be the "highest paid" Government workers and armed forces personnel are promised a 20 per cent increase, teachers are expected to flock to the Opposition's banner.

But in its populist vote getting rhetoric, the Opposition ignores the reality that the pay scale is not necessarily the cause of teachers not operating as professionals in what should be their vocation.

The PPP/C Government has raised teachers' salaries tenfold since they took office in 1992, yet we witness only marginal improvement in the poor results achieved at each level of our educational system.

It raises the question as to whether we have a "teaching profession" or whether teaching has become just a place holder for bodies in transition to something better. We have to bear in mind that the Ministry of Education is also churning out hundreds of teachers annually from the several teachers' training programmes it conducts in addition to the Cyril Potter College in conjunction with UG.

The word "profession", according to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, is "a calling requiring specialised knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation".

The Oxford Advance Learner's Dictionary also defined "profession" as "a type of job that needs special training or skill especially that needs a high level of education".

One would agree that there are several definitions for "teaching", but can settle on the one by Albert Koomson. He advises that teaching can be defined as an activity performed by a more experienced and knowledgeable person and aimed at helping the less experienced person to learn.

He further explains that teaching also involves assisting the learner to either gain or change some knowledge, skills or attitudes. Teaching, we would agree, should therefore involve the full participation of pupils.

Koomson also cites many traditional activities which are involved in teaching. These include "talking and chalking", marking pupils' work, listening to pupils and reinforcing their behaviour, arranging classroom materials, encouraging and motivating pupils to carry out their work and helping weak ones, explaining questions and organising pupils in smaller groups.

From the definition above, the teaching practice surely requires special training and skills to be able to guide or assist learners, pupils or students perform creditably in examinations and other problem-solving tasks in and outside the classroom.

But nowadays, teachers and the education system as a whole face the challenges due to social, economical, technological changes and other political forces that have evolved within the 20th and 21st century.

They have to deal with the "Googled" learner, who has grown up on virtual reality games and can find out almost everything with a few taps of the finger; work with a student body that’s increasingly diverse; and prepare kids to compete for jobs in a global marketplace where communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creative problem-solving are the “new basics”.

The Opposition should join with the thrust of the PPP/C Government to prepare teachers, both in training and in practice, to be equipped in rendering those services fixed in the international and modern standard teaching practices. We believe that the Government has done a yeoman task in the area of teachers' training even with the challenge of attrition.

Teachers, like all workers should receive larger salaries, but they should not expect the Government and the Ministry to accept shoddy unprofessional behaviour. After all, professional qualities such as patience, tolerance, empathy, discipline, neatness, was clearly inculcated in their training.

It behooves teachers, therefore to see themselves as change agents in an attempt to realising the comprehensive evidence-based teaching profession that is being preached across the globe.

Teachers must reject the crass appeal at bribery by the Opposition. They must aspire to be professionals.

PPP/C Manifesto shows continued commitment to move Guyana forward

Dear Editor,

Now that the PPP/C has launched its Manifesto, it is clear that there is only one political choice heading into the May 11 General and Regional Elections, and by now the PNC-led APNU/AFC should realize that their chances of winning the elections and taking Guyana backwards are getting dimmer and dimmer as it gets closer to May 11.

The PPP/C Manifesto has shown that the Government has contin-

ued commitment to move Guyana forward in all aspects and to improve the lives of all Guyanese.

APNU/AFC does not have a Manifesto. What they are presenting to the Guyanese people is more of a rum shop style pen on paper thing that is lacking any vision for progress that can take Guyana into the future.

The signs are already forthcoming that the Valentine’s day marriage between APNU and AFC is heading for a bitter break up.

Moses Nagamootoo is expressing his intentions of stripping his man on top, David Granger, of some of his powers should the power hungry coalition win the elections.

Of course, at this crucial juncture of the APNU/ AFC love affair, the man of the house Granger will agree to anything Moses Nagamootoo throws at him, but after May 11 when the marriage becomes sour and Granger does not honour the so-called Cummingsburg Accord, only then Nagamootoo will

realize that his partner is unfaithful to their union. Mr Granger is a diehard product of the PNC and cannot be trusted on any promise he makes. It would be advisable that Moses Nagamootoo keep all the evidence of their Valentine’s Day marriage, including any gown worn that day, because I’m sure it will be needed after May 11 when their case will attract the attentions of the divorce court.

Suresh Silas

The key to progress is to grow

the economy, create wealth

Dear Editor,

The Manifesto of the PPP/C is now in the public domain. The other political parties are still to make their manifestos public even though we are just two weeks away from elections day.

It is interesting to see what the Opposition parties more particularly the APNU-AFC would come up with to match what is clearly a well articulated, coherent and forward-looking Manifesto presented to the electorate by the incumbent PPP/C.

It is without doubt a blue print for the continued development of Guyana with the overarching goal of modernising the economy and laying the foundations for sustained economic growth and development. The key to progress of any country is to grow the economy and create wealth. The continued and sustained growth of the economy will allow for more resources to be put in the social sectors such as education, health, housing and water which are key

ingredients for a bright and secure future.

This Manifesto builds on the solid foundation already laid by the PPP/C administration and will allow for economic take-off to much higher altitudes in the horizon of economic growth and development.

According to the Rostow theory of economic growth, as the foundations for development are laid and consolidated, it becomes easier for the economy to take off since the initial inertia of economic stagnation would be minimised.

The PPP/C has over the years managed to change the dynamics of the economy from one of stagnation and retrogression to a forward trajectory. The economy experienced positive growth rates for nine consecutive years despite a harsh international environment and a hostile political Opposition.

This is why it is so important to ensure that there is a continuation of the economic policies of the PPP/C administration.

Hydar Ally

Digicel on Monday made a donation of school packs to two primary schools in Linden. In photo Gavin Hope, Events and Sponsorship Manager with some students of One Mile and Wismar Hill Primary Schools displaying their school packs while Headmaster, Alister Fraser and Senior Mistress Judith Forde looks on. Digicel is a major sponsor of the Linden Town Week activities and has a team in the mining town representing the company at the various LTW activities

Guyana’s future will duplicate past PNC miseries with APNU-AFC

Dear Editor,

“Forbes Burnham gave all manner of reasons for choosing to coalesce with the UF rather than the PPP.” So says SN columnist Dr Henry Jeffrey writing in, “The PPP’s narrative needs major revision”.

Dr Jeffrey was analysing which party would win the 2015 elections. He reveals the PNC’s YSM (youth arm) “was vociferous in its support for a PNC/PPP coalition (but Burnham) intended, as he did, to quickly rid himself of the United Force. This, he could not accomplish if he had joined the much stronger PPP”.

Now, even if by his inadvertent confirmation that Mr Burnham’s personal ambition resulted in violence, racial discrimination and economic disaster for Guyana (1964-1992), what makes this admission sane to endorse and elect the PNC-led coalition?

Most poignant is that Dr Jeffrey contributed to both the PNC and PPP Cabinets. He then shares collective responsibility for all their sins and successes. But his confirmation of PNC’s strategy is nothing new.

Mr Burnham’s sister Jessie Burnham’s had long ago forewarned in her book, “Beware my brother Forbes”, and denounced him a “Machiavellian”, even as she died a loyal PPP member.

Dr Jeffrey nevertheless still remained within the PNC and by his oblique confirmation effectively tags “Jessie’s olde wine” a higher PPP vintage. Cup or calabash? It’s for all Guyanese without prequalifiers (Jessie’s Law).

Examine Dr Jeffrey’s interesting academic admission that in 1964 “the cost upon the Guyanese people

was heavy, but the anticommunist forces had finally succeeded”. By academic sanitization, he can easily glide, maybe unintentionally, over the PNC’s alleged coordinated cleansing of Wismar (some 3000) on May 26, 1964. That event effectively harnessed and boosted PNC’s velocity into Government.

With outside forces as their sponsors the PNC did not consider it disproportionate, horrifying or immoral because the forces were united to depose the democratically elected PPP. For them that was the all consuming prime objective. They were “communist” weren’t they?

PNC historians, who are more learned, may avoid repeating the past unless it offers ironclad means of success. Most anxious to replicate the massive anti-PNC unity following their seminal assassination of Dr Walter Rodney, they have again attempted to engineer and ride a similar anti-PPP/C furore with another suspected murder.

But the anticipated backlash never snowballed and only fizzled out because Guyanese had become significantly wiser.

Dr Berri Ramsaran may now have instead provided himself as fresh “dead” meat” to showcase the well known savagery which the current feeding frenzy aptly demonstrates. It is well known that the mobbing is always more ferocious where experience counts.

But who knows if there is someone with a mission to bring it on, to their eventual detriment.

Evidentially the tightly controlled militaristic restraint at the PNC organized Cuffy Square rally

after Parliament was prorogued was to demonstrate Mr Granger’s prowess. No street violence was reported.

It was a clever showcase of the PNC as reformed. It stopped violence now.

Do most decent Guyanese need anyone to tell them that killing people or abusing a Minister are both wrong? It’s both the cause for war and the opportunity for war, just like Mr Burnham confessed in 1964.

Which party will win the 2015 elections will be decided on either Jessie’s Law or Moses Law. With many massive credits in its arsenal, inclusive for all Guyanese without race distinctions, and still facing many more bugging problems, the PPP/C Government has many uphill challenges to overcome.

Dr Jeffrey’s solution is to castigate the incumbent PPP/C Government into including the PNC leader and his APNU-AFC ‘meche meche’ into a national coalition. The Opposition anxiously advertises it will also welcome disenchanted PPP/C members if they should win. Dr Jeffrey no doubt could also regain lost ground, couldn’t he?

What does the APNUAFC coalition anyway bring to the table which atones for their past and is exonerating by Jessie’s law? What makes Moses law more desirable before May 11 for total victory? Then afterwards, to vehemently insist on shared Government win or lose?

The AFC will gallop to the front to again earn its 12 seats - win or lose. “Dulaha” (groom) and “Dulahin” (bride) want it both ways.

What the PNC leader of the APNU-AFC Opposition seeks is democratic legitimization of its militarizing

PNC political apparatus to ascend and control the constitutional reins of power with Mr Granger in the Presidency; failing that all other options are open.

Guyanese wisdom must be most decisive whether a discredited soldier (even by Hoyte) praising soldiers behaviour with their own unarmed countrymen’s blood on their hands as “splendid”’, just for defending ballot boxes, will be the best choice to lead all Guyanese.

President Donald Ramotar whose mother was Amerindian, African and Portuguese married to his Indian father is with a spotless and most experienced background, far more, the most honorable choice in conformity with Jessie’s law and her PPP loyalties where race is subsumed.

What the APNU-AFC Opposition actually brings to the table when they have no clear economic development plans today? It would not matter tomorrow or anytime afterwards in the future should they become elected. The PPP/C’s manifesto will be adopted - the PNC has absolutely nothing to offer - and Guyana’s economy, like long ago will go downhill.

This May 11, Guyanese must decide whether they wish to go back to the “Granger is the danger” of yesterday’s PNC nationwide starvation, election rigging, national service and killing the sugar industry. The better choice between the two evils can only continue with the PPP/C.

If things are not looking good or getting better today, would electing “organized problems” make it better tomorrow - going back to PNC starvation days?

Sultan Mohamed

Thankful that the GCB is looking to develop LBI Ground

Dear Editor,

The LBI Ground is now an eyesore and has virtually been abandoned. We all know there was a time when grounds in Demerara and Berbice were regularly taken care of and cricket and other community activities boomed in these areas.

Problems over the past decade or so have coincided with the fall of cricket and its continued development in the areas that surrounded these estate cricket grounds and community centres.

These centres/grounds

formed the epicenter for recreational activity in these areas and GuySuCo has apparently made the decision to eliminate some financial responsibilities.

It was refreshing to see our great hero, Alvin Kallicharran, now back in Guyana working with our youths and I hope the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) or the Government can do its utmost to ensure Kalli can remain here at home to help in the development process with our youths.

I am sure that Kalli nur-

tured his skills at one such ground in Port Mourant where he hails from and must be disgusted to see the wanton abandonment of a once premier cricket ground and facility.

If the Cricket Board is willing to develop the ground and make use of same with its own resources, why does GuySuCo not want this or has not allowed it as yet?

It was stated that the Minister instructed GuySuCo to hand it over to the Cricket Board. Was that done in writing and com-

The path to a brighter, more secure future

Dear Editor, Guyana is on the path to a brighter and more secure future. The upcoming poll provides us all with that opportunity to continue along this path of progress and development, one that guarantees a better and longer life for every Guyanese.

As pointed out in the PPP/C Manifesto, a country is at its best when the bonds between its people are strong, stable and secure.

The vision of the PPP/C is that of a fully developed society that is free, prosperous, socially just and globally competitive. Every Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, colour or creed must be provided with an opportunity to develop to the full limit of their potential.

