Tuesday, May 3, 2016

World Press Freedom Day

GPA urges decriminalisation of cyberspace P7 defamation THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

Another Corentyne family robbed guyana-times.com

Issue No. 2845

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Page 17

- gunmen escape with millions as rampage continues

Linden driver Governments urged killed after to encourage swerving from child on highway free media World Press Freedom Day

Stabroek Market vendor relocation

Fee for less desirable Hadfield St location imposed Page 11

Page 8

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Police to seek designated area for prisoners on Essequibo P16 Ferry – Commander

Deadly prison riot

Inmates P12 robbed infirmary during riots – CoI hears

GSA ‘accidental’ shooting

Businessman, 2 others remain in P7 custody

Work underway to repair hole on LindenSoesdyke P17 Highway

A City Constabulary vehicle tows several pavement vendors’ belongings as Mayor and City Council (M&CC) relocate sellers from Stabroek Market Square to the new location, South of Parliament Buildings (Marceano Narine photo)

Third arrested at sister’s home with wet money

$80 vat included

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Page 17

Ramada Princess Casino robbery

PRICE

May Day Rally 2016

Unions move motion against closure of Wales, LBI Estates Page 9

– want Govt's continued financial support for sugar industry

Labour Day 2016

Region 2 Chairman calls for P16 workers to be treated better

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tuesDAY, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

news

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tuesDAY, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 3 – 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, May 4 – 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 3 – 13:45h-15:15h and Wednesday, May 4 – 14:40h-16:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, while light rain showers can be expected in the afternoon. Light cloud cover can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 2.68 metres per second and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 01:35h and 14:01h reaching maximum heights of 2.51 metres and 2.55 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 07:33h and 19:57h reaching minimum heights of 0.70 metres and 0.61 metre respectively.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

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World Press Freedom Day

Governments urged to encourage free media

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t a time when concerns abound about the administration’s interference in the work of the press, governments across the world are being urged to encourage free and independent media on the observation of World Press Freedom Day. The United Nations Secretary General Ban Kimoon noted that a free, independent and safe media environment is essential and for this reason, he remains very concerned about the increasingly restrictive environment which media workers in many countries have to endure.

He lamented too that even in this day, journalists are threatened, harassed, obstructed and even killed in the pursuit of information: “Constraints on freedom of expression place shackles on progress itself. On this World Press Freedom Day, I urge all governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurturing and protecting an independent, free media.

Without this fundamental right, people are less free and less empowered. With it, we can work together for a world of dignity and opportunity for all.”

In the context of Guyana, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has been criticised by the United States’ Department of State over his attempts to supress the media in 2015.

The records show that in August 2015, the prime minister issued a directive that all headlines in the stateowned print media be first scrutinised and approved by his office before they are published. The directive was a response to a headline criticising government.

Director of Public Information Imran Khan, during the 2016 Budget debates, declared on his Facebook page that the Government Information Agency (GINA) was only required to cover the affairs of the sitting government.

Information regimen by putting it to the test to release major aspects of otherwise confidential decision-making by the government regardless of which party is in power.

“This will allow us as media practitioners to fulfil a major aspect of our role in imparting information to

milestones.

It is the 250th anniversary of the world’s first freedom of information law, covering both modern-day Sweden and Finland, and it is the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration of press freedom principles.

Finally, 2016 is also the first year of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.

It noted that press freedom and the free flow of information are therefore necessary not only to inform citizens about the Goals, but to enable them to hold their leaders accountable for fulfilling the pledges they have made.

“The media – including, and increasingly, new online media – serve as our eyes and ears. We all benefit from the information they provide,” the UN Chief acknowledged.

Moreover, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) is asking that jour-

the wider public to aid them in rational decision-making that can collectively impact on the social, economic, political and cultural development of Guyana,” the GPA stated.

Meanwhile, the United Nations noted that this year, World Press Freedom Day coincided with three important

nalists issue tweets with the hashtag #wpfd2016 in an effort to call for access to public information.

In its list of suggested tweets, the IAPA is basically raising awareness on the need for transparency, accountability and free access to public information.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

President David Granger later stated that GINA has a responsibility to provide coverage on all arms of government, including the legislative which includes the Parliamentary Opposition during National Assembly sittings.

Further, during the same debates, the PM who is also a trained journalist and who often portrays himself as a bastion of Press Freedom, reproached a young Guyana Chronicle reporter over an article which criticised the government.

The Guyana Press Association (GPA) had also only recently written government over concerns of political interference in the State– owned media.

In fact, the leaked letter singled out the prime minister and the director of Public Information as among government officials who continue to censor state media.

Nagamootoo has since refuted those claims.

Against this backdrop, the GPA in its message to the nation on this World Press Freedom Day, welcomed commitments by President Granger to ensure a conducive media environment especially in the publicly-funded Guyana Chronicle and National Communications Network (NCN) and GINA. The GPA went on to urge journalists to take advantage of Guyana’s Access to

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Views General Editor: Michael Younge News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Bumble bee

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

Editorial

Labour’s lost love

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ontrary to the fears of some, the two factions of the labour movement, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) which marched in unison like a Red Sea on the way to the National Park on Labour Day, were not parted as in the past, before they reached their destination. And ironically it might have been because Moses Nagamootoo, acting as President of the Republic, was there to personify his APNU/AFC coalition government and face the uniformly trenchant criticisms of the labour movement.

As we noted in our editorial of yesterday, “Workers of Guyana, unite”, the trade union movement in this country, which gave birth to the political movement, was gradually transformed into mobilisation vehicles for the latter during the struggle for independence. Their subsequent tactics, ostensibly to represent the interests of the workers were instead subsumed within a framework of lending legitimacy to the two major political forces in the country – the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC).

With these two parties competing for national power, the trade union movement inevitably became bifurcated throughout the last 50 years, even when they were covered by one umbrella body, the Trade Union Congress. This unfolded in a shifting and fluid manner, based on leadership preferences as well as principled stances regarding workers’ rights. Thus in the 1960’s, the Public Service Unions supported the actions of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to remove the PPP from office and install the PNC, but by the 1980’s opposed the latter Government when it trampled on workers’ rights.

Similarly, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) supported the PPP in the 1960’s but took contra stands on several issues during the first decade of the new millennium.

In this year of “Jubilee” independence celebrations, the united march was therefore a very positive beginning to the necessary process of soul searching the trade union movement needs to undertake as it seeks to advance workers’ interests in a world that has changed radically since independence. Internally it is hoped the trade union movement recognises its support for any Government of the day cannot be reflexive. If for no other reason than those governments’ position on issues affecting workers are inevitably shaped by a wider concatenation of forces and interests. We see this unfolding in the sugar industry through the Government’s obdurate decision closure of Wales Estates to privatise it even though 1700 workers will be adversely affected. The unionists’ speeches showed cognition of “labour’s lost unrequited love” for politicians.

The international environment has also been radically altered. At independence, the labour movement’s world was fractured down the line between those that supported the ideologies of the US or of the USSR in their Cold War. By the time the Berlin Wall came tumbling down in 1989 – representing the defeat of the USSR’s communist ideology – the “left” orientation of most unions in the developed world had been broken by the neo-liberal victory epitomised by Reagan in the US and Thatcher in the UK. In Guyana, the labour movement has to have a clearer conception of its role in representing labour in the present liberalised global economy. In a world without borders for global finance, no labour movement in any particular country can act in a vacuum. While, for instance, we may want our bauxite or sugar workers to have their salaries increased, trade unions have to be aware of the reality of the situation in the global markets for their products and adjust their demands based on that reality. Management of corporations, on the other hand, must follow the German example and have union representatives on their boards, so that the workers can have access to their real financial positions.

In a nutshell, the old reflexively antagonistic stance of the unions to management must give way to one of “bargaining” with them so that the companies becomes more profitable and workers obtain their fair share of those profits.

People look at a replica of a “Transformer”, made by a fan, in Shangqiu, Henan Province, China, April 22. According to local media, the owner took a year to build the replica, which is made of vehicle components and weighted about 17 tons (Reuters)

Corruption has increased under coalition Govt

Dear Editor, Ever since the AFC/ APNU coalition replaced the PPP in government last year May, people feel there has been an increase in corruption. Scholars define corruption as an abuse of trust given by the electorate to a government or its officials.

In short, corruption is dishonest governance and/ or illicit behaviour by people in government. It includes acts of shady deals, weak enforcement of laws and rules of governance, lapse in ethics, and pursuing policies that result in self-gains and that unnecessarily targets supporters of other parties.

There are no shortage of these behavioural traits from APNU/AFC officials betraying the trust of the electorate.

The PPP/C was accused of corruption by the then opposition APNU/AFC and many PPP/C supporters revolted and became attracted to appeals from APNU/AFC for good governance. Former supporters of PPP felt it was time to punish the PPP for its arrogant behaviour on corruption allegations, and they voted out the PPP/C over the corruption issue. But now, those very former PPP supporters (who supported APNU/AFC) are saying APNU/AFC has turned out to be more corrupt than PPP/C expressing regret for putting AFC-PNC into government.

The AFC/APNU promised during the election campaign to reduce powers

of the national government and the President and empower local governments.

The opposite has happened with local government organs being abused and rendered powerless, and the coalition has refused to decrease its power.

The APNU/AFC promised during the campaign to install a new constitution approved by the polity within a year; there is not likely to be a new constitution.

Then opposition APNU/ AFC accused the ruling PPP/C of rewarding themselves with high salaries at the expense of the working class, and the coalition promised to lower salaries of parliament and ministers and to increase wages of government workers and sugar workers. Instead, immediately after the AFC/ APNU (PNC) came into government, they doubled their own salaries. Government workers got a measly 10 per cent increase, well short of the 50 per cent that was promised. Sugar workers got virtually no increase in their income.

Also, the coalition promised during the campaign that no sugar worker would be fired and no sugar estate would be closed. Less than a year later in office, two sugar estates were closed and almost 3000 workers fired.

The coalition promised during the campaign there would be no recrimination against PPP supporters or anyone on account of

their race. Instead, thousands of Indo-Guyanese and Amerindians were fired or replaced by PNC supporters.

While in opposition, APNU/AFC promised rice farmers to double the price being offered for paddy.

Rice farmers naturally voted for the coalition for the doubling of rice price from $4500 to $9000. Right after they were installed into government by the ABC countries, the coalition said rice price is not their business, telling the farmers they were on their own -- rice farmer saw paddy price drop to a tenth of what it was under the PPP/C. While in opposition, APNU/AFC accused the PPP of being in bed with big businesses and giving sweat-heart deals to friends.

The coalition promised to end that practice of favouritism. Instead, those big businesses that gave over a billion dollars in campaign contributions to the APNU/ AFC have seen their taxes slashed by tens of billions of dollars – the country has been cheated of revenues in favour of the corrupt businessmen and their lackeys in government.

The APNU/AFC is now owned and controlled by big businesses many of whose CEOs have been appointed as Directors of government corporations and/or board members and/or as advisors of the government.

Ministers are going on foreign trips without any

specific purpose in greater frequency than occurred under the PPP/C government.

One Minister made a secret trip to China for which there was no financial gain.

Former Presidents Donald Ramotar and Bharrat Jagdeo were condemned by the then opposition APNU/AFC of making numerous trips abroad.

David Granger has made more trips abroad in one year than Ramotar made in three-and-a-half years and double what Jagdeo made in one year during his 12 years in office.

The coalition promised to end crimes. Instead, it has closed its eyes to crime as business persons not supportive of the government have been attacked by kick down door bandits. Those businessmen who were supportive of the APNU/AFC campaign are being protected for now. But others are targets.

Since the change in government, the country has been inundated with nefarious activities of one kind or another under this government – there are complaints of the requirement of paying a bribe to government officials to get things done.

The government lacks credibility. Nothing has really changed since the change in government. The only change is corruption has worsened.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

guyana-times.com

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

My vision for Guyana is for national unity

Dear Editor, One reason to write a letter to the press is to flush from the deep thickets of the self, some thoughts and feelings you didn’t know were in you as you try to document your understanding of the world. You ardent wish every time you start to write that letter, is that the reader comprehends what you have written. But I cannot take responsibility for the low comprehension skills of Vishnu Bisram as he missed completely the intent and objective of my letter to the press on rural Guyana v urban Guyana with respect to the formation of the new ERC. My letter is there for the records so I have no intention of wasting the editor’s time or humouring Bisram’s ignorance by regurgitating that letter. What I do have is some clarification for the reading public to put to rest Bisram’s attempt at falsehoods.

1. I was an AFC member who was on the 2011 list of candidates.

2. I resigned from the AFC in 2014 and politely decline that my name should be considered for the 2015 list of candidates because of professional reasons that had nothing to do with Guyana or Guyanese politics.

3. I used my presence on social media and in the local media to help the APNUAFC campaign in 2015 but what I did not do was return to Guyana anytime between December 2011 and February 2016.

4. Choosing between a Ramotar and a Granger is a very easy choice and if the circumstances were the same I would have no difficulty choosing a Granger over a Ramotar. However if the choice was a Ramkarran v a Granger, that is a very different choice that may deserve a very different response. My support is not bequeathed based on race but on whom I see will be better for Guyana.

5. I was very careful in crafting my letter to ensure I compared and contrasted rural v urban and used as my

examples the rural Hindus and rural youths. I could have very well used rural Afro-Guyanese or rural women as my examples but as my letter clearly spelt out, there were space constraints.

If Bisram would have read my letter carefully, he would have noted I mentioned representation for Buxton and Victoria in equal strength to Albion and Enmore. My sole intent was representation for rural Guyana. I clearly do not need Bisram to put words into my mouth or ink in my pen.

6. My letter was not a complaint or to blame anyone or any government but an observation. I have since been advised it is being considered at the highest levels and that is all that matters to me, that rural Guyana is given greater consideration into the appointment of the next ERC. 7. When called upon to support one or the other in May 2015, I supported Team Granger and that is my democratic right. I would be the

first one to state that many policy and political mistakes were made since May 2015 and for those who have eyes they will see that my column in the Kaieteur News called the “Voice of the Liberal Democrats” has given the government credit where it deserves and called it out when necessary.

Isn’t this what citizens ought to do, hold their government accountable rather than metamorphosing into pandering sycophants of a political party because of ethnic insecurity or personal loyalty to politician X or Y? 8. Bisram accused me of holding government positions. What has he been smoking lately? I do not hold any government of Guyana position officially or unofficially, do not serve on any boards and the one act I did for this government was to write a column for the Guyana Chronicle called “Straight Talk” for a few months. And if I serve the Government of Guyana, so what, isn’t that what

Guyanese ought to be doing - serving their people at any conceivable level?

So Bisram owes the foundation of truth an apology for abusing that truth with so many manufactured falsehoods in his letter to the Guyana Times. One of the first things any PhD student does is use every opportunity to verify the accuracy of the information at his disposal.

From Bisram’s writing, it is clear he is yet to join the programme.

