Guyana Times Daily

GuySuCo wants ownership of EU sugar funds

From left: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma at a group photo session during the sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, July 15

WEDNEsDay, july 16, 2014|

Elderly woman crushed by beverage truck

A73-year-old woman made her last journey to collect her seven-year-old grandson on Monday as she was fatally struck by a beverage truck in the vicinity of Robb Street and Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.

Moments after the accident, Rajmattie Ram also called “Dora” of Lot 177 Dr Miller Street, Triumph, East Coast Demerara was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she was pronounced dead. She reportedly sustained severe head and bodily injuries since she was dragged a short distance before the truck came to a halt.

At the time of the accident, the elderly woman was holding onto to her grandson’s hands as they crossed to the other side of the busy roadway. The child who attends the Green Acres

Primary School is still traumatised but was able to give an account to the Police of what occurred, resulting in the death of his grandmother.

Mother of the lad, Bonita Ram told Guyana Times that the family received news about the accident around 15:00h. She said that by the time they arrived at the Georgetown

Public Hospital, the elderly woman was already dead. She confirmed that her mother has been collecting her son since he started to attend nursery school and have been taking the same route every day. “They normally cross Avenue of the Republic and head towards the East Coast minibus park where they board a bus for home”, the woman added.

The lad reportedly told investigators that he was holding onto his grandma’s hand and suddenly he felt her hands pulled away from him as he looked around, he saw her under the truck. It is a norm for the elderly woman to hold onto her grandson’s hand whenever they are using the roadways.

The seriously injured woman was picked up by public-spirited citizens,

placed into a car and taken to the hospital but unfortunately, she took her last breath before receiving medical attention. The driver of the lorry was taken into Police custody and is expected to be charged shortly.

He reportedly claimed that the child ran across the road and the elderly woman was attempting to grab him when she was struck and killed.

Bonita described her mother as a quiet and peaceful individual who took care of her children and grandchildren well. She was an active member of the Life Spring Ministries and celebrated her 73rd birth anniversary on July 8. She leaves to mourn her seven children, 11 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Her body is at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem today.

Guyana Times issues an unqualified apology to Mr Isaac Bunbury and his family for the publication of a photograph which bore his name in an article in our Tuesday edition headlined, “Bandit shot dead...”

Mr Bunbury is in no way connected to Kevin Fields, the bandit seen in the photograph, and his name was injudiciously printed owing to very careless layout from one of our staff members.

The Management of Guyana Times sincerely regrets the error and again apologises to Mr Bunbury and his family for the embarrassment this photograph has caused them and their business.

Bai Shan Lin's forest claims misleading – GFC

Commissioner of the Guyana Forestry Commission James Singh said Bai Shan Lin has misled the nation into believing that it has a total of 960,000 hectares of forestry resources in Guyana.

Backed by the Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persuad, Singh said the claims made by the company are erroneous. At the time, he was responding to a series of questions posed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member Joseph Harmon during a meeting convened by the Parliament Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources.

Referencing another newspaper, Harmon said the Chinese company has indicated that it has a forest concession of 960,000 hectares, one 20-kilometre river gold-mining concession, a 5km2 construction area for a Guyana-China Timber Industry and Trading Cooperation Park, in addition to 400 acres of land for real estate development.

Forestry resources

From the outset, Commissioner Singh said the Guyana Forestry Commission is unaware of the plans touted by Bai Shan Lin, as he cleared the air on the issue. Additionally, he said the company has forestry resources amounting to 640,000 hectares and not 960,000 hectares as reported. “Bi Shan Lin has access to about 640,000 hectares of which 345,000 are under the State Forest Exploratory Permit” he said. He further explained that the remaining 295,000 hectares has been accumulated by the company through joint ventures with other local firms.

“They only have Timber Sales Agreement rights by

means of joint ventures.”

While there is no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Guyana and Bai Shan Lin, the Commissioner said the Chinese company was issued two State Forest Exploratory Permits. It was explained that the permits, which have a life span of three years, require the company to conduct an environmental and social impact assessment, in addition to forest inventory and a business proposal. Once all the requirements are met following the review process, Singh said recommendations would be made for the State Forest Exploratory Permit to be converted into a Timber Sales Agreement. Thus far, the company has not been issued a Timber Sales Agreement, however it reaps the benefit of such through joint ventures with locals here.

Mining licence

Similarly, it was made clear that the company does not have a mining licence but has signed agreements with Guyanese which allows it to have gold claims in the country.

The Natural Resources Minister who appeared outraged over the excess claims made by Bai Shan Lin, said the company should retract statements that it has forestry resources amounting to 960,000 hectares. In May, the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) put on hold a proposal by the logging company for the development of a wood processing plant in the region, citing non-compliance with environmental health and safety guidelines as the main reason for the action.

Dead: Rajmattie Ram

PNC Congress to discuss new way of electing leader

BY MICHAEL YOUNGE

key constitutional reform proposal is expected to be presented at the upcoming Congress of the People’s National Reform (PNCR), which could see significant changes in the internal bureaucracy and workings of the Opposition party.

Speaking with Guyana Times during an exclusive interview, the party’s General Secretary Oscar Clarke confirmed that attention was being paid to reforming aspects of the party’s constitution which have not been significantly altered since 1994. “A draft constitution will be presented to this year’s Congress for ratification”, Clarke said, while declining to comment in any substantive way on the major reforms that would be contained in the document for consideration.

Clarke did not deny or confirm that a key recommendation was contained therein to change the party’s structure and the manner in which it elects its leaders and office bearers when he was questioned by this newspaper. He instead said that it is likely that the proposal, which has already been discussed at the party’s General Council forum, would speak to the internal electoral process.

This newspaper sub-

sequently learnt that the process to elect the party’s leader was chief among the recommendations. In fact, the Congress would be told that one of the changes that are being recommended is for the card-bearing members of PNC to elect their leader directly. Currently, the PNC party groups would meet and decide on candidates that they would wish to nominate for various posts. The group would also have to arrive at consensus as to which candidate they would endorse at the Congress when the full list of nominees is known.

The party groups would then field their delegates based on the number of members they have in the group, who would in turn vote at the Congress. The disadvantage of this pro-

cess is that it removes individual members from voting and electing their own leaders; therefore the grassroots dynamics are lost. In the past, group members were split as to who the group should vote for and this resulted in resentment and divisions in the party’s ranks.

If the Congress supports the new method being proposed to elect the party leader, then each member of a group would be empowered to cast one vote for any person he/she chooses. The place of poll would be at the actual meeting locations of the groups after which an official report is compiled and relayed to the party’s headquarters.

Meanwhile, the new electronic system that was implemented recently for the

printing of new PNC membership identification cards would be integral to this process if the congress was to adopt the revised constitution. There have been serious concerns about voter irregularities and rigging at many of the party’s internal electoral processes. In 2011, Dr Faith Harding said that the process to elect the party’s presidential candidate was not fair after a new system was introduced. She ended up resigning her executive post with the party and also allowed her membership to lapse.

Other party members included Dr Van West Charles and now ex-party member Vincent Alexander had raised concerns over the process that was being used prior to 2011 to elect the party’s leader. They have both cited irregularities and inconsistencies in the past. The Constructional reform recommendations are coming at a time when all is not well within the party. There is a widely held view that the PNC is on the decline since its decision to join the APNU coalition. Additionally, there are serious concerns about Granger’s elitist leadership style and his alleged inability to properly consult with persons at all levels of the party before key decisions are taken.

PNC General Secretary Oscar Clarke

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com, letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Brazil: An example

With Brazil hosting the first in the second round of Summits of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grouping – which President Donald Ramotar will be attending; it is probably time for Guyanese to appreciate our giant neighbour to the South as more than a football besotted nation.

With Brazil capturing world attention, analyses of its economy should be of interest to Guyana, since they suggest avenues for taking advantage of that country’s expressed interest in furthering collaboration between our two nations.

Of great interest to Guyana should be the fact that Brazil’s agriculture sector has grown more productive since it was gradually opened at the same time as ours, in the early 1990s. Just like Guyana, Brazil began eliminating price controls and marketing boards that regulated production of certain crops. It also reduced export tariffs and import restrictions. After an initial wave of disruption, Brazilian farmers and agribusinesses responded by taking steps to boost their efficiency, generating positive spillover effects.

Our agricultural sector, on the other hand, has not been able to show comparable progress because of the lack of diversification and also the inability to find new markets for rice, one of our traditional crops, even as the farmers increased their efficiency. Our sugar industry has been stymied because of the failure of the foreign managers, Booker Tate, brought in to oversee its modernisation to successfully do so.

Today, the yields for Brazil’s main crops are on par with those of developed economies, thanks in part to a strong tradition of R&D (Research and Development) in agriculture. Guyana will have to invest in R&D, but it can also request help from Brazil, on new crops such as soya, which Brazil has successfully brought into cultivation in savannahs similar to ours across.

Another area of cooperation would be to follow up on the promise of the Takatu Bridge built since 2008, but for which the connecting Highway to our ports in Georgetown and Berbice has not materialised. The plans for the highway and the ports, along with several hydropower projects, are on the desks of the Presidents of the two countries. Maybe on his visit to Brazil, President Ramotar can reach agreement towards the consummation of the projects.

As of 2012, Brazil had become the world’s seventhlargest economy. Building deeper connections with the rest of the global economy, starting with its neighbours like Guyana, could provide the opening to widening its trade routes and providing win-win scenarios for both countries.

Pursuing greater openness and engagement in all types of cross-border exchanges could yield large opportunities for productivity enhancements and economic growth. Our ports would provide a vent for exports from landlocked manufacturing centres in Manaus.

In addition to entering and servicing new markets, Brazil and Guyana can benefit from embracing the performance pressures that come with international competition. These effectively challenge local firms to evolve and become more efficient by, for example, implementing lean processes, investing in R&D, or integrating the latest technology.

In recent years, Brazil has focused on establishing international trade partnerships with other developing economies and strengthening the Mercosur trade bloc. Rather than flogging a fading horse in Caricom, Guyana can focus on the opportunities presented by Mercosur, while acting as a conduit from and to its Caricom partners.

Brazil is increasingly relying on exports of raw primary goods rather than moving up the value chain with exports of more sophisticated, skill-intensive products. This is cause for concern, since research has shown that producing and exporting more sophisticated goods is correlated with economic growth. Guyana must appreciate this lesson as it continues to develop.

To create higher-quality jobs and increase productivity over the long term, Guyana, like Brazil, needs to promote entrepreneurship and innovation – and global flows of venture capital, skilled migrant workers, and data and communication can facilitate this process.

Let us learn from Brazil more than just passing a football.

GPL strikes again: 2011 to 2014, no installation, no attention

Dear Editor,

This writer is one who truly wishes Guyana Power and Light (GPL) the very best of wishes, as it endeavours to improve its service and expand this vital utility.

This enterprise is a monopoly, bugged by enormous problems, mostly due to dishonesty by certain citizens of the population wishing to steal electricity, and employees who are dishonest, even selling out the utility and its profitability by deceitful acts such as conspiracies.

Then there are customer representatives who are incompetent, despite much training, lacking the talent to communicate and make the customer feel comfortable and appreciated, regardless of the business they are there to transact.

These customer service reps have to install into their mentalities the fact that the customer, whatever business they are there for,

is the cause of their employment. One can be disciplined and decisive, yet maintaining the dignity of the customer.

Before I move to the main thrust of the letter, I wish to emphasise that it boggles the human comprehension that in modern civilisation, where electric service is a common and necessary facility, that so many areas are still bereft of it and people are left in confusion and darkness, in tension and annoyance.

Notwithstanding, it is known that this utility, which falls under the watchful eyes of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal, does have some very competent, dedicated and professional administrators and managers, even middle management.

The trouble is that there is such major dishonesty in our society. The length that

workers and some citizens, rich and not so rich, will go to, to get free electric service is a disgrace to us as a people.

I encourage anyone knowing that their neighbour or family is involved in the theft of electricity, to report that relative or friend. This is a patriotic duty to one’s country and even a favour to the thief, to bring them in line of decency, honesty and decorum. Now sit, get ready and set to be amazed a little; yes, even have a nice laugh, and yes, the Public Relations Officer of GPL will write a nice little excuse.

On September 2, 2011, I went into GPL to change the name of a property and to pay for the inspection fee for a prepaid meter. I was probably one of the first in the country to take and support prepaid meters publicly (account number provided).

Prepare to smile, or paint

one on the face, as you have to smile. To date, I am still without the meter change!

Years ago, someone called to say they wish to inspect, and I told them I was on vacation, and as soon as I get back within two weeks, I will let them know. He agreed. On returning, I contacted the office and informed them of my return and to arrange the inspection and installation at the earliest.