Moreover, they must be provided with a chance for good education, quality health care; to work and earn good wages, to raise and provide for a family, to own their own homes, to safe potable water, and to retire with dignity.

These are the elements of a good and satisfying life which the PPP/C under the leadership of Donald Ramotar is committed to

Violence

provide.

Despite the challenges, much has been achieved and much more remains to be achieved.

As we approach the elections, the choice of the next Government must not be left to chance. Our future is at stake. The PPP/C has a proud record of progress and there is no Guyanese who have not been touched one way or the other by the development programmes unleashed by this current administration.

Unlike the APNU-AFC which is a coalition of selfinterests, the PPP/C is a united and holistic party with the interests of the entire nation at heart.

In 1992, with a passion and determination for change, the PPP/C transformed this once backward country to one in which we can all be proud of. The indignity and humiliation of the past have been cast aside and we have now embraced a new dispensation of unlimited possibilities.

Now is the time for all Guyanese to close ranks in order to preserve our social and economic gains.

Hydar Ally

– our insanity and disgrace

The flower of youth plucked too soon

A mother’s world broken, dreams doomed,

A beloved son slain at high noon

A most despicable act of violence,

Drained all joy from the cup of life

Cruel and bitter the pain to endure,

Most tragic this turn of fate for sure.

Heavier than the vast and mighty Himalayas

The pain and suffering wrought by violence

Seen in silent grief and flow of tears

In the faces of orphans and refugees,

The tormented and abused

The crippled and maimed,

In the tortured minds of soldiers

Recalling many a battlefield horrors

In childhood innocence blighted

Witness to bloodshed unabated

None can chronicle the true toll of violence

Flooring so many to eternal silence

Yet this macabre dance daily stirred to frenzy

Goaded by men with no human conscience

Applauding with sadistic delight the evil in violence.

All violence most loathsome and evil

The epitome of our disgrace and insanity

Whether in wars, conflicts, riots, or communal strife

In targeted killings, racial profiling or petty fights

municated to GuySuCo?

Can GuySuCo refuse an instruction from its subject Minister or does GuySuCo not have any more corporate social responsibility?

Has that gone through the window? Is there no return to sanity and accountability ever? Why can’t LBI be allowed to flourish for the benefit of our youths and the East Coast community?

Come on GuySuCo, do the right thing and improve the lives of people!

Anand Dyal

In conquests and cruel subjugation

Brutal torture that staggers the imagination

In quest for domination and power

On the streets or on the world’s arena

In insatiable greed for wealth and prestige

Exploiting and oppressing the poor and meek

In asserting our special purity

In caste and racial superiority

Violence indeed the cardinal sin

Even mere thought of harming another

However righteous and sacred our agenda

Is enough to darken our karma

Vain indeed our prayers and rituals

Sacrifices and sacred observances

When even an iota of violent thought

Resides in the recesses of the heart.

Cecil Ramkirath

tuesday, april 28, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Getting the message right

By L T WiLLcom

Iread recently that Al Qaeda was more than a bit upset that the Americans did not blame them for the economic troubles they were facing.

Well I would not have dwelt on that much given that my attention is more on Guyana affairs these days.

But my attendance at an APNU meeting a few nights ago had me thinking somewhat like a terrorist.

Well let’s start at the meeting. A lot of people believe that I have taken a side in this election and with that in mind have cautioned me not to attend an APNU meeting. This more for my safety than any question of my support.

Well I am from Trinidad, as you would have guessed by now, and there, “ PNM and UNC supporters does cross in motorcade,exchange drinks and move on to their destination”.

So I dismissed the tales of violence and attacks on supporters of the PPP/C and ventured!

It was strikingly different to the PPP/C meetings that I have attended. Different in terms of the composition of the crowd, the mood, and the content of the speeches.

If you didn’t know , APNU (they tell me its PNC.) has a strong AfroGuyanese support , base so the crowd was sparse mainly because the meeting was held in Lenora, a strong PPP/C support base made up mainly of Indo- Guyanese.( so much for a united Guyana).

The mood of the meeting was subdued ,to be honest, dreary. It lacked fire and brimstone and the energy of an opposition out for the kill.

The speeches caught my attention but I am sure not for their intended reason. Firstly it was vastly different in focus compared to the PPP/C.

The first issue on the agenda was the need for change, although, for the love of politics, I can’t remember hearing one compelling reason given for the call. There was a University lecturer who said that the University was failing the system (even while he is there), another speaker said that the money spent on the Marriot could have been spent on the University because there are no Hospitality courses taught there so Guyanese can’t get any work there.

The main theme of the night was Unity and the need to end racial voting. They hinted that David and Moses coming together was biblical in its implications and that it was a divine intervention, since David slew Goliath, (I assumed that goliath would now be either Jagdeo of Ramotar) and Moses led the people into the promise land (meaning I suppose that Guyana had promise).

They said that APNU was the only true national party. They said that people should not go back Twenty Eight Years , only Twenty Three.

Now it is clear that a party in office for twenty three years would make mistakes . It is also very clear that a party in opposition for twenty three years would be anxious to reclaim their political dominance.

What is not clear is the issues that the opposition believes would take them there, and the strategy the PPP/C is using to keep them out.

It is here the American story has some relevance.

If I were in the leadership of the PPP/C I would be a bit angry and frustrated that the APNU is not attacking the record of the Party as a government.

Like Al Qaeda I would be a bit disappointed that no one is attacking the policies and programmes of the Government over the last twenty three years.

So now they have to spend time detailing their achievements themselves . They would otherwise have had the time to focus on the other real issues that should decide the elections. It is as if APNU is saying, “if we don’t speak about their record ,they won’t speak about ours” .Issues such as the failure of the opposition to insist on the developmental projects that they wanted, because they had the majority.

In Trinidad and Tobago the opposition, having no majority, is able to tell the government ”if you build this, and include that, and reverse this ,you will have our support” . In other words ,in the peoples interest, they could have come up with a national agenda for progress. Who could have resisted?

I believe that the elections would not be decided on the achievements of the PPP/C government. Anyone who doesn’t know about the achievements are living on another planet and that’s why the APNU is staying clear of any such issue.

The real issue is the role of AFU and the unholy alliance which has seen it working hard on eroding the support base of the PPP/C.

The APNU (I keep forgetting I should say PNC) is keeping quiet and hoping ,just hoping ,that the change they are requesting is embraced by the supporters of the PPP/C.

Who else ? They couldn’t be asking the APNU supporters to change ? If I were the PPP/C I would sound the battle cry, rally my troops,expose the AFC for who they are and leave the APNU to be content with their support base . In any event the PPP/C government have demonstrated that they serve all of Guyana whoever they support.

Unless of course the supporters of the APNUthemselves heed the call “ a time for Change”.

Corentyne girl commits suicide

ACorentyne girl took her own life by hanging, in what family members are describing as a “gesture of love” for her grandmother who passed away 12 hours earlier.

Dead is 20-yearold Seetradavi Sumar, of Number 57 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). Reports are that her grandmother, Dilarie Sumar passed away in her sleep on the same bed with her granddaughter on Friday about 23:30h. The younger Sumar was found hanging from a rafter in a bedroom of the same house around noon the following day.

According to her uncle, Nutram Sumar, Seetradavi grew up with her grandmother who took care of her since she was a baby. He said the young lady was the first child for her mother and her grandmother took sole responsibility for her. The two had developed an unbreakable bond. When the younger Sumar was attending primary school, her mother migrated to the USA.

Reports are that when it was discovered that the grandmother had passed away, the granddaughter held on to her body claiming that she was not willing to live without her and will kill herself. She reportedly wept all night and the following morning family members left home to make preparations for the wake of the 70-year-old lady. The younger Sumar was left in the care of a neighbour.

Kowsilla Gagadar told the Guyana Times that

on Saturday morning Seetradavi said on several occasions that she was going to take her own life, since she could not live with her ‘Mai’. She explained that all Seetradavi’s movements were being monitored. However, they were sitting outside when the phone rang and the young lady went inside to answer it as family members returned home. “So when she ran inside to answer the phone, I go to the car to help them with the things that they bring. The aunt asked me where she is and I said that she gone inside to answer the phone.”

She recounted that the aunt ran inside and it was soon discovered that she had locked herself in a bedroom. When the door was broken open, she was seen hanging.

She was, however, not taken down until Police arrived. She was pronounced dead at the Skeldon Hospital. Family members describe Sumar as being an introvert saying that she spent most of her time indoors and refused to go out with her cousins or younger sisters. She reportedly spent a lot of time with her grandmother.

According to her uncle, she did not take up offers by young men who said they were interested in marrying her. Arrangements were in place for the young lady to migrate to the USA soon.

He said she successfully completed secondary school but refused to seek employment. Meanwhile, the grandmother died four days before she would have left for the USA.

Women and Gender Commission slams Ramsaran

The Women and Gender Equality Commission has expressed its “utter dismay” at the comments made in the recent outburst by Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, which was directed at activist Sherlina Nageer at the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

In a statement, the body said despite claims that he was goaded into such an outburst, he should have acted with restraint, recognising that he was a public officer.

“All Guyanese have a constitutional right to ask questions of public officers, as much as those officers have a right to answer those

questions in an appropriate manner”.

According to the Commission, Ramsaran’s reaction was uncalled for.

“His remarks are unacceptable for any person –far more so coming from a Minister of Government. He must face the full consequences of his actions and offer his resignation as the decent thing to do.”

The body said no woman, or any person, deserved to be treated in the manner of his outburst.

“All Guyanese must join in the condemnation of his actions, and the actions of any person that seeks to degrade our women.”

Ramsaran was sanctioned by party – Rohee

Embattled Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran was sanctioned by the Executive of the People’s Progressive Party, General Secretary Clement Rohee told a news briefing on Monday.

Ramsaran has come under pressure from all quarters, including the diplomatic community, for uttering disparaging remarks against rights activist Sherlina Nageer outside the Whim Magistrate’s Court last week. There have been calls for him to step down and also for President Donald Ramotar to sack him. However, this has not happened, but the Head of State and his predecessor have condemned the action of the Minister.

“We have sanctioned the comrade … he was spoken to very seriously,” Rohee told reporters at the Freedom House news conference when questioned on the issue. He, however, could not say exactly what form of sanction was meted out to Ramsaran. Asked about the sacking of the Minister, Rohee said this was a matter for President Ramotar.

Public outrage over the “distasteful” remarks made by Ramsaran against Nageer continues to grow.

President Ramotar, in a statement Friday afternoon, strongly reprimanded Ramsaran. “The statements and behaviour of the Minister do not reflect the high standards I have set for ministerial conduct nor

the public’s expectations of an office holder. It is outright disrespectful and improper. I intend to have further discussions with the Minister on this matter,” President Ramotar said, according to the Government Information Agency (GINA).

Outrage

The women’s arm of the PPP, the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), also condemned Ramsaran, saying in a statement that it was “extremely disappointed” by the utterances of the Minister.

The WPO said its disappointment stemmed from the fact that Dr Ramsaran was a hardworking individual who was schooled in a political environment to respect women’s equality.

“Dr Ramsaran is known for his support for women’s empowerment and has always been prepared to provide assistance to women especially those who are medically challenged. WPO is, therefore, dismayed that he allowed himself to react to provocation without giving consideration to his manner of speech; his reaction was unacceptable. We know that there are people who would stop at nothing to make others lose their cool in the performance of their duties, but the Minister, who is an intelligent person, should have recognised that and acted with restraint at all times.”

For their part, both the

Women and Youth Groups of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition said they were outraged by the “cursing out of a young woman at the Whim Magistrate’s Court by Dr Bheri Ramsaran”.

They said although there had been similar transgressions in the past, they cringed when they “listened to the recent threats” Ramsaran issued to the young woman. Among other things, he threatened to have “some of my (his) women” strip and beat her

“just for the fun of it”.

The parties said Ramsaran’s behaviour crossed every boundary of decency. “He has once again demonstrated the crassness and total disrespect for this nation’s women…”

Adding his voice to the issue, Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ramesh Persaud told a news conference that the actions of the Minister undoubtedly may have been provoked.

However, he said: “we also believe strongly that provocation of that nature of persons in the high polit-

Ramjattan surfaces after...

The PPP/C said it acknowledges that farmers and millers face continuing challenges because of this success, noting that the number one challenge is the early payments made to farmers.

“Under the PPP/C government, we have enabled farmers to receive payments within the crop. This is a matter which we have addressed in our manifesto, not with promises but with specific proposals. The price stabilisation mechanism (to be implemented) is designed to ensure that prices are stable and that payments are made on time.”

The PPP/C said in the APNU/AFC manifesto, the proposals made demonstrate their lack of knowledge and how bereft they are of ideas

to develop the industry.