But I did find one nugget of agreement with Bisram, which was “The few MPs who truly cared about rural life were Ravi Dev (ROAR) and Veerasammy Rammayah (AFC) and that is because they lived in the rural community.”

It is a fact that it was credible rural leaders like Dr Rammayah who orchestrated the swing vote for the APNUAFC Coalition to be in power today and President Granger understood that reality. That is why he overruled the Gang of 6 in the

AFC by appointing Dr Rammayah as the REO of Region 6.

If Bisram wants to write a letter replete with falsehood, who am I to stop him? But in future, it would be advisable that we operate in mutually exclusive circles since his vision for Guyana has very little in common with my vision for Guyana.

He is all about a narrow agenda of Indo-Guyanese domination; I am all about a broad agenda of national unity and leveraging the talent of all our people to lift all boats. We clearly are not in the same class.

Bisram should learn this quote carefully in spite of his comprehension challenge, “it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak (or in his case write) and remove all doubts”.

I do not intend to continue this debate with Bisram and therefore this is my last letter on this topic.

Dear Editor, It was reported in the news media on April 29 that Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and his delegation returned home after a familiarisation tour of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Costa Rica in Central America.

It was claimed that Minister Holder held fruitful discussions with the IICA and sought technical assistance for the Ministry of Agriculture to better understand Guyana’s topography, soil characteristic and low crop productivity as well as means and methods to optimise marketing of surplus crop production and a swift strategy for dairy production in the country. Exploratory visits were also made to banana and cocoa plantations.

It was evident that Minister Holder’s whirlwind visit to the IICA and Costa Rica at taxpayers’ expense lacked a clear vision for agricultural development in Guyana as he departed the country without a viable agriculture development plan which would have provided a blueprint for specific assistance and investment from the institutions he visited.

He returned home empty handed but listed a lot of facilities he visited purportedly to justify his mission.

After a year in office Minister Holder seemed to have lost his way. He has prepared no development plan for agriculture which is in disarray for consideration and implementation by the APNU+AFC Govt. Rice and sugar are on the skid. Yet he seems to be devoting his en-

ergies dreaming about the development of cocoa, bananas, livestock and dairying whereas he should be giving more attention to the promising Rice Industry to make it more efficient and productive.

For example, the drainage and irrigation systems should be improved to allow farmers to grow three crops per year. Varieties should be developed for higher yields.

The marketing board should be restructured to enable surpluses to be sold quickly and profitably on the world market thereby cutting out the long wait farmers have to endure to receive payment for their crops.

Sugar will never return to its former glory since the industry is not viable and is quickly falling apart as the capital investment necessary to make it efficient and productive to compete on the world market is just not available.

Minister Holder is still in a quandary as to what should be done to the sugar estates as production slides and subsidies mount but he is bent on closing them one by one with no alternative productive use for the farmlands and employment for the displaced workers.

Livestock development in the Rupununi and immediate savannahs should be seriously considered but cattle breeds have to be developed and ranches improved to provide the quantity and quality of beef required for export.

A visit by experts from the Guyana Livestock Authority to Brazil and Uruguay rather than Costa

Rica to gain knowledge in these areas will be most helpful for the development of Guyana’s fledgling industry.

Finally, Guyana has no commercial dairy production although in years gone by milk from as far away as Leguan Island and Mahaica was being transported daily to a plant in Kingston for processing and sale.

Bookers had an experimental dairy at Bel Air while the PNC Govt/DDL also had one at Versailles.

Somewhere in the archives, there should be a trove of valuable information with respect to the success/failure of these dairies. The information thus retrieved together with what Minister Holder recently gathered from Costa Rica could very well form the basis for the start of a viable dairy industry in Guyana. Therefore, Minister Holder should stop dragging his feet and make a positive start quickly.

Dear Editor, For the past two months or more, there hasn’t been a day where the crime situation in Guyana has not dominated the headlines of the more popular dailies.

One has to be real naive not to observe that violent crime is on the rise, and that there is no evident macroplan to counter this.

The noticeable absence of any type of proactive approach seems to be a motivation for anyone with a gun to get into the business of armed robbery.

I am forced to deduce that this is all happening as a consequence of the lack of visionary leadership at both the Ministry of Public Security and the Guyana Police Force.

This situation is further compounded with the tragic conditions prevailing at the Georgetown Prisons, which also falls under the ambit of the Minister of Public Security.

Minister Ramjattan is obviously out of his depth at this Ministry, and his Commissioner is like Alice in

Wonderland.

While I understand the provisions of the Cummingsburg Accord, President Granger, I urge you to consider removing both Ramjattan and the Commissioner of Police from their respective appointments, before the crime situation escalates to a catastrophe and brings your government down.

While Ramjattan may be a clever lawyer, Public

Security is definitely not his forte. Ramjattan is a round peg in a square hole at the Public Security Ministry, unable to fill the requirements of his portfolio. He should be reshuffled to a ministry for which his qualifications make him suitable.

This is my humble advice as a worried citizen.

Regards Sase Singh

Minister Holder should Open letter to President stop dragging his feet Granger on Ramjattan

Yours truly, Charles Sohan

George Gomes Lieutenant Colonel (retired)

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Harmful effects of stress on children S

tress can severely affect the mental health as well as academic life of children. Therefore, it is necessary to keep children away from stress for their well being. Let us take a look at some of the harmful effects of stress on children.

In this world where every child is a part of the rat race to be the best so that they can have a bright future, often experience stress

as a side effect of participating in this race. While a certain amount of stress is necessary in a child’s life to act as their driving force towards their goals, too much of it is bad.

A normal child’s brain produces numerous brain cells that help the child retain and take in more knowledge. But too much stress depleted many of these new cells thereby reducing the amount that a child can take in.

Besides lowering a child’s IQ level, here are the other

effects of stress.

Anxiety

One of the most common and earliest symptoms of stress in a child is anxiety.

The stress does not let the child stop worrying. They are always anxious and jumpy and just cannot be content.

They always have a sense of fear surrounding them even though they do

not know what they are actually frightened of at some points. Anxiety can also lead to reduction of concentration and will power. It is often the most dangerous effect of stress.

Decreased appetite

After anxiety, decreasing appetite is the second most harmful effect of stress. As the stress increases, the child slowly starts withdrawing from food and after a point the food intake keeps getting less. If the child normally had two helpings dur-

ing dinner then the same child under stress will have one helping or sometimes half a helping of food. Often times they just stop eating altogether.

Nightmares

Stress has always been known to be the cause of nightmares and in case of children this is heightened.

Too much stress in a child, no matter what the cause

is, results in them having nightmares and ends up disturbing their sleeping pattern. As the stress induced nightmares keep them up at night, they feel increasingly tired and irritated during the day, disrupting their work pattern.

Stuttering

Stuttering is a side effect that almost every child faces when under stress. This happens because their confidence level drops to a great extent. Stress causes them to believe that they can nev-

er be the best at anything they do.

Even if they are good at something or are answering a question correctly, they think it is wrong. So they stutter and pause so that they can take the answer back if they see any sign or disapproval. Stuttering also makes them anti-social and children under stress can end up losing friends.

Anger

Stress is always accompanied by anger. A child under stress is bound to get angry easily. Stress causes the child to be frustrated with himself or herself, which results in sudden bouts of raging anger. This anger not only causes the child to be unhappy but also keeps the people around them on their toes. Also, most of the time, this anger leads children to cry. Crying is a way that helps them vent out the stress building in.

So as parents you should keep in mind that a child under stress is in a very delicate and vulnerable state.

If it is academic stress, help them make time tables to even out what to study when so that they stay relaxed. If the stress is caused due to a fight then try to help them resolve the fight. But if the stress is due to family issues, then it is your responsibility to make the child feel loved, safe and secure, no matter how your own state is. So try to keep your child happy and stress free! (indiaparenting.com)

P

arents expect a lot from their children and therefore pressurise them to perform well in exams. However, keeping high expectations and pressurising children during exams can cause exam stress in them. Read on to know more about the causes of exam stress in children.

It is natural for children who are preparing for exams to be under pressure. This pressure gets translated into bouts of anxiety that leads to nervousness which works in combination and is commonly referred to as exam stress.

A certain amount of stress is rather considered to be effective and beneficial as it leads to alertness and careful behaviour in terms of revision of overlooked chapters before the exams. It thus helps children in adequate preparations but when it spirals out of control, it can have disastrous effects on them.

It might lead to poor performance.

In order to determine whether the exam stress is beneficial or not or whether stress has reached dangerous proportions in your child, it is advisable to ponder on the causes of stress in children.

This will help you take careful and timely decisions.

Inadequate preparation This is by far the most common and relative reason that causes exam pressure in children. If your child is underprepared, he or she will obviously be unsure about his or her performance. If

Causes of exam stress in children

any part of the study material is left uncovered, feelings of anxiety is natural. Further, last minute studying also enhances this anxiety factor.

Children who do not follow a proper diet schedule and do not have enough sleep also feel stressed out during their exams.

It is important to make sure that your child begins his or her preparations well before exams and do not wait till the last moment. A hurried last minute study does not register well in the memory and the self-confidence drops, thereby raising the anxiety levels. Further, when the body is not experiencing a smooth metabolic functioning, like poor dietary habits or lack of sleep, it tends to get overworked and the focuses away from the exams.

Pressure from family Often we come across children feeling bogged down due to the pressure of expectations from their immediate family members. There is an unfortunate tendency in some parents to fulfil their dreams through their children and in the process they fail to realise that they are exerting undue pressure on the young minds at a very tender age. The children are made to understand that they are required to attain good grades whatever it may. This enhances the exam stress.

Then there is another type of pressure where the parents persistently compare their grades with those of their peers. This is also an undesired practice. Each student is an individual and it should be respected. This is also a fact that a healthy competition must always be encouraged. But the practice of comparing the grades and asking the child that in spite of going to the same school and attending the same tuition classes, how can they lag behind their peers. So the fear of comparison raises the anxiety levels further.

Pressure from within This refers to the pressure that gets built up in the minds of the children due to their own thoughts and beliefs. There is a belief that grows in the minds of the children that they are required to perform well consistently in order to be judged as a good student. This is something that is imbibed in the child since their early childhood. So as the child grows up and prepares for the exams, the child is under a constant pressure that he needs to maintain his grades and be at his very best at all the exams. Very often they imagine an adverse reaction from their parents or ‘fall of grace’ in the eyes of their teachers and peers and bog himself down with pressure to perform. (indiaparenting.com)

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tuesDAY, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Barticians express frustration World Press Freedom Day GPA urges decriminalisation after recently upgraded of cyberspace defamation road “washed away”

T

he Guyana Press Association (GPA) in its World Press Freedom Day message used the opportunity to reiterate calls for the criminalisation of defamation via the internet clause to be removed from the Cybercrime Bill.

“We believe that if the legislation is passed in its current form, it could potentially be utilised to criminalise defamation via the Internet. The GPA is extremely concerned that if our submission to remove this provision is not taken on board it shall enact a provision that appears to be direct in contrast to the abolition of criminal defamation in several Caribbean and other countries,” the association said.

In March, government held consultations on the draft Cybercrime Bill to garner the opinions, comments and criticisms of stakeholders in relation to the bill which was prepared by the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

During those consultations, GPA Executive Member Enrico Woolford had questioned whether or not media practitioners would be subjected to the law especially where penalties were spoken of for persons violating another’s privacy through the Internet.

Woolford had asked if

Impassable roads in Bartica

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imply traversing the main access road to their homes is wreaking havoc and making life uncomfortable for several Bartica residents who now have to concentrate on not breaking a limb or destroying their vehicles every time they use the trail.

The roadway leads into a “government compound” which is located at Seventh Avenue (between First Street and Third Street), below the Telecoms’ Hill.

The roadway has been in a terrible state for more than four years until recently, when it was upgraded prior to the Local Government Elections (LGE) which was held on March 18.

Residents explained that the road was widened and a drain dug but it was not properly done.

“We asked them to redo the drain as that was supposed to help drain the water so it would not affect the roadway but they didn’t,” one woman related to Guyana Times.

While thankful for the upgrades, the residents did indicate that the work was substandard and it needed to be rectified before the rainy season started.

“Don’t get me wrong. We are grateful they did some work as we have been asking for better access for almost

five years now and nothing was ever done. However even though we don’t expect paved roads and concrete drains, time and care should be taken to do a little better job so that situation does not get worse,” one resident noted.

Owing to the heavy downpours over the past few days, the entire road was washed away and now there are “alligator ponds” decorating the slushy trail.

“It is becoming impassable as each day goes by,” residents complained.

In a Facebook post, a resident noted that “it is difficult to walk in and out, and now even the cars and other vehicles that used to go right down to the back (of

the street) no longer want to do so as the ruts are getting deeper each day.”

The post continued, “All that was needed was for the drain initially dug at the side to be done properly so that the water coming off the hill would not flow over and onto the road – 10 minutes of work. Instead, now it will take a day or two to repair this (if it gets done) plus a couple loads of sand…”

Notably, there are other roads across the region in similar conditions, which are now becoming impassable owing to the rainy season.

Residents are calling on the relevant authorities to address the situation with urgency.

GSA ‘accidental’ shooting

Businessman, 2 others remain in custody

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he businessman and two others, who were arrested following a shooting incident in the compound of the Guyana School of Agriculture, which killed Nafasie Edghill, 39, of Castello Housing Scheme, Georgetown, remain in custody.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum explained that police will be forwarding the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions today for recommendations of

charges against the men.

He noted that the men are holding out that Edghill was accidently shot.

It was reported that Edghill was involved in a playful scuffle with a friend who was carrying a licensed firearm in his hand when the gun went off, hitting him to the abdomen.

He was rushed to a private medical facility where he succumbed to his injuries. On the other hand, Chief Blanhum pointed

out that based on investigations, one man reported that he and the now dead man went to the GSA, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, and while they were exiting their vehicle, his firearm accidently went off and struck Edghill.

In addition, Blahum noted that the licensed firearm holder along with two individuals who were in close proximity were arrested.

the media personnel would be penalised if they facilitated in the exposure of the private affairs of another person leading to negative outcomes.

He said it is especially important since despite the recognised need, there is no press freedom legislation other than the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.

In response, Attorney General and Legal Affairs

Minister Basil Williams had explained that in civil libel matters, justification of the fact must be established. “If someone publishes an article about you, your defence is whether it’s true, or justification appears as a matter of public interest… there must be a clear substantive of the facts and a clear criticism of the substantive facts…” he stated.

Reports indicate that the Attorney General had pointed out that the matter of malice will also play a role in determining the case.

According to the draft Bill, anyone found guilty of computer-related forgery

can be made to pay a $5 million fine and serve a five-year prison sentence.

The Bill stipulates that anyone who intentionally and without lawful excuse or justification inputs, alters, deletes or suppresses computer data, resulting in inauthentic data, with the intent that it be considered or acted upon for legal purposes, as if it were authentic, regardless of whether or not the data is directly readable and intelligible, commits an offence.

