wednesday, september 23, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
The election petition filed by Executive Member of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Ganga Persaud, was heard on Tuesday during which the parties involved argued on whether or not the petition has sufficient facts to engage the court’s attention.
Tuesday’s session saw the commencement of arguments on a summons filed on behalf of Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield. The petition has named Lowenfield as one of the defendants along
with the representatives of the Lists of Candidates for all the parties that contested the 2015 General and Regional Elections on May 11.
In the petition, the PPP/C member is asking the court to grant a number of orders including the nullification of the May 11 Election results, as well as an order for new elections to be held, among several other requests.
Since the petition was filed on June 24 at the High Court in Georgetown, several summonses were coun-
ter-filed asking the court to dismiss the petition on several grounds. In addition to the CEO, Attorney General Basil Williams and Professor Harold Lutchman, who presented the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition’s list, have also filed summonses with the court. The PPP/C has also filed a summons, asking the court to order the CEO to provide certain information as it relates to the election results.
Chief Justice Ian Chang has opted to commence hearings on the Summon filed by the CEO. Lowenfield had filed the court action challenging the proceedings filed by Persaud, stating that the petition does not have sufficient facts to support the claims made. During the hearing on Tuesday, Chief Justice Ian Chang heard arguments from lawyers representing Lowenfield as well as Persaud in Chambers.
Following the hour-long session, Attorney Roycedale Forde who is representing Lowenfield, told reporters he argued in court that the material facts that are missing are an essential requirement for a legal proceeding of this nature.
“Today we started arguments on whether (the petition) has (all the material facts) or not… Our position is that failure to file certain types of material in the elec-
tion petition would render it bad. So the Chief Justice, logically, has decided that he must hear that first before hearing anything else,” Forde explained.
Meanwhile, Persaud’s Attorney, Anil Nandlall, told reporters he counterargued Forde’s position by disagreeing that there are not sufficient facts to support his clients’ case. “The petition itself is 13 pages long, it details some 28 odd grounds and the reliefs, which it seeks, are the Statutory Reliefs which are to be sought in any election petition based upon any given facts. So we could not have pleaded anymore than what we have pleaded but I suppose he (Attorney Forde) has to present arguments of some type,” the Attorney outlined.
Moreover, Nandlall is confident the court is experienced enough to deal with the contentions brought up by Attorney Forde. He posited that he has presented all the necessary information required in the petition. “I can only plead facts based upon what actually transpired. You will see about rejected ballots, facts are pleaded in relation to that. In relation to the refusal of the Returning Officer to grant a final general count, facts are pleaded about that. The fact that many rejected ballots should not have been rejected, facts are pleaded about that. Each one of the grounds that were alleged, there are sufficient facts pleaded in support,” he affirmed.
The matter was adjourned to next Monday, when the parties will continue with arguments on the summons filed by the Chief Elections Officer.
While the Chief Justice continues to hear the summonses, this will impact the substantive election petition case by delaying it. However, should Justice Chang uphold any of the summonses on the grounds proffered, he can strike out the Petition.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has vowed not to sleep nor slumber until it wins the next Regional and General Elections slated for 2020 but will work extensively to consolidate its ranks and expose the double standards and mounting acts of discrimination by the current A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government.
This is the position of former President and current Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who joined a highlevel team of PPP/C leaders who on Monday fanned out on a three-day long extensive outreach exercise in Regions Five and Six.
Over 47 planned meetings will be held to discuss a myriad of political and party matters, along with governance issues.
Those meetings will specifically focus on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), how the Opposition will be approaching Government on major issues in Guyana and Local Government Elections (LGE).
Jagdeo started off his tour with meetings at Canfield and Adelphi in East Canje, Berbice, and then closed the first day with a meeting with residents of Chesney village, Corentyne.
Jagdeo, addressing several traditional ‘bottom house’ community meetings, explained that the Party would also be using its “stint” in Opposition to plan and execute a comprehensive strategy for regaining executive power following its recent loss at the recently held May 11 Regional and General Elections.
The Opposition Leader emphasised that the PPP and its leaders has had to console hundreds of party members who became worried following the election results, as well as many who wanted to
give up hope, given their experiences in the past.
Jagdeo remarked that the period for weeping is over and it was time to put “backs to wheels” and join the Party in the struggle to regain power.
“We are going to use this period to consolidate and assess what went wrong and figure out what needs to be changed so as to strengthen the party to reconnect with grass root supporters”, he vowed.
Residents rally around Jagdeo
As the meetings commenced, there was excitement and heightened expectations in Region Six as Jagdeo and others addressed packed bottom houses and
benefit to the citizens.
Pensioners have expressed concern that after three months in office, the new Administration has removed their electricity and water subsidies and is only offering them a $3000 increase in pension despite promising to double it as soon as the party entered office if they were to win the election.
Residents said that the uniform allowance for school children has been increased by $500 but Government has taken away the $10,000 allowance which was issued last year for transportation.
Jagdeo addressing that issue specifically said that the previous Administration took a decision to give parents $10,000 per child in the
meeting centres as residents rallied around them.
Some residents said that since the new Government came to power, they felt discriminated against given the statements made by Ministers, regional party executives and supporters of the APNU/AFC fold.
Others expressed feelings of insecurity as they are being judged on race or party affiliation as Government embarks on a programme to cleanse the Public Service of people it does not believe supports it.
Many have also expressed concern over Government’s approach towards issues of
first year.
“Each year we will add $10,000 so in year five you will end up with $50,000 per child attending school in a household. So every child would get $50,000 per year, they did not increase it but instead they took it away.”
One of the major concerns was the slowing pace of the economy which has almost ground at a standstill. Jagdeo explained that the current state of the economy is because of the $19 billion which was cut from the National Budget between 2012 and 2014.
“That is money that could have entered into circulation
and created tons of jobs that would have had a multiplying effect on economic activates; they do not understand the concept of flow of money.”
He said that a call centre which was built by the PPP/C Administration and established in Linden – which is a stronghold of the current Administration – was recently closed, laying off 90 persons.
“Now the bauxite industry has started laying off, and if we are not careful in the Berbice River; because they have threatened the bauxite people… the companies could pull out and 750 families will be on the breadline.”
Jagdeo said the PPP/C is willing to sit down with Government and discuss ways to deal with Venezuela’s threat of claiming a part of the Essequibo.
“I made it clear on border issues where our sovereignty is threatened... that the Government will have our full support. We are patriots; we don’t want to see this country divided. We will fight against any attempt to destroy our territorial wholeness. We pursue this fight vigorously.”
Addressing the issue of Local Government Elections, the former Head of State said the PPP/C is prepared for it and since the PPP/C won seven of the 10n regions at the May 11 Elections, is will be looking to winning 60 of the 71 constituencies.
“We can sweep Berbice, we can do it, it is an important step in our fight to take the Government in three or five year’s time.” He furthers explained that it will be three years if they win the elections petition and five years if they lose and elections are constitutionally due.
As it relates to GECOM, the Opposition Leader said the party will continue to push to have its Chairman resign.
Editor(ag): Michael Younge
Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134
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In recent weeks, there has been much rhetoric about the need for the newly elected Government and official Opposition to engage in talks for ‘national unity’ and a ‘national unity Government’ in Guyana and concomitantly, about creating the atmosphere of the said outcome. Some of the more seasoned political commentators have already added their voices to the discourse.
A majority of them have been critical of the opposition Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) for its negative position on the purported invitation issued to the party to start discussions by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who was reportedly selected to chair a "national unity committee".
Others like Ralph Ramkarran, a sympathetic supporter of the new coalition Government, in attempting to push the PPP into the "talks" have muddied the waters of Guyana’s political history especially with respect to the role played by the PPP in attempting to find a permanent solution to the governance and political problem facing the country since before it gained independence back in 1966.
But what is studiously ignored is that the Government is obviously confused as to what it really wants to engage the PPP on.
Some of its officials and spokespersons have floated the notion of "shared Governance" while the Prime Minister is talking about creating ‘national unity’, and the President, ‘inclusive democracy’.
Others depending on the hat they are wearing and the audience they are addressing are pushing the goal of creating a "Government of National Unity that includes the PPP as a member of that Government.
While all of these concepts may appear similar, in reality, given the evolution of political philosophy, ideologies and the inevitable dynamic nature of political science, they are distinct in their form, function and political outcomes. In fact, depending on what is being pursued, there could massive impacts on the way future Governments are elected while requiring massive constitutional, ordinary legislative and electoral reforms.
The PPP/C has adopted the pragmatic and realistic posture from the outset given its own historical experiences. PPP’s founding father and former President Cheddi Jagan fought tirelessly through the 1960’s until the 1990’s to create national unity amongst the masses by pursuing various political, social and economic proposals which all had a nationalistic and genuine undertone. The PPP always insisted on a programmatic rather than a contrived personal approach.
Those proposals failed because of lack of genuine support and commitment from the Peoples National Congress which frustrated the process by consistently rigging elections, engaging in acts of political and ethnic manipulation during its tenure in office which deepened the racial divide in the country.
In 2003, the party finally outlined the most sensible approach to talks about national unity, shared governance and inclusive democracy. It said that parties must embark upon a process of building trust and confidence among their ranks and members.
If there is any truth that there are still high levels of racial intolerance and divisiveness then the political parties hold the answer in their blossoms if they agree on a series of non-political measures to create unity and then work their way to addressing some of the most non-controversial issues related to women, children and human rights.
But the actions of the new Government have jeopardized all future relations with the PPP which is now in opposition.
There are the firings (which were occurred too under the PPP/ C’s tenure to a far lesser extent), the ongoing fishing expedition for acts of corruption as a means of quarantining PPP officials and settling old scores, the exclusion of the PPP in basic governance events and trips, and the continued anti-PPP posture of the new Government which are major obstacles to commencement of genuine and franks talks.
There is no formal invitation from the Offices of the Prime Minister and President for discourse and this is deliberate. The Government cannot seriously field the most objectionable candidates in the persons of Vice Presidents Nagamootoo and Ramjattan to the PPP as suggestions to lead these talks and expect the PPP/C to accept these are genuine talks on national unity. The medium can be the message.
The posture adopted by this new Government is no different from those adopted by the Governments of Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte, which were all aborted.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee know this and will not take the bait to be part of another political farce and a fatally flawed process that is bound to fail because of the animosities, lack of trust and resentment that exists amongst the political parties.
Never again "national unity" be used as a means of ‘window dressing’ for the sponsors of the government. If we genuinely want real talks about unity, let us take time to craft a real agenda, outline a process and conduct discourse in the public space and for the world to see. No more closed door talks.
We must stand up and speak out against the vaccine alarmists
Dear Editor, I recall when the Health Ministry introduced three vaccines as part of our immunization program several years ago, there was a tiny sprinkling of objection, with a number of local vaccine alarmists saying that the vaccines will hurt our children. The three vaccines were the pneumococcal, rotavirus and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines.
The bid to become the Presidential Candidates of their respective political parties in the US Presidential Election in 2016 will be remembered for several reasons, one of which is reckless positions by some of the candidates. Dr Ben Carson’s statement that no Muslim should ever be President of America will forever stand as one of the most bigoted position taken by a candidate for the US Presidency ever.
Equally reckless is the position of three of the candidates – Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Rand Paul – proposing limitation on the use of vaccines for children. Donald Trump even linked vaccines to autism. While Carson dissociated himself from the autism nonsense, he supported the proposal for limited use of vaccines. He even suggested that some of the vaccines in use today to keep children healthy are useless and dangerous. Rand Paul allowed the statements to go unchallenged. It should be noted that Paul and Carson are doctors and Carson has made his medical qualification an important part of his credentials to be President. While this note focuses on three candidates, I am not
aware at this time that any other candidate has challenged the dangerous views of these three candidates.
Before the 1990s, more than 20 million children under age 5 died annually. At the UN General Assembly to report on the MDGs this coming week, it will be reported that by the end of 2014, the annual number of deaths for children under age 5 has dropped to under 6M. Every child that dies from a preventable disease is a scandal and I had proposed in 2008, as President of the WHO, that we should develop and fund programs to ensure that no child dies from a preventable disease or cause by 2025. While we have done well, there is still vast space for further reduction and for elimination of any preventable death.
There are several factors that account for the dramatic reduction in child deaths around the world. Better access to health care and education, less hunger and better sanitation are all factors in improved lives for children. But no one can deny the significant and indispensable roles clean water, antibiotics and vaccines have played in improved health and life expectancies around the world.
Vaccines rank in the top five in terms of saving lives around the world, including in developed countries like America. Indeed, if we could ensure that every child has access to vaccines around the world, there would be a further reduction of about 2 to 3M deaths per year. It is the reason why the WHO has worked tirelessly to ensure better funded and op-
erational immunization programs in every country. In the Caribbean, we have virtually ended children deaths from vaccine preventable diseases. This is also true in all developed countries.
Re-emergence of vaccine preventable like measles in America has put children’s lives at risk. It has occurred because of the less than adequate immunization coverage in several US cities. It comes at a time when there is a relentless attack on vaccines and a linkage to increasing incidence of autism in many developed countries. Yet there is no credible evidence linking vaccines to autism. But this has not stopped several celebrities from trying to hug publicity for themselves, while risking the lives of innocent children.
