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Warrau Language being revived among young people P14

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Issue No. 3000

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, October 7, 2016

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86 Guyanese awarded at Investiture Ceremony

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Another P13 DTL worker dismissed – GAWU, Labour Dept to meet company next week

Page 2

“National awards not an ornament but symbols of nationhood” – President Granger

Several of the awardees after being conferred with National Awards at the 2016 Investiture Ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday

Body of missing Hague mechanic found Page 10

Man remanded for raping 8-year-old Page 10

Harmon fires back at PPP/C’s scandal dossier Page 3

...wants Opposition to “itemise” its accusations

Linden Mayor flouts law, sends Town Clerk on admin leave Page 12

– Minister Bulkan silent

Page 9

Marriott Casino, Entertainment Complex still on hold – Harper

Annandale P14 man nabbed with handguns UG sets 1-year deadline for complete WiFi access P7 on campus

Cubana Air Disaster P13 victims remembered Baby with cracked skull

Report completed, Nursing P11 Director to advise – GPHC CEO

2 news

friDAY, october 7, 2016 | guyana-times.com

86 Guyanese awarded at Investiture Ceremony

“National awards not an ornament but symbols of nationhood” – President Granger tendance, “we make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.”

According to Chancellor Singh, “for today’s awardees, it is what they in their individual pursuit have given to Guyana, a recognition of their contribution to growth and development of our country.”

Senior Government Ministers make up a section of the special invitees at the 2016 Investiture Ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday

M

uch deserved but long delayed were the words of President David Granger, after presenting 86 exemplary Guyanese with the ultimate recognition of a grateful nation at this year’s National Investiture Ceremony held at the National Cultural Centre on Thursday.

With much pomp and fanfare and in the presence of distinguished members of society and members of the diplomatic corps, this year’s recipients were bestowed with Guyana’s highest national awards; namely the Order of Roraima, the Cacique’s Crown of Honour, the Golden Arrow of Achievement, the Medal of Service, the Military Service Star, the Military Service Medal and the Disciplined Services Medal for Meritorious Service.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Umax Adolphus Scotland was presented with the Order of Roraima for his committed and high standard of service in Guyana’s diplomatic quarters, parliamentary service and in the legal profession.

Senior Counsel Rex Herbert McKay, was also awarded the Order of Roraima for his long, dedicated and outstanding service as a legal practitioner in Guyana for decades.

Those were the two highest awards at the 2016 Investiture Ceremony this year, with the Order of Excellence being Guyana’s highest national Award.

Nationhood

Following the handing out of the 86 awards for the evening, President Granger who is also the Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana was in high praises for the awardees and sought to point out that the national awards were not an ornament but rather the symbols of nationhood.

According to the President, the presentation of the awards was recognition and appreciation to patriotic Guyanese for their selfless service and also serves to promote a sense of nationhood. He urged all to reflect on the aspirations and ambitions of those awardees and that their contribution should serve for others to emulate.

According to the President, for the nation to present its citizens with the awards is an acknowledgement of the contributions of a citizen male or female, rich or poor, servicemen or civilian. In what could be read as a subtle swipe at preceding administrations, the President was adamant that bestowing such awards on deserving citizens should not be done in a capricious manner or at the whims of anyone, since such a practice could very well be considered unconstitutional. He committed his Administration to ensuring that national awards are bestowed on citizens on a regular basis.

Patriotism

Chancellor of the Judiciary Carl Singh, who also serves as Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Orders

Head of State, President David Granger presents Ben ter Welle, Honorary Consul of Germany to Guyana with his National Award

of Guyana, was equally emotive in his praise of the awardees in the presence of relatives, friends and well-wishers.

Chancellor Singh recalled that the names of the awardees were in fact made public on Independence Day of this year, making this year’s ceremony a two tiered one, since the actual conferring of the awards were only now being had.

He told the awardees that with the conferring of the insignias on each of them, they will be recognised apart from the other citizens for their patriotism and contributions to the nation and its development over the years.

The awardees, he said, were selected by the President himself – assisted by the advisory council – since they were the persons identified and with “whom he was pleased and saw fit to confer with national honours.” Recalling the words of world renowned statesman, Sir Winston Churchill, Chancellor Singh told those in at-

Merit

Awards, Chancellor Singh said, “are made for courage and bravery” and he named the highest national awards that can be bestowed on a Guyanese citizen.

He sought to impress on the awardees that the recognitions constitute lasting mementos of “achievement by the men and women of our country whose love and loyalty to their country, their patriotism, their discipline and their dedication to duty has earned the recognition which brings them to today’s ceremony.”

According to the Chancellor of the Judiciary, “all Guyanese should seek in their own way to contribute to Guyana as today’s awardees have done… We should each determine for ourselves those qualities which are best suited to unify our country other than divide it, to heal the wounds of our nation, rather than to aggravate

its injuries and to secure for generations to come the peace happiness and prosperity of Guyana.”

Following a moment of silence in recognition of past awardees Head of State, President Granger took to the dais at the centre of the patriotically adorned stage of the National Cultural Centre.

Sustained and dedicated service

The first to be accompanied by the smartly and ceremoniously dressed ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was Senior Superintendent of Police Maxine Graham.

She along with Assistant Police Commissioner and Head of the Presidential Guard, Brian Joseph; retired Divisional Commander of the Guyana Fire Service Bernadete Adman;s and retired Senior Superintendent of Prisons Trevor Small; were each presented with the Disciplined Services Medal for Meritorious Service.

The Military Service Medal was presented for distinguished service beyond the normal call of duty to GDF Colonels Paul Anthony Aurthur and Nazrul Hussain.

Newly appointed Chief-ofStaff, Brigadier George Allan Lewis was bestowed with the Military Service Star for service of an exceptionally high quality and for going beyond the call of duty.

Twenty-six Guyanese were conferred with the Medal of Service in recognition for their dedicated service to the country and people in the fields of politics, business, culture, arts, medicine and the care of children among other fields.

The Cacique’s Crown of Honour was presented to Ronald Austin, Robert Corbin, Justice BS Roy, Chris Fernandes, Maureen Messiah and Father Malcolm Rodrigues, among others. There were three posthumous awards bestowed since the persons would have died since the announcement of the awardees earlier this year.

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 7 – 08:30h-10:00h and Saturday, October 8 – 09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 7 – 07:25h-08:55h and Saturday, October 8 – 08:15h-09:45h.

...wants Opposition to “itemise” its accusations

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Light to heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout most of the day, while sunny weather is expected to prevail in the later afternoon hours. Clear skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly and South South-easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 07:58h and 20:12h reaching maximum heights of 2.34 metres and 2.35 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:29h and 13:46h reaching minimum heights of 0.75 metre and 0.94 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS A

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L

ess than 24 hours after the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo claimed that the 16-month-old A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government was already embroiled in some 25 “scandals” of corruption , Minister of State, Joseph Harmon challenged the Opposition to document these scandals and present them to the Government.

On Wednesday, Jagdeo’s office released an eight-page dossier, chronicling what were said to be 25 scandals of the David Granger Administration, declaring that the coalition has more scandals on its rap sheet than the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) amassed in its 23 years in office.

“The APNU/AFC Government has been exposed with more scandals and corruptions in 16 months than successive PPP/C Administrations were accused of in 23 years,” Jagdeo’s office said, adding that between June 2015 and August 2016, 14 months of the coalition Government, some 16 “scandals” were uncovered.

It said that August 2016 “took the cake” with the exposure of the highly-controversial Sussex Street drug bond deal, the BK International and

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

Government of Guyana’s $1 billion “out-of-court” settlement and the issuance of two fuel licences to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Water Inc, Dr Richard Van West-Charles.

Responding to these accusations, Harmon told reporters that if the Opposition documented its claims, the Government stood ready to deal with them both inside and out of the National Assembly.

“Any accusations that they have let them bring it; if there are some matters which should be brought to the floor of the National Assembly, we will deal with them. If there are other matters to be dealt with otherwise, we will deal with them. It could be 25; whatever is the number they chose to say it is; let them itemise these things and we are prepare to deal

with them one by one,” Harmon told reporters after a post-Cabinet news conference on Thursday.

When asked if the governing coalition was willing to debate these issues, the State Minister answered in the affirmative, declaring “let them bring it, let them start the debate”.

Among the other “scandals” highlighted by Jagdeo’s office are the questions which still linger over the inauguration of President David Granger, the alleged removal of eight containers of steel by BK International from the Public Health Ministry compound, the dismissal of close to 2000 Amerindian Community Service Officers (CSO), the appointment of 33 foreign honorary advisers, as well as a number of presidential

and ministerial advisers.

The Opposition also listed the selection of a disqualified company to complete the Specialty Hospital, leading to an abandonment of the project, the 50 to 100 percent pay increase ministers received, the secrecy surrounding the D’Urban Park development project, pardoning of over 100 felons, and a number of outof-court settlements with companies and individuals thought to be financiers of the coalition’s 2015 election campaign.

While in Opposition and before they coalesced, both APNU and the AFC, in 2012, had accused the PPP/C Administration of high-level corruption in a number of national projects, including Marriott Hotel, the Specialty Hospital, the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project (AFHP) and the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), triggering a live television debate on the issues.

But while the AFC participated in all the sessions, APNU only participated in the first debate on the AFHP, claiming that the format of the discussion was flawed.

However, the then Government had argued that APNU and the AFC were unable to show evidence of corruption and, as such, were making excuses.

Rifle found under Stabroek Market canopy

THURSDAY, October 6, 2016

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Harmon fires back at PPP/C’s scandal dossier

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rifle was on Wednesday evening discovered during an operation by members of the City Constabulary under the Stabroek Market canopy.

The rifle was reportedly seen in the possession of a man who dropped the weapon and made good his escape after Police ranks swooped down on him.

A s s i s t a n t

Superintendent of the City Constabulary, Gordon Langevine, when contacted, explained that based on intelligence, City Police searched a bag that was in the possession of the man.

During the search, the disassembled firearm was discovered, but there was no ammunition.

The weapon was handed over to the Guyana Police Force. Ballistic tests are ex-

pected to be conducted on the weapon to determine if it was used in any criminal activities.

Chief Constable Andrew Foo related that in the past, the area where the weapon was found was known to be flooded with criminal elements who either robbed citizens or were involved in narco trafficking.

As such, the Constabulary had recom-

mended that vendors plying their trade in that particular area be removed permanently.

This, however, can only be done once areas are identified for their relocation.

Presently, City Hall is in receipt of a number of plans to accommodate the vendors at Bourda. On this note, Town Clerk Royston King is expected to meet with the vendors as early as today.

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guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

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

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

Editorial

A thing of value

U

ndoubtedly, and unquestionably, teachers are at the backbone of progress in any society. Quite often they work with little recognition and generally with meagre pay. It is expected that all society would band together to celebrate the men and women who stand at the head of classrooms day after day, to mould the young minds of tomorrow’s leaders.

Many successful adults can point to a teacher who inspired or helped them through life. The good ones are, as is often expressed, heroes.

Quite recently, the entire world joined to commemorate World Teachers’ Day on Wednesday, October 5. UNESCO proclaimed October 5 to be World Teachers’ Day in 1994, celebrating the great step made for teachers on October 5, 1966, when a special intergovernmental conference convened by UNESCO in Paris adopted the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, in cooperation with the ILO. This recommendation set forth the rights and responsibilities of teachers as well as international standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment, teaching and learning conditions. Since its adoption, the Recommendation has been considered an important set of guidelines to promote teachers’ status in the interest of quality education.

Sadly, on the heels of the world’s celebration, there were reports that the Education Ministry did not grant permission for schools in the various regions to plan for, or carry out any activities in commemoration of this day.

Further, the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) voiced its disappointment over this move and even questioned the value that the Education Ministry places on the nation’s teachers. To add to this, the GTU Head noted that no justifications were given for the decision.

It is important to remember that the delivery of quality education should be among the nation’s chief concerns, and that responsibility of delivery rests squarely on the shoulders of the nation’s teachers, those who dedicate their lives to it.

Why then should they not be properly honoured and celebrated? It is one thing to give lip service to the value of teachers, and quite another to step up and empower them. The rest of the world agrees that honouring teachers is important. Why then is Guyana different?

During the global celebrations, persons used the opportunity of the day to discuss, compare, learn, argue, share and improve on issues affecting the teaching profession. Why should the situation in Guyana be any different? There must be a valid reason why teachers across the nation were not afforded this opportunity.

How disheartening it must have been for those teachers to learn that, while there were funds allocated for celebratory activities, they were not given the necessary “permission” to proceed with what has become an annual celebration. Is this how the country shows its gratitude for years of dedication and service?

In May of this year, the Education Ministry, in collaboration with the School of the Nations, held a National Teachers’ Award Ceremony as part of the Jubilee Anniversary celebrations. During that event, Ministry officials, including the Education Minister, applauded the efforts of teachers countrywide, referring to them as “agents of nation building” and “foot soldiers”.

Ministry representatives said the ceremony was the Ministry’s way of “reaffirming the value of the efforts of thousands who every day, in classrooms in every corner of Guyana, make a difference in the lives of our youth, the communities and, by extension, this nation. “And yet mere months later, on the day designated for such grand celebrations, the teachers themselves were not allowed to bask in their accomplishments.

The value we place on education and the immeasurable contribution it makes to the community is woefully out of sync with how poorly we value and reward the teaching profession in Guyana.

Fall foliage colours a line of mountains in Chatham, New Hampshire, USA, as unsettled weather begins to clear. The state's mountain regions are approaching their peak autumn colours (Robert F Bukaty/AP)

The Government of Guyana is proactively and responsibly preparing for oil production

Dear Editor, The Ministry of Natural Resources has noted the perspectives and opinions expressed by members of the public on how the country should be preparing for the oil and gas sector.

The Ministry welcomes healthy discourse and remains committed to continuing these conversations in an inclusive and consultative manner.

However, we also recognise that there is need for accurate information and wish to take this opportunity to provide such and also remind the public of the progress being made by the Ministry in preparing the nation for oil production.

International financial experts have assured that despite current market trends, Guyana will benefit when production commences, provided that the operations of the well perform as projected. They have also assured that no international company will sanction a project if the breakeven price is higher than its forecast noting that large oil companies are especially well known for having very low price forecasts before they pour their resources into a project.

Further, the experts have assured that despite the push for renewable sources of energy, oil demand – now at 94.1 million barrels per day worldwide – is still very high and growing.