In the circumstance such an individual is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of $3 million, and to be imprisoned for three years. On conviction, such person/s is liable to a fine of $5 million, with a five-year prison sentence.

In addition, persons who disseminate information after being convicted will be fined $20,000, and he/she will also be liable to a threeyear prison term.

The Bill also outlines the penalties for computer fraud, in the sense that anyone who commits an offence deemed to be computer fraud will be dealt heavier penalties, with a summary conviction carrying a $5 million fine, as well as a five-year prison term. In addition, if convicted, the penalties will be doubled.

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tuesDAY, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Ramada Princess Casino robbery

Third arrested at sister’s home with wet money prime suspects are being grilled.

One of the prime suspects Andrew Blackman, a security guard at Princess Casino is said to be the mastermind of the robbery.

Pandemonium broke out at the gambling facility on April 30, after four gunmen stormed the casino at about 03:45h and discharged several rounds as they relieved patrons and staff of cash and other valuables.

During the shooting, Eon Garraway was shot to his

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The Ramada Princess Casino

s police continue their investigations into the Ramada Princess Casino robbery, a man was arrested at his sister’s house at Vreed-enHoop with a bag of money.

The man, who has been identified as Junior Stewart of Thomas Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was arrested on Sunday evening after police swooped down on the house at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

At the time of the arrest the man had in his possession a bag containing at least $900,000 containing $1000 and $5000 notes. The money was reportedly wet.

Crime Chief Wendell

Blanhum told Guyana Times that after the police went to the homes of two of the suspects, ranks found wet clothing which indicated that after the robbery, the men went home and changed.

However, Guyana Times understands that the possibility exists that after the robbery, they men might have used a trench separating Peters Hall and Providence to escape.

Nevertheless, the crime chief added that the man arrested on Sunday evening at Vreed-en-Hoop was only recently released on bail for a gun related charge.

The head of the Criminal

The money that was found in the suspect’s possession

Investigations Department also stated that several persons including the three

left hand; James Gregory to the left foot; Orlando Knights to the left hand; and Udairan Sookraj to his right hand. They were all admitted to a city hospital.

In addition, Melissa Ferguson, Jermaine Mason and Roshel Fraser were also assaulted.

Based on reports, after the men entered the facility, they held a security guard at gunpoint and took away his shotgun and several rounds of ammunition.

The men then ordered everyone to lie on the ground and escorted the security guard to the cashier’s cage where they relieved the cashier of an undisclosed sum of foreign and local currency. By this time, the police were alerted about the robbery and responded promptly.

As they arrived at the scene, they were confronted by the armed men which resulted in an exchange of gunfire. During the exchange, Police Lance Corporal Andrew Richardson was shot to his abdomen. He was admitted to a city hospital and underwent emergency surgery.

Meanwhile, during the shootout, one of the bandits was captured and taken into Police custody. The firearm taken away from the security guard was recovered. The other three men managed to escape.

It was reported that the car used in the robbery was hijacked at Brush Dam, Buxton, on East Coast Demerara. The car has since been impounded as police continue their investigations.

Eyew tness Different strokes...

...for broadcasters Some folks just don’t know when to keep their mouths shut. But then again, it might be that endemic condition called “logorrhoea” – otherwise known as “verbal diarrhoea”. Like this Tony Vieira fella – born with a silver spoon in his mouth into the only plantation owning Guyanese family – who became their prodigal son. While his cousins showed aptitude and gravitated into law and the professions, Tony had to be sent into the cane fields.

His big mouth was seen as an asset as a “driver” of sugar workers.

At a time when TV was banned by the PNC in Guyana – the only country in the Western Hemisphere to suffer that fate – Tony Vieira was allowed to open up a TV station from the old “Big Manager” house he inherited at Versailles.

With this TV “monopoly” having a captive audience, he stole content from US satellites and sold it to Guyanese who had to buy his “black box”! That’s right – this man sold stolen copyrighted products and made out like the bandit he was – off the sweat of ordinary Guyanese who earned a pittance in the “Burnham years”.

And he called himself an “entrepreneur”!! In another era, fellas like him and Blackbeard were called “pirates”.

Come to think of it, they’re still called “pirates”!! Nuh? But with the passing of his benefactor and the entree of real entrepreneurs like CN Sharma into TV broadcasting, Vieira faced competition for the first time. And folded like a limp noodle!!

Sold off his TV and fled to Florida... where, he obviously also couldn’t survive without the help of a “godfather”. He turned up back in Guyana like the proverbial bad penny.

And just couldn’t believe his old TV was now a success!

Hell hath no fury like a fella who’s proven to be a fraud! So out he came swinging at the new owner.

In the professions, they say “those who can’t...teach”.

Well it seems in broadcasting “those who can’t... sit on regulatory Boards”. So as an old PNC man, Vieira was appointed on Broadcasting Board. With his logorrhoea in full flow, he went out of his way to – what else? – rip into the owner of TVG! Without even appraising himself of the facts, he pre-empted those authorised to speak on such matters and blurted out, “He ain’t gon see a licence for 2016.”

Never mind his TV friends who owed license fees to the tune of $121 milion – unlike TVG which owes nothing – were to be given an amnesty!! Like Vieira, they can only survive with a free pass.

Vieira’s motto is “Survival of the weakest – once they’re friends!” ...for Ogle aircraft owners For some reason, President Granger’s very insistent that Ogle International Airport (OIA) be renamed “Eugene F Correia Airport”. Pressie first made the proposal last September when he launched the latest aircraft of the Correia Group. And therein lies the rub why subsequently the name change was opposed by a majority of the aircraft owners that operate out of Ogle.

Now OIA is run as a Private Public Partnership where the Correia Group are the major private investor. Even before the renaming suggestion, the other private aircraft owners had complained bitterly that the Correia Group was running OIA like their private fiefdom. They wrote, “The Correia Group controls the Airport and has increased the cost of fuel; monopolised ground handling and other services and arbitrarily terminated tenancy contracts with the apparent aim of forcing us out.”

Now imagine the advantage that’ll be conferred on the Correia Group when the airport becomes “CORREIA international Airport”.

And folks have to choose between a “Correia Airline” and the “others!!” ...for input into state media Reacting to some trenchant criticism of the degeneration of the political culture of the AFC by WPA’s David Hinds (wasn’t it degenerate to begin with?)

Ramjattan outed Hinds writing, “Editorial columns of the state-owned newspaper.”

Ramjattan just re-affirmed his degeneracy by not mentioning Nagamootoo censoring those editorials!

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

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tuesDAY, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

May Day Rally 2016

Unions move motion against closure of Wales, LBI Estates – want Govt's continued financial support for sugar industry

By Eddy Layne

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rade unions rallying for the first time in almost 30 years under one banner, have called on the one-year-old A Partnership for National Unit/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition government to abandon its plans to close at least two sugar estates by the end of this year thereby placing hundreds of workers on the breadline.

The government, through the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) has announced highly unpopular plans to close the Wales Sugar Estate, West Bank Demerara and the La Bonne Intention Estate, East Coast Demerara by the end of 2016.

The plan according to the government, is to make GuySuCo more viable.

However, the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) on Sunday, at their first joint May Day Rally since 1988, approved a motion which called on the government and GuySuCo to abandon the decision to close the two estates.

The motion also called on government not to privatise part or all of the sugar industry, while at the same time urged the administration to provide adequate financial support to enable the industry to overcome its current challenges.

General Secretary of GTUC Lincoln Lewis

It also mandated GTUC and FITUG to engage with government and stakeholders on matters relative to the turnaround.

Komal Chand, President of Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), a member of FITUG, and the leading sugar workers union, addressing the rally highlighted the plight of persons linked to the Wales Sugar Estate who could be rendered jobless very soon, thus facing even greater hardships.

“The closure decision is a step in the wrong direction especially in the absence of any impact assessment and in view of the Sugar CoI’s explicit recommendation that no estate be closed,” Chand

GAWU President Komal Chand

stated.

He urged that a similar assessment be done with respect to the present operations at LBI Estate, arguing that the impact on workers there will be devastating.

The veteran trade unionist believes strongly that challenges facing the sugar industry can be overcome.

“We believe the challenges the industry faces are not insurmountable.

Sugar’s success will redound to the benefit of our economy and assure the employment of thousands of Guyanese,” he stated.

Chand singled out GuySuCo’s ability to grow a sufficient quantity of goodquality canes a key factor for success of the industry.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

“ W e have adequate land for that.

And, given today’s trends, with good management, a satisfied labour force and innovations, the industry can certainly regain its profitable status in a short while,” he noted.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of GTUC Lincoln Lewis bemoaned government’s failure to consult with unions and other stakeholders to flesh out the impact of the economic wellbeing of those involved as well as the country.

“Since the government is talking about social inclusion, national unity and inclusionary democracy, Wales provides the ideal opportunity to effectively com-

mence dialogue and engagement to realise what the government says it wants for the society,” he said.

He also lambasted the government for blaming the closure of the LBI Estate on the failures of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration to properly manage the industry.

“To respond that the process of closure started under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration when that administration is known for its mismanagement of the industry and the attendant problems suffered today, this government should have known better,” he affirmed.

However, a visibly upset Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo said trade

unionists were not seeing the “bigger picture”, when it comes to government’s handling of the sugar industry.

“What is being said is part of the story because our commitment to make the sugar industry viable is sincere… not a single advocate and lover of the sugar workers came here to say that over the last years before we came into the government, GuySuCo was put into $82 billion debt,” Nagamootoo stated.

Despite Lewis’ concerns that government was hiding behind “mismanagement” of the past administration, the prime minister went on to highlight the shortcomings of the previous government as the reasons for the current state of the industry.

He said that over the years, some $47 billion was spent on a white elephant in the case of the Skeldon Estate for a factory and another $17 billion as a bailout to the industry.

The prime minister also highlighted the monies his government has already pumped into the industry, noting that already for the first quarter of the year, $3 billion was advanced to the industry.

The Wales Estate currently employs about 1700 workers while the LBI Estate has some 800 and while some of them will be transferred to the Uitvlugt and Enmore Estates respectively, hundreds could join the thousands of Guyanese who are already unemployed.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 3, 2016

News

Insufficient resources causes flooding in Region 5 – Chairman

Indian Arrival Day and the concept of Coolieology

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Sections of Hope Town, Region Five at risk

Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal inspecting works at Trafalgar sluice on Sunday

By Shemuel Fanfair

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everal communities in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) became flooded after a period of heavy rainfall on

Sunday. The affected areas include Trafalgar, Lovely Loss, Bush Lot, Hope Town, Dundee and Mahaicony. If the current weather persists, residents and farmers alike stand to be affected.

Animals under threat

While a number of homes in the region are under threat, several farmlands where animals normally graze have seen high levels of flooding.

The Regional

Administration has briefed the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) which have been collaborating with the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/ Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) to de-silt the outfall channel to the Trafalgar sluice.

Guyana Times has been informed that a hydraulic pump will be installed to alleviate the flooding.

As the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) continues to monitor the situation, it was noted that “additional excavators” are needed to clean the heavily clogged drains and trenches, especially in residential areas.

To this end, Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal has encouraged residents to report any serious flooding to their respective Neighbourhood Democratic Council or the RDC. On Monday, Ramphal opined that the main risks residents face include loss of crops and livestock, as well as damages to appliances and property.

“The region doesn’t have sufficient resources to undertake the cleaning and desilting,” the chairman told this newspaper.

Meanwhile, many rice farmers in the Region are still to harvest for the next crop. This follows many months of dry weather that destroyed much of the acreage in the area.

The MMA/ADA is a semi-autonomous agency of the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility to “manage, operate and maintain all drainage and irrigation works in Region 5.”

uch has already been written on Indian Arrival Day in Guyana in the local dailies, namely Indian recruitment, emigration, sea voyage, plantation experience, repatriation and how the Indian society has evolved and devolved since indentured emancipation in 1920, among other themes. I wish not to repeat that information. Rather, I will analyse the most hated word in Indian historiography, which is ‘Coolie’, the Indian ‘C’ word.

The word ‘coolie’ appears to have derived from Hindi kuli or from Tamil kuli, meaning wages. The use of the word in Indian communities towards low-wage labourers bore no negative connotation. The word became pejorative when Europeans began to Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine transport Asian labourers to their overseas colonies to work on their tropical sugar plantations. The word became a permanent slur when Europeans used it during the period of indentureship in nineteenth and twentieth centuries and when it was copied and used by other colonised ethnic groups during and after the above period. While the word was applied to low-wage Asian laborers, Chinese included, it became synonymous with Indian indentured labourers and their descendants in British, Dutch and French colonies.

Over the years, a number of literary writers such as Rajkumari Singh, Khal Torabully, David Dabydeen and Guiatra Bahadur have tried to destigmatise and desensitise the word, imbuing it with positive connotations. For example, Rajkumari Singh writes “in return for our HERITAGE what greater tribute can we pay to them than to keep alive the name by which they were called COOLIE is a beautiful word that conjures up poignancy, tears, defeats and achievements?

The word must not be left to die out, buried and forgotten in the past. It must be given a new lease of life” (1973).

Among Indians themselves, the word is used to enhance endearment and empowerment. Some common expressions among Indians are: “Coolie bhai like he dhal and rice, ah Coolie head hard, man” reflecting a sense of camaraderie. However, I argue here that the ideology and the negative reality of the word still exist, which has caused the descendants of indentured Indians in the Caribbean enormous pain. I call this pain Coolieology.

Those who use the word in scholarship or in society reveal ignorance. The word Coolie is the most explosive word in the Caribbean Indian experience. No other word has come close to having the same ability to insult. This epithet belongs in a league of its own. Some use it casually, especially among Indians themselves. Some use it defiantly. Do you remember Moses Nagamootoo’s Coolie remark in Parliament? It is impossible to say the word without expanding your mouth and showing your teeth. The word exists in other languages.

The word is spelled differently in different places but the poisonous meaning is the same.

The word has deep roots going back to the days of indenture, the plantation prison. Consider the following epithet that has survived indenture, “pork and spice, Coolie watered rice.” This epithet is not only used by other ethnic groups but also by Indians. For instance, upper class and urban Indians when angry and frustrated with their children often accuse them of acting like country coolie. To people who have been poor ever since they arrived in the Caribbean, tradition is what they have. The word disrupts this tradition.

The word enrages them.

If there is any solace associated with this word is that it is one of those words that binds and unifies the descendants of indentured Indians around the globe. It reminds them of their sordid history and makes them aware that a majority of them are still dragging the chains of indenture. Many have not emancipated themselves from indenture. They have yet to find a niche in the Caribbean, despite having been in the region for over 175 years.