Unfortunately, there is a well-organized anti-vaccine campaign, particularly in developed countries and particularly in the USA. Hollywood-types have become involved. But I am alarmed by the sprinkling of American politicians who have become a part of this movement. Now I am called to action since I am stunned that this most repugnant movement has become a serious part of the US Presidential Election Campaign. We are “dissing” vaccines without an iota of scientific evidence.
The vaccine alarmists now include Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Rand Paul. More than a week has passed since they made their most public statements against vaccines and none of the other candidates and few of the scientific bodies have found
time to denounce their false positions. It is our duty to vehemently reject these positions. Vaccine alarmists have linked vaccines to autism, brain damage, multiple sclerosis and seizures, but have never provided any credible evidence. All they have done is spread fear and put children’s lives at great risk.
Panels of experts everywhere have confirmed that vaccines are safe and that they work to prevent morbidity and mortality. Indeed, panels of experts everywhere have confirmed that the greatest risks faced by children in developed and developing counties are lack of access to vaccines.
I believe that we must not allow these false, nutty and dangerous statements to go unchallenged. I am disappointed that organizations like the WHO, PAHO, the US CDC, the Institute of Medicine, the American Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics etc. are not more engaged in dismissing these reckless statements. I am disappointed that prestigious institutions like the Harvard School of Public Health are not more vocal in correcting these asinine statements. We need to correct these statements and such corrections do not constitute interference in an electoral process. It is our duty as public health and development proponents. If we are not provoked to take a public stance at this time about a matter that impact on lives in America and across the world, our future is doomed.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com
Dear Editor, I would like to suggest to the Government of Guyana to make GHK Lall instead of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, the head of officials on the issue of social cohesion and national unity talks. I believe GHK Lall is best suited to the team because he was talking about social cohesion when no one did. He is an exceptional negotiator and the only one who has written and spoken extensively on unity. His many years working on Wall Street in New York has given him a lot experience in negotiations.
GHK is also well versed in every branch of learning, gifted with knowledge and good judgment. He was trained in, and exposed to years of negotiating, mentoring, partnering, diversity developing and when those things were new and unheard of.
GHK possesses an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of race, unity and society, from his early family context to schooling to working relationships GHK has the special ability to interpret the meanings, demands, and nuances of social cohesion and unity.
Whenever President Granger consult with GHK in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, social cohesion and racial discrimination, he will find that GHK many times more committed and more integrated into the spirit
of social cohesion than any of the Government officials in the country.
When it comes to working with the Opposition, GHK is less emotional, and more temperate than Prime Minister Nagamootoo.
In 2013, GHK posited that the future of our country will be dismal if Guyanese don›t do anything to bring about social cohesion and racial unity. According to his book, «Sitting on a Racial Volcano,» «That there is a damning, irrefutable racial component in Guyanese life; that it haunts, terrifies, and enrages; that is grows quietly, but determinedly; and that it promises a terrible calamity for the peoples of this society. The bottom line is that there is a racial volcano that burns deep within; it is one that is recklessly stoked; and through its very presence and muted heat generates a spirit of continual agitation», he wrote.
Since GHK is one of the best qualified as the subject matter expert on social cohesion from his living, his learning, and interest in obeying the commandment of love for neighbours in our country, I strongly recommend him as a participant in the social cohesion talks with the Opposition. He has challenged others about self-sacrifice, while he quietly lives it. Now, it is time to come out of the shadows and take it to the nation.
Sincerely,
Anthony Pantlitz
Dear Editor,
The poor Berbicians have nowhere to go: no parks, gardens, malls, theatres, downtown, nothing. So you can’t blame them for showing up to the Berbice Expo at Albion. It starts with a parking and traffic nightmare on the road from as far as Fyrish.
No forethought was put into facilitating traffic it seems. Then the exhibits
are the same stale and recurrent Guysuco, Beharry, Agriculture Ministry, insurance, furniture, craft, appliances, household items, games and attractions which were on display for the past 10 expos.
There is an abundance of pamphlets, brochures and flyers which are all thrown on the road and rubbish bins at home. Also, if a visitor leaves the
ground he or she is expected to pay again to re -enter.
Not only did the Opening Ceremony start over 1 1/2 hours late, most of the items and booths that were there didn’t even showcase anything from Berbice.
So what does the four day event water down to?
Persons attending with their families, friends and children saw what they
have seen every year for the past 10 years, doing what has been done for the past 10 years, walking where they had walked before at the past 10 expos and reliving the past ten years of the Berbice Expo. Berbice Expo has lost its pizazz. Maybe it should take a break and come back fresh in five years.
Sincerely,
Leon Suseran
Dear Editor,
To my utter dismay, I am confounded by the response of some persons to the untimely and unfortunate death of a Chinese worker on the airport construction site. My shock stems from some peoples’ relief that the deceased was not Guyanese.
Apart from acknowledging that a life has been lost –regardless of race, a life is a life. This behaviour speaks volumes about our level of ingratitude to the contribution of the Chinese to the development of Guyana. We have sorely underestimated the contributions of the Chinese Government and by extension, the Chinese community present here.
Chinese nationals currently constitute the larg-
est foreign nationals present in Guyana. In the last ten years the largest development projects have been undertaken and financed by Chinese companies. The Cheddi Jaggan International Airport Upgrade, the Guyana International Conference Center, The Marriott Hotel and the upgrade of the Kingston Power Plant to name a few contributions to Guyana’s development.
Furthermore, the Chinese Government has also donated two roll onroll off ferries, contributed in financing the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric project and was the major contributor to the One Laptop Per Family Programme.
China has a US$ 3.56 trillion in foreign reserves
and is being courted by other Caricom countries for much desired investment financing. Historically China has been a reliable partner in the development of Guyana and we should value this relationship if we want to ensure investors continue to be part of our society.
My condolences to the family of the China Harbour employee, Mr. Li. May he rest in peace.
Sincerely,
Alli Hovell
By DeBBie Pincus Ms LMhc
Have you ever noticed that when things aren’t going right, particularly with your children, your knee-jerk reaction is to do more of something – not less? If they are not listening to you, you most likely raise your voice, rather than lower it. If they are struggling with something difficult, you jump in with loads of ideas, rather than keeping quiet or offering only one or two ideas.
From day one, we’ve been conditioned to over-function for our children. By overdoing, over-giving, and over-praising, we are contributing to their ultimate dependence on these things.
Maybe for some children and for some parents, this is true some of the time – but most of the time it is not. Often, giving more of those things is a sure way to impair our children. Even though we react this way out of love, we can be causing the very opposite result of what we intend.
others’ needs and be empathetic to their feelings. Yes, that is important, but only up to a point.
emotions.
In truth, however, a softer voice would probably be more effective in getting their attention, while offering fewer of your own ideas would motivate them to devise their own solutions.
In our culture, there is a strong assumption that when our children are struggling it means they need more: more attention, more time, more focus, more love. Johnny seems a bit day-dreamy lately, so perhaps he needs more attention from his parents. Jessie isn’t doing well enough in school this semester, maybe she needs more focus from teachers and parents. Or Emma seems to have low self-esteem, so maybe she needs more love, acknowledgement, and approval.
Stop over-giving, over-praising, and over-sharing
As a result, now Jessie believes she can’t manage her schoolwork without lots of help from her parents. Emma can’t feel good about herself unless she gets others’ approval and acknowledgement, while Johnny doesn’t know how to regulate himself without getting others’ time, focus and attention. We have unwittingly encouraged dependence rather than self-reliance. Children get addicted. And sometimes we parents get our own validation by feeling useful and necessary through over-doing for our children. But in the end, they learn helplessness rather than resilience.
Tolerating our children’ pain
We hear all the time that in order to be a good parent, partner, or friend it is important to fulfill
For example, 13-yearold Nicole was very anxious about going on sleepovers at friends’ houses. Her parents empathised with her pain and struggle so much that they ran to pick her up as soon as she texted them with any indication of her discomfort. They would bring her home and hug her and listen to her express her sadness about “failing” again. They would do whatever they could to make her feel better and assure her that she had not failed, she was just not ready.
Is it possible that what
If Nicole’s parents acknowledged her struggle and pain without rescuing her from it, Nicole could finally have grown up and become a more self-reliant and responsible person. This, of course, requires the parents to tolerate her pain. Although it can be very hard to do, it is only when parents can raise their tolerance level for their child’s pain that their child can be motivated to do the same.
When more is the answer
So is more ever better than less? Of course – here are four examples.
Nicole re- ally needed was to become more responsible for herself? Her parents could have encouraged her to challenge her fear, manage her anxiety, and regulate her own
3. Think less about your children’s feelings and more about helping them function at their best. “You may not feel like saying you are sorry to your cousin, but I am holding you accountable to do the right thing.”
4. Think less about buying into their whining and complaining and more about helping them manage and regulate themselves. “I know that you hate doing your chores but when I ask you to do them I expect them to get done. You can be unhappy about it, but please find a way not to drag others down when you are unhappy.”
1. Do more for yourself and less for your child. In this case, doing less empathizing, less “meeting her needs,” and less focusing on her is actually a more caring and responsible position for a parent to take.
2. Think less about fulfilling your children’ needs and more about helping them be responsible for their own. For instance, “I am not running back to school so that you can get the homework books you forgot – you will have to find a way to find out what is due tomorrow or make it up.”
Be there for your children in the ways they actually need you, but move out of their way otherwise. And learn to know the difference.
Letting go
When you are told by teachers, in-laws and friends that your children seem to need more from you – attention, time, focus, acknowledgement, approval –stop and think hard about it. Do they really? Are you actually neglecting them? If so, then of course you should do more of what they need from you.
However, in the more likely scenario, they are getting more than enough from you. So it’s best for them if you cut back and let them struggle to find their own legs. Letting go will leave you feeling wobbly at first, but with practice and time, you will find your own strong legs to stand on. (www. empoweringparents.com)
By DeBBie Pincus Ms LMhc
Calm Parenting – most of us aspire to it, desire it, and even promise ourselves we’re going to do it – but it’s so difficult to sustain. We know how important it is to parent from our principles rather than from our fears, but despite our best intentions we lose it and end up yelling at those we love the most – our children.
And why? Actually for good reason. We often blame our children for our outbursts and convince ourselves that it’s because they don’t listen, are disrespectful, sassy, or misbehave. It’s important to understand that these are just our triggers – actions, behaviour or events that push our buttons and often make us react without thinking. Added to that, we parents have strong feelings when it comes to parenting; they can run the gamut from fear, to sadness, to helplessness, and more. Parenting is a very personal experience and our feelings can easily get in our way of logic and wise reasoning. After all, we’re only human! Understand that all feelings are natural, normal and acceptable – but all behaviours are not. Our challenge is to accept our feelings, but take control of our behavior when our strong feelings are triggered.
Triggers and buttons
And what triggers our feelings so strongly? We are all vulnerable to different emotions that can set off an alarm bell inside of us. Some of us become easily angered and others deeply fearful. So many hurts and disappointments and struggles happen as we raise our children, and each of these emotional experiences forces us to confront our true selves, our “unfinished business,” and our fears. Parenting can expose us to our own deep, dark self – the pretty and not so pretty – some of which we were probably hoping to keep out of sight! These moments of awareness are painful and can get in the way of our desire and commitment to be calm and speak kindly and reasonably to our children. Of course, our explosion leaves us feeling more guilty and hopeless as parents – and the cycle continues. When the sun is shining and all is going well we feel that we have this calm parenting thing under control. But when stress hits, buttons get pushed and heat starts rising all logic and reason and book smarts goes out the window and alarms start blaring. (www.empoweringparents.com)
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is now ‘back up to strength’ with the appointment of former Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn and former Human Services and Social Security Minister Bibi Shaddick as Commissioners.
The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Commissioners were sworn in on Tuesday by President David Granger in the presence of GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally; Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; GECOM Commissioner, Attorney Sase Gunraj and Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at the Ministry of the Presidency.
Benn and Shaddick have now replaced Mohamood Shaw and Athmaram Mangar who had penned their resignations recently, joining Attorney Gunraj, who was sworn in as a PPP/C Commissioner in February.
President Granger, in his address, said he was confident that the newly appointed Commissioners will discharge their duties without fear or favour, affection or ill will. He also used the opportunity to applaud the Commission on its ability to maintain stability in the electoral process. “Elections
in Guyana are now on stable footing and I would like to congratulate the Chairman, the Chief Elections Officer and the members of the Commission.”
However, he said that there were some obstacles that must be overcome such as the timely delivery of election results, as he pointed to the examples set by Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. “Of course, we are all impressed with the fact that in our sister Caricom countries – Jamaica and Trinidad – the results were announced even before mid night. I am sure it’s a chal-
lenge that we will eventually be able to meet.”
The untimely delivery of the May 11 General and Regional Elections results was of major concern not only to local stakeholders but international organisations such as the Electoral Observation Mission of the Organisation of American States (EOM/OAS) who had observed the electoral process here. Subsequent to the elections, EOM/OAS in its preliminary findings called on GECOM to put an effective system in place that would allow for the timely delivery of results.
“The Mission encourages GECOM to consider implementing a system of issuing preliminary results for national elections,” OAS Chief of Mission Lisa Shoman had said, noting that the use of technology should be able to assist in this regard.
The EOM/OAS had acknowledged that the process of transmitting the results in Guyana contains safeguards to reinforce the accuracy of the outcome, but the manual process was inherently time-consuming. (smarshall@guyanatimesgy.com)
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), in a statement issued on Tuesday, said it has been left “perplexed” after an article recently issued by the Kaieteur Newspaper stated “Worrying loopholes exist at GRA – Finance Minister”.