We also ask that the following points from the 2015 OPEC World Oil Outlook (WOO) be considered Global energy demand is set to increase by almost 50% in the period to 2040, with the overall energy mix continu-

ing to be led by fossil fuels at almost 78%. Combined, oil and gas are expected to supply around 53% of the global energy demand by 2040.

Medium term oil demand is revised upward, compared to the WOO 2014, rising above 97 million barrels a day (mb/d) by 2020; oil demand is projected to be at 110 mb/d by 2040.

While we recognise that the oil industry is fraught with uncertainty, we do believe that industry experts’ projections can serve as a guide as to where the industry is headed over the medium and long term. In Guyana’s case, while there are many variables that may affect production and the revenue that the country might earn through production sharing, taxes and other arrangements, we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we do not do everything possible well in advance to prepare for oil and gas production.

To this end, the Government of Guyana led by the Ministry of Natural Resources is in an accelerated process of development and capacity building to prepare for this new economic reality. The approach has included building and reinforcing legislative, financial and institutional capacity, drafting plans for the short, medium and long term as well as developing a robust communications strategy to keep all stakeholders informed of developments.

Permit us to share some of our achievements to date.

1. Technical Support The Government of Guyana will soon be signing an MOU with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for

technical support and cooperation in the area of oil and gas. There is also a visit scheduled to Trinidad and Tobago to further the cooperation with a view to preparing Guyana for the oil and gas industry. This cooperation includes exchange visits between the two Caribbean countries and the offering of scholarships.

Scholarship opportunities are also being pursued through several engagements with the Mexican Petroleum Institute (IMP) while support in capacity building was received from the University of Calgary and the Government of Canada for the development of a Sovereign Wealth Fund. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has also provided support to bring regional and international experts together for discussions and knowledge sharing.

2. Development of a Legislative framework With the support of external expertise, the Ministry is actively working on creating a Local Content Policy to guide participation of local services and skills in the sector.

The Government of Guyana is also receiving support from the Commonwealth to prepare legislation for the oil and gas sector. In the coming months, the Minister of Natural Resources is expected to table eight pieces of legislation all connected to the oil and gas sector and which are necessary for the establishment and strengthening of the regulatory and fiscal policy frameworks.

3. Financial Management - Members of the sub-committee of Oil and Gas in Cabinet last week met

with members of the Bank of Montreal (BMO) upon the bank’s invitation. The Canadian banking institution which specialises in the natural resources sector, discussed financial investments, sovereign wealth funds, pitfalls to avoid, and managing risk and uncertainty in the industry. That two-day engagement ended on September 29, 2016. In addition, Guyana is receiving support from the United States Government in terms of governance through the Energy Governance and Capacity Initiative (EGCI).

This is intended to build capacity to responsibly manage oil and gas revenues.

4.

Transparency The Ministry of Natural Resources is taking the lead in ensuring Guyana signs on to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) with a view to ensuring that there is transparency in the sector when the revenues from oil are received, as well as that of other extractive sectors.

While some processes require more time than others before tangible benefits are seen, the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Natural Resources remains committed to the task of advancing efforts to explore Guyana’s oil and gas potential to the benefit of all Guyanese. We remain responsive to requests for information and invite the public to reach out to us.

Sincerely, N Johann Earle Public Affairs and Communications Officer Natural Resources Ministry

guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

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

Failure of Region Quarrying sector faces downturn 2 administration Dear Sir, The presence of the female Vice Chairman for Region 2 and the Chairman of the Riverstown/Annandale Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) was not at all helpful in curbing the escalating lawlessness that pervaded as a common occurrence.

Every Sunday morning at the Suddie market square; there has been no change in the situation as of 25 September, 2016.Vending takes place there twice weekly, with the other day being Wednesday, when the business activities are much less at the market, which falls under the control of the NDC.A spacious, fenced compound with one flat building is being provided to accommodate vendors with much available space in and outside of the building, remaining idle. Some built-in stalls still remain idle.

The big problem is that the Administration is totally incompetent and incapable of regularising the use of spots by vendors who are allowed to do as they feel without exercising any control over them.

Surprisingly, there are more vendors plying their trade outside of the market area on the road parapet. The Administration cannot be held blameless for encouraging and tolerating a dangerous precedent by creating a monster, which it cannot now control.Even plucked chicken is being sold outside by the main entrance and by the road parapet; this is happening even as there is a laid out plan for the selling of meat to take place at the back of the market compound.

Encumbrance of the main roadway leading to the market is very evident as a traffic hazard, and too late shall

be the cry when serious accidents or fatalities occur.

Many times the area becomes impassable for vehicles as items are spread out for sale.

Even the entrances of permanent businesses are blocked by the vendors with the owners getting no redress from the Administration.

The Administration needs to implement a stringent and clear policy to exterminate the lawlessness once and for all.

From my personal opinion, it will always remain a liability for anyone to be put in a position without having the ability to function in that capacity.

It is quite manifest that the Administration is failing miserably to properly serve the people who elected them, when better needs to be done.

With thanks, Baliram Persaud

Poor Police service in Linden after robbery report Dear Editor, I write this letter with frustration and no confidence in the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Two Sundays ago on 18 September, my mother was robbed at One Mile Wismar, Linden, at gun point of her jewellery. She was out with a family member when a car stopped a couple feet away and a man put a gun to her head demanding her jewellery.

However, she and the family member managed to obtain the license plate number of the car. She then went to the Wismar Police Station where she made as formal report. The car was impounded and the driver was arrested. The drive ad-

mitted to being in the area at the time of the incident making a drop off, and he also mentioned the guy he dropped off that night. The man was also arrested and kept for 72 hours.

During that period, my mother was brought in to identify the man after which she left and was told to return to the station at a later date.

Upon her return, the men were freed and the Police said that they did not have sufficient evidence, and that they will have to get advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

This is the Police Force that boasts about professionalism. I am not a lawman, but my common sense

makes it clear to me that if you obtain a car license plate number in a robbery under arms, that is a big lead to crack the case and finding the perpetrators.

The incident could have been worse. We could have lost our lives. Is this the justice we have received from the GPF? I am very frustrated by the justice system in this country.

Sincerely, Brentford Allicock

Dear Editor, As the quarrying sector here continues to face a significant downturn, there has been a sizable dent in capital equipment sales on all fronts in Guyana in 2016.

Reading the Bank of Guyana Half Year Report, one finds that the import of Capital Goods decreased by 13.9% for or US$26.0 million.

It matters not which industry we are talking about, the report clearly stated that there was a decrease in the import in the first six months of 2016 for transport machinery, mining machinery and other capital goods.Any competent economic thinker will tell you that importing new capital goods exposes a nation to the latest technology, which directly improves labour efficiency, which improves productivity, which positively enhances economic growth.

Shifting G$1.6 billion worth of stone sales to Suriname, from our traditional high quality stone suppliers has directly exported new job opportunities of Guyana, and has curtailed the local quarrying industry’s ability to expand and establish themselves as competitive exporters. But the core point of this letter has to be attributed to a comment

by Minister David Patterson, who through his spokesperson said that the Surinamese are prepared to supply and deliver the stone at Timehri docks at US$28 per tonne, compared to the local quotes which are around US$36 per tonne to Georgetown.

But one of the suppliers hit back by saying our Guyanese quarry products are of a superior quality and that they are prepared to adjust the prices downwards, based on volume. Even if they had to cut their profits, every one of the Guyanese quarries would have done the right thing for Guyana.

This lopsided contract for inferior stones should be squashed and re-tendered with a geographic clause inserted along with a price cap of US$30 for the better quality Guyanese stones. As the local stone supplier said, based on volume, they can reduce their prices significantly and may even match the price of the Suriname supplier. So why not give the locals a chance to put up? But what about National Pride? President Granger talks about National Pride all the time. Isn’t it President Granger who spoke about “let us cooperate for Guyana”? But this tender board seems not to be following the President’s wishes.

When large National projects like Linden Highway were being implemented under the father of the PNC, former President Burnham always ensured that the locals shone.

So what is really wrong with the PNC these days? Where is the economic nationalism from the Burnham era?

Being frugal doesn’t mean saving money. If we build that

runway on the cheap stone, we will be putting hundreds of lives at risk. So we may be having these stones cheap now, but what it will cost us multiples in the long run, with higher safety risk at the airport, lost jobs in the economy and direct stagnation in the quarrying sector.

Therefore, we are not being economically efficient by sourcing inferior stones from a foreign country when we have world-class stones at home. It is time some people in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure ‘wizen’ up, or is this what some people are telling me, “a back room contract to benefit the new boys in town?” Is the deal really to buy cheap foreign stones instead of the better quality Guyanese stones, and the difference in value will be worked out through the contract to share among the new political elite?

Sincerely, Sase Singh, Finance, ACCA

MSC

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guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Page

Foundation decision-making principles I taught my son

3

– how recent research on behavioural economics can help you make better decisions

By Diogo Goncalves

D

ear Son, today I want to talk to you about how people make decisions.

Many choices in our lives have uncertain outcomes. Choosing between two options often involves a risk, such as whether you should spend your birthday money on a new bicycle or on a PlayStation.

Each choice is like two sides of a coin: there’s a risk of losing something (a loss) and an opportunity of getting something (a gain).

If you spend your birthday money on a new bicycle you’ll forgo the latest Playstation, but gain the pleasure of cruising around the neighbourhood on your own bike. If you buy a PlayStation with your birthday cash, you’ll lose the chance of a brand new set of wheels, but gain the pleasure of having a PlayStation to play with your friends.

Both alternatives involve gains and losses.

These types of choices are affected by three ways of thinking, which influence the way we evaluate the expected results of our decisions, and consequently, the choices we make.

1) The first one is called Loss Aversion

For us humans, losing

s o m e t h i n g creates stronger emotions than gaining something.

In fact, the science of loss

aversion says that we feel twice as bad when we lose something as we feel happy when we get that exact thing. So losing a dollar feels twice as bad :-( :-( as finding a dollar :-) This means that if you lose a dollar and find it again the next day, you’ll feel three times happier (two from cancelling the loss and one from the gain) than you felt before you lost it.

2) The second one is called Diminishing Sensitivity

Most people really like chocolate mousse. But when you have chocolate mousse for dessert, the first spoonful of chocolate mousse tastes much better than the fifth spoonful, the fifth spoonful better than the sixth, and so on.

This means that our sensitivity to things becomes smaller and smaller. If I turn on a dim light in your

d a r k r o o m while you’re sleepi n g , it will have a big eff e c t .

But the

same dim light may be hard to see in your bright room during the day. Similarly, if your parents cut your $20 allowance by $5, you’ll feel it more than you would if you had a $30 allowance, but less than you would if you had a $10 allowance, though the difference ($5) is the same in all three cases.

3) The third one is called Reference Point

Imagine you drink a soda with ice after having a warm soup, or after having an ice cream. The cola will seem colder after the soup than after having the ice cream. This happens because your mouth gets used to a reference point (warmth with the soup and coldness with the ice cream) that determines the way you experience the next thing, such as the cola.

When people think about money they also use a refer-

ence point, which is usually what you expect. Outcomes that are better than the reference point are perceived as gains, while ones that are worse are perceived as losses. So if you are used to receiving $200 from your grandmother for Christmas and she gives you only $150 this year, you’ll feel like you lost something.

But if you had received $100 in the past, this year’s $150 will make you feel like you gained something.

These three principles revolutionised a science called economics and how we think about money. More recently, a new kind of economics emerged, has which has introduced psychology – the science of the mind – into economics. This field is called behavioural economics. Understanding its ideas can help everyone, including you, make better decisions.

Questions for Consideration •From the three principles, what is the one you consider the most important to teach to others?

•How can we create exercises/pedagogical games that can help us to educate children having these important principles in mind?

•How can you explain these principles most effectively? (psychologytoday.com)

What to do about Maths anxiety?

– how your brain and surroundings can cause and cure Maths anxiety

our mouth is dry. Your armpits are wet. Your brain is neither dry nor wet, but seems to be leaking out your ears. You feel your vision closing to a pinprick around a jumble of symbols that might as well be Cyrillic or hieroglyphic. Yes, it’s a Maths test. And you know that your Maths anxiety means you’re almost certain to fail…which makes you even more anxious and more likely to fail. You’re not alone: According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a third of 15-year-olds report feeling helpless when solving Maths problems. Unfortunately, not only do these students feel helpless, but kids with Maths anxiety are more likely to actually be helpless – the higher the anxiety, the lower the scores.

Eventually, Maths anxiety can be a slippery slope: Anxiety leads to avoidance, which can lead to low performance, which in turn leads to more anxiety and the positive feedback loop of mathematical disaster is off and running. Eventually, without

sponses (the aforementioned cottonmouth and sweating); and motivational style (do you approach or avoid a challenge?). The external factors that can create Maths anxiety include a teacher’s own Maths anxiety, a parent’s Maths anxiety, and how the student perceives the classroom.

This final one, students’ perception of their classroom, is especially tricky, taking into account not just whether the classroom is generally pleasant, but the social and emotional context surrounding a student. Do the student’s peers make the student feel like he or (especially…) she should be good at Maths?

Does the classroom culture seem like it will eat the child with sharp teeth should the student do poorly? Beilock writes that, “students who perceive their classroom as more caring, challenging and mastery-oriented have higher levels of Maths self-efficacy”, meaning that children who are pushed in a supportive environment feel like they can do Maths and so have less anxiety and a better chance of actual success.

Likewise, Beilock points

aggressive intervention, the real danger exists that you or someone you love could end up majoring in art history.

But what are the causes of Maths anxiety? University of Chicago psychologist Sian Beilock looked through the literature for the answer and the result was just published online in the journal Current Opinion in Behavioural Sciences. Basically, she shows two sources of Maths anxiety – internal and external factors. That seems kind of obvious and imprecise, but what it means is that complex mixes of what goes on inside and outside of you can spike or heal Maths anxiety. Think of it like obesity – some combination of diet and exercise leads to obesity and by dialling combinations of these things up or down, you can hope to stay below a threshold at which your trouser coefficient remains constant.

Specifically, the individual factors that affect Maths anxiety include cognitive skills (how your brain deals with Maths); physiological re-

out that adjusting either internal or external factors can lower Maths anxiety and increase performance. Deep breathing, relaxation training and calming music help.