Last year, I spoke even to a Manageress in Main Street, Georgetown. She said they will connect as soon as “we get meters”. I am still waiting to have the pre-paid meter at 277 Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara.

Imagine, since 2011, the job cannot be done!

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Friend of GPL

President’s intervention may not be enough for rice farmers

Dear Editor,

The President has assured Essequibo rice farmers at a meeting held at Hampton Court Primary School that they would be paid by August 8. It will be necessary for him to do an analysis, recognising the many challenges facing rice farmers and their families in their daily lives.

His intervention may not be enough to force millers to pay the farmers, especially in instances of unpredictable markets. It is, therefore, advisable for policymakers of the rice industry to give special consideration to the problem of

payment. It could pave the way for a better relationship between Government and rice millers.

Payment issues for farmers’ paddy are often an underlying cause of conflict, especially with protracted delays and are, therefore, central to planning by millers. Yet Government and the millers largely neglect these burning issues on the basis that they did not receive payment for rice and paddy supplied on time, they are too complex and politically insensitive to the farmers.

The Government and the Guyana Rice Development

Board (GRDB) should seek to engage their efforts whenever farmers’ paddy is bought. It should be paid for within two weeks. Paddy business in the past has helped farmers to earn money to educate their children, and above all, feed them well.

At present, many smallscale farmers cannot service their debts and go back to the land. This would result in the loss of export earnings in US dollars. In order to regularise and stabilise the market and payment, Government will have to pursue the large traders.

Millers must be informed that the condition for licensing is that they must comply with the Rice Factory Act. Time periods for payment should be stated in contracts, instead of the crop.

Amendments to contracts should state interest if payment is not made within the agreed timeframe. There should be no temporary freeze on corporate debt repayments, shipments of contracted rice and paddy being delayed over problems of payment.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

Lokono Artist Oswald Hussein as he works on a totem pole in the compound of the Burrowes School of Art, at the National Park.

The pole is to be erected in the National Park under a project of the National Parks Commission (Carl Croker photo)

There is no mystery about the praxis of diplomacy

Dear Editor,

The contrast in the practice of diplomacy between one and that of the majority begs the question: If every country were to get itself involved in each other’s internal affairs, what will the world be like?

Surely, international comity would be turned on its head. International comity is a principle of international law where one state to the greatest extent possible recognises the Legislature, Executive or Judicial acts of another.

The now departed US Ambassador breached this fundamental principle. The central question is, did he act on his own or was he acting in accordance with the imprimatur of the US State Department?

Dr Roger Luncheon, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, made it very clear that acting

Foreign Affairs Minister Priya Manickchand’s statement had the imprimatur of the State of the Republic of Guyana. At the time of her speaking, she had full powers. So what if Manickchand was booed and heckled, the question is – who did it?

Video footage shows that the usual suspects were involved. These are the individuals who spend their days and nights plotting and planning ways and means of seeing the back of the PPP/C Government.

There is no mystery about the praxis of diplomacy. Diplomats are sent abroad to engage in advocacy for, and to advance the interests of, their country. The ultimate aim is to influence others to support their views; in other words –to make them their allies.

The challenge lies in the

Joe Solomon must not be forgotten

Dear Editor,

One newspaper on July 8 reported extensively on the commissioning of the $91 million floodlights project at the Albion Sports Complex in Berbice. Included in this comprehensive report was an appropriate acknowledgement of the nodal role played by the sugar industry in the development of cricket in Guyana, as well as the exemplary performances of immortal Berbice greats.

Among those named were John Trim, Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kalicharran and Roy Fredericks. Conspicuous by its absence was the name of Joe Solomon that other great, if not as shining, son of Port Mourant, Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies, and the cricketing world at large!

Joe Solomon’s exploits in the field are the stuff of legend. Who can ever forget his last ball throw from the boundary that resulted in a run-out and the first ever tied test, when the West Indies played Australia in 1959?

What must never be forgotten is Joe Solomon’s role as an indefatigable trainer and coach which benefited so

many budding cricketers in Berbice and Guyana.

As successive former Human Resources Directors in GuySuCo, we can safely argue that the reason Joe Solomon would be regarded as a memorable West Indian so far as the sugar industry is concerned, is his return in the early 1990s as adviser and cricket coach, roles in which he performed outstandingly – and which he expanded to impact positively on Guyana’s cricket as a whole, including not only at the level of national selector, but also the actual development of individual cricketers, and literally the grounds on which they played.

In the final analysis, in this context he emerged from the earlier sequencing of the triumvirate of Kanhai, Butcher, Solomon, to become the front runner in contribution to Berbice cricket development, after returning from the actual playing field.

Butcher incidentally made his contribution to cricket development in the once developed Linden Community.

Sincerely,

Nowrang Persaud EBJ

application of those interests to the domestic political, economic and social peculiarities of the country to which the diplomat is posted or to ‘lie’ on behalf of their country.

Here in Guyana, we host several Ambassadors, High Commissioners, delegates, and the Resident Representatives representing their Governments and international organisations. They all enjoy the basic privileges and immunities offered and guaranteed by the Government of Guyana.

With the exception of a few sporadic statements that can be described as undiplomatic and interference in the internal affairs of our country, the majority of diplomats here in Guyana have held steadfastly and honourably to convention and the orthodoxy of diplomatic practice.

The former US Ambassador carved out for himself the role of the elephant in the room.

As regards the claims that Manickchand’s staunch representation of our country’s sovereignty and dignity was a ‘cuss down’, vulgar, and undiplomatic, all this is nothing more than useless twaddle by a few posturing messiahs and untrustworthy egoists who probably pay no taxes, have no TIN certificate nor make any tangible contribution to improving the well-being of the Guyanese working people.

Like peacocks strutting the diplomatic circuit, this useless bunch display pretentious airs as traffickers of modern ideas, when in fact, they are nothing more than a gathering of gurus of fathomless ignorance.

Those who claim that the PPP/C depreciates the help

rendered by the US to return democracy in 1992 should be ignored.

The PPP/C has always made reference to the strong support extended first and foremost by US Congressmen and Senators, above all by former President Jimmy Carter and later by President George Bush. That’s part of our history, only ignoramuses would not know that.

But what must never be forgotten nor down-played is the decisive, arduous and central role played by the Guyanese people at home and abroad in forcing the PNC to hold free and fair elections.

So here is the logic of the intellectual skunks that never cease to distort history: When the hand that once helped you now abuses and mocks you, shake it and say thank you. To do otherwise would in their

view, cast you in the role of a ‘namakaram’.

‘Boysie’ Ramkarran once told me a story. He said one day an Englishman was making the rounds at his East Coast plantation when, in the presence of one of his gardeners, he expelled a fairly audible flatus (fart). He quickly turned and stared at the gardener and asked, “Well”? To this the gardener replied, “Excuse me sah”! Smiling to himself, the Englishman moved on to continue his rounds of his plantation.

I dedicate this story to all those who may wish to play the role of either the gardener or the plantation owner. The choice is theirs.

Yours sincerely, Clement J Rohee, General Secretary PPP/C

Vanessa Kissoon is being pushed around

Dear Editor, The hypocrisy of some members of the Opposition is shocking and I have the PNCR in mind here. I refer to what is coming from the mouth of Vanessa Kissoon and how it is being treated so very lightly.

The lady is very firm in shedding light, on the reason for her demotion and general harassment within the ranks of the People’s National Congress (PNCR). “At this time, I prefer not to go into the details of the incident, save to say, that I was assaulted at Congress Place and I was not the aggressor.”

Now this assault declaration has some merit to it. I go back now to what took place within the party, as regards the use/misuse of the PNCR’s facilities in Linden. The drift most people are getting is that the male top brass of the party are not too comfortable with a feisty, independent and outspoken woman, especially one who is not shy in exposing shady business and suspicious behaviour.

It is indeed quite shocking to see that the very people in this set up, namely David Granger and Oscar Clarke, who were once championing the cause of gender equality and mutual respect, are now showing a different side.

This PNCR would always pounce on Government for not doing enough about women and for being slow and lenient, as regards Trafficking In Persons (TIP) and yet its leading members are practising a form of

discrimination that all Guyana are against. Ms Kissoon is now suffering and only because she is for transparency and accountability in her party.

I think that she is learning the hard way what the PNCR is all about. Here is a classic case of what the PNCR is all about. Prior to this period, when Mr Robert Corbin was at the helm, it was the same kind of in-closet and undisclosed na-

ture of business that bothered many.

The terrible thing is that this woman is being pushed around – she was demoted (most likely as a move of revenge) and now her obvious disciplining and sidelining are not being discussed in a legal and democratic in-party manner.

Granger is still not commenting on the matter and so

too is Basil Williams. I think that this case should attract the attention of the many strong women we have here, who are against the subjugation and disrespect of women. To think that some of these PNCR people are considering leading this country is quite a scary thing.

Sincerely, Attiya Baksh

Page Foundation

Family structure and children’s education

Children in intact families tend to have greater academic achievement and educational attainment and are less likely to exhibit behavioural problems in school. Their parents tend to be more involved in their school activities and to have higher expectations for them.

Educational attainment. Family structure is related to educational attainment. Individuals from intact families completed, on average, more years of schooling and were also more likely to graduate from high school, attend college, and complete college compared to peers raised in blended or single-parent families.

School behaviour.

Adolescents in intact families are less likely to exhibit problem behaviour in school and tend to have higher levels of academic achievement. Compared to children living in intact families, peers living in (1) single mother families, (2) single-mother families with cohabiting partners, and (3) married families with stepfathers were more likely to have ever been suspended or expelled from school; more likely to have engaged in delinquent activities in the past 12 months; more likely to have problems getting along with their teachers, doing homework, and paying attention in

school; and more likely to have lower grade point averages.

On the Peabody Vocabulary Test (PPVT), an indicator of cognitive development, children living in married-parent families with stepfathers and those living with married biological parents performed similarly; however, compared to adolescents in married biological-parent families, those living in singlemother families or those living with single mothers and their cohabiting partners tended to fare worse on the PPVT.

Maths and Science proficiency. Children who do not live in intact families tend to be less proficient in Mathematics and Science.

Compared with peers in intact families, children in single-parent families, stepparent families, or non-parent guardian families scored, on average, lower on Maths and Science achievement tests, according to a large international survey. Family resources (eg, number of books in the home, number of possessions, immigrant status, and household size) only partially explained the relationship between family structure and math and science achievement.

Divorce and academic achievement. Youths who experienced parental divorce tend to have lower grade point averages and are

more likely to be held back a grade in school. When socioeconomic standing, race, and gender are controlled for, (1) remarriage, more than divorce or widowhood, exerts a downward pressure on the achievement of these children on standardised tests; (2) divorce and widowhood, more than remarriage, exert downward pressure on GPA and increase the likelihood of being left back one grade.

Family disruption and college attendance. Compared with peers whose parents divorced or separated, students from intact families are more likely to attend college. Students from intact families were nine per cent more likely to apply to college than students from disrupted families. Students from intact families were also more likely to be admitted to college (as a proportion of those who applied, 92 per cent compared with 89 per cent), more likely to attend a four-year college immediately after high school graduation (as a proportion of those who were admitted, 62 per cent compared with 52 per cent), and more likely to ever attend a four-year college (as a proportion of those who ever attended college, 51 percent compared with 37 per cent) than those who did not live with their biological parents. (familyfacts.org)

to be continued

Coach your child to academic success

– three real-world scenarios teach parents how to foster independent thinking skills in children with ADHD and learning disabilities

BY THERESA E LAURIE MAITLAND

Children and teens with ADHD encounter more than their share of academic challenges. Consequently, parents tend to become heavily involved in their children’s academic lives. Let’s look at three common scenarios.

- Johnny leaves his vocabulary list at school nearly every week. His dad gets

frustrated, but drives him hurriedly back to school before the doors close – because he doesn’t want his son to fail his weekly spelling test.

- Mary can’t stay focused on the increased amounts of homework she is assigned now in fifth grade, so her mother agrees to spend the entire evening sitting near her, reading a magazine.

- Eric has lots of tests and projects now that he is in high school, and he has to juggle these with basketball practice. To make sure he keeps track of everything he needs to do, his mom lays out a weekly schedule every Sunday night and posts it on the refrigerator.

How should parents lend support? As well-intentioned as

we may be in helping our children grapple with complex school-related problems, these efforts help only in the short run. Children need to develop their own thinking skills; as long as we agree to do the thinking for them, they won’t. And so they may never learn critical academic skills, like how to plan, problem-solve, and stay focused.