The Authority explained that the article published on Friday, September 18, quotes extensively the remarks made by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, but made no reference to the fact that those remarks date back to the Minister’s inaugural 2015 National Budget presentation in Parliament and other occasions where public pro-
nouncements about the GRA were made.
The Authority further explained that “a good case in point was the Friday, August 14 article captioned “GRA says ready to work with Govt. in new direction” in which the newspaper carried an almost identical article.”
The GRA said that it was now left to question the relevance and newsworthiness of an issue that was already in the public domain and whether there was an agenda by certain sections of the media.
Furthermore, the statement mentioned this should by no means be interpret-
“Suffering” bus operators stand with BBCI – stage picketing demonstration for relief
BY ANDREW CARMICHAEL
Minibus operators
plying the number 56 route (New Amsterdam-Rosignol) have staged a protest against the water taxi service which started to operate on Monday plying the Berbice River New Amsterdam-Rosignol route.
The operators who are also in solidarity with the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) which is also losing revenues as a result of the new service on the Berbice River.
The minibus operators staged their demonstration in the vicinity on the Berbice Bridge at De Edward on Tuesday.
Their claim is that it is no longer profitable for them
“He came at the park before 6:30 in the morning like everybody else and still he couldn’t get to full by the time 8’Oclock in the night” – a bus operator said
to operate and cannot compete meaningfully with the water taxi service, which is also adversely affecting the BBCI since it was introduced by the Government to under-
mine the Bridge. President of the Association Dennis Chesney said after one day of operation, their business was reduced to less than half.
On Mondays, buses would normally make two trips, however, last Monday they were reduced to one trip per bus.
“But one of the busses he could not work. He came at the park before 06:30h in the morning like everybody else and still he couldn’t get to full by the time eight o’ clock in the night.”
Chesney explained that there are 49 busses in the Association with 14 being off each day. “They stay home every day because the amount of busses that we have on the route we don’t have the amount of passengers.”
Therefore, each bus is
only allowed to operate five days per week.
According to Chesney, when the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) utilised the services of a pontoon, it only operated in the morning and afternoons.
“The water taxi is working whole day and it is carrying the people free, so who will travel with the bus if they could go free. The bridge is losing toll because the busses would cross the river.”
He said many of the operators’ have loans to repay for the vehicles which they operate.
“We feel that the Government and those who are involved should come to a quick arrangement that everybody could get to live. This country is for all and not for some to get it and the others can’t survive.
ed to mean that the GRA does not respect the role of the media to keep the public informed on current issues and events, but it must pursue all efforts to guard against bad publicity and its dangers.
For the record, however, the GRA did indicate its support for the Government’s vision for a new and improved tax agency that promised quality service delivery and efficient revenue collection, and also applauded the Minister for recognising the entity’s role in contributing to the bulk of revenues intended for the Consolidated Fund.
wednesday, september 23, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
Almost two years after the death of her fouryear-old son Jaden Mars, his mother Natalie Casey is still seeking justice and trying to put the pieces of her life back together.
The broken-hearted mother said that she was now forced to be in the eyes of the media once again as she was still waiting on answers.
Mars succumbed on December 10, 2013 while receiving treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital for an injured tongue. A post-mortem performed on the body of the four-yearold proved that he died from a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that had travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream (pulmonary embolism). It has since been alleged that malpractice on the part of the medical workers who attended to the child at the time was the sole cause of his death.
The mother shared that when the post-mortem examination was being done, she had asked someone to bear witness to the process.
Jaden Mars
She identified that person as current Public Health Minister George Norton, who she claimed told her that her son’s death was due to negligence and advised her to immediately take up legal action, which she went ahead with.
Casey noted that the case has since been concluded on the part of the Georgetown Public Hospital and was handed over to the Health Ministry. It is now before the Nursing and Medical Council. She further mentioned that the Council had indicated that persons were
found to be negligent and responsible for her son’s death and disciplinary action would be taken against the said individuals.
The bereaved mother stated that there was still no word from the Council about the completion of its part. “I need the nurses and Medical Council to do their job and discipline the persons responsible and to be professional and call me or my lawyer and let us know that this is the action that was taken against the persons that were responsible for the death of my son.”
She added that if the Council could not do its job, the health system would never improve as no one was being punished for acts of negligence that endangered people’s lives.
Casey shared that she is still living in torment, as she cannot enjoy her life; she is waiting on persons to do their jobs so her son can receive justice.
Additionally, Casey shared that when the current Government was in Opposition, it had shared that her son’s case would be one of the first that it would
look into if it got elected and would attempt to reach a monetary settlement with her.
She noted that the Government did make contact with her through Attorney Jaya Manickchand, and presented her with a settlement. However, Casey stated that the conditions of the settlement, which she did not disclose, were too much for her to agree to, although she responded positively to the settlement offer.
She had inquired if the conditions could be negotiated or removed. Casey noted that it has been about three months since, and she has received no word from the Ministry. Also while waiting on word from the Ministry, the mother shared that she had relaxed on her son’s case, and added that it was infuriating that these institutions were yet to do their part in this matter.
“If they are waiting on me to give up, I never gave up on my child when he was alive and I won’t give up on seeking justice for him now,” Casey declared. (jpinder@ guyanatimesgy.com)
...or no incentives?
Our Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin - who just happens to be a businessman (jewellery)weighed in on why our country's so economically anaemic. We're not manufacturing enough. Fair enough. The success story of the last century has been China and they did it by becoming the workshop of the world. Manufacturing is the way to go baby!!
So why aren't we manufacturing more goods? Forget all the talk about high energy costs and so on (like maybe lack of skills? Lack of finance etc. etc.) Gaskin says its boils down to a simple fact that our business class aren't "innovative" enough. They're just stick-in-the-muds who want to do the same ole, same ole. But Gaskin is a bit reductionist, isn't he?? We don't want him to do an infinite regression...but shouldn't he have then asked why Guyanese businessmen aren’t more "innovative"?
I would hope that he doesn't think it's genetic!! So if it's behavioural, then as the fella in charge of getting businesses up and running, he should be asking how he can get those innovative juices flowing! And the funny thing is he alluded to the answer without even recognising it! He said that businesses in Guyana would rather "retail" rather than "manufacture" - because they earn more profits in retailing.
And there you have it! To solve the problem the Government has to make manufacturing more profitable than retailing. Why would any fella with half a brain go into manufacturing plastic buckets when he can import shiploads of the stuff at a fraction of what it would've cost him to manufacture? What every country in the history of the planet has done is to give incentives to encourage the behaviour you want. And with business its PROFITS, baby!!
And we've done it before with one of the tools at our disposal. There's tax holidays, cheap money, industrial sites with infrastructure - and yes - cheap energy and protected markets. For instance we used to import shiploads of chicken from the US. Then the Government introduced a 100% tax on imported chicken so that it encouraged local businessmen to jump into the chicken business. This is called the "infant industry" protection gambit. Today we're self sufficient in chicken, no? That's innovation, no?
But to this Government "profit" is a dirty word. And that's why our businessmen will never be innovative. Innovation means taking risks...and this has to be rewarded.
Look what private investors in BBCI got for taking risks to finance a "public structure". They were financially innovative launch one of the first P3 investment in the region.
But today, the Government calls them "bloodsuckers". ...or price gouging?
But even though the Government acts like profit's a dirty word, that's only when it comes to PRIVATE businesses. With the businesses it runs - then you have to run for the hills. Take GuyOil, which is owned by the Government. And why is the Government in the oil business? Well to provide competition to those nasty private oil companies. At least that's what it says. Some competition!
Folks don't realise the Government's the biggest oil importer the in country - with billings of $50B annualły. Now that's real money, no? But with world oil prices heading determinedly downwards, who haven't we the ordinary citizens at the gas pumps getting a break? Why should our relatives in New York - earning ten times our salaries - be paying less than half for gas?
Well we can thank our Government for that!
After all didn't they say that private investors should take a haircut on the Berbice Bridge?
...on unity talks
The Government says it wants the lion lie down with the lamb in our political arena. But the PPP aren't too enamoured of PM Nagamootoo as lead negotiator. From the PNC's perspective though, he's the best man for the job.
Even a scrap thrown his way is accepted with gratitude!! He won't give away the store!!
Six drivers were each fined $7500 after they pleaded guilty to driving under the influence recently, subsequent to being nabbed in the Guyana Police Force’s “name and shame” anti-drunk driving campaign.
Marishal Persaud of Lot 48 Albion, Corentyne, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on August 8, while driving motor vehicle PJJ 9630 on the Springlands Public Road, Corentyne. He was found to
be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol; as such, he was charged and two days later appeared at the Springlands Magistrate Court where he pleaded guilty and was fined.
On August 9, Chandrakant Narsingh, of Number 69 Village, Corentyne, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser while driving motor vehicle HC 4021 on the Number 51 Public Road, Corentyne. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He
too was charged and the following day appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court where he pleaded guilty.
Meanwhile, Ramesh Kemraj, of Lot 15 B Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice (WCB), was driving motor vehicle GNN 5203 on the Bush Lot Access Road on August 9 when the Police stopped and tested him with a breathalyser. The man was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol; hence, a charge was in-
stituted against him. He was subsequently charged and appeared at the Blairmont Magistrate Court the next day, where he pleaded ‘guilty’ to the DUI offence.
Also on August 9, Nezamodeen, of Lot 42 Yakusari North, Black Bush Polder, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser while driving motor vehicle GKK 56 on the Number 51 Public Road, Corentyne. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol and was charged. On the follow-
ing day, he appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court where he too pleaded guilty.
In addition, Hemansoorai Ishmail of Lot 4 Whim, Corentyne, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on August 9 while driving motor vehicle BTT 4821 on the Number 62 Public Road, Corentyne. He was charged after the Police found that he was above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. The man appeared at the Skeldon Magistrate’s
Court the following day and pleaded guilty to the charge.
Finally, Rishiram Netechandra, of Number 60 Village, Corentyne, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on August 9 while driving motor vehicle HB 2522 on the Number 62 Public Road, Corentyne. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court the next day where he also pleaded guilty to the offence.
Aspray painter was on Tuesday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder.
Rohan Persaud, 37, also called “Mango” of Grant 10 Crabwood Creek, was not required to plead when Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh read the charge to him.
It is alleged that on September 17, at Crabwood Creek, Persaud murdered Ganesh Permaul called “Bunjal”.
Permaul, 29, of Lot
32 Grant 1803 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, was found dead by Persaud who claimed that he discovered the body after returning home.
It had been reported in the media that Permaul and Persaud had been imbibing the entire evening before the day in question and early the next day.
It was also reported that Persaud gave Permaul money to purchase a bottle of rum and he did not return within the expected time.
After lunch when Permaul showed up, he said
that he used the money to do something other than purchasing rum and he was given a “a good licking, fo the rum.’”
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Godfrey Playter asked the court to have the next court date in two weeks, since the Police were seeking advice on the matter. Magistrate Singh fixed the next date for the case at October 12 when the Police will be expected to present a report.
Persaud, a father of three, and Permaul had been friends.
Scotiabank, in collaboration with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), has once again launched its exciting business plan competition called the Scotiabank LivePitch Business Plan, one of the Bank’s prime initiatives in observation of Small Business Week (September 21 to 25).
The competition will see the writer of the best business proposal winning $500,000 in a startup business account with Scotiabank.
Existing and potential
small business owners desirous of participating must use Scotiabank’s free online Plan Writer tool to prepare the business plan, which must be submitted to the Bank before October 23. The tool can be accessed at guyana.scotiabank.com under the “Small Business” tab. The Competition is opened to Guyanese, 18 years old and above. Entries can be submitted via email to jennifer.cipriani@scotiabank.com or via hardcopy addressed to Jennifer Cipriani, Manager Marketing, Scotiabank at 63 Robb Street, Georgetown. The judging of the com-
petition will be done by an independent panel comprising members of the GCCI and Scotiabank business banking officers.
The finalists, identified after a preliminary round of judging, will then be required to pitch their business idea to the judges on Scotiabank Money Moves television show aired on Wednesday on the National Communications Network (NCN) Channel 11 from 20:05hrs. This forum will facilitate a public voting process which will be used to determine the winner of the competition. Scotiabank
noted that the option to stream the show online is currently being explored to target a wider audience. Daily tips will be published in all of the newspapers, on the Bank’s Facebook page and during the Scotiabank Money Minute aired on 98.1 Hot FM at 7:30h Monday to Friday.
Small Business Week is observed by Scotiabank in Guyana every September. In addition to the competition, Scotiabank will embark on other initiatives geared towards educating existing and potential small business owners on the tools and resources available to help them establish and grow their businesses.
Last year’s winning prize of $300,000 went to Lester Woolward and Samantha Austin for the startup of a new business called C-Post Couriers.
Based on the submissions received that year, it was revealed that many existing and potential small business owners have a lack of understanding on the preparation of information necessary for business plans as most applicants failed to articulate the vision they were trying to project and they were weak with their financial marketing plans.
The judges had advised that these elements were crucial in the preparation of the business plan as they assured the lending agency that the business operation would be rewarding and any investment into the entity would be valuable.