So does talking about it, either just looking back to describe the anxiety they felt at the start of a test or in a more formal, therapeutic environment. And a parent’s willingness to engage in Maths rubs off on students. Again, if a student’s internal world is conducive to Maths, he or she may be able to withstand some external pressures. And if the culture and classroom surrounding a student is “caring, challenging and masteryoriented” even a student with some predisposition toward Maths anxiety may be able to keep from bursting the blood pressure cuff.

Maths anxiety and along with it Maths performance come down to adjusting the sliders on a giant mathematical mixing board: push the right sliders up and down, and even students who have felt helpless may have a chance to succeed. (psychologytoday.com)

By Garth Sundem

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NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

UG sets 1-year deadline for complete Wi-Fi access on campus

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Dr Paloma Mohamed

ecognising the need to modernise the nation’s premier learning institution, the administration of the University of Guyana is working vigorously with the E-Governance Unit to roll out a campuswide Wi-Fi zone.

One of the students’ and lecturers’ grievances on campus is the continued power disruptions and absence of Internet connectivity.

Dr Paloma Mohamed, who is now the second Vice Chancellor of a new department under the University of Guyana called the Philanthropy, Alumni and Civil Engagement (PACE), explained that the institution was working closely with the E-Governance Unit under the Public Telecommunications Ministry to implement this initiative.

She said the intention was to link the fibre-optic ring that was installed at the University, under a

Vice Chancellor, Dr Ivelaw Griffith

World Bank Project, with Government’s towers in order to connect the Tain Campus with the Turkeyen Campus, and eventually extend this connectivity to the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education (IDCE) locations across Guyana.

“Optimistically, we are looking at a better, more stable, widespread, decentralised system of Internet connectivity for all campuses within the next month to six weeks,” she stated; however, it is likely that the project would take about a year to be completed.

The venture will be extremely costly for the University, with an initial price of approximately $6 million, provided that nothing else was required, as estimated by the E-Governance Uni. Dr Mohamed said the institution was currently in the process of conducting an in-

ternal audit of its systems to determine what else was needed internally for this initiative.

But the Vice Chancellor, Dr Ivelaw Griffith said irrespective of the cost, the University could not afford to not have a Wi-Fi network.

“The Wi-Fi and the technology are so critical to the credibility of the institution, to the learning, to the whole curricula that we are going to have to find it, using the best possible, most cost-effective approach, we have to find the money somewhere,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, he could not immediately determine if this would bring an additional cost to students who are already complaining of paying exorbitant fees to the educational institution.

“Right now, the students pay a facilities fee that would cover a variety of service elements. I don’t anticipate having an additional specific cost. I anticipate having the facilities fee be the basic manager of that. We might need to supplement depending on what the ultimate final bill is, but I don’t envisage a new user fee,” Dr Griffith explained.

Last year, the E-Governance Unit began rolling out Wi-Fi networks in schools across Guyana.

E-Governance Adviser Floyd Levi had noted that the provision of this service to tertiary institutions was part of this project.

Govt yet to name nominees for Local Government Commission

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Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

s pressure continues to mount for the establishment of a Local Government Commission, the coalition Government is yet to announce the names of its nominees. This is despite the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Opposition having revealed its three nominees for the Commission some three months ago.

When asked about the Government’s nominees at the Post Cabinet briefing on Thursday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon could not confirm whether his Administration has selected its nominees for the Commission.

“I will make an enquiry about the Government’s nominee, I can’t say to you now that we have the names of the persons who are going to be there… we (may) have some indication of the people we are looking at but I’m not at liberty to say who those persons are,” he told reporters.

Only Tuesday last, the PPP protested the Ministry

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

of the Presidency over the delay in the establishment of the Local Government Commission by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, whom they believe is attempting to usurp its power to gain control of all local authority areas.

During the picketing exercise, PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha posited it seemed that Government has ulterior motives for this setback.

“We feel he isn’t appointing the Commission because Government wants to control these local authority bodies,” Mustapha told media operatives on Tuesday last.

However, the Minister of State pointed out that on the contrary, steps are being taken by the Communities Ministry to locate suitably office space for the Commission.

“The Ministry of Communities is actively taking steps to find a building to house the Commission and ensuring that all the processes that we cross the ‘Ts’ and

dot the ‘Is’ so that we find the most suitable building. There are some buildings that have already been identified by that process,” Harmon noted.

The Minister of State further outlined that all the other issues in relation to the furniture and so on, have already been catered for; as such, it can be expected that within a short space of time, the Commission will be established.

The Local Government Commission, when establish, will have oversight over the various local authority areas in the country. It would also be responsible for appointing officials in the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC) and local authority areas, as well as the approval of budgets for the NDCs. Former acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba, and former Local Government Ministers Norman Whittaker and Clinton Collymore were nominated as the PPP’s representatives on the Local Government Commission.

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Essequibo woman remanded for narcotics possession

Kamlawattie Boodha

K

amlawattie Boodha, 41, of Lot 337 Richmond Housing

Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was on Thursday remanded to prison for possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. She made her first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

She pleaded not guilty to the charge which said that on 5 October, 2016 around 15:30h ranks from the narcotics unit in G division, acting on information, conducted a search at the woman’s premises.

During the search, the woman was found with a black plastic bag in her hand in the upper flat of her house. The bag contained 45

Bridge...

Y ...to Suriname

The packets containing the cannabis

blue, white and pink transparent packets of leaves, seeds and stems suspect-

ed to be cannabis. It was weighed in her presence and amounted to 55 grams.

South Ruimveldt man granted bail

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self-employed man of South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown, was on Thursday granted bail when he made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to a

charge of fraudulent conversion.

Collis Marshall pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that between March 1 and 31, 2016, he being entrusted with a motorcycle valued $230,000 property of Andrew Richardson fraudulently

converted said motorcycle for his own use and benefit.

Police prosecutor, Deniro Jones stated that the motorcycle was entrusted to the defendant to make repairs, however he did not do as requested and converted the said motorcycle

for his own use.

Jones disclosed that only the motorcycle frame was recovered.

The unrepresented defendant was granted bail in the sum of $75,000 and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on October 21, 2016.

14-year-old busted with cocaine in suitcase handles

Mother jailed for possession

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ora Towler, the mother of the 14-year-old who was busted with cocaine concealed in the handles of his suitcase, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined almost $3 million after admitting to the court that she was guilty of the charge of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Towler appeared before City Magistrate Leron Daly.

Initially, the woman pleaded not guilty to the charge that stated on Friday, August 26, 2016 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), she was in possession of 1.4 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

In a court hearing on Wednesday, while the evidence was being tendered against the unrepresented woman, she indicated to the Magistrate that she would like to change her plea to guilty.

As such, her plea was changed and she admitted to the offence in tears.

Cora Towler

Eyew tness

A penitent Towler sobbed uncontrollably and pleaded with the court for leniency.

Moments before Magistrate Daly handed down her ruling, Towler sent prisoners in the dock scurrying as she threw up. She was subsequently fined $2,710,800.

Meanwhile, Ian Griffith, another relative of the lad who was also charged with Towler for the offence, is currently on remand pending the outcome of his trial before Magistrate Daly.

According to reports, the teenager was held following the discovery of the cocaine concealed in the handles of his suitcase while he was waiting to board a flight destined for New York at the CJIA, Timehri.

It was also stated that the teen was travelling alone, returning home after spending the August vacation in Guyana.

Upon the discovery of the cocaine, four persons, including the teen’s mother, were arrested.

our Eyewitness woke up to some good news for a change...No...it wasn't the Gang of Four at City Hall suddenly resigning because they'd been overcome by a wave of shame. There hasn't been such a miracle since Bethlehem two millennia ago!

It was the news that funding's been offered by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for a bridge across the Corentyne River to Suriname.

The previous Administration had agreed to such a bridge and extolled all the benefits that would've flowed from such a structure. Opening up of trade links to a fellow Caricom country. OK?... maybe we DO tend to produce the same things...but it'll be easier to smuggle our sugar which we can't give away right now, no? But seriously... both countries right now suffer from having Lilliputian domestic markets and at least we will have just a little bit more clout in (market) numbers.

But the biggest benefit might be the opening up of our horizons. Even though it's been 50 years since we cut the colonial umbilical cord from Britain, we still retain much of their insularity when it comes to people speaking a different language than English!

Can you imagine an ordinary Surinamese speaks about four languages on the average!! Then there's the wide variety of cultures. We keep on talking about Guyana being "multiethnic"...but are we really so when we're compared to Surinamese??

Take the Indian Guyanese...they've lost the most important feature when it comes to culture – language.

It's a truism in anthropology to assert that when a people lose their language, they've lost their culture.

The Indian Surinamese still speak their Hindi dialect and can relate to their religious texts, for instance, when they listen to it being recited. Here it's all "Dutch" to Guyanese Indians!!

Then there's the Surinamese African. Over in Suriname, a large number of enslaved Africans escaped into "the bush" and formed communities – like they did to a smaller extent in Jamaica, where they're called "Marroons". In Suriname, they call themselves, "Djukas". And they retain a much greater cultural repertoire from Africa than we can ever imagine. Added to the mix are the "Javanese" – whom most Guyanese visiting Suriname insist on calling "Japanese"!!

The Javanese are from what's now "Indonesia" – which used to be a Dutch colony. The Javanese, a Malay people, are like cheese and chalk from the Japanese!!

But the biggest benefit might be for us to experience the much easier relations all the Surinamese groups have with each other. Even at the political level.

It's clear their experience with the Dutch political culture that's based of "power sharing" premises has worked for them.

Maybe it'll rub off here with the bridge?

...to Linden burnt?

No...no...no..Your Eyewitness isn't raising that vexed subject of the bridge in Linden that was burnt during the protests and leading to several persons being killed back in 2012. He's talking about a different bridge – one that was invoked by former PM Sam Hinds as being built after 1992 by the PPP to that community that has traditionally cleaved to the PNC. Sam...as most Guyanese refer to him (he that kinda no-frills guy!)...took umbrage at an assertion by David Hinds (relatives? Internecine battles can get bloody!!).

Hinds basically claimed the PPP only did right for Indians – he cited the sugar industry – and didn't do squat for Linden. (Hey!! Your Eyewitness suddenly realised this HAS to do with that "burning bridge!") Sam went to excruciating length to show it just wasn't so. But he didn't mention when the PPP was subsidising bauxite and its community to the max – they were still bleeding sugar workers via the PNC's sugar levy!

But would that have rebuilt the (relationship) bridge?? Naaah!

...across troubled borders

What nonsense is this? The Venezuelans flew over our Essequibo to MAP it? What difference does that make?

Not a (damned) blade of grass!!! Or a cuirass!!

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

NEWS

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 | GUYANA-TIMES.COM

Public Procurement Commission

President to swear in members after finalisation of terms, conditions

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resident David Granger is awaiting the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to finalise the remuneration packages, Terms of Reference and other administrative arrangements before swearing in the members of the much-anticipated Public Procurement Commission (PPC).

This is according to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who explained during the post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday that the work of the PAC was preliminary to the appointment of the members. He noted that before the members of the PPC are sworn in, the PAC needed to finalise certain terms and conditions.

“As soon as the Public Accounts Committee sits, there are some proposals which will go before it in so far as salaries and things like that. The law requires the Chairman of the (Public Procurement) Commission is a full-time employee of that commission, which means that those persons who are named – one of them will be a chairman and another will be a vice chairman, and if they are working somewhere else, one of those persons will have to leave their job,” the Minister of State outlined.

Harmon continued, “So, if you are working somewhere and going for another job, at least you must know what the salary you will be getting before you leave your job, and so it is some of these terms and conditions that have to be settled by the Public Accounts

President David Granger

PAC Chairman Irfaan Ali

Committee.”

At the end of July 2016, the PAC agreed on the nominees for the PPC, and that list was subsequently approved by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly on August 8.

The approved members include Attorney Emily Dodson, Carol Corbin, University of Guyana lecturer Sukrishnalall Pasha, educator Ivor English and former Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul.

This list was subsequently sent to the Head of State for the members to be sworn in, but this is yet to be done, as Government is awaiting the finalisation of the terms and conditions for the Commission.

However, PAC Chairman, Opposition parliamentarian Irfaan Ali recently pointed out that the President could go ahead with swearing in the members of the Procurement Commission, as he did not have to necessarily wait for the Committee to finish its

work on the PPC. Nevertheless, Ali assured that the PAC, “after the Parliament comes out of recess, would be moving to have this issue as a priority on its agenda in setting out the administrative mechanism to support the work of the Public Procurement Commission, so there is nothing that is stopping the President from swearing in the members of the Public Procurement Commission”.

Meanwhile, Harmon said on Thursday that Government was also supportive of fast-tracking the process at the level of the Parliamentary Committee.

“We will like that to be a top priority as well, and we will give that our full support to ensure that it is fast tracked,” he stated.

On the other hand, the Minister of State outlined that once the PPC was set up, it would pave the way for the establishment of the Public Procurement Tribunal – a process which the Commission would need

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

to have a say in. “The Public Procurement Commission has a role in the selecting of that tribunal – one has to be set up before the other so that the one that is set up before can have a say in the setting up of the other.

So, we got to get the Public Procurement Commission up and running and then the Tribunal will be set up,” he explained. The issue of establishing the PPC predated the holding of the General and Regional Elections in May 2015, as the then Opposition had insisted that Cabinet should cease the practice of giving its ‘no objection’ to contracts for State projects and services, in favour of the PPC.

Marriott Casino, Entertainment Complex still on hold – Harper

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here has been no firm decision taken as yet to outfit the Casino and Entertainment Complex at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

This was confirmed

by Beverly Harper, the Chairperson of Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI), which owns Marriott Guyana.

The AHI chairperson was at the time debunking reports in sections of the local media to the effect that AHI has made a decision to go ahead with the outfitting of the Casino.

Harper told Guyana Times that AHI would certainly like to have the Casino and Entertainment Complex outfitted before any sale of the property could be made since it would be the more economical option.

The AHI chairperson further indicated to this newspaper that at present, the company is in receipt of proposals and is in fact open to receiving proposals to outfit the Casino and Entertainment Complex.

However, she explained that any such proposal would have to meet the Marriott International’s requirement, adding that it certainly could not be any competing interests such as existing hoteliers.

According to Harper, the shell/building for the Casino and Entertainment Complex is completed and is the building adjacent to the current hotel operations.

She explained that the building had been constructed as part of Phase I of the construction of the facility— a project that had been undertaken by the People’s

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) regime.