“We have emphasised in our various programmes and in our rice development strategy the importance of research. This is an important enough focus area to be included in our manifesto. In their effort to endorse this approach, the APNU/ AFC demonstrated their total lack of knowledge why research is important and how to implement a strong research programme,” the PPP/C said.

Regarding the sugar industry, the PPP/C again stressed that it was on its death bed when the PPP/C took it over in 1992.

“It is the PPP/C that brought sugar back to life in Guyana. Except for one year, we have surpassed the 200,000 tons produc-

tion every year. Under the PNC, we almost dropped to less than 100,000 tons. Most times, throughout the 1980s, Guyana’s production fell far below 200,000 tons. Yet the PPP/C brought sugar back from the death bed to a robust industry. We have confronted major challenges such as climate change and the EU’s arbitrary ending of the sugar protocol. We have had to overcome the unconscionable reduction of 36% in the price for sugar. But the industry has survived and last year again increased its production.”

The PPP/C in 2015, it will again meet its target and has set out clearly plans to attain 400,000 tons of sugar and to diversify GuySuCo’s product line by 2020.

“For this reason we have

ical offices or Minister and certain behaviours of that nature is not acceptable. It is somewhat irresponsible and we just learned that the President would have issued a statement and that he condemned such behaviour. We are of the view that his behaviour warrants sanctions from the President. We are hoping the President would take the necessary actions regarding sanctions of the Minister,” Persaud told reporters.

The PPP/C while also condemning the Minister said the matter has been blown out of proportion.

outlined a minimum of $20B for the sugar industry. These are not empty promises. We have outlined clearly our plans for GUYSUCO. We note that they continue their ambiguous position on sugar. They continue to insist that the sugar industry must be closed. The truth is that the APNU-AFC have blown hot and cold on rice and sugar, playing politics, instead of giving genuine support so that these two major industries can continue to grow and serve our people and our country. The Alliance’s manifesto has plagiarized extensively from various PPP/C programs. The truth is that the PPP/C has brought progress to Guyana with programmes like the ones contained in our manifesto,” the ruling party said.

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

Man jailed 13 years for Plastic City murder

Justice James BovellDrakes on Monday handed down a 13-year sentence to Michael Powley for a murder he committed in 2012.

Powley was convicted of the murder of 26-yearold Vishwanauth Narine called “Buddy”, which he committed on June 8, 2012 at Plastic City, West Coast Demerara. He had pleaded not guilty to the indictment.

After several weeks of intermittent hearings, Powley was found guilty of the murder by a mixed jury panel earlier this month. However, based upon a request from

his defence attorney, Basil Williams, sentencing was deferred pending the preparation and submission of a probation report. The trial judge had granted two weeks for the report to be compiled.

On Monday, a probation officer submitted the report, after which the court heard mitigation pleas from Attorney Williams as well as aggravating factors from the prosecution led by State Counsels Narissa Leander and Natasha Backer. After listening to the two sides, Justice Drakes began with a sentence of 16 years but took off three years for the

time Powley spent in prison awaiting trial.

During the trial, the state called several witnesses before closing its case.

According to the state’s case, on the day in question, the two men were engaged in an argument at Plastic City when a fight broke out. During the confrontation, Powley began chasing Narine, who fell.

At this time, Powley began stabbing the man where he had fallen. An injured Narine was picked up and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Powley was then called upon to lead his defence and opted to do so by giving an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s dock.

20-year-old American gets 3 years for drug trafficking

An American citizen was sentenced to three years in prison on Monday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for trafficking in narcotics.

Twenty-year-old Anthon Brumfield pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge which read that on April 24 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) he attempted to traffic 2.568 kilograms of cocaine.

According to Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, the defendant is an American citizen who has been residing in Guyana for the past 11 years. It was ex-

plained that on the day in question he was an outgoing passenger on Dynamic Airways Flight 2D402 bound for the John F Kennedy (JFK) Airport, New York. It

was further explained that the ranks from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) were monitoring the activities at the airport when they observed the defendant acting in a suspicious manner, further checks were made.

During a scan of the man’s luggage, a bulky, suspicious package was detected and a search was conducted.

The search resulted in the discovery of two photo albums which contained two pages with inconsistent width. An examination of the pages revealed that the substance was concealed within the pages. When cautioned it was revealed that the defendant admitted

knowledge of the substance and told ranks that he was paid US$10,000 to traffic the drugs.

When asked to explain himself, the defendant told the Magistrate that he was experiencing difficulties in his financial life and as such, he sought to commit the offence as a means of betterment. “I just wanted to make life easier,” he told the Magistrate while explaining that his partner was three months pregnant with his child.

The young man, who had no previous convictions or trouble with the law was fined $30,000 as well as sentenced to three years in prison.

27-year-old goes to jail for 'keeping phones'

Twenty-seven-year-old

Jermaine Sealey was sent to jail on Monday after pleading guilty to two counts of fraudulent conversion for keeping two cellular phones that were lent to him by acquaintances.

He will be spending the next six months in jail after admitting to the offence before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charges detailed that on February 28, in Georgetown he was en-

trusted with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone valued $116,000 by Jacqueline Osborn. However, he took the phone and fraudulently converted it to his own use.

Stefan John too entrusted Sealey with his Alcatel cellular phone valued $50,000 on April 9 and the defendant fraudulently converted it to his own use.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru explained to Court One that the defendant had borrowed the phones from the VCs with the intention of returning them but had not

done so.

Sealey told the court that he was guilty of both charges. The Chief Magistrate gave him a chance to explain his actions. However, he chose to remain silent. Sealey simply answered the queries regarding his age, adding that he was unable to pay the Virtual Complainants for their phones.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry sentenced the defendant to three months imprisonment each for the two charges.

Eyew tness

The Stockholm Syndrome...

...and Vanessa

As regular readers would know, this Eyewitness has a soft spot for Vanessa Kissoon. "That girl got spunk!!" just about summarizes his sentiments on her. Such women were in the forefront of all the "uprisings" in Georgetown in past centuries - whether it was the "cent bread" riots or the "or Angel Gabriel Riots". Even though they might've been called "centipedes" they stood up for "their own".

But it's a bit pathetic - and chilling - to witness how she's not only been muzzled - but has been conditioned, almost zombie like, to spout nonsense on women - fed to her by Granger and troops.

Just check out the letter she just wrote on the Ramsaran-Nageer fiasco: "These women need to walk away from a party that sees them as vessels to carry out thuggery."

Now don't get this Eyewitness wrong. As he's already said, Ramsaran should've resigned immediately after he threatened the female activist - and when he didn't, should've been dropped.

Even "provocation" as a limited defense to bring down murder to manslaughter has been abandoned in enlightened jurisdictions. Adults just have to control their anger. But Vanessa Kissoon wasn't just THREATENED by big (male) ones in her party - Oscar Clark, the General Secretary, actually twisted her arm and pulled out the keys to the PNC's Linden office from her.

That's not just possible assault (did Nageer feel in imminent danger of physical harm?) but ADTUAL battery in which she WAS physically harmed. Shouldn't she've filed charges on Clark as she urges Nageer to do on Ramsarran? Then, of course, there was the banishment to the back bench wasteland of Parliament by Granger. Did he ever even explain why? Like she said of Nageer, her "only threat was exercising her constitutional right to free speech in conducting her civic duty". In her case, as Minnette Bacchus elaborated, of representing her constituency.

Did Granger even offer her a "half-hearted excuse" by lying about the reason why she was not placed on the Candidates’ List? It appears that Kissoon's suffering from "Stockholm Syndrome" where she's been held hostage and brainwashed. Ignoring her own abuse by Granger and other PNC men cannot only be because she's "muzzled by the hand that feeds her".

She should take her own advice: "Abuse of women will only stop when we together get men to understand that it is not a do what you want with me or do what you feel with me and you can get away with it. We are known to have mouth and we must speak! Let our men hear from us that enough is enough."

Tell that to Granger and Oscar Clark. Go girl!! Free Vanessa!

...and Ramjattan

This Eyewitness has wondered aloud before as to the whereabouts of Khemraj Ramjattan. Remember him? The once and future leader of the AFC? The man who feared he'd be "dead meat" if his outfit ever hitched up with the PNC-led APNU?

One day the fella is in the news and in everything like "pot salt" and the next day (the day after Nagamootoo's whimsical wedding to Granger at Whim, to be exact) he dropped off the grid!

Well, after some serious investigative work (frequenting the rum shops of Georgetown, to be exact) your Eyewitness was able to run Ramjattan to the ground. He's being held in one of those back rooms at Congress Place in Sophia.

Seems he couldn't deal with being relegated as a nonentity after the wedding - and started to protest and mouth off. Much like Vanessa Kissoon after her back-bench banishment.

He's being brainwashed into the Stockholm Syndrome. Expect him to emerge soon and start singing hallelujahs to Granger and Nagamootoo.

It's a shad, shad shituation!!

...and Lalloo

OK...OK...Your Eyewitness is just kidding!! Lalloo's case is more mundane...the abused boy (someone used tweezers on him) who becomes the abuser. Also shad, shad...

Michael Powley

Anthon Brumfield

Jermaine Sealey pleaded guilty to fraudulent conversion

Churches appeal for peace ahead of polls

...urge leaders to shun

violence, incitement

The Anglican Diocese here as well as the Guyana Presbyterian Church have called on political parties to elevate their language at campaign meetings even as they appeal for peace ahead of the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

Elections here over the years have been marred by violence and already there have been incidents, which have caused concern. Marlon Laing, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Guyana, in a statement said for Christians, while the privilege of voting has been procured through the political and judicial processes, it was a gift from God. He said God created all human beings equal, irrespective of race, colour, creed, gender or ethnicity.

“Human beings have been created by God to enjoy freedom of movement, equal opportunity and the right to select persons to manage their national affairs free of fear, prejudice or intimidation. In a society which adheres to the democratic principle of governance, the exercising of such rights comes to a pivotal juncture on Election Day.”

Bishop Laing said since the Parliament was prorogued, leading to its subsequent dissolution, many have attempted to draw the Diocese into the partisan political debate. “At the cost of being maligned, I have resisted their efforts. The Church has a higher role in matters of politics. Christians believe that engagement in politics is acceptable to God. The word ‘politics’ has as its root, the Latin word ‘polis’, which, in usage, refers to the ‘affairs of the city’. Each citizen and resident of Guyana, along with visitors and persons of goodwill, should be concerned about the well-being of this and every other city.”

The Bishop said for “us in Guyana, this city is our home. We should pray and work for its safety and development. We should strive for its perseverance against anarchy, and we must be undying in our efforts to see that its spiritual, moral, ethical and social traditions remain

intact.”

He said the Diocese of Guyana was committed to this understanding of political engagement, and through the ministry of our church, “we seek to shape and fashion the lives of our membership to be responsible, decent and exemplary citizens...”

The Bishop said during the past several weeks, the church has been saddened at times, when during the heat of political campaigning, the rhetoric has attacked personalities rather than addressing pertinent issues. “It was distasteful too, when photographs of political posters and banners were tampered with by those of opposing sides. In instances where individuals alleged that they were in physical danger, we were also disappointed because the process was never intended to bring bodily harm to anyone.”

Put Guyana first

The Bishop said following Election Day, once the results have been made official, whomever the majority of the duly registered voters repose their confidence in as the new government deserves the full support of us all. “In this way, we demonstrate that the welfare of Guyana and what is best for all Guyanese supersedes what may be the personal desires of each individual, as divergent as this may be.”

He also appealed to all candidates involved in the election process and their supporters to remember that after Election Day, “we all must live here, we all must unite to build Guyana, and we are all our brothers and sisters keepers. Please join me in creating a climate of hot campaign driven by the conviction that what is best for Guyana must be a top priority. Even if one group may be at war with the other party’s voice, they are at peace with each other.”

Adding their voice to the issue, the Guyana Presbyterian Church said it has organised a special event to issue a call for peace, tolerance and respect “during these challenging times where the nation is preparing for national and regional elections in two weeks.” According to the church, the event will be held on Wednesday from 17:30h to 18:30h at the Burns Memorial Presbyterian Church on Irving and Anira Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown.

“As people of faith, we are called to be a source of peace, love, justice and healing and to urge all citizens to promote these virtues. We need to encourage our communities and the whole society to promote tolerance, understanding and respect and to refrain from actions and utterances that could lead to polarisation, unrest and violence. It is important that we remind all Guyanese

that we are: “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, with a critical realisation of our interdependence on each other, which is necessary for a peaceful, wholesome and cohesive society,” the Presbyterian Church said.