If we let go and allow our children to handle difficult situations on their own, there’s no guarantee that they will learn from their mistakes. Typically, things get worse. It’s not uncommon for parents to end up either arguing with or begging their children to do the work – or just doing the work for them.

At what point should you step in to help your child? And to what extent? It’s not always easy to tell. But if we emulate the techniques used by athletic coaches –and stay out of the game –we can teach our children to manage their academic responsibilities on their own. Making the transition from involved parent to academic coach can be challenging. It will require fighting the temptation to “fix” your child’s struggles and learning to manage the conflict that could arise between you. (additudemag.com)

GuySuCo wants EU sugar funds put into its account – CEO

By Svetlana MarShall

Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rajendra Singh said the corporation should have full access to funds provided by the European Union.

The CEO made this call in the presence of the Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy when GuySuCo appeared before the Economic Services Committee recently.

According to Dr. Singh in 2013, US$25 million was deposited into the Consolidated Fund after GuySuCo executed a number of projects in keeping with an agreement made between the Government and the EU.

However, there is no agreement in place to ensure that the sugar industry benefits directly from financial support given by the EU at this current time. The CEO was also unable to indicate whether any financial support was given to GuySuCo in 2013 or 2014, based on the funds received from the EU last year.

Nevertheless, he said another tranche of US$25 million will be deposited into the Consolidated Fund by the end of the year if GuySuCo successfully completes a series of developmental projects outlined by the EU and the Government. According to him, GuySuCo is in the process of achieving all of the indicators that were identified following a round of negotiations.

Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union

(GAWU) President Komal Chand, has long challenged the Government over the financial support given by the EU. He had called for the Government to make public its expenditure of the €110.1 million provided by the European Union for the sugar industry.

During the budget presentation, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh had said EU funds provided during the period 2005-2013 have been exhausted. According to him, the Government has transferred a total of US$195 million to GuySuCo over the period from 2005-2013 in support of its various restructuring and turn-around initiatives. This exceeds the total of €110.1 million equivalent to US$145.9 million received from the EU under the accompanying measures programme since its introduction. However, GAWU is contending that the disbursement of the EU funds commenced only in 2007. Chand said records show that

EU funding from the price cut started in 2007, with Guyana receiving €91.5 million or G$21.5 billion from 2007 to 2011. For the years 2012 and 2013, the disbursements are said to have been about €45 million or G10 billion. The GAWU is also of the opinion that only a small portion of the total disbursements was given to the sugar industry for the financing of the Enmore Packaging Plant and some budgetary support.

It is unclear whether the US$25 million received by the Government in 2013 was included in the figures given by the Finance Minister or whether it forms part of a separate agreement.

While uncertainty exists within GuySuCo on the use of funds that it would likely rake in for the Government, the corporation continues to uphold its side of the agreement.

In keeping with the 2014 Work Programme, Dr. Singh said 9,800 hectares of lands were replanted while millions of dollars have been invested in the construction of all weather roads within communities that are situated in close proximity of GuySuCo’s estates and farm lands. According to him, the roads have been built in keeping with the agreement.

GuySuCo is also required to assist cane farmers in becoming beneficiaries of the Fair Trade Corporation, in addition to the installation of two drainage pumps under the supervision of the Agriculture Ministry. “That is on track and it will be achieved,” the CEO said.

GuySuCo has also ac-

quired 10 excavators and 12 tractors under the agreement, in addition to the leasing of more than 500 hectares of land to private farmers for the cultivation of cane.

Currently, the corporation is spending US$1 million to re-

place the punt dumper system at the Skeldon Sugar Factory. According to Dr. Singh, the contract has been awarded and work is in progress. These are among projects identified by the Government and the EU before Guyana can get access to the funds. According to the CEO, GuySuCo is spending approximately US$10 million to complete the projects.

He said currently evaluations are being conducted; a process which is expected to come to an end by September, allowing for recommendations to be made to Brussels. “Hopefully by October the funds would be released to Guyana,” the CEO said. “Just last year, GuySuCo met all of those indicators and the consolidated fund was supplied with some US$25 million,” he added.

While GuySuCo is mandated to achieve the annual indicators, Dr. Singh said the agreement exists between the EU and the Government, hence all the money is deposited into the national coffers. He however opined that the money should be deposited directly into GuySuCo’s account. He said too that there is no written agreement in place between GuySuCo and the Government that would allow a percentage of the EU funds to be deposited into GuySuCo’s account once the achievements are met.

At the time, the CEO was delivering a presentation to the Economic Services Committee at the Parliament Buildings last friday when GuySuCo appeared before the committee chaired by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member.

Sawmill supervisor murder accused freed

Twenty-eight-year-old Raymond Tyson who was charged with the murder of sawmill supervisor Kemraj Singh was freed on Tuesday, after the Magistrate ruled that there was insufficient evidence for the matter to proceed.

Magistrate Judy Latchman, in her ruling that ended the Preliminary Inquiry (PI), stated that there was not enough evidence for Tyson, of Lot 46 Kalicharran Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, to stand trial in the High Court.

Tyson first appeared at

the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts in December last year when he was charged for the murder of Singh at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara.

It was alleged that between May 27 and 28, 2013, Tyson and Singh had a disagreement which allegedly led to the murder after a stolen BlackBerry Curve cellphone was discovered to be in the possession of the accused. After the cellphone was missed by Singh, his employer, its BlackBerry Messenger plan was activated and the accused thusly implicated.

Dr Rajendra Singh, GUYSUCO Chief Executive Officer

GAWU President Komal Chand

Freed: Murder accused Raymond Tyson

Teen on trial for 2012 ‘school lesson murder’

Nineteen-year-old Samuel Cornelius is currently facing trial at the High Court before Justice Diane Insanally for the murder of his classmate two years ago at a city lessons. The accused has been indicted with the murder of Anfernee Bowman, 17, a Chase Academy student of Lot 77 Robb Street, Georgetown,

on February 27, 2012. The incident took place at Patterson’s Lessons Place on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

On Tuesday, one day after a 12-member mixed jury panel was empanelled, the Prosecutor, State Counsel Natasha Backer, called five of the nine witnesses the state has lined up. Among those who testified on the first day of the trial were the father of the deceased and a classmate of the two teens.

Eyewitness Ashton Stephens told the court that on the day in question, a fight had broken out between Cornelius and Bowman. He recalled that during the scuffle, a screwdriver fell from the person of the accused, who then ran away but he was pursued by Bowman.

During the chase, Bowman collapsed and the witness said upon checking, he saw blood on his classmate’s body. Stephens recounted that he then sought assistance to take the in-

jured teen to hospital.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Mark Waldron, the witness said he cannot recall whether there was any problem between the two teenagers. The Attorney further suggested to the witness that the tension between his client and the deceased stemmed from an issue over a girl. Stephens denied having any knowledge of such, but said he knew the girl that Cornelius was with at the time, had previously dated Bowman.

The father of the dead teenager, Gary Bowman, testified that he was at home on that unfortunate day, when he received a call that his son had been stabbed and immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital; however, the teen had not yet arrived.

The elder Bowman said when his son arrived at the hospital, he was already dead. He noted that when he opened his son’s shirt in the Emergency Ward, he ob-

served several stab wounds to his side, heart and face.

The trial will continue today and more state witnesses will be called to testify.

According to reports, around 18:30h on the night in question, the two teenagers had an altercation over a girl, which led to the accused pulling out a weapon and stabbing Bowman to death.

The deceased sustained one stab wound to his heart, one to his right abdomen, another to his left abdomen, and finally, to his face.

Bowman was picked up by his colleagues and rushed in a taxi to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Cornelius made good his escape after committing the act, but subsequently turned himself in.

The accused was also reportedly stabbed to his hand during the scuffle and eyewitnesses claimed that Bowman had a knife in his hand while he was chasing Cornelius before he collapsed on the roadway.

Eyew tness

Brown nosing...

...for US interference

Mike Persaud, the New York cab driver (originally from Leguan) who posed the question “Guess who’s coming to dinner??” to the Richmond Hill community earlier this year, is always good for a good laugh. New York cab drivers are notorious for their garrulousness – you just can’t get them to stop yakking –but Mike seems determined to inflict his verbal diarrhoea on us poor Guyanese at home. Via the letter pages.

A few years ago, Mike found the solution to our 50-year-old ethnic security dilemmas that’s ended up in a Mexican standoff. Put an African-Guyanese to head the PPP/C and an Indian-Guyanese to head the PNC – and voila!!! – the problem’s solved!!! When he dropped this pearl of wisdom to the PNC leader, ROH Corbin, the latter threw him out Congress Place!

That he was even allowed into the big PNC house at Sophia showed how low the fortunes of the once big and bad party had fallen. That Granger had to schlep all the way to Queens (foregoing the traditional PNC stomping grounds over in Brooklyn) shows that the PNC’s in a real free fall into oblivion. He couldn’t even give the scruffy cab driver the bum’s rush for his impertinence – since he was in the wanker’s house to begin with!!

Anyhow, Mike seems to have removed his wellbrowned nose from the nether orifice of the now departed US Ambassador (he has to come up for air, no??) and moved on to bigger things. He’s now taken on the problems of the entire global “state” system – and resolved it with another of his patented “fell swoops”!! Noting that the said Westphalian state system’s linchpin is the doctrine of “non-interference in the affairs of other states” – Mike feels it’s time we just throw all that jazz out of the window.

And of course, this justifies the US interfering in our affairs because Hardt’s intrusion was all for “democracy”, no?? States don’t need to say, “do what you want wid me”...all the US has to do to enter any country is to say, “you need some of that good, old democratic medicine”!! And it’s not rape any more – consent is automatically conferred by the mere incantation of the mantra.

Even the UN, under its expansive “Right to Protect” (R2P) doctrine hasn’t gone this far...they draw the line at genocide and ethnic cleansing – and still demand UN approval.

But we guess, when Mike next comes up for air from his brown-nosing, he’ll get rid of the UN also.

...for US exceptionalism

But let’s say Mike...like all the fine US patriots who booed Manickchand ...has a point. Democracy should be the criterion for interference into the affairs of other state. And by golly, the US should send in the Marines to ensure RDCs are elected!! But shouldn’t sauce for the goose be sauce for the gander and all that?? And the US is a pretty big gander. In more ways than one, when compared to Guyana’s democratic goose. Take the method Americans elect their President. Shouldn’t democracy ensure “one man, one vote”? But America has this arrangement called an “Electoral College” which ensures that there is no relationship between the actual votes cast and who becomes President. In 2008, for example, the seven smallest states, with 2,510,980 voters, cast 21 electoral votes – exactly the same number as Pennsylvania, with its 6,015,476 voters!!! And we didn’t even mention how Senators are elected. Should we call on the UN to intervene – not unilaterally like the US does, mind you – to bring democracy to the US??

Over to Mike – once he’s not out of breath.

...in FIFA

Was Messi really the “best footballer” in the World Cup to be given the “Golden Ball Award”?? Even his compatriot Maradona and the FIFA President didn’t think so. So why the brown nosing? Endorsements?

Dead teen: Anfernee Bowman

Kissoon’s participation at PNCR’s Congress in limbo

Embattled People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)

Member of Parliament (MP) Vanessa Kissoon may not be able to attend her party’s Congress this year as a result of her suspension.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Granger related that until Kissoon’s suspension is lifted by the recently-formed Disciplinary Committee or otherwise, her participation in the upcoming Congress is unconfirmed.

The PNCR will this year host its 18th biennial Congress at the party’s headquarters, Congress Place, Georgetown, where Granger will, for the first time, address the assemblage as leader of the party.

Under the theme, “PNCR for a National Unity; Good Governance for National Development”, the Congress will run for three days. Discussions will include the party’s relationship with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), the coalition it formed with other political parties during the 2011 General Elections.

When questioned by reporters on Tuesday, Granger highlighted that under the party’s constitution, three groups of persons are allowed to attend – special invitees, delegates and observers. “I don’t see her being qualified (to attend) if she is under suspension at that time,” said Granger. Granger further pointed out that Kissoon may be able

Alleged goods smuggler arrested at Corriverton

One man was arrested after he was allegedly caught red-handed attempting to smuggle a quantity of goods into Guyana from Suriname on Monday evening at Corriverton, Berbice.

The arrest arises out of a joint operation involving the Guyana Police Force and members of the Customs and Excise Department.

Guyana Times was told that the man, who hails from the area, did not have receipts for the goods that he was transporting. He was placed on station bail and asked to return to the Police station the following day.

According to information reaching this publication, it is difficult for immigration officers to monitor

every boat that comes from Suriname with goods, but, in this case, they received a tip-off and executed a successful operation.