Recent media reports have been fuelled by an advertisement appearing in the local dailies indicating that AHI was ready to embark on Phase II of the operation, which includes the outfitting of the Casino and Entertainment Complex but the advertisement being referred to is essentially for an available position of Accountant.

Forensic Auditor, Anand Goolsarran had cautioned against proceeding with the outfitting of the Casino and Entertainment Complex.

His recommendation had come in an audit he had undertaken of AHI, given the lack of market intelligence on the operations of casinos among other considerations.

In the report, Goolsarran said: “The Entertainment Complex is too risky a venture for the Government to undertake.”

He had also recommended that Government should proceed with haste to advertise for the sale of the hotel, bearing in mind that the Management Agreement with Marriott International is for 30 years, renewable for another 10 years.

That Agreement, he observed, does provide for the sale of the hotel to a reputable individual or firm so that it can roll-over to the new owners.

He suggested that Government alternatively retain majority interest in the hotel and offer 49% of shares to the public and institutional investors, such as banks and insurance companies.

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guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

News

Govt seeking int’l help to monitor airspace against violations

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n light of recent reports of “illegal” flyovers by Venezuelan aircraft of Guyana’s territory, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed that this country was currently enlisting international help to monitor its airspace for any further violations.

Reports from the neighbouring country state that the aerial operations are being done to map Essequibo for a new Venezuelan atlas. This action follows on Venezuela’s claim to most of Guyana’s territorial waters off the Essequibo Coast.

However, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge recently confirmed that the matter was brought to the attention of outgoing United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is expected to pronounce on the border controversy between the two countries next month.

Meanwhile, Harmon, during Thursday’s postCabinet briefing, explained that Guyana was part of a United Nations system and

Body of missing Hague mechanic found O ne day after he was reported missing, the body of 41-year-old Prakash Mahipaul of Hague Jib, West Coast Demerara, was on Thursday found at the Hague Seawall. The lifeless body of the mechanic was found at about 11:30h.

However, it is unclear how the man met his demise but Police have since confirmed that his body bore no marks of violence. A Police source told Guyana Times that they have not ruled out foul play but from

once there was a violation of its airspace, it had a duty as a member of that system to report these violations.

However, the Minister of State pointed out that sometimes, as in the case of the alleged “mapping operation”

by Venezuela, the aircraft fly so high that they cannot be detected by the naked eye. As such, he noted that the country has to largely depend on international cooperation, ie other countries, to detect such violations of its airspace.

Moreover, he noted that Guyana has recognised the importance of reporting and registering concerns at the appropriate fora, internationally.

“Certainly, what we have recognised is that it is important to report any violation of our air, land or sea space to the United Nations to ensure that we have a record of these things and that is the course of action we have taken,” he stated.

On the other hand, the Minister of State out-

lined that while it was a major task to monitor the 216,000 square kilometres of the country’s land space, there were certain steps being taken by the Public Infrastructure Ministry in collaboration with the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and airport management for a number of things to be done to ensure security at the country’s borders and within its airspace.

“We believe that the safety of our travelling public is important and there are several issues in that regard, so we are focusing heavily on safety,” he remarked.

Harmon also acknowledged that there were major issues with the monitoring of smaller airstrips, particularly in the country’s hinterland region. To this end, he stated that Government was seeking international help to ensure that it can detect any aircraft which violates Guyana’s airspace and more so, lands on any of its airstrips. TURN TO PAGE 14

Dead: Prakash Mahipaul

all indications, the man might have drowned.

A post-mortem examination (PME) is expected to be conducted today to ascertain the cause of death of the father of two. He was last seen leaving his home at about 17:00h. Attempts to contact a family member of the now dead man proved futile. His body was taken to the Ezikiel Funeral home awaiting a PME. The dead man is survived by his wife and two children. Police are continuing their investigations.

Man remanded for raping 8-year-old

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man was remanded to prison for the rape of an 8-yearold girl, when he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the New Amsterdam Magistrates’ Court.

Hemant Sewcharran, 49, of Glasgow New Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, was not required to plead to the charge with stated that on 30 September, 2016 he was found to be in a compromising position with an eight-year-old girl.

The prosecution facts stated that though the incident occurred on 30 September, it was only

reported to the police on 3 October.

The accused is expected to return to court on November 3, 2016.

It is alleged that on the day in question, the child and her brother were returning home from school when the suspect invited them into his home, at approximately 12:30h.

According to reports, this was a frequent occurrence, and on many occasions the suspect would offer food and money to the two children.

However, on this specific day, the suspect allegedly told the brother to remain outside, while he took her

into his home. After waiting for some time, the brother became impatient and decided to go into the house. It was then that he saw the man on top of his sister. The boy immediately ran home and informed his mother of what he had witnessed.

Shortly after, the 8-yearold child was taken to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where she was examined. The medical certificate was subsequently handed over to the police.

Reports indicate that the little girl resides with her mother, brother and two other siblings.

friDAY, october 7, 2016

guyana-times.com

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News

Granger to outline coalition’s agenda when House resumes … as Opposition presses debate on Public Servants CoI report

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he National Assembly has come out of its recess and its first sitting is slated to be held next Thursday; at the top of its agenda is an address to the Members of Parliament by President David Granger.

The National Assembly on Thursday released the first Order Paper for the members of the Assembly which will officially come out of its annual recess for 2016 on Saturday.

The sitting of the first session of the Assembly is slated for a suspension to allow for a meeting of Parliament, at which point in time the President will deliver his address.

The President’s Communications Director

has since confirmed to Guyana Times that the Head of State’s address is expected to centre on what the coalition’s agenda will be for the upcoming period.

AG Report

Following the President’s address, the members of the House are expected to immediately set about on their parliamentary agenda with the first order of business being the tabling of the 2015 Auditor General Report.

That report which will at the time be made public, is expected to document the continued abuse of the Contingency Fund by the ruling A Partnership for National Unity, Alliance

President David Granger

For Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

The report is also expected to document a lita-

Baby with cracked skull

Report completed, Nursing Director to advise – GPHC CEO

C

hief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Michael Khan on Thursday revealed that the report on the baby who cracked his skull on the hospital floor in August has been completed and has been sent to the Nursing Director for advice.

Khan said the report was sent to the Director to ascertain if the nurse, who was attending to the mother of the child at the time of the accident, should be held accountable. He explained that the hospital is also awaiting a statement from the mother before any decision is made.

“The director will have to find out if any disciplinary actions should be taken,” he said.

The mother of the baby Nyesha Hamilton is contemplating taking legal action against the medical facility which she blames for the tragedy. Hamilton went into labour on August 21, 2016.

According to the woman, she arrived at the hospital at approximately 22:00h and was examined by two doctors who informed her that she “was 4cm and then 5cm.”

Shortly after, Hamilton said that she started to bleed and upon informing the nurses, was told that the two doctors who examined her previously said she had not “reached 10cm yet,” and she would have to wait another four hours before it was time to have the baby.

However, she went into labour and there was no wheelchair to carry her into the labour room.

“Two steps away from the door to the labour room, I feel like I couldn’t walk anymore so I stoop down, and I feel the baby fall on the ground and knock he head on the right hand side,” the mother said.

After seeing the baby on the floor, Hamilton recalled that the nurses refused to pick the child up and instead told her to.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud had stated that the medical officials should have been better equipped by the third stage of the delivery (which would have been the expulsion of the child from the birth canal).

ny of other infractions including that which had been made public in recent weeks, involving the procurement of a number of items for the Guyana Elections Commission.

That report is slated to be presented by Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland.

The Education Minister is also slated to present to the members of the House, the Audited Financial Statements of the National Sports Commission for the years ending December 31, 2011 to 2013 in addition to the Audited Financial Statements of the National Trust of Guyana for the years ending December 31,

2013 and 2014.

Meanwhile the political Opposition is also expected to take advantage of the first sitting – should time permit – to pilot a debate seeking to have the members of the House agree to the contents and recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the public service being placed on the Order Paper so as to facilitate a substantive debate.

That Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the public service was appointed

by President Granger on August 17, 2015, “to examine, advise and report of the salaries, conditions of service, training and other

matters pertaining to the improvement of the efficiencies of the performance of the public service and the well-being of the public servants in the public service.”

That report was tabled in the House on May 24, 2016.

Thursday’s sitting of the House will be the first such since the consideration of Financial Papers in August last which revealed that Government had in fact entered into an agreement and had actually begun making millions in payments for the rental of a Sussex Street, Charlestown property to be used for the storage of drugs and medical supplies.

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friDay, october 7, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Linden Mayor flouts law, sends Town Clerk on admin leave – Minister Bulkan silent

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n clear violation of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland on Thursday decided to unilaterally send Town Clerk Jenella Bowen on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation, which is before Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan. Only the Communities Minister in the absence of a Local Government Commission is vested with the power to make that decision.

Holland and the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LMTC) had passed two noconfidence motions against Bowen and subsequently wrote Minister Bulkan requesting she be removed.

But Minister Bulkan is still to make a decision, which seemingly angered Holland, prompting him to decide to take his own action against the Town Clerk.

Guyana Times has seen a letter dated October 6, 2016 that Holland wrote to Bowen, instructing that she proceed on administrative leave with immediate effect until the conclusion of “the hearing”.

“Please be informed that the Ministry of Communities has reviewed the Council’s recommendation and granted no objection,” the letter copied to Communities Ministry Permanent Secretary Emile McGarrel and the LMTC Personnel Officer stated.

It went on to highlight that the LMTC proceeded in accordance with the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:0, Section 8 A, Subsection G, which states that the Council shall “ensure that

Linden Town Clerk Jenella Bowen

the municipality is managed in a professional and competent manner by a qualified Town Clerk” and Section 8 A, Subsection H, which states that the Council “shall perform any other duties or functions imposed on the Council by this or any other law or by the Council”. Subsequently, the Mayor; his deputy, Waneka Arrindell and two senior Police Officers reportedly showed up at the home of the Town Clerk and demanded that she hand over all of the Council’s belongings to them.

However, nowhere in the cited act is the Council given the authority to discipline or remove from office the Town Clerk.

When contacted, Bowen told Guyana Times that she made attempts to contact Minister Bulkan, but those attempts were unsuccessful; however, she was able to speak with Permanent Secretary McGarrel who advised that she comply with the instructions of the Council.

McGarrel confirmed this to Guyana Times , but stated that his advice was to de-

fuse any possible “physical” confrontation. He declined to answer any other question on the issue.

Efforts to contact Minister Bulkan proved futile, as calls to his office and mobile phones went unanswered. But a call to his residence was answered and after a prolonged delay, Guyana Times was told he was not at home at that time.

Bowen said she has since sought legal advice on the way forward, but could not say if she would report for duty today.

The Mayor’s action was deemed unconstitutional, since Section 118 of the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01 clearly states that in the absence of a Local Government Commission, the Communities Minister holds the power to appoint, discipline and disappoint any Local Government Officer.

Section 120 of the Act states; “The power to exercise disciplinary control over Local Government Officers (including the power to remove them from office) shall be exercised by the Commission or other person or authority in whom such power is vested under Section 118 or Section 119 in accordance with any rules pertaining to discipline made by the Commission under Section 114.”

Section 121 adds that where a Local Government Officer is disciplined, including removal from office by anyone other than the Commission or its designate, the officer can appeal that decision, which the Council or its designate can

confirm, set aside or vary any finding on such persons or authority and to confirm, quash or vary any penalty awarded.

Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, in an invited comment on Thursday evening, said that Town Clerks, like Regional Executive Officers (REOs), are creatures of the Minister and it is only him who can discipline or dismiss them.

He said what was playing out at the Linden municipality was purely authoritarian action by the Mayor and his gang.

“Again we are witnessing authoritarianism and a clear violation of the rule of law. The municipality has no authority to discipline or dismiss the Town Clerk: the Town Clerk is a creature of the Minister,” Nandlall, a respected lawyer, opined.

He said the actions

by Holland and others in Linden and the silence of Bulkan may very well be a sign of the Minister’s weak leadership skills.

The spat between Bowen and several Councillors, including Holland and Arrindell, began after she accused the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of spending over $500,000 on travel expenses from the already depleted coffers of the Town Council.

The Linden Town Council has not met in more than two months and when contacted last week, Holland told Guyana Times that he was unable to get a quorum for the meetings as Councillors were anxiously awaiting Minister Bulkan’s ruling on the Town Clerk.

British induced famines and Indian Indentureship

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etween 1838 and 1917, 239,000 Indians were brought as “indentured labourers” for the sugar plantations of Guyana – and a like number to the West Indies. The question arises as to why these persons left their country when their custom forbade “crossing the “Black Waters” (Kala Pani)”. The short answer is structurally, it was ultimately a matter of life and death.

Ravi Dev While indentured labour might be seen as a transitory passage of human labour from chattel slavery to the so called “free labour” of today, the conditions that herded Indians into that option were man made. The sugar planters had no faith free Africans would sell their labour at a rate to make sugar profitable. They therefore actively sought a new supply that would guarantee such cheap labour on demand. But where would such rates that could not attract freed slaves be a “pull factor” for indentureship? The answer was British India.

The story begins in 1757 when the troops of the British East India Company captured Bengal from the Moguls and completed their inexorable conquest of the legendarily rich India within 50 years. Less than a decade later – between 1768 and 1771 from Bengal and eastern Bihar (from where most Guyanese immigrants originated) – more than 10 million persons: one third of the population – died from a “famine”. Why? Two reasons. Firstly, the farmers that supplied the bulk of the population with foodstuffs were forced by the British into producing cash crops for export – even while they were forced to pay onerous taxes at the threat of death and violence.

We quote the words of then British Governor, Warren Hastings who boasted to the home office: “Notwithstanding the loss of at least one-third of the inhabitants of the province, and the consequent decrease of the cultivation, the nett collections of the year 1771 exceeded even those of I768… It was naturally to be expected that the diminution of the revenue should have kept an equal pace with the other consequences of so great a calamity. That it did not was owing to its being violently kept up to its former standard.”

The cash crops the farmers were forced to grow included cotton, opium, indigo and, as described above, this was simply to keep paying off the extortionate demands of the British who exported rice and wheat even during the famines. Millions were also thrown out of work when the British forbade Indian weavers from producing cotton yarn and the cotton fabrics that had enthralled Europe.