(devinas@guyanatimesgy.com)
Satiricus couldn't get over how things had changed since he was a "small boy". There was the not-so-small matter of how most folks nowadays had cut down all the fruit trees in their yards. And Satiricus wasn't just talking about "town people". He wondered, not too idly how young men wiled away the hours he and his friends used to plot how to filch mangoes and guavas and assorted delectable right off the neighbours' branches.
"Probably planning how to filch cell phones, that's what," he concluded glumly. No wonder Pressie had pardoned sixty of them after the law had cruelly incarcerated them. Innocuous childhood prank, what? Satiricus wished old Man Nazar had been as understanding as Pressie. He still had the welts the old geezer had laid on his back after he'd caught the young Satiricus relieving his sapodilla tree of some of its burden. After holding out for three hours, Satiricus had to descend the tree to face the fury of Nazar. Nature, as well as his mother, called.
Another thing that'd changed was money. Back then, a $20 bill was as rare as a fist-sized gold nugget. And could get you the corresponding loot when you took it to the corner shop. Today? Even with a billion here and a billion there, you're not talking real money. And that's why Satiricus was shocked at all the fuss the opposition was making about Minister Jerdon misplacing $23B!! "That's twenty three followed by nine zeroes!!" thought Satiricus in amazement! "Jeez, I don't even have that many grains of sand in my driveway. But that's peanuts, nowadays!"
Then again, it wasn't as if the Minister had actually LOST the small change. All he'd done was to put it into the wrong column in his bookkeeping ledger. Instead of the column marked "Oil" he's placed it in the one for "rice". It was a mistake anyone could make, no? Satiricus could only nod to himself. He remembered that time his bank had made some wrong entry in his bankbook and Satiricus suddenly had been made into a millionaire. Until the next day, when the number was subtracted - but not before Satiricus had planned his trip to Hawaii.
So he could understand how deflated the rice farmers felt when they thought they were getting $9000 per bag of paddy!! But hey, the Minister did apologise didn't he?
That was when he'd said, "Ooops!! I meant, oil, not rice!!"
Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday arrested a man who was found in possession of a quantity of narcotics.
According to Police Public Relations Officer (PR) Ivelaw Whittaker, around 22:35h on Monday,
ranks were on mobile patrol at D’Edward Village Public Road, West Coast Berbice, when they spotted a man acting in a suspicious manner. The officers stopped the man and conducted search on his person during which they unearthed a quanti-
ty of cannabis sativa (marijuana). The man was arrested and taken into custody, where the drug was weighed and amounted to 3.997 kilograms. The man remains in custody and is expected to be charged and placed before the courts.
“Unity talks”
....PPP insists on “formal” invitation with agenda
President David Granger on Tuesday said there was a high possibility of the Government and the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) engaging in unity talks, as high-level contact has already been made to secure this.
“I have had meetings with Mr [Bharrat] Jagdeo and he has not ditched or dismissed (the Government). He has indicated that some of the matters that were raised need to be subject of consultation with the rest of the PPP,” President Granger said.
While declining to divulge much information about the substance of the “matters raised”, the President assured the press that his Administration and the PPP/C led by Opposition
Leader Jagdeo would meet in the future.
“We will meet again when he wants or when we want…The first invitation I thought was adequate and the door is opened for further meetings and we have established contact between Mr Jagdeo on his side and somebody on our side, high-level contact and between those two persons they are capable of reconvening a meeting with a day’s notice.”
On Monday, the PPP said while it has not received any formal invitation by Government to participate in its proposed unity talks, such an invitation might be premature since the A Partnership for
TNational Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) alliance must first settle its own obvious internal differences.
The PPP said too that Government was making the assertion that “things are in the pipeline” when they actually were not.
“Mr Harmon spoke as though there is already agreement between the two sides to engage formally and that the process should begin with an exchange of correspondence on the modalities for talks when there is none.
“For Mr Harmon’s information and guidance, there is no such agreement. The PPP has not received any formal communication on the matter nor are we requesting any,” PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee told journalists on Monday.
Rohee said there was actually much confusion in the APNU/AFC camp on this matter and it seemed best that the alliance settled its internal differences and put its house in order before any attempt was made to engage the PPP.
The PPP had earlier shot down the move by Government to have Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo lead the talks when it was first announced by the latter in a meeting at Whim in Berbice. Opposition Leader Jagdeo had said that if it were to be, the PPP would rather have President Granger in such talks than Nagamootoo. (smarshall@guyanatimesgy.com)
he Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana has received several informed reports of the mobilisation of Venezuelan military personnel and equipment on the border with Guyana. His Excellency Brigadier David Granger has been fully briefed on this development. The Government of Guyana is concerned about this unannounced and unexplained build-up of military forces close to Guyana’s border and waters and is closely monitoring this development.
Guyanese citizens close to the border with Venezuela are urged to be alert to this development and are further urged to remain within the boundaries of Guyana. Guyanese in other communities are
requested to remain calm as the Government of Guyana continues to monitor this situation and will provide updates if and when it becomes necessary.
The international community expects that all States would adhere to the principle of peaceful co-existence of states as is enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Guyana remains committed to that principle and would regard any act that is not consistent with that principle as a breach of international law that will result in serious consequences.
Guyanese are urged to only utilise legal ports of entry into and out of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela if they must travel to or from that neighbouring State.
wednesday, september 23, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
In what President David Granger describes as another “provocative” move, Venezuela is reportedly in the process of scaling up its military presence at the Guyana-Venezuela border.
It was only in May that Venezuela issued a decree purporting to claim most of Guyana’s continental shelf; however, this was subsequently replaced with another one. Then there were high-level dis-
cussions by the Venezuelan Government on the issuing of Identification Cards (IDs) to the 200,000 estimated inhabitants of Essequibo.
Now, it is said that Venezuelan’s Bolivarian National Armed Forces has been intensifying its operation at the border it shares with Guyana. “The situation is getting worse not better…We have recently received reports that Venezuela has been mak-
ing extraordinary military deployments in eastern Venezuela that is [near] western Guyana which seem to be impacting on Guyana’s territorial defence,” President Granger told Journalists at the Ministry of the Presidency on Tuesday.
Given his background in the military as Commander of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the President said he was familiar with Venezuela’s behaviour. “We
have noticed that during the month of September, (there has been) an extraordinary escalation of Venezuelan military activities in eastern Venezuela. It’s extraordinary, it’s abnormal. ” He further explained that there have been an increasing number of marines and various forms of ground forces in the area.
Describing the situation as very provocative, President Granger said the Government believes that “Venezuela is threading a very dangerous course at this point in time”, adding that “rather than seeking a peaceful resolution of the matter, Venezuela seems to be pursuing a very offensive and aggressive course”.
For his part, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is willing to sit down with Government and discuss ways to deal with Venezuela’s threat of claiming a part of the Essequibo.
“I made it clear on border issues where our sovereignty is threatened... that the Government will have our full support. We are patriots; we don’t want to see this country divided. We will fight against any attempt to destroy our territorial wholeness. We pursue this fight vigorously, ”he declared.
“Operational exercises”
According to Venezuelan media, that country’s Minister of Defence, Vladimir Padrino López announced shortly after President Granger alerted the public to the intensified military presence, that its military officers are holding “operational exercises”. He did not elaborate on the number of soldiers and equipment involved in the operation.
Given this new development, President Granger said central to Guyana’s presentation at the United Nations
General Assembly would be the threat of aggression from Venezuela. The President on Tuesday had also convened a National Security Committee meeting with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, GDF Chief of Staff Brigadier Mark Phillips and Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud to discuss precautionary measures that would be taken in light of this development.
President Granger made it clear that the Government would take whatever actions it deemed appropriate to protect the territorial integrity of Guyana.
These actions by Venezuela contradict the joint declaration which was signed in August 2013 by its President Nicolás Maduro and the then President of Guyana, Donald Ramotar.
The countries had pledged to recommit to the search for a peaceful and practical settlement of the border controversy in accordance with the Geneva Agreement of 1966. Under the Good Offices Process, the countries had agreed to the reappointment of the Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, Professor Norman Girvan for another term, but he has since died. The Good
Offices Process has been in place for more than 20 years, but that has been an extremely desultory process.
In July this year, a Venezuelan expert suggested that her country move to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to settle the border controversy. Juridical Sciences Lecturer at the Central University of Venezuela Elsie Rosales said the Geneva Agreement, which was signed between the two countries at the initial stages of the border controversy, establishes several methods for the legal solution between the parties.
Rosales had explained that such methods encompass good offices, negotiation, historical investigation, mediation, conciliation and even litigation at the ICJ, once all the previous steps have been exhausted.
She clarified that if any of the methods was refused by either country, “the UN Secretary General (Ban KiMoon) is requested to make the selection and so on in each step”.
The Geneva Agreement, she said, is meant to settle the territorial controversy by peaceful means, and exhausting the methods is what applies from the most flexible one to arrive at the last resort – litigation at the ICJ. Guyana had earlier expressed similar intentions, but the Venezuelan Government insisted on retaining the Good Offices Process of the UN Secretary General.
On February 17, 1966, the Geneva Agreement was signed by Venezuela and Guyana, paving way for a mixed commission of Guyanese and Venezuelan representatives to be established with the primary objective of finding satisfactory solutions for the practical settlement of the controversy.
Venezuelan had contended that the unanimous Arbitral Award of 1899 deciding the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela was null and void. The Geneva Agreement also provided that no new claim or enlargement of an existing claim to territorial sovereignty in these territories (of Venezuela and British Guiana) shall be asserted while this Agreement is in force, nor shall any claim whatsoever be asserted otherwise than in the Mixed Commission while that Commission is in being. However, under severe diplomatic pressure, Venezuela agreed to a 12year moratorium on its claims with the Protocol of Port of Spain in 1970. (smarshall@guyanatimesgy.com)
In deepening the possibility of the reopening of several high-profile murder cases, which to this date remain largely unprosecuted or unsolved, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud announced that a Cold Case Unit will be established within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) sometime next year.
He made this disclosure during a recent exclusive interview with the Guyana Times.
The likelihood of an operational Cold Case Unit considerably confirms the chances of investigations being reopened into cases like the death of Kenny France in which Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall was implicated and the Monica Reece case.
During the interview, the Police Commissioner explained that it was currently challenging to investigate cold cases owing to limited manpower; however, he assured that the Force was moving in the direction of establishing a Cold Case Unit where investigators can work solely on unsolved or unprosecuted cases.
The Top Cop admitted that the GPF’s was understaffed by 1500 persons, but quickly reassured that everything possible was being done to recruit more officers into the Force. When this is achieved, Persaud indicated that the Cold Case Unit would be able to function. As of now, how-
ever, he explained, unsolved murders are filed away and whenever new information is received on a dormant case, the investigation becomes active once again.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had told this publication on Monday that there was a possibility that Government may reopen cold cases as well as launch investigations into the numerous unsolved murders that occurred over a particular period of time.
“We will investigate cold, warm, hot cases…,” he stated. Harmon said he could not recall the exact period into which Government intended to initiate the probe, but he explained that Commissions of Inquiry (CoIs) would be established to deal with “all” uncertain matters, insisting that affected families needed closure and Government in-
tended to deliver upon that.
President David Granger had previously announced that moves were afoot to develop a Coroners Department to deal with the extrajudicial killings that plagued the country and haunted the minds of thousands of Guyanese.
“We are looking at that right now to ensure that once we get going, every death that is reported we get to investigate,” he stated, noting the Government was taking its “time” on the matter to ensure everything ran smoothly.
When President Granger was asked what cases in particular he would be opening investigations into, his response was “all of them”. He later explained that Government did not intend to make as its priority the high-profile murders or the “spectacular deaths”.
“We want normal people,” he stated.
The People’s National Congress (PNC)-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition had indicated on numerous occasions, its intent to launch these probes into the killings between of 2000-2008.
However, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), while supportive of the move to launch investigations into these unsolved cases, objected to the limitation imposed on the time period
for these impending probes.
“If the Government is serious about this probe, they must go as far back as the 1970s and they must probe all of the high-profile and ordinary extrajudicial killings,” former President Donald Ramotar had insisted when
contacted for a comment on the matter.
He also wanted the Government to look at the evidence that emanated from the Rodney Commission of Inquiry as there were still so many questions that could be answered.
Asked about the cases related to the death of Monica Reece and the vigilante killing involving Lall, Ramotar insisted that “all cases must be revisited” whether they were investigated or not.
The former President pointed out strongly that politics aside, Government was duty bound to be professional and fair as many have lost their lives as a result of these killings which in his opinion were a normal feature under the PNC regime.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had accused the APNU/AFC coalition of being selective in its calls for investigations and suggested instead that the probe be done into all the murders and all the missing weaponry.
“We should have an inquiry into everything, maybe the mother of all inquiries,” he stated during a previous media conference at the Party’s Headquarters at Freedom House.
Jagdeo had highlighted some of the cases in particular that should be investigated. He pointed out that there
were still unanswered questions regarding the 155 missing Guyana Defence Force (GDF) weapons.
“Let’s start with how the guns were given to the PNC and how they ended up in the hands of criminals in 2004.
[President Brigadier (ret’d) David] Granger still doesn’t want to help us get back those guns,” Jagdeo had posited.
He added that the smuggling of guns from Suriname to Buxton during the 20022008 crime wave, the murders of Police Officers, the massacres in Lusignan and Bartica in January and February 2008 and “every single” charge of extrajudicial killings by the ‘phantom’ squads, among other issues, are areas that needed to be looked into.