I believe that the word has not been discussed enough for us to fully understand when it should or should not be used. The attempt to put a positive spin on the word rings hollow and is restricted to the literary field. Moreover, the word is yet to be considered a hate speech or a racial slur, and there is no disgrace for using it. I urge that there should be more discussion on the word and a penalty applied when using it. If not, Coolieology is here to stay and an Indian in the Caribbean, especially where he or she is in the minority, will certainly hear this: “Ernie menial money Moe, catch a coolie and bit he toe.”(lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu).

tuesDay, may 3, 2016

guyana-times.com

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News

Stabroek Market vendor relocation

Fee for less desirable Hadfield St location imposed W ith the recent decision by Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown to relocate vendors from Stabroek Market to facilitate a ‘face lift’, City Hall has assured that there will be a smooth transition of vendors to the new spot.

This is according to Town Clerk Royston King, who spoke with Guyana Times on Monday while overlooking the operations at the Market.

With the contention being raised by a number of vendors concerning the relocation process, King informed that there will be a smooth transitioning to the new location, south of Parliament Buildings, guaranteeing that vending will be resumed in a short span.

He added that thus far, there has been maximum cooperation from vendors who are indeed conscious of what this cleanup campaign means for the country as it aims towards achieving a “green and clean environment”.

“The transition is smooth, we are very happy that we were able to get the full cooperation of the vendors. They helped us to take down some of the stalls and structures; they have helped us to clean up and are continuing this. We are very proud that they understand what we are doing.”

The area south of Parliament that will be used as the temporary vending spot

King related.

Commenting on the threats by some vendors that they would return to their initial vending spots today, regardless of the warnings by M&CC, King said City Hall is unfazed by this since many supporters are advocating for them and will discourage this nature of resistance.

Since the announcement had been made that vendors would be temporarily relocated, a number of concerns had been raised, including the possibility of rental fees being charged.

King confirmed this, stating that with the new facilities that will be set up at the location, vendors will be required to pay a small fee for vending. However, he did not disclose the amount.

“We will be asking vendors for a small contribution to sustain these works and even move forward to developing it to another lev-

el. However, the fee would not be so burdensome that they would not be able to manage it.” He added.

The new location in its completion is expected to be equipped with lighting, security and sanitary facilities for vendors.

Meanwhile, when this publication visited Stabroek, despite the heavy downpours earlier that day, city constables were continuing to dismantle and remove stalls with the aid of some vendors.

One of the vendors who spoke with this newspapers said he is in full agreement of the move by M&CC since it is due time that the market square is revitalised.

The man said that given M&CC has adequate facilities at the new spot, he is more than willing to cooperate.

With the increase of crimes especially in that area of the city, City Hall

holds the belief that with the relocation and ‘face lift’ there will be a significant reduction in those crimes.

Only last week, persons vending at the Stabroek Market Square were informed of the decision by the administration to have them relocated so that the area could be rehabilitated.

The announcement however got mixed responses from the vendors, some of whom were in agreement of the initiative, while others lambasted the government for abandoning elections promises.

Some vendors expressed the concern that government has taken this decision as it seeks to “nice up” the city for foreigners, but totally ignoring the plight of Guyanese who ply their trade outside Stabroek Market, many of them be-

Vendors removing their belongings from the vending spots

ing single-parents.

Many vendors accused government of only enticing them to vote for the coalition, and now they are casting them away and seeking to satisfy the desires of foreigners who were not here to vote for the coalition.

Other disgruntled vendors have said that the move will severely affect

their earning potential since the new location is within a remote area. This they say will further shorten their already dwindling earnings.

It was not disclosed by City Hall when this cleanup campaign would end and when vendors would return to their initial vending spots.

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tuesDay, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Deadly prison riot

Inmates robbed infirmary during riots – CoI hears

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he Commission of Inquiry into the deadly Camp Street Prison riots heard late last week that Camp Street Prison infirmary was robbed and vandalised during the riot.

Chief Prison Officer – Medex Patricia Anderson, who joined the service in 2008, was questioned on the state of the infirmary at the end of the March 4 rioting, which continued after 17 inmates had lost their lives the previous day.

Former Director of Prisons and CoI Commissioner Dale Erskine asked the witness if the facility was it intact.

“No sir, it was vandalised by the prisoners… we lose drugs, equipment, instruments,” testified Anderson.

The CoI sought to ascertain the current state of her department following the robbery. “We have some amount of instruments replaced and we have some amount of drugs but there is still the fear of the staff,” the Medex responded.

“Whilst going up to the infirmary division, prisoners were shouting what they plan to do – kill medical staff that day (March 4),” the witness testified.

Anderson stated further that the staff are currently working two shifts of 12 hours each, up from the normal three shifts which covered 8 hours each.

Members of the Commission: Dale Erskine, Retired Justice James Patterson, Merle Mendonca

She also stated that on average, the infirmary would have up to “40 inmates” being attended to.

When questioned by Commissioners, the Medex also revealed that there is no permanent Psychiatric spe-

cialist at the Camp Street Prison. Chairman Retired Justice James Patterson then expressed worry over

the prison not having a permanent Psychiatric Nurse and/or Doctor stationed at the penitentiary to address the problems associated with mental health.

Meanwhile, President David Granger in the most recent TV edition of Public Interest opined that the Camp Street Prison Inquiry has been going on too long and is of the view that it should be brought to end as soon as possible.

After the riots, Camp Street prisoners met with Public Security Minister

Kemraj Ramjattan and Minister of State Joseph Harmon to address the needs and conditions of the inmates - a move which met with some criticism.

The President later gave the greenlight for the threemember CoI to be convened to ascertain the circumstances which led to the deaths of the inmates.

The final witnesses are expected to testify this week at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Public Service on Waterloo Street.

Parika fuel dealer’s murder

Alleged “hitman” arrested …as Police now investigate execution

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he man who allegedly pulled the trigger of the gun that killed Parika fuel dealer Seeram Singh, was arrested and is assisting with investigations.

Guyana Times understands that the woman in custody contracted the gunman to execute the businessman and to make it look like a robbery.

The reason for the woman’s alleged intent to want Singh dead is not clear.

However, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told

Guyana Times that both the shooter and the woman are being grilled in connection with the murder.

The man was reportedly arrested in Parika on Sunday evening.

Seeram Singh, 52, of Lot 40 Parika Outfall, East Bank Essequibo, was stabbed to his abdomen and shot twice - to his head and hip.

The bullet to his head was at close range and may have been the fatal shot. According to information, the man was talking to someone on his mo-

bile phone when he was attacked and stabbed.

In an attempt to raise an alarm, the injured man ran towards a shop but the gunman gave chase and caught up with him. A scuffle ensued and it was then the suspect discharged two rounds at Singh. As the businessman fell, the gunman relieved him of two gold chains and escaped. Singh was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara, where he was pronounced dead on

arrival. However, hours after the shooting the woman was taken into custody.

Alesia Singh, the man’s daughter told Guyana Times her father did not have any enemies and was not sure who might want to harm him. She described him as religious and helpful. The businessman operated several vessels that would supply fuel to miners in the Cuyuni/ Mazaruini area.

The man leaves to mourn five children.

Dead: Seeram Singh

50th Independence observances

Region 10 RDC Councillor reiterates call for “differently-abled friendly” spaces

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s Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations approach, Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Region 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) Councillor Charles Sampson has reiterated his call for buildings to be made “differently-abled friendly”.

Sampson, who is also Head of the Region’s Commemoration Committee, recently noted buildings in

Linden were not built to accommodate those of the society who are differently abled.

As such, he said his committee is advocating for this to be made possible.

“The work of the Commemoration Committee is very critical, this is our Golden Jubilee year… there’s a recommendation that speaks to buildings in

that from time to time (such buildings) are not friendly to differently-abled people,” he declared.

Sampson stated that there is a recommendation for buildings such as the Linden Concert Hall and School (LICHAS), in the event of the execution of any reconstruction works, should be made suitable for differently-abled people.

CGX optimistic about drilling in Guyana …despite difficulties in 2015

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espite facing difficulties in 2015, CGX Energy Inc is very optimistic about exploration and development drilling in Guyana and is looking forward to a stronger 2016.

In a release, the Company explained that its business plan was significantly impacted by the prevalence of low international oil prices and a global downswing in exploration budgets.

Notwithstanding these difficulties, the company said it was successful in its ability to dramatically cut costs, deal with its significant payables and move towards monetising some of its non-core assets.

CGX Energy is a Canadianbased oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the GuyanaSuriname Basin.

The company is currently drilling in the Corentyne Block in Berbice.

Of all the companies operating in the country, CGX Energy is said to be the most exposed. The company’s entire portfolio is focused on Guyana, in both the onshore and offshore basins.

Onshore, the company holds a majority stake in the Berbice Block, through the ON Energy joint venture, owned 62.5 per cent by CGX Energy and 37.5 per cent by

local investors.

However, exploration results on the block have been disappointing, with three dry holes drilled in 2005. Moving offshore, it has a 100 per cent stake in three offshore blocks, Corentyne, Corentyne Annex and Pomeroon.

In 2012, CGX participated in two offshore wells – the Eagle-1 well was drilled on the Corentyne Licence and the Jaguar-1 well was drilled on the Georgetown Licence.

The Eagle-1 well had oil and gas, and the Jaguar-1 well sampled light oil in two zones.

Both wells were abandoned.

Eagle-1 as a dry hole and Jaguar-1 for safety concerns.

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tuesDay, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

City pavements to be regularised

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own Clerk of Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) Royston King has stated there will be regularisation of pavements in the capital city.

This will be done to ensure city pavements are all on a similar level. He made these comments Monday while inspecting the relocation exercise of Stabroek Market vendors.

“That matter is being addressed right now by the City Engineer… sometime ago we have had cause to remove unauthorised structures that were put up by Royal Castle

on the Coral Street area,” expressed the Town Clerk.

He also told this publication that City Council had to remove “unauthorized structures” that were put up by a building under construction in Water Street.

“What they did was to elevate the level of the pave without getting the permission and we’re moving through the city,” he explained.

“This not just about vendors, this is about everybody who is not complying with the laws,” King explained, noting that everyone must comply Town Clerk Royston King and his team with the laws of city council. on Monday in Georgetown

City Hall workers dismantling the elevated pavement in March

Digicel rewards sales agents for outstanding performances

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igicel Guyana Inc on Saturday evening rewarded several sale agents and companies for their exemplary performance in 2015 at an elaborate function at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown.

Chief Executive Officer Kevin Kelly who spoke briefly at the event related that Digicel is committed in providing quality service to the people while adding the telephone giant is presently serving 98 per cent of the rural communities.

In addition, he thanked those present for their tremendous support during the past eight years and was happy to announce it is the first time agents from all 10 administration regions are represented at the gala event.

Those distributors that were honoured are Telecoms Solutions and Airtime Guyana Inc. The list of wholesalers awarded includes Cellsmart,

The awardees with officials of Digicel on Saturday evening

G&J Phone cards, Kitty Square Mall, Marty Yassin, Cellular Plus, The Cell Guyana, Pressy’s (Selwyn Prescott) and Cellular Planet Inc. The subwholesalers are Lindon Joseph, C & T, OMEL - Aubrey Hutson, Dominique Blair, Naranjan Roopnarine,

Jet Investments, Jason Sheppard and A&S Pharmacy.

In addition, several retailers were also rewarded: Alicia Charles, Penelope Mitchell, Flamboyant, Daniel Rambaran, Ileana Boodhoo, Andrew’s Supermarket, Ryan Rajmangal, Stephen Bovell,

Menachem Campbell, Dwayne Munroe, Rawtie Baljit, Eton Cordis, Malcolm Carryl, Lahago, Corwin Stephens, Imam Bacchus, Jaikissoon, Julius Belgrave, Yogeeta Sharma and Leon Sankar.

Manager of the Year Category A, B and C were

awarded to Melissa Boodhoo, Godfrey Chisholm and Ronald Inniss respectively.

The Most Improved Dealers award went to Speed Talk and Cell Works while the Most Consistent Performer awards went to Cell Smart and Celular Planet.

Best Dealer Retail Store Audit of 2014 went to Cellular Plus and Cellular Planet.

Cellular Plus – City Mall and The Cell – Muneshwers were awarded the prize for Best Dealer Wow Audit Performance 2014.

The Best Dealer – Initiative and Sponsorship was awarded to Speed Talk and Cellsmart.

In addition the Best Remote Dealers were KG Cell Tech and R&T Variety while Cellular Plus – Regency and Cellular Planet – Sheriff Street were awarded as Best Dealer Stores and the Best Flagship prizes went to Cellular Plus – City Mall and The Cell – Muneshwers.

The dealer of the year category A went to Cellular Plus and Cellsmart with The Cell and Speed Talk copping the prize for the Dealer of the Year in Category B and finally, R&T Variety and P&P Cellular were awarded Dealers of the Year in Category C.

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guyana-times.com

TUESDay, may 3, 2016

Regional

Venezuela’s Opposition submits 1.85 million signatures in recall effort

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enezuela's opposition said it delivered 1.85 million signatures to the country's elections authority on Monday as part of the process of seeking a recall referendum against President Nicolás Maduro.

Food and medicine shortages, triple-digit inflation, rampant violent crime and increasingly frequent water and power cuts have stoked anger against Maduro.

The Democratic Unity coalition (MUD) gathered far more than the required one per cent of voters' signatures, or nearly 200,000, needed to trigger the next phase of a recall referendum.

"With this successful strategy the MUD has progressed in achieving urgent political change via impeccably peaceful and constitutional measures," the coalition's head, Jesus Torrealba, tweeted on Monday.

The electoral body must now validate the signatures before the Opposition can

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Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro gestures as he talks to supporters during a rally to commemorate May Day, in Caracas, Venezuela, May 1

collect another 20 per cent, or around four million signatures, before a vote can finally be held.

Maduro has sworn he will not be forced out before his term expires in 2019 and accuses the Opposition of seeking a coup against him to destroy the socialist legacy of his predecessor, the late Hugo Chávez.

The Government-leaning

Supreme Court and electoral board have stymied the opposition-led National Assembly time and time again.

Opponents fear the election board is now trying to drag the referendum process into 2017, when the Vice President would take over should Maduro be removed, rather than there being a new election. (Excerpt from Reuters)

turning to the communist island for the first time in decades. The voyage is the first of what Carnival says will become week-long cruises to Cuba twice a month, with the goal of promoting cultural exchange between the two countries following a warming of ties that began in December 2014 and led to the restoration of full diplomatic relations last year.

The "cultural exchange" aspect is key, since ordinary tourism to Cuba is still banned under a US trade embargo, which remains in force despite the diplomatic thaw.

For the time being, Americans can travel to Cuba only for cultural, academic, sports-related or religious events. Carnival is the first cruise line company to win permission from both governments to offer trips, which ended after the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

The Adonia has scheduled cultural activities in its ports of call in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, including meetings with artists, musicians and business owners, as well as dance classes and guided tours.

First US-to-Cuba cruise ship in decades docks in Havana

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he first US cruise ship to travel to Cuba in half a century docked in Havana Monday, marking a new milestone in the rapprochement between the old Cold War foes.