Henceforth, only cotton woven by British looms could be sold in India! Where were the weavers to get the money to buy food much less clothes? Incidentally, Britain became the largest drug dealers up to the present where the opium – up to 800 tons annually – were shipped to China so that the British could buy Chinese tea.

Between the Bengal famine of 1768 and the end of Indentureship in 1917, conservatively, over 54 million Indians perished from famine. In the book Late Victorian Holocausts (2001) Mike Davis describes how Viceroy Lord Lytton, insisted that wheat be exported to England.

In 1877 and 1878, at the height of the famine when 10.3 million persons perished, grain merchants exported a record 800,000 tons of wheat and 1.9 million tons of rice.

As the peasants began to starve, officials were ordered “to discourage relief works in every possible way”.

And this is why the upsurge of indentured Indians correlated with the British-induced famines.

Photograph of a South India family during the 1878 famine

by W W Hooper, a Colonel in the British Army

news

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friday, OCTOBER 7, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Cubana Air Disaster Another DTL worker dismissed – GAWU, Labour Dept to meet company next week victims remembered

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Cuban Ambassador Julio Cesar Gonsalez Marchante addressing the gathering on Thursday

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special commemoration was held at the University of Guyana to mark the 40th anniversary of the Cubana Air Disaster which claimed the lives of 73 people, including 11 Guyanese.

At Thursday’s remembrance ceremony, Cuban Ambassador Julio Cesar Gonsalez Marchante said that his country shared the pain of the Disaster with its fellow Caribbean nations.

Marchante also noted that the Region will achieve victory in the fight against terrorism.

“The pain is shared; the pain is multiplied. We in Cuba mourn our beloved ones…this legacy is a beacon and guidance because we are certain that in this fight against terrorism, we will win,” the Ambassador noted.

Several Government Ministers and a delegation from Barbados were also present at the observance.

Guyanese President David Granger reminded that the attack was

Some of the Guyanese who perished in the October 1976 bombing

against the freedom of the Caribbean people.

“The Cubana terrorist attack ensnared the Caribbean Community in a Cold War conflict, which was not of the Region’s making. The terrorist attack constituted an assault on the freedom-loving peoples of the Caribbean [and] their national interests,” he noted.

While recalling the events of that fateful day, the Head of State also expressed that the remaining suspect must be charged for the deadly attack.

“The Heads of State and Government of the Caribbean Community and Cuba, at the Second Caricom-Cuba Summit in Barbados in December 2005, urged the Government of the United States of America to consider favourably, the request for the extradition of the suspect to Venezuela in order to ensure that he is brought to justice on charges

of terrorism, in accordance with States’ obligations under international law and their own national legislation,” Granger explained.

On October 6, 1976, Cubana de Aviación flight CU 455 exploded just 11 minutes after take-off from the Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados.

Those who perished were 57 Cubans, five North Koreans, and Guyanese Ann Nelson, Jacqueline Williams, Sabrina Harripaul, Rita Thomas, Margaret Bradshaw, Violet Thomas, Rawle Thomas, Raymond Persaud, Harold Norton, Gordon Sobha and Seshnarine Kumar.

Four men were subsequently arrested for the bombing. Two were later sentenced to 20 years in prison in a trial held in neighbouring Venezuela, while two others were acquitted for the reported two

he Demerara Timbers Limited (DTL) has reportedly dismissed yet another employee over the industrial action taken by employees over pay increases.

According to information this newspaper gathered, following the dismissal of eight employees on Tuesday, another worker was subsequently laid off which brings to nine workers reportedly sacked by DTL. This latest dismissal comes just days before a scheduled meeting involving DTL, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the Social Protection Ministry’s Labour Department.

A senior GAWU official told Guyana Times on Thursday that the union is maintaining that the workers must be reinstated with unbroken service. It was explained that the union is demanding that workers, once reinstated, be paid for the days they have been denied employment.

One worker explained that the protests at Mabura Hill had eased on Thursday, pending the outcome of next week’s meeting.

It was on Monday that workers protested at the company’s headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown. It was after this industrial action that the sight (now nine) DTL employees were reportedly handed pink slips. A move vehemently condemned by GAWU. In fact, the union on Wednesday issued a statement pointing out that this is the first time in history that a private or public entity, has taken such an action despite the country’s labour laws, which prohibits workplaces from dismissing workers for taking industrial action. GAWU had pointed out that DTL’s action is a violation of Section Eight of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act. GAWU added that the moves by the company can be seen as another “anti-worker and anti-union act”.

According to the union, the company’s high-handed and “ominous act” represents a decision which must be roundly condemned by all right-thinking Guyanese: “It is a clear attempt to intimidate the workers and use extralegal measures to deny workers their just claims for pay increase.”

It was earlier this week that calls were being made for the Labour Department of the Social Protection Ministry to take legal

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine

action against DTL over labour violations.

GAWU General Secretary Seepaul Narine, who was present at the protest, had told Guyana Times that the timber company must be prosecuted by government over its continued disrespect for Guyanese employees.

“What we believe needs to be done now is the Ministry needs to prosecute them because they are in clear violation of the law and not only violating the law to the detriment of the employees but a flagrant disrespect to the Ministry. I don’t think that the Ministry should continue to accept such a situation,” he stated.

Efforts to contact Minister with responsibility for Labour Keith Scott on Thursday proved futile.

Negotiations between the union and the company reached a stalemate on 17 November 2015 after the company did not approve any pay rise but offered a Christmas bonus of $5000 to each worker. DTL had informed that its financial state precluded it from offering a pay rise.

Following the impasse, the dispute was next subjected to conciliatory services by the Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour.

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guyana-times.com

friday, october 7, 2016

News

As part of Vision 2020

$18M plugged into Region 6 healthcare delivery

Warrau Language being revived among young people

Minister within the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe speaking to the youths who graduated from the Warrau Language project

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T

he Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) health department received a boost on Tuesday when Guyana Medical Relief Inc donated in excess of $18 million in medical supplies to the Regional Health Services.

The presentation was made to Director of Public Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens by President of St Francis Community Developers, Alex Foster on behalf of Guyana Medical Relief Inc. Following the presentation the supplies were distributed to the region’s 28 health centres, posts, and

The supplies donated by the Guyana Medical Relief Inc

hospitals.

Stephens noted that it is essential to have partnerships with stakeholders to improve healthcare delivery in the region.

The Ministry of Public Health in its efforts to achieve the Package of Essential Healthcare Services (PEHS) has stressed the need for support from all stakeholders.

Stephens noted that the presentation was a demonstration of the good relationship with Guyana Medical Relief Inc and Food for the Poor.

The donation included both supplies and over-the-

counter drugs: “These supplies would be distributed equally across the region so that at all health centres and hospitals persons will have access to the same healthcare.”

He said it is a boost to achieve health vision 2020: “We want to see in the country that there is equal access to health delivery across the region… We want our plans to be known and for there to be evidence of proper and equitable distribution across the region, and there is no shortage of essential drugs across the region.”

The PEHS is a pro-

gramme of the Public Health Ministry as a blueprint as to where healthcare delivery should be in 2020: “What do you want from your health centres; what do you have to do to get there?”

Stephens is optimistic that the region's health department is on track to achieve health vision 2020.

“I am a bit bold and I want to say that Region Six may be able to achieve that by mid-2018. I would like my region to be the pilot region as it comes to the rolling out of PEHS.” The $18 million presentation is seen as a step in that direction.

ifty youths from Whitewater village, Region One (BarimaWaini) recently graduated from the Warrau Language project; the one-year project is part of Government’s efforts to revive dying Indigenous languages. Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who attended the graduation, congratulated the youths for taking the first step towards reviving their native language.

Minister Garrido-Lowe urged the youths to practice what they learnt and pass on their knowledge to others in their families so that eventually, the entire community would benefit, a Government Information Agency release said.

“You came from several different homes, if you can teach your brother and sister… to say ‘how are you’ ‘fine thank you’, if you teach them that, it will spread from 50 homes,” Minister GarridoLowe explained.

The youths were urged to not to be ashamed of their language as it is a part of their culture.

The Minister pledged that the Indigenous People’s’ Affairs Ministry would continue to support the revival of Indigenous languages across the country.

At the launch of Indigenous Heritage Month, September 1, 2015, President David Granger had noted that while many of the older folks spoke in their tribal tongue, the younger generations were not keen on preserving it.

“It is therefore important that those languages be preserved and practiced because for many, it is the most efficient means of personal communication… we are all poorer when we are not able to communicate with each other,” President Granger had said. In June 2016, the sum of $2 million was donated to the residents of the Kamwatta Hill, in Region One for the revival of their Warrau language.

Additionally, plans are in place to re-establish the Amerindian Language Project under the name Indigenous Language Project at the University of Guyana as part of a cultural preservation programme.

Annandale man nabbed with handguns

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n Annandale, East Coast Demerara man was on Thursday arrested after he was found with two illegal handguns and several rounds of ammunition in his possession.

According to reports, the 24-year-old unemployed man was arrested in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, after Police received a tip-off.

Police ranks at about 12:40h went to a house in the area where they found a .38 revolver and a 9mm pistol along with three rounds of ammunition.

The man has been arrested and is assisting Police with their investigations. Only on Wednesday, Jermaine Marius, a 25-year-old labourer of Lot 70 Hadfield Street,

Georgetown, was charged and remanded to prison for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Marius was nabbed after Police ranks went to a home on Hadfield Street where a .32 Taurus pistol and a .38 special revolver along with several rounds of ammunition were unearthed.

Govt seeking int’l help...

“It’s quite a challenge, because of the vastness of our borders and the huge amount of space that is there for the small amount of aircraft to actually get below the radar and land in these areas. We have to depend quite a bit on human intelligence, that is, people in communities to report and our own limited resources in so far as surveillance is concerned,” he explained.

This comes on the heels of the discovery of an illegal aircraft just off of the Yurupukari Airstrip in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper

Essequibo).

Nevertheless, Minister Harmon disclosed that Cabinet has approved the rehabilitation of several hinterland airstrips which will ensure better security exists.

Among the airstrips to be upgraded are: Eteringbang, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) at the cost of $76.6 million with the contract awarded to STP Investments; Kurupung, Region Seven at the cost of $28.9 million, awarded to MMC Inc; Paramakatoi, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) at the cost of $39.9 million, awarded to N&A

FROM PAGE 10

Construction; and Kato, Region Eight at the cost of $65.6 million, awarded to Colin Talbot Contracting Services.

Also to be rehabilitated in Region Eight are: the Kopinang Airstrip to the tune of $38.7 million, awarded also to Colin Talbot Contracting Services; Monkey Mountain Airstrip to the tune of $23.8 million, awarded to KP Thomas & Sons Contracting Inc and the Annai Airstrip at the cost of $56.9 million, awarded to Syms General Contractor Inc.

friday, october 7, 2016

guyana-times.com

Around the World

Hurricane Matthew blasts The Bahamas en route to US

Hurricane Matthew is seen to the West of a much smaller Hurricane Nicole in this image from NOAA's GOES-East satellite taken at 07:45h on October 6, 2016

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urricane Matthew, the fiercest Caribbean storm in nearly a decade, blasted The Bahamas on Thursday as it headed for the Southeastern United States after killing at least 140 people, mostly in Haiti, on its deadly northward march.

Matthew, carrying winds of 140 mph (220 kph), was "relentlessly pounding" the North-western part of the island chain en route to Florida's Atlantic coast, the US National Hurricane

Centre said.

The hurricane was likely to remain a Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale as it approached the United States, where it could either take direct aim at Florida or brush along the state's coast through Friday night, the centre said, warning of "potentially disastrous impacts."

Hurricane conditions were expected in parts of Florida by later Thursday.

Over 100 people were

killed in Haiti, local officials said, and thousands were displaced after the storm flattened homes, uprooted trees and inundated neighbourhoods earlier in the week. Four people were killed in The Dominican Republic, which neighbours Haiti.

As the storm passed about 25 miles from The Bahamas capital of Nassau, howling gusts of wind brought down palms and other trees and flipped shingles off the rooftops of many houses. Bahamas Power and Light disconnected much of Nassau as Matthew bore down on the town.

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina declared states of emergency, empowering their governors to mobilize the National Guard.

President Barack Obama declared a state of emergency in Florida, the White House said, a move that authorized the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate disaster relief efforts. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Security Council nominates Portugal's Guterres as UN chief

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he United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously nominated former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres to be the next Secretary General, recommending that the 193-member General Assembly appoint him for five years from January 1, 2017.

The General Assembly is likely to meet next week to approve the appointment of Guterres, 67, who would replace Ban Ki-moon, 72, of South Korea. Ban will step down at the end of 2016 after serving two terms.

"I have two words to describe what I'm feeling now: gratitude and humili-

Nominated UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres attends a news conference at Necessidades Palace in Lisbon, Portugal October 6, 2016

ty," Guterres said in a short statement in Lisbon, which

he repeated in various languages.

"Humility (is what I feel) about the huge challenges ahead of us, the terrible complexity of the modern world. But it is also humility that is required to serve the most vulnerable, victims of conflicts, of terrorism, rights violations, poverty and injustices of this world," he said.

Ban, speaking during a visit to Rome, described Guterres as a "super choice" as his successor.

Guterres was Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002 and served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005 to 2015. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Barbados, China sign new agreement

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he Government of Barbados has embarked on a new agreement with the People’s Republic of China. Acting Health Minister, Senator Patrick Todd and the Chinese Ambassador to Barbados, Wang Ke, recently signed an agreement for the assignment of Chinese healthcare personnel to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“This initiative is an outcome of an offer from the President of the People’s Republic of China to the Prime Minister of Barbados

15

in 2013.

To give fulfilment of this offer, a working group comprising of representatives of the Health Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and representatives of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China was established to prepare the terms and conditions under which the technical cooperation would be provided,” explained Todd.

The Senator further stated that the objective of this inter-governmental agreement is to enhance clini-

cal and technical skills and to explore best practices in healthcare delivery.

According to the agreement, a maximum of eight healthcare professionals will be assigned to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on a rotation basis for a period of six months over two years.

Todd went on to say that the professionals coming from China will augment the staff at the hospital in the areas in need of capacity building and human resource development. (Excerpt from

Barbados Advocate)

Pakistan adopts new law to tackle "honour killings" P

akistan's Parliament has unanimously passed legislation against "honour killings" – mandating life imprisonment for convicted murderers even if the victim's relatives forgive them.

The legislation was approved on Thursday in a joint session of the lower and upper houses of Parliament, three months after an outspoken social media celebrity, Qandeel Baloch, was strangled by her brother.