It added that the event will gather persons from the various faith communities and will point to the importance of our roles in encouraging all Guyanese to stand firm for peace, to resist the possibility of polarisation, unrest, violence and destruction in the run-up to, during and after the elections. Major General (ret’d) Joseph G Singh will deliver a message and spiritual leaders of various faith communities will issue a call for peace. The public is invited to attend and to join in the call for peace.

Man charged for execution of Patricia Sanasie

Almost four months after Patricia Sanasie, wife of popular businessman Ram Sanasie, was gunned down in front of her Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara home, a Georgetown man was arraigned for her murder on Monday.

Sanasie, 45, was shot five times by a lone gunman after returning from church as she was about to

drive into her yard. She was in the company of her eldest daughter who only last week positively identified her mother’s killer. On the night of January 12, the now dead woman arrived at her Lot 129 Atlantic Gardens home and exited the car to open the gate so that her daughter could drive into the yard. It was while doing so, the lone gunman confronted her and pumped at least four bullets into her body. She reportedly fell to the ground and was quickly picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

The alleged perpetrator, Richard Stanton, 39, of Lot 53 Princes Street, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which stated that on January 12 at Atlantic Gardens, he murdered the businesswoman. He was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry when he

made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Stanton was previously arrested as he matched the description given to the Police by the main eyewitness, who was hospitalised as a result of shock and was hence unable to attend the identification parade. She had suffered a major breakdown and remained in hospital.

Patricia Sanasie

Richard Stanton

Marlon Laing, Bishop of the Anglican Church in Guyana

TUESday, april 28, 2015| gUyanaTimESgy.com

PPP fears return of authoritarian PNC-type rule

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it is alarmed at the growing body of former military and Police personnel who are taking up key and strategic positions in the hierarchy of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU-AFC) coalition.

In a release, the Party stressed that this was a troubling development especially when seen against the background of the role of the military in the rigging of national and regional elections under the former PNC regime.

“It is quite apparent that the APNU-AFC under the leadership of David Granger has now become a political habitat for some of those who once served in military and paramilitary forces.

“Granger, for his part, is

doing everything possible to woo ex-military personnel by all manner of preposterous campaign promises such as a 20 per cent salary increase which is twice the amount promised to other categories of public servants, including teachers and nurses.

“The question that should be asked is why is he singling out those in the armed forces for special treatment? Is it an indication that the military cabal in the APNU-AFC leadership is already calling the shots and signalling its intention to redistribute the

national pie in its favour?

“The PPP calls on Granger to explain to the nation the precise role of these ex-military personnel in the run-up to, and on Polling Day, given their relative inexperience and lack of familiarity with our national politics.

“Is it an attempt by Granger to once again militarise the body politic as happened during the dark days of PNC authoritarian rule?

“Are we to expect a return to the days of PNC party paramountcy when the army and police were forced to pledge loyalty not to the nation but to the ruling PNC?

“Is our democracy under threat by a military and quasi-military cabal who seems more concerned with the return of a decadent and authoritarian order in which bullets and not ballots was used as the basis for governance?

“Guyanese want answers to these frightening developments which certainly do not bode well for the good of our dear land.

“Already there are strong indications that decisionmaking in the Opposition APNU-AFC has been hijacked by a small group of former military personnel which is already creating

much unease in the AFC and the civilian component of the APNU.

The days when the military was used to hijack ballot boxes and perpetuate electoral fraud on the nation is still fresh in the minds of the Guyanese people.

“Granger owes this nation an apology for the role played by the army for the rigging of elections and the death of the two ballot box martyrs on the Corentyne whose only ‘crime’ was to defend their right to vote in free and fair elections. Granger was Head of the Army at that time.

“The PPP for its part wishes to reiterate its commitment towards the building of a strong, disciplined and professional armed forces where loyalty to country and not party will be the only reason for their being.

”The Party also pledges to make available the necessary resources to enhance the quality of life and well being of all those who serve in the disciplined forces.”

Man charged...

She finally recovered and informed Police that she was ready to be part of the ID parade. A few seconds into the process, she positively identified Stanton as the shooter. Initially, there were allegations that Sanasie’s husband had contracted someone to kill her, since, on the night of the shooting, the gunman was clear on his target. The couple had been together for the past 28 years and had three daughters.

The businessman, when contacted, said that he did not know anything about his wife’s killing. He stressed that he had been in the US since early December and knew nothing of the shooting.

In February 2014, the businessman was shot three times about his body while outside his business place on Fourth and Light Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown. He had claimed that his wife and her younger brother were behind the failed attempt on his life, but this was denied by the two siblings.

Sanasie said that he and his wife had been separated since the shooting and he had ceased all contact with her. He said he left his wife alone, so that she could figure out what she had to and find her way back to him. This was all rubbished by the dead woman’s brother, Vishnu Persaud, who met with media personnel a few days later and released a recording of purportedly an exPolice officer, who claimed that he was contracted by a close family member to kill the now dead woman, warning his sister.

The male on the other end of the line claimed that he made the decision to alert her as a way of getting back at the family member over a soured business deal. During the phone conversation, she asked the alleged hit man to meet with her. During the meeting, he was arrested by the Police, held for 72 hours, but released because of the lack of evidence.

Reitred Brigadier David Granger Reitred Rear Admiral Gary Best Reitred Brigadier Edward Collins

Former Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Harmon Former Police Commissioner Winston Felix

PPP/C

Stewartville

rally:

“Too much at stake for any

lapses”

...Rohee warns Region 3

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee told a mammoth gathering at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara on Sunday that all efforts will be employed to prevent any attempts to subvert or interfere with the democratic process.

This declaration comes less than two weeks before Guyanese go to the polls.

“We want to warn them that any attempt to subvert the democratic process, any attempt to upset the polls on Polling Day, we will rebuff, we will upset any attempt by them…,” Rohee warned.

He noted that there was simply too much at stake to allow any lapses to occur on that day.

“Too many gains have been won and we do not want to lose those gains,” Rohee told the massive crowd of supporters as he indicated his worry that the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition will once again try to interfere with free and fair elections.

These concerns come in light of the fact that the PNC’s past is tainted with the constant rigging of elections. Leader of the coalition, David Granger had expressed his suspicions that the voters’ list was “dirty” on the grounds that it has increased by more than 100,000 when statistics show that the population in Guyana has been dropping over the years.

“Do not take things for granted. Do not be complacent. The List has sud-

denly gone up by 100,000 to 567,000. Keep your eyes open. We do not believe in that,” he had declared.

Bring it home

But PPP/Civic officials have warned that this allegation was merely an attempt to make an excuse for the alliance’s defeat in the event it lost the election.

Meanwhile, Rohee alerted the entire Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) to pour their “blood, sweat and tears” into bringing home another victory for the PPP/C.

“We have to work every single day to ensure that Donald Ramotar and Elisabeth Harper are elected to office…We are impressed by this fantastic and magnificent turnout, but you must go to every door, street, village and transfer this energy that will lead us to victory on May 11,” he encouraged.

Rohee told the support-

ers that Guyana has returned to an era where the two powerful forces in the country were at war with each other, the PPP/C and the PNC, where there was a “fight between good and evil” and they have the power to ensure there was an astounding triumph of good over evil at the polls.

“We will fight this battle with the ballots in our hands…Every single ballot is a weapon in your hands to fight the PNC…We have the people and the people is our strength,” he charged.

Rohee also warned the young people, particularly those who are voting for the first time, to not be fooled by the rhetoric of the other parties.

He urged them to ensure they are fully knowledgeable of Guyana’s political history, of the struggles their motherland experienced in order to give them the life they have today and to vote wisely in order to keep progress going.

Mexican Ambassador accredited

New Mexican Ambassador to Guyana Ivan Robero Sierra Medel on Monday presented his Letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar at the Office of the President.

Welcoming the new Ambassador, the President noted that Guyana and Mexico have enjoyed a productive partnership over the years, both bilaterally and in terms of the framework of the Caricom-Mexico cooperation programme.

The establishment of the Mexican Embassy in Georgetown, President Ramotar said, has served to strengthen that partnership.

“We are encouraged by the continued participation of the Mexican Private Sector in business ventures in Guyana which is testimony of the confidence of inves-

tors in our economy. I have no doubt that during your tenure you would be able to witness firsthand the investor-friendly climate which exists in Guyana and encourage more persons to explore possibilities here,” he was quoted as saying by the Government Information Agency (GINA).

He noted that the technical assistance provided by Mexico in the area of training was complementary to Government’s agenda to develop highly skilled human capital and workforce, and expressed hope that the countries’ bilateral cooperation would be expanded.

Mexico provides Guyanese with scholarships in many areas, including health and engineering, and at present is working with the agriculture sector to explore greater use of coconuts. It is also contributing to a fund that

assists Caricom countries during disasters.

Hailing Guyana as a friend of Mexico, the new Ambassador said the political dialogue between the two countries was reinforced by President Ramotar’s 2014 visit to Mexico during the third Mexico-Caricom Summit. “Guyana’s leadership in Caricom should pave the way for a successful fourth Mexico-Caricom Summit,” as the earlier commitments are bearing fruits.

Noting that Mexicans are investing in Guyana, particularly in the call centre and hospitality industries, the Ambassador noted that GuyExpo should attract more Mexican entrepreneurs. He urged Guyana to participate in the World Economic Forum for Latin America, which will be hosted in Mexico.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee

New Mexican Ambassador Ivan Robero Sierra Medel presents his Letters of Credence to President Donald Ramotar

Sod turned for new campus at Providence

The sod was on Monday turned for a new Texila American University (TAU) campus at Providence, East Bank Demerara which is expected to house some 1600 medical students as well as modern learning facilities.

The sod was turned by President Donald Ramotar,

omy. He pointed out, however, that the most important factor for development in the country was its human capital.

To this end, Ramotar said that with the construction of the new campus, Guyana can soon become a leader in educational tour-

flux of overseas students which is extremely beneficial to the country. It was on this note that he told those present that the new investment, which borders on educational tourism, can lead to the realisation of health tourism, once the Specialty Hospital becomes a reality, disclosing that

TAU Chief Executive Officer Saju Bhaskar and Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali for the construction of the modern facility. This was then followed by the unveiling of the site’s billboard which provides details on the design and facilities the campus will boast such as classrooms, laboratories, library, cafeteria, student lounges and students and staff housing.

Speaking to the invitees at the event, President Ramotar praised the investors for believing in Guyana and for embarking on a project of such magnitude here.

According to the President, the direct foreign investment was a testimony of the confidence investors reposed in the Guyanese econ-

ism, since high standards at the University will build the standard and quality of the country’s professionals, particularly those in the medical field.

“We strongly believe that the most important factor to development is the type of people we have and education plays a major role. In that regard, Texila will not only be bringing students from abroad but they have local students and that is extremely important in lifting our students, lifting our standards and improving the possibilities of education,” the President said.

He further pointed out that with the quality of education Texila offers, Guyana has seen an in -

this can lead to Guyanese being able to man those institutions.

The leader promised the investors of the University that his Government would do everything in its power to ensure that the investment was developed to its full potential since the foreign students will act as ambassadors for Guyana.

Ambassadors for Guyana

“We will do all we can to facilitate this rapid development, so that we can become known right across the world as a country that is strong in producing quality students…that will take our names aboard when they go back to their own homes or countries, or wherever else they might venture

in life and they will remember Guyana and become our ambassadors as well,” the President said.

Meanwhile, Minister Ali said in delivering his remarks with the University setting up house here, Guyana now has the capacity of becoming a bigger player in educational tourism.

“In addition to Texila University, we have another university that is being built next to the International Convention Centre, we have the International Hospitality Centre that is coming, we have the international ICT park that is coming and we have also negotiated with three other universities in establishing their footprint here… and I believe strongly that educational tourism will play part in our tourism product. We will not only become a player, but the biggest player in this region,” he said.

University CEO Saju Bhaskar, in brief remarks, expressed his thanks to the Government of Guyana for making the investment possible, pointing out that the University was a dream which was finally realised and will be here for a long time.

In addition to the University, the CEO said that his company planned to build a 1500-bed hospital which will be able to serve the needs of the Guyanese population.

TAU began its operations in Guyana four years ago with seven students, but has now managed to enrol over 450 students from 35 countries across the globe.

TAU offers full-time programmes for Bachelors in Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing (March and September), and other Allied Health Science programmes on a three-semester system with classes beginning in January, May and September respectively.

Armed gang rob Corentyne family

...victims were warned minutes before blitz

B y A ndrew C Armi Ch Ael

ACorentyne family was on Sunday night attacked by five masked robbers, three of whom carried guns, and others two cutlasses.

The incident took place at Number 45 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). One of the men also entered the house with a knife and while in the house two more knives were taken as weapons. Reports are that the men, all of whom wore gloves, entered the home of Jasmattie Harrychan also called “Nalanie”, sometime between 21:30h and 22:00h. According to Harrychan, it was her son’s 20th birthday and she had prepared an exotic meal but had not served it yet when the attack was occurred.