A crowd of onlookers waved Cuban and American flags and filmed with their cellphones as the Adonia, a Carnival cruise liner, sailed into port in Havana after setting off Sunday from Miami, the heart of the Cuban Diaspora in the United States.

The ship had 700 passengers on board, some of them Cuban-Americans re-

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

WhatsApp Brazil: Judge blocks access to messaging service

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Judge in Brazil has blocked access to messaging service WhatsApp for 72 hours, the latest suspension to hit the hugely popular application.

The Judge, Marcel Montalvao, issued the order because WhatsApp owner Facebook failed to hand over information requested in a criminal investigation.

WhatsApp was temporarily shut down in December for similar reasons.

The service is widely used in Brazil, where mobile phone owners face some of the highest charges in the world.

The order was due to come into place from 14:00h local time (17:00 GMT) and applies to Brazil's five main mobile operators. A rival service, Telegram, reported

OAS pays tribute to AntiguaBarbuda ambassador's Permanent Council presidency he Organisation of American States (OAS) on Monday paid tribute to Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador, Sir Ronald Sanders, for his successful presidency of the Permanent Council, the governing body of the Organisation.

In praising Sanders’ stewardship of the Council, the current Chairman, Argentina’s Ambassador, Juan Jose Acuri, speaking in the presence of high representatives of all 34 Member States, said: “Ambassador

Sanders successfully led the activities of the Council in the past three months.

During that period, the Authority held 14 meetings to discuss various issues, including the financial situation of the Organisation, the strategic vision, the modernisation of management of the Secretariat and adoption of the program budget end of the organization for the second year the biennium 20152016.”

Sanders had made the financial circumstances of the OAS and its future a theme

of his presidency. The OAS Council also recalled the pivotal role Sanders played in helping to mediate a solution to a political and constitutional stalemate in Haiti in early February that threatened civil strife and instability. The chair of the Council declared that, as the head of a special OAS mission to Haiti, Sanders “contributed to key negotiations conducted between the various Haitian political actors to achieve a solution to the crisis”. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

T&T PM says no discussion on decriminalising marijuana T rinidad’s Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley says his Administration has not discussed decriminalising marijuana even as his Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi is quoted as saying that it is reviewing existing legislation as well as planning wide consultation before adopting any position.

Rowley, speaking to reporters before his departure for the United States, said that he would be very surprised if the Attorney General spoke to the decriminalisation of small amounts of marijuana when the matter was not discussed by Cabinet.

He said his Government has been in office for just over seven months and has spent no time at all examining the decriminalisation of marijuana.

“I lead the Cabinet and I don’t know that any such examination is taking place.

I’ve seen the headline, I haven’t read the story but I’m pretty sure the Attorney General will really want to explain that and I would

be very surprised if that is what he said.”

The Trinidad Guardian newspaper Monday quoted Al-Rawi as saying there has been “a full exercise of analysing the types of crime in our prisons and the pre-tri-

there’s certainly a drive to gather statistical information, as the issue of decriminalising of marijuana isn’t a simple one on the public side.” But when questioned by the media, Al Rawi said he was speaking to the

T&T Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

als detention or remand statistics for a range of offences, including possession of narcotics, and particularly possession of cannabis.

“From that perspective

Trinidad Guardian as attorney general and not on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Argentine court probes ex-President Fernandez over new case: media

A The low-cost app is much used in Brazil where mobile phone charges are high

a surge of applications after the block came into place.

WhatsApp said it was "disappointed" by the move, saying it had cooperated fully with the local court. "This decision punishes more than 100 million Brazilians who rely on our service... in order to force us to turn over information we repeatedly

said we don't have," a statement said.

In March the same judge ordered the arrest of a Facebook executive based in Brazil for failing to comply with an attempt to block WhatsApp. He was released the next day. (BBC News)

n Argentine court has asked a judge to look into accusations of illicit enrichment against leftist former President Cristina Fernandez, state press agency Telam reported on Monday.

Fernandez, who left office in December after eight years and was replaced by centre-right Mauricio Macri, has already been accused of money laundering and overseeing irregularities at the central bank while she served.

The cases have sparked

massive demonstrations by her supporters, who say she is being persecuted by a new Government bent on revenge. Fernandez is a divisive figure, revered by many for generous welfare programs and reviled by others for her economic policies.

The latest accusation, issued by a public prosecutor, was initiated by an Opposition politician.

Fernandez and her son have been accused of illicit enrichment and the falsification of public documents

relating to a company called Los Sauces, Telam said, citing legal sources.

It said that Los Sauces in 2009 had over nine million Argentine pesos (US$635,000 at current exchange rates) in property investment. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said the investigating judge had issued a secrecy order on the case. Under Argentine law, the judge will decide whether to accept the charge and open an investigation. (Reuters)

tuesDAY, may 3, 2016

guyana-times.com

Around the world

Trump accuses China of 'raping' US with unfair trade policy

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e p u b l i c a n Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has accused China of "raping" the US, in renewed criticism of China's trade policy. He told a rally in Indiana that China was responsible for "the greatest theft in the history of the world".

Trump, a billionaire businessman, has long accused China of manipulating its currency to make its exports more competitive globally. This, he says, has badly damaged US businesses and workers.

"We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what we're doing," he told the campaign rally on Sunday. "We're going to turn it around, and we have the cards, don't forget it," he added. "We have a lot of power with China."

Trump, in his campaign

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Indian teenager dies after accidentally shooting himself while taking a gun selfie

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Donald Trump has accused China of trade 'rape'

manifesto, pledges to "cut a better deal with China that helps American businesses and workers compete". He sets out four goals that include immediately declaring China "a currency manipulator" and putting "an end to China's illegal export subsidies and lax labour and environmental standards".

Figures from the US

Government show the annual trade deficit with China was at an all-time high of US$365.7 billion (£250.1 billion) last year.

There was no immediate response from Beijing to Trump's comments, but he is seen by many in China as an inspiration rather than an antagonist, says the BBC's Vincent Ni. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Kerry aims to extend truce to Syria's Aleppo as ceasefire unravels

ashington and Moscow said on Monday they were working hard to extend a truce in Syria to Aleppo, the divided northern city where a sharp escalation of violence in recent weeks has left a ceasefire in tatters and torpedoed peace talks.

US Secretary of State John Kerry was in Geneva for meetings with other dignitaries to try to revive the two-month-old US and Russia-sponsored cessation of hostilities, which quieted guns for the first time during the five-year Syrian war

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but which has unraveled in recent days.

Syria announced temporary local truces in two areas last week. But those agreements have not been extended to Aleppo, where Government air strikes and rebel shelling have killed hundreds of civilians in the past week, including more than 50 people in a hospital rebels say was deliberately targeted by the Army.

The Aleppo fighting threatens to wreck the first peace talks involving the warring parties, which are due to resume at an unspec-

ified date after breaking up in April when the opposition delegation walked out citing Government ceasefire violations.

"We're getting closer to a place of understanding, but we have some work to do, and that's why we're here," Kerry said at the start of a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.

Kerry said he hoped for more clarity in the next day or so on restoring the nationwide ceasefire. The United States and Russia had agreed to keep extra staff in Geneva to work on it. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

n Indian teenager died after accidentally shooting himself with his father’s revolver while taking a gun selfie. The 15-year-old boy was rushed to the local hospital, but died due to severe head injuries.

The incident occurred at Ramandeep Singh's home in the North Indian city of Pathankot on Friday, when he tried to take a selfie while

posing with his father’s licensed .32 bore revolver on his mobile phone. According to his family, he accidentally fired a shot that fatally injured him. The safety catch wasn’t in place.

India had the dubious record of having the highest number of selfie deaths in the world in 2015. This year too, there have been a string of such incidents, with two people being killed

while taking a selfie in front of railway tracks, and a man being gored by the elephant he was trying to take a photograph with.

The high number of selfie accidents in the country has also led to security concerns among authorities.

In January, Mumbai Police identified 15 dangerous noselfie zones across the city.

(Yahoo! News)

Somali refugee in critical condition after setting herself alight on Nauru

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he young Somali woman who set herself alight on Nauru – the second refugee in a week to do so – has been taken to Australia by air ambulance, but her situation remains critical.

Hodan, 21, doused herself and set herself alight inside the OPC1 section of the detention centre on Nauru. According to reports, she suffered severe burns to most of her body. One person reported “all of her clothes were burned off”.

Another source said: “One of the witnesses who saw her said the situation is much worse than Omid,” a reference to 23-year-old Omid Masoumali, who died last week after self-immolating on Nauru.

Other refugees were prevented by police from entering the hospital to see Hodan (spelled Hadon on her immigration department records) but said that she must be medically evac-

Somali refugee Hodan set herself alight on Nauru on Monday just days after another refugee in Australian-run detention died of injuries sustained from self-immolating

uated as quickly as possible after accusations of delays in treating Masoumali.

An air ambulance arrived overnight on Nauru to transport Hodan to Brisbane. The incident will increase the pressure on the Australian government to improve conditions on Nauru and at its other offshore detention

centre on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

Despite Labor supporting the government’s policy of refusing settlement for refugees arriving by illegal boats, the party’s immigration spokesman Richard Marles said it was leaving people without hope. (Excerpt from

South Korea and Iran to sign major trade deals Nearly 90,000 unaccompanied S minors sought asylum in EU in 2015 outh Korea and Iran are expected to sign several trade deals worth billions of dollars and discuss sensitive subjects like North Korea following President Park Geun-hye's arrival in Tehran with a large group of business leaders.

Iran's official state news agency IRNA said that more than 230 business executives accompanied Park who, along with several Ministers, met Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Monday and held meetings with Iranian officials.

Park asked for Iran's help in implementing UN Security Council resolutions calling for the nuclear disarmament of the Korean peninsula. Iran and North Korea are allies. Tehran and Pyongyang have long been suspected of being

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Trade between the two countries is currently at US$6.1 billion and that Tehran would like to boost that to US$17.4 billion

close partners in developing weapons technology.

North Korea was handed tougher UN sanctions for its fourth nuclear test and a long-range rocket launch earlier this year. Iran has denied seeking atomic weapons, insisting its nuclear programme is for purely civilian purposes like power generation and medical research.

Iran has been seeking to

integrate into the global financial system and improve ties with other countries since its own nuclear-related sanctions were lifted in January under a landmark deal with world powers. Energy-hungry South Korea, the world's fifth largest importer of crude oil, used to be one of the biggest buyers of Iranian oil, but imports plummeted as a result of sanctions. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

ome 88,300 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in the European Union in 2015, 13 per cent of them children younger than 14, crossing continents without their parents to seek a place of safety, EU data showed on Monday.

More than a million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa reached Europe last year. While that was roughly double the 2014 figure, the number of unaccompanied minors quadrupled, statistics agency Eurostat said.

Minors made up about

a third of the 1.26 million first-time asylum applications filed in the EU last year. European Union states disagree on how to handle Europe's worst migration crisis since World War Two and anti-immigrant sentiment has grown, even in countries that traditionally have a generous approach to helping people seeking refuge.

Four in 10 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in Sweden, where some have called for greater checks, suspicious that adults are passing themselves off as children in order to secure protection

The Guardian)

they might otherwise be denied.

Eurostat's figures refer specifically to asylum applicants "considered to be unaccompanied minors", meaning EU states accepted the youngsters' declared age or established it themselves through age assessment procedures.

More than 90 per cent of the minors traveling without a parent or guardian were boys and more than half of them were between 16 and 17 years old.

Half were Afghans and the second largest group were Syrians, at 16 percent of the total. (Excerpt from Reuters)

16 news

TUESDAY, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Labour Day 2016 Police to seek Region 2 Chairman calls for designated area for prisoners on Essequibo workers to be treated better Ferry – Commander

BY INDRAWATTIE NATRAM

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n observance of Labour Day 2016, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt is calling for workers to be better treated and for unions to properly represent them in the Public Sector.

During his Labour Day address to workers at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground on Sunday, Ramdatt said there is more that can be done to protect and represent workers in Region Two.

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ollowing concerns expressed by some passengers travelling with the Essequibo ferry service, who feel threatened by the decision of the Guyana Police Force to have prisoners sit with civilians when being transported to and from court in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Police Commander of G Division (Essequibo coastIslands), Superintendent Kevin Adonis said a request will be made to the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) for a designated area to be made available on the ferries for the transport of prisoners.

Guyana Times reported that on Monday that prisoners were placed in seats next to civilians. Passengers related that the prisoners entered the vessel with shackles on their feet and were placed to sit next to them.

This caused much concern among some passengers, who told this publication they saw this move as a “security risk”.

During interviews with

nurses in the region have to travel to the city on duty and often do not get their travelling their allowances on time.

Further explaining, Ramdatt said that with the rainy season, the Drainage and Irrigation workers do not have proper safety gears and are asked to endure long hours at work. He also noted that carpenters are currently working as pump operators, which he deemed as being "unfair".

He nonethelessnoted that the Regional Democratic Council (RDC)

people - whether they are workers in the fields, factories or offices. Speaking about rice and sugar workers, the Chairman said they are experiencing severe challenges at this time. He is therefore appealing for a review of the decision to close sugar factories and a rescue plan for the rice sector. Further explaining, he said the entire Region Two's economy is pressured as a result of the poor state of rice industry.

He called on all workers to be aware of their rights and responsibilities and not

Commander of Police G Division, Superintendent Kevin Adonis

H o w e v e r , Superintendent Adonis said that an alternative will be sought in partnership with the T&HD. “What we have to do is to talk to the transport administration to have a designated area when we are having a large amount of prisoners to transport,” Adonis noted.

“We have to speak to the transport administration (T&HD) when we transporting prisoners, where to have

may be on remand for minor offences.

“We don’t have no harden criminals, we don’t have any high profile,” he assured.

“First of all we don’t have a large amount of prisoners like some other divisions.

We might only have about three, four, five.

That’s what we transport. If we get in excess of five, that is where the Magistrate will just remand for a week beRegion Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt with union representatives at the May Day rally on Sunday

A prisoner (in grey vest) chatting with a civilian on the ferry

this newspaper, some passengers suggested that a section on the ferry be reserved for the prisoners when they are being transported to and from court.

They have even suggested that the Guyana Prison Service provide special vehicles – Police or river taxis – to transport prisoners, or even have that area barred off.

them, because it is a passenger ferry and we have to place them (prisoners) in an area where they will have seats and so on, we can’t place them downstairs where the vehicles would be,” he explained.

The Commander also urged person using the ferries not to become alarmed since the persons being transported are some who

set of their behaviour and they are not harden criminals, they are for minor offences,” Superintendent Adonis noted.

He also assured that the inmates are usually escorted by armed Policemen and urged civilians who may feel uncomfortable to exercise better judgement and not sit in close proximity to the prisoners.

“Why our staff who are asked to serve the hinterland living in bat infested buildings and harsh conditions?” Ramdatt questioned, adding that he is of the view that there is need for a structured integration of the working class movement as a whole within Guyana.