But rights activist

Farzana Bari was more cautious, saying the bill still allowed a judge to decide whether a murder qualified as an "honour killing" or not.

About 500 women are killed each year in Pakistan at the hands of family members over perceived damage to "honour", which can involve eloping, fraternising with men, or any other infraction against conservative values relating to women.

In most cases, the victim is a woman and the killer is

a relative who escapes punishment by seeking forgiveness for the crime from family members.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued a statement hailing the passage of the bill and vowed Police and courts would implement it.

"We will make... sure to fully enforce this legislation across the country," he said.

"Women are the most essential part of our society and I believe in their empowerment, protection and emancipation." (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Burundi says plans to quit the International Criminal Court

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urundi plans to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, a deputy to President Pierre Nkurunziza said on Thursday, six months after the court's Prosecutor said it will investigate violence which killed hundreds of people.

Burundi slid into political crisis last year when Nkurunziza announced his intention to seek a third term in office, which he went on to win in an election boycotted by opposition parties.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court's Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said in April the court would investigate incidents of violence in Burundi that have killed at least 450 and forced hundreds of thousands to flee abroad since the crisis erupted in April 2015.

"We have sent to the national assembly a draft law for adoption... to withdraw from the ICC," First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo said after a Cabinet meeting.

A notice of a Cabinet meeting held earlier in the day in Gitega, some 100km (60 miles) from the capital Bujumbura, said among the items to be discussed were

a draft law revising a 2003 law that Burundi ratified to be a signatory of the Rome Statute of the ICC. Opponents say Nkurunziza's decision to seek a third term violated the constitution and a peace agreement that ended a civil war in 2005. The President and his supporters cite a court ruling that said he could run again. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Hurricane Matthew: At least 283 people killed in Haiti devastation

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urricane Matthew has left 283 people dead in Haiti, the interior minister has told AFP news agency. One local official, speaking to AFP, said 50 people had died in the southern town of Roche-aBateau alone.

New images from remote and cut off areas in the south-west of the country show scenes of devastation.

The hurricane has again been upgraded to a Category Four storm, the second highest hurricane classification, as it heads for the US state of Florida.

Hurricane Matthew – the most powerful Caribbean storm in nearly a decade – is currently pounding The Bahamas, after slicing through Haiti and Cuba.

Hurricane Matthew is already the deadliest Atlantic storm since 2012, when Hurricane Sandy directly killed at least 147 people.

Haiti has seen some of the worst of the devastation,

Aerial images show homes badly destroyed, some without roofs, in the southern town of Jeremie

with the south-west largely cut off after the collapse of a key bridge on Tuesday.

An earlier death toll given by Haiti's civil protection service stood at 23, but as emergency services gained access to some of the more remote areas on Thursday, the number rose rapidly to more than 283.

The authorities say early assessments show nearly 2,000 homes were flooded and at least 10 schools were damaged across the country, the French Itele website reports.

Haiti's presidential election due this weekend has been postponed because of the hurricane. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 News

friDay, october 7, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Region 10 Dept of Education hosts Stakeholders Forum – issues concerning health, education, traffic discussed

U

nder the theme, “Stakeholders uniting for the development of Education in the Region”, the Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) Department of Education, earlier this week hosted its annual Stakeholders Forum at the Egbert Benjamin Centre in Linden.

Staying true to the theme, the event featured interactive sessions with various stakeholders across the Region as they were educated in the areas of Education, Health, Traffic and the Church. They were also given the opportuni-

ty to voice their concerns in addition to making recommendations. Apart from the discourse, the event also comprised an appreciation ceremony for stakeholders who have made valuable contributions.

Regional Education Officer Marcia Paddy Andrews, Chairman of the Region 10 Education Committee Denise Belgrave and Regional Field Officer Fayeann Tappin-Benn were among those present. Delivering feature remarks were E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) Traffic Inspector Michael Craig, Pastor Selwyn

Participants at the Egbert Benjamin Centre in Linden for the annual Stakeholders Forum

Sills, Dr Karen Perreira and Headmaster of Christianburg Wismar Secondary School Cleveland Thomas.

Conditions at Anna Regina Health Centre dangerous — Region 2 Administration called on to take action

The thick overgrowth surrounding the Anna Regina Health Centre

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esidents living in proximity to the Anna Regina Health Centre in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) have echoed calls for the overgrown bushes that surround the health Centre to be cleared.

Those affected have explained that the thick vegetation is posing serious health threats and, despite several reports lodged to the Regional Administration

nothing has been done to date.

This newspaper was reliably informed that the compound has not been cleaned in almost three months and pregnant mothers and elders accessing the Health Centre are predominantly affected. Medical practitioners of the Centre are also forced to walk through the tall bushes to get to their work place.

Patients are inconvenienced and are forced to manoeuvre through the thick overgrowth to enter the Centre and as such, they run the risk of being bitten by snakes and other creatures, residents reported.

The community is therefore calling for the bushes be cleared so they can be in a more comfortable and safe environment.

Traffic concerns

During the discourse, a number of traffic concerns were raised, following the address by Inspector Craig.

Notably, one participant suggested having ranks stationed at the various pedestrian crossings across the community to monitor the crossings during school hours, however it was not-

ed by Craig that the Traffic Department assigns ranks in school areas where there is heavy traffic during that period.

Craig also outlined plans to guide students in the high traffic areas. He further advised motorists to pay attention to road markings in the community.

In her address, Dr

Perreira advised everyone to be educated on and to pay attention to their health.

She stressed the importance of a healthy diet and advised on paying attention to the “little things” regarding health.

She further advised to take health seriously and to seek medical attention at the earliest time in cases of suspected ailments.

Additionally concerns were also raised by the audience about the alleged negligent behaviour of some health professionals towards patients.

Headmaster Thomas outlined the important roles of stakeholders and their contributions towards the system of education.

He noted that teachers have a “unique” role to play and stressed the need for stakeholders understanding how the system works regarding education.

guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Jyotica Tangri

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he spectacular Georgetown/East Coast Demerara motorcade organised by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha will be held on Saturday, October 29. Often described as the single largest event on the Guyanese calen-

Jumo

Nishard M

dar, this year’s m o torcade promises to be exciting as ever.

The fabulously decorated floats will assemble at the Shri Krishna Mandir, Campbellville,

Kushal Paul

Georgetown, from 18:00h and will move West along Campbell Avenue into Sandy Babb Street, North into JB Singh Road and East onto Seawall Road, to the La Bonne Intention

Community (LBI) Centre ground, East Coast Demerara. More than 20 floats have already registered their participation.

At the LBI Community Centre ground, the stage

programme starts at 19:00h with special performances by ZEETV’s Saregamapa 2016 winner, Kushal Paul and finalist Jyotica Tangri.

In addition, the Dharmic Nritya Sangh and Sookrane Boodhoo along with others

are slated to perform.

In excess of $3 million in cash and trophies will be presented to the winning floats in the various categories. Admission to all motorcades is free and no alcohol is allowed.

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umber 63 Beach will come alive on Sunday, October 16, when the sixth annual Digicel Duck Curry Competition is held, which will see winners walking away with over $1 million in cash and other prizes.

The winner will walk away with $275,000 while the second place winner will pocket $175,000 and third place winner will collect $125,000. The fourth place winner will receive $100,000.

The defending champion, Viyjmol Saroop, will come full force to retain the title. A total of 17 groups have registered to be a part of the competition. These include entries from Berbice and Demerara. Registration closes today.

Persons desirous of participating in the competition must bring a minimum of 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of duck meat. All participants are allowed to clean and cut their ducks at home, but the meat must be marinated and cooked at the venue.

Participants must also bring their cooking utensils and ingredients. A ready-to-use stove will be provided by the promoters. The competition starts at 11:00h and the judging will take place at 14:30h.

As the sun sets, the stage show commences with some of the best in chutney music. These include Trinidad’s singing sensations Nishard M and reigning Carib Soca Monarch Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo. They will be backed

by Crown Vibes Sounds out of Berbice.

In addition, the three winners from the Amateur Deejay Competition – Selector Keston, Deejay Vibes and SmiDJit will be present to entertain the crowd.

Make sure to come and be ready to party to the vibes and have an entire day filled with fun and excitement.

There will also be a number of games and activities for children, including bouncy castle, trampoline, merry-goround and face painting.

Admission is absolutely free.

A

s Guyanese prepare to celebrate the festival of lights, preparations are underway for the hosting of several motorcades in various parts of the country. For the past few years, the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) motorcade is held a week before celebrations in Georgetown.

This year, the Guyana Divya Jyoti Association in collaboration with HUG, will host its motorcade on Saturday, October 22, at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, EBD. So far, nine Mandirs and businesses have indicated their interest in participating.

The well illuminated floats will travel along the East Bank Highway and into the Guyana National Stadium for the grand display and final judging.

It is expected the lone float from Timehri, EBD, will join the others at Soesdyke which will then proceed to Diamond w h e r e several floats will join the motorcade. After

leaving Diamond, the entourage will make a stop at Farm Mandir where the final floats will join.

However, at the Stadium, there will be a packed cultural extravaganza featuring skits, poems, songs, dances and most importantly, the distribution of prizes. Those set to entertain the audience will be the Ishara Dance Troupe, the Indian Cultural Centre Dance Troupe, Cummings Lodge Dance Troup and others.

In addition, members of the Shakti Sting Orchestra will take the stage by storm. Several of its members will perform live, including Pooran Seeraj, Steven Ramphal and others.

Apart from the cultural presentation, there will be sweetmeats in galore along with seven-curry and other Indian delicacies. Admission to the event cost $300.

18

guyana-times.com

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

Ambika Ramraj Odess Baker

G

uyana Fashion Week (GFW) is back with a bang! This year, the executive of GFW added a new component to the schedule of activities – The Model Image. This year, the week of activities begins on November 6 and concludes on November 13. The event kicks off with the finals of the GFW Model Image presentation on Sunday, November 6 at the Pegasus Hotel.

The GFW Model Image will feature 11 young men and 17 young women participating in an empowering exercise for creative enthusiasts.

Developed

by GFW’s creative director,

Ann Chance

Aodowa Fortune

Richard Young, it highlights modelling talent in several categories.

Photography, personal style, commercial, runway, and spokesperson are the categories being honed. Some of the categories are being assessed before the event and other areas are being judged on the evening.

The models are being encouraged to develop their public communication skills as well as t h e i r congeniality strengths. There is also a People’s Choice award, voted online. Check out the facebook page GFW Model Image.

Raynel McCalmont

Rebekah Narine

Rosalyn Neblett

Saida Smith Candacy Subrattie Sithendisi Cameron

Shevon Griffith

Kristen Warner

Katarina Phillips

Shonette Reid

Lisa Walcott

M Carlene Waithe

embers of the public are invited to view the 2000 romantic drama "Dhadkan" on Saturday, October 8, at the Indian Cultural Centre at Lot 67 New Haven, Bel Air, Georgetown.

The film stars Shilpa Shetty whose character is a wealthy girl who falls in love with a poor boy, played by Sunil Shetty.

However, her father insists she marries a

Taneisha Munro

for ICC on Saturday wealthy man played by Akshay Kumar.

Their lives become entangled in a love triangle. The film features award winning performances. The soundtrack composed

by Nadeem-Shravan features some popular songs by Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan and others. Admission to the event is absolutely free. Persons are asked to be seated by 17:30h.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016

guyana-times.com

T

hirty-three-year-old Shawn English is a man of God and an accomplished musician. He is most well known for spreading his passion for inspiring young people with his upbeat and diverse lyrics, in songs like “Trixx” and “Awesome God”.

Though Shawn feels led to specifically advocate for youth, his sound is timeless, influencing all generations that hear and identify with his positive messages.

He was born to Rosel and Adrian English; two exceptional vocalists in their own rights.

With such talent surrounding him, Shawn grew both as a person and a singer.

Although Shawn’s parents played a pivotal role in recognising and developing his talent, however he better realised his potential as a vocalist during his tenure at West Ruimveldt Primary School. There, under the guidance of Sir Wilfred Success, he, along with singers such as Dallas Forte and Rene Chester, honed their natural talent on the national stage.

Shawn English

In 2006, at the age of 23, Shawn entered the GT&T Jingle Competition. Not only did he win the competition, but it also opened many doors for his fresh new sound. Later that year, Shawn released his first single – “Blinded”, which received good reviews, especially in the rock fraternity. Other songs, such as “Chains” and “The Name” followed in the subsequent year.

In 2009, Shawn had a vision to bring morality back into secondary schools through music. This vision led to the creation of what he calls the “Focus” project. He saw this project as a chance to give students a “third” choice to the Gaza and Gully phenomenon; that being the God factor (Trinity)!

In that same year, he released the first song in this project “Focus” which really captures what the entire project is about.

Whilst still trying to ‘put things in focus’ on his “Focus” album; in October of 2011, Shawn English connected with Selah Muzik out of Georgia (www. selahmuzik.com) and released his first single with Selah called “Go Hard” in 2012.

Shawn continued to devote the remainder of 2012 to the promotion of “Focus” through various church events and activities around the country.

During this time and the year to follow, Shawn featured in numerous shows and events across Guyana where he shared the stage with other internationally recognised artistes such as Papa San, DJ Nicholas, Chevelle

19

Franklin, Prodigal Son, Sherwin Gardner, Eddie Neblette, St Matthew Jason Mighty and many others.

If you ask him today, Shawn will say he’s terrible at multitasking, and yet he is always working on several musical endeavours at any given time. In 2014, while pushing his music internationally and developing a fan base in Antigua, Shawn was also working on new tracks with up and coming producer Andrew “Drew Thoven” King, creating a new sound for Shawn E to ride on which birthed singles such as “Get High” and “Da S&S”.

In 2015, the young and talented artiste released his music video for ”Get High” and would have shared the stage with several artistes in Anguilla, St Maarten and St Kitts and Nevis during a gospel tour.

Shawn seized the moment and connected with several key promoters/ producers from The Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada which saw the formation of song material for the 2016 EP being created.

His brand ‘Emusic’ also became more recognised and he released his first Christmas single through the KKR production “Christmas With Us” Vol 2 Christmas Album project. This landed him the title of “First Guyanese to have a Christmas Carol” – a title awarded by NCN Guyana in November of 2015 after music reviews were completed).

It is almost the end of 2016 and Shawn believes that it has been an exceptional year thus far.