A source explained that the offender can either pay the duty on the goods or face prosecution before the end of the week.

The contraband business has played a major role in the economic growth in Berbice in the past and continues to play a major part in the lives of certain Berbicians. While the Police are doing their best to curb the situation, the lack of resources remains a major challenge.

Efforts to contact an official at the Springlands Immigration Department proved futile.

2.530 kg of ganja found on North West vessel

One man is in custody assisting with investigations into the discovery of a quantity of marijuana on board a cargo vessel destined for the North West District on Monday.

According to information, a search was carried out on the vessel at a city wharf and 2.530 kilograms of compressed marijuana was discovered stashed among the cargo. The search was carried out by ranks of

the Police Narcotics Branch about 21:10h on the day in question. Following the discovery, an investigation was launched which led to the arrest of a passenger who was on board the vessel. He was told of the offence, cautioned and taken into Police custody after which the cannabis was weighed in his presence. He is expected to be charged shortly.

to attend the Congress if the Disciplinary Committee completes its work “swiftly” and Kissoon’s suspension is lifted. The Disciplinary Committee is headed by Alan Munroe while the other members are: Malika Ramsey, Christopher Jones, Cheryl Sampson, and Lance Carberry.

Kissoon was suspended by the PNCR earlier this month after she was accused of misusing party property and allegedly assaulting PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke. She has since challenged her suspension deeming it unconstitutional. Kissoon said proper procedure was not followed when she was suspended. She had contended too that Granger does not have the constitutional authority to suspend her, a statement which Granger later rebuffed, stating that he, indeed, did have the authority to issue her with a letter of suspension.

TravelSpan in emergency landing at JFK

ATravelSpan branded 767/200 aircraft operated by Vision Air was forced to make an emergency landing at the John F Kennedy Airport in the wee hours of Tuesday after it developed compression problems.

According to information received, passengers recognised smoke in the cabin and immediately alerted the crew and the pilot who made the decision to turn around. The flight was almost two hours into its journey. General Manager Vanita Jagnarain explained that all passengers on board and crew members landed safely at JFK International Airport without any injuries. Upon landing, the passengers immediately disembarked the aircraft and were taken to a safe area.

Jagnarain added that the airline’s mechanical and technical teams are working diligently to fix the problem which is expected to be completedly repaired shortly. In the interim, she noted, the airline has a second aircraft

at its disposal which was expected to transport the affected passengers to Guyana on Tuesday evening. The affected Georgetown to JFK passengers who were scheduled to depart on Tuesday are expected to fly out today.

However, she assured that all of TravelSpan’s other flights for this week will remain unaffected.

Meanwhile, a passenger on board the flight to Georgetown told Guyana Times that after the airplane turned around and was about to land, its wheels caught afire.

The already furious passengers who suffered a two-hour delay at JFK International Airport, which was blamed on bad weather, were told to go home to their respective US residences and return to the airport some time later.

At this point, passengers rebelled claiming that they were living some distance away from the airport and that the airline should provide accommodation. Instead, they were promised breakfast and a claims voucher. The passenger also claimed that he was scared for his life after seeing the wheels on fire which caused some panic among passengers in the aircraft. On this note, the airline reiterated that the safety of its passengers and crew members are their first priority.

TravelSpan’s General Manager, Vanita Jagnarain

APNU MP Vanessa Kissoon

Killed bandit was not issued gun licence – Police

The Guyana Police Force has denied issuing a gun licence to the suspected bandit who was shot dead on Sheriff and Duncan Streets on Monday morning.

The dead man who was identified as 21-year-old Kevin Fields, also known as “Demon” of Titus Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown, was seen posing with a gun licence on his Facebook page prompting questions about whether the Police had approved such a licence and on what grounds. However, the Police, in a release, said the young man was never issued a licence.

“It has been observed that the Facebook Page of Kevin Fields who was shot and killed has several items, including a firearm licence. The Guyana Police Force is informing the general public that no approval for a firearm licence was ever granted to Kevin Fields by the Police Force,” the statement read.

The young man was shot dead after robbing a businessman of some $1.7 million at Ramchand’s Auto Spares, Sheriff and Duncan Streets, Georgetown.

Police said around 12:00h, the busi-

nessman went to Ramchand’s Auto Spares to transact business and a man armed with a firearm entered and took away a bag containing $1.7 million from him.

The armed man ran outside and towards a motorcycle that was being ridden by an accomplice and was followed by the businessman. The armed man discharged a round and the businessman, who is a licensed firearm holder, returned fire, hitting the robber to the neck. His accomplice managed to escape and the bag with the money was

recovered. The perpetrator was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

An unlicensed .32 Taurus revolver with five rounds and a spent shell have been recovered. The investigation is continuing.

Tailed

Meanwhile, Guyana Times was told that Fields and his accomplice tailed the businessman from a city bank, which he had just left in a taxi before stopping at the Auto Spares to make some purchases.

The businessman, soon after shooting the bandit, was escorted by Police from the scene. His name has been kept secret for security reasons. While Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras on the building captured the ordeal, the Police have ordered that the footage not be released since they are conducting an investigation to locate the accomplice. A check on the bandit’s Facebook profile revealed some pictures in which he was seen posing with large sums of money, as well as the gun licence. Fields’s body is at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a postmortem examination.

Police looking for man last seen with Groete River hunter

Police investigators in Region Seven are looking for the person who was last seen with the 70-year-old hunter whose partially decomposed body was found on Sunday, a few days after he went missing.

“I wanna be number 1”

Satiricus felt he had to do the right thing. This recording had been dropped on his doorstep and he’d agonised all night as what to do with it. It was two voices. Voice number one appeared to be the Chairman of the “Pee ‘n See”, Mustache Willie, while the second one appeared to be that of Oskar Clerk, the General Secretary. Satiricus copied the conversation verbatim. He would give it to his editor.

Voice 1: Wha goin on?

Voice 2: I deh.

Voice 1: Ah just give the Chairman of the CoI a good juk. Ah think he tekking sides...

Voice 2: Banna, yuh know dese kinda people. Deh still remember deh old days, when dem di running around wid Afro hairstyle and clenched fists!!

Voice 1: But we gat to protect de Kabaka, right.

Voice 2: Yuh bet yuh ass, yuh gat fuh do dat.

Voice 1: Ah gon do wha a gotta do. So whey de General deh?

Voice 2: Me ain’t know if he geh you. I tell he...

Voice 1: He come back?

Voice 2: Yeah, I told him yuh might, yuh sey you might need to talk to he.

Voice 1: Uh hmm, I ain’t know he come back.

Voice 2: Yeah, he say he wanted to talk to you.

Voice 1: But I ain’t want fuh talk to he no mo’.

Voice 2: Good. But is wha yuh call fuh, Banna? You big shot lawyer don’t usually call me.

According to reports, Osmond Fiedtkou, a resident of Groete River, Essequibo, had gone hunting on Wednesday last, but never returned home. His body was subsequently found on Sunday morning at Groete Creek, Essequibo River.

disclosed that investigators are looking for a man with whom Fiedtkou was last seen. Additionally, James said, the Police have questioned three persons in the area.

Crime Chief Leslie James

Reports indicated that residents in the area where the man’s body was found heard

screams and a gunshot sometime last week, but did not take it for anything serious.

The body of the 70-yearold man was discovered after his Georgetown-based daughter failed to make contact with him and made several calls to the area to find out his location. A search was launched and the man’s body was found a few miles away from his home. Fiedtkou’s boat and firearm were nowhere to be found in the area. His body was taken to a mortuary in Bartica and was subsequently transported to Georgetown for a post-mortem examination, which is expected to be done today.

Voice 1: Well I tired of being the bridesmaid and never the bride.

Voice 2: (Sounding alarmed) You want to be a BRIDE? Boy, I never tek you to be like dat! Is the mustache like a...a cover?? You want fuh come out of the closet??

Voice 1: Is wha schupidness you goin on wid?? I is all man. I mean Ah want to be Leader. You know, to fill de Kabaka shoes.

Voice 2: (Sounding even more alarmed) You want fuh be the LEADER???!!! Yuh want fuh tek on de General??

Voice 1: Is why yuh so surprise?? Yuh think goat bite me?

Voice 2: Calm down, Banna. Calm down. But is why yuh think you should be Leader??

Voice 1: Well, I is a lawyer, like de Kabaka. I like fancy suit, like the Kabaka. And Ah trying to like brandy, like de Kabaka.

Voice 2: But, Banna, the question is, can you ride a horse like the Kabaka??

Voice 1: Not really. But I can ride an ass.

Voice 2: (under his breath) And be one too...

Dead bandit: Kevin Fields

GuySuCo foreman found murdered

The body of a Skeldon Sugar Estate foreman was on Tuesday morning found on the Number 68 Foreshore, Line Path, Skeldon, with blood oozing from his nostrils.

The dead man was identified as Ravendranauth Thirkha, 52, of Block 19, Lot 485 Line Path, Skeldon. An autopsy performed on the body of the man by pathologist Dr Vivikenand Brijmohan proved that he was strangled.

The body of the GuySuCo foreman was found about 06:20h at the Foreshore by fishermen, Guyana Times was told. At the time of the discovery, the man was lying face down with all his garments intact. The fishermen raised an alarm and the Police were contacted. Upon arrival at the scene, ranks from Springlands Police Station examined the body which did not have any visible marks of violence.

Initially, there was speculation that the man might

have drowned, but, after the post-mortem, the Police are treating the incident as a murder.

Thirkha’s widow, Mala, told the Guyana Times that she last saw her husband alive on Monday about 16:30h when he left home to attend a get-together. She telephoned him about 18:00h and was told that he was leaving at 19:00h.

The grieving woman said she made several efforts to contact her husband after 19:00h but the calls went to voicemail. She thought that he was still at the party hence she retired to bed. When she awoke the following morning, she did not see her husband and immediately informed her son who in turn suggested that they contact his workplace and called in sick for him.

The widow said she then left home and went to the hospital to receive medical treatment, since she was not feeling well. While there, she received a call from a Police rank who informed her that he was at her house and requested that she return home.

Upon enquiring, she was told that her husband was found dead at the Number 68 Foreshore. She was later taken to the scene where she saw her husband’s body lying on the mud. After a while, she added, the body was removed and taken to the hospital mortuary where the post-mortem was conducted.

Mala, in a soft voice

Domestic abuse report leads to unlawful escape charge

A 32-year-old man who allegedly escaped from Police custody after being apprehended on an assault report was remanded to prison on Tuesday, despite his attorney’s protestations that he was “sent away” by ranks.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry refused Charles Riveria bail on the charge of unlawfully escaping Police custody. According to the charge, as read by Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru, on July 11, a report was made by the defendant’s reputed wife after he allegedly assaulted her. As the investigation was in progress, Riveria was placed in handcuffs; however; he subsequently picked the handcuffs and escaped.

Riveria was represented by Attorney George Thomas who made an application for bail and told the court that the assault matter was eventually resolved by his client and his spouse, and his client did not escape Police custody, but was, in fact, sent away by Police ranks.

Prosecutor Mangru objected to bail, stating that Riveria was a flight risk since he had escaped Police custody and if granted bail, may try to tamper with the Virtual Complainant (VC). The latter argument was quickly dismissed by Attorney Thomas who said the couple were reconciled and there was no evidence to suggest that his client would tamper with the VC. Riveria will return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on July 29.

filled with sadness, said her husband did not have any problems with anyone and suggested that he might

have been robbed and then killed. The man had been employed at GuySuCo for the past 30 years. “He only

had three years more before he get he pension,” the woman cried. He leaves to mourn his wife and two children. No one has yet been arrested, but Police are continuing their investigation.

Charles Riveria

Ravendranauth Thirkha

$150M budgeted for infrastructural works in Belle West

Some $150 million has been set aside for the development of infrastructure within the West Bank Demerara community of Belle West.

This was announced by Housing and Water Minister, Irfaan Ali, when he met with residents at a community outreach programme on Monday. Ali said that Belle West has been identified as one of the communities that his ministry is looking to transform and has decided to invest some $150 million in developing its infrastructure.

According to the Minister, there are a few projects in the works for the community including the construction of a concrete access bridge and the upgrading of four main roads to asphalted concrete. Ali said that the ministry is ready to move ahead with processes and will be advertising tenders for the projects soon so that within six weeks, work can commence.

However, the Housing Minister explained to residents that both projects could not be undertaken at the same time and asked them to suggest which one

they want to be done in the first phase of the Programme.

“We are faced with questions for the community, that is, whether you would like to see more roads done in this phase instead of the access bridge or whether you believe that the access bridge still remains the priority. This is something we would like to hear from you, the residents or Bell West,” he urged.