She said that at the time she was at home with two of the three children, including the birthday boy, and his friend. “I get a phone call from somebody at Number 47 Village stating that bandits were in the area.”

The housewife said at the time she was sitting under the house and her husband, who is a rice farmer, was not at home.

“Right away, I call my husband and tell him and he tell me that he coming, so I go inside and close in the door. When I pulling in the door, they push it open and come inside.”

She explained that her son was in the vacant lot next to their home along with his 18-year-old friend.

On hearing her scream, they ran to her rescue. As they entered the house, they were taken captive, bound and made to lie face down while the men used Harrychan’s 13-year-old daughter to assist them in getting the valuables.

“They tumble the whole house and carry away all the jewellery and money.”

She said they took one gold bangle valued $50,000, six gold rings valued $190,000, one gold band valued $105,000 and one pair of gold earrings valued $75,000. The men also removed from the home two tablets valued $96,000, a Blackberry cellular phone, Nokia cellular phone and a Blue cellular phone totalling $60,000 in value.

“They say that it is not enough and they asking me for more. They get $150,000 that belongs to me and $200,000 that be -

long to my husband. They say if they don’t get anything else, they will rape my 13-year-old daughter.” This made her angry and she told them not to harm the little girl.

Harrychan offered the intruders two gold bangles that she was wearing at the time but told them that it was not gold and the two pairs of gold earrings she had on and they refused them. The men also went into the refrigerator and removed a quantity of food stuff along with the food which she had cooked for the family.

“The birthday cake and all they carry away and it was just finish baking. All the food… baked chicken and everything. They carry away onion, garlic, potato, matches…” The worried woman said, adding that the men turned on her son’s friend and gun butted him, but she pleaded with them to leave him alone saying that he was not a resident of the house.

Amar Ashadat said he was helpless since his hands were tied behind his back and he gave up on life seeing the three “long guns and cutlasses”.

Harrychan said when the men seemed to be satisfied, they took herself and her daughter outside. She is of the opinion that it was for the bandits’ protection as they intended using her as a human shield and hostage had anyone come to the family’s rescue or had her husband return home.

“Then they say if they leave us here we will scream as soon as they leave, but my daughter said we will not scream and suggested that they lock us up inside.” They were taken to a bedroom and locked in the bathroom. About five minutes later, they were able to free themselves. The men had also cut the phone line to the home.

Jasmattie Harrychan

Texila Medical School...

An artist’s impression of what the finished facility will look like

tuesday, april 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP/C promises Local Govt Elections by June 2016

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Administration will work towards ensuring that the long-awaited Local Government Elections (LGE) are held by June 2016 if re-elected.

This avowal is outlined in the Party’s Manifesto which was officially launched on Saturday at the Marriott Hotel. “Our plan will include ensuring that Local Government Elections are held by June 2016, once the required conditions stipulated by GECOM are met and approved by the National Assembly,” the text read.

Local Government polls have not been held here since 1994, robbing citizens of their democratic right to elect the leaders for their Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and town councils. In October last, Attorney General Anil Nandlall had addressed the issue, explaining why those important elections have not been held, casting the blame

upon the main Opposition for actively participating in the postponement of those elections.

Nandlall had chronicled a series of events in his attempt to explain how such an imperative event has been put off time and time again.

The Attorney General recalled that in 1997, the then Government of the day went to General Elections and since Local Government and General Elections could not have been facilitated in the same year, the decision was made to hold General Elections with the PPP/C Presidential Candidate being the late Janet Jagan. That election was followed by massive social unrest, riots, violence, street protests, and arson, which resulted in a team from Caricom intervening.

The team sat with the then People’s National Congress (PNC) which was led by Desmond Hoyte, and the Government where they brokered an arrange-

ment that is now popularly referred to as the Herdmanston Accord.

Meanwhile, in addition to ensuring the polls are held, the PPP/C promised to finalise the Local Government Amendment Act (Chapter 28:02) and establish the Local Government Commission. Other related activities include enacting the Solid Waste Bill, establishing the Solid Waste Management Authority and creating the Regional Solid Waste Landfill Sites across Administrative Regions 2 to 10.

The Party also intends to improve the capacities of local authorities to effectively collect and manage revenues, increase citizens’ participation in local development by facilitating greater participation in developing the budgets of local authorities and in monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and to assist the NDCs in applying Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to discharge their functions.

Surinamese remanded for illegal entry

A23-year-old

Surinamese was on Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts following a charge of illegal entry into the country.

Chris Gobin pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on April 24 at Springlands, Corentyne, he entered Guyana by way of sea and disembarked, failing to present himself to the immigration author-

ities.

The defendant who does not speak English explained by way of an interpreter that he came to attend a wedding and did not have family in the country. He pleaded for leniency, adding that he does not possess the money to pay bail.

The defendant was placed on his own recognizance, and the matter was transferred to the Springlands Magistrates’ Court for May 8.

Construction worker charged with armed robbery

Afather of three was on Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a charge of armed robbery.

Daniel De Souza, 38, a construction worker of 915 Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which read that on March 28 at Mackenzie, Linden, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Kelly Qual of three gold chains, a cellular phone, a handbag contain-

ing personal belongings; an umbrella and cash all totalling $448,000. The man also pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on the same occasion he robbed Joven Wilson of one Samsung smartphone worth $120,000. According to Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, on the day of the incident, the two Virtual Complainants were in a vehicle reversing out of a yard when a silver grey vehicle pulled up behind them. The defendant and others exited the vehicle and held them up at gun-

Mother blames West Dem Hospital nurses for stillborn

Teresa Lalltoo, 30, of Pouderoyen, West Coast Demerara, who gave birth to a stillborn baby in the wee hours of Monday, April 20, is blaming the health-care system at the West Demerara Regional Hospital for her loss.

She said the facility has cost her not only her second child but also left her with a damaged uterus and pelvis. Lalltoo lashed out at what she called the neglectful behaviour and “don’t care attitude” of the nurses at the medical facility when she showed up on April 18 to deliver her baby. As she arrived at the medical facility, she was reportedly greeted by an uncouth nurse who asked “if you come to put up a show”.

Speaking from her home in pain, Lalltoo told the Guyana Times that after the nurse responded in that manner, she went back to join her colleagues who were chatting in another room but collected her clinic card before doing so. The nurse reportedly gave the clinic card to the supervisor who came to meet her some 30

minutes later. As she sat on the bench with her brother, the supervisor called her to the labour room where she was examined. “She tell me that I was only 3cm and that I must go on the bed and lay on my side.”

She spent the whole of Saturday night on the bed until the next morning when her personal gynaecologist visited and conducted another examination –the situation was the same. He, nevertheless, instructed the nurses “not to do anything”. However, during Sunday morning, the nurses checked her pressure and about 13:30h, she was taken back into the labour room where the baby’s heart rate was also checked and turned out to be 190.

Complications

After some time, the nurses did another examination and again, the situation remained the same; hence, they made a decision “clip the water bag” and induce labour. This did not work, so they reportedly gave her two additional doses of the oxytocin drips after

which the uterus expanded by 4cm but the baby’s heart rate dropped to 25.

They attempted to get the baby out, but during the process, a portion of the umbilical cord followed and ended up being lodged in the female reproductive organ. As a result, the doctors rushed into the room and attempted to place the cord back within the uterus, but were unsuccessful; instead Lalltoo’s cervix and pelvic outlet were damaged.

It was at this time that she was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital about 17:00h on Sunday, April 19 where she did an ultrasound which proved that the baby was already dead. About 02:00h on Monday morning, she delivered the stillborn baby.

The angry mother told the Guyana Times that initially, she knew she had to get a caesarean section, but the nurses at the West Demerara Hospital insisted that it was a normal delivery.

She also stated that while delivering her first baby, she did not feel any pain and the second was similar; hence, she could not tell when she started to have contractions but could only assume that the time was right.

Lalltoo is calling on the relevant authorities to address the issues at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, claiming that she would not like to see another mother suffered the way she did. She also called on the nurses who were responsible for the death of her child and caused injuries to her, to face the full brunt of the law.

Teen mom receives hamper from Amerindian Affairs Ministry

Tpoint while relieving them of the articles. A report was made to the Police and on Friday Qual saw the defendant and alerted the Police who subsequently arrested De Souza.

The Prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence, adding that there are several ongoing investigations involving the defendant regarding similar incidents. The defendant was remanded to prison and the matter was transferred to the Linden Magistrates’ Court for today.

he 13-year-old who delivered twins at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on April 17 on Monday received a hamper, compliments of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry.

Making the donation was Community Development Officer in Region Two, Melrose Henry. According to Henry, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry had launched an investigation into the matter. Rose told the media said the hamper contained babies clothing, medical supplies and other items. The Community Development Officer said that it was part of the Ministry’s mandate to reach out in situations like that. She was accompanied by social worker Nadia Seeram.

Meanwhile, according

to the social workers’ report, the Wakapao teenager’s parents were sent to prison when she was seven years old in connection with a Friendship Murder. The teenager was then left in the care of her aunt, Norma James, at Wakapao Amerindian Community, Lower Pomeroon, who took full responsibility for her.

In 2013, her sister who lives in Timehri communicated with her aunt, stating that she would like for her to travel to Timehri to visit her parents in prison. The aunt then agreed and the teenager travelled to her sister’s. During her time at her sister, they had a party where they were intoxicated. The social worker related on the night of the party her brother-inlaw raped her. The report related that she told her sister about the situation

and she started to verbally abuse her, saying it was her fault. The aunt was informed about the incident after which the teenager returned to Wakapao. By then, she was pregnant and had no choice than to keep the baby. Information reaching the Guyana Times revealed that while the Human Services and Social Security Ministry had launched an investigation, no donation or anything was given to the mother although it was stated previously that it would have taken full responsibility for the teen. The Child Care and Protection Agency also visited the teenager at the hospital, but to date nothing was given to the teen mother. The teenager had to depend on the Hospital to provide her with necessities and food.

A distraught mother, Teresa Lalltoo

Illegal alien, Chris Gobin

Dramatic impact of climate change on people’s lives demands response – FAO head

Astrong and collec-

tive effort is needed to tackle climate change, which is already having direct and “tragic” consequences on people’s lives, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Director General José Graziano da Silva told Italian lawmakers Thursday.

Climate-related factors are contributing to intensified food insecurity for many of the world’s most vulnerable people – worsening situations that were already quite dramatic, he said. “When agriculture does not have the chance to bloom, and when food is scarce, the consequences can be dramatic.”

“Hunger can force people to leave families and homes in search of better opportunities that they do not always find. The loss of lives in the Mediterranean is a tragic reminder of this,” the FAO Director General said.

Similarly, the recent tropical storms in the Philippines and Vanuatu showed how quickly food crops can be destroyed by severe weather events, while recurrent droughts have an equally deadly effect, he noted.

Speaking in the Italian Parliament with Italy’s

Environment Minister, Gian Luca Galletti present, Graziano da Silva explained that FAO was especially concerned with climate change given its clear connections to food security and agriculture. “Climate change affects agricultural production and might change the geography of food production,” he said. The agricultural sector is itself a producer of greenhouse gas emissions, but also has the potential to sequester more carbon in soils and forests if sustainable production and management policies are adopted,

he added.

The world needs a paradigm shift to more sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems, which will entail making farming techniques less reliant on intensive use of inputs and natural resources. “In 2015, we need to transform political commitment into actions and results,” Graziano da Silva said, referring to this year’s diplomatic agenda, which includes a new set of Sustainable Development Goals and the December Conference of the Parties (COP) summit organised

by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

“That includes ensuring the necessary funding to cover the cost of transition to food systems that mitigate and adapt, that are more sustainable and resilient to climate change,” he said. Adaptation to and mitigation of climate-change trends is a collective interest, but “we cannot present

the bill to family farmers, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in developing countries”, he stressed. And while boosting rural incomes in developing countries is a priority, richer nations also need to tackle food waste, he said, saying affluent consumers waste around 222 million tonnes of food every year, almost as much as the entire net food production of sub-Saharan Africa.

World Malaria Day 2015

Graziano da Silva hailed Italy for hosting this year’s food-focused Expo in Milan, which is expected to promote the importance of food security, climate change and sustainable Government.”FAO stands ready to develop a strategic partnership with the Italian Government” in preparation for the COP summit, he added.

Region on track to achieve malaria MDG

As the world celebrated World Malaria Day on Saturday under the theme “Invest in the Future. Defeat Malaria”, it was revealed that the Americas are on track to achieve a 75 per cent reduction in its incidence by year-end, as called for by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 18 of the 21 malaria-endemic countries in the region.

In the Americas, deaths from malaria declined 78 per cent between 2000 and 2013, and the number of cases declined by 64 per cent.