Westside Anand Yankarran

I

ndian Culture International’s “Indian Legend Spectacular” which was scheduled for the National Cultural Centre on Saturday, October 15, will now be held in March 2017.

The tentative dates for the event are March 10, 11 and 12.

The event will be held at the same time to celebrate the Indian Indentureship Centenary which is scheduled for March 13 – the same day when Guyanese celebrates the festival of colours.

However, the event will not lose its purpose as it is being held to celebrate Guyanese contribution to music. The event is dubbed the first Caribbean Indian Awards.

The special red carpet affair will see awards being given out to several groups and individuals who have contributed to Indian music in Guyana and further afield.

It is proposed that plaques

Rakesh Yankarran

will be given to the awardees.

Those listed to be awarded are Terry Gajraj, Anand Yankarran, Rakesh Yankarran, Kries Ramkhelawan, Mohan Nandu, Chate Singh, Tageman, Devindra Pooran, Ramkissoon Singh, and Sookrane Boodhoo.

Also receiving awards on the evening will be Virendra

Devindra Pooran

Persad, Music Director and leader of Trevini Band, Trinidad and Tobago.

However, the evening will also see performances by the members of the Trinveni Band including KI, Nishard M and Neval Chatelal. There will also be performances by three renowned dance troupes.

F Kries Ramkhelawan

Terry Gajraj

our top sounds on the Westside will battle for supremacy on October 22 at the Tuschen Community Centre ground, East Bank Essequibo, when Westside Sound Fest is held. It is expected to be a clash of the best as deejays and proprietors of the four sound systems are making sure that they are ready for the showdown.

The four music systems that will be creating some stir come October 22 are Big Life Sound, Royal Vybez, Power Sonic and Ghost

Rider. Fans of the four biggest systems will definitely flock the venue as they show support for their favourite sounds.

The event is promoted by Westsiders Entertainment and is sponsored by Stag and Sky Vodka. Tickets for the event cost $1000 in advance and more at the gates. Vehicle passes also cost $1000. Apart from the sound clash, there will be special deejays rocking the consoles with some of the best hits in all genre of music.

20

friDAY, october 7, 2016

Registration closes today for Karibee Sprint Classic

Pakistan v West Indies 2016…

Younis Khan to miss 1st Test against Windies Y

ounis Khan has been ruled out of Pakistan's first Test against West Indies, with doctors advising him 10 days of rest to regain his strength after recovering from a bout of dengue feHorse racing takes to a new track this Sunday for the Nand Persaud Karibee Sprint Classic

R

egistration closes today for the eagerly anticipated Nand Persaud Karibee Sprint Classic slated for this Sunday at the recently constructed track at number 36 village, Corentye.

Seven races are carded for the day with more than $3 million in cash and prizes up for grabs as Berbice introduces a new aspect of local horse racing.

To date, an astonishing 43 horses have been registered for the day’s event and it is expected to be significantly higher come race day.

According to Mahendra Persaud, Manager at the rice producing company, “the event is a new version of horse racing and we want to put something that is new into sports in Guyana and we are trying to use the North American model.”

Persaud went on to explain that the race is unique by the fact that is it a sprint race and there is a high expectation for the day’s events which will be much more exciting than what horse racing lovers are accustomed to in Guyana.

The facility is not the first of its kind but the latest addition to the horse racing facilities available in the ancient county. Persaud noted that the land was upgraded to a standard that is acceptable to promote the sport.

The distinction of this ‘sprint racing’ will see the horses run on a straight track rather than the oval which is customary locally.

Additionally, the 800-meter race will be the longest and 400 meter the shortest of races.

Throughout the day, which begins at 14:00h, turfites will see a host of

races with the top horses including Golden Blue Echo, Cat Massiah and Plum Plum in the main event; the 800m for $350,000.

The first race to kick off the day will see the L class and lower go head on in the shortest version (400m) for $100,000 while the two year old will be running the same distance for the $100,000 prize money then J and Lower class will be looking to run away with the $120,000 prize money in the 600m race.

As the top horses being to strut their stuff, the G class horses will sprint over a distance of 600m for $250,00 first prize and H class and lower will run the 600m for $200,000.

All winners will be presented with trophies compliments of Trophy Stall in Bourda Market with branches at City Mall and on South Road.

Wolf Challenge Cup

Since last missing a Test match in May 2011, Younis Khan has scored 3839 runs in 41 matches at an average of 59.06

ver.

"Younis has informed chief selector Inzamamul-Haq that he won't able to play the first Test," a PCB spokesperson told

ESPNcricinfo. "The selectors are yet to announce the squad, but its is confirmed that Younis will not take part in the opening game in Dubai. He asked for rest to be fully fit before his national selection since he has recently recovered from dengue."

Last month, the 38-year-old Younis contracted a high fever that was later diagnosed as the mosquito-borne disease dengue, for which he was treated in a Karachi hospital. This forced him to miss the first round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's premier firstclass tournament. Doctors have advised Younis to extend his rest for another

10 days. He is expected to be available for the second Test in Abu Dhabi.

Younis last missed a Test match in May 2011 also against West Indies, coincidentally, in St Kitts - and has since featured in 41 successive matches, scoring 3839 runs in that period, at an average of 59.06. He is now Pakistan's leading run-getter in Tests with 9456 runs at 53.72, and in his last appearance scored 218 against England at The Oval.

Pakistan will begin their three-match Test series with a pink-ball, daynight match at the Dubai International Stadium from October 13. The second Test begins on October 21 in Abu Dhabi, and the third in Sharjah on October 30. (Cricinfo)

Nadal through at rain-soaked China Open

I

njury problems have hampered Rafael Nadal of late, but the Spaniard is producing the goods in Beijing.

Rafael Nadal secured another straight-sets win as he progressed to the quarter-finals at a rain-soaked China Open.

The second seed, who has struggled with a wrist injury this season, dropped just two games in his first-round victory over Paolo Lorenzi and was similarly dominant in the opening set against Adrian Mannarino.

But he had to fight hard to take the second set, which lasted almost three times as long as the first, before finally wrapping up a 6-1 7-6 (8-6) success in Beijing.

It was one of only two matches to be completed out of the four scheduled, with Grigor Dimitrov awaiting Nadal in the last eight after defeating Lucas Pouille.

T h e Bulgarian produced a gritty fightback to come from a set down in a 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-0) 6-4 victory over the sixth seed.

Rafael

But the weather haltNadal ed Richard Gasquet's contest with Pablo Carreno Busta when the Frenchman was leading 7-5 2-4.

The conditions also ensured Milos Raonic's match against Malek Jaziri never made it on to court. (SportsMax)

Trophy Stall Angels too good for Wellwoman

E

xcellent batting from top order batters propelled the Trophy Stall Angels to two wins in as many matches on Sunday at the Malteenoes Cricket Club ground Thomas Lands in the latest round of action in the female category of the Wolf Challenge Cup softball cricket competition.

In the opening fixture, the well-organized Trophy Stall Angels (TSA) chased 105 to comfortably beat Wellwoman by nine wickets in a one-sided match. For Wellwoman, Joanne Van-Sertima topscored with 23 while Haseena Mohamed made 17 and Zola Telford chipped in with 15. Nichola Leacock bagged 3 for 12 from three overs and Junelle Nero picked up two for 14 from two overs.

Nero came back with the bat to score 40 not out and with Akilah Castello (48) added 92 for the first wicket. Renika Isaacs picked up the one wicket to fall for 16 runs from two overs.

In their second game, the angels were in destructive mood as they whipped Enterprise Divas by 109 runs. Heema Singh led with the bat with a well composed

Haseena Mohamed is whipped away by Akilah Castello as Trophy Stall Angels chased against Wellwoman

80 while Monica Seales was busy as well in scoring 60 as the Angels posted a massive 213/2 score. All of the Enterprise Divas’ bowlers were expensive but Lisa Singh (1/29) and Sunita Khalid (1/36) were fortunate to get in the wickets column. When the Diva’s began their reply they were immediately pegged back by good bowling which was supported by purposeful fielding as

Alicia Allen picked up 2/13 while Nichola Leacock and Anisa Persaud had one wicket each. Vidya Prasad top-scored with 51 for the East Coast of Demerara team while Yogeeta Balkishun weighed in with a responsible 24 as the Divas were restricted to 104/7 from their 15 overs.

Both teams have qualified for the semifinals which will be played on October 23 at

the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground where they will be joined by 4R Lioness and Wellwoman.

In the other match of the day, 4R Lioness trashed Enterprises Divas’ by 108 runs in yet another lop-sided affair. 4R had first use of the wicket and compiled 202/4 from their 15 overs. Temica Wilson was the best batter on show with a commanding 77 while Matanna Cambridge contributed 31. Lisa Singh was impressive in the onslaught with one wicket for four runs while Dhanwantie Rukhdeo picked up two for 22.

Enterprise run chase never really started and they were eventually bowled out for 94 in 12.3 overs. Gangadai Singh was the leader of the Lioness pack with the ball in claiming 3/17 while Shyon Goodluck and Kaysia Schultz both picked up 2/10. Vidya Pradad tried her best in scoring 26 while Bindya Singh made 17.

The day was blessed with perfect weather and all matches were played in the true spirit of the game as teams prepare for the biggest softball tournament on local soil, the Guyana Softball Cup 6 which will be played from November 4 to 6 in Georgetown.

21

YELLOW

sports

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Vishaul Singh (non-striker) top-scored again but West Indies A struggle on day 3

A

sela Gunaratne followed up an impressive 38 with two top-order wickets to help Sri Lanka A close in on victory against West Indies A, who ended day three nine wickets down in their second innings and only 55 in front.

Gunaratne first helped

et with Lahiru Kumara.

Then he took the wickets of Rajendra Chandrika, who failed to go past 5 for the fourth innings in a row, and Shamarh Brooks to hasten West Indies’ second-innings slide.

Four West Indies Off-spinner Rakheem batsmen got past Cornwall captured 20, but none of them eight wickets managed a half-century, with Vishaul Singh top-scoring once again with 46.

Gunaratne and offspinner Charith Asalanka took two wickets each, and PADLR Sandakan lbw Asith Fernando removed Sri Lanka s t r e t c h their overnight lead of 72 to 110, adding 49 for the ninth wick-

SCOREBOARD West Indies A 1st innings R Chandrika lbw b Kumara 5 KOA Powell c Thirimanne b SANJ Fernando 36 JD Campbell c †Dickwella b Gunaratne 12 SSJ Brooks* lbw b 65 Gunaratne VA Singh c Thirimanne 96 b Asalanka RRS Cornwall c 1 Thirimanne b Sandakan JN Hamilton† c Thirimanne b Gunaratne 0 45 KAJ Roach not out G Moti-Kanhai lbw b Asalanka 3 K Joseph b AM Fernando 0 RH Leveridge lbw b AM Fernando 0 Extras (b-4, w-2, nb-7) 13 Total (all out; 86.4 overs) 276 Fall of wickets 1-7 (Chandrika, 1.1 ov), 2-56 (Campbell, 13.6 ov), 3-56 (Powell, 14.2 ov), 4-181 (Brooks, 49.5 ov), 5-182 (Cornwall, 50.6 ov), 6-185 (Hamilton, 51.3 ov), 7-251 (Singh, 79.1 ov), 8-261 (MotiKanhai, 81.6 ov), 9-276 (Joseph, 86.3 ov), 10-276 (Leveridge, 86.4 ov) Bowling: AM Fernando 8.4-0-35-2,CBRLS Kumara 101-40-1 (nb-1),SANJ Fernando 10-0-46- (nb-3, w-2), DAS 16-3-27-3, Gunaratne PADLR Sandakan 28-6-71-1 (nb3), KIC Asalanka 14-1-53-2 Sri Lanka A 1st innings FDM Karunaratne* c †Hamilton b Moti-Kanhai 131 View dismissal MDKJ Perera b Cornwall 87 View dismissal HDRL Thirimanne c Brooks b Cornwall 2 ARS Silva c Singh b Cornwall 17 KIC Asalanka c Brooksb Roach18 N Dickwella† c Brooks b Cornwall 59 c Powell DAS Gunaratne b Cornwall 38 SANJ Fernando c Powell b Cornwall 0

b Cornwall 0 CBRLS Kumara not out 12 AM Fernando b Cornwall 4 Extras (b-2, lb-4, w-1, nb-11) 18 Total (all out; 104.5 overs) 386 Fall of wickets 1-167 (Perera, 36.3 ov), 2-171 (Thirimanne, 38.2 ov), 3-201 (Silva, 48.2 ov), 4-232 (Asalanka, 61.6 ov), 5-317 (Karunaratne, 80.4 ov), 6-337 (Dickwella, 85.1 ov), 7-337 (SANJ Fernando, 85.2 ov), 8-337 (Sandakan, 89.5 ov), 9-382 (Gunaratne, 104.1 ov), 10-386 (AM Fernando, 104.5 ov) Bowling: RRS Cornwall 38-8-108-8 (nb-2), KAJ Roach 172-76-1 (nb-1, w-1), RH Leveridge 3.5-1-25-0 (nb-1), K Joseph 100-66-0 (nb-7), G Moti-Kanhai 32-5-98-1, JD Campbell 4-0-7-0

West Indies A 2nd innings R Chandrika lbw b Gunaratne 5 KOA Powell b AM Fernando 0 JD Campbell lbw b Sandakan 22 SSJ Brooks* c †Dickwella b 28 Gunaratne VA Singh c †Dickwella b AM Fernando 46 JN Hamilton† c & b Asalanka 8 KAJ Roach lbw b Asalanka 2 RRS Cornwall lbw b Sandakan 3 G Moti-Kanhai lbw b Sandakan 34 9 K Joseph not out Extras (b 1, w 1, nb 6) 8 Total (9 wickets; 75.5 overs)165 To bat: RH Leveridge Fall of wickets 1-1 (Powell, 0.6 ov), 2-24 (Chandrika, 8.4 ov), 3-31 (Campbell, 13.4 ov), 4-75 (Brooks, 37.6 ov), 5-103 (Hamilton, 47.2 ov), 6-116 (Roach, 51.1 ov), 7-116 (Singh, 52.2 ov), 8-132 (Cornwall, 56.5 ov), 9-165 (Moti-Kanhai, 75.5 ov) Bowling: AM Fernando 5-1-16-2 (nb-1), CBRLS Kumara 10-2-30-0 (nb-1, w-1), DAS Gunaratne 15-4-30-2 (nb-2), PADLR Sandakan 25.5-7-47-3 (nb-1), KIC Asalanka 14-5-27-2, SANJ Fernando 6-0-14-0(nb-1)

Singh for 46 as the visitors were reduced to 132 for 8.