The Minister informed the residents that Government is committed to the development of communities such as Belle West as he disclosed that approximately $1.5 billion was expended on infrastructure development in the community between the period of 2000 and 2013. These works comprised roads, drainage, culverts and water- distribution networks.

“We have spent $28.54 million on the Bell West Multi-Purpose Centre. We have spent $120 million to build 54 Core Homes in Bell West. We have been able to develop and allocate 1,400 house lots benefiting 5,740 persons. These are the type of development that the PPP/C Government has been able to deliver to you, the people of Bell West,” he ech-

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali addresses residents of Belle West, Canal No 2. Sitting at the head table are other officials of Region Three

oed.

Nevertheless, Ali acknowledged that there is much more work to be done; however, he reminded residents of the policy regarding developing housing schemes which requires 75% occupancy before the final phase of infrastructure is completed.

The Minister had with him, engineers from the Central Housing and Planning Authority and the Guyana Water Incorporated to hear the woes of residents and assist in solutions. He pointed out that the finan -

cial constraint Government faces has affected all aspects of its work; nevertheless, government is committed to ensuring that the necessary infrastructures will be developed to sustain and improve the livelihoods of Guyanese.

This commitment, Ali, pointed out, is reflected in the investment of more than $25 billion between 2000 and 2013. “In the last 13 years, we have spent more than $25 billion in the housing sector alone. Tuschen, Zeelugt, Bell West, Bell Vue, Parfaite Harmonie,

SchoonOrd, Lust-en-Rust –these are only a few of the many interventions that we would have made to ensure housing is affordable and equitable for the people here in Region Three and even farther afield, because people from Region Four would have moved into this region as a result of the housing programme,” the minister stressed.

He reflected on the commitment to complete the new access bridge in Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, and a new access road through Schoon-Ord, WBD, noting that these have been fulfilled.

Ali told residents that they should appreciate the positive results of owning their own homes as it signifies not only having a shelter of your own, but also economic and social empowerment. “There is nothing more rewarding, and there is no greater pride which someone feels, when they say “I am turning my own keys”! These are things that make people feel a sense of fulfilment and ownership and I am very happy to be part of a Government that has been able to deliver this to our people,” the housing minister stated.

SASOD calls for sacking of Minister Edghill

By Gomatie GanGadin

The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI) is calling on the Government of Guyana to relieve Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill from the portfolio he holds in the government.

In an eight-page report on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues in Guyana, the two organisations reported what they termed the “homophobic” Government Minister Juan Edghill to the United Nations Human Rights Council for “inflammatory” and “hateful” speech, as a violation of the Constitution of Guyana and international human rights law while calling for his removal.

During a press briefing on Tuesday at the Sidewalk

Café held by the group, Co Chairman of SASOD, Joel Simpson related to media operatives that the society was concerned over the recent statements which were made by several government representatives on LGBT human rights, including Edghill.

Simpson however said that it was only Edghill who was reported and that, since the comments were made on June 15, the same day the report labelled, “On Devil’s Island”, was due at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Simpson outlined the events which led to the organisation taking that position on the issue.

“On June 15, when Edghill appeared on Hard Talk on IRADIO, he described homosexuality as “destructive, unwholesome and unhealthy”, and that gays should not be tolerated in this country.

"We at SASOD listened

to the programme and took note of Edghill’s inflammatory edict. Our opinion is that it amounts to what article 146:3 of Guyana’s constitution describes as hate speech,” Simpson said.

"We think what Edghill said is hate speech and in that regard we are calling for his removal as a Minister of Government and as a Member of Parliament, because that is a flagrant violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms under the Guyana Constitution and we have made those recommendations to the council.”

Simpson said too that the organisation has noted that in the month which has since elapsed, several other Government officials have also made not too welcoming comments on the issue.

“On June 22, PPP/C Member of Parliament Manzoor Nadir said that in

his opinion, repealing the anti-buggery laws was “a storm in the teacup”, and that he needed more evidence of discrimination to be convinced that this was important.

"I want to know if he is living under some kind of rock, because every month in the media there is an incident related to the vio-

lations or injustices meted out to LGBT people.

"But even with that, a simple Google search by Mr Nadir can find extensive documentary evidence of LGBT violations in Guyana,” he said.

Simpson stated that such a position was a backward one, noting that Guyana's laws and policies should protect everybody.

"You shouldn’t wait until there is rampant discrimination, injustice and abuse before you address issues,” he said.

Simpson opined that if this was the approach the elected representatives were going to have towards human rights then the country was heading into a dire situation.

He said that law reform was not the “storm in the teacup”, but the lack of support and response from the religious community was the storm.

Speaking about Presidential Advisor, Gail Teixeira’s position that there was no fast-track to the changes and support in new rights, Simpson maintained that the organisation was not asking for any new rights except for protection from the law and to be included by the relevant authorities.

“Teixeira is wrong. While she tried to justify her position, it is not justifiable. There is a fast way to this and it is called political leadership,” he said.

Included in the report also, is a list of 15 recommendations for the Government to adopt to make the lives of LGBT persons better.

Among those are calls for the repealing, amendment and implementation of policies and sections of the Constitution which are discriminatory towards LGBT individuals.

Co Chairman of SASOD, Joel Simpson

A section of Belle West residents at the community outreach hosted by Minister Irfaan Ali

BRICS clears US$100B Development Bank

… aimed at countering Western hold on global finances

Leaders of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations launched a US$100 billion Development Bank and a currency reserve pool on Tuesday in their first concrete step toward reshaping the Western-dominated international financial system.

The bank, aimed at funding infrastructure projects in developing nations, will be based in Shanghai and India will preside over its operations for the first five years, followed by Brazil and then Russia, leaders of the five-country group announced at a summit, Reuters reported. Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar and Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh attended the summit.

The bloc also set up a US$100 billion currency reserves pool to help countries forestall short-term liquidity pressures. The long-awaited bank is the first major achievement of the BRICS countries since they got together in 2009 to press for a bigger say in the global financial order created by Western powers after World War Two and centred on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

Coordinated action

The BRICS were prompted to seek coordinated action following an exodus of capital from emerging markets last year, triggered by the scaling back of US monetary stimulus. The new bank reflects the growing influence of the BRICS, which

account for almost half the world’s population and about one-fifth of global economic output. The bank will begin with a subscribed capital of US$50 billion divided equally between its five founders, with an initial total of US$10 billion in cash put in over seven years and US$40 billion in guarantees. It is scheduled to start lending in 2016 and will be open to membership by other countries, but the capital share of the BRICS cannot drop below 55 per cent.

The contingency currency pool will be held in the reserves of each BRICS country and can be shifted to another member to cushion balance-of-payments difficulties. This initiative gathered momentum after the reverse in the flow of cheap dollars that fuelled a boom in emerging markets for a decade.

“It will help contain the volatility faced by diverse economies as a result of the tapering of the United States’ policy of monetary expansion,” Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said.

“It is a sign of the times, which demand reform of the IMF,” she told reporters at the close of the summit. China, holder of the world’s largest foreign exchange reserves, will contribute the bulk of the contingency currency pool, or US$41 billion. Brazil, India and Russia will chip in US$18 billion each and South Africa $5 billion. If a need arises, China will be eligible to ask for half of its contribution, South Africa for double, and the remaining countries the amount they put in.

Negotiations over the headquarters and first presidency were reached at the 11th hour due to dif-

ferences between India and China. The impasse reflected the trouble Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa have had in reconciling stark economic and political differences that made it hard for the group to turn rhetoric into concrete action.

“We pulled it off 10 minutes before the end of the game. We reached a balanced package that is satisfactory to all,” a Brazilian diplomat told Reuters. Negotiations to create the bank dragged on for more than two years as Brazil and India fought China’s attempts to get a bigger share in the lender than the others. In the end, Brazil and India prevailed in keeping equal equity at its launch, but fears linger that China, the world’s number two economy, could try to assert greater influence over the bank to

expand its political clout abroad. China, however, will not preside over the bank for two decades.

Facing efforts by leading Western nations to isolate Russia for annexing Crimea and stirring revolt in eastern Ukraine, the BRICS summit provided President Vladimir Putin with a welcome geopolitical platform to show he has friends elsewhere, economic powers seen as shaping the future of the world. The BRICS abstained from criticising Russia over the crisis in Ukraine and called instead for restraint by all actors so the conflict can be resolved peacefully.

World trade

Last week, Guyana Times reported that Guyana will be looking to broaden relations with the BRICS nations at the summit which it was invited to attend. President Donald Ramotar had told this newspaper that Guyana will definitely be a part of the summit since the bloc is continuing to play “a bigger role” in world trade. President Ramotar further pointed out that “it is important for Guyana to be there as part of the UNASUR [Union of South American Nations] and to broaden relations”, noting that the new Development Bank being developed will be pivotal for Guyana, since it will be another developmental avenue.

“The bank will be very important, because it will be an alternate resource.”

From left: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma talk at a group photo session during the Sixth BRICS summit in Fortaleza on July 15

First US flight deports Honduran kids under fast-track push

The United States deported a group of Honduran children as young as one and a half years old on Monday in the first flight since President Barack Obama pledged to speed up the process of sending back illegal immigrant minors from Central America.

Fleeing violence and poverty, record numbers of children from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala have crossed into the United States over the past year, testing US border facilities and sparking intense debate about how to solve the problem.

Monday’s charter flight

UN to help Haiti fight cholera epidemic –Ban Ki-moon

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said an “unacceptable number of people” were affected by cholera in Haiti

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he will try to raise US$2.2 billion (£1.3 billion) in aid money to fight the spread of cholera in Haiti.

Ban, who is visiting Haiti, said it was the “moral duty” of the UN to help tackle the disease. More than 8500 people have died in the cholera epidemic which has swept through the country since 2010.

Evidence suggests UN peacekeepers introduced cholera to Haiti, but it has so far rejected compensation claims. Speaking at a church service in one of the villages worst affected, Ban said that he was aware that the epidemic had “caused much anger and fear” in Haiti and continued to affect “an unac-

from New Mexico to San Pedro Sula, the city with the highest murder rate in the world, returned 17 Honduran women, as well as 12 girls and nine boys, aged between 18 months and 15 years, the Honduran Government said.

Looking happy, the deported children exited the airport on an overcast and sweltering afternoon. One by one, they filed into a bus, playing with balloons they had been given.

Nubia, a six-year-old girl among the deportees, said she left Honduras a month ago for a journey that ended when she and her mother were caught on the MexicoTexas border two weeks later.

“Horrible, cold and tiring,” was how Nubia remembered the trip that was meant to unite the pair with her three uncles already living in the United States. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Rush-hour Moscow subway derails: 21 dead, 136 hurt

Asubway train derailed Tuesday deep below Moscow’s streets, twisting and mangling crowded rail cars at the height of the morning rush hour. At least 21 people were killed, Russian officials said, and 136 were hospitalised, many with serious injuries.

The Russian capital’s airports and transit systems have been a prime target for terrorists over the past two decades, but multiple officials vigorously dismissed terrorism as a possible cause.

The Moscow Metro is world-famous for its palatial interiors with mosaics, chandeliers and marble benches. Park Pobedy, where the derailment occurred, is Moscow’s deepest metro station – 84 meters (275 feet) below the surface – which made the rescue particularly difficult.

The station serves the vast park where Russia’s World War II museum is located.

It was unclear what caused the train to derail.

Lines of inquiry included a fault in one of the cars or the sinking of the roadbed, according to Vladimir Markin, spokesman for Russia’s top investigative body. He said other officials who said earlier that

a power surge triggered an alarm, causing the train to stop abruptly, were incorrect.

Of the 136 people hospitalised, at least 42 were in grave condition, health officials said. One citizen of China and one citizen of Tajikistan were among those killed, Russian news agencies quoted city officials as saying. (Excerpt from MSN)

ceptable number of people”.

The United Nations is facing three lawsuits in connection with the epidemic, but has claimed legal immunity. A lawyer for the victims said it was an insult to all Haitians for Ban to come for a photo-opportunity when he refused to take responsibility for thousands of deaths.

In December 2012, Ban launched a US$2.2 billion plan to eliminate cholera from Haiti within 10 years, but donors have been slow in coming forward with the needed funds.