During his address, the Regional Chairman said workers in Region Two are working under harsh conditions and noted that only recently, it was reported that a health worker was injured at one of the leading hospitals in the region due to electrical problems in the theatre. He also said that

of Region Two salutes all workers on the occasion and called on Guyanese to use the occasion to reflect on the struggles and how much the nation has achieved as a people.

"Let us not fail to recognise the several measures taken over the years to protect the working and living conditions of workers, especially at a time when the working class in other parts of the capitalist world is reeling under the impact of a severe economic and social crisis," Ramdatt asserted.

He also said that the RDC has high regards for workers and will champion the cause of the working

be intimidated by employers’ selfish and unlawful actions.

“Be responsible workers; be accountable by way of your respective job performances, your RDC is committed to the working people of our region, we must all find innovative ways to socialise as a collective and create partnerships through sport, training programmes a regional award scheme and other avenues to create an environment that is conducive to work and life,” he ended.

The May Day rally was organised by various unions within the region. Due to the rain, only a few workers turned out at the rally.

Bartica benefits from clean-up campaign, others to also benefit

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lean-up efforts have commenced in an effort to have the newly established town of Bartica, in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) smoothly transition into township status.

Four more communities are soon to benefit from the cleanup initiative themed “A Clean Environment”. The town of Bartica was selected to be the first of the new towns to benefit from the initiative which is designed to support the communities as they transition into townships.

The Natural Resources Ministry provided the requisite support for the project.

The new Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall, conveyed his gratitude for the support from Persons bagging garbage and debris from the beach front area in Bartica

the Natural Resources Ministry.

“We communicated with the Ministry of Natural Resources and we are very happy that they are on board to assist us in cleaning up our beach area. This particular area is one of the views you will see as you come into Bartica and it is time that we keep this area free of garbage” Marshall noted.

The “A Clean Environment” project was launched on April 15 and aims to pilot initiatives across the country to promote the enhancement of the environment.

Dr Latchmin Punalall, the Coordinator of environment awareness and enhancement at the Natural Resources Ministry, was given the responsibility of overseeing the project.

He reinforced the Ministry’s commitment to being in support to the people of Bartica as the campaign is being carried out and encouraged all to support the initiative to keep the environment clean.

The clean-up of the Bartica beach front is ongoing and will be completed before the declaration of township on May 7. Other areas earmarked to receive support in their efforts to enhance their surroundings include Kwakwani, Mabaruma, Port Kaituma and Lethem.

The first of the initiative themed “Best Kept School Competition” was recently tested in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The public will be kept informed as the project continues.

17 Another Corentyne family robbed news

TUESDAY, may 3, 2016 | guyana-times.com

Linden driver killed after swerving from child on highway — 2 others injured

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Linden man was killed Monday following a motor vehicular accident at Bamia, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, East Bank Demerara, when he swerved from hitting a child but his vehicle ended up toppling several times.

Dead is Rawle Adams, 45, also known as "Banks", a security guard at Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI) and of Lot 33 Constabulary

was driving in a southerly direction with his two sons when he lost control of the car PSS 9432 when he swerved from hitting a child, causing the car to topple several times before coming to a halt.

According to a female relative of the deceased, Adams was driving a friend's car at the time. Another close relative indicated that Adams along with the two children had travelled to Silverhill

— gunmen escape with millions as rampage continues

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andits on Sunday morning brutalised yet another Corentyne family, carting off millions of dollars in cash and jewellery.

According to reports the incident occurred at around 02:00h at Number 43 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne).

Guyana Times was told four armed bandits broke into the premises of Nakool Manohar and terrorised the family while demanding cash and valuables.

the house and did not see us in the bedroom, them take a post and break into the room that we ran into.

After they get to us, they asked for our money and jewellery. I told them that they can take what they want to but just don’t hurt us,” the distraught woman related.

Etwaru said the gunmen threatened to rape her eldest daughter if she did not give up the cash and jewellery.

The woman explained that while the men contin-

someone telling them “you didn’t collect all of the jewellery that they have.”

Etwaru relayed that the gunmen then returned and was given additional jewellery after which they left.

She said the bandits escaped with US$4000, $1 million and about $1.5 million in jewellery.

Speaking with this publication, Bhagwattie Mangar, Manohar’s mother who lives a short distance away explained that she heard screams coming from her son’s house. She said

Dead: Rawle Adams

The house where the robbery took place

The damaged car following the accident

Compound, Mackenzie.

This newspaper was told that Adams' step-son Hoshaiah, 15, and his son Nehemiah, 5, also were injured in the accident. They are being treated at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

Reports are that at about 14:15h on Monday, Adams

along the Linden Highway earlier in the day to attend to his stepson's "school project". It was while returning home that tragedy struck.

"He still had the folder in his hand," the relative related, referring to the older teen. The relative said she was informed that Adams, who had decided to take his

five-year-old for a "drive" swerved along the roadway to avoid hitting a child.

Adams wife Melanie Adams relatives said, was in the city at the time of the accident and was too distraught to travel back to Linden.

Adams was an active cricketer and footballer in Linden.

Work underway to repair hole on Linden-Soesdyke Highway

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Works ongoing on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway

he Ministry of Public Infrastructure has commenced repairs on a section of the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway which

developed a hole. The section under repair is at the bottom of the Moblissa Hill.

The work began after a report was made, by a taxi

driver, to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. The work is expected to be completed over the next week.

Manohar was not at home at the time.

His wife Sattie Etwaru said she, her two daughters, another teenager and her father-in-law were at home when the bandits attacked them.

According to the traumatised woman, the men broke a window to gain access inside. She explained that after hearing that someone was breaking the window they tried to secure themselves in another room.

“When them come in

ued their search for valuables they were hitting her 74-year-old father-in-law to his head with a bottle and beating their teenaged family friend with a piece of wood.

Etwaru explained that the ordeal lasted for about 20 minutes and after the men found the money and some jewellery they left but immediately returned after the bandit who was on lookout told them that they did not get all of the family’s jewellery.

She said that she heard

she opened her window and saw a man who told her to close her window and stay inside, explaining that he is a Police Officer.

“They fired one round so I closed back my window and started to shout for help so that the neighbours could hear.

No one came out because the bandits started to fire gunshots into the air,” the woman explained.

The men subsequently escaped in the direction of the seashore. Police have since launched a manhunt.

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guyana-timesgy.com

tuesday, may 3, 2016

ARCHIE

A chance to make money or negotiate and sign a contract (March 21- that offers long-term securiApril 19) ty is within reach. Embrace change, and don’t settle for less than what you want.

ARIES

An outgoing attitude couTAURUS pled with your expertise and (April 20- knowledge will bolster your May 20) chances of advancement. An opening will spark your interest, and an unexpected offer will be presented.

dilbert

Help someone in need, GEMINI (May 21- but don’t let anyone take adJune 20) vantage of you. Bring about changes that will help secure your personal or professional future. Contain an emotional mishap.

CANCER

Peanuts

(June 21July 22)

Spend time with people you haven’t seen in a while. A fresh and lively conversation will result in opportunities that will help you improve your life. Romance will liven things up.

Someone will speak out LEO against you if you are too (July 23pushy. Take a step back and Aug. 22) concentrate on what you can do to improve physically.

Discipline will counter excess.

If you speak up, you will VIRGO reach someone who feels as (Aug. 23you do regarding community Sept. 22) concerns. By joining forces, you will bring about positive change. Romance will prove electrifying.

Calvin and Hobbes

New friendships or busiLIBRA (Sept. 23- ness connections will bring Oct. 23) you closer to your goals. Good fortune and advancement will be yours if you stand up for your beliefs. Communicate your feelings.

SUDOKU TODAY’S WORD – NOMINAL

If you refrain from exagSAGITTARIUS gerating, you will avoid be(Nov. 23- ing questioned. Stay focused Dec. 21) on what you can do, and bring about positive changes in your personal life that will help balance your emotions.

(NOMINAL: NOM-ih-nul: Existing in name only; insignificantly small or trifling.)

Average mark 12 words Time limit 25 minutes Can you find 18 or more words in NOMINAL? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD – PRORATE pare pareo parer parrot part pate pear peat pert poet pore port

porter prate prater proa rapt raptor rare rate rater reap rear report

repro retro roar rope roper rote opera orate aper atop tape taper

tare taro tarp tear terra tope toper tore torr trap trope

Share your ideas. A busiSCORPIO ness partnership will give you (Oct. 24an opportunity to spend more Nov. 22) time exploring your creative options. Romance will inspire you to reach for the stars.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Your ability to wheel and CAPRICORN deal and your intuitive in(Dec. 22- sight will lead to unexpected Jan. 19) gains and personal rewards.

Making plans to celebrate with a loved one will bring you closer together.

Choose your words careAQUARIUS fully.

Taking action will bring (Jan. 20better results than laboring Feb. 19) over details with an opponent. A professional change will turn out better than anticipated.

Your restlessness combined PISCES (Feb. 20- with someone’s demands will March 20) lead to an unsavory encounter if you let your emotions surface. Work independently or with those offering support instead of criticism.

tuesDAY, may 3, 2016

Buttler hopes for franchise-based T20 in England

England wicketkeeperbatsman delighted at being able to play full season of IPL E

ngland wicketkeeper Jos Buttler has said he is delighted to have got a chance to play a full IPL season and hopes to see a franchise-based T20 tournament in England in the future.

"I don't think our [domestic] T20 competition is great," said Buttler in an

bit of a shame it's taken so long, but I do understand it's very tricky with the timing of our county season," said Buttler, admitting that he probably wouldn't have taken this call had he been England's first-choice wicketkeeper in Tests.

"Someone like a Ben Stokes would be high on

lots of doors for people and makes them feel a lot more comfortable about thinking, 'You know what, I'm really good at one-day cricket and I want to give that my all.'

"I think what's really exciting is that in the next five years there's going to be some huge changes in cricket, with a new cycle of ex-

"Everyone watches the Big Bash and the IPL and wants to be a part of that"

interview with the Cricket Monthly. "Everyone watches the Big Bash and the IPL and wants to be a part of that. To experience something on a domestic level in England that is just like international cricket - every county player would love that."

Buttler, currently part of the Mumbai Indians squad, was grateful to the ECB for the chance to play the whole IPL season at the expense of first-class matches for his county. This was the first time the ECB had fully backed one of its star players when it came to choosing IPL over county cricket.

"I think it's a really important change, and it's a

IPL teams' lists. But he's such an important player for England in all three formats. Joe Root too. How do they get everything in?

But it would be fantastic for English cricket and all the individuals if there's the potential to get players into these tournaments."

One of the key players behind England's ODI and T20 revival over the last year, Buttler has come to symbolise a change in attitude towards the shorter forms.

"I think it's great that now in England it's not seen as derogatory to say you want to be a one-day cricketer," says Buttler. "And that's great, as it really opens up

citing young cricketers and a new generation of fans as well. It'll be interesting to see if they're more interested in the one-day stuff or if Test cricket still retains its primacy."

Buttler played 15 Tests for England in 2014 and 2015 and has maintained that his main ambition is to be successful in the longest format.

"I've learned not to get caught up in what I want to do, and enjoy the challenges I have ahead," he said. "If I could one day maybe win back that Test place, that would be great. But I've got lots of things to concentrate on at the minute and enjoy as well." (ESPN Cricinfo)

19

Shehzad, Akmal left out of Pakistan training camp I nzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan chief selector, has dropped Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad on disciplinary grounds from the training camp ahead of the team's tour of England.

The selection committee has also ignored Shahid Afridi and decided to move on to younger players.

The trio had been a major point of contention in the former coach Waqar Younis' scathing report after Pakistan's exit from the World T20. Waqar had suggested that both Akmal and Shehzad be dropped from the side and made to re-earn selection through their domestic performances. He had also lambasted Afridi's leadership style, which he felt left the players confused, and said his own performances did not merit a place in the side.

"First of all selection committee is totally independent," Inzamam said at a press conference in Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. "Board can guide us but even then selection committee will take its own decisions. I have seen the previous reports of coach and selection committee and have also talked to other stakeholders of the team.

"So the selection committee has decided that if there's a problem of discipline we have to take a step so it's more on discipline grounds than performance.

If we see any problem in discipline this selection committee will take tough decisions."

Afridi stepped down from captaincy after the World T20 but decided not to retire from T20 internationals after the World T20.

Inzamam said the selectors had ignored Afridi because of Pakistan's lack of T20 matches over the coming year.

"This year we have only four T20s and over the next 14 months we have to play only six T20s and I think we should give chance to new players in these six matches. Shahid will get some rest and when he comes after giving [domestic] performance he will definitely be considered."

Inzamam named 35 probables for a boot camp that will be held at the Kakul Military Academy

in Abbottabad from May 14 to June 4 to prepare for the tour of England that includes four Tests, five ODIs and a T20I. He also named 25 probables for Pakistan A's tour of England scheduled from June 23 to July 25. A few players, including Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim and Rahat Ali, were included in the camp subject to proving their fitness.

"The reports I am getting is that there are some players whose fitness is not good or they are not able to run - that included players like Mohammad Hafeez, Imad Wasim and Rahat Ali," Inzamam said. "I want to see the fitness of players myself and thereafter we will decide."

The selection committee has also laid out a policy of only picking players aged 30 or less in the A team. The rule has quashed the Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq's intention of touring England with the A team ahead of the senior team's tour, since he has only recently recovered from a calf strain. The first Test begins on July 14, and will be Pakistan's first fiveday game since the third Test against England in Sharjah in November 2015.

"We have a policy that nobody above 30 will be selected for Pakistan A," Inzamam said. "If he has a good performance in firstclass cricket and we think he is a good player we will send him to Pakistan camp so that he can play for Pakistan. The whole selection committee thinks that young players who have done well in first-class cricket should be promoted. We won't consider players who have gone on more than 4-5 Pakistan A tours. We will be tough on discipline."

Nepotism has been a major talking point in Pakistan cricket recently, and Inzamam said he would not give any room for it when the topic of his nephew Imam-ul-Haq came up.

Imam recently came into the Islamabad side - filling in for Misbah, who had left the team for a pilgrimage to Mecca - and scored a century in his first game in the Pakistan Cup. Imam did not find a place either in the Pakistan training camp or among the Pakistan A probables.

"I am not going to give any favour and will also not do any injustice," Inzamam said. "I've seen his [Imamul-Haq] first-class record he hasn't scored many runs in this season and I have not selected him. That should be the way. We have given a pool of 60 players, we are going to see the fitness level of these players. Other players could also be considered if they give good performances."

On the possible reintegration of Salman Butt in the national set up, Inzamam said the opening batsman had not played enough cricket since returning from his spot-fixing ban to make a case for selection.

"Salman is a very good player but he hasn't played four-day games as yet," Inzamam said. "He has just played a one-day tournament after coming back after five and half years. I think he should play one season of four-day matches so that he can make a comeback in a better way."