Sri Lanka were then frustrated by Gudakesh Moti-Kanhai and Keon Joseph, the ninth-wicket pair batting for 19 overs before Lakshan Sandakan trapped Moti-Kanhai in front, off the last ball of the day, to pick up his third wicket.

In the morning session, offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall picked up the last two Sri Lanka wickets to end with career-best figures of 8 for 108. (ESPNcricinfo)

Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson continued her good form on the FINA/ Airweave World Cup circuit on Tuesday, winning the 50-metre breaststroke during the latest leg of the tour in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

I

t was her second win in the 50m breaststroke following her 29.15-second win at the start of the second cluster of meets in Beijing, China a week ago.

Atkinson had the second fastest reaction time (0.63s) and went hard from the outset to win in 29.02 well ahead of Russia’s Yuliya Efimova 29.27 and American Katie Meili 29.85s.

The American was fastest from the blocks with a reaction time of 0.61s.

The win comes on the heels of Atkinson’s dramatic silver medal swim in the 100-metre breaststroke on Tuesday, highlighted by a tight race between the Jamaican swim star and the USA’s Katie Meili.

Atkinson led at the 50-metre mark, out-splitting Meili 29.63 to 30.00, but the American managed to find something more in the second half of the race to edge Atkinson to the gold.

Meili finished with a time of 1:03.26 over Atkinson’s 1:03.32.

Russia’s Yulia Efimova finished close behind with a time of 1:03.43, moving up from her fourth place turn at the 50-metre mark.

Rie Kaneto of Japan slid down to fourth with a time of 1:04.97 after entering finals as the top seed.

The American was getting a measure of revenge for her defeat at the hands of the Jamaican a week ago in Beijing, China where Atkinson won in 1:03.42 over Meili’s 1:04.00. (SportsMax)

22

GUYANA-TIMES.COM

friday, october 7, 2016

Rugby Americas North final....

T

B

y Akeem Greene President of the Guyana Rugby Union (GRFU) Peter Green on Thursday spoke some stern words over the treatment the national rugby team faced playing the final of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) against hosts Mexico last Sunday in which the lost 32-3 and meant their 2019 World Cup dream could no longer be a reality.

A clearly peeved Green speaking to media operatives at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) headquarters on High Street disclosed that the team were unfairly treated and the union will be lodging a complaint with the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

Green said, “I cannot say when we will be get a response from RILF since we have written the letter as yet but we had opinions from international referees and the consensus is to write world rugby; it was outrageous!”.

The GRFU President further vented that you will be reading that Guyana lost by a huge margin but that does not tell the tale of the truth , the truth is that from a legal point of view, it should be deemed null and void”.

According to the rugby head, the playing conditions were unfair due the field having “incorrect markings”.

“The layout of the field accepted by the referee and match commission was illegal; why we didn’t pick up was because a series of cir-

he largest junior indoor tournament to date will get underway today as the Guyana Hockey Board (GHB) stages their annual Junior Indoor Hockey Championship this weekend at the home of hockey, the National cumstances preceding the game, it is not for the union to use that as an excuse but the rugby field according to international regulations was wrongfully laid out in particular, the goal post was on the dead ball line, the try line was in front of the goal post which caused a series of confusion to players when they got the game going”, Green disclosed.

During the match, Guyana’s scrumhalf Ryan Gonsalves made good on his first penalty goal attempt in just the second minute of the game, but his form deserted him as he squandered three rudimentary attempts to leave nine points on the field.

However, Green’s opinion is that the unusually perimeters played a factor in the players squandering chances.

“These guys are accustomed to playing rugby with the national team having the try line behind the goal post and that is where they were going ; we had our players on the new try lines but they kept going for the traditional try-lines behind the goal post” the president stated.

He added, “If you are kicker and you spent all your life kicking regulation line post and then to suddenly adjust to kicking further and harder, it is difficult”.

Similarly, Manager Robin Roberts explained that the issues were not only on-field; the arranged bus for the team to travel to the ground never arrived on time.

“We had an agreement

at the mangers’ meeting that both teams would arrive at the ground two hours before but the bus never came; we had to go on the road and find out our transportation”, Roberts said.

He added, “When we got the field Mexico were already warmed up, I appealed to the match commissioner for extra time and he gave us 15 minutes”.

Quizzed on whether he felt it was deliberate attempt to frustrate Guyana, he responded saying, “I would say so, this was the fourth match played in Mexico and all three were played at a different venue, it was indeed a plan by Mexico to take it to that ground; it was a smaller field which suited their style of play”.

Head Coach Lawrence Adonis shared similar sentiment on the impact of the conditions on the players but still believed they should have won.

“The field was not comfortable, it had a quite a lot of softness because they had some rain everyday from morning to afternoon, the ground was messy; with the markings, some of the guys didn’t keep their concentration but in spite all of that I think we should have won that game because we left some points out in the first half”.

Due to the lost, Guyana slipped from an all time high of 47th on the World Ranking to 54th while Mexico have moved from 55th to 48th. Mexico will now face the South American B Championship winner in November.

Rahim Oliver will turn out for Christ Church Secondary

F

resh off of the Tour of Tobago and the Victor Maceado Memorial road race, the country’s best cyclists will take to the National Park inner circuit this Saturday for the 12th annual Hand-in-Hand Group of Insurance 11-race programme. The day’s event is organized by National Cycling coach, Hassan Mohamed and will serve as excellent preparation for the Gold Race.

The first race of the day will pedal off at 09:00h with the juniors riding off in the BXM races before Team Cocos Raynauth “Obeah man” Jeffrey look to defend his title in the 35-lap feature event. Jeffery will be in ‘tip top’ shape, having per-

formed e x ceptionally well in the Tour of Tobago, but it is expected that this will not be a walk in the park as top riders

Cycling action returns to the inner circuit of the National Park on Saturday

Gymnasium.

This is the fourth year of the event and will feature for the Aroydy Brandford is one of the more first time, Under-10 talented youngsters in local hockey and U-13 mixed, boys and Girls U-16 as well as the Inter-School Mixed John’s College and North over the next three Georgetown Secondary.

The tournament will be days.

A c c o r d i n g used as a grooming ground to a Press for young talent, having noRelease from table success stories emergthe GHB, ing from the competition the tour- such as Alyssa Xavier, nament is Aroydy Brandford, Aliyah open to all Gordon, Jamraj Assanah, s c h o o l s Andrew Stewart and Hilton and clubs Chester who have all made a n d it into their senior club will be teams. At the event there p l a y e d will be food and drinks on as a four- sale with all proceeds going a - s i d e to the continued effort to des m a l l velop the junior programme.

The Under 21 Category g o a l while the will get underway this afU21 will ternoon from 17:00h while be played as the action will be commencthe standard ing from 09:00h on Saturday six-a-side com- and Sunday and concluding petition, uti- at 19:00h.

The first match slated lizing the full for today will see the girls court. from Old Fort take on rivals This edition of the sporting GCC in the opening game of event will see the tournament. At 18:00h, the largest turn GCC boys will play against out of teams with Saints while at 18:30h the over 150 young- Girls from Hikers will come sters ready to par- up against Hikers. 19:00h Hikers boys will combat Old ticipate.

To date, 15 Fort and GCC will play Old teams are regis- Fort girls at 19:30h.

At 20:00h GCC boys will tered for the U-13 inclusive of teams play Old Fort and the last from each club and game will be Hikers meeting schools such as Saints at 20:30H. All matchMarian Academy, es are in the U-21 category.

Presentations for each Saints Stanislaus College, Christ category will run off at the C h u r c h end of the respective categoS e c o n d a r y , ry finals. The Under 10 and School of Under 13 will be concluded the Nations, on Saturday while the other M a e ’ s categories will conclude on Schools, St. Sunday.

such as fellow team mate, Stephano Husbands, Hamza Eastman as well as veteran Junior Niles, Orville Hinds (Team Evolution), Michael Anthony (Team Evolution), Gerron Williams (Continental), Raul Leal (Team Evolution) will all be gunning for top honours.

In 2015; in the BMX 6-9 John Niles, Christopher Goring, Alexander Leung rode away with the spoils while in the BMX Boys 9-12, Simon Chee, Christopher Goring, Shea Sue Hang were ahead of the competition.

In the BMX Boys 12-14, Adelia Hodge, Jonathon Jagdeo, Thuran Garbarran took top

honours while in the Boys & Girls 12-14 category it was Ronaldo Narine and Ronella Samuels on the podium. The Veterans Under-50 title wen to Junior Niles with Horace Burrowes, Shameer Baksh riding in second and third respectively. The Veterans Over-50 was taken by Linden Blackman while Virgil Jones finished second. The exciting Juveniles category was dominated by Jamal John, Raphael Leung, Christopher Griffith; Mountain Bikes Shane Bourne, Marcus Keiler and Seon Budhan.

In 2016, stiff competition is expected in all categories and Guyana’s oldest and most professional insurance company will duly reward the day’s top cyclists.

guyana-times.com

friday, october 7, 2016

GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power Nat U-17 League…

Jaguars Franchise League

All to play for in final round Lower Corentyne on course for inaugural championship

T

he inaugural Guyana Cricket Board/ Cricket Guyana Inc. (GCB/CGI) Jaguars 3-Day League, reaches the final round today with four more matches at various venues.

The seventh and final round in the semi-professional league will see table leaders Lower Corentyne hosting West Berbice at the Port Mourant Community Centre ground. With 95.3 points and a good showing over six rounds, Lower Corentyne should be crowned inaugural champions since West Demerara who are in second place is on 76.8 points some 18.5 points behind and will need maximum points in all departments and an extremely poor game from Lower Corentyne to go ahead.

West Berbice have lost four

Christopher Barnwell of their fixtures and are yet to register a victory which makes the prospect for an upset at Port Mourant more improbable.

West Berbice are in seventh place on 32.5 and will need to play well to stay above Upper Demerara/East Bank on 28.5

Tagenarine Chanderpaul

Raymon Reifer

points.

With one defeat, second place West Demerara will host Essequibo who occupies the fifth spot with 41.6 points at Tuschen ground where another high scoring drama could unfold. In the previous round, West Demerara and Lower Corentyne played to a high scoring draw and with the likes of Akshaya Persaud, Tagenarine and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in this game more runs could be high on the agenda.

East Coast Demerara has been consistent without being exceptional and are occupying the third spot with 68.5 points.

Today they host bottom of the table Upper Demerara/ East Bank at the Enterprise Community Centre ground and should add to their tally against their struggling opponents.

The final match of the round pits together Georgetown

Manner of awarding points Bwl. Fast Wkts Bonus Bowling

Total Points

-

12

18

1.3

95.3

6

1

8

16

1.5

68.5

-

6

1

14

15

5.8

76.8

12

-

9

2

5

15

.6

41.6

6

12

-

9

2

2

16

1.9

40.9

6

24

-

6

2

3

17

1.2

51.2

Mat O.Win

No O.Winner

Lose

Lower Corentyne

6

60

-

3

East Coast Demerara

6

36

-

West Demerara

6

36

Essequibo

6

Georgetown Upper Corentyne

Teams

Bat. Bonus

23

West Berbice

6

-

-

6

4

6

18

1

32.5

Upper Demerara/ East Bank4

6

-

-

9

3

-

15

1.4

28.5

PS: Other ways in which points may be awarded are, Abandon match (without any play taking play), Abandon match due to dangerous pitch conditions, and Referee awarding match.

and Upper Corentyne at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground Bourda. Georgetown are in a disappointing sixth place on 40.9 points while Upper Corentyne have been steady in accumulating 51.2 points and a keen tussle is in the making. The weather is favourable and a full game is expected at the former international venue where previous matches were severely affected by rain. Matches today begin at 09:30h at all venues.

Meanwhile, after a splendid double century in round six, Chanderpaul Hemraj of the East Coast Demerara is the leading run scorer in the league with 542 runs while Jonathan Foo (Lower Corentyne) is second on 538.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul (West Demerara) is third with 511 runs followed by teenager Bhaskar Yadram (East Coast Demerara).

Georgetown’s captain Christopher Barnwell with 406 runs occupies the fifth spot.In the bowling department, Eon Hooper of Upper Corentyne has 34 scalps followed by Gajanan Sukhnanan (Georgetown) with 30 and Kassim Khan (Lower Corentyne) with 29.

West Demerara new ball partners Romario Shepherd with 26 wickets and Raymon Reifer, 25 victims round off the top five bowlers.

T

he highly competitive Guyana Football Federation (GFF) NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National under-17 league will continue this weekend in various associations.

On Saturday in the E a s t Demerara Football (EDFA) a t the Melanie Ground, Mahaica Determinators will clash with Golden Stars from 13:00 hrs which is followed by Plaisance against Bachelor’s Adventure/Paradise Sports Club.

The following day, BV/Triumph United will tackle Buxton Youth Developers then Buxton Stars v Mahaica Determinators from the aforementioned times respectively.

Over at Den Amstel Ground in the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA), the hosts will play Wales United from 12:00 hrs while on Sunday, Eagles FC clash with Beavers from the same time. In the East Bank Football Association (EBFA), Agricola Red Triangle will play Herstelling Raiders from 10:00 hrs at the Grove Playfield, followed by Kuru Kururu Warriors against Diamond United. Then on Sunday, another double header will occur, as Grove Hi Tech will be pitted against Soesdyke Falcons then Circuit Ville Jaguars battle with Mocha Champs.

Title sponsors NAMILCO, have been urging both players and persons at large to live a healthy lifestyle by indulging in the usage of its heath oriented products Maid Marian Harvest High Fibre Whole Wheat Flour, Maid Marian Wheat-Up Breakfast Porridge, and Maid Marian Multigrain Flour among many other products.

friday, october 7, 2016

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

Rugby Americas North final....

It was outrageous!

− GRFU bemoans unfair treatment of Green Machine in Mexico

Pg 22

(L-R) Head Coach Lawrence Adonis, GRFU President Peter Green, Manager Robin Thomas and Public Relations Officer Daniel Anderson

Jaguars Franchise League

All to play for in final round Pg 23

Romario Shephard will be looking for more success to help West Demerara to an improbable championship

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