The UN says it has not yet been able to raise the US$400 million needed to fund the programme in its first two years. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Women and their children walk on the tarmac after being deported from the US, at the Ramon Villeda International Airport in San Pedro Sula, July 14

Search and rescue teams evacuate passengers injured after three subway cars derailed in Moscow, Russia

wednesday, July 16, 2014 |

Taxi driver arrested for Lusignan teen’s murder

Ataxi driver was on Tuesday afternoon arrested for the suspected murder of 19-yearold Ashminie Hariram who was executed about a week ago after exiting a minibus on Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the suspect is of mixed race and operates his burgundy car as a taxi on the East Coast of Demerara, but after the shooting incident, he stopped doing so.

The description given to the Police by the victim’s cousin reportedly matches that of the suspect hence investigators believe that they finally have a breakthrough in their investigation.

The suspect will be interrogated in the hope of obtaining a confession and more so, the motive for killing the teenager.

Crime Chief Leslie James on Monday confirmed that statements were taken from several persons, including the teen’s cousin who was with her at the time of the shooting. Those statements were analysed and are guiding the investigation.

ing someone from her son’s place of employment for a month now, she was not sure if her death was related.

Somwaru said both parties were in love, but a decision was not taken with respect to marriage and more so, she was not sure that her daughter had a previous relationship. In tears, she stated that the manner in which her daughter met her demise is baffling.

GGMC paid over $6B to treasury

Commission also independently executes infrastructural projects based on the needs of miners.

The question was posed when the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry, along with its supporting arms such as GGMC, the Guyana Forestry Commission, Guyana Lands and Survey Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), appeared before the Natural Resources Sectoral Committee on Monday at the Parliament Building.

link would reduce the cost of accessing the mining district.

“It is important that we develop many avenues to access different parts of our country, but the primary and the driving factor has been one in terms of looking at logistics, bringing down cost, efficiency, safety and at the end of the day, giving our people a chance to have access to the resources and the rich natural wealth of the hinterland,” he added.

It was reported that the burgundy car was seen parked some distance away from the teenager’s home for some time, but the shooter exited after recognising his target.

Unknown motive

Investigators also established that the shooter would have had possession of Hariram’s mobile phone when he shot her and this has led them to believe that she had been a target and it had not been a case of mistaken identity.

While the motive behind the shooting remains a mystery, the dead teenager’s mother, Khemwattie Somwaru, had stated that her daughter had been see-

Initially, the matter was being treated as a robbery/ murder, but the Police are now treating the incident as cold-blooded murder.

On the day in question, the grieving mother recalled seeing her daughter’s motionless body on the roadway with a single gunshot wound to the neck. “Manisha”, as Hariram was also known, was a cosmetologist who operated from home. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital around noon last Thursday.

She was reportedly returning home from Georgetown with a cousin when a man emerged from a car parked along the Railway Embankment, some six houses from where she resided, snatched her mobile phone and then shot her once to the neck.

She reportedly fell to the roadway after which the perpetrator entered the car and sped away, without anyone seemingly getting a look at his licence plate.

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has transferred in excess of $6 billion to the Consolidated Fund, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud disclosed when questioned by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member Joseph Harmon on the financial status of the Commission.

Although GGMC has the authority to retain its financial resources, the Natural Resources Minister said it has transferred more than $6 billion, in addition to offering financial support to the Public Works Ministry for the rehabilitation of roads in the six mining districts. The

Parika to Goshen Road

Harmon had also sought another opportunity to grill the Natural Resources Ministry and GGMC on the reason behind the construction of the road from Parika to Goshen. The APNU Member of Parliament is of the opinion that the road is constructed as a mechanism to bypass the Linden route, in accessing Region Seven.

In response, Minister Persaud told the committee that the construction of the road from Parika in Region Three to Goshen in Region 10 has been initiated based on the request of the mining community. He said too that following a review, it was indicated that creating such a

Following the 2012 Linden Protest, the Government had indicated that it was considering an alternative route to access the mining districts, since hundreds of miners were affected when Lindeners moved to block key access roads.

On its website, the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry had indicated that the protest had taken a toll on gold and bauxite mining activities. Through the Ministry, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) had advised its membership that due to the denial of access to vehicles needing to transit Linden en route to mining districts in Regions Seven, Eight, Nine and 10 that they may have to find alternative routes.

Guyanese to be charged for huge ganja bust in Caribbean Sea

The five crew members of the Guyana-registered vessel An-Nur which was intercepted in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday last with 2500 pounds of compressed marijuana on board are expected to be charged by the end of the week.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that international law enforcement officers are preparing the legal documents to be sent to a court in Costa Rica. Local drug enforcement officials are also assisting with investigations.

However, when contacted, Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh, said he could not comment on the issue at the time since it might affect their investigations here in Guyana. He confirmed that

the Guyanese crew is expected to be slapped with several charges before the end of the week. He also noted that the crew has been cooperative and, as such, local law enforcement is working on several leads with the aim of apprehending the mastermind behind the operation.

The vessel, which is registered to a Guyanese businessman, was intercepted in an operation comprising local and international drug enforcement officers in the Caribbean Sea, with an estimated G$300 million of Jamaican marijuana. The five crew members onboard were immediately taken into custody and interrogated.

According to information received, that vessel operates between Guyana and Jamaica to transport rice and

was on its way to Georgetown, Guyana when it was stopped and searched. It is not clear if the vessel was removed from international waters but it was to be towed to Costa Rica. From all indications, the vessel had been under surveillance for some time. Exactly one week ago, CANU had a successful operation at Diamond and Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara which unearthed 2900 pounds of Jamaican marijuana and 4.2 kilograms of cocaine. Dexter Daniels, of Kara Kara, Linden, was later sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, while a wanted bulletin was issued for Reginald Brown’s arrest. He reportedly turned himself in with his lawyer on Thursday, and was being grilled. CANU is continuing its investigations.

Teen sentenced to 56 months for armed robbery

A19-year-old who pleaded guilty to an armed robbery charge on Monday will spend the next 56 months of his life in prison as punishment for his crime.

Ron Collins, of Lot 6 Ketley Street, Charlestown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Magistrate Judy Latchman who handed down the sentence.

According to the charge, as read in court by Prosecutor Joel Ricknauth, on April 4, the Virtual Complainant, Holly Ann Culpepper, was exiting Ramroop’s Furniture Store when the defendant, while holding a knife, stole

her purse, which contained $60,000 in cash, one pair of Guess sunglasses and a BlackBerry cellphone, all valued $166,000, before escaping on a bicycle.

Ranks in a Police bus saw what occurred and arrested Collins. All of the items were recovered.

Collins pleaded not guilty at his first court hearing; however, he changed his plea during the trial. Upon handing down her decision, Magistrate Latchman stated that the severity of the sentence is intended to deter future offenders as there has been an increase in robbery under arms as of recent. The Magistrate added that she hopes given this sentence, Collins will subsequently follow the straight and narrow path in life.

Dead teen: Ashminie Hariram

Ron Collins

APNU Member Joseph Harmon

AFC is a “bluff”! – PPP says party focused on narrow self-interest

Days after the Alliance For Change threatened to bring a noconfidence motion against the Government if it did not agree to their 10 conditions, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Clement Rohee has accused the party of pursuing selfish political goals while pretending to care about the concerns of Guyanese.

Speaking at the ruling party’s press conference on Monday at Freedom House, Rohee related that the Government has noted that through that action, the AFC has developed a penchant for making brazen demands of Government in its own self-interest. “Our party remains cognisant of the terror that was unleashed on Guyanese along parts of the East Bank corridor, following a previous demand/ ultimatum by the AFC.

Fateful afternoon

During that fateful afternoon, many were beaten and robbed and denied their constitutional right to freedom of movement and lawenforcement officers were subjected to wanton abuse”, Rohee said.

He noted that the Government has been taking note of the party’s demands but is not concerned, since the AFC was not serious about nation-building or supporting development within the Government.

“Their self-interest is seen in the non-supporting of the Specialty Hospital and the Marriott Hotel. If the AFC’s utterances of the demands were to be believed that the party has the interests of Guyanese at heart

as it claims, then they must endeavour to unconditionally support Government’s projects and programmes. It is in this context that the People’s Progressive Party demands that the Alliance For Change, if it is indeed genuinely concerned on improving the lives of Guyanese, then it must put national interests above its own self-interests”, Rohee said.

He noted that the Government will not be taking the political Opposition seriously unless they can show that they have the best interests of the Guyanese people at heart by extending their support to numerous developmental projects which are presented in the National Assembly. To this end, he mentioned the Government’s 10 conditions which are being demanded from the AFC if they are truly concerned about the welfare of Guyana and its citizens.

Parliamentary position

“The PPP therefore demands of the AFC that if it is being truthful to the development of Guyana, then it must meaningfully use its parliamentary position to ensure the following are realised: the passage of the Anti Money Laundering and Countering of Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Bill, the passage of the Customs Amendment Bill, the restoration of the budget cuts, the approval of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Expansion project, the Marriott Hotel, the Specialty Hospital, Cabinet’s no objection to the Public Procurement Commission, the Amerindian Development Fund and the Government’s investment policies”, the General Secretary said.

Rohee has called on the AFC to cease playing games with Guyanese and to put the nation first over its political self-interest.

Just last month, the AFC said that if their 10 demands were not met, they would be taking steps to table the motion of no confidence against the Government, which may garner the support of the main Opposition party, A Partnership for National Unity.

The AFC in a release had noted that even after “more than a year after the

November 28, 2011 General Elections, the Donald Ramotar Administration has resolutely refused to carry out reforms to tackle rampant corruption, enhance good governance, and ensure transparency in public expenditure, improve security of citizens and increase public sector wages.”

Included on the list of demands is the Government setting a date for the holding of Local Government Elections this year. Additionally, high on the list are demands for an “immediate” establishment of the Public Procurement Commission and appointment of all members of the Integrity Commission.

The party is also demanding that the Government perform a forensic audit of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments

Ltd (NICIL) and Guyana Sugar Company (GuySuCo). Also among the list was a demand for the Government to reduce the toll at the Berbice River Bridge, which has also been a topic of heated debate.

The Khemraj Ramjattan led side has also asked that the Government construct another bridge across the Demerara River, with the condition that the new structure must not be a floating bridge. The party further demanded that the Government appoint broadbased boards for state media and for all Opposition parties to have access to those media houses, halt illegal spending of funds without approval of the National Assembly, create job opportunities, and introduce and implement a tax reform plan.

Better Hope man accidentally sets brother’s home on fire

Asmall blaze startled a Better Hope family at around 20:00h on Monday after one relative reportedly in a drunken state, accidently had set fire to his brother’s home.

Caribbean Export awards

€2.9M to firms in CARIFORUM

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) has announced the awarding of Bds$8,081,874.06 (€2,992,287) to firms and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) across the Region via their flagship programme, the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS) as part of the Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) last week.

According to a release, Caribbean Export had published the Call for Proposals for both the Accelerated and Regular Procedures grant facilities under the DAGS on January 17, 2014 with a deadline for submission of applications on March 7, 2014, receiving a total of 341 applications from across the Region, of which 136 firms and BSOs were awarded grants. On Friday, the Agency disclosed that 16 of the grants awarded were to firms in Barbados with a cumulative value of Bds$1,003,543.80. The full list of grant awardees can be found on the Agency’s website.

The 16 firms in Barbados represent the manufacturing, professional services, and creative industries sectors. Three grants were awarded to BSOs, namely the Barbados Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC), the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) and the Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (COSCAP). These BSOs are “essential to fostering the development of businesses across sectors that play

an integral role in supporting the economy of Barbados,” commented Pamela CokeHamilton, Executive Director of Caribbean Export.

The private sector grant beneficiaries in Barbados include Blue Waters Productions, BICO, Barbados Diary Industries Limited, AC Woodhouse Incorporated, Harris Paints International Limited, Armstrong Manufacturing Limited, Caribbean Consultants Limited, Wendy Hill Limited, Allahar Associates, West Indies Rum Distillery, Studio Blue Architects Inc and Policy Networks International.

The objective of the scheme is to provide financial support to firms looking to increase their export capacity, either to new or existing markets, and in particular, to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Caricom Single Market Economy (CSME).

The funding provided to beneficiaries is often utilised to modernise equipment, upgrade facilities to meet in-

ternational food and quality standards, enhance products and packaging, implement alternative energy systems, market and promote products and services, train staff, and develop collateral materials. To date, Caribbean Export has awarded 475 SMEs and BSOs across the Region, via direct assistance grants totalling €8,372,277.82. These figures represent the Call for Proposals (CFPs) during the 9th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Trade and Private Sector Development Programme (CTPSDP: 2008-2010), and the 10th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme (RPSDP: 20112014).

The DAGS is a reimbursement grant funding facility specifically designed to provide financial assistance to legally registered small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), individuals, and business support organisations (BSOs) with the potential to export their products and services.