Probables for Pakistan's training camp: Mohammad Hafeez (subject to fitness), Sami Aslam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azhar Ali, Sharjeel Khan, Khurram Manzoor, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail (subject to fitness), Khalid Latif, Fawad Alam, Akbarur-Rehman, Asif Zakir, Anwar Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali, Imran Khan, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Hasan Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Adnan Akmal, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Bbaar, Mohammad Asghar, Imad Wasim (subject to finess), Bilal Asif, Zohaib Khan.

Probables for Pakistan A tour of England: Fakhar Zaman, Jihad Ali, Mohammad Waqas, Zain Abbas, Israrullah, Umar Amin (subject to fitness), Abdul Rehman Muzammil, Saud Shakil, Abid Ali, Umar Siddique, Mohammad Nawaz, Fahim Ashraf, Amir Yamin, Mohammad Abbas, Azizullah, Mir Hamza, Ahmed Jamal, Imad Butt, Ziaul Haq, Saifullah Bangash, Mohammad Hasan, Usama Mir, Shadab Khan, Hidayatullah, Zafar Gohar.

20 Yusuf, Russell power Knight Riders to scorching win A guyana-times.com

tuesDAY, may 3, 2016

n d r e Russell and Yusuf Pathan are among the most powerful strikers of the ball in world cricket.

The Chinnaswamy Stadium is among the world's smaller grounds, and contains one of its flatter pitches. The ingredients came together spectacularly as Kolkata Knight Riders' Nos. 5 and 6 defied a steep asking rate and put on 96 runs in 44 balls to power their side to a five-wicket win, with five balls remaining, over Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Bowling first, Knight Riders' had kept Royal

Sachin Baby and Stuart Binny then plundered 54 off the last three overs to lift Royal Challengers to 185.

Kohli later contended that his side's total was about 10 above par. But given Royal Challengers' bowling strength - or lack thereof, particularly with Chris Gayle's return forcing them to leave out Kane Richardson - and Knight Riders' batting depth, they might have needed 10 runs more.

Royal Challengers' bowling held up well initially, with Binny's outswing removing his Karnataka team-

SCOREBOARD Royal Challengers Bangalore innings (20 overs maximum) KL Rahul† c Pathan b Chawla 52 CH Gayle c †Uthappa b Mork el 7 V Kohli* c Russell b Morkel 52 AB de Villiers lbw b Chawla 4 SR Watson run out (Pandey/†U thappa) 34 Sachin Baby c & b Russell 16 STR Binny c Pandey b UT Yadav 16 VR Aaron not out 0 Extras: w 2, nb 2) 4 Total: (7 wickets; 20 overs) 185 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Gayle, 1.3 ov), 2-92 (Rahul, 11.1 ov), 3-109 (de Villiers, 13.4 ov), 4-129 (Kohli, 16.4 ov), 5-167 (Sachin Baby, 18.6 ov), 6-184 (Binny, 19.5 ov), 7-185 (Watson, 19.6 ov) Bowling: AD Russell 4-024-1 (w-1), M Morkel 4-028-2, SP Narine 4-0-45-0, UT Yadav 4-0-56-1 (nb-2, w-1), PP Chawla 4-0-32-2

Challengers quiet for 17 overs, despite half-centuries from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli. Shane Watson,

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 186 runs from 20 overs) RV Uthappa† c Kohli b Binny 1 G Gambhir* lbw b Aravind 37 CA Lynn b Chahal 15 MK Pandey c Sachin Baby b Watson 8 60 YK Pathan not out AD Russell c Binny b Chahal 39 SA Yadav not out 10 Extras: (b-4, lb-2, w-13) 19 Total: 5 wickets; 19.1 overs) 189 Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Uthappa, 0.6 ov), 2-34 (Lynn, 4.4 ov), 3-66 (Gambhir, 8.6 ov), 4-69 (Pandey, 10.1 ov), 5-165 (Russell, 17.3 ov) Bowling: STR Binny 2-0-17-1, S Aravind 2.1-0-16-1 (w-3), SR Watson 3-0-38-1, YS Chahal 4-0-27-2 (w-2), VR Aaron 4-034-0 (w-4), T Shamsi 4-0-51-0

mate Robin Uthappa in the first over, and Yuzvendra Chahal producing a ripping legbreak to bowl the lead-

en-footed Chris Lynn. When Gautam Gambhir and Manish Pandey fell within eight balls of each other, either side of the 10-over mark, Knight Riders were falling behind rapidly.

Knight Riders know they can score two runs a ball with Russell and Yusuf at the crease, and their asking rate was just under 12 an over when they came together. But it was just under 12 an over for a considerable length of time: they needed 110 off 58 balls.

Though it was still a good pitch for batting, it was offering the quicks spongy bounce if they bent their backs, and the spinners a fair amount of grip.

In the first two full overs with Russell and Yusuf Pathan at the crease, they hit a six each, but were also beaten by Varun Aaron's bounce and Yuzvendra Chahal's turn. This still looked like anyone's game.

The defining moment came in the 14th over, when Chahal left Russell stranded five feet down the pitch.

Just like Russell, Rahul was beaten by the lack of turn, and the ball shot away for four byes. Two balls later, a quickish slider down the leg side shot past Rahul before he could react, and ran away for five wides.

Russell mishit, slogged, and flat-batted Tabraiz Shamsi's left-arm wristspin for six, six and four in the next over, and Knight Riders now needed 63 off the last five. Yusuf whipped Aaron to the midwicket boundary, and Russell mishit another six - it only just cleared the cover boundary - as Knight Riders took 16 runs from the 16th over.

Andre Russell and Yusuf Pathan put on 96 runs in 44 balls to power KKR to a five-wicket victory over the struggling RCB

Watson came on to bowl the 17th. Usually the most reliable of Royal Challengers' bowlers, he sent down two length balls first up - the first on the stumps and the second wide of off - and Yusuf heaved them away to the midwicket and extra cover boundaries. A bouncer followed, and Yusuf got just enough bat on his pull to fetch the ball from outside off stump and find the square leg boundary. Then another length ball, and Yusuf easily cleared long-on. When he edged the last ball of the over to the third man boundary, the game was over - Knight Riders now

only needed 23 off 18.

Knight Riders had recalled Morne Morkel to their side, and he quickly discovered tennis-ball bounce to dismiss the returning Gayle.

Bowling largely back of a length, Morkel and Russell kept Kohli and Rahul quiet in the Powerplay, denying them both room and leverage.

Rahul gave Royal Challengers impetus, taking on the spinners, and using the sweep - regular, slog and reverse - for two fours and a six off Sunil Narine.

But just when Royal Challengers were shifting gear, Piyush Chawla dismissed Rahul and AB de

Villiers in the space of 16 balls. Kohli joined them in the 17th over, picking out sweeper cover immediately after Gautam Gambhir had dropped him at point; Royal Challengers seemed in danger of falling short of 160.

But Knight Riders' quicks struggled in the slog overs. Umesh Yadav lost his radar completely, sending down two high full-tosses in the 17th, and ended with figures of 0 for 56 in four overs, with 41 coming off his last two overs. Russell gave away 13 in the 19th. In all, Watson, Baby and Binny hit seven fours and three sixes in the last three overs. (ESPN

Cricinfo)

Steven Smith latest Supergiant to bow out of IPL

A

nother day, another injury for Rising Pune Supergiants.

Australia captain Steven Smith became their latest casualty when he was ruled out of the rest of the 2016 IPL with a wrist injury. Supergiants had earlier lost Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis and Australia allrounder Mitchell Marsh to injuries.

"Steve has been struggling with pain in his right wrist for the last week during his stint in the IPL," Australia's sports science and sports medicine manager Alex Kountouris said. "We have been working with his IPL franchise Pune to monitor this, and unfortunately it has not resolved. As such, he will return home from India for further assessment and treatment ahead of the tour of the West Indies.

"From the information we have so far, this doesn't appear to be a serious injury but we are keen to give him

the time to recover and rehabilitate before heading to the West Indies at the end of

ing in the bottom third of the table with just two wins out of eight games, are wait-

Gone: Steven Smith, too, was out of IPL 2016

May." Smith did not miss a match because of the injury while he was in India. In the absence of two other big names, he was the mainstay of the Supergiants batting, bringing up his maiden T20 century too.

Supergiants, languish-

ing to get Australia batsman Usman Khawaja into the country. Khawaja was signed after the loss of Pietersen and du Plessis.

No replacement was named for Marsh. They are scheduled to play next on May 5, against Delhi Daredevils in Delhi. (ESPN Cricinfo)

21

sports

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Leicester City win Premier League title

L

eicester City have won the Premier League title in one of the greatest sporting stories of all time.

Tottenham's 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Monday confirmed a stunning achievement for Claudio Ranieri's side.

Leicester started the campaign as 5,000-1 outsiders for the title after almost being relegated last season.

But they have lost just three league games in what has been described as a "fairytale" and the "most unlikely triumph in the history of team sport".

Closest challengers Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and last year's champions Chelsea, have all failed to match the Foxes' consistency across the season.

Former Leicester, Everton and England striker Gary Lineker described his hometown team's achievement as "the biggest sporting shock of my lifetime".

The Match of the Day presenter had suggested the Leicester players were on the "edge of sporting immortality" last month.

He told BBC Sport: "I can't think of anything that surpasses it in sporting history. It is difficult to put over in words.

"I got emotional. It was hard to breathe. I was a season ticket holder from the age of seven. This is actually impossible."

After Leicester drew 1-1 at Manchester United on Sunday, Tottenham needed to win all three of their remaining league games to catch the Foxes.

But their title hopes were ended when they squandered a 2-0 lead to only draw at London rivals Chelsea.

Match of the Day pundit and former Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers

and England striker Alan Shearer said Leicester's achievement was "the biggest thing ever in football".

Shearer, who won the Premier League in 1995 with underdogs Blackburn, told BBC Sport: "For a team like Leicester to come and take the giants on with their wealth and experience - not only take them on but to beat them - I think it's the biggest thing to happen in football."

Gianni Infantino, president of football's world governing body Fifa, said Leicester's "beautiful story" was a "fairytale".

Sports data analysts say Leicester are set for a potential £150m boost for winning the title, coming from Premier League prize money, Champions League participation cash, and increased match-day revenues from ticket and hospitality sales.

'A sporting miracle'

"In terms of domestic football, Leicester City winning the Premier League is the greatest achievement ever and I think it will never be surpassed," former Leicester midfielder Robbie Savage told BBC Sport.

"It is incredible. This is a turning point in Premier League history."

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz said: "This is a miracle which has captured the imagination of the sporting world and beyond. People in every corner of the globe now know where Leicester is."

Former Foxes manager Martin O'Neill, who led the club to their previous highest Premier League finish of eighth in 2000, said: "Not only is it a brilliant story, but it gives everyone that little bit of hope again. That romance has not left football.

"It's been the talk of

Europe, there's no question about that. Everything about this season has been remarkable."

Snooker player Mark Selby, a Leicester fan, clinched his second World Championship title a little over 10 minutes after his hometown team won the Premier League crown. "To be Premier League champions is a fantastic achievement and I want to say well done to Claudio and the boys," he said.

It is Leicester's first topflight title and the club, owned by Thai billionaire businessman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, have also qualified for next season's Champions League group stages for the first time.

The Foxes started the season among the favourites for relegation and only the three promoted sides - Watford, Norwich and Bournemouth - were longer odds for the league title.

Ranieri, who took over from the sacked Nigel Pearson in the summer, was seen as an uninspired choice by some fans and pundits after his predecessor had overseen a run of seven wins in nine games as Leicester escaped relegation in 2014-15.

The Italian's previous job ended abruptly when his Greece side lost to European minnows Faroe Islands during Euro 2016 qualifying.

Yet the charismatic 64-year-old's side - assembled for less than £30m and playing pacy, direct, counter-attacking football - has confounded the experts.

Savage added: "I'm speechless, it is unbelievable. I've seen England win the Ashes and get OBEs and MBEs. This Leicester team's achievement is greater than any of that. They should be recognised in the honours list." (BBC Sport)

Raptors and Heat to meet conference semi-finals, Warriors open with win

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he Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat had game-seven wins over the Indiana Pacers and Charlotte Hornets respectively.

The Toronto Raptors claimed their first play-off series win in 15 years after seeing off the Indiana Pacers in the seventh and deciding game on Sunday.

With the first-round Eastern Conference postseason matchup level at 3-3, DeMar DeRozan recorded 30 points to lead the Raptors to their first series win since 2001.

Jonas Valanciunas chipped in with a doubledouble via 10 points and 15 rebounds as the Raptors earned a conference semi-final showdown against the Miami Heat, who will start on the road in Toronto for the first ever play-off meet-

Toronto Raptors claimed their first play-off series win in 15 years

ing between the two teams.

Paul George's 26 points and 12 rebounds were not enough to prolong the Pacers' season.

The Heat fought back from the brink of elimination to advance with a 106-73 blowout over the Charlotte Hornets in game seven.

The series-deciding game was never particularly close, but the Heat really separated

themselves in the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 29-11 to open a 30-point lead ahead of the fourth.

Goran Dragic posted 17 first-half points and 25 through three quarters for the Heat, who trailed 3-2 in the series having claimed the opening two games.

Hornets star Kemba Walker was limited to just nine points in 36 minutes.

Meanwhile, defending champions the Golden State Warriors accounted for the Portland Trail Blazers 118-106 in game one of the Western Conference semi-final.

Klay Thompson posted a game-high 37 points and Draymond Green had a triple-double (23 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists) as the Warriors won in the absence of injured MVP Stephen Curry. (Sportsmax.tv)

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GUYANA-TIMES.COM

tuesDAY, may 3, 2016

National U-21 hockey team Guyana’s U-16 CBC squad to be named early in final prep for Pan Am

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ess than three weeks remain before the Guyana’s national Under-21 boys hockey team make their first competition appearance against highly rated Chile on May 20 in the 2016 Pan American Junior Championship, being staged in Toronto, Canada.

The team has been preparing for over one year under the guidance of national Men’s coach Robert Fernandes and is optimistic of a good showing at the Pan

American Challenge in Peru last year where Guyana turned in several fine performances, narrowly missing out a podium finish on penalties.

Among the more experienced players will be 19-year-old hockey phenomenon, Aroydy Branford, who is currently playing hockey in the United Kingdom and will join the team one week before the trip. While a great deal of expectations will no doubt be placed on

ever finish being sixth place in 1988 where the team narrowly missed the semi-finals. According to President of the Guyana Hockey Board, Philip Fernandes, this current team is as well prepared as any he has ever seen out of Guyana.

Fernandes indicated that the players have been training together as a squad for a longer time than in the past and for the first time, there are several players who have already had international

Nigel Hinds

Meshach Sargeant attacks the GCC goal area

American event.

Fernandes is pleased with the effort and progress made by the players in the past several months, although he indicated that their still needs to be some improvement in certain aspects of the game.

Fernandes will focus on set pieces and defensive structure in the final weeks of preparation along with exposing the players to match practices.