Under this year’s theme, stakeholders are seeking to raise awareness of how increased measures for prevention and control have led to dramatic reductions in the burden of malaria in many places throughout the

overcoming the challenges of malaria in communities, countries, or the Americas as a whole.

The awards are sponsored by the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO); the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (MISPH); and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Centre for Communication Programmes (JHU-CCP).

The United Nations Foundation also joins this year’s search as partner and co-presenter.

Malaria on the decline

To mark the final year for the achievement of the MDGs, the 2015 Malaria Champions of the Americas will recognise malaria initi-

world, particularly in the Americas.

Malaria initiatives that have contributed to the achievement of the United Nations MDGs are eligible to compete in this year’s “Malaria Champions of the Americas” contest, which got under way on World Malaria Day. Nominations may be submitted until June 22.

Currently in its seventh year, the annual search for the “Malaria Champions of the Americas” aims to identify and honour innovative efforts that have demonstrated success in malaria prevention, control, elimination, or prevention of reintroduction, and that have significantly contributed to

atives that have contributed to achievement of MDG targets, including those related to malaria as well as targets related to other MDGs (eradication of extreme poverty, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health, development of a global partnership for development, etc).

Nominations will be evaluated based on demonstrated achievements in capacity building, innovation and equity, collaboration, and impact.

Winners of the 2015 Malaria Champion of the Americas award will receive:

* The opportunity to par-

ticipate in three PAHO capacity-building trainings for malaria prevention, control and elimination

* US$2500 funding support for malaria-related capacity-building efforts (eg, staff training/education, research, project proposal development, or other activities that enhance skills and abilities to achieve goals and targets)

* A commemorative plaque

* The opportunity to be featured in various communication platforms of PAHO, UN Foundation, GWUMISPH, and JHU-CCP as a “best practice” story on malaria.

Full details and nomination forms can be downloaded at www.paho.org/malaria2015

Top winners will be recognised during the commemoration of Malaria Day in the Americas in November 2015.

Previous awardees have included:

* the Centro Nacional de Control de Enfermedades Tropicales (CENCET) in the Dominican Republic, recognised in 2014 for outstanding and sustained achievements in reducing the burden of malaria, towards the goal of eliminating local transmission of the disease and contributing to lymphatic filariasis elimination activities and the control of dengue

* The Fundación Universidad de Antioquia (FUA) – Fondo Financiero de Proyectos de Desarrollo (FONADE) of Colombia, recognised in 2013 for successful efforts in increasing access to early diagnosis, adequate treatment, among other activities, which effectively reached indigenous populations, mestizos and Afro-descendant communities

* The National Malaria Programme of Paraguay, recognised in 2012 for outstanding achievements in reducing the burden of malaria towards elimination of local transmission, among other activities.

FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva

Map showing the incidence of malaria around the world

tuesday, april 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mayweather Sr calls for son to retire after Pacquiao fight

Floyd Mayweather should retire after Saturday’s super-fight against Manny Pacquiao, according to his father.

Mayweather, 38, has said he will fight one more time after the clash with Pacquiao at the MGM Grand

Mayweather relinquished his WBC light-middleweight title, only to come out of his brief retirement in July to announce his fight with Britain’s Ricky Hatton.

Mayweather also retired in 2008 but returned 21 months later in May 2009 to

in Las Vegas.

The unbeaten American’s fight with Pacquiao is the fifth of a six-fight contract with broadcaster Showtime.

“I hope he walks away after this fight.” said Mayweather Sr. “This is a gambler’s game and I don’t think Floyd should be gambling too much.”

WBA and WBC champion Mayweather has won all 47 of his fights, 26 by knockout, in his 19-year professional career.

After his defeat of Oscar de la Hoya in May 2007,

fight Juan Manuel Marquez.

The fight against Pacquiao is expected to be the richest in the history of boxing and they will walk away with about £200m between them.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Mayweather Sr, 62, added: “Once you reach that pedigree and make that kind of money, you don’t have to fight no more.

“Whenever you get in that ring, anything can happen. It looks easy but it ain’t as easy as it looks. He makes it look easy.” (BBC Sport)

Boult leads Sunrisers’ successful defence of 150

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s all-international attack defended a moderate total so well Kings XI Punjab looked out just after the halfway mark of the chase. Wriddhiman Saha sparked a revival, but Trent Boult justified playing ahead of Dale Steyn again, removing the keeper and Axar Patel in a decisive 18th over. A victory margin of 20 runs showed just how far behind Kings XI’s top order had fallen.

The pace and swing of Boult was followed by the control of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Praveen Kumar, barring an expensive opening over. That was followed by lack of pace from Moises Henriques and tight legspin from Karn Sharma, providing Kings XI no release.

Boult kickstarted Sunrisers’ defence when he swung one in full to bowl Manan Vohra - playing instead of Virender Sehwag - off the inside edge in the

third over. The next and bigger strike came off the inside edge too, when Shaun Marsh played the wrong line off Bhuvneshwar in the fourth over.

George Bailey counter-attacked briefly, hitting Praveen for three fours in an over, but when he failed to clear midoff against Henriques in the eighth over, Kings XI had slipped to 45 for 3.

That became 53 for 4, as David Miller misjudged a call for two and M Vijay failed to return in time. Miller could not make up for that error, swinging Karn to longoff in the 13th over to leave Sunrisers on 72 for 5.

Dropped twice in three balls, Saha, along with Axar, fought back, the pair adding 44 in 4.5 overs. Praveen, Henriques and Bhuvneshwar went for runs in three successive overs as the equation came down to 35 needed off 18 balls.

That was when Boult

stepped up again. Axar backed away first ball of the over, and found his leg stump uprooted with a yorker. As he usually does, Saha had relied on the pull during his 42 but Boult hurried one onto him, and square leg took the catch. The over went for just seven, including four off Saha’s leg when he missed an attempted scoop.

Bhuvneshwar and Praveen were too good for the lower order.

The lower half of Sunrisers’ innings had tapered off again after David Warner’s fourth fifty in seven innings this season. Warner had taken 46 of his 58 runs in boundaries.

Even as the batsmen at the other end struggled, Warner kept making room and smearing boundaries through the off side.

Sunrisers again failed to double the score at Warner’s exit in the tenth over. Henriques and Naman Ojha laboured to add 45 in nearly seven overs. Even though Henriques lasted till the last over, his strike-rate remained below run a ball.

Ashish Reddy swung successive sixes against the run of play off Sandeep Sharma, but Sunrisers seemed to be clearly short of runs. But their attack has defended lower totals in the past. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sunrisers Hyderabad innings (20 overs maximum)

DA Warner* c Miller b Patel 58

S Dhawan c Vijay b Johnson 1

GH Vihari c Vohra b Anureet

Singh 9

MC Henriques b Sandeep Sharma 30

NV Ojha† c Miller b Patel 28

RS Bopara c †Saha b Johnson 0 A Ashish Reddy not out 22 KV Sharma not out 1 Extras (lb 1) 1 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 150 Did not bat: P Kumar, B Kumar, TA Boult

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-56, 3-76, 4-121, 5-123, 6-136. Kings XI Punjab Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-1-35-1, MG Johnson 4-0-39-2, Anureet Singh 4-0-27-1, M Vijay 3-0-16-0, AR Patel 4-0-25-2,

R Dhawan 1-0-7-0.

Kings XI Punjab innings (target: 151 runs from 20 overs) M Vijay run out (Vihari/†Ojha) 12 M Vohra b Boult 5

SE Marsh b B Kumar 1

GJ Bailey* c Sharma b Henriques 22

DA Miller c Boult b Sharma 15

WP Saha† c P Kumar b Boult 42

AR Patel b Boult 17

R Dhawan lbw b B Kumar 4

MG Johnson not out 4 Anureet Singh c Warner b P Kumar 0

Sandeep Sharma not out 1 Extras (lb 2, w 5) 7

Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 130 Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-13, 3-45, 4-53, 5-72, 6-116, 7-123, 8-126, 9-127. Sunrisers Hyderabad Bowling: TA Boult 4-0-19-3, B Kumar 4-0-23-2, P Kumar 4-0-341, KV Sharma 4-0-22-1, MC Henriques 4-0-30-1.

BCCI secretary v Srinivasan gets heated

The internal tussle for control of the BCCI was played out in public via a letter from the newly-elected BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur to the ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan on Monday. In the letter, Thakur accused Srinivasan of not being ‘reconciled’ with his election to the post of BCCI secretary and therefore launching a ‘counter offensive.’ This counter offensive, Thakur wrote, was the leak of an internal ICC document regarding his association with a ‘suspected bookie.’ Thakur, however, has denied having knowledge or clue of the activities of one Karan Gilhotra “as a suspected bookie.”

The letter from the ICC was dated April 22 with a copy marked to the ICC chairman Srinivasan. ICC CEO David Richardson had written to BCCI president Jagmohan

Dalmiya over an allegation that Thakur was spotted with Gilhotra, who “appears on the ICC ACSU database… following rumours … about his involvement in betting on cricket.”

Richardson said, “during the 2014 edition of the IPL, unverified information was received by the ICC ACSU that Mr Gilhotra was seen trying to befriend players and support staff during the tournament and that there were rumours (again unverified) about his involvement in betting on cricket.”

The letter was sent to Dalmiya as it fell, “outside the jurisdiction of the ICC’s anti corruption code” so he could “handle as appropriate.” The original email sent by a journalist carried photographs of Gilhotra and Thakur together. Thakur, in his letter on Monday, said that the BCCI had “received

information from the ICC ostensibly under your [Srinivasan’s] direction that I should keep away from one Mr Karan Gilhotra who is a ‘suspected bookie… I only wish that you had shared the list of ‘un-

verified suspected bookies’ with me and other colleagues, so we could identify such persons and keep away from them.”

Thakur added he had, known Gilhotra “who has been active in the political and cricket in activities in Punjab and adjacent states. I had no knowledge about his activities as a bookie.”

The ICC letter states that on the basis of the information, Ravi Sawani, the director of the BCCI’s anti corruption unit, “wrote to all the IPL franchise managers in 2014 advising them that they should take steps to ensure Mr Gilhotra was not entertained by any of their squad members.” The letter then ended with the following: “we believe however as the allegation involves Mr Thakur for his own benefit, it would be advisable for its contents to be drawn to Mr

Thakur’s immediate attention.”

Thakur said the ICC advisory was made public at Srinivasan’s “behest” around the working committee meeting in Kolkata on Sunday. He also asked Srinivasan to, share this information (regarding the list of suspected bookies) “with your family members, whose involvement in betting has been proved.” A reference to the 2013 IPL corruption case when Srinivasan’s son in law and Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan was charged with betting by the Supreme Court. Thakur’s letter ended with a statement that, “since the ICC advisory had been made in public, I would be making this letter to you public” circulating its contents and details on social media and on the BCCI’s official mailing list to media outlets. (Cricinfo)

Floyd Mayweather

Trent Boult is congratulated after taking a wicket

ICC chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan

Demerara Cricket Board elections set for April 30

The Demerara Cricket Board elections have been scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at the GNIC pavilion, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, the body said in a statement.

Below is the full text of the release:

We refer to a notice in your Sunday Newspaper dated 24th April, 2015 where it appears that one Sudesh Persaud is once again impersonating a functionary (Assistant Secretary) of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB), a Corporate Body. We hereby reject all statements expressed in the said notice as fictitious, libellous, malicious, mischievous and misleading.

There exists no lawful Executive Committee of the Demerara Cricket Board.

We believe that Sudesh Persaud’s continuous deception and pretence of being the Assistant Secretary of the Demerara Cricket Board when he is not constitutes a serious criminal offence.

The Cricket Administration Act No. 14 of 2014 on page 28 clearly identified the Georgetown

Cricket Association, the East Coast Cricket Board, the East Bank Cricket Association, the West Demerara Cricket Association and the Upper Demerara Cricket Association as the only legally recognised members of the DCB.

Sudesh Persaud and anyone acting in concert with him may be required to produce all documents / information to the Guyana Police Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions and other relevant authorities including a Magistrate court to verify his claims, as to how and when he was installed as Assistant Secretary of the DCB, including who voted, and who are his fellow Executives.

It is a criminal offence to impersonate an Executive Member of a corporate body and as such the membership of the DCB (AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW) has instructed their Attorneys-at-Law to bring Sudesh Persaud to justice.

The membership of the Demerara Cricket Board is therefore advised to ignore

and disregard the notice signed by Sudesh Persaud and published in the national newspapers on Sunday, April 26, 2015 since he is NOT an Executive member / Officer of the DCB nor is he duly authorised.