Caribbean Export is a regional export development and trade and investment promotion organisation of the Forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM) currently executing the Regional Private Sector Programme (RPSDP) funded by the European Union under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Export’s mission is to increase the competitiveness of Caribbean countries by providing quality export development and trade and investment promotion services through effective programme execution and strategic alliances.

Ramanarine believes that the brother might have left the cigarette butt on the chair, which resulted in the fire. The house which is occupied by nine persons suffered minimal damage as only two small chairs and the door were burnt. The

Davindra Ramnarine of Pulware Street, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, stated that he had left his brother in a drunken state smoking a cigarette.

occupants of the house and members of the community quickly reacted and doused the blaze before any serious damage had taken place.

Ramnarine said that by the time the fire department showed up, the blaze had already been extinguished and his brother was nowhere to be seen.

General Secretary of PPP, Clement Rohee

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of Caribbean Export

Captains’ Seminar sees fruitful interaction

– Ramdin, Hafeez, Johnson and Clive Lloyd share expertise

Eyes beaming with enthusiasm and the reality of sharing a room with some high profile cricketers, including former Pakistan T20 skipper Mohamed Hafeez and West Indies Test captain and Amazon Guyana Warriors skipper Denesh Ramdin, participants of the Captains’ Seminar held at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue in Georgetown on Tuesday made full use of the opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best as they fired questions to the head table.

The seminar was an initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and

Sport in collaboration with the Limacol Caribbean Premier League and was aimed at increasing the knowledge of captains and vice-captains in the development of cricket captaincy.

Another objective was to expose captains and vice captains to the tools and methods required for managing teams for successful match outcomes.

Among those present were former West Indies Under-19 captain Leon Johnson, former West Indies Test great and one of the most successful captains, Clive Lloyd, Sport Minister Frank Anthony, CPL Operations Manager

Omar Khan and Director of Sport Neil Kumar.

All of the players at the head table were of the opinion that it was important to motivate their players even when they would have erred on the field and that captaincy was about being able to maintain composure while making decisions under pressure.

Mr Lloyd said one of his reasons for success was that he was able to think the game ahead by at least an hour and ensured that the players were well briefed in advance on their fielding positions based on who was batting or bowling.

Some of the participants wanted to know about the experience captaining a team that consisted of players from different countries and who would have been engaged in rivalry before. Ramdin said it was about being professionals and sports men at the same time, knowing that persons have invested in a unit of different players and it was their job to work together and give of their best.

At the end of the session, the participants, mostly youngsters, did not hesitate to ensure they get a moment and photograph with some of their icons.

(Reuben Stoby)

Mystery remains a mystery for Narine

By Avenash Ramzan

Mystery spinner Sunil Narine is surprised batsmen the world over are still finding it difficult to pick him after close to three years on the international scene.

The 26-year-old spinner, who is the Guyana Amazon Warriors’ franchise player for the ongoing second Limacol Caribbean Premier League, has been virtually unplayable, especially in the limited-over formats, since bursting on to the international circuit in 2011.

A globe-trotting T20 player, Narine has enjoyed tremendous success, befuddling the most accomplished of batsmen in almost every League he has played.

He continued his dominance last Friday in the opening match of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, returning extraordinary figures of four overs, one maiden, three runs, no wicket against the Antigua Hawksbills.

“Yes I’m a bit surprised because the amount of technology there is now bowlers with a little mystery don’t even last a year, so I think it’s very nice that I continue to do it and hoepfully it can last for more than three years,” Narine said.

The Trinidad and Tobago cricketer has been a relevation in domestic T20 cricket, snapping up 168 wickets

in 131 games at an average of 16.33 and miserly ecomony rate of 5.48, appearing for Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Kolkata Knight Riders, Barisal Burners and Cape Cobras.

In 31 T20 Internationals, Narine has snared 38 wickets at 17.52 and an ecomony rate of 5.70.

Meanwhile, commenting on Guyana Amazon Warriors chances in the competition this year, Narine pointed out that a few areas of the line-up have been strengthened in order to ensure the franchise goes one step further and claim the title following defeat at the hands of the Chris Gayle-led Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013.

“I think we’ve improved with our lower-order batting and fire power with the ball so I think we have a good chance, but saying that I think we have to take it game by game and starting Thursday we have to give a good showing,” the spinner reckoned.

The Guyana Amazon Warriors are down to face the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel at 19:30h on Thursday at the National Stadium, Providence.

They will then face the St Lucia Zouks on Saturday and the Jamaica Tallawahs on Sunday with both weekend games starting at 16:00h.

Sunil Narine has been phenomenal with ball in hand

The seminar was aimed at increasing the knowledge of captains and vice-captains in the development of cricket captaincy

From Left: Former Pakistan T20 skipper Mohamed Hafeez, former West Indies Under-19 skipper Leon Johnson, West Indies Test captain and Amazon Guyana Warriors skipper Denesh Ramdin, Limacol CPL Operations Manager Omar Khan, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Limacol Brand Ambassador and former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, and Director of Sport Neil Kumar

Digicel Schools Football…

Annai Secondary and St Ignatius clash today

– Winter nets hat-trick

St Ignatius Secondary of Lethem outplayed

Aishalton of South Rupununi when action in the fourth annual Digicel Schools Football tournament moved to the Aranaputa Ground in Annai, Region Nine on Tuesday.

A hat trick by Quincy Winter helped St Ignatius to record a 4-0 win. Winter scored in the 50th, 60th and 61st minutes of play. The game’s opening goal came in the 33 minute off the boot of Carlos Issacs.

Aishalton were further devastated when their top striker Hudson Thomas was player red carded in the 65th minute.

Despite the score line, it was Aishalton that made the initial treats as in the first three minutes of the game, Thomas went past central defenders Andrew Abbensettes and Daniel Griffith and sent a powerful right-footed shot high and close to the cross bar. However, goalkeeper Fabian

Quincy Winter netted a hattrick for St Ignatius Secondary

Felix was equal to the task. Immediately St. Ignatius adjusted their defense and for the next hour, despite the brilliant skills displayed by Thomas, he was never allowed to get close enough to the uprights. St. Ignatius also used their superior height to their advantage by making many of their passes in the air.

Winter scored his first

goal after drawing the defense forward and then sending the ball to Rodrigues Thomas who allowed Winter to position himself perfectly before sending it back to him. Winter made no mistake.

His third goal came after the players around the ball in the 18-yard box anticipated that the referee was going to blow his whistle and stopped playing. Winter ceased the opportunity and registered his hat-trick goal as the goalkeeper made no attempt to stop the ball.

St Ignatius will meet Annai Secondary today to determine the Region Nine champions. The game will be played at the Aranaputa Ground at Annai.

Meanwhile, Annai Secondary used their home advantage to dish out a trashing on Sand Creek Secondary to set up a highly anticipated regional final with defending champions Aishalton Secondary.

Digicel hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors players

As the resumption of the second annual Limacol Caribbean Premier League draws closer, one of the League partners Digicel on Tuesday hosted six mem bers of the Guyana Amazon Warriors at its Avenue of the Republic location in the city.

The Amazon Warriors play ers- spinners Sunil Narine and Veerasammy Permaul; all-round ers Christopher Barnwell, James Neesham and Navin Stewart; and left-arm seam er Krishmar Santokieturned up at the Digicel venue and afforded customers and staff an opportunity to have photographs and autographs.

This was just one of several promotional activities the players will be involved in during the lead-up to the match against Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on Thursday

Businessman rewards EBFA U-17 national players

East Bank Demerara businessman, James Herbert, owner of James Herbert Business Establishment, has recognised the two East Bank Football Association (EBFA) players who have made the National Under-17 football team that will contest the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) tournament from Friday in the Dominican Republic.

Goalkeeper Quazim Yusuf and forward Joel Dick were presented with a pair of gloves and boots respectively at the team’s camp on Monday evening.

Herbert congratulated the two players for making themselves and association proud by being selected to the national team and challenged them to give of their best to ensure that Guyana is victorious in the games against the host nation, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.

Yusuf is a member of the Herstelling Football Club, while Dick plays for Grove Hi Tech Football Club.

GCB Senior Women InterCounty Competition bowls off today

Essequibo and Demerara will open play in the GCB Senior Women Inter-County Competition which bowls off

today at the Everest Cricket Club ground. The ladies from the Cinderilla County will then play the women from the Ancient County of Berbice on Thursday at the same venue. Following a rest day on Friday, Demerara will play Berbice in Round Three.

at the National Stadium, Providence, starting at 19:30h.

Sponsorship and Events Manager, Gavin Hope, said Digicel was pleased to welcome the players and afford members of the public an opportunity to interact with the Warriors.

Apart from Tuesday’s activity, Hope said Digicel will also have a strong presence at the National Stadium on match days when patrons can cash in on a few promotions that will be held.

The Digicel cheerleaders will also be present to entertain fans.

Digicel is one of several companies that have come on board as a League partner for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League, the second edition of which started last Friday and will run until August 16.

Employee of James Herbert Business Establishment, Kevin Andries (centre), with Quazim Yusuf (left) and Joel Dick following the presentation

The victorious Annai Secondary

Positive signs for athletics

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) is currently in discussions with the Ministry of Sport to help push the sport forward as soon as possible.

Talking with a source with knowledge of the discussions, meetings were held on Tuesday along with future meetings planned for today to discuss making the state-of- the-art facility available to the athletes for training, especially those with international engagements in the near future.

It was also revealed tha

Karate

thet AAG has given the Ministry of Sport a list of equipment to be purchased to aid in better using the track.

While the list was not revealed, the source noted that the discussions were fruitful and anticipates athletes being able to use the track soon in order to prepare for meets, although the permission has not yet been granted .

Meanwhile, Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony in a visit to the track on Monday highlighted that he would be happy for athletes to utilise the facility.

“As of now I think the athletes can come and use the facility in terms of training… this would be a good opportunity for them to come and test the surface run around, it’s a good opportunity because they will be running on surfaces like this out there.

“One of the things we are happy about [is that] this surface we have put in from Regupol, is like anything you would find around the world; so it’s right up there in terms of standard,” Anthony stated on Monday.

(Treiston Joseph)

The Guyana Harpy Eagle Martial Arts Academy recently returned from the TAK Karate Championships in Trinidad and Tobago, where their three-man squad placed second in the Team Kata championships.

The championships, which were held on July 5 and 6 saw Sensei Troy Bobb finishing first in Kata and second in Weapons, while Sensei Paul Ignatius was second in Kata fourth in Weapons and first in sparring.

Ignatius also thanked his main sponsors for giving him the opportunity to participate in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Junior Black Belt Rayson Gill finished second in Kata while finishing second in Weapons in his junior category.

A part of the marked track at Leonora

squad does well in Trinidad

From left: Rayson Gill, Paul Ignatius and Troy Bobb pose with their trophies. Saved as Bobb & the boys

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Winning the Open is my only goal: Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods insists winning is his only goal at this week’s Open Championship despite another injury-hit season.

Woods, who won the last

of his three Opens at Royal Liverpool in 2006, had surgery in March for a back injury that “made it difficult to get out of bed”.

But despite playing only one tournament since then,

the 14-time major champion said there was only one acceptable result at Hoylake this week.

“First,” said the American. “That’s always the case.”

At 38, after four left knee operations, as well as neck and Achilles injuries, many observers believe age and an ailing body are the biggest barriers to Woods overtaking Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major titles.

The American has not added to his tally since the 2008 US Open, but Woods is adamant he can still succeed at the highest level despite no longer having a monopoly on golf’s power game. (BBC Sport)

First black woman to win Olympic gold dies

The first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal, Alice Coachman Davis, has died in the US at the age of 90.

A US track and field legend, she set a new Olympic record, winning gold in the high jump at the 1948 London Games.

She died in hospital near her home in Albany, Georgia, on Monday, three months after suffering a stroke. Ms Coachman’s athletic achievements pre-dated the civil rights era, which meant she was barred from public sports facilities because of her colour.

She won her first national title at 16 and went on to win 25 track and field championships before retiring, aged 25, after winning the Olympic gold medal. She was inducted to the USA Track and Field Hall of fame

in 1975 and the US Olympic Hall of Fame in 2004.

Olympic historian David Wallechinsky said that on her return home to Georgia from London, she was honoured with a long motorcade. However, the black and white audiences were segregated at her official ceremony in Albany. In the 2004 interview on her career, Ms Coachman reflected that she could have won even more Olympic medals, but the Games were not held in 1940 or 1944 because of World War Two.