The Head Coach was high in praise of Physical Trainer, Barrington Brown, who has been working with the team for the past four months and whom he credits for the team’s high fitness level. This will factor heavily in a tournament such as this, especially when they face big hockey nations that are likely to put pressure on the Guyanese for long spells during the match.

Several players on the squad have gained valuable international experience, having competed in the Pan

the shoulders of Branford, Fernandes indicated that his absence has made room for other players to step up during training matches and play more influential roles in the team.

One possible setback in the team’s participation has been a clash in the schedule of the tournament with CXC examinations. The Guyana Hockey Board, however, has been receiving kind support from the Ministry of Education in arranging for three players to write their exams at the University of Toronto, thus enabling them to participate in the tournament.

Three of the team’s key starting players are affected by this scheduling and while their academics remains everyone’s priority, it would indeed be a shame for them to lose the opportunity to compete in the once in a lifetime event.

This will be Guyana’s fourth appearance at this competition with its best

competition experience. In addition, Fernandes was high in praise for the national coach and management team whom he says has already showed their competence by solid results in the recent past with the senior men’s team.

Guyana finds itself in Pool B with Canada, Chile and Mexico, while Pool A comprises Argentina, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and the U.S.A. Argentina is the strong favourite, having never lost the championship in all of its 10 years, while Canada and Chile have the next best records of medal finishes. Guyana makes its opening appearance against Chile on May 20, then face Mexico the following day and Canada on the 23rd.

The tournament will run from May 20-28 with all matches being played at the University of Toronto.

Matches will be streamed live on the Pan American website at www.panamhockey.org.

Two gold medals for Guyana at boxing championships

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ost Guyana won two of three gold medals up for grabs, but it was a St Lucian who stole the show during the Tri-Nations Caribbean Schoolboys and Juniors Boxing Championships, which concluded at the weekend at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Welterweight Nathan Ferirre from St Lucia was named the best junior boxer of the tournament and there was little surprise bearing in mind the dominance he showed.

When the tournament got underway on Friday, the St Lucian stopped Guyana’s Joshua Corbin in the second round and repeated the performance against Jamaica's Jerome Ennis on Saturday. Ennis had defeat-

ed Guyana’s Quincy Moore on the opening night.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s Christopher Moore and Akiel Mounter won gold medals in the international contests. Moore defeated Daniel Hyman of Jamaica on Friday before going on to dispose of St Lucia’s Kareem Boyce on Saturday.

Mounter was declared a unanimous decision winner over Taj Brown of St Lucia

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he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) in collaboration with Youth Basketball

on Friday and then proceeded to defeat countryman Michael Edwards on points.

Shaquancy Wright was adjudged best boxer in the schoolboy championship.

Akea Lamzion was the best girl boxer after outpointing Rondesa Bagot on Friday night and benefitting from a walk-over against Rianna Rogers on Saturday evening.

Guyana, will be naming the male and female national squads for the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Under-16 championships one month in advance of the tournament.

With the National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) Regional Conferences currently in progress, GABF President Nigel Hinds not-

in the process of identifying a few overseas-based Guyanese players to be a part of the national squad that is expected to be named in June.

Meanwhile, President of the CBC, Glyne Clarke, expressed his satisfaction that the CBC Championships is being held in Guyana,

ed that the Federation is keen to give those players a chance to play before calling them away for national duty.

“We will name the squad three weeks to a month before the championship. With the youth tournament that is going on we don’t want them distracted from what we will be doing during that period they are together,” Hinds stated.

Chris Bowman, the Director of Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG), is confident that both the YBG and GABF can work together to produce the best teams for the tournament.

“We have a great deal of players to look at from Linden, Berbice and Chris Bowman Georgetown and it is just to bring them out in time so that they can get accus- stressing that the event will tomed to playing with each rejuvenate the sport locally, other, but it is important which happens to be one of to know that our core ath- the original pioneers for basletes are constantly playing ketball in the Caribbean. basketball and that I think The Male Championship will aid in how good both the will begin on July 3 and the male and female teams are,” Female championship on Bowman highlighted.

July 12 at the Cliff Anderson In addition, Hinds point- Sports Hall in Georgetown. ed that the GABF is also

Singing sensation Lisa Punch joins forces with RHTY&SC

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uyana ’ s singing sensation Lisa Punch has joined the long list of prominent Guyanese to link up with Guyana’s leading Youth and Sports Club, the Rose Hall Town

Lisa Punch

Youth and Sports Club, M.S. The Guyanese singer, who gained international recognition when she appeared on the popular American Television show ‘The Rising Star’, was inducted as the RHTY&SC, M.S 175th Honourary Member by Executive Member Mark Papannah.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, and Papannah held wide-ranging and intense discussion with Punch at her Georgetown based head office. Foster outlined the activities that the RHTY&SC, M.S and its cricket teams are involved in, especially the highly successful ‘Say No to Drugs, Suicide and Crime’ and

‘Yes to Education/Sports’ Campaign, which targets over 60,000 youths in the Ancient County.

The four cricket teams of the club– Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under-15, Bakewell Under-17 and Second Division, Pepsi Under-19 and Intermediate, Metro Females and Gizmos and Gadgets Under-21 and First Division- each year undertake a total of about 160 activities with the main aim of making a positive difference in the lives of their peers.

Punch was officially invited by the long-serving Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC, M.S to join the ‘Say No and Say Yes’ campaigns and she readily agreed. The RHTY&SC would also assist Punch and her organisation, Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS), with educational materials including its highly touted Youth Information Booklet and posters.

Punch would assist the RHTY&SC, M.S by featuring as a motivation speaker at a Youth forum for 500 school children and young cricketers. She would share the stage with international designer Sonia Noel and Dr Karis Munroe.

Punch would also lend her famous voice in a joint RHTY&SC, M.S and POTS fund-raising concert that would be held later in the year. Funds raised would

be used to assist less fortunate clubs with sport gear by the RHTY&SC, M.S while POTS would continue to promote its ‘Say No to Suicide’ campaign. Foster welcomed Punch to the elite list of RHTY&SC, M.S honourary members and expressed confidence that the relationship between the two organisations would be highly successful, as both share a passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others. Punch expressed delight at being granted honourary membership of an organisation she respects a lot and has a reputation of being unmatched locally with its wide array of activities.

She also congratulated

Hilbert Foster

the club in creating history by receiving a National Award– the Medal of Service- and urged its membership to always strive for excellence and the highest standard of performance.

guyana-times.com

tuesDAY, may 3, 2016

NSC promises gala awards ceremony Wednesday night

Stag/EBFA Senior League…

Contrasting G wins for Agricola and KK Warriors

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s the Stag/East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Senior League winds down, the quest for top honours is in-

when Rover was red carded

by Referee Roberts. Rather than playing as if they were down, Agricola found the energy which allowed them

23

within striking distance.

The first half ended with the scores untouched, KK Warriors enjoying a one goal advantage over

uyana’s top sportsmen and women will be rewarded for their valiant contribution to sports in 2015 at the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) annual awards ceremony on Wednesday night at the National Cultural Center.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones has revealed that all systems are in place for the gala event.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport, Jones revealed that “plans are afoot, plans are on scheduled, they are on time, the trophies that I mentioned were specially brought in from the United States; they have arrived in the country.”

He further disclosed that “the Cultural Centre is confirmed and all of the nominees would have been in receipt of their letter informing them that they have been nominated.”

A distinct feature of the awards this year is that the

winners will only revealed on the night of the awards.

The selection of the winners underwent an extremely secretive process by an unknown panel to keep confidentiality.

As it regards to the actual panel, Jones explained that “they [the panel] will not be collectively identifying individuals, but they will be individually identifying the individual, and based on the amounts of votes for an individual or association, a different group will put those together and confer who is the individual that wins the sports award, so it is not one individual who knows who will be awardees until the day”, the Director explained at a previous meeting.

Guyana and West Indies left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul was named the Sportsmanof-the-Year for 2014, while track athlete Cassie George had won awards for

Sportswoman-of-the-Year and Junior Sportswoman-ofthe-Year.

Circuit racer Kristian Jeffrey was runner-up among the men, while squash player Akeila Wiltshire was the women’s runner-up. The runner-up Junior Sportsman award went to cricketer Shimron Hetmyer, while track athlete Jason Yaw collected the Junior Sportsman-ofthe-Year award. The multitalented athlete Alisha Fortune won the runner-up Sportswoman-of-the-Year award.

The Guyana Rugby Football Union won the awards for Most Improved Association, Sports Association of the Year and the Sports Team of the Year. GRFU’s president Peter Green won the Male Sports Personality award and National Rugby coach Theodore Henry won the Sports Coach award.

Team Fernandes/Ramchand showed Endurance at South Dakota

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Part of the action on Sunday last at the Grove Playfield

terestingly poised.

In results from the penultimate day of play at the Grove Playfield, Agricola Red Triangle edged Soesdyke Falcons 3-2, while Kuru Kururu Warriors hammered Diamond United 8-2.

Agricola ended the match with nine players following red cards to Lionel Rover in the 55th minute and Mark Phillips in the 90th minute just after the match was blown off.

Phillips attacked Soesdyke player Kevin Sobers with a hockey stick; Sobers was also issued a red card by Referee Keith Roberts.

Soesdyke could not have made the one man advantage work for them as Agricola played as if they had their full complement of players. The Lower East Bank side took the early lead when Sheldon Williams scored in the 28th minute with a well placed shot to the right of goalkeeper John Steele.

That advantage stood until the second half even as Soesdyke, who controlled most of the action in the first half, missed a plethora of opportunities. However, the upper East Bank side was able to draw level in six minutes into the second half, thanks to an Ulato Smith strike.

Two minutes later, Soesdyke would take the lead for the first time in the match when Colin McLean breached the Agricola defense and custodian Shemroy Kendell.

Agricola found themselves under more pressure

to play as if they had not lost a player.

Agricola evened things up in the 62nd minute when captain Winston Rollins took matters into his own hands. He first scored from the penalty spot, sending Steele the wrong way. The sealer came in the 71st minute, again scored by Rollins to complete his double. It was Agricola’s third win with a similar amount of losses as they ended the league with nine points, the same as Soesdyke, but with a better goal difference.

The opening match produced the biggest win for Kuru Kururu Warriors in their final match, an 8-2 triumph against the winless Diamond United.

The Warriors, who placed second in the inaugural Beach Soccer League two Sunday’s ago, meant business from the first whistle as it only took them three minutes to take the lead. Rakesh Haimnauth scored the first of his two goals as he tucked the ball in the right corner away for goalie, Andre Gibbs.

Haimnauth would complete his brace in the 18th minute from the penalty spot, again beating Gibbs.

The Warriors increased the lead to three goals when Kevon Walker walked into the limelight with the first of his hat-trick in the 29th minute.

But it was Gibbs, who netted back-to-back penalties for Diamond United in the 32nd and 33rd minute, competently hitting past his opposite number, Ethan Sparman, to pull his team

Diamond, 3-2.

In the second half however, the Linden Soesdyke Highway based boys, who have displayed a high degree of discipline and fitness by simultaneously competing in the Beach Soccer and EBFA Senior leagues, would not allow Diamond any latitude as they went on a goal scoring spree with six unanswered goals.

Christopher Alleyne in the 54th, the consistent and reliable Cordel Johnson four minutes later, Mario De Fretas in the 68th and Walker in the 61st and 70th to complete his hattrick all inked their names on the score sheets for the Warriors, capping a fine season with three wins, two losses and one draw.

They also have the distinction of the only team to beat defending champions Grove Hi Tech to date. They also achieved a similar feat when they beat eventual Beach Soccer champions Royal Youths in the final match of the league.

The Stag/EBFA League will come to an end with two potentially actionpacked matches on Sunday, which would determine the league’s winner. Grove will have all to play for when they oppose Mocha Champs from 13:30h, while Herstelling Raiders, who have enjoyed a bumper league thus far, will bring the curtains down on the senior league when they play Diamond United.

A loss for Grove and a win for Herstelling would see the latter capping a dream season with the championship.

he pair of Adrian Fernandes and Anand Ramchand braved the test of the Guyana Motor Racing &Sports Club (GMR&SC) Endurance race meet on Sunday at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri to secure the top podium finish.

At the end of the grueling race of the 100 laps, the duo clocked a combined time of 2:40:12.205 and reaching the finish line eight laps ahead of their closest competitors.

Ramchand who participated in the 1500 – 1600cc category came in as repeat champion having won the event last year. His partner in 2015 was Rameez Mohammed.

In second place, was the team of Mohan Ramkawall and Narendra Mangar who finished 92 laps at a time of 2:41:36.272 in the Enduro unlimited. Rounding off the top three was team Sean Bacchus and Ramana

Lalchan who completed 89 laps in 2:40:28.631.

Davin Pandy and Arshaad Hassan drove in fourth with a time of 2:40:42.988 completing 83 laps in the 1500 cc and

In the 1601-2000 cc category, Rohshan Ali and Shan Seejatan were the only team and were adjudged the winners of their group despite only completing 19 laps.

Ramchand in celebration mode (File Photo)

under category.

With the exception of Bacchus and Lalchan, all the other drivers in the top four were the top racers in their group.

The next event on the GMR&SC calendar of events at the South Dakota Circuit will the in the International “King of Dragz” meet on May 15.

BCB/ Tenelec U-15, two-innings cricket…

Deodat, Prashad help Blairmont flatten Bush Lot

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magnificent century from national under-15 selectee Marvan Prashad and an outstanding all round performance from another national under-15 selectee Nigel Deodat led Blairmont Community Centre to a massive innings and 356 runs victory over the hapless Bush Lot New Generation in the latest round of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Tenelec Inc Under-15, Two-innings Cricket Competition.

The match which was played at the Blairmont Community Centre ground saw the home team winning the toss and immediately

Nigel Deodat

took to the crease. At the declaration, the score was a mammoth 390 for 6 with Prashad leading the way with 120 with support from Deodat with 108. Other use-

ful knocks came from another national under-15 selectee, opener Fawaz Gaffoor 68, Shahid Baksh 23 and Romel Ross 20. Bowling for the visitors, R. Bhola and K. Evans took two wickets a piece for 68 and 74 runs respectively.

In reply, Bush Lot New Generation were bundled out for a disappointing 34.

Left arm spinner Deodat came back with the ball to take 5 wickets for 9 runs off 5 overs and was supported admirably by Baksh who took 3 for 19 off 4 overs.

Blairmont CC enforced the follow-on but the visitors avoided further embarrassment and forfeited the game.

tuesDAY, May 3, 2016

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

National U-21 hockey team in final prep for Pan Am

Pg 22 Under-21 defender Andrew Stewart attempts to block the shot of GCC’s Peter DeGroot

Leicester City win NSC promises gala awards ceremony Wednesday night Premier League title

Pg 23

Pg 21 Leicester City’s Algerian-born star Riyad Mahrez celebrates a goal

Some of the trophies that will be presented on Wednesday

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