As instructed by the meeting of the members held on Friday, March 27, 2015 at the GNIC Sports Club, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Demerara Cricket Board will be held on 30th April, 2015 commencing 5.00pm at the GNIC pavilion, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown. The agenda of the AGM of the DCB remains the same as was published on Sunday, March 29, 2015. The entire membership of the DCB is invited.

It must be noted that this would be the first free and fair elections of the DCB in four years and IT IS TIME for democracy in our Cricket Administration, thereby allowing for cricket to be truly the winner.

Majority of the Membership of the Demerara Cricket Board

Greatest in the Streets Linden leg...

Quarter-finalists decided for tonight’s showdown

Quarter-final action in the Linden leg of the Guinness Greatest in the Streets football competition will take place this evening in the mining town with a total of seven games at the Mackenzie Market Tarmac.

The evening’s programme will kick off with three exhibition games, followed by action in the final four.

In quarter-final one, Wisroc will take on Classic Six, followed by Retrieve Unknowns against Main Street Panthers. Russian and Speightland will clash in quarter-final three, with game four bringing together

Hard Knocks and Starboys. The three exhibition games will have cash prizes of $25,000, 15,000 and $10,000 at stake for the champion teams. Meanwhile, several teams recorded victories in the latest round of games last weekend.

A Romel Matthews’ 11th minute goal handed Classic Six a 1-0 success over Pokerburg, while an Andel Norville double accounted for Amelia’s Ward’s goals in their 2-0 victory over Aliku. Speightland walked away with a 1-0 win over The Amazings, with Salesh Seaforth scoring the all-important goals, while Darrell

A Ally and Sons Secondary Schools U-17 cricket competition... Rosignol chalk up second consecutive outright win

The 2015 A Ally and Sons Inter-Secondary School Under-17 Cricket Competition for schools in Berbice continued recently when Rosignol Secondary School registered their second consecutive outright win.

Below are the summarised scores from the matches played:

At Blairmont, Rosignol Secondary School beat Woodley Park Secondary by an innings and 146 runs. Rosignol Secondary made 213-9 declared, with Alvin Chowramootoo hitting an unbeaten 50

and Seeraj Bissoondial, 29. Hanskumar Jodhan took 4-80 and Nandanie Arnold 4-65. Woodley Park Secondary were then bowled out for 45 in their first innings. Geetesh Roopnarine took 5-1 and Suraj Bissoondial, 3-16.

Batting a second time, Woodley Park were blown away for just 22, with Hemchan Singh (6-8) and Geetesh Roopnarine (2-14) doing the damage. At Cumberland, Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) took first innings points from Canje Secondary School in their

drawn match. Canje batting first were bowled out for 63, with Ravendra Ramnauth taking 4-13 and Avash Seepersaud, 2-11. BEI replied with 95, with Sasenarine Sukhu hitting a top score of 61. Abdul Ramsammy took 4-11 and Zeynil Ramsammy, 3-21. Batting a second time, Canje reached 1139, with Jamal Frank scoring 22 and Isiah Reid, 21. Ravindra Ramnauth took 5-29 and Tagenarine Shiwmangal, 2-3. At Area H, Lower Corentyne Secondary School (LCSS) took first innings points from Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary School in their drawn encounter. The LCSS made 197 batting first, with Veramootoo Senwasie hitting 40; Kevlon Anderson, 30; and Junior Sinclair, 25. Alex Williams took 3-30; Haifa Walters, 2-29; and Surendra Budhoo, 2-15. Corentyne Comprehensive were then bowled out for 81. Karan Rajpaul claimed 5-8 and Keith Simpson, 3-12.

Daughter wins battle of the Ramdyhans

Young Nicola Ramdyhan put on a show of her best tennis shots against her own mother and coach Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan to grab the Assuria Ladies Singles Open Championship at the weekend.

But she first had to overcome being down two breaks at 3-0 in the first set before she tactfully absorbed the powerful groundstrokes of her coach and used it consistently to her advantage to win the first set 6-4.

George ensured Retrieve Unknowns earned a similar result against Silent Assassins.

Wisroc and Half Mile/ One Mile played to a nilall stalemate before the former emerged with a 2-1 win on penalties, while Russian thumped Coomacka 3-0 to record the biggest win of the night. Travis Waterton, Oswald Benjamin and Terrance Aaron were the goalscorers.

Hard Knocks and Star Boys also emerged with 1-0 wins, with Attackers and Silver Bullets being on the losing end respectively.

In the second set, Coach Shelly again quickly went up 4-1 with tactical full court placement of her shots, earning several winners in the process, but again the younger Ramdyhan seemed to enjoy the challenge of being down and she slowly gained momentum and confidence to outrally her mother to win the set and close the match at 6-4.

In the Men’s semi-finals, Anthony Downes quickly brushed aside 13-year-old Mark McDonald 6-1, 6-0 to set himself up to play Daniel Lopes in the Men’s Open Final.

Lopes’ road to the final was not as smooth, as his semi-final match against Leyland Leacock was not predictable in that it kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

In the first set, both players struggled to hold serve, but Leacock prevailed to

close the set at 6-3. In the second set, Lopes stepped up his game and unleashed a variety of solid groundstrokes from the baseline to win 6-0, never giving Leacock a chance.

In the third set, Leacock fought back and was up 3-0 when a determined Lopes broke back and won two games. Leacock then won two games to go up 5-2. Lopes then broke back to take the score to 5-3, and then 5-4.

Leacock then served for the match, losing his serve to Lopes who delivered several passing shots

to even the score at 5-5. At this time, both players became more aggressive and held serve to 6-6. In the tiebreaker, Leacock won the first two points after which it was all Lopes to grasp the tiebreaker at 7-2 to win the set and match. The Veteran categories are owned by the tactical experts Carlos Adams and Godfrey Lowden, both of whom traded championships in the past. Both men will face each other in the Men’s Over-35 Singles and Men’s Over-45 Singles Finals.

Sasenarine Sukhu

Alvin Chowramootoo

Some of the action during tournament Guinness

Mother Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan (left) and daughter Nicola Ramdyhan after the game

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The senior selection panel of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has called up 29 players to prepare for the May Day Cup one-day tournament.

The players are: Shimron Hetmyer, Kandasammy Surujnarine, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Seon Hetmyer, Royston Crandon, Jonathan Foo, Anthony Bramble, Gudakesu Moti, Keon Joseph, Raun Johnson, Veerasammy Permaul, Rafael Estriado, Romario Shepherd, Niall Smith, Krisendat Ramoo, Eugene LaFleur, Rajiv Ivan, Kevin Ramdeen, Dineshwari Prashad, Jason Sinclair, Sharaz Ramcharran, Suresh Dhanai, Yougendra Harrinarine, Joshua Ramsammy, Shawn Perreira, Balchand Baldeo and Permanand Ramdhan.

Players named must make contact with the Board on 333-2375, Dhiriendranauth Somwaru on 639-9278, Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Team Coach Albert Smith on 610-3371 to confirm their availability.

The May Day Cup oneday event is billed for May 2 at the historic Albion Sports Complex. Proceeds from this

Archrivals Berbice and Demerara clash in the feature T20 game. Several top national and international players will be on show in the T20, according to the or-

ganisers.

The winning team will collect $200,000, while the losing team will get half that amount. The Man of the Match will receive $20,000.

Further, the event will see four exciting zone teams from the county of Berbice – West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower

Corentyne and Upper Corentyne/ Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) clash. Matches will be 15 overs-a-side with two semi-finals and the grand final.

The winners will take home a trophy and $100,000, the runner-up $50,000, and the two losing semi-finalists $25,000 each. The Man of the Match will also receive a trophy and $10,000.

Following the cricket, Shakti Strings Orchestra, accompanied by the popular Crown Vibes International, will entertain the crowd during the big after-party lime.

The day’s activity bowls off from 10:00h. Tickets cost $1000, with children under

12 admitted free. Meanwhile, the West Berbice selectors have also selected a 15-man squad. West Berbice squad: Jaipaul Heeralall, Lakeraj Sookra, Heeralall Bridgelall, Eon Abel, Keith Fraser, Kevon Jawahir, Devindra Lalsa, Nick Ramsaroop, Romesh Boodram, Altaf Khan, Keron Fraser, Raun Johnson, Deneshwari Prashad, Keon Joseph and Abdool Subhan.

Windies players rise in world rankings

The West Indies trio of Darren Bravo, Kraigg Brathwaite and Marlon Samuels have all risen in the ICC Men’s Player Test Rankings after their performances in the second Test against England in Grenada.

The 22-year-old Kraigg Brathwaite made the biggest move after hopping eight places to be ranked 34th among all batsmen in the world. This is the highest ranking that

the former West Indies Under-19 captain has had since making his debut in Test cricket in 2011. Jamaican Marlon Samuels also made progress, jumping three places in the rankings to be ranked 28th in the world. Darren Bravo moved up two places and is ranked 32nd in the world now.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul still remains the highest West Indies Test batsman on the list, as he is ranked at number 11, while Chris Gayle at 37th, rounds out the West Indies players in the top 50 Test batsmen in the world. The number one spot is current held by Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka. (Digicel SportsMax)

VACAnCIeS

Shimron Hetmyer

Gudakesu Moti

Jonathan Foo Keon Joseph

Kraigg Brathwaite

McPherson leads FAPC to Commissioner Inter-Division title

An attacking halfcentury from Sherwin McPherson was the backbone, which guided Felix Austin Police College (FAPC) to a fivewicket victory over A Division (Georgetown) in the final of the Guyana Police Force Inter-Division Commissioner T20 Competition on Saturday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.

Batting first, A Division were bowled out for 111 in 19.3 overs. Jason Heyliger led with an accomplished 56, inclusive of seven fours. He and Kelvin Leitch,

who made 18, added 64 for the fifth wicket to resurrect the innings, after they were reduced to 14-4 in three overs.

Rocky Hutson claimed 3-8 off four overs and Stephen Harris 3-18 from four.

McPherson and Jason Mc Almont (10) featured in a first-wicket stand of 36 to set the foundation for the chase.

McPherson clobbered 10 fours in a top score of 69, while Eon Rodrigues chipped in with 14. Trevor Benn, Heyliger and Richard Leacock picked up

one wicket each.

FAPC pocketed $200,000 and the winning trophy, while A Division received $ 150,000.

Tactical Services Unit received $100,000 for finishing third.

McPherson was the recipient of $45,000 after he won the Man-of-the-Match and the best-batsman-in the-final awards.

Hutson claimed $20,000 for being the best bowler in the final. The competition was sponsored by Anand Persaud Dental Clinic of Eccles.

5th Powerade cycling programme on this weekend

Committed in its effort to provide avenues for the country’s sportsmen and women to showcase their skills, Banks DIH Limited has once again agreed to sponsor this weekend’s 11-race cycling programme for the fifth year in succession.

event on Monday, noting that a large field of riders was expected to flock the venue to compete in the races planned for the day.

“We can expect a very competitive race, because there has been a short break in the season and no doubt the riders will look to come

Set to challenge Persaud are Alanzo Greaves, Raynauth Jeffrey, Marlon Williams, Orville Hinds, Hamzah Eastman and Jamal John among others.

Other winners from last year include Michael Anthony in the Juveniles/Juniors, Junior Niles in the Veterans,

Organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, the day’s activities, which are set to commence at 09:00h on the inner circuit of the National Park, will be sponsored under the company’s Powerade energy drink brand.

Mohamed confirmed the entity’s sponsorship of the

Low, Joseph, Ince-Carvahal top Digicel squash tournament

The Kraft Toucan Industries Junior Skill Level Tournament held by the Guyana Squash Association (GSA), in collaboration with main sponsor Digicel culminated at the Georgetown Club on Sunday.

Rebecca Low and Samuel Ince-Carvahal continued their impressive form as they dominated their respective groups to finish as the most outstanding girl and boy respectively.

Low recovered from a first-game loss to the emerging Makeda Harding to complete a 3-1 victory and by extension her domination of Group C, as Harding finished second and Maya Collins third.

Unsurprisingly, the Most Outstanding Boy emerged from the highly competitive Group D. InceCarvahal took the award even though he suffered a surprise final-day loss to Demetrius De Abreu, while Ethan and Lucas Jonas finished second and third respectively.

In Category A, Nyron Joseph and Akeila Wiltshire notched up 3-0 victories, with Joseph taking the top spot in the group, Ben Mekdeci taking second and the elder Wiltshire finishing third.

Shomari Wiltshire emerged winner of Group B, a group which underscored its pedigree for emerging

talent.

The younger Wiltshire earned a hard-fought comefrom-behind victory over Alex Cheeks losing the first two games 5-11, 7-11 then recovering to win the next three 11-7, 11-6, 11-7.

Alexander Cheeks walked away with the Most Improved Boy award and finished second, while Daniel Islam edged Anthony Islam 3-1 to secure the third-place spot.