“Alice Coachman Davis has inspired generations of athletes to be their best and she will be missed,” US Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said in a statement. (BBC Sport)

Oscar Pistorius in row at Johannesburg club

South African athlete and murder accused Oscar Pistorius was involved in an argument at a nightclub at the weekend, his spokesperson has said. Mr Pistorius had an altercation with businessman Jared Mortimer who said he was drunk, The Star newspaper says.

Mr Pistorius’ spokesperson said the argument took place after Mr Mortimer started to “aggressively interrogate” him about his murder trial.

‘Bouncers intervene’

Mr Pistorius denies murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. He says he mistook her for an intruder, but the prosecution says he deliberately shot her dead after an argument. Ms Steenkamp was killed at Mr Pistorius’ home in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, on 14 February 2013.

Mr Mortimer said he

got involved in a row with Mr Pistorius at the nightclub in Johannesburg’s upmarket suburb of Sandton, after the athlete insulted his friends and South African President Jacob Zuma’s family, The Star reports. “I took that personally because I am very good friends with a member of the Zuma family,”

Mr Mortimer is quoted as saying.

Mr Mortimer said the Olympic sprinter was intoxicated and started to poke him in the chest while they were talking. The businessman said he then pushed Mr Pistorius away from him and the athlete fell over a chair. The club’s bouncers helped Mr Pistorius up, but were asked to remove him after he “had a confrontation with another man”, Mr Mortimer is quoted as saying.

Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for Mr Pistorius’ family, disputed

Mr Mortimer’s version of events. Mr Pistorius was in the VIP section of the club when he was approached by a man who had since been identified as Mr Mortimer, she said.

“The individual, according to my client, started to aggressively interrogate him on matters relating to the trial,” said Ms Burgess. She added that Mr Pistorius “regrets the decision to go to a public space and thereby inviting unwelcome attention”.

The Olympic sprinter’s murder trial was adjourned last week for closing arguments on 7 August. If found guilty of murder, the 27-year-old, who went on trial on 3 March, could face life imprisonment. If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could - if convicted - receive about 15 years in prison. (BBC Sport)

Former world number one Woods won the last of his three Opens at Hoylake in 2006

Coachman was a national heroine when she returned by boat from the London Olympics in 1948

WICB welcomes new Director Azim Bassarath

– considers proposal for annual curators award programme

President of the West Indies Cricket Board

Mr Dave Cameron welcomed new director Mr Azim Bassarath. Mr Bassarath has joined the Board of Directors replacing Dr Allen Sammy.

Bassarath, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, attended his first meeting at the weekend when the Board of Directors met in Antigua. “On behalf of the Board of Directors I welcome Mr Bassarath and we look forward to his contribution to West Indies Cricket in the capacity of WICB Director,” Mr Cameron said.

“I wish to also thank Dr Sammy for his years of outstanding service as Director and wish him well in his future endeavours. Dr Sammy is a stalwart whose most notable contributions will remain his work in piloting the development of umpires and match referees,” Cameron added.

“Mr Bassarath is following in some rather large footsteps but we have every confidence that his contributions will be similarly exemplary,” Cameron charged.

Bassarath, who had previously participated in teleconference meetings of the Board, said he was honoured to have been nominated by the TTCB for the position.

“It is a distinct honour to be appointed as a WICB Director. I thank the Board for the appointment which I accept with humility and I give my solemn commitment to serve with integrity,” Bassarath said. At the two day meeting at the Tradewinds Hotel, the Board of Directors received reports from the Chief Executive Officer, Michael Muirhead, Director of Cricket, Richard Pybus and reviewed and agreed in principle the proposed budget for the 2014-2015 financial year.

It also approved a recommendation for an annual Curator’s Award for the most outstanding regional

curator. Further details will be announced subsequently pending the approval of the structure of the award programme.

The Board reviewed a proposal to appoint a Regional Chief Curator who will be responsible for the oversight of the preparation of all international pitches and outfield to ensure compliance with requisite standards and requirements.

This initiative is projected to have attendant benefits such as training and education of and knowledge transfer among national curators in the region. A further projected benefit is the improvement of pitches for First Class matches.

Approval was also given to a recommendation for the WICB First Class Competition to consist of the six premier regional teams –Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands. A recommendation for six teams along with the Combined Campuses and Colleges along with other invitational teams to participate in the 2015 edition of the NAGICO Super50 was also approved.

The Board gave approval for the schedule for the New Zealand White Ferns tour of the Caribbean in September.

Female football club formed in Linden

DQueens Football Club is the newest addition to the football fraternity in Guyana.

In May of 2014, the initial stages to form the female club materialised out of the concern over the “slow pace” of female football in Linden.

Former National Player Akilah Castello, Former

Youth National Player Keiron Cameron and Andre Chester pooled their resources to form the club, which has approximately 35 members enlisted. All of the members are under the age of 19, with most attending school.

The team, which trains at the Bayroc Ground, Wismar, will see Castello as its President while Cameron will be the club’s Secretary. Chester was named as an executive committee member. The remaining posts in the club’s executive structure will be named shortly. Further, the formation of the club is also aimed at the development of the female game in Linden, while giving the girls an opportunity to be gainfully occupied during their free time.

St Romain Games on this August at Port Kaituma

– International artistes Christopher Martin and Josey Wales to perform

The mining village of Port Kaituma is expected to become a hive of activity and excitement in early August, when the highly anticipated St Romain Games return after a one-year absence.

Influential villager Conrad St Romain confirmed to Guyana Times Sport on Tuesday that the games are indeed on and that added to the sporting excitement at the Fitzburg Community Centre ground would be a beauty pageant on August 1, a gospel concert the following day and an international concert on August 3, featuring Jamaicans Christopher Martin and Josey Wales.

The games would kick off on August 1 and would

see keen inter-village rivalry among teams such as Mabaruma, Hosororo, Moruca, Wauna, Arakaka, Matthews Ridge and Port Kaituma at football, cricket, volleyball dominoes, athletics and tug-o-war.

The football games are usually the main attraction and will see teams battling for handsome monetary prizes and trophies.

The St Romain Games is one of the highlights of activities in Port Kaituma and is responsible for transforming the village into a hub for visitors to the area. “It’s like Christmas when the games are held,” Mr St Romain remarked and lamented not being able to host it last year because of financial constraints.

The organisers usually provide accommodation, meals and assist with transportation for the various teams which are usually large.

“A lot of people were disappointed that the games were not held last year and so this year I decided to give it a strong effort. Myself and I-Salam of ‘I’ Movements Promotion have put together a good package for the three days and hope that the people enjoy.”

Meanwhile, the gospel concert will feature local artistes including the popular Kester D. All of the churches in the community have been invited to deliver two items on concert night.

emerara

New WICB Director, Azim Bassarath

All of the females pose for a photo opportunity

Annual swimming camp attracts massive turnout

– Sport Ministry bemoans shortage of lifeguards

By Avenash Ramzan

One of the most wellattended swimming camps in recent years got underway on Monday morning at the Colgrain Pool, Camp Street, with the participants being urged to aim high as they embark on a new journey in their lives.

Despite an early morning downpour, the eager youngsters, between ages six and 16, turned up at the facility to commence six weeks of training in the fundamentals of the sport, compliments of the Sport Ministry in partnership with the National Sports Commission and the Guyana Amateur Swimming Association.

The course will be spearheaded by Cuban coach Isabel Maria Couso Fals with support from six other local instructors. Over the years, the programme has consistently produced quality swimmers who have gone on to represent Guyana at various age groups, both regionally and internationally.

Sport Ministry Dr Frank Anthony, who delivered feature remarks at the opening, told the participants and parents/guardians present to make maximum use of the opportunity being afforded

to them.

Minister Anthony said government has been making significant investments in the sport, making direct reference to the construction of the Olympic sized swimming pool at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal.

While he urged the youngsters to be attentive and learn the intricacies of the sport, Dr Anthony also encouraged persons with the

requisite skills to take up the role of lifeguard, an area of the sport he feels is short on human resource.

“Last year we ran a special programme for Lifeguards with a Canadian group and this year we want to offer that programme again because we feel that it is important to train lifeguards to international standards. We’re not compromising on that,” the Minister

commented.

He added, “But after that training many of those persons who received training they went off in different areas. They take the training and they’re not giving back. So I’m hoping that those of you who have swimming ability and who are interested in becoming lifeguards that we can get some of you to be trained and also that you

come back and help us because if we are going to run sessions [like the swimming camp] we’ll need people who can offer safety to the persons who are swimming. We don’t know when accidents can occur, but when they occur we must have all the safety measures and precautions in place to prevent anything serious from happening.”

According to Director of

Ramgoolam/Port Mourant Softball Cup Four…

Sport, Neil Kumar, who also attended the opening, this is just one of 11 other camps the Ministry will be hosting in various discplines during the August holiday.

While insisting that the participants must focus on their academic upliftment, Kumar also urged the youngsters to aim for excellence in their swimming pursuits.

The Parliamentarian said the ultimate aim of the camp is to bring the young swimmers up to the point where they can be transferred to the National Aquatic Centre for more advanced training. Kumar also highlighted that the programme will also serve as an avenue for the shortlist of swimmers for national duties.

Sessions will be held from 09:00h to 12:00h on weekdays with the youngsters being divided into groups, based on their age. While some of the participants are first-timers, others already some level of training and will be tutored on the more advanced aspects of swiming.

At the conclusion of the camp, the youths will be given certificates of participation, while those interested in furthering their skill will be placed in clubs.

City Stars retain title with easy win

Defending champions City Stars successfully defended their title for the fourth year in succession when the Roy Ramgoolam and family’s fourth annual Port Mourant Softball Cup T20 competition was staged on Sunday in Berbice.

Led by a Man-of-theMatch performance by Chandrashaker Arjune, City Stars defeated Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets (RHTGG) by eight wickets to cap the win.

Winning the toss and opting to field first, City Stars, who trumped the home team Port Mourant Cricket Club (PMCC) by six wickets in their semi-finals, restricted RHTGG to 38-6, before they ended on 108 all out.

John Percival made 38, while Michael Hicks and Delbert

Hicks made 18 and 15 respectively.

Arjune took 3-17 and Mahendra Baldeo, who shared the best bowler award with his skipper Krishnanand Balgobin, bagged 2-23 for City Stars, who coasted to 109-2 in reply. Arjune crowned a brilliant all-round effort, hitting an unbeaten 38, while Pooran Debidyal was unbeaten on 27 when victory was achieved.

For the win, City Stars carted off the $320,000 first place prize, a trophy and 16 medallions, while RHTGG took home $160,000, a trophy and 16 medallions for their second place finish.

In the third place playoff, PMCC defeated Tain, who lost their semi-final fixture to RHTGG, by seven wickets, to take home $80,000 and a trophy.

Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Cuban coach Isabel Maria Couso Fals and GASA president Ivan Persaud share a moment with the youngest bunch of participants before the start of Monday’s session (Photo: Chaitram Choonilall)

The victorious City Stars players strike a pose with Roy Ramloogan (black jersey) and his family, after claiming their fourth successive Roy Ramloogan/PMCC Softball Cup

Digicel hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors players

Guyana

Limacol CPL poundfor-pound battle!

Forget all the handshakes, smiles, and light-hearted jokes, as in a matter of hours, it will be time for the big showdown between home side Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel in front of what is expected to be a jam-packed and colourful Guyana National Stadium on Thursday. Both teams will be brimming with confidence after pulling off wins in their opening matches in Grenada.

For the visiting Red Steel, they would once again hope that their International Franchise Player and New Zealander, Ross Taylor, could repeat the type of form he displayed in the game against Barbados Tridents where he made an aggressive 62 to help his side to a 7-wicket win.

The Amazon Warriors, boosted by a number of quality

players including the mystery bowler Sunil Narine, attacking batsman Lendl Simmons, skipper Denesh Ramdin and Martin Guptill would also hope that some of the local players would rise to the occasion, including capable batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler Veerasammy Permaul.

Permaul had played a role in frustrating the Antigua Hawksbills batsmen in the middle overs as they lost four wickets for 15 runs, leaving them at 115-5 in the game that the Warriors eventually won.

The 24-year-old has shown that he has the composure to bowl against the best in the world. And with the homecrowd expected to get behind him, Permaul could play a vital role for the Warriors and hopefully would be among the wickets, including that of Taylor. Thurday's game bowls off at 19:00h.

Fans are urged to get their tickets early to avoid the lastminute rush. Tickets are available at the Limacol CPL OPCO office on Middle Street, Georgetown from 08:00h to 18:00h daily, including Sundays and holidays, as well as at selected Courts and Digicel stores nationwide.

Six of the

Amazon Warriors players share a moment with staff of the Digicel office on Avenue of the Republic on Tuesday (Photo: Carl Croker)