Meanwhile, if the probe’s time frame is expanded, as an investigation into Monica Reece’s death and the Glenn Lall vigilante killing could also be reopened.
Reece, who was a 19-yearold security guard, became known to all Guyanese after her body was dumped from a speeding pickup vehicle in the vicinity of the Geddes Grant building (now Courts) on Main Street, Georgetown on April 9, 1993.
More than two decades after the incident, the crime remains unsolved.
wednesday, september 23, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
more
…as investigations wrap up
Several of the series of forensic audits launched into the various State agencies across Guyana are on the verge
of wrapping up, according to Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma. During a telephone interview with the Guyana
Times on Tuesday, Sharma disclosed that the Ministry was in receipt of preliminary reports from five agencies and that the draft re-
ports from 16 agencies were still to be submitted.
“Some are completed, some are in the stage of completion,” the Minister stated, however, he declined to comment on which entities’ probes have been completed and which still had audits ongoing.
Some of the agencies in the auditing lineup are the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC); Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); the Guyana Gold Board (GGB); the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil).
Meanwhile, the Minister explained that the preliminary reports will have to be reviewed but if glitches were still discovered, then the probe may have to be reopened.
“They are still under review and additional works may arise,” Sharma said, referring to the five reports that were submitted.
The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration, upon ascension to office, had launched in-depth forensic audits into several State agencies across the country for the purpose of “understanding” how the agencies work and to detect the existing malpractices and develop initiatives that can address them.
Asked about the discoveries made thus far, Sharma said he was not at liberty to discuss that information.
Previously, Sharma had told this publication that the findings were not for public disclosure but were for “internal purposes”.
However, he explained that once Finance Minister Winston Jordan reviews the reports, they would then be distributed to the relevant Ministries who can then de-
cide if they want to reveal the reports to the public.
Moreover, during the recent interview, he made it clear that the audits were not intended to go after the former Ministers of Government, but were to understand the workings of the relevant agencies since the coalition hardly had any knowledge of the financial and operational status of the various agencies.
In fact, he posited that the Asset Recovery Unit would be the entity that will “go after” the former Ministers and “to find out how much the Ministers thief”.
Challenges
Sharma explained that there were many challenges that he encountered on daily basis – which is contributing to the holdup of the outstanding audit reports.
He vented that the management of some of the various agencies were not cooperating with the auditors in the sharing of the necessary information.
Sharma explained that every time a problem arises where management engages in delay tactics to hand over the required information, he would then have to write to the respective Ministers for them to inter-
vene and ensure the documents are provided so the auditors can continue their work.
“That’s why we have to send some of them on leave, so we can facilitate the investigations because even if they are here, they are going to give the auditors a hard time,” Sharma stated. He explained too that several of the persons who have valuable information that would be needed for the auditor reports were hardly unavailable.
“It’s hard to get a hold of them for the cooperation and so we have another problem there that needs to be addressed,” he stated.
While Sharma was holding out that he would not disclose the names of the agencies whose audits were already completed, he had previously announced that the audit into the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was completed.
According to Sharma, the draft report showed that there were several offline accounts being utilised and that these findings were very amiss. Sharma had reported that some of these agencies were not mandated to have offline accounts, but the revenues earned were to be placed into the Consolidated Fund. Therefore, the discovery of the offline accounts at the EPA was worrying, Sharma had noted.
He had also reported that a preliminary update into the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) revealed that the Agency collected billions of dollars which were not transferred into the Consolidated Fund. According to Sharma, this was unusual and NICIL would have been required to explain the reasons for this action.
Coalition Councillor of the Region Two Democratic Council
Julian Cummings has informed Councillors of the Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) RDC at the statutory meeting for September that a new school boat will be gifted to assist parents in the Upper Pomeroon areas to transport children.
Cummings said the Granger-led Administration is looking at constructing another school boat for the Upper Pomeroon region.
Cummings said that parents living in the Upper Pomeroon have complained about the exorbitant fees they are paying to send
their children to school. He said necessary consideration is being paid to the situation and the coalition Government will ensure that a school boat is gifted to the Upper Pomeroon.
Cummings said parents from the Upper Pomeroon River have also voiced their concerns over transportation costs to send the children to school. The parents are calling on the Grangerled Administration to construct a boat also for the Upper Pomeroon to assist the children in that area.
Only recently, President David Granger presented a school boat to residents in the Lower Pomeroon River.
The boat was a promise made during the election campaign to the people of the Pomeroon River. During the presentation ceremony, President Granger had also announced that a river ambulance would be gifted to the Pomeroon River to assist in emergency situations. On a daily basis, children living in the Pomeroon have to travel miles, either by canoe or public transportation to access an education. Many children drop out of school because their parents cannot afford to offset their travelling expenses. The fee is almost $2000 (one trip) to access education on the Essequibo Coast.
– to attract media attention to vent about ‘poor treatment’
The Camp Street Prison erupted in pandemonium on Tuesday evening when irritated prisoners set ablaze several newspapers in one of the cells to draw the media’s attention to the prison so they can vent their frustrations over the maltreatment they have been enduring over the years at the penitentiary.
When the Guyana Times arrived on the scene around 20:00h, a single fire truck was parked by the prison, while Guyana Fire Service officers were examining the compound.
The small fire was already extinguished at that time.
However, at the John Street side of the jailhouse, prisoners were scrambling for a place at the cell window to relate to the media operatives on the scene the numerous issues affecting them. The prisoners’ cries were initially incoherent as they instantaneously erupted into a loud outburst when media workers approached the corner.
The aggravated prisoners were at their wits’ end with the alleged abuse being administered by the Prison Officers, and were demanding their voices be heard and that they be allowed to go to trial.
“Just now we light fire at the back deh to try to
get the media to come… we frustrated budday; we want go to court,” the prisoners pleaded. According to one of them, persons have been in jail for over seven years on remand, but never have they heard a single word regarding any court appearance.
Jermaine Otto of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who was charged for the murder of 43-year-old businessman Ashook Ragghu, who was gunned down on August 18 outside the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown, complained of people “passing money” to constantly assault him.
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A23-year-old man of Berbice is the latest road fatality after he was killed when his motorcycle collided into a minibus. The accident occurred sometime around 23:05h on Monday at the Albion Public Road, Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
Dead is Devon Deene, of Fyrish Village, Corentyne, Berbice. According to reports, Deene was riding his motorcycle West along the Albion Public Road when he reportedly tried to overtake a minibus bearing registration number PHH 3410, that was heading in the same direction but ended up colliding into it.
“Investigations revealed that Deene allegedly collided with a minibus that he was attempting to overtake,” Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whittaker stated in a release.
Speaking with reporters, sister of the dead man Kenisha Deene related that someone called and informed the family of the accident. She noted that her brother was heading home from work at the time.
According to Kenisha, they went to the Port Mourant Hospital where
her brother was but then he was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. The woman explained that her brother was being treated there and underwent a few tests but was further transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was put on a life support machine. However, the 23-year-old man succumbed due to the severity of his head injuries sometime around 03:00h the following morning.
Alleged speeding and alcohol use
Relating what she was told about the accident, Kenisha outlined that
Two armed robbers attacked a chicken outlet at Rosignol and carted off an undisclosed amount of cash, in the process firing a shot at one of the employees. The incident occurred at Arjune Chicken Depot along Stelling Road Rosignol, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Sunday.
According to the cashier of the business, Sonita Chisholm, at the time of the robbery she and six workers were in the building when two masked men came in.” They had kerchief over their face and one come straight to me with a knife and the other one go the back and take out a gun and tell the workers to turn their face to the wall.”
The knife-wielding bandit then took the cashier, who had been weighting chicken, into the booth.
“He just pull me and come inside the cashier booth and then collect all the money and then take out the memory from the camera and they go away,” the woman, who has been working
with the company for four years, said. She explained that there were two cameras situated in the building, but with the memory taken, the surveillance footage was inaccessible.
She added that her cellular phone was also taken by the thieves who removed a gold chain from another employee’s neck.
“I can’t say how much money it is because when I
sell I just throw the money in there and is till when we finish that’s when I check up I would know how much is the sales. But on Sundays we does got plenty money because most of the business we do is credit and on Sundays people does come and pay.” The men are said to have left on a bicycle. Police are investigating. No arrests have been made.
her family was told that the driver of the minibus, identified as Goberdhan Seeratan, was swerving on the road.
The man was allegedly seen consuming alcohol at the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair. She further claimed that they were told the minibus driver tried to escape from the scene but was apprehended by public spirited citizens and forced to take her brother to the hospital.
However, Guyana Times understands that eyewitnesses claim that the motorist was speeding at the time of accident.
This newspaper was told that the driver of the minibus had attempted to turn North into a street while the young man was trying to overtake the vehicle.
Persons claim the young man was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident hence he sustained severe injuries to his head and face.
On the other hand, the driver of the minibus, 32-year-old Seeratan of Number One Village, Corentyne, was taken into Police custody and is assisting with the investigations.
wednesday, september 23, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com
The Massy Guyana Group of Companies has continued its Social Impact Programme by making donations to 24 charitable organisations across the country.
During a simple ceremony at the staff facility located at Ruimveldt, Georgetown, recently, Chief Executive Officer Deo Persaud said the company has a high priority in terms of partnering with civic society. “The Social Impact Programme is not only about donations but we conduct volunteer work in communities in which we operate.”
The CEO believes develop-
ing communities will impact Guyana in a positive manner, so the Company seeks to impact society by regularly giving aid to the needy groups, as a priority.
The recently rebranded company (formerly Neal and Massy) is committed to helping evolve society. Representatives of the organisations that received the donations thanked the Massy Group for its continued support.
The beneficiaries of the financial and stationery donations were: the Guyana Relief Council, Bernice Mansell Foundation, Canaan Children Home, Cheshire Home, Friends
of the Needy, Community Based Rehabilitation Programme, Deaf Association of Guyana, Guyana Book Foundation, Hauraruni Children’s Home For Girls, New Amsterdam Special Needs School, New Opportunity Corps, Prabu Sharan Orphanage, Radio’s Needy Children’s Fund, Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre, Help and Shelter, Alternative Learning System, Step By Step Foundation, Dharm Shala, red cross convalescent home, Uncle Eddie’s Home, Zabeeda Female Senior Citizens’ Home, East Bank Demerara Special Needs School, and Young Leaders of Agricola.
Guyana’s achievement in phasing out the use of substances that contribute to ozone depletion was recognised last Wednesday, 22 years after the country ratified the Montreal Protocol.
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion.
At the local commemoration of World Ozone Day 2015 at the Regency Hotel , stakeholders from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Ozone Action Unit and the Hydromet Office were in attendance. The event was held under the theme “30 Years of Healing the Ozone Together”.
The GRA said in a statement that Guyana has been quite successful at reducing a significant percentage of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are ranked very high in global warming potential.
The Authority said it was through careful planning and the establishment of a national blueprint that called key stakeholders into action, such as the GRA, that Guyana was able to arrive at this feat. In 2007, legislation was introduced to control the importation of ozone-depleting substances as well as equipment in which these substances are contained. High on the agenda also, was the phasing out of the HCFCs.
Complementing the legislation was technical capacity training by the National Ozone Action
Unit, for Customs Officers, especially those stationed at the country’s main points of entry, namely Regions Two, Four, Six and Nine. They became knowledgeable about the procedures applied when detaining ozone- depleting substances and mandatory retrofitting at the expense of the importers. On one occasion, directives were given for the re-exportation of a shipment, based on the advice of the National Ozone Action Unit.
Deputy Head of Customs Excise and Trade Operations
Patrick Hyman, who addressed the commemorative gathering, hailed the contributions of partners in this endeavour, particularly in the area of training and the supply of equipment such as refrigerant identifiers. The programme was also extended to refrigeration and Air Conditioning (AC) technicians. The general aim
we must tackle these problems with urgency
Laws and their enforcement are critical for good governance and development. Many of Guyana's laws are outdated and there is need for new laws that enable the country to tackle old, re-emerging, new and emerging problems. As a minister in the PPP government for a long time, I ensured we drafted several of these laws, but they were never dealt with by Parliament.
I hope that the 11th Parliament will immediately ensure that Guyana corrects a legal flaw relating to suicide in its law books. I failed as Health Minister to get it done, even though I was very eloquent in articulating my position. For many, my efforts to ensure that we remove the punitive law for suicide was not a priority for Guyana. Many argued that there were more important laws to address. I agree there are many important laws to correct and to legislate for.
But the time has come for Guyana to remove the criminal nature of suicide in our laws. It is my sincere hope that this would be done before the end of 2016. In my term as Health Minister, I had promised that we would do it before the end of 2015. I never had a chance, and I hope that the 11th Parliament would accomplish this task. It is in the national interest and it must not be a political football.
I hope that the Mental Health Legislation that was drafted when I was Health Minister is also addressed. Guyana's out-dated mental health law is a scandal. I had hoped that this important piece of legislation would have been presented to the 9th Parliament, but I did not have a chance to do so. I was dismayed that the 10th Parliament did not address the problem of mental health. Now the 11th Parliament has an opportunity to do so. Incidentally, the draft mental health bill I left at the Ministry of Health did remove the criminal nature of suicide from our laws.
Another outstanding legislation is the anti-tobacco legislation. That legislation was also drafted before I left the Ministry of Health. Tobacco is a killer and contributes in a major way to sickness and poverty in our country. While I recognize that tobacco taxes represent a major income stream for the government, the time to play hardball with tobacco is long overdue. One thing is certain, more of our young people are smoking today than ever before. School health surveys prove that our children are starting to smoke earlier. The time to tackle these problems are now, not later. By the way, I notice the flagrant disregard of the No Smoking Regulations in our schools, hospitals and other public places. We must pass the antitobacco law to ensure that public smoking is eliminated in Guyana. We must ensure no sales of loose cigarettes and that no child can purchase tobacco. The time to increase taxes on cigarettes is also long overdue.
The HIV legislation and its anti-discrimination proposals remain relevant. It is another of the draft legislation at the Ministry of Health. It took much thought and effort in bringing that draft together. It is consistent with the CARICOM and UN Model HIV legislation and we should not be tardy any more. The HIV legislation is important and it is time that Guyana reinforces our successes in the fight against HIV by enacting this piece of legislation.
The Public Health Ordinance is older than more than 99% of the Guyanese people. It has become obsolete. Guyana needs a public health promotion law. A comprehensive and modern public health legislation is in the Ministry of Health. The Minister must ensure that the legislation makes its way onto the halls of Parliament now. We had completed all the regulations that go along with the Public Health Law and there is no reason to delay tabling this legislation.
is to promote good refrigeration practices among technicians in the services sector.
The efforts of the GRA in particular at monitoring and enforcement of ozone-depleting substances protocol, were applauded by acting Chief Hydromet Officer Dr Garvin Cummings who was also present at the event.
However, amid these achievements, there was the stark reminder for continued vigilance, especially with smuggling operations that undermine the progress made thus far.
Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Shabnam Mallick, who was also in attendance, said smugglers have utilised schemes that make the job of detection and restriction by Customs Officers more difficult.
The Food Security and Safety Bill was tabled for its first reading before the prorogation of the 10th Parliament. The Ministers of Health and Agriculture should ensure that the legislation is immediately brought forward for its first reading in the 11th Parliament. The law will enable us to ensure stringent food safety. We must take greater control of processed food available in Guyana. The time is now for regulations limiting trans fat, salt and sugar in our foods. We must not wait any longer to make sure that Guyana's food, locally produced or imported, do not contribute to poor health.
In the 8th, 9th and the 10th Parliaments, the matter of corporal punishment for children in schools, the death penalty and sexual orientation were discussed. A special select committee was established in the 10th Parliament to recommend a way forward. The work remained incomplete and we never made any recommendation relating to these matters.
My own views on these human rights issues are well-known in Guyana and around the world. It is criminal, archaic and barbaric that we still cannot outlaw corporal punishment for children in schools. Let us ensure that we end this barbaric practice today. The further delay in doing the right thing is unconscionable. The death penalty must be removed and we must stop discriminating against people for sexual orientation. Recognizing the human rights of LGBT is not a choice for Guyana, it is the right thing to do now. I hope that the new government and the opposition can ensure these matters become part of the legislative agenda. Most of the work has been done. Drafts are available and with a little tinkering, we can go a long way to modernize Guyana's laws and address better the development needs of our people.
The Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry has announced that the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service Programme, announced by the Government of Guyana in August to replace the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprentice Programme, will be officially launched on October 1.
This was according to Ministerial Advisor on Indigenous Affairs, Mervyn Williams in a telephone interview with this publication. Williams shared that the final documents to solidify the programme were in their advanced stages and everything seemed to be on track.
As for consultations, the Ministerial Advisor stated that they had begun talks with indigenous persons in their villages as soon as the new Government had come into office making them fully aware of areas that needed assistance.
Williams stated that recently, they had held several public meetings to listen to issues that affect the villagers of indigenous communities and what could be done to rectify their situation. He noted that all of the Ministry’s actions in these villages were a reflection of what the Government felt was necessary.
In Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), Williams explained, the
Ministry held about 10 major public meetings where it had made contact with members of about 35-40 villages. The Ministry also spoke to several villages in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
To provide more helpful information as to what would be needed in the village s and would in turn make this new programme succ essful, Williams stated that the Ministry has been in constant contact with the Executive Committee of the National Toshaos Council (NTC).
He added that the aim of this programme was to provide training to persons where they live, in specific fields to suit the specific needs of the communities, and he was certain that the
programme would accomplish just so.
An estimated 2000 plus hinterland youths are expected to benefit from this programme after the Government terminated YEAP, an initiative of the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), because its operations were found to be “political”.
Under the YEAP initiative, indigenous youths, aged 18-40 in the various hinterland villages and communities, were supposed to benefit from technical and governance training, to support their performance as Community Support Officers (CSOs) in village development.
The YEAP aimed at professionalising young people, while promoting personal and educational development and creating employment opportunities, regardless of the political persuasion of CSOs. The programme also provided stipends to the CSOs thereby helping to increase village income while boosting the local economy.
“Our observation was that the young people were doing more political work (rather) than giving support to their councils and communities,” Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock had explained. (jpinder@guyanatimesgy.com)
While Lall, according to reports, “shot and killed” 30-year-old Kenny France. Lall was never arrested nor were charges ever brought against him.
Facts related to the case stated that Lall and three friends were driving on the East Bank Public Road when he “spotted” one Oclive Marshall in a yard.
According to reports, Lall felt that Marshall was one of the individuals who had attempted a burglary at his home. He stopped his car and demanded that Marshall accompany him to the police station – the nearest one was at Ruimveldt, five minutes away.
Fearing that Marshall would be beaten by Lall and his cohorts, his aunt, Pamela France demanded that she be allowed to accompany him to the station.
By this time, a number of villagers had gathered and the aunt demanded identification, which Lall could not provide.
At this point, Lall reportedly whipped out his .38 weapon and demanded Marshall enter the vehicle. Lall spoke roughly to the aunt who remonstrated with him and her husband Kenny France protested that he could not speak to his wife like that.
As Dartmouth rice farmers in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are preparing for harvesting in two weeks, many have complained that their lands are under water. When Guyana Times visited the area on Tuesday, many farmers were seen in their rice fields making drains and pathway to irrigate their lands.
According to the farmers, their lands are under water and they cannot drain their fields properly due to poor drainage in the area. The frustrated farmers further related that if their lands are not drained, then it will affect harvesting. Farmers related that they are expecting a bumper harvest in their area and is also hoping for a favourable price for their yield.
“As it is, the fields got water and we trying to let it drain in the nearby trench but if the water don’t come
off then the harvester (combine) can be stuck inside the soil and it can be very difficult,” one rice farmer related.
Another rice farmer said that despite the weather conditions being hot, the water remain in the fields.
Over 15 farmers in the Dartmouth backlands are affected.
“We in Dartmouth focus on rice cultivation but our only problem is the water on the land and it cause a serious problem during harvesting” another farmer explained.
Farmers said that if the area has mobile pumps then it can assist them to drain the water off their lands. They will begin harvesting in two weeks and are calling on the drainage and irrigation department to assist to pump off water from their lands.
The rice farmers are also calling for the upgrading
of the dam leading to their farm lands at Dartmouth backlands. They said that whenever it rain the pathway leading to their farmlands is usually in a deplorable condition. Rice farmers said the road needs maintenance works and called on the Region Two Administration to look into the matter.
Presently harvesting has commenced in Region Two in the southern sections and rice farmers are seen daily lining up in front of millers. Millers are paying from $1900-1500 for a bag of Grade A paddy. Currently 37,000 acres of land are currently under cultivation. Rice farmers thus far are not pleased with the current prices offered as it cannot offset their expenses. The farmers will be staging another peaceful protect on Friday to air their views on the current situation in the region.
from page 13
At this point, Lall shot France in the chest and the man fell to the ground dead. Lall and his friends then drove off and he later said that the shooting was “an accident”.
This account was disputed by Pamela Marshall and the dozens of villagers on the scene.
The Stabroek News reported that the Police took a statement from Lall, but this was never released to the press.
Similarly, the Police never released their findings from their investigation into how far Lall was from France when the fatal shot was fired.
In the past, Government use to subsidise us to take the school children over and bring them back over, but we understand that this Government got a rift with the Bridge [BBCI] but that have to look at our side too. In the night we help out teachers, nurses and those who going to college,” Chesney said. More than 30 operators joined the protest demonstration and have vowed to continue it today.
Government had said it will introduce water taxies to cross the Berbice River after it was unsuccessful in getting the Berbice Bridge Company Inc to reduce the toll to cross the Berbice River Bridge by $300.
On Monday morning, the MV Nicholas left the New Amsterdam Stelling while at the same time MV Shanit left Rosignol Stelling taking persons across the Berbice River.
The two boats worked
from page 7
all day transporting persons across the Berbice River for a cost of $120 either way.
Teachers, nurses, pensioners and school children crossed for free.
The two taxies previously plied the GeorgetownVreed en Hoop route. According to one of the boat operators, Basil Budram, Government has agreed to pay the boat operators $1500 for each trip they make.
wednesday, september 23, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
Private cane farmers who operate on the Upper Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) are accusing the Skeldon Sugar Estate, GuySuCo of utilising deliberate attempts to put them out of business.
The farmers who are part of the Cane Farmers Committee (CFC) and who operate under the Skeldon Estate Private Cane Farmers Group (SEPCFG) staged a picket demonstration outside the Skeldon factory on Tuesday.
The farmers are accusing GuySuCo through the Skeldon Estate of deliberately using delay tactics in harvesting the cane that they have produced.
Head of the group, Prakash Singh says the estate seems to be diverting from a scheduled harvesting plan. He says because of falling prices on the world market for sugar, the farmers are asking the estate to waive the 30 per cent in payment which the estate holds as cost for reaping the farmers’ cane, the use of punts to transport the cane to the factory and for fertiliser supplied to the farmers.
the field to the estate.
Pope Francis ended his Cuba trip on Tuesday and headed to the United States with a message of reconciliation for the former Cold War foes while avoiding controversy on the US trade embargo or human rights on the Communistrun island.
The 78-year-old Argentine pointedly chose not to antagonise either side after he helped mediate the detente between the two adversaries separated by 90 miles (145 km) of sea.
in the United States, where he will meet with President Barack Obama, give the first papal address to Congress, and speak at the United Nations.
The pope spent his last two days in Cuba at a symbol of national unity, the shrine to the Virgin of Charity in the eastern town of El Cobre, near Cuba’s second city of Santiago.
The 12 farmers who operate under the SEPCFG have a combined total of 16,071 hectares under cultivation which represents about 60 per cent of what the Skeldon Estate grinds.
Singh noted that the farmers needed assistance if they were to continue to produce, saying that GuySuCo gets a bail-out from Government and they get none.
“At this time the estate is committed by the1965 Cane Farmers Act which mandates the sugar estate to support private cane farmers in reaping their canes, grinding it and selling the sugar at the highest prices it
“We are asking for no 30 per cent deduction this crop to be able to carry on our business. We have loans to pay. If they take the 30 per cent, they will leave us with no money to pay the bank,” Singh said.
could get.”
Last year, the private cane farmers received $75,000 per tonne of cane supplied to the estate. Now the price is $62,000. “Last year we made a loss with what they paid us and this year it is going to be ever lower. We will only be going into greater debt; it means that if we don’t get help, we will have to close shop shortly.”
The farmers demanded a meeting with Agriculture Minister Noel Holder to petition him to get GuySuCo to remove the punt charges which are mandatory. GuySuCo imposes a fee of $3300 for each punt the private cane producers use to transport their cane from
“We think that GuySuCo has been unfair to us,” Singh says. The farmers are also demanding that GuySuCo utilise four harvesters instead of three since time is running out. They say it will take about two and a half months in good weather to harvest their canes.
“It means that in the middle of the harvesting season will be the rainy season and the machines do not operated well in the rainy season and we do not get a high yield as expected. They are pushing us back where yields will not be profitable for us; will result in greater losses.”
Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said that murders in Trinidad have nothing to do with the Police but was a social issue which was not being properly addressed.
Williams made the remark at the graduation ceremony for 131 Police Officers at Hyatt Regency hotel, in Port of Spain on Monday. Williams said that the Police Service was being asked to stop the killings but officers could not do that.
“Brothers are killing
brothers, neighbours are killing neighbours, friends killing friends, and all of that has nothing to do with the Police, it has to do with the society which we police. We need the citizens of this beloved nation to come together and have consultation and to do better, before all of this can change. But saying all that will mean nothing to the people out there, what they want to hear is how the police service can solve the number of killings,” Williams admitted.
Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams
He added that the murder rate was below last
He alleged too that one Constable was part of a scheme to attack him. Even behind the bars, Otto demanded that the prisoners be treated with respect as the other prisoners in the background chanted “innocent until proven guilty”.
Another prisoner expressed his deepest annoyance over the slothfulness and apparent biasness of the system. “It’s court we want go in! Over six- seven years we deh in here on remand… on f***ing remand…we want go court…wam to innocent until proven guilty…how is it when high level people get charged, they documents go up to the f***ing
DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) but when a poor man get charged, he got to be in here for so much years and he got to wait for months for the trial start,” the anonymous convict exploded, claiming that he has been remanded for some five years.
The prisoners also alleged that their colleague Mark Major was badly beaten by Prison Officers.
“The Police them chop he up, the man family ain’t even know what going on, because the man family ain’t even allowed to go and visit, the man head bust up…we don’t know where he deh now…the Police come move he out…
they isolate the man…,” a prisoner alleged.
Major was remanded to prison for a re-trial of the murder of his cousin Orin Forde in 2012. Based on the media reports, the pair were arguing at the Mahaica slaughterhouse when an argument ensued resulting in a physical altercation. The accused stated that the deceased was attacking him with a piece of wood and he stabbed him to defend himself. The mixed jury, after three hours’ deliberation, returned to the courtroom relating that they could not reach a verdict. As a result, the judge remanded the accused to prison until re-trial.
year’s comparable toll up until last week. Williams said that the other areas where crime has been reduced was being overshadowed by the murder rate. He told the graduates that their time for mistakes was at the barracks, but in the field mistakes are not acceptable especially if they result in a breach of the law.
He said the polishing of a shoe can be compromised but not the integrity of a police officer, for that there is “no tolerance.” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)
from page 15
Additionally, according to reports from inside the jailhouse, the prisoner who was chopped about his body during a reported gang fight in the prison just a few nights ago on September 19 was actually attempting to steal from another cellmate when the fight broke out.
“The boy who get chop, is not no riot or gang war, he tried to rob the man and the man deal with he…he tried to rob the man the stuff he family bring for he, the man soap and all these kind of things…it’s not no gang war, the man had to deal with he case cause he go to thief,” the prisoners claimed. (devinas@guyanatimesgy.com)
Cuba would have welcomed a papal condemnation of the embargo and Washington would have appreciated any reference to rights on the Caribbean island, especially after some 100 to 150 dissidents were rounded up by Police to prevent them from seeing Francis.
But the pope steered away from polarising issues here, dampening expectations for what he may say
The Virgin of Charity, a statuette of the Madonna and Child said to have been rescued from the sea miraculously dry four centuries ago, is venerated by most Cubans, including non-believers and practitioners of Afro-Cuban religions.
“Like Mary, Mother of Charity, we want to be a Church which goes forth to build bridges, to break down walls, to sow seeds of reconciliation,” Francis said in his homily at the shrine in El Cobre, a former copper-mining town. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Back in the 1970s, Cornell University endocrinologist Dr Julianne Imperato travelled to The Dominican Republic after hearing strange stories about girls turning into boys. As if to prove that fact can be stranger than fiction, Dr Imperato discovered that babies born apparently female in the isolated village of Salinas in the island’s south-west, did indeed turn into boys at puberty due to a rare genetic disorder.
To this day, around two per cent – or one in 90 – babies from Salinas are thought to be born with the
as gonads and a small bump between their legs called a tubercle.
At around eight weeks, male babies who carry the Y chromosome start to produce dihydro-testosterone in large amounts, which turns the tubercle into a penis. For females, the tubercle becomes a clitoris.
But, according to a report in The Telegraph, some male babies are missing the enzyme 5-?-reductase which triggers the hormone surge, so they appear to be born female with no testes and what appears to be a vagina. It is not until puberty, when
condition, which occurs due to a missing enzyme during pregnancy. The transition is so common, moreover, that it is not considered abnormal and the children are referred to as “Guevedoces,” or “penis at 12 years.” The condition is caused by a missing enzyme that prevents the production of a specific form of the male sex hormone – dihydro-testosterone – in the womb.
All babies in the womb, whether male or female, have internal glands known
another huge surge of testosterone is produced, that the male reproductive organs emerge. A nine-year-old girl named Carla is currently undergoing the same transformation. Despite being brought up as a girl, his mother noticed that from the age of five he was more inclined towards the rough and tumble play of little boys. He has recently had his hair cut shirt after wearing plaits for years. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)
FIFA presidential candidate Zico believes that the rules for electing the head of soccer’s governing body are unfair, outdated and subject voting federations to outside pressure.
The Brazilian, who played at three World Cups and is regarded as one of the finest footballers ever to have graced the sport, was also disappointed that the current generation of players were afraid to speak their minds on important soccer issues.
Speaking to Reuters on a tram taking him to FIFA headquarters to meet president Sepp Blatter, Zico said it was wrong that candidates had to have written backing from five national football associations. He said that the rules led to national FAs being subjected to pressure from the continental confederations who often wanted their members to vote as a block.
“I knew about this and the difficulties other candidates went through but you always have to try in life,” he said during a 20-minute journey on the number six.
“I have been involved in football for 45 years and there are other professionals like myself who have missed out on being candidates because of this five association rule.
“The (continental) confederations stick their noses in and put pressure on the national FAs who don’t have the independence to make their choices.”
Asked if he sensed that national FAs feared reprisals for backing a candidate, he said: “I have had similar thoughts. The FAs should have their freedom and independence.”
Zico, who has said from the outset that he would struggle to get sufficient backing, was also baffled as to why the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) had decided to back Frenchman Michel Platini as their candidate. Zico is one of a number of candidates who have put themselves forward to replace Blatter, who announced shortly after being re-elected in May that he would lay down his mandate
on Feb. 26.
World soccer’s governing body was thrown into turmoil in May when 14 sports marketing executives and soccer officials, including several from FIFA, were indicted in the United States on bribery, money laundering and wire fraud charges.
Candidates must submit their bids four months before the election, together with the backing of five FAs.
Since ending his playing career with Japan’s Kashima Antlers in 1994, Zico has coached the national sides of Japan and Iraq, as well as club sides in Turkey, Greece, Russia, Uzbekistan and Qatar. He is currently in charge of Indian Super League side FC Goa. He repeated his proposal that the players, coaches, supporters and the media should vote in the FIFA presidential election.
“The election in its current form is completely outdated; the whole world of football needs to take part,” he said. “When we vote for the Player of the Year, the coaches, players, captains, the media and fans take part so why not do this for president (of FIFA). At the moment, there is no debate and the elections are increasingly lacking in legitimacy.”
Even as a player, Zico was often an outspoken critic of soccer officials, something he thinks contemporary players would not dare to do. “I would love players to speak up, but a top player is involved in so many things, so many contracts that the lad can’t open his mouth,” he said.
“I’ve always had the in-
dependence to say what I think, I feel, I never worried about my image and nobody ever told me what to say,” he added. “I took part in trade unions, on committees in Brazil, I was Minister of Sport in Brazil, on World Cup committees. I’ve had always my freedom of expression.”
He added: “I could be more comfortable and relaxed in Japan after doing a great job there, but I like challenges, and they keep coming up.” (Reuters)
Fast bowling legend Sir Curtly Ambrose is the latest former West Indies cricketer to announce his involvement in an eagerly anticipated charity match in support of relief for water ravaged Dominica.
Ambrose will line-up for the University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor’s Celebrity XI against West Indies Cricket Board President’s Celebrity XI at Kensington Oval on Saturday.
“When I retired from cricket, I said I would never play again – any form of cricket,” said Sir Curtly.
“I came back to play a few games here and there and now. Now, I have been asked to represent the UWI Vice Chancellor’s Celebrity XI and I immediately agreed to participate in aid of such a worthy cause.”
Proceeds from the match go directly to the Dominica Government to assist with recovery efforts in the island which suffered severe damage to property and loss of life from the passage of Tropical Storm Erika, and continued to be affected by heavy rainfall in the recent days.
Ambrose retired from international cricket 15 years ago with 405 Test wickets and 225 in One-Day
Internationals.
“I don’t mind sending down an over of two for such as worthy cause,” said Sir Curtly, who celebrated his 52nd birthday on Monday.
“I was very touched when I heard the news and then saw what happened on television.
“I knew the storm had passed and then I heard they had a lot of rain, but initially I didn’t realize the devastation. I saw the clippings and it was really a tragedy. We all have to play our part
to help rebuild the country, hence the reason why I decided to be part of this fund raising event”.
Each side is expected to field half-dozen current players from the West Indies team currently preparing for next month’s Tour of Sri Lanka and a number of celebrity players.
“Generally, I am expecting a very good game and I want to urge all the fans in Barbados to fill the Oval on Saturday night,” said Ambrose.
“I also want to encourage those not in Barbados to make donations through other means, so the people of Dominica can get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”
West Indies legend Brian Lara, former Trinidad & Tobago and Manchester United football star Dwight Yorke and Jamaican Olympic medallist Yohan Blake are among the first celebrities to confirm their availability for the match.
New West Indies Women’s captain Stafanie Taylor and teammate Deandra Dottin, as well as UWI Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Hillary Beckles, are also expected to make appearances during the match. (CMC)
triker Diego Costa will miss Chelsea’s next three domestic matches after a Football Association charge of violent conduct was upheld.
Costa denied the charge, relating to an incident involving Laurent Koscielny during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Arsenal.
Costa, 26, put his hands in Koscielny’s face before clashing with Gabriel, who was sent off but had a three-game ban overturned earlier on Tuesday.
In a statement, Chelsea said they were “disappointed” with the verdict.
Costa’s ban covers Chelsea’s League Cup match at Walsall on Wednesday along with Premier League matches against Newcastle and Southampton.
Having confirmed the match officials did not see the incident between Costa and Koscielny, the FA supplied video footage to a panel of three former elite referees.
Each had to independently rule Costa’s actions to be an instant red card for the FA to proceed with the charge.
Arsenal defender Gabriel was sent off by referee Mike Dean for violent conduct after raising his leg and catching Spain international Costa.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes, who saw winger Ibrahim Afellay’s ban for slapping West Brom’s Craig Gardner in August reduced from three games to two, said he is left “scratching his head” by the FA’s decision to overturn Gabriel’s ban.
“I’m not sure why Afellay had a two-game ban when I see news of other situations which seemed to be deemed violent conduct and they get wiped off,” Hughes told BBC Radio 5 live.
“We keep asking for explanations
from the FA about why they come to decisions against us - or we’re getting different ones to other clubs. This is a prime example of that. We’re bemused by it.”
The FA has charged Gabriel with improper conduct for failing to leave the pitch immediately after being sent off, and both clubs with failing to control their players.
All three parties have until Thursday to reply to those charges. (BBC Sport)
By TreisTon Joseph
With the 2015 track and field season winding down with just about two competitions to go, Guyana Times Sport has ranked the top five athletes for the past 2015 track and field season based on their performance.
Honourable mentions
Adam Harris
Harris is definitely worthy of a top five spot, but due to his performance at the Pan American Games which was hampered by a hamstring problem as well as his inability to make the World Championships, the overseas based sprinter falls just short of a top six spot.
Leslain Baird
Guyana’s national record holder at the Javelin while having quiet years has been undefeated and has thrown the national record this year in Trinidad. However, the lack of competition lands the phenomenal talent just outside the top six due to lack of competition; a problem which is definitely not his fault.
Kenisha Phillips
Despite being just a youth athlete, Phillips started the year with a bang and is definitely on the rise as Guyana’s next top female sprinter.
While she certainly cooled down due to no competition later in the season, watch out for the top prospect at the upcoming National School
Championships.
Number Six – Rupert Perry (100m, 200m)
Rupert Perry made his full blown return to sprinting earlier this year after a serious knee injury that could have ended his career and has not disappointed.
The former national champion has shown that he still has his trademark leg turnovers especially with a big win that saw him become the first athlete to win a 100m at the National Track and Field Centre in May.
With his only loss coming at the hands of Olympian Winston George who has a higher rank, Perry must be commended for his comeback season.
Number Five – Euleen
Josiah-Tanner (5k, 10k)
While this might be a surprise to some, the overseas based Josiah-Tanner
has not lost a five or 10k event whether it be on international or local soil especially with her impressive win at the Courts 10k on Sunday.
At the age of 40, JosiahTanner has gone under the 40 minute mark on multiple occasions compared to her rivals over the 10k event and that is enough to get her in the top five of the Guyana Times Sport ranking.
Number Four – Andrea Foster (800m, 1500m, 3000m, 10k)
Foster graduated to the senior level with a bang and is arguably the most dominant middle distance female athlete in the country having won all her events on local soil this year.
While many criticised the selection of the athlete for the World Championships the mere fact that she went unbeaten at home is something that cannot be argued and therefore her number four spot is solidified.
Number Three – Alisha Fortune (100m, 200m, 400m)
Fortune has been a model of consistency for women’s sprinting in Guyana for the last six years and while she has not competed much in 2015 of her triple gold medal exploits at the 2015 World Masters Championships, give Fortune a big jump over her competitors for the number three spot.
Number Two – Cleveland Forde (1500m, 5000m, 5k, 10k)
Undefeated in 2015 whether it be on the track or in 10ks, Forde has been virtually unstoppable for the last decade and his recent wins in both the Courts and AINLIM 10ks proves why Guyana’s “Little Kenyan” is way ahead of his peers in Guyana Times ranking system.
Number One – Winston
George (100m, 200m, 400m)
Breaking the national record twice in one year, with one of those times being at the World Championships while being the most versatile sprinter at home with the ability to win the 100, 200 and 400 metres says it all about George.
The 2012 Olympian cannot be compared to any of his peers and is by far Guyana’s number one athlete at the moment. (josepht@guyanatimesgy.com)
Minister within the Ministry of Education with responsibility for sport, Nicolette Henry announced on Tuesday that the government is aiming to reintroduce sports to the school curriculum.
The disclosure came during an interview at the Henry’s office on Main Street as she noted that coaches will be a part of such a process.
“We intend to have coaches who will be working within the school systems to ensure that sports are integrated into the school curriculum,” Henry revealed.
In addition, the rehabilitation of grounds will be high on the agenda of the Government as it forms part of the component to reintroduce sport to the school curriculum according to Henry.
“There is a ground enhancement project which will see schools in each of the regions being rehabilitated to the extent that we can have sports activities occurring on the grounds,” said Henry.
“We will continue this process until all the schools are fully functional with regards to having their grounds up and running”.
In-form Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann struck twice to earn a comfortable 2-0 derby victory over toothless visitors Getafe that sent his side top of La Liga on Tuesday. The France striker, who is developing into a talisman for Atletico, scored at the start of the first half and the end of the second after a competent display by the hosts.
Atletico have 12 points from five games, having only dropped points against Barcelona who have a 100 percent record from four games and visit Celta Vigo on Wednesday when Real Madrid, with 10 points from four matches, visit Athletic Bilbao.
Atletico controlled the game but they eased off for long spells against a side incapable of putting them under sustained pressure.
Griezmann netted after four minutes with a volley from six metres and wrapped up the win with another close-range finish from a Jackson Martinez pass in the final minute.
“We scored quickly and we were well placed but we stopped looking to build play,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone told a news conference. “We then improved
again in the final stages of the game. In the middle section we looked to close the game down too much.”
Valencia’s dismal start to the season continued as they lost 1-0 at Espanyol, with Victor Alvarez scoring in the first half. They are eighth with six points after one win and three draws.
Low on confidence they did not take advantage of early openings for Zakaria Bakkali and Rodrigo Moreno before Alvarez tucked home a Marco Asensio cross after 18 minutes.
There was little rhythm to their game and in the secondhalf they relied on keeper Jaume Domenech to make important blocks to deny Hernan Perez and Asensio.
“I have no doubts over my work nor that of the players,” Valencia coach Nuno Espirito Santo told reporters.
“In the first half we were the better side and looked dangerous but then in the second half we didn’t play well.”
Simeone continued with his rotation policy and it was a lively start from Atletico characterised by good link-up play. Gabi Fernandez put the ball back into the box following a corner and Griezmann turned to finished clinically. Atletico recruited well ahead of the season and the skills of Yannick FerreiraCarrasco and Oliver Torres meant that they did not miss the injured Koke as they pressed Getafe back.
But Atletico started to relax at the back before halftimeand Stefan Savic hit a firm drive that was just too close to keeper Jan Oblak who made the save.
After the break a mistake by Guilherme Siqueira put Pedro Leon through on goal but he missed the target before Griezmann put gloss on the scoreline for Atletico by slipping the ball home following a well worked move. Elsewhere, Imanol Agirretxe’s hat-trick gave Real Sociedad a 3-0 win at Granada, their first victory of the season which put them on five points from five games. (Reuters)
An excited Shaunae Miller is already looking forward to next season and the Rio Olympic Games after a fairly successful 2015.
The 21-year-old Miller capped off a season, which had been hampered by injury early on, in strong fashion by claiming a silver medal in the women’s 400m behind Allyson Felix. Despite Rio being months away, however, the athlete is already plotting to build on that effort.
“It’s been an amazing season. I had a lot of ups and downs, but besides that, it’s been an amazing season,” Miller said.
“I changed coaches so late in the season, but to still come out with a silver medal at the World Championships is a
big achievement,” she added.
Following a disappointing 2014 Miller changed from the University of Georgia where she had been coached by George Cleare to Lance Brauman’s high-class training group in Clermont and credits the switch for her improvement.
In addition to a silver medal at the World Championships the athlete was also second in the Diamond League 400m race, this time behind American Francena McCorory.
“I feel as if I have so much more to improve on,” said Miller as she looks ahead to Rio.
“Even with all of the injuries I had this year, I still came out with the silver medal at worlds, but I still have a lot more in the tank and I’m just going to put it together over these next few years and hopefully shock the world with some crazy times.
“But you know, I’m just having fun with it right now and enjoying the process.”
(Digicel Sportsmax)
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By AvenAsh RAmzAn
Boxing fans will be in for a huge treat on Saturday night if the plans of the management of Giftland Mall come to fruition at the first-ever “Brawl at the Mall” boxing card.
Staged under the theme “Next Generation Boxing”, the organisers are hoping to transform the spanking new department store into the glitz and glamour associated with fights staged in the boxing capital of the world, Las Vegas.
Guyana Boxing Board of Control member, Trevor Arno, during in an interview with this publication on Tuesday, indicated that an evening of grandeur is eagerly anticipated, as the ultimate aim is to take local boxing to the next level.
“Preparations are coming along good,” Arno said. “What the Giftland Mall is trying to do is create the Las Vegas outlook or appearance, as we want to move boxing to a higher level.” Arno added that the “last ends are being tied up” with regards general preparations, while the boxers are hard at training at their respective gyms.
“We can expect very keen competition,” Arno promised.
The card, which will com-
prise eight professional and a similar number of amateur fights, will be headlined by a title fight featuring Trinidad and Tobago-based Guyanese Iwan Azore against compatriot Dexter Gonsalves.
The 12-round contest will see Azore putting his national welterweight belt on the line against Gonsalves, the reigning national lightweight champion of Guyana.
Terrence Adams and Keeve Allicock will open the professional segment with a four-round featherweight showdown, while Anson Green and Quincy Gomes will trade punches in a sixround junior welterweight clash. Also slated to appear on the card is debutant Imran “Magic” Khan, who would look to weave his magic against David Thomas.
On the amateur side, Orin Bancroft of Forgotten Youth Foundation Boxing Gym will take on Travis Hubbard of Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym in a Youth Lightweight fight; Tefon Green of Guyana Defense Force will trade punches with Dexter Wray of Republican in an Elite Flyweight showdown; Glenroy Smith of Essequibo Boxing Gym will confront Clifton Grayham of Republican in a Welterweight bout; and Nandkumar Singh of Republican will battle with Kelon King of Forgotten Youth Foundation in a Lightweight fight. Admission to the venue is $1,000 for adults in general seating, while children will be admitted upon payment of $200. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)
By TReisTon Joseph
The Stag Elite League is kicking into high gear as action will resume this evening when Round two kicks off at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.
Two powerhouse teams will be in action this evening when Slingerz FC battle GFC while Pele FC lace up against Alpha United.
With Slingerz FC only able to get one point from their opener against Alpha United after a draw, the west side outfit will be aiming for maximum points when they meet GFC who lost to Pele in their opener.
Slingerz FC in their opener showed the ability to create opportunities but will need to produce better finishes in order to come out victorious.
GFC who has a shaky defensive line will need to be more diligent if they are to stop Slingerz FC from taking control of a game that can get out of hand quickly.
In the night’s second game, Alpha find themselves in a similar situation as the rivals Slingerz FC by gaining just one point from their opener.
With the nerves of the first
game out of the way, Alpha will definitely need to show more attacking intent to score against a Pele side that seems in a bit of good form.
Pele after their opening win will need to stay in attack mode to have a chance against an Alpha side that gives nothing away but capitalises on mistakes.
Meanwhile on Thursday evening, at the Tucville ground Buxton United will face the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) while host Fruta Conquerors will perform in front of an expected friendly crowd against Monedderlust FC.
GDF and Buxton will definitely have a chance to gain points since both were on the losing ends of their openers, one way or the other one team or both will walk away with points.
The second game of the night will have host Fruta Conquerors searching for their second win of the league after a thrilling 1-0 win against Buxton United on Saturday evening.
However, Monedderlust who also goy maximum points from their opener will aim to continue their rich form of play in order to stay atop the group the leader board. Action on both evenings is expected to start at 18:00h. The standing after Round one is as follows
By AvenAsh RAmzAn
Newly appointed Head Coach of Monedderlust FC, Gordon “Ultimate Warrior” Brathwaite, believes the Guyana Football Federation’s Stag Elite League could be a stimulus for Guyana’s football, noting that the League is “a gift from FIFA to Guyana.”
Speaking to this publication on Tuesday, Brathwaite, a former national player, said during his playing days he craved for such opportunities. He is now urging the current crop of players to grab the moment to not only improve themselves, but Guyana’s football status.
“It [the Elite League] is something good for Guyana. It could make a big difference to our football. As a matter of fact, the Elite
League could be the turning point for Guyana’s football,” the experienced coach stated.
Brathwaite, who is in charge of Monedderlust, the Ancient County’s top side, said football stands to benefit from the introduction of a professional League in Guyana, noting that only growth and development can be derived going forward. On his team’s chances in the eight-team tournament, Brathwaite said while his boys have a good chance of winning, they are a young bunch still on the learning curve.
“You know sometimes they can be over enthusiastic and that sometimes does not translate into positive vibes, but at the end of the day we’re looking to play good football, and show the rest of the country that football is not centralised,” the coach explained.
Monedderlust started their campaign in the League with a stunning come-from-behind victory over the Guyana Defence Force on Saturday evening at the Number Five Ground in West Berbice. The currently sit atop of the points table after wiping out a 2-0 deficit to beat the Army men 3-2.
Monedderlust’s next game is against host Fruta Conquerors at the Tucville Ground on Thursday evening, starting at 20:30h. Like Monedderlust, Fruta Conquerors also won their opening game, beating Buxton United 1-0 at the Number Five Ground on Saturday last. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy. com)
By TReisTon Joseph
Guyana’s distance megastar Cleveland Forde is optimistic about the future of Guyana’s 10k running after his Courts 10k win on Sunday.
Forde, who broke away from his biggest rival in Cleveland Thomas later than he usually would, stated that he can see the level of competition rising.
“I can see the level improving but to get to another level, maybe if we are talking sub 30’s (below 30 minutes) you will have to go out of here and train with altitude conditions but with the way they guys are going now you can expect closer competition,” Forde noted.
Forde has been
Guyana’s most dominant distance athlete especially at the 10k level and has not lost to any local competitors at least in the last five years.
In addition, Forde is also the national record holder of both the men’s 1500 and 5000 metres events.
With Forde undefeated for this year over the 10k distance, whether he will remain undefeated on home soil for the South American 10k is left to be seen, since an influx of regional and international athletes will be on deck for the competition.
Forde did confirm with Guyana Times Sport that he will be putting his best foot forward for the event while hinting what his training will be like for the event.
“My preparation will be what I usually do; I’m not going to say exactly but my normal stuff… I think I will focus more on intervals, more track intervals,” Forde noted.
The first leg of the South American 10k will be held in Suriname on October 31 while the second leg will be in Guyana on November 8 and the third leg in Panama on November 15.
The Bartica and Essequibo Football Associations recently met and adopted their new constitution, which will now pave the way for elections to be held in the Regions Seven and Two on October 17 and 18 respectively.
General Secretary Richard Groden, along with his assistant Deidre Davis, journeyed to both areas, first meeting with club representatives at the Xenon Hotel in Charity.
The clubs represented were Henrietta United, Queenstown, Wakapoa United, Super Eleven FC, Devonshire Castle Football Club and Charity X-treme Club. The elections were set for October 17 at the Oasis Hotel in Queenstown.
In Bartica at the St John’s the Baptiste Primary School, Lazio FC, Rivers’ View FC, Beacons FC, Wolves United and Mil Balls were the clubs represented while missing were Potaro Strikers and Rising Star football clubs.
After the Constitution Review process was completed all clubs present voted in favour of the adoption of the new Constitution with the election for new office bearers set for October 18 in the Boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council.
The meeting was chaired by Groden, who informed the representatives of the purpose of the meeting and outlined the Constitution Adoption and Elections of the New Executive Timelines.
National Champions Sudesh Fitzgerald and Rosetta Hiralall continued their resplendent form during the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) most recent monthly tournament on Sunday at the Malteenoes Sports Club.
Fitzgerald won the male event with his accurate throwing while Hiralall topped the distaff side with her pinpoint accuracy.
Their respective runners up were Miguel Merlano and Anil Latchman while for the females the runners up were Jean DeSouza and Victorine Chandro.
In the luck of the draw the pair of Miguel Merlanoand and Jamwant Bhupan defeated Anil Latchman and Jean DeSouza to take the top spot. Another tournament is scheduled for this evening which will be sponsored by Dr Terence Joseph. All members of the GDA are invited.
The fifth edition of the country’s premier softball cricket competition, Guyana Softball Cup, will be held on the final weekend of October, according to information emanating from the organising body, the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA).
Vice President of the GFSCA, Ricky Deonarain, during an exclusive interview with Guyana Times Sport on Tuesday informed that the dates for the 2015 tournament have been finalised, with action bowling off on October 31 and ending on November 1.
Deonarain said preparations for the three-day competition are ongoing, and the GFSCA members will be meeting on a regular basis during the coming weeks to finalise the finer details of the tournament.
Already, 10 foreign teams from Canada, New York and Florida have confirmed their participation, Deonarain revealed. The GFSCA is aiming to
attract a total of 24 teams to compete in the two categories, Open and Masters, which would mean the remaining 14 would come from Guyana.
In 2014, local sides made a clean sweep of the two titles, with West Demerara’s Wolf’s Warriors winning the Open division and Floodlights copping the Masters trophy.
The competition was first held in 2011, and since then Cotton Field Wild Oats, New York All Stars, Trophy Stall and Wolf’s Warriors have won the Open category, while Regal, Savage, New York Better Hope and Floodlights have lifted the Masters trophy. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)
By AvenAsh RAmzAn