Kirsten Gomes finished atop Group E, while also walking away with the Most Improved Girl award. She had to hold her nerve for her first victory over Madison Fernandes 3-1 (11-2, 11-7, 11-13, 12-10) to relegate Fernandes to second in the group, as Jason Gomes finished third.

James Mekdeci completed a 3-0 victory over Nathan Rahaman on Sunday to win Group F, with Gareth DaSilva placing second and Nathan Rahaman, third.

Meanwhile, Mohryan Baksh, Liam Carpenter and Chad DeAbreu finished first through third respectively in Group G with Baksh (2-0) and DeAbreu (2-1) completing victories over Teija Edwards and Beau Fernandes respectively.

Louis DaSilva (first); Isabella Ramjohn (second); and Shiloh Asregado (third) occupied the winner’s row of Group H, as DaSilva and Asregado secured 2-0 victo-

ries on Sunday.

Full results are as follow:

Group A

Nyron Joseph beat Benjamin Mekdeci 3-0 (1311, 11-1, 11-8)

Akeila Wiltshire beat Alec Melville 3-0 (11-4, 115, 11-5)

Category A: 1st – Nyron Joseph; 2nd – Ben Mekdeci; 3rd – Akeila Wiltshire

Group B

Shomari Wiltshire defeated Alex Cheeks 3-2 (511, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-7)

Daniel Islam beat Anthony Islam 3-1 (7-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-5)

Category B: 1st –Shomari Wiltshire; 2nd –Alexander Cheeks; 3rd –

Daniel Islam

Group C

Rebecca Low beat

Makeda Harding 3-1 (8-11, 11-6, 11-8, 11-6)

Category C: 1st –Rebecca Low; 2nd – Makeda Harding; 3rd – Maya Collins

Group D

John Phang beat Zachary Persaud 3-0 (11-4, 11-2, 11-3)

Demetrius DeAbreu beat Samuel Ince-Carvahal 3-0 (11-8, 12-10, 11-9)

Lucas Jonas beat Michael Alphonso 3-1 (9-11, 11-7, 11-6, 11-3)

Ethan Jonas beat Dominic Collins 3-2 (9-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-2, 11-1)

Category D: 1st –

Samuel Ince-Carvahal; 2nd – Ethan Jonas; 3rd – Lucas

Jonas

Group E

Jason Gomes beat Abosaide Cadogan 3-0 (115, 11-6, 11-2)

Kirsten Gomes beat Madison Fernandes 3-1 (112, 11-7, 11-13, 12-10)

Category E: 1st –Kirsten Gomes; 2nd –Madison Fernandes; 3rd –Jason Gomes

Group F

Haley Carpenter beat Aliyah Persaud 3-2 (5/11, 11/8, 11/8, 9/11, 12/10) James Mekdeci beat Nathan Rahaman 3-0 (11/6, 11/1, 11/4)

Category F: 1st – James Mekdeci; 2nd – Gareth DaSilva; 3rd – Nathan Rahaman

Group G Mohryan Baksh beat Teija Edwards 2-0 (11-8, 11-3)

Chad DeAbreu beat Beau Fernandes 2-1 (10-12, 11-4, 11-4)

Category G: 1st –Mohryan Baksh; 2nd –Liam Carpenter; 3rd –Chad DeAbreu

Group H

Louis DaSilva beat Isabella Ramjohn 2-0 (118, 11-2)

Shiloh Asregado beat Noah Rahaman 2-0 (11-9, 11-9)

Category H: 1st – Louis Da Silva; 2nd – Isabella Ramjohn; 3rd – Shiloh Asregado

out with a winning spirit this weekend,” Mohamed said. Robin Persaud of Carlton Wheelers Cycle Club will be hard-pressed to retain the title in the main event, having won the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational last year in a time of one hour, 14 minutes, 11.15 seconds (01h: 14m: 11.15s).

Jeffrey in the Mountain Bikes and Avish Ramkellawan in the 12-14 Boys and Girls.

According to Mohamed, top officials of Banks DIH Limited, including Jennifer Khan, will be on hand to witness the races and assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion. (Avenash Ramzan)

GKC in need of funding for dojo and upcoming World Cup tour

One of Guyana’s most successful dojos, the Guyana Karate College (GKC) is aiming to procure funds in order to complete its dojo as well as facilitate travel to the World Cup tournament in July.

With the GKC already cash-strapped for the coming month with the building of its dojo, the top-of-the-line ka-

in July, according to Sensei Jeffrey Wong. Only on Sunday did the GKC’s six- to nine-yearolds perform creditably at a federation cup at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall sponsored by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) where they bagged four gold medals as well as a few silver and bronze medals.

rate school is pleading with businesses to come on board in support of the youngsters’ dreams of going to Toronto, Canada for the World Cup or with the College’s efforts to build the dojo.

Last year, the GKC performed exceptional at the World Cup bagging 24 medals, including a number of gold medals. A number of the defending champions are hoping to actually defend their title at the event

The dojo is at its foundation stage in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown as the GKC hopes to finish the building by November according to Annabelle Sharma who is not only a parent associated with the college but also the lead architect of building the dojo.

The GKC is also planning a grand fun day on Friday in order to raise funds at the Education Ministry Ground. (Treiston Joseph)

The victorious FAPC team with Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud in the centre

Sensei Jeffrey Wong (left) and Annabelle Sharma

Flashback! Top performers of the 2014 race pose with their trophies and samples of Powerade (Avenash Ramzan file photo)

tuesday, april 28, 2015

Busta Soft Shoe tournament...

Close games decide the final four quarterfinal teams – Bent Street excite crowd with come-from-behind win

By TreisTon Joseph

The intensity and qual-

ity of the Busta Soft Shoe Tournament is progressing to another level, as no team lost by two or more goals on the final night of the Round of 16 action at the Georgetown Football Club Ground on Sunday evening.

Ruimveldt ended with Sophia advancing to the final eight with a 2-1 victory.

Dwayne Lowe received a perfect through ball to score the game’s opening goal in the 13th minute to end the fast-paced first half.

Nikosie Barker levelled the scores in the 20th minute before Lowe notched his second goal of the night

seemed on hand by the end of the first half.

In the early minutes of the second half, Bent Street were still unable to find openings for clear scoring opportunities.

However, Bent Street scored their three goals in the last five minutes of the game, with the first coming in the 25th minute from

the 11th minute and Travis Grant scored the winning goal in the 31st minute.

Josiah Charles was the scorer for Globe Yard with a goal in the 24th minute.

The quarterfinal games will be held on Tuesday, with Bent Street taking on Queen Street Tiger Bay, Kitty Weavers facing Festival City, West Front

Kitty Weavers held on to defeat Broad Street 1-0 in the first game of the evening. The lone goal came in the first half from Sherwin Vincent in the 14th minute.

Despite constant attacks by Broad Street in the second half especially in the waning minutes of the game, Kitty held their composure to advance to the quarterfinals of the Tournament.

Game two of the night between Sophia and North

in the 25th minute to ensure Sophia advance.

Bent Street scored the most goals of the evening to pull off a thrilling 3-2 comefrom-behind win against West Back Road to ensure their place in the quarterfinals.

West Back Road’s Jarel Tyrell scored the game’s opening goal in the eighth minute before Odel Young made the score 2-0 in the 15th minute as a rout

Ronson Williams while Anthony Abrams equalised in the 26th minute, as frustration seemingly began to affect the West Back Road players.

Abrams would produce the final goal three minutes into stoppage time to win the match for Bent Street.

In the final game of the evening, Sparta Boss defeated Globe Yard 2-1, with Sheldon Shepherd scoring the game’s first goal in

score’s even beaten...

but

Meanwhile, in the race for Three-year-old West Indian bred horses, which attracted a field of 14 animals, Jockey C Ross piloted She’s So Special of the Jumbo Jet Stables to the $240,000 first prize. Cat Messiah and Bird Man finished next in that order.

The E1 and Lower race was won by Release The Beast of the Jumbo Jet Stables ahead of Sent from

will

the

at

Above, Swing Easy and Passion for Song in that order. The race carried a first prize of $500,000, while the G2 and Lower race which carried a first prize of $400,000 was won by Bridal Stone Corner ahead of Its My Choice and Joyful Victory.

Massapaquae Dr of the Dennis Deroop Stable took care of business in the K class race for non-win-

ners and earned the stable $140,000. In second place was Plain Land ahead of Magaline and Happy.

The day’s proceedings came to an end when Affinity with Jockey K Paul on board won the J3 and Lower event with Regina running second. The race carried a top purse of $160,000 and saw Speed Vision and Massapaquae Dr picking up the other two places.

Narine to undergo...

The panel, comprising former India captain S Venkataraghavan, former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath and former international umpire AV Jayaprakash, had no issues with Narine’s remodelled action and gave him a clean chit.

That was a re-test for Narine considering he got the clearance in two months having obtained the earlier one from the testing centre at the University of Loughborough on March 10.

According to an official privy to the matter, the on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Vineet Kulkarni reported to the match referee having doubts about a few deliveries Narine bowled against Sunrisers, who won the rain-affected match by 16 runs. Incidentally, Narine had gone wicketless, giving away 38 runs in his four overs.

The official said “a fair number of deliveries, about four to five” were spotted by the umpires. He did not describe the type of deliveries but did confirm the faster one was one of them. It is understood that the BCCI told the franchise that the match officials were “con-

cerned” about some deliveries.

The news would have definitely come as a surprise for Narine and the franchise considering the BCCI panel had given him a positive report card earlier this month. As intriguing as the matter could be, the official pointed out that sometimes a bowler, if he is pushed into a corner, can fall back on old habits. Indirectly he said that Narine might have repeated some of the mistakes he made during the Champions League Twenty20 last year, when he was reported twice by the umpires and was consequently out of the tournament.

According to the official he did not want to cast aspersions on Narine’s future in the tournament and only said the decision was his and Knight Riders’ to make. Although no Knight Riders official was available for comment, as a first step the defending champions have decided to not risk playing Narine without sending him for fresh testing. Knight Riders play Rajasthan Royals at home on Sunday and there is a strong possibility Narine will miss that match.

The President’s Cup was initially presented to

Sheriff Racing Stable by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

the race winner

be decided

a stewards’ inquiry

Road battling Cross Street Werk-en-rust and Sparta Boss facing Sophia. Action is set to kick off from 20:45h.

Dwayne Lowe scores for Sophia in their win

Score’s Even beaten badly – race winner undecided

By Andrew CArmiChAel

The winner of the feature race in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) oneday horse-race meet at the Port Mourant Turf Club on

Sunday is still undecided.

After officials had initially decided that Spit Fire was the winner of the close finish with Jack In My Style and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh presented the President’s Cup trophy to

Narine to undergo tests in Chennai

Kolkata Knight Riders have decided to send Sunil Narine for another test of his bowling action after match officials expressed “concerns” over “fair amount” of deliveries the offspinner bowled in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday in Visakhapatnam. If Narine is called a second time, he will be out of the IPL and hence the franchise wants to play it safe and not risk playing him in the upcoming matches without the test.

It is understood that the franchise is trying hard to get an appointment at the Sri Ramachandra Arthroscopy and Sports Science Centre in Chennai, an ICC accredited testing centre. Narine will travel with former Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram, who is Knight Riders’ bowling

consultant, and team analyst AR Srikkanth. This will be the second time Narine will be travelling to Chennai this month having already received a clearance from the BCCI’s sub-committee on suspect action days before the IPL started.

turn to page 23

the Sheriff Racing Stables, officials said there would be a steward’s inquiry followed by an announcement in the press of the winner.

The change came about after footage of the finish was circulated to some con-

cerned fans.

Officials are to meet and look at the footage to decide the winner of the feature event, which carried a first prize of $1.2 million.

Four of the country’s fastest animals took the starting gates: Score’s Even, Run Nana Run, Jack In My Style and Spit Fire.

The horses were out in an even break and the favourite, Guyana’s only A class horse – Score’s Even

took the lead as they went around the first turn of the 1700-metre race.

Score’s Even went out in front leading by three lengths at the halfway mark, but as Spit Fire began to chase with intense vigour, Jack In My Style followed suit.

As they passed the 1000-metre mark, it was Score’s Even and Jack In My Style going neck and neck but as they approached the

final turn, Run

made a move.

Around the final turn, Score’s Even started to fade and was challenged by Run Nana Run as Jack In My Style continued to press on with Spit Fire holding on to make the race too close to call.

It was Spit Fire’s fourth race since being imported into Guyana. Already the animal has two wins.

Low, Joseph, Ince-Carvahal

Digicel squash tournament

Nana Run

Spit Fire and Jack In My Style in a close finish with Run Nana Run

Sunil Narine

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh presenting the three-year-old WI bred trophy to the Jumbo Jet Racing